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| "Space Croppers" An episode of the Galactica 1980 series | |||
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| Episode No. | Season 1, Episode 9 | ||
| Writer(s) | Robert L. McCullough | ||
| Story by | |||
| Director | Daniel Haller | ||
| Assistant Director | |||
| Special guest(s) | |||
| Production No. | 1.9 | ||
| Nielsen Rating | |||
| US airdate |  1980-04-27
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| CAN airdate |  {{{CAN airdate}}}
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| UK airdate | 
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| DVD release | |||
| Population | survivors | ||
| Additional Info | |||
| Full Credits | |||
| Episode Chronology | |||
| Previous | Next | ||
| The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II | Space Croppers | The Return of Starbuck | |
| [[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]] | |||
| Listing of props for this episode | |||
| Related Media | |||
| @ BW Media | |||
| Promotional Materials | |||
| Online Purchasing | |||
| Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition | |||
| iTunes: USA | |||
Overview[edit]
- After a Cylon attack that destroys two of the Galactican Fleet's Agro ships, Troy and Dillon are sent to Earth to set up an agricultural colony. In Southern California, they befriend a local Hispanic farmer who is struggling to keep his farm in the face of drought and the influence of his neighbor, a powerful rancher who controls the access to water for irrigation.
Summary[edit]
Act 1[edit]
- On a Cylon basestar, positioned not far away from Earth, the Imperious Leader is addressing a Centurion.
- He declares a new strategy in the war on the humans, ordering the targeting of the Galactican Fleet's agricultural ships. The Imperious Leader (stock footage is used, with Dennis Haysbert's voice overdubbed for the Imperious Leader) hopes that the Colonials will have no choice but to flee to Earth for food and, as such, will lead the Cylon fleet there as well.
- Dozens of Cylon raiders are immediately launched to attack the Galactican Fleet, which they are able to detect their electro-magnetic transmissions. They begin carrying out their order for agricultural ship destruction.
- After breaking through the perimeter of Vipers guarding the fleet, the Raiders succeed in destroying two of the Agroships, all of which Adama and Doctor Zee watch from Zee's chamber.
- Adama and Zee discuss the attack. They discuss why the agricultural ships were attacked and why the Cylons haven't come in for the final attack. They immediately surmise that the Cylons feel that the Fleet is their only link to Earth, and they're trying to force their hand by bringing the Fleet to Earth, inevitably leading the Cylons to the last outpost of humanity.
- Zee notes that Lieutenant Dante's men have been most successful in keeping the Cylons from Troy and Dillon during the Warriors' constant trips to and from Earth. Troy and Dillon are in position on Earth and Adama believes they are their only hope of replenishing their food sources.
- Boomer informs Adama that Troy and Dillon are ready to launch, as are the decoy squadron. Adama is extremely happy that they are about to establish their first colony on Earth.
- They are interrupted by an unidentified captain who complains that D Squadron, nicknamed the Daggits. Boomer points out that there aren't many people who would volunteer to bring the fight to the Cylons, which Adama supports, saying that their mission requires a certain "devil-may-care attitude". However, the captain reports that they have been modifying their Vipers by removing the limiters from the turbochargers, which concerns Adama.
- Troy, Dillon, and D Squadron launches. Troy and Dillon head to Earth while D Squadron engages the Cylons. Having successfully entered the Solar System undetected, Dillon tells Troy of his optimism of setting up a Galactican colony on Earth.
- After landing in the Alonzo's farm field and hiding their ships, they run across a scarecrow, believing it to be an Earthling, Hector Alonzo. However, as they round to face it, Troy posits that it might be either some primitive burial symbol or a crude attempt at artistic expression. They head toward the Alonzo's home.
- Gloria Alonzo, Hector's teenage daughter, gives a plate to her mother, Louise Alonzo. Gloria asks why her father is depressed and expresses her optimism that someone will answer his ad. Louise replies that Hector feels foolish for running the ad, believing that everyone in town will see it and believe he's giving up. Gloria replies that he's hanging on; Louise blames herself for talking him into the ad. Gloria consoles her mother, telling her that Hector cannot hold his emotions bottled up. They hug after she asks if Hector realizes that they know what's happening to him, even Chris Alonzo.
- Louise approaches her husband and asks if he'd like to go outside. He silently puts his arm around her and proceeds to go on the porch with his wife. On the porch, he reveals that it'll kill him to sell his land, particularly to John Steadman. Hector stops her from saying "don't worry", telling her to save it for the children. However, she tells them that they already know.
- Chris is next to his bed praying to God for help for his parents, realizing that his parents work hard for him and his sister and that they may have to sell because they can't afford it. He pleads with God to send people to help his dad.
- Dillon and Troy approach the Alonzos outside and, after noting that they didn't come in a vehicle, inquire about the ad for help on the farm.
- That morning, Troy and Dillon talk to Hector about the ad, which he offers to sell half-interest in his farm and requires farm hands. Hector warns them that they may be throwing their money away, since they don't have enough water to support their farm. The problem stems from two sources: the worst drought in years and the irrigation quota. He tells them that the water is controlled by Steadman of the Growers Association, who makes it impossible for small farmers like him to succeed.
- Gloria comes over and doles out food to Dillon, who initially refuses. However, Dillon concedes to the obviously smitten Gloria, who says she's cooked the food herself. Louise notes that they're lucky to eat meat twice a week.
- Hector tells Troy that Steadman has dammed up the water supply. Dillon asks if he complained to the association, but he notes that the dam is on Steadman's property and Steadman has a lot of say on the association. Dillon notes that the inequity of the situation. Hector dejectedly replies that if he came to talk about fair, he came to the wrong place.
- Troy asks to look at the dam. Louise pipes up, saying that Steadman treats trespassers harshly. Dillon replies that he doesn't think Steadman would mind meeting his neighbors.
- Upon visiting Steadman's property, Troy notes that it is very green. Hector notes that it's "about the same color as his money", noting that his wealth is the reason he has clout with the association. He further adds, much to Troy and Dillon's confusion, Steadman's negative attitude of Hispanics, who he views as peasants.
- On cue, Steadman arrives with two of his lackeys, one of them Maze. Steadman greets Hector and then notes that his people have orders to eliminate any "critters that don't belong here, and that includes coyotes, dogs and trespassers". Hector replies that he thought Steadman would like to meet his new neighbors; Steadman assumes that he's sold the property without giving him first bid, but Hector informs him that Troy and Dillon are his new partners.
- Troy points out the dam. Steadman laughs and tells him that what he does on his property is his business, but he haughitly "corrects" himself and notes that it is controlled by the association. He says that since the drought, there are strict allotments made for the water. Troy notes that they're interested in the association, the local farmers, and the quota system. Steadman replies that he too works under the quota, adding that "the man with the biggest spread and the biggest overhead is gonna get the largest quota". He assures them that it works out "proportionally" for everyone concerned.
- Troy attempts to argue that "farmers are brothers of a kind", but Steadman deflects this point and notes that they're standing on private property and would appreciate it if they leave.
- As they leave, one of the Steadman's men notes that Hector's kind is "always trying to get somethin', because of what they are, instead of working for it". Steadman assures the boys that they'll take care of it in "our own good time".
Act 2[edit]
- Later, Troy and Dillon go with Hector and Chris to buy seed. Hector tells them he would understand if they would pull out upon seeing the problems he faces. Hector finds it odd that his new partners tell him not to worry, particularly when faced with the water situation, including their purchasing of seed he thinks will not grow in such weather. He also points out that beans, being legumes, require cobalt and molybdenum in order to grow. His soil does not have these elements in great enough supply to support beans, but the Warriors again tell him not to worry assuring him that they have a special treatment process. He concedes that all they can do is give it a try.
- Maze and Barrett believe that Hector's got them conned and decides to "deal with that situation". They enter their Ford pickup truck.
- As they pass Hector's truck on the two-lane road, Maze throws a cigar into the back of the truck. It begins to burn at the burlap. Maze then begins heckling Hector.
- Dillon asks Hector why he puts up with the heckling. Hector replies that while it bothers his family, he's gotten over it.
- Troy smells something burning. Chris notes that the truck is on fire and they pull over and stop. They take out the sacks of seed, but it's too late for them. Hector ruefully notes that he's lost crops before, but never so quickly.
- Dillon finds the cigar in the truck bed. Hector believes that the cigar belonged to "Old Maze", as he is a cigar aficionado.
- Hector explains to the Warriors that the reason why Steadman's men destroyed their supplies was because of their association with a Latino. Chris mentions that he doesn't understand their hatred. Hector explains it has to do with prejudice and racism. Dillon tells them he's getting angry; Troy replies that he was getting angry five centons ago.
- At Steadman Acres, Steadman convinces Maze to ride Satan, telling him that anyone who can ride the wild horse will win $1,000. Maze states that the amount won't even cover medical expenses, to which Steadman replies that he'll take care of them.
- As Steadman and Barrett enjoy the show, which ends as Satan dumps Maze into a water trough.
- Troy and Dillon arrive at Steadman Acres to confront Steadman, and demand compensation for the burned seed. Steadman asks his employees if their claim is true; Barrett mocking chastises Maze, telling him that he should use ashtrays. Steadman, who claims that the incident wasn't one of malice, decides to have a good play with his employees, deciding to take the payment out of the henchmen's wages for the supplies lost.
- Steadman offers to help them with anything else they may have forgotten at the store, but Troy replies that they'll be satisfied with what they had. He can't resist the opportunity to put one over on Troy and Dillon, and, knowing they are new, tells them about his offer regarding Satan. Claiming that it's the "best horse flesh" in the county, Steadman asks if Hector has a horse at his place, knowing full well that he doesn't. He tells them that it's an acquisition for them to think about. When asked on the cost, Steadman replies that Satan will have to choose his owner. He then tells them about his offer: anyone who can ride him, owns him, plus $1000 to boot.
- Dillon and Troy accept the offer, Dillon notes that he seems friendly enough when spoken to. Troy gives the buck to Dillon, noting his affinity for such situations.
- Steadman mockingly comments to Barret and Maze about not wanting to see Hector go under, which Maze playfully replies that Steadman's offer is a charitable one.
- After holding the animal by the reins, Dillon notes that the animal seems upset. Troy replies that "I would be too if I had Earthlings climbing all over my back".
- The horse begins resisting. Dillon uses his wrist computron to determine that Satan has disturbed brain wave patterns. Troy surmises that the animal is mistreated. Dillon notes that the animal didn't seem different to what was on Caprica and gives the creature a burst of alpha waves.
- The horse is now calm, much to the astonishment of Steadman and his workers. Dillon rides the horse successfully. Steadman protests that he shouldn't be able to do that and it's a trick of some kind. Troy notes that Dillon seems to have a way with animals.
- Steadman throws his hat on the ground, vociferously claiming that the horse can't be ridden. Dillon rides up, with the horse crushing the hat under-hoof, and says that they owe them $1,000 and want the horse delivered to Alonzo's ranch. A red-faced Steadman tells his boys to get the Warriors their things.
- Dillon presents the horse to Gloria, noting that Satan would like her over Mr. Steadman. Gloria asks Dillon if he has a girlfriend. Unfamiliar with the term, he asks her why, to which she replies that she thinks he's cute. She walks away, allowing him to look up the term. Chris, who has the horse's reins, tells Dillon that he's got trouble.
- Maze and Barrett arrive with their seed. Much to their chagrin, they find that the seed is not heavy for Troy or Dillon, who they believed would lose their balance over the heavy seed. Troy says he could handle another bag, which he catches with one hand.
- Barrett notices Satan and their new owners, Gloria and Hector. He comments that the horse is nice, but tells her "good luck watering it". Gloria claims they have enough water for Satan, to which he replies that this won't be the case when Steadman cuts off the irrigation quota for them.
- Dillon notes that they'll complain to the Growers Association, which is a prospect the lackeys laugh at. Hector notes that it'll be months before they get a hearing.
- Troy walks away, having been summoned by Commander Adama. He tells Adama of the situation. Adama notes that with the food gone, it is imperative that they complete the project. He notes that while they have seedlings, they need water.
- Chris comes up behind Troy, who confers with Adama. Zee orders that they plant the seedlings, for he'll be able to provide the water. He orders that the ground must be prepared no later than tonight.
- Chris asks who Troy was talking to with that "watch" of his. Troy replies that he was going over some things in his head; Chris notes his father's belief that people who talk to themselves are trouble.
- Dillon arrives and Chris is sent away to help the others. Troy notifies Dillon that they need to begin planting as soon as possible.
- Hector is having problems getting farm hands; no one within 50 miles that he knows will help them. Money isn't the problem, but the farmers fear Steadman. He notes that the time table is unrealistic; it'll take one to two weeks to sow and plant the ground. Troy tells Hector that he'll get them help.
- Jamie Hamilton arrives with the Super Scouts. Hector doesn't believe what he is seeing, but Hamilton assures him that they're a specialized branch of the scouts with a lot of agricultural training.
- Lancer assure Hector that they're a lot tougher and stronger than they look. Chris asks how far they can throw a ball; Lancer is about to reply a good 3000 feet, until he is stopped by Troy.
- Troy asks where the children can sleep, Hector points out a barn where they can stay.
- Hamilton later asks Troy for a situation report. Troy tells her that he'll explain later. Hector tells them to bring their belongings inside and that they'll soon have dinner.
- A team of agricultural experts dressed in Earthling farmer clothing enters the anti-gravity ship. Adama tells them that they will remain there to help the farm and form a colony, should the rain-making process be effective.
- Zee explains that the process is simple. The mist the ship creates upon entering Earth's atmosphere will create clouds and, using their technology, will create precipitation. They'll seed the clouds with super-cooled carbon dioxide and do a bunch of other mumbojumbo.
- Steadman meets with his henchmen, who inform him that Alonzo is looking for help and is calling everyone in the valley. He's sure that the two "yokels" (Troy and Dillon) are somehow involved in Alonzo's determination.
- That night, under cover of darkness, Troy and Dillon begin plowing the fields with their lasers. Steadman drives up and sees this.
- Starla inquires about the nutrient monitors. Lancer asks how they can grow plants without computers. The Super Scouts respond incredulously to Hamilton's claim that Earthlings plant things naturally.
- Troy and Dillon use their superhuman jumping ability to rapidly seed Alonso's fields. Steadman watches from a distance, noting that they are jumping 50 feet in the air.
Act 3[edit]
- The anti-gravity ship makes its descent towards the valley. Zee tells Adama that carbon dioxide emissions are proceeding as scheduled. The next pass over the clouds will make it rain.
- A rain storm begins, first with lightning and thunder, which Troy, Dillon, and Hamilton watch occur. It begins to rain, much to Steadman's surprise.
- Zee responds to Adama's question regarding their food supply reserves. He informs Adama that with the special nutrients dispersing with the rain, the crops will grow faster and become plentiful within a few Earth hours.
- Awakened by the lightning and thunder, Chris runs to the window of his room. He is surprised when he sees a flying saucer, actually Dr. Zee's antigrav ship, begin landing beyond the mountains.
- The crops shoot up overnight.
- The next morning, Steadman goes to the Grower's Association, blaming the problems of the valley on Hector Alonzo. Tom Rogers asks how Hector can cause a threat. He then dissolves into frantic revelations of jumping aliens and flying saucers at Alonzo's place, giving a call to arms for the townsfolk to get the sheriff and law enforcement involved.
- Hector and his wife react to the bountiful crop they now have. Also present are agricultural experts from the Galactican Fleet, who masquerade as agricultural students studying advanced, experimental farming techniques. Troy assures Hector that they'll work on their share of the farm and will be of no burden.
- Steadman and his cronies arrive. Steadman makes his accusations. The police subsequently arrive, lead by the Sheriff and Mr. Rogers. They follow up on Steadman's claim of Alonzo's harboring of illegal aliens.
- Hamilton presents herself as a reporter with United Broadcasting Company and she shows them her identification.
- Steadman tells them to check out the identification of the others, but Roger himself asks Steadman for ID. Steadman claims that he never carries any on his person, since everyone knows who he is. The scouts, however, point out that they don't know who he is; Lancer adds that he doesn't want to know Steadman at all.
- Steadman claims to the police that he saw them arrive last night. After Hamilton pretends to be interested in Steadman's story, Steadman reveals that he saw a ship. It is revealed through more direct questioning that the ship was an UFO. Once Steadman spills what he saw, Hamilton notes that she should call her station and get a crew on the story right away. However, Rogers says that it isn't necessary to call them. The sheriff agrees, saying they should leave Alonzo and his friends alone. Rogers also goes on to say that they've been having second thoughts about the water situation.
- Rogers says that he's calling an emergency meeting, where he pledges that the dam won't be there by tomorrow morning.
- Steadman claims that everything he's said is the truth. He points out that Dillon was able to ride Satan, a feat that he claims no human could do. However, on cue, he is proven wrong when Chris rides Satan within plain sight.
- Rogers laughs at Steadman, telling him not to take any wooden saucers now.
- Rogers has his emergency meeting and, despite the loud protestations of Steadman, have the dam removed in addition to other strictures. Overwhelmingly, Rogers proposition is supported. Hamilton is pleased when Steadman storms out in defeat.
- Gloria is sad to see Dillon go. She asks if he'll come by again, which he replies that, as their friends are there, of course they will. She kisses him on the cheek and runs off.
- Louise tells Dillon her belief that Gloria has a crush on him; Chris tells him not to worry, since she'll grow out of it.
- Hector thanks the Warriors and Hamilton for everything they've done. Troy replies that it is they who should thank him. Hector assures them that Troy's people will be taken care of like they were members of his own family.
- Troy and Dillon ride off in their turbines, talking about how beautiful the place was -- and Gloria. They fly off into the sky.
British writer Matthew Wharmby's Humorous Review[edit]
PREMISE: The Galactica's agroships are destroyed by the Cylons, so Troy and Dillon have to do a bit of wheeler-dealing with a local farmer.
MORAL: Racism is bad. So is greed.
WHAT WE LEARN: A fair bit of Chicano history, the suitability for planting of certain items of produce, and the machinations of rainfall.
BACKGROUND:
Attending college in the US, I discovered Bill Anchors' comprehensive video archive Star Tech, and immediately spent most of my tuition on his services. First priority was to collect all the remaining Galactica episodes I hadn't seen, among which, of course, were those of the infamous Galactica 1980. A bit of local history ensued, as all these tapes were recorded on first airdate from ABC affiliates in obscure places like Chattanooga or Dayton, Ohio.
THE STORY:
Begins promisingly, with a leisurely shot of the agroship sailing delicately through space, and suitably ominous music (the music, always of the highest standard, managed to endure in quality through Galactica 1980, with some nicely done individual themes). Cut to three Cylon basestars of the lurking taskforce, and none other than Imperious Leader. Just what he's doing all the way out here is anybody's guess, but disappointment is heavy when he opens his mouth (wherever on his ugly face that happened to be), as the budget does not extend to re-employing the silken tones of Patrick Macnee.
It is rather nice to see the old-style throne room make a return, although accomplished entirely with stock footage of a single centurion making his way in for an audience (and looking decidedly wobbly-legged in the process, might I add).
Imperious Leader declares a new strategy, ordering the targeting of the Galactican fleet's food supply. With their agroships destroyed, the humans will have to approach Earth closer, and thereby reveal its location to the Cylons. To this end, squadrons of fighters take off. These raiders are piloted by what I can only imagine as Valley Cylons. 'Like-source-identified-as-Galactican-fleet;-gag-me-with-a-spoon'. A large speck of injudiciousness in the voice casting, methinks.
We are now three or four minutes into the episode and still haven't used any non-stock footage, as vipers launch and head off into the attack. You immediately notice that the viper pilots' helmets are different, being more like motorbike helmets with a smaller mouthpiece (and you'll see them repainted black on the Buck Rogers episode 'Flight of the War Witch', which was filmed within months of Space Croppers). One of the pilots to get a little more screen time is a black man in his mid-twenties with a prominent grin, whom we recall sat next to Troy and Dillon in Dr Zee's conference chamber on 'Galactica Discovers Earth', and whom fanfic (aided by a one-liner in the Berkley novelisation of that episode) casts as Lieutenant Kip. This was the lucky warrior who got the really plum assignment to the USSR.
The battle scene is lifted almost directly from 'The Gun On Ice Planet Zero', even down to the incidental music, but I'm not too bothered about that, as that was a pretty good scrap. As the Valley Cylons break and head for the agroships, we see Adama and Dr Zee watching the battle (in the conference chamber! Who's looking after the bridge?!). In a volley of stock fire, the agroships eat it, and the Cylons disengage. Kip doesn't seem too flustered, as he lets out a warrior's 'yeee-hooo!' while picking off the rearguard (Did that count as payable dialogue for that uncredited actor?).
Adama groans, wondering why the Cylons should pick that ship out of all 220, and Dr Zee responds with the second incarnation of his 'Since the time of our defeat, the Cylons have not been idle' speech. The boy genius concurs with Imperious Leader, that it's a pretty obvious plan to lead the Cylons to Earth.
There follows a strikingly pointless scene in Adama's quarters, where the Commander is unusually excited about the prospect of opening their first agricultural colony on Earth. He and Boomer (in flight uniform) are interrupted by an unidentified captain (in hangar crew uniform) barging in to complain that D Squadron (nicknamed the Daggits) have been souping up their vipers by removing the limiters from the turbochargers. So what? we wonder, as we do the same to our factory-limited BMWs. There are great fanfic possibilities for the details in this scene which I'm going to try to tackle at some point, namely the fact that Lieutenant Dante seems to be a grade-A nutter, a loose cannon who will attack Cylon baseships with neither provocation nor fear, and thus comes in useful as a protector of Troy and Dillon on their missions to Earth. We do hear the voiceover of Dante as his squadron takes off on another harassing mission against the baseships, and he does sound like a lunatic. A kind of post-Starbuck, if you will.
As Troy and Dillon make their way to Earth, we cut to a different scene. A none-too-prosperous smallholding in California's green belt owned by a Mexican-American family, the Alonsos. They are this close from bankruptcy, and patriarch Hector has taken the last resort and placed an ad for help in the local paper, but is embarrassed to have done so in front of the local Growers' Association, whom we are already surmising are a bit out of order.
First to be seen is ten-year-old son Chris, who helpfully gives us the backstory in a rather desperate prayer, the last stanza of which is the suitably prophetic 'and please, PLEASE send someone to help my dad!' Second is Gloria, seventeenish, who is played by Ana Alicia in her second role on Battlestar Galactica. And still, might I add, utterly gorgeous. She's barely on this episode, but, aside from a little issue of mine with her attitude, she could steal it.
One of the more light-hearted moments covers Troy and Dillon's approach to the Alonso farm. They encounter a shabby-looking scarecrow and immediately assume it's a local (Not such an erroneous assumption! You'd get a damn sight better conversation than out of most Californians!). The dialogue here is so priceless that I feel no shame in reproducing it in full.
DILLON: Over there, an Earthling.
TROY: That must be Mr Alonso. Excuse me...
DILLON: That's not a life form!
TROY: Some type of dried grass.
DILLON: Stuffed in an Earthling's clothing? Why?
TROY: Might be some kind of primitive burial symbol.
DILLON: Some kind of an attempt at crude artistic expression?
TROY: Looks like the main dwelling over there.
DILLON: ...Nice night!
Somehow, the readership of the small ads of the Riverside County edition of the LA Times comes from a considerably more widespread demographic than imagined, and somewhere like that was where the lads saw Hector Alonso's appeal for help. To this end, they're dressed up like hillbillies - all they need is bits of straw hanging out of their gobs, or better still, a big plug of chaw marinating away inside a cheek.
Hector's ad offers to sell half interest in the farm, but an irrigation quota placed there by John Steadman, of the Growers' Association, is starving him out. Our Dillon's not being starved, as Gloria takes an instant liking to him and starts plying him with food. Next day, Hector takes Troy and Dillon to the perimeter of his property in a wretched old truck. There, as plain as day, is a dam. Not as big as the Hoover, and not the kind beavers live in, but damnable (as it were) enough to cut off two-thirds of the water supply. As Hector explains the problem, up rolls a black Mercedes 450 SEL with natty monograms on the doors, and John Steadman introduces himself. He's a few years and a few pounds shy of Boss Hogg dimensions, and he lacks the heart of gold. He's got two redneck associates known as Maze and Barrett, and they cover the chewin' tobacco requirement.
Transpires Steadman has a problem with Hispanics and/or trespassers, but greed is this week's 'evil'; basically he wants to buy Hector's farm for a knockdown price.
What has to be the most disappointing scene in the whole episode isn't too bad on its own, but is let down by the use of music which has been used for far more exciting battle scenes. Thus, the score for the destruction of the agroships (the FIRST time around) at the opening of 'The Magnificent Warriors' is expected to prop up thirty miserable seconds' footage of Maze's thrown cigar butt setting fire to the seeds in the bed of Hector's truck. Seeds that Hector thinks are way too complicated to grow quickly on his scrappy farm.
The lads pull over, jump out and drag out the sacks of burned crops - and now it's war!
DILLON: Troy, I'm beginning to get angry.
TROY: I was angry about five centons ago.
While they could be picking out the undamaged seeds and shovelling them back into the truck, they instead endure a lecture by Hector on the abridged history of the Chicano diaspora - evidently the five minutes' education time demanded by the network. This was fine by me, as I didn't previously know about Juarez, or Diego Rivera, and happen to find the stuff interesting. Similarly for the discussion of what soil requirements you need to plant legumes (like peas and alfalfa - should I ever want to eat those ghastly vegetables! Ugh!)
Troy and Dillon go to have it out with Steadman, demanding compensation for the lost seed. Steadman has a good play with his employees, deciding to show a bit of cheap good faith by taking the payment out of Maze and Barrett's wages. He can't resist the opportunity to put one over on Troy and Dillon, and throws in an offer of untamed racehorse Satan - if they can ride him. He'd already garnered some laughs out of watching the horse throw Maze all over the place.
This is where they make a fool out of Steadman, simply pacifying the animal with a burst of alpha waves from their wrist computers.
Dillon breezes back to the ranch and presents Gloria with the horse. But I think I'd be entitled to more than an 'I think you're cute' if I'd handed over the next Red Rum as if it was a My Little Pony! Especially from the proverbial farmer's daughter! Damn!
'Nice-looking horse you got there,' the two yahoos Maze and Barrett counter in reply; 'Wait till you try watering it.' Steadman is going to cut their water off altogether.
Adama calls. In order to get the seed planted and grown to replenish the fleet's hydroponic capabilities without a blip, they have to do it that night. Dr Zee will swing by in his anti-gravity ship and niggle the clouds into producing a good storm (and here we get our third lecture of the piece. Again, not uninteresting by any means. Living underneath torrents of the damn stuff nearly every day, I'd never previously cared as to how or why rain was produced!).
One educational concern the producers ought to have thought about is child labour, as Troy and Dillon draft the scouts in to do a bit of Land Army work on Hector's plantation. No local labourers dare show up for fear of being cut off too, and they would take two weeks to do the job. So, that night, a lot of jumping and vaulting about with bags of seed (accompanied by the grotesque Super Scouts' Theme that is so obnoxious that I have to turn the sound off every time), into furrows ploughed by Troy and Dillon, with a pair of Buck Rogers handguns, gets the job done. A passing Steadman can't believe his eyes - but Chris is equally gobsmacked when he sees a flying saucer sneak past his window at roughly the same time. Inside said flying saucer (whose very smart bridge set swallowed a good percentage of Galactica 1980's budget) are a veritable army of Caprica Hillbillies, who are Galactican agricultural experts assigned by Dr Zee to harvest the crops.
Crops shoot up overnight, but this phenomenon goes unnoticed compared to Steadman's frantic revelations of leaping aliens (illegal aliens, in a final slur) and flying saucers to the Growers' Association. Thankfully, they sprout brains as quickly as Alonso's legumes and laugh him out of town, voting to order the dam torn down and the water distributed freely. Helped of course by Jamie's revealing of her press credentials, as nothing will frighten off honest country folk more than the media.
So the lads have got to go, and Gloria's heart is broken. Still, after saving her family's livelihood, scoring her a free horse AND growing in one night enough crops to feed two hundred and twenty ships, all she gives to Dillon is a shy kiss on the cheek before running off girlishly. Starbuck he's not! And I hope Troy doesn't have to take front seat next time they go out in a patrol viper!
VERDICT: Two stars (Fair). Learn a few things amid nice sunshine and idyllic settings, the odd throwaway line, and Ana Alicia.[1]
Review[edit]
The Space Croppers starts out interesting, but quickly takes an abrupt nosedive into looney land. The plot parallels that of The Magnificent Warriors. Due to the destruction of the fleet's agroships by a Cylon attack, another source of food supply must be found. The Magnificent Warriors was a terrible episode, so it must be considered quite a feat that Space Croppers turns out to be even worse.
The Imperious Leader's plan to force the Galactica to lead the Cylons to Earth makes no sense. How could Imperious Leader know that Earth was nearby? And if he did know, why not just destroy the Colonial fleet and conduct a search of the nearby planets? Did anything on this series make sense? Was anything supposed to?
Last, and certainly least, the Super Scouts bouncing high in the air and throwing seeds while singing their song is hands down the most ludicrous thing ever shown on Galactica 1980, and that's saying something.[2]
Notes[edit]
Episodic Notes[edit]
- The final series episode, "The Return of Starbuck" was being filmed around the same time as this episode.
- "Space Croppers" is the final episode of the series to include the central cast outside of Adama and Doctor Zee.
- The voice of the Imperious Leader is furnished by actor Dennis Haysbert from 24 fame; Patrick Macnee typically did the voice work for the Imperious Leader, and may have not been available (or offered, due to budget constraints) to reprise the role. It should be noted that Haysbert was also working on Larson's Buck Rogers in the 25th Century series, which was being filmed around this time.
- Whether the voice change was intentional or a byproduct of casting, it does leave the impression that there is a new Imperious Leader in place at the time of the 1980 series.
- The episode contains a continuity error. In the Original Series it is established that the Colonials only have three Agro Ships, two of which are destroyed in "The Magnificent Warriors", thus leaving one remaining. However, there are three ships shown on screen during this "renewed" attack on the Colonial food supplies, due to battle footage from "The Magnificent Warriors" being reused.
- Troy claims the horses weren't much different from what was on Caprica. However, Troy lived in a major city on Caprica before the Cylon holocaust (Serena's son, then called Boxey). It is unclear how much Troy could recall about Caprican horses after fleeing the planet at a young age and living aboard the Fleet nearly his entire life.
Cinematic Notes[edit]
- Much of the episode was filmed at the Disney movie ranch in rural Los Angeles county, a favorite location for Galactica 1980.
- Ana Alicia (Gloria) also played Aurora in the Original Series episode "Take the Celestra", which was, much like "Space Croppers", the second to last episode of that series as well.
- The license plate on Steadman's car is 956 QHK.
- The laser pistols used by Dillon and Troy to prepare the ground for planting are not Colonial pistols, but Cylon.
Analysis[edit]
- "Space Croppers" continues the storyline of Galactica's arrival at Earth, suggesting that the Cylons are now very close to finding out the location of the planet, and establishing the first colony from the Fleet on the Earth.
- In fact, the opening battle apparently takes place near Saturn in our solar system since the planet is seen in the background, courtesy of reused Agro Ship footage from the 1972 film Silent Running.
- If the series had continued, a conflict at Earth between the Colonials and the Cylons would have seemed to be a logical next step for the storyline.
Noteworthy Dialogue[edit]
- The Imperious Leader orders an attack on the Galactican Fleet's agricultural ships:
- Imperious Leader: I'm growing impatient waiting for the Galactican fleet to lead us to the last outpost of humanity. Launch a full-scale attack on their agricultural ships. We must destroy their food supply, thereby forcing them to lead us to Earth.
- Centurion: By your command.
Official Statements[edit]
- Chris Bunch discusses the episode in his interview with Susan Paxton:
- Chris Bunch: [The episode] aired simply because Glen [Larson] has the wonderful habit of rolling paper into the typewriter, whackin’ away, and sooner or later coming up with a plot. In this case, he came up with a plot about page 56. So he simply wrote on and at page 62 typed END OF PART ONE. The turkey ran three parts before he finished, and was shown with Bob [McCullough]’s script in the middle.[3]
- Galactica 1980 story editor Chris Bunch on this episode:
- Q: How far in advance were the episodes filmed?
- Bunch: Space Croppers went out on satellite to New York twenty minutes before air time. This was the only freelance script or even staff script that was filmed because there were problems, like Larson was stuck on an episode or couldn't get the Lear Jet to pick him up in Hawaii or whatever.
- When Larson is worried about a show, or trying to make it work, he writes every script. Every goddamned script. So there was a lotta fallout with scripts being commissioned and abandoned right and left and down the center.[4]
Guest Stars[edit]
- Ned Romero as Hector Alonzo
- Dana Elcar as Steadman
- Ana Alicia as Gloria Alonzo
- Anna Navarro as Louise Alonzo
- Bill Cort as Trent
- Bill McKinney as Barrett
- Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Colonel Boomer
- Booth Colman as Rogers
- Joaquin Garay III as Chris Alonzo
- Andy Jarrell as Maze
- Phil Levien as Dante
- Dennis Haysbert as Imperious Leader (voice, credited as "The Creature")
- John Daytona as Foley
- Gordon Haight as Deacon
- Stefan Haves as Channon
- Lance Mugleston as Pilot
- Michael Brick as Super Scout
- Ronnie Densford as Super Scout
- Mark Everett as Super Scout
- Georgi Irene as Super Scout
- Tracy Justrich as Super Scout
- Lindsay Kennedy as Super Scout
- David Larson as Super Scout
- Eric Larson as Super Scout
- Michelle Larson as Super Scout
References[edit]
- ↑ Sheba's Galaxy: The Ultimate Battlestar Galactica Information Site
- ↑ Sheba's Galaxy: The Ultimate Battlestar Galactica Information Site
- ↑ Paxton, Susan J.. Battlestar Zone Interview: Chris Bunch (backup available on Archive.org) (in ). Retrieved on 11 August 2007.
- ↑ Galactic Sci-Fi Television Series Revisited. Alpha Control Press, 1995.