Scar

"Scar" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
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Overview

An ace Cylon Raider, nicknamed "Scar" by the Viper pilots, has been causing problems for the Fleet; Starbuck and Kat compete to hunt it down while Starbuck pines for "a dead guy".

Summary

• Starbuck and Kat hunt down a Cylon Raider which has killed several pilots.
  • Source: Patriot Report

Questions

• Is Scar a reincarnation of the Cylon Raider that Starbuck captures in You Can't Go Home Again?
• The Fleet has obtained enough metal ore to (eventually) construct two new squadrons of Vipers: will they be Mark II's, or Mark VII's?
  • It is likely that the Pegasus production facilities will create Mark VIIs, as the Pegasus is a more modern Battlestar than the Galactica (which does not have these facilities). Since the Mark IIs are outdated models that were only on Galactica for museum purposes, the blueprints and equipment molds in the production facilites are most likely not set to produce equipment for the older Vipers.
• Did Starbuck and Apollo actually "have sexual intercourse" briefly and then stop, or did they never actually get that far?
• With Thrace serving on Galactica, who is instructing nuggets on Pegasus?
• If Raiders reincarnate so that Cylon forces can benefit from their learned experience, why don't Centurions? (It was noted that Centurions cannot reincarnate in RDM's blog on February 20, 2006).
  • The three basic Cylon models represent something of a spectrum of advancement: from their original, purely mechanical form (the Centurions), to the almost-entirely "organic" forms (the humanoid Cylons). The Raiders are described (podcast, "Six Degrees of Separation") as supposed to be "in the gap" between Number Six and a Centurion. Centurions cannot resurrect, and they also contain none of the more advanced bio-mechanical technology the Cylons have developed (as demonstrated by destroyed Centurions, etc). Raiders, on the other hand, do contain "bio-mechanical" technology, albeit not as advanced as that used in the humanoid Cylons. Perhaps the resurrection technology is based on that bio-mechanical "wetware".
  • It is possible that Centurions are not reincarnated, as so relatively few were lost in the Destruction of the Twelve Colonies, that to reincarnate any lost to resistance attacks may not be cost-effective when compared against the need to have experienced fightercraft against the Galactica battlegroup.

Analysis

• The title "Scar" refers to the "ace" Cylon Raider this episode centers around. While all Cylon Raiders appear visually identical, this particular unit has extensive hull damage, whether from asteroid impacts, scoring from near-misses or other debris, giving it a weathered, craggy look - essentially, "battle scars".
• Many of the pilots Starbuck toasts are minor and recurring characters who have died in previous episodes. In the order she lists them:
  • Flat Top - killed in deck accident in "Act of Contrition", along with twelve others.
  • Chuckles - killed in action during the Battle for the Tylium Asteroid in "The Hand of God".
  • Jolly - killed in action in the Miniseries, along with nineteen others.
  • Crashdown - shot by Dr. Gaius Baltar in "Fragged".
  • Flyboy - killed in action by a Cylon Centurion in Valley of Darkness.
  • Stepchild - killed in action during the Battle for the Tylium Asteroid in "The Hand of God".
  • Fireball - killed in action during the Battle for the Tylium Asteroid in "The Hand of God".
• Among those not mentioned were Capt. Jackson "Ripper" Spencer, KIA in the Miniseries, and Karma, KIA in "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I".

• During the "previously on Battlestar Galactica" intro, a clip of a scene which has never actually aired before in any episode was played. Judging by Adama's rank insignia, it appears to be from the time when he was still a Commander. In the scene, Starbuck argues to Adama and Roslin that they must mount a rescue operation to save the Caprica Resistance, but Adama and Roslin are in agreement that it is impossible and tell her they can't. What episode this was originally meant for is unknown:
  • Starbuck:The Resistance base camp is here (points at a map) 300 klicks north of the only Cylon airbase in the area...
  • Roslin: I respect what you're trying to do here, however...
  • Starbuck: We have a duty to the people we left behind.
  • Adama: We understand that.
  • Starbuck: We have to find a way to Jump back to Caprica, and go get them--
  • Adama:--Kara!
• This episode was the third of the most recent four episodes to begin in medias res, after Resurrection Ship, Part II and Black Market. Though the technique was used well in this episode -- aside from unacceptable use of the same endpoint, with Starbuck and Scar charging toward each other, for both acts III and IV -- its apparent prevelance in the series here detracts from the episode. (However, RDM's podcast for Black Market indicates that beginning that episode with Lee's confrontation with Phelan was not part of the original script and was done as an act of "desperation".)

Notes

• As most of this episode is told in flashback, the survivor count is a little confusing. The episode begins with Kat and Starbuck's final mission against Scar, then flashes back to 4 days earlier, within the teaser. The survivor count is then shown to be 4 less than last weeks. Does this include the pilots killed by Scar? (because most of what we seen in the episode happens in the "past"?)
  • At least three people died onscreen in Black Market (Fisk, Phelan, and Fisk's killer), and there was more than 1 pilot killed by Scar, so presumably the survivor count is for the "96 hours previously" section.
• As the episode begins, mining ship Majahual has been conducting operations in a thick asteroid field for 29 days.
• Admiral Adama has dispatched Pegasus to protect the bulk of the fleet while Galactica safeguards Majahual.
  • The last time Pegasus was seen with the Fleet was approximately three days before the end of "Black Market", meaning mining this episode takes place a minimum of 26 days after that.
    • Just because we the audience last saw Pegasus three days before the end of "Black Market" doesn't mean that the Fleet separated before the end of that episode. This episode could still take place over 29 days after the end of that.
• Kat is now qualified to fly Viper mk. VIIs.
• New nuggets are still being trained and added to the fleet's ranks. Kat's assertion that "no replacements are coming" in "Final Cut" appears to no longer be relevant, possibly as a result of the arrival of Pegasus and her resources.
  • It was mentioned in "Act of Contrition" that Galactica didn't have any flight training simulators and so preferred to train pilots that had prior flight experience. With the arrival of Pegasus it is likely that the fleet now has Viper flight simulators and so pilots can now be trained more easily.
• Nuggets enter the Colonial Fleet at the rank of Ensign after completing flight training.
• Pilot training apparently takes place on Pegasus, with recruits being assigned to Galactica afterward.
  • This is probably a result of the circumstances imposed by Majhual's extended mining operation. Pegasus is outside of the combat zone, guarding the civilians, while Galactica was constantly on guard for attack. Logically, trainee pilots would not be deployed to the combat zone until after they got their wings. Now that they have finished mining and have moved on, training may continue on both.
• Kara Thrace retains the rank of captain, but is now serving as a pilot on Galactica under CAG Lee Adama.
• The Fleet has found an asteroid containing large supplies of vital metals needed to build completely new Vipers in earnest (instead of making do with what spare parts they have). The Fleet has obtained are large enough supply of metals to create two entire squadrons of Vipers (it has never been definatively stated how many Vipers are in a "squadron", but based on non-official concept outlines various interviews, it is probably 20).
  • Pegasus has Viper production facilities. Possibly one of her more modern capabilities that Galactica lacks. During the episode, the Pegasus production team finishes its first combat-ready Viper.
• Kat ends up taking down Scar in the asteroid field around the mining ship Majahual, after Starbuck led him to her (instead of killing Scar and herself by making a suicide run). Kara's Viper was damaged in the dog-fight.
• Anders appears in flashbacks (re-used footage) in this episode.
• Baltar and Number Six do not appear in this episode.
• Chief Tyrol does not appear in this episode. Cally is mentioned, but does not appear.
• Lt. Gaeta does appear in this episode, seen behind Tigh in CIC, but he has no speaking lines.
• Starbuck and Kat use the word motherfrakker in this episode, its second use since it was introduced in "Valley of Darkness"
• In the podcast, it is revealed that a scene was cut of the pilots auctioning off Riley's possessions; this was to be analagous to how on old 17th century vessels this would actually happen. There would be a shot of Apollo holding up his "skin" magazine and taking bids, etc. This "skin" magazine can be briefly seen when Starbuck is packing it into a box of Riley's personal effects (it's name appears to be "Nympho"). During the following scene when they're talking about Scar in the pilot's loungeroom ("88 hours ago"), if you look closely in the backround, you can see Hot Dog reading it, as he is supposed to have won the auction.

Noteworthy Dialogue

• After Starbuck pours Kat a drink in her new Galactica Top Gun mug, she raises a toast to nearly every pilot that has died since the re-imagined series began:

Starbuck: To BB, Jo Jo, Reilly, Beano, Dipper, Flat Top, Chuckles, Jolly, Crashdown, Sheppard, Dash, Flyboy, Stepchild, Puppet, Fireball...(stops, crying)

Apollo: To all of 'em.

Admiral Adama: So say we all.

Crew: So say we all!.

Starbuck: So say we all.

Official Statements

• According to an interview on Subject2Discussion.com on January 3rd, 2006, along with "Home" (Parts One and Two), this is one of Katee Sackhoff's favorite episodes.

Statistics

Production Notes

• Series 2 (2005 / 2006)
• Production Number: 2.15
• Airdate Order: 15 (of 20)

First Run Air Dates & Releases

• UK Airdate:
• US Airdate: 3 February 2006
• DVD Release (UK):
• DVD Release (US):
• Nielsen Rating: X.X million households, XXX share

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Re-imagined Series definition: initial skills training; can refer to basic military indoctrination, and arms and ground training ^{(TRS: "Fragged")}; and basic flight training ^{(TRS: "Miniseries")}

used to refer to military personnel who are confirmed deceased during a military engagement, see: KIA ^{(TRS: "Sacrifice")}

Re-imagined Series definition: the senior pilot on a battlestar

Re-imagined Series definition: nerve center or "bridge" of a battlestar, see: Combat Information Center