August, 1996 Thanks again to Troy for letting me tackle this episode. And now, here's my summary as per the structure set by Liz and Michele. Chronology-The last episode of the series, and therefore the last episode in the timeline of the "real, official" BG universe. A. What We Learn In This Episode-First Appearance 1. For the first time, we see sections of a Cylon baseship other than the commander's throne room and main computer center. Of particular interest are the cavernous landing bay area and the central shaft that contains a ladder leading to all decks. 2. The Galactica's celestial dome is the last of several that had originally been built for navigational purposes. B. New Technical/Cultural Information 1. Apollo mentions that the Galactica was launched over 500 yahrens ago. 2. Colonel Tigh reveals that the normal full complement of a basestar is 300 fighters, and that they are armed with 100 defensive turrets and two mega pulsars, one on each side. Presumably, these are synonymous terms for the missile launchers that Starbuck and Apollo both knocked out when they took on the two basestars in "Living Legend." 3. We only see a gold-plated command centurion running the basestar. This means that IL Cylons like Lucifer haven't been assigned to every basestar in the Cylon fleet. Considering how very far away this one is from its home base, it could very well be that this is a much older basestar than Baltar's or Imperious Leader's and hasn't been back for an upgrade that would have seen at least one IL stationed aboard. 4. The Galactica evidently has a full complement of 150 vipers since after revealing that the basestar has 300 fighters, Adama mentions that they'll be outnumbered 2 to 1. This contradicts Omega's statement in "Saga" that 69 vipers survived the destruction of the rest of the Colonial Fleet but might be explained by the addition of new vipers originally from the Pegasus. In addition, there is the possibility that some more vipers originally stationed to ground based garrisons on the twelve worlds were able to join up with the Galactica after Omega made his comment. 5. The state of Colonial intelligence gathering agencies was evidently not very good prior to the Holocaust, since neither Adama nor any other warrior has a good conception of the layout of a basestar's interior, thus precipitating the need to turn to Baltar. 6. The vast size of the Galactica can even confuse their long-time commander since he remarks that he'd "forgotten" about the celestial dome. This would evidently expalin why Adama didn't have it dismantled on any of the Galactica's last refits at the home base. C. Story Arcs 1. The Cylons make their first real appearance since part one of "War Of The Gods." ("Baltar's Escape doesn't count). Twelve sectans passed between WOTG and TMWNL, so it's been more than a yahren since they last crossed paths, hence Adama's remark "I thought we lost them for good." The presence of only one basestar, bears out Adama's observation that the Cylons have evidently dispersed their fleet over a wide perimeter, and sets up the prospect that appearances by the Cylons were going to be less frequent in the second season. 2. Adama tells Baltar that upon the basestar's destruction, he intends to set him free on a barren planet with adequate food, shelter, and (after some prodding) a short-range communication set. Obviously, the writers realized that there wasn't much to do with Baltar locked up in the prison barge forever, so that if he were to be ever seen again it would most likely be back in his familiar role of basestar commander pursuing the Galactica. But as the "short-range" qualification and the "only basestar in the galaxy" references indicate, that reappearance would be a long time in coming in the second season. (After all, how long would it take for the Cylon capital to realize that one of their basestar's is missing and then get another one out to the area so Baltar can be rescued?) 3. The receiving of a transmission that turns out to be from the Apollo XI mission bears out the point established in WOTG and TMWNL that the Ship of Lights did give the Galactica accurate information on the general heading for Earth. However, the fact that Boomer suggests that the transmission is intergalactic and could have originated a long time ago, suggests that Earth is still a long ways off and by the time its discovered, it could be thousands of years later than present-day Earth (Obviously NOT 11 years later as the wretched G80 would have us believe!) 4. I have to digress on this point to explain how the transmission the Galactica picked up did not necessarily originate in 1969. The closeups we could see of the transmission are NOT from the original live telecasts of the moon landing. They're from the films that were shot by the astronauts during the flight that weren't developed until later. The TV audiences at the time were watching network simulations over the audio transmissions, and therefore what the Galctica picked up is some kind of broadcast that took place AFTER the actual moon landing. How much later is anyone's guess. 5. For the first time since WOTG, when Count Iblis noted that Apollo seemed to be taking an interest in Sheba, the hint of a potential romance between Apollo and Sheba in the second season is developed. It's something that many BG fan-fic writers (including yours truly) and the comic book authors have picked up on a great deal since. Although some of the dialogue that sets this development up is, as will be dealt with later, very awkward and poor (though not IMO as bad when compared with scenes from some of the episodes immediately preceding this one), the introduction of the idea represents a giant step forward in the development of the series. Likewise, there is the possibility that Starbuck and Cassiopeia may have taken their relationship a further step in the next season since this is the first time we see Cassie lose her cool over Starbuck getting himself into dangerous situations. D. Strengths I've touched on the general points above. I think the reason why this episode works so well is because it manages to combine great action and character development in the same way that "Living Legend" brilliantly did. IMO, I really think the four episodes preceding this one were the worst clunkers of the entire series in terms of implausibility and bad dialogue/acting. I can still recall watching this episode when it first aired and thinking that the show was finally getting back to the sense of fun it had in the first episodes, which seemed to disappear in the later ones. The fact that it ends with so much unfulfilled potential about where the future of BG would have gone is frustrating in one sense, but at the same time it succeeds because it at least provided us with a lot of intriguing hints to go on and use our imaginations about that I don't think would have been possible if "Experiment In Terra" or "Take The Celestra" had been the last episode. E. Character Development 1. Adama- Three wonderful touches in this episode reveal both Adama's pragmatic streak, as well as his own inner frustration. After playing the role of the cautious commander who doesn't want to take risks against a basestar in previous episodes ("Saga", "LPOTG", and "Living Legend") he finally lets a whole yahren's frustration explode in the simple phrase "I'm tired of running." At the same time though, he manages to retain his pragmatism in a way that Commander Cain never would have. The decision to use Baltar to get the information the Galactica needs to guarantee victory almost puts one in mind of Churchill putting aside his distaste of communism by accepting an alliance with Stalin to defeat Hitler. In this case, there can be no time to worry about whether devotion to principle is being violated by promising to free the agent of the colonies destruction. Keep in mind also, that Adama is probably aware that once the process of freeing Baltar goes ahead he could end up facing enormous backlash from disgruntled members of the Council who were held hostage by Baltar in "Baltar's Escape" and from elements of the population who "rejoiced like a sunburst" when Baltar was captured. Adama's approach to the engagment with the basestar also reveals a pragmatic approach when compared with Commander Cain's engagement with the two basestars in "Living Legend." Evidently, the missile banks represent the most pwerful weaponry a battlestar carries but whereas Cain fires all of his at point blank range, Adama meticulously avoids using them and relies on more conventional laser banks. Adama evidently thinks that since there's no way of ever replenishing their most powerful weapon source, its better to avoid using them if it can be done. 2. Apollo- In "Saga" Apollo remarked to Zac that once the war was officially over, he was looking forward to the challenge of deep star exploration. This suggestion that Apollo might have chosen a path other than military service if conditions had been right surfaces again in the opening sequence when he agrees with Starbuck's suggestion that he would have preferred "knocking around some planetary system in a sublight rocket" hundreds of yahrens ago. One often senses that Apollo would have been more comfortable in the role of explorer than warrior, and this scene only vaildates the idea even more. 3. Boomer- "Fire In Space" gave Boomer a chance to showoff his technical wizadry, although his constant references to having hotwired hovermobiles as a kid didn't hint at the full depth of electronic knowledge he shows off in this episode. Now we learn tha next to Wilker, he's regarded as the best whiz on long-range transmissions there is, and also has the ability to come up with something impromptu like the recognition transmitter. We're also reminded of how much of a par his mind really is with Starbuck since he's the first one to figure out the "waggling" of the Cylon fighter. 4. Baltar- The strange thing about Baltar is you never know if you're going to see him go over the top or act with dignified restraint. This time, it's the latter. The episode reinforces that first and above all, Baltar's motives aren't based on any sense of loyalty to humanity or Cylons, or any desire of revenge against Adama, but are based on putting his finger to the wind, seeing which way the wind is blowing and doing whatever it takes to be on the winning side no matter how much it contradicts his actions on other occasions. 5. Cassiopeia- The trend of the Starbuck-Cassiopeia relationship's growing intensity that had been established in TMWNL continues. In the early stages of their relationship, Cassiopeia was much more tolerant of the fact that Starbuck was always putting himself in danger (See especially "The Long Patrol" and "The Young Lords"), but this marks the first time she loses her cool completely. It does represent a logical step though, in light of her jealous display in "Take The Celestra". However, this critical scene of opening up to Starbuck on a totally new level gets muddied up thanks to the worst line in the whole script, which will be dealt with later. 6. Sheba- It's becoming fashionable on this mailing list to bash Sheba, but I think the likelihood of her being paired with Apollo only represents another positive step for the series. I'm willing to overlook the awkward manner in which the script suddenly tried to force them together in light of the fact that Sheba has probably not had anything resembling a serious relationship up to this point. Is it really likely that anyone on the Pegasus would have tried to start something with her when they would have had to risk incurring Cain's wrath if the whole thing went awry? A more serious question to consider though, is whether Sheba is only trying to manipulate Apollo (at least one person on the list raised this possibility) I don't think so for the simple reason that after Sheba leaves, Richard Hatch gives one of his finest moments by saying nothing and then turning his head and seemingly wondering if he's finally realizing something he's tried not to give much thought to before. If one thinks back to the awkward way he brushes off Sarah's advance in "Greetings From Earth" (where Hatch regrettably turns in a very bad performance) the contrast with how he reacts here only convinces me that even if the scene isn't written perfectly, it still works in the long-range scheme of things. F. Plot Holes/Awkward Dialogue 1. The major problem I have in terms of story plausibility comes at the very end of the episode. If all the surviving Cylon fighters are making suicide runs on the Galactica, wouldn't it make more sense for Boomer, Sheba and every one else to still be out there? Have they forgotten what just two suicide hits were able to do in "Fire In Space"? 2. A minor point-where exactly is Wilker's lab? We're told at one point that he's away on the electronics ship, but at the end we hear that "Wilker's lab was destroyed in the battle." Obviously, Wilker's lab has to be on the Galactica, since we saw no other ships attacked and "Baltar's Escape" established him as working on the main ship. Why then, does he have to be away on the "electronics ship"? 3. The way Sheba and Cassiopeia react to Boomer when he wakes up is one low point. And aren't Apollo and Starbuck being a little cavalier in letting them come inside the bunk room with every male pilot asleep and in a state of undress? 4. Why the heck do the four of them act as though they were having an orgy in the celestial dome when first Adama, and then Tigh ask about what they were doing up there? 5. Why does Sheba, who wasn't there when it happened, think she can so brazenly talk about Serena when she confronts Apollo? This doesn't bother me as much as it does others, because I suspect that if Sheba's been eyeing Apollo she may have found out the full story about Serena and Apollo's "death wish" from Athena or someone else. (Hey Athena's got to be talking to *someone* even if we aren't seeing her anymore.) 6. My biggest problem with the dialogue in the Apollo-Sheba sequence is that Apollo makes no reference to Boxey. You'd think that he'd be able to respond to the charge that he's got a death wish lurking inside him by reminding her that he's got a son who's already lost a parent to think about. This lack of reference to Boxey isn't handled as badly as it is in the very bad Apollo-Sarah scene in GFE, but it's still a problem. 7. Cassiopeia gets first prize in the clunky dialogue division. "Knowing you, you'll probably find some beautiful female prisoner to rescue!" GIVE ME A BREAK! Is this the mark of the mature woman who almost laughed when she saw how Starbuck was juggling her and Athena during "The Long Patrol"? I almost wonder if Starbuck's incredulity in this scene is magnified by Dirk Benedict wondering, "Who wrote this stupid line?" (I got a better idea, maybe Cassie's outburst is a foreshadowing of G80 lines waiting in the wings?) 8. Tigh's abrupt about-face on engaging the base ship doesn't quite ring true. G. Sci-Fi Channel Cuts 1. The tail end of the scene in the bunk where Boomer gets out of bed and when asked, "You're not going dressed like that are you?" and is greeted with more silly giggles from Sheba and Cassiopeia. Oddly enough, after Sci-Fi cuts to the next scene they restore a few seconds missing in the syndicated version where Boomer first attempts to clear up the audio of the signal. 2. When Apollo tells Starbuck their plan will work if they use Baltar's Cylon fighter, there is a jump-cut to Adama exclaiming, "You know, I think your plan will work." This is a critical cut that makes one of the plot points totally incomprehensible, because without the missing scene, we have no idea why Adama has to ask Baltar for information. As it originally plays, Adama shakes his head no and rejects the idea. He points out that since neither Apollo or Starbuck know where the command center is, they can't guarantee success. In a nifty reference to "Lost Planet Of The Gods" Apollo hastily suggests that Starbuck ought to know since he'd been aboard Baltar's basestar. Starbuck protests, "They didn't exactly give me the grand tour. I know that central core leads to all decks but I don't know how to get to the command center." Only then, does Adama suddenly say, "You know, I think your plan will work." The absence of this scene in the cut version is inexcusable. 3. After Adama says to Baltar, "That's the risk you'll have to take," a short silent scene of Baltar extending his hand indicating his acceptance of the deal, and Adama rising to shake his hand is cut. 4. After Apollo and Starbuck leave the Galactica, the much reviled scene between Cassiopeia and Sheba looking off from the celestial dome ("Why did I have to fall in love with a warrior?", "I don't know.") is gone. This also eliminates a few seconds of Starbuck and Apollo flying in the Cylon fighter. 5. A few stock shots of the Viper/Cylon battle, in particular one of a Cylon trailing a viper on Boomer's attack computer, are missing. This ends my summation of what I think is one of the best BG episodes. I hope I've done it justice. Eric Paddon