Earth (1980)

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide
Revision as of 23:33, 28 December 2007 by Joe Beaudoin Jr. (talk | contribs) (+ composition, year of arrival)
For information on the Earth of the Re-imagined Series, see Earth (RDM).
For information on the Earth of the Original Series, see Earth (TOS).
Dr. Zee's simulation of a Cylon attack on Los Angeles.

Thirty years after the Battle of Cimtar, the Fleet's quest to find the Thirteenth Colony of Earth becomes a reality.

Much to the dismay of Adama and his Galactica crew, their brother tribe on Earth was underdeveloped technologically in comparison to the destroyed worlds of the Twelve Colonies of Man and would not be able to defend themselves from any Cylon encounters. At the time of their arrival, the year is 1980 A.D.

Adama and Doctor Zee map out a plan to accelerate Earth technology to aid in their defense with Warriors Troy and Dillon leading expeditions to the planet (Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I).

Unfortunately, in addition to chance encounters by Cylon patrols, a rogue Quorum member, Xaviar, attempts to force Earth's technology advances with more dramatic and destructive means.

Composition

Earth's composition is very much astonishing to the Colonials. According to Adama, Earth's "proximity to the sun provides the only climate in the galaxy comfortably able to support life as we know it". Furthermore, he explains that seven-tenths of the Earth is ocean, which astonishes the council members and the Warriors present, but assures them that there's "plenty of room for all our people".

He further notes that the seven principal landmasses, two of which (Antartica and the North Pole) are polar ice caps, could be "easily reclaimed" by their technology (Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I).

Notes

  • Most of the Earth scenes in Galactica 1980 took place in Southern California, with the main exception of the time travel sequence to Nazi Germany (which still looked a lot like Southern California) and the trip that Troy and Dillon take to New York City.
  • The memorable attack simulation by the Cylons, created by Doctor Zee, focuses particularly on Hollywood, as noted with the destruction of the Capitol Records Building.
  • There were hints in the Original Series that Earth may be technologically advanced (e.g. Terra). However, perhaps due to budgetary constraints in the sequel series, Earth was ultimately revealed to be the contemporary one.[citation needed]