Daybreak, Part I

"Daybreak, Part I" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 4, Episode 19
Writer(s)	Ronald D. Moore
Story by
Director	Michael Rymer
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	421
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	March 13, 2009
CAN airdate	Early 2009
UK airdate	Early 2009
DVD release
Population	39,516 survivors ( 5)
Additional Info
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Islanded In a Stream of Stars	Daybreak, Part I	Daybreak, Part II
Related Information
Official Summary
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Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
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Overview

Galactica begins to be stripped of parts, and Adama calls for volunteers for a final mission.

Summary

Notes

• This episode is the first part of a three hour series finale.
• The episode does not have an opening teaser beyond the "Previously..." segment and a brief depiction of Galactica deckhands and several Baseship Number Eight pilots guiding passengers to ships and other Galactica bound ships from the Baseship. Nor does the opening credits include clips from the episode, the first time this has happened since the start of Season 3.
• We finally learn Cottle's first name: Sherman. Adama calls him by it when telling him he's too valuable for the fleet to lose.
• It is revealed that Laura Roslin had two sisters (one pregnant), and that they and her father were killed in an automobile accident at some point before she was appointed as Secretary of Education under the Adar Administration.
• Baltar's father appears for the first time, and it's confirmed that Baltar's accent is an affected one as he had previously admitted to doing so in Dirty Hands.
• Baltar forgot then name of Caprica-Six despite having a relationship with her.
• Cultural oddity: keep an eye on the rear window of Baltar's limo for a recognizable Vancouver, B.C. street sign.
• After several episodes leaving the facts open to speculation, it is confirmed that the Galactica pilots that took part in the mutiny, such as Racetrack, were incarcerated and not executed. Ronald D. Moore had previously said that Racetrack, Skulls and other mutiny participants were confined on the prison ship Astral Queen in his podcast for Deadlock. Also confirmed Galen Tyrol was imprisoned for his role in unwittingly helping Boomer to escape with Hera (a scene indicating this was filmed for "Islanded in a Stream of Stars" but cut from the televised version).
• For the first time in many episodes, the six surviving members of the Significant Seven appear in the same episode (albeit Leoben appears only in the opening recap).
• In the flashback to Starbuck's apartment, the painting of the Eye of Jupiter can be seen behind her when she opens the door.

Analysis

• Cavil plans to use Hera to find out how she was created in order to continue the Cylon species, presumably through normal reproduction.
  • It also proves both Starbuck's and Athena's worst fears that Cavil intends to dissect Hera to discover the secret of procreation.
• Roslin likely feels quite protective of Hera as despite being barely able to walk, she volunteers for the rescue mission (although her love for Adama likely also played a part in her decision).
• Cottle may be either the best doctor in the fleet or one of the only ones as Adama says he's too valuable for the fleet to lose on the rescue mission.
• Baltar seems conflicted when volunteers are called. This inner conflict stems from his earlier conversation with Lee Adama where he confessed that he had never done anything for purely selfless motivations with no gain for himself. He does not, however, cross the line and join the volunteers.
  • If Baltar does join, then it would seem likely that all the elements are in place to fulfil the Opera House vision: Athena, Roslin, Caprica Six and Baltar will all be in pursuit of Hera.
• Much of the crew is loyal enough to Adama that they're willing to go on a likely one way mission to rescue someone just because he asked.
• In the brig Tyrol tells Helo-who is surprisingly civil even sympathetic toward Tyrol given his hand in the abduction-that they are all the same referring to the Eights. He says it as a word of advice and warning. That he made them the same and therefore can only expect betrayal from Athena as what happened to Tyrol at the hands of Boomer. However, given the fact that he has no first hand knowledge of making the Eights and the other Cylons and the psychic pain Galen suffered at the betrayal, his opinion most likely comes from deep, deep, abiding pain and not a intellectual analysis in his disregard of the individuality of Athena and the other Eights and particularly Athena's track record of loyalty. This also maybe a case of misery loves company and Tyrol wants to see Helo and Athena to allay his own feelings of being duped, by saying they are all a like and putting doubt in Helo's mind. Also, by claiming that Athena and the other Eights are just machines this could mitigate the guilt for his role in the abduction and possible death of Hera. If Athena is just a machine, then she cannot be hurt emotionally. She has no emotions, just a programmed facsimile. Tyrol wouldn't have to feel responsible for such pain since as a machine, she can't really feel it.

Questions

• What was the purpose of the seemingly random and disjointed flashbacks to Caprica City prior to the Cylon attack?
  • Most likely just to provide a last minute fleshing out of the biographies of the characters. Zak Adama was depicted for the first time.
• Did any of the other former mutineers, besides Racetrack and Skulls, volunteer to participate in the mission?
• Has Cavil given up on the idea of salvaging Resurrection Technology?
• As the episode began, Galactica was already being cannibalized for parts; does this mean it will be lacking vital components during the upcoming mission, or has Adama stopped the salvaging?
• With only a single, two-hour episode left, will Galen Tyrol learn of Tory Foster's murder of Cally?
• How does Sam Anders know the location of The Colony, which was moved prior to the Cylon Civil War (and therefore would not be in the same location he could remember, even assuming he has access to all his memories when "hooked up")?

Guest Stars

• Rekha Sharma as Tory Foster
• Kate Vernon as Ellen Tigh
• Dean Stockwell as Number One
• Rick Worthy as Number Four
• Matthew Bennett as Number Five
• Donnelly Rhodes as Dr. Sherman Cottle
• Bodie Olmos as Lieutenant Brenden "Hotdog" Costanza
• Kerry Norton as Layne Ishay
• Lara Gilchrist as Paulla Schaffer
• Leela Savasta as Tracy Anne
• Tobias Mehler as Zak Adama
• Leah Cairns as Lieutenant Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson
• Brad Dryborough as Lieutenant Louis Hoshi
• Colin Lawrence as Lieutenant Hamish "Skulls" McCall
• Colin Corrigan as Marine Allan Nowart
• Darcy Laurie as Dealino
• Finn R. Devitt as Nicholas Tyrol
• Iliana Gomez-Martinez as Hera Agathon
• Antony Holland as Julius Baltar
• Simone Bailly as Shona
• Elan Ross Gibson as Nurse Barbara
• France Perras as Sandra
• Sarah Deakins as Cheryl
• Tiffany Burns as Reporter Carolyn
• Kevin McNulty as Frank Porthos
• Stefanie Samuels as Police Officer
• Richard Jollymore as Marine #1
• Anthony St. John as Marine #2