110

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"The Living Legend, Part I" An episode of the Original Series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 10
Writer(s)	Glen A. Larson
Story by	Ken Pettus Glen A. Larson
Director	Vince Edwards
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)	Lloyd Bridges as Commander Cain
Production No.	50919
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	1978-11-26
CAN airdate	{{{CAN airdate}}}
UK airdate
DVD release	2004-12-28
Population	survivors
Additional Info
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
The Young Lords	The Living Legend, Part I	The Living Legend, Part II
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition
iTunes: [{{{itunes}}} USA]

Galactica is reunited with Pegasus, a sister battlestar previously thought destroyed. Led by the legendary and sometimes arrogant Commander Cain, the fleet is torn in its loyalty between Adama and Cain, but they eventually join forces in a daring attack on the Cylons.

Summary

• Apollo and Starbuck are being pursued by unidentified objects from behind them in the heart of the Delphian Empire.

• The objects are none other then two other Colonial Vipers flown by Lieutenant Sheba, and Lieutenant Bojay.

• Just as Sheba and Bojay are about to finish off Apollo and Starbuck, Sheba's scanner shows that the occupant of the Viper she is pursuing is human and orders a cease fire. In the ensuing dialogue, Apollo and Starbuck are informed that Sheba is strike leader of Silver Spar Squadron. They are re-united with Bojay, who once served with Galactica's Blue Squadron before he was transferred to the Fifth Fleet that perished at the Battle of Molecay, two yahrens before.

• Sheba and Bojay escort a bewildered Apollo and Starbuck aboard the battlestar Pegasus, commanded by the legendary Commander Cain.

• Aboard Galactica, Flight Sergeant Jolly reports to Commander Adama that the fleet is low on fuel. Colonel Tigh reports that there is what appears to be scans of something massive, the size of a Cylon city not too far off. Adama orders the fleet to dead stop while awaiting word on the fate of Apollo and Starbuck's patrol.

TV Guide ad for The Living Legend

• Apollo and Starbuck are re-united with warriors aboard Pegasus and are informed that Cain ordered the Pegasus out into deep space after the Battle of Molecay. They have been fighting the Cylons and using fuel and weapons from the Cylons to fuel their own personal war effort.

• Colonel Tolan, Cain's second in command, takes Apollo and Starbuck to Cain's quarters, where are re-united with the "living legend." They inform Cain of the fate of the Colonies, and of the 220 ship rag-tag fleet. Cain, now with information of Galactica surviving the war, declares that the Cylon Empire is about to fall as he plans to mount an offensive.

• Aboard Galactica, Athena informs Adama and Colonel Tigh that there is a visual echo coming from the scans ahead. The scanner shows a battlestar. Omega informs Adama of a message coming over Fleet Com-Line Alpha — a communications channel used only between Colonial warships. Adama feels the message is a hoax, but Cain appears on the monitor and informs Adama, much to the delight of the latter, that he will be aboard shortly.

• Cain, with Apollo and Starbuck in tow as he boards Galactica, informs Adama that the Cylons now control Gamoray, a society once thriving with 50 million people. This means the Cylons now control over half the universe.

• Cain had been doing strike runs on Gamoray for fuel to fund his war campaign, but could not figure out why the Cylons didn't send basestars to finish him off. His answer was now clear: the renegade traffic the Cylons were having problems with was Galactica and her fleet.

• Cain tries to get Adama to side with him in an effort to conquer the Cylons on Gamoray. But Adama declines, citing the safety of the fleet as his main priority.

• Aboard Pegasus, Cain meets with Starbuck and Apollo and asks about a woman he once knew before the war. It turns out the woman was Cassiopeia, the woman Starbuck is involved with. Cain then introduces the two to Sheba, his daughter.

• After the meeting Apollo asks Starbuck whether he plans to tell Cassiopeia about Cain's survival. Starbuck dismisses any suggestion of Cassiopeia rekindling a romance with Cain again, but Starbuck does tell her later that Cain is alive. Cassiopeia immediately runs off to reunite with her former lover aboard Pegasus. They share a tender embrace and reminisce before Cassiopeia tells Cain about her relationship with Starbuck. She asks Cain for time for her to think.

• Aboard Galactica, Apollo asks Starbuck how Cassiopeia took the news. Viewers learn a little of Starbuck's character: The warrior doesn't form deep attachments to people after being raised on his own. Young Boxey puts in his two cents in, reeling off a list of other women Starbuck has waiting for him.

• Back on Pegasus, Cain and Cassiopeia talk about Sheba and how their relationship may cause issues between Cain and his daughter.

• Meanwhile in the Officers' Lounge, Apollo and Starbuck meet with warriors from Silver Spar Squadron. Sheba and Apollo butt heads over the military differences between Adama and Cain. Cain enters the lounge with Cassiopeia and Sheba leaves, very uncomfortable with seeing her. Apollo confronts Sheba about the conflict, but Sheba says that working with Apollo won't be a problem.

• A meeting of the commanders is convened and a plan is made to intercept Cylon Tankers to provide fuel for the fleet. Adama proposes to use a squadron from each of the battlestars. Cain declines at first but Adama reminds him of the need for the warriors to integrate for the benefit of morale. Cain agrees, boasting that his warriors would be glad to pass along their experience to Galactica's warriors. Apollo is surprised by Cain's arrogance.

• During pre-launch, Sheba discovers that Cain has joined the mission, to her surprise and concern. During the mission they are intercepted by a Cylon patrol. Blue Squadron seems at the mercy of the Cylons until Silver Spar Squadron engages. Cain orders Blue Squadron to pursue while he goes off to take care of the tankers.

• Cain destroys the tankers against orders, and tells a disbelieving Apollo that he was firing at a Cylon fighter.

• Aboard Galactica, Cain maintains his story during a meeting with Adama, Apollo and Sheba, and also cites Blue Squadron's inexperience. Cain now pushes the attack on Gamoray to Adama, stating that it is now essential to seize fuel for the fleet. Adama tells Cain, rather tersely, that he will give his answer in the morning.

• Apollo knows the truth but remains silent. Confronting Sheba, she maintains that the tankers were hit by incidental fire. Apollo tells her that he has found a weakness or two.

• Another war meeting is convened and Cain pushes harder for a total victory at Gamoray. Adama again declines, citing the risk of too great a loss of life, and offers an alternative; Pegasus is carrying a full fuel load and Adama wishes to distribute part of that load amongst the fleet. Cain still feels a victory is possible. Adama is not interested and orders the fuel to be distributed. When Cain refuses the order, Adama (the ranking officer) relieves Cain of his command, and orders Tigh to assume the bridge of the Pegasus.

• In the Officers' Lounge, Sheba and Bojay tell Cain that the Pegasus's crew will follow his orders . Cain refuses, telling the two that what they are talking about is mutiny. Cain may be the stubbornest warrior in the fleet, but he's also the best, and won't leave the fleet defenseless.

• Aboard Baltar's basestar, Lucifer informs Baltar of the finding of the Colonial Fleet. Baltar tells Lucifer to prepare of an attack to finally finish off Galactica for good without support from Gamoray. All Baltar wants is a celebration from Gamoray and to take command of Gamoray for himself. Lucifer suggests that they go through the formality of destroying the humans before organising the victory celebrations.

• Lucifer questions Baltar's plan. Baltar responds that there are other IL-series Cylons that will gladly be at his side after the victory. Baltar then offers to personally lead the strike force to punctuate his point of victory much to Lucifer's surprise.

• Meanwhile Apollo, Starbuck, Boomer and Jolly board Pegasus for the fuel distribution. Tolan and Tigh confer on the Pegasus' bridge: Tolan wonders if they should wait until the bad moods on board from the warriors over the treatment of Cain subside. Tigh disagrees and orders the transfers to begin.

• In Pegasus landing bay, Galactica's warriors are met with resistance from Silver Spar Squadron, culminating in Apollo and Boomer drawing their pistols at Sheba and Bojay. Just as it appears a fight is imminent, an alert is sounded as Cylons attack the Fleet.

• On Galactica, Cain and Adama agree to use Galctica to defend the Fleet, while Pegasus accelerates to lightspeed to swing round behind the Cylon task force (the largest one since the destruction of the Colonies), and catch them between two fires.

• Cain flies his Viper back to Pegasus and informs Tolan and Tigh of his resumption of command on the battlestar. His crew cheers while Tolan tells Tigh that the situation isn't personal. Tigh understands, commenting "How can you fight a living legend?"

• Galactica takes heavy damage to her Alpha landing bay. Just as it seems the Cylons are going to destroy the ship, Baltar's Cylon pilot informs him of a second battlestar. Baltar is incredulous, but the pilot re-confirms the second battlestar's existence. When Baltar sees the Pegasus coming straight for him, he orders his pilot to retreat.

Notes

Developments

• This is the first episode that represents a shift where Caprica becomes the dominant colony mentioned. For instance, the Battle of Cimtar is referred to as primarily Caprica centered, with no mention of the other colonies, although all the other colonies were apparently equally targeted.
• This is the first mention of more then just one fleet in the Colonial Military. In the pilot there appeared to be only one main fleet. Pegasus was part of the Fifth Fleet.

Behind the Scenes

"The Last Legend"

• This story began life as a writing assignment issued by Don Bellisario to Jim Carlson and Terrence McDonnell (after the decision to bring Galactica as a weekly television series was made), who were directed to write a single act. The general story idea to write an episode that was Patton in space." After turning in the first act the very next morning, Bellisario directed them to write the second act that was also done within a day. No further acts were commissioned, as Carlson and McDonnell were both hired on as story editors due to the strength of the first two acts, and the fact that Glen A. Larson decided to write a two-parter using many of Carlson and McDonnell's ideas from the two acts.
• The Carlson and McDonnell acts (twenty-five pages in total) were sent to Anne Lockhart in order to entice her to the show, as she had rejected the part of Serina. This gambit, along with a personal call from Larson saying that he would be writing the part for her, worked as she signed on for Sheba based on the strength of those pieces, a fact not known to McDonnell until a few years prior to 2008.
• Cain was originally called "Jedidiah" by Carlson and McDonnell, which was done in keeping with Larson's penchant for biblical references.
• McDonnell believes that the name Sheba was also in the original partial script that he and Carlson had written.
• The script was titled "The Last Legend," before Larson took the story assignment.

"The Living Legend"

• Glen A. Larson deliberately left Commander Cain's fate vague, thus allowing for future stories with Cain and Pegasus.
• Larson also wrote in much of Cassiopeia's involvement with Cain and the attack on Gamoray as Laurette Spang approached Larson asking for her character to be more involved, feeling that "early on I felt that I just wasn't getting anything to do."
• During shooting, it was believed that Lockhart was only a guest star; it wasn't until later that, following conclusion of her contract for Galactica, that it was revealed that she would be a series regular.

Additional Releases

• This two-part episode and the episode "Fire in Space" were edited together for a video release called Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack. In this video, Jolly's report comes at the beginning, then followed by Apollo and Starbuck's patrol scene. The first 45 mins to an hour of this video were more narrative in nature with some scenes taken out completely from the original aired episodes.

Analysis

• In "The Living Legend," a decidedly popular episode of the original Galactica series, Adama finally meets his match, when confronted with another military leader, Commander Cain, who has his own league of loyal troops, and his own battlestar to boot. One of the few story arcs from the Original Series to be remade in the Re-imagined Series, "The Living Legend" provides many memorable moments, introduces a new regular character to the show (Lieutenant Sheba) and above all brings us Lloyd Bridges's interpretation of Commander Cain, an old "war daggit" if there ever was one.
• Dramatically, the juxtaposition of two battlestar crews is interesting, as loyalties are put to the test when the military philosophies of the two commanders clash. Thematically, however, the episode is perhaps a bit more unclear. Adama, who has reluctantly followed the edicts of the Council of Twelve, represents a sort of benign military rule, coupled with the religious mantle that he wears as the person who is guiding the Fleet to the promised land of Earth. Cain, patterned no doubt on George C. Scott's depiction of the famous WWII general in the acclaimed 1970 movie Patton, represents a different philosophy - A damn-the-torpedoes, full-steam-ahead military machismo that Adama worries will get everyone killed. This point of view is never really challenged, however, and Cain takes a good portion of his crew and the battlestar Pegasus with him on a military gamble that at the end of the episode is never confirmed to have worked or not. By surrendering on more than one occasion to Cain's view, Commander Adama seems to legitimate it, which may leave the viewer with the conclusion that Cain's philosophy is valuable and a good counterpoint to Adama's perspective.
• Cain is a character that was planned to return. Count Iblis suggests Sheba would see her father again a few episodes later, and there was apparently a script idea for a reunion had the series continued. Glen A. Larson's brief attempt to revive the series prior to the Moore production also involved Cain and the battlestar Pegasus, and the character has appeared in fan fiction and comics over the years.
• Cain's comments suggest the Cylon empire is not that vast or powerful as he estimates the two battlestars might be able to defeat the empire. We also learn that the addition of the relatively sparsely populated planet of Gamoray (50 million inhabitants) means the Cylons now control over half the (inhabited-?) "universe" and the conquest is deemed sufficiently important for the Cylon imperious leader to visit Gamoray in person.

Questions

• How many battlestars were part of the Fifth Fleet?
• How many Pegasus crew members lost their lives at Molecay?
• What colony does Cain originate from?
• Why does Adama order the Fleet to come to a "dead stop"? Why not simply shut off the engines and continue drifting forward through space?
• Again, when Baltar orders Lucifer to give him two of their best pilots, shouldn't all Centurions be equal in ability?
• How many other races have fallen to the Cylons since the destruction of the Twelve Colonies?

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Cain's thoughts on the Cylons:

Cain: Galmonging Cylons!

• Starbuck and Apollo discuss Starbuck's inability to admit he gets attached to people:

Apollo: Are you in a little pain?

Starbuck: No! What are you talking about?

Apollo: Hey, hey. It's me, Apollo, remember? We talk about things.

Starbuck: Yeah, well, I— I guess I never did like to admit that I form, uh... attachments.

Apollo: You don't even like to admit it to yourself. You know, I never understood that about you.

Starbuck: You were always part of a very big family, and I never had that. So I just grew up keeping the number of people around me as large as I could.

Apollo: So you couldn't be hurt by any particular one?

Starbuck: Look, I don't care if Cassiopeia... feels something for this Cain. I just don't understand the, um, combination. He's uh– he's uh–

Apollo: Too old?

Starbuck: Yeah.

Apollo: Starbuck, I think you'd better read up on your Book of the Word. Some of the Elders of Kobol were married to some very young wives.

Starbuck: Wives? Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves here? She wouldn't marry him. Anyway... who cares? Not me!

• Sheba on working with Apollo:

Sheba: Working with you won't be a problem.

• Apollo letting Sheba know that he knew the Cylon tankers were indeed destroyed by Cain:

Apollo: We have found a weakness or two now haven't we?

• Cain's toasting their premature belief of victory over the Cylons:

Cain: A toast to our victory over the Cylons!!

• Apollo objects to Cain's insinuation that Blue Squadron was involved in the Cylon tankers' destruction:

Apollo: (to Adama) Commander, with all due respect, Blue Squadron was nowhere in the vicinity when those tankers blew up!

• Baltar's Centurions attempt to tell Baltar about the second battlestar:

Centurion: Sir, I suggest you look at the other battlestar.

Baltar: That's impossible!

Centurion: No, it is a battlestar.

Deleted Scenes

See: The deleted scenes from this episode.

Official Statements

• Anne Lockhart (Sheba) discusses filming the Viper launch scene:

Anne Lockhart: I remember my first episode, which was the two-parter with Commander Cain…there are pieces of film which they will shoot and reuse constantly every episode, and the first time they had to shoot me in the [V]iper cockpit, shooting out of the Galactica, they gave me my helmet and said, here’s what you have to do…I had to lean back, like the gravity was forcing me back in my seat. Well, they started filming and I pushed myself back with all of my strength, hit my helmet, it flew up and hit me in the face, and that scene is in several episodes. I felt sooo stupid. The next time I did it I figured out to keep my head down and sent my back into the back of my seat instead of my head.

Guest Stars

• Anne Lockhart as Lieutenant Sheba
• Jack Stauffer as Bojay
• Rod Haase as Colonel Tolan
• Junero Jennings as Pegasus Bridge Officer

Novelization

The Berkely novelization adds a lot of nuances and details to the episode.

External Links

• The Living Legend full summary and review at Sheba's Galaxy

• The Living Legend deleted scenes

• The Pegasus Chronicles - four full-length novels available free online that continue the adventures of Commander Cain and the Pegasus.

References

"The Return of Starbuck" An episode of the Galactica 1980 series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 10
Writer(s)	Glen A. Larson
Story by
Director	Ron Satlof
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)	Dirk Benedict as Starbuck
Production No.	1.10
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	1980-05-04
CAN airdate	{{{CAN airdate}}}
UK airdate
DVD release
Population	survivors
Additional Info	Series Finale
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Space Croppers	The Return of Starbuck	(Series Cancellation)
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition
iTunes: USA

Doctor Zee relates a dream he had about a pilot called Starbuck to Commander Adama; thus revealing Starbuck's fate.

Summary

Act 1

• Doctor Zee is in Adama's quarters, asking him if he believes that dreams are relevant. Adama replies that some of them are.

• Zee tells Adama that he had a dream that he was neither born aboard Galactica or any of the other ships in the The Fleet. Adama confirms this.

• Zee asks who he is and of his origin; Adama instead asks about his dream.

• Zee relates to Adama that his dream is not about him, but of "a great Warrior" whose name was Starbuck. A shocked Adama stands up and tells Zee to please tell him of the dream.

• Years back, Starbuck and Boomer are on patrol, but are ambushed by Cylon Raiders as part of a "great battle".

• A Raider manages to damage Starbuck's Viper, but is able to execute a reverse thrust and thus the Cylons overshoot him. He then fires on a Raider, destroying one.

• In another, apparently damaged Raider, a Centurion comments that the move is unexpected and that the Warrior is very good; a small consolation, given that they will crash.

• In the battle, Starbuck's Viper is damaged severely, and he realizes he will not be able to make it back to the Fleet, much to Boomer's dismay.

• Boomer offers to stay with Starbuck for as long as he can. Starbuck balks at the offer, noting that the Fleet cannot afford to lose two pilots and their ships. Despite Boomer's insistence that he will get help, Starbuck tells Boomer that his first duty is to warn the Fleet.

• An emotionally distracted Boomer then asks if Starbuck will drift or try to find land; Starbuck affirms the latter. Boomer tells Starbuck to take care of himself, to which Starbuck replies in the affirmative.

• Starbuck tells Boomer to send Cassiopeia and Athena his love; but makes note that "tell them to not sit around waiting, I might like it where I'm going." The conversation is cut short when Starbuck tells Boomer that his support vapors are running low.

• Starbuck tells Boomer that he will be seeing him; Boomer gives his pal a thumb's up, Starbuck returns this gesture.

• Boomer veers off, telling his "dear, dear friend" that "if I could switch places with you, I would".

• Starbuck heads toward a system with three visible planetary bodies.

• Back at Galactica, the battlestar and her Vipers fight off Cylon Raiders.

• In a smoke-filled core command, Boomer tells a clean-shaven Adama that Starbuck is out there and needs their help. An emotional Adama replies that they can't go back for him, and that they would be lucky if they were able to save the Fleet from the Cylon attack.

• In reply to a question to Adama about never coming back, Adama informs Boomer in a raised voice that they can never do so, as there is "no going back, our enemy pushes us on and on and on, and until we're strong enough, or can find Earth and get help, we can never stop, or turn away, or look back!"

• Boomer begins to walk away without a word, but turns around and thanks Adama for his honesty. An officer notifies Adama that the Vipers want permission to pursue the retreating Cylons, but he orders that they land immediately and the Fleet increase to flank speed.

• He says his tearful farewell to Starbuck, telling him both that he loves him and that they all love him.

• Out beyond the Fleet, Starbuck begins landing procedures as he approaches a planet and then crash lands on a sand dune.

• In the crash site, Starbuck's Viper cockpit has become an escape pod and jettisoned from the rest of the fuselage; Starbuck is alive, but is whimpering and has a headache. He then thinks the headache is wonderful. "Pain, I love you," he says, thankful to be alive.

• Climbing out of the wreck he discovers nothing but sand and barren rock on this desert planet. He activates his automatic beacon for help he knew would never come, takes a knapsack and begins his trek on the planet, thinking that he may find an oasis, or thousands of primitive people who would worship him like some sort of "winged god from the heavens".

• During his trek, he decides to call the planet "Starbuck", after himself for he discovered it.

• Exploring the terrain for a while, and experiencing some hopelessness, since he only has three days of food rations, Starbuck suddenly happens upon the wreckage of a Cylon fighter from the battle.

• Starbuck surveys the wreckage, asking what he had done to anger the Gods so as to bring Cylons upon the planet Starbuck as well. With his pistol drawn, he surveys the wreckage. None of the Centurions appear to be functional.

• Later, during a wind storm and cold enough to require a parka, Starbuck begins pulling the Cylon ship apart to construct a shelter. He starts a fire with his laser pistol and wonders if his being marooned on the planet is repayment for every selfish act he's ever done.

Act 2

• In the morning, Starbuck talks to the "dead" Cylons to give them his orders of the day. He wants the area whitewashed, boundaries manicured and the uniform of the day will be "polished metallic". They'll dine at dusk in dress silvers, and he'll expect some form of entertainment.

• One of the Cylons falls out of its chair. Starbuck whips around with his pistol drawn, telling the Cylon never to do that again. He adds that they speak only when spoken to and they speak directly to him and never amongst themselves.

• He asks if they have any questions. The Cylons do not reply and Starbuck says he's heading to headquarters. They may continue with their duties.

• Of the Cylons, Starbuck says they are a loose group and it would take some time to whip them into shape.

• On the third day, Starbuck decides to cannibalize the Centurions and try to rebuild one into a functioning unit to deal with his boredom. Starbuck runs a line of wire from the Cylon to the Raider wreck.

• When the task is complete, the Cylon activates and immediately threatens to kill Starbuck. Starbuck manages to win over the huge robot soldier with a combination of persuasion and threats to turn off his power.

Starbuck in The Return of Starbuck

Cy in The Return of Starbuck

• After the Cylon has managed to convince Starbuck not to switch him off for good, he asks why Starbuck reconstructed him.

• Starbuck explains, rather wanly, that after three days alone, he decided he needed a friend. "We are enemies," the Cylon states. "We're cultural dissidents," Starbuck rationalizes, since there are only the two of them on this planet.

• Starbuck offers to teach the Cylon everything he knows about humans, in the process names the hulking machine "Cy." He also asks the Cylon if he's ever heard of a Colonial card game called pyramid. Cy replies in the negative and Starbuck comments that Cy has all the makings of a perfect companion.

• As Cy and Starbuck create a table outside the encampment, Cy and Starbuck discuss the Cylon Empire and its quest for perfection. Starbuck asks how the Cylons can have an empire without love and the two different sexes. Cy notes that in the Cylons' studies of humans, they noted that women were weaker then men. Starbuck replies that they have other strengths and tend to live longer than men.

• Starbuck gets uncomfortable and asks to change the subject. After Cy asks if he's irritated Starbuck, he replies that he just doesn't want to talk about women anymore and proceeds to teach Cy the Pyramid card game. After making sure the Cylon hasn't played the game before, Starbuck asks Cy to cut the deck, which results in a slightly sloppy mess of cards.

• That night, Cy and Starbuck play Pyramid. Starbuck claims to win, however Cy contests this as he had four pyramids while Starbuck only had three. Starbuck tries to weasel his way out of the discussion, with his grammar being corrected in the process, but Cy notes that Starbuck has grown bored with the card games over time and is thus cheating to keep himself interested.

• Cy adds that he is disappointed and leaves. Starbuck asks himself how does one hurt a Cylon's feelings. Starbuck goes outside into the windy dusk and apologizes to Cy, noting that two weeks on the planet have begun to get to him. Cy realizes that Starbuck would prefer the company of a "woo-man". Promising to locate a woman for Starbuck, the Centurion heads out into the bitter cold.

• Feeling guilty, Starbuck searches for the runaway Centurion all night, but is unable to find him. He notes to himself that had anyone asked him if he were capable of feeling sorry for a Cylon, he would have answered in the negative.

• Starbuck awakens in the morning, but doesn't have the courage to face the day. He tries to go back to sleep, but is shocked when Cy arrives the next morning, carrying an unconscious, pregnant woman in his arms as his "surprise". Cy sets her down on a makeshift rock-ledge bed.

• Starbuck notes that she's alive. Cy comically replies that he believed that Starbuck would have preferred her that way. Starbuck adds that she's a living breathing human being, believing Cy abducted her. Cy replies that since he feels he's betrayed his beliefs already, what is helping another human to that end.

• Starbuck notes that the woman is different, with Cy replying that there "wasn't much of a selection," and tells the Cylon that she's pregnant. After explaining that she's about to birth a child, Cy notes that he is "rapidly being surrounded" by humans.

• Starbuck asks Cy to fetch some water where Starbuck's laser opened an underground stream. Cy replies "by your command," but notes that Starbuck has no authority over him. Cy goes off to get water.

• Starbuck tends to Angela, who is still unconscious.

• Later, Angela is awake, but has not said anything. Starbuck believes she is in some kind of shock, perhaps the last survivor of an entire race. She stands outside with Cy and Starbuck, the latter of whom splits logs with his pistol.

• Despite her apparent inability to talk, Starbuck relates his life story to her. He speaks of his relationship with women, saying that he found it difficult to commit to any one woman and was afraid of getting hurt.

• After piling up logs, Starbuck notes that she's walked away. Cy comments that while he doesn't find Starbuck's stories fascinating, he doesn't walk away at least.

• Starbuck asks if he said something. Cy replies in the negative, "What could I possibly have to say to you, I'm nothing but a machine." Cy walks off as well.

• At night, Cy is turning a hand-crank generator as Starbuck doles out rations, which he notes are rapidly being depleted as they now have two mouths to feed.

• As Starbuck begins eating, the woman asks Starbuck a short question from out of nowhere: "Would you die for me?" Starbuck finds that question odd, particularly for a first question. Starbuck chastises her for not speaking earlier, which she apologizes for. Starbuck notes he's been babbling for seven days; he says he's not only embarrassed but angry. The woman, named Angela, tells him not to be angry.

• Starbuck tells her that he has questions. She happily replies that he can ask her anything he'd like. Asked where she come, Angela answers that she is from a "dimension beyond" and she came in "the usual way". He then inquires about her ship, but she replies that she was dropped off. Starbuck sarcastically posits that she was dumped on the planet because she couldn't pay for her fair, which she finds amusing.

• She leaves. Starbuck vainly tells her not to go out, saying its minus 50 outside. She exits anyway. Starbuck tells Cy that she can't go out there, but Cy notes that she already did.

• After grabbing his parka, Starbuck caustically praises Cy that the Cylon knows how to pick them, saying that she's as "loony as they come". Cy answers that he doesn't know what this means, adding that it's her turn at the generator.

• Starbuck leaves, giving Angela his parka. She then begins strangely referring to her unborn baby as "our child," referring to her and Starbuck, and indicates a vehicle must be built to transport the baby. She notes that it will not be safe on planet Starbuck for long, noting that the automatic beacon from the Cylon ship will soon bring the Cylons to the planet.

• Starbuck backtracks and asks her about her use of the term "our child". He notes that it would look bad in the Commander's Court, given that they're the only two humans on the planet. She corrects him and mentions that the child is his spiritual child. She asks him if he's ready for progress, asking him if he's spent enough energy and resources on himself.

• Starbuck admits that he was honest in discussing his appetites and bad habits. Angela tells him to put those aside and notes that they must begin making plans at dawn for the ship. If he chooses.

• Angela kisses him on the cheek and heads back toward the shelter.

Act 3

• In the morning, Starbuck makes a hanging cradle out of the rudder of Cy's fighter. After telling Cy this, Cy inquires as to the baby's time of arrival. Starbuck replies that Cy makes it sound like a battle squadron landing, and that babies arrive on the time of their choosing. Cy replies that whenever they need to have a new Cylon, they merely make one. After Starbuck explains the gestation and pregnancy periods to Cy, the Cylon notes that it is a primitive way of doing things.

• Cy opines that they will, at least, have another pair of hands at the generator. Starbuck drops the bombshell that the baby won't be able to be of any use to them for that. In fact, Cy will have to do more work on the generator for at least the first few months.

• Cy comments that the entire operation "sounds like a typical human plan. Impractical and clumsy." He adds that "it is not a wonder you lost the war".

• Angela exits the shelter and asks Starbuck about the ship. Starbuck replies that he's come up with various ideas, but they're not practical. Angela notes that they have no choice as the Cylons are on their way. Starbuck asks her how she knows this, particularly when he ripped out the automatic beacon. She replies that it was working and that they know the course. According to her, everything has already been predestined.

• Starbuck tells her that by taking the Raiders engines and supports, he'll be able to add them to his escape pod. He asks her what they'll do after they fashion the craft, as the Fleet is so far away that they won't be able to reach it. She pleads with him to prepare the craft.

• She begins having contractions. She retreats to the shelter, telling him to begin work on the ship.

• In part to appease Angela, Starbuck enlists Cy's help in building an escape vessel from the combined wreckage of the Viper and the Cylon Raiders. After initially protesting his need for an engine from his ship, Cy willingly helps.

• When Cy asks where they will be going, Starbuck replies that he doesn't have the faintest idea. "Another great human plan heard from," Cy opines.

• Starbuck tells him that he may be humoring her to help her through the pain, saying that pregnancy is a painful process. Cy suggests that the humans should try the Cylons' methods of expanding their numbers. After Starbuck mentions that he'll have to mention it to Adama after they reach the Fleet, Cy asks that Starbuck not mention that the idea came from him, since "you humans are emotional about our having destroyed you".

• Cy and Starbuck begin removing the engine and building the ship. After building the hybrid Galactican/Cylon craft, Cy is proud and mentions that they did it without Angela's help. Starbuck makes a point of mentioning that it was her idea, which reminds Cy that he is outnumbered by humans on planet Starbuck. He falls back on the fact that Cylons cannot be friends with humans and Cy walks off.

• Starbuck hears Angela calling out for him. He rushes back to the shelter where Angela announces it's time.

• Starbuck bucks out of the shelter and calls for Cy, telling him that the baby is coming. Cy runs toward the shelter.

• After the baby is born, Cy, who turns the generator, comments to Starbuck that the Cylon way is better. Starbuck remarks that the baby is beautiful. After complimenting her on it being as beautiful as his mother, she remarks that they have a healthy baby boy.

• Cy stops cranking the generator and hits it. Starbuck assures him that Angela would sure be happy to have him as grandfather. After Starbuck answers the question posed by the Cylon regarding the term, Cy replies that they cannot be friends and leaves.

• Starbuck offers to take the baby off Angela's hands, allowing her to rest. She instead asks if he's willing to sacrifice his life for the child. He replies that everything is going to be all right and that they're going to start their own new world.

• Angela tells him to prepare for what is to come. He tells her that the ship is already done, but she tells him to prepare for the final judgment.

• She tells him that tomorrow is their last day on the planet. However, he puts the baby in the cradle and hopes for the best, believing the pain of childbirth was an emotional and psychological burden for her.

• The morning after the baby's birth, Starbuck is shocked to see another Cylon fighter landed close to the crash site. The Cylons apparently picked up the distress beacon, and are coming to investigate.

• Starbuck hustles back to the shelter to warn Angela about the Cylons' arrival. Cy is also there and, upon hearing this, tells them that he must go.

• With his laser pistol drawn, Starbuck pleads with Cy not to let him shoot. Cy says his goodbyes and leaves, Starbuck not having the heart to shoot him.

• Starbuck believes that Cy cannot help himself from betraying the humans' presence on the planet. Starbuck is ready to escort Angela and baby Zee to the completed hybrid ship, despite not getting a direct answer to his question about her foreknowledge of everything that is about to happens. She only tells him that this is the judgment day she spoke of last night.

• Starbuck helps load Angela and her son inside. He asks her what she meant by judgment day and who would be judging him. She replies that everyone judges themselves. He jokingly replies that he hopes so, because he plans on lenient in certain categories.

• In the event something is to befall him, Starbuck tells her how to launch the ship, informing her that he's programmed the Fleet's secret heading into the computer. He tells her that the ship will automatically lower their body temperatures so that life can be sustained for a maximum period of time.

• She tells him that he is a good man, knowing that Starbuck has no intent of coming with her, seeing as their fuel would last twice as long if he did not come along. "Who says I'm not coming along?" Starbuck replies with his maverick bravado. Angela bids her goodbye to Starbuck, saying that she truly loves him.

• He closes the canopy "just in case" and, using an external control panel, begins the launch of the ship.

• As the ship disappears into the sky, Starbuck is suddenly pinned down by the Cylon laser fire, but is surprised to see Cy appear, carrying his own laser. Cy admits to having repaired the laser and tells Starbuck to wait behind the rock.

• Cy goes to meet the trio of Centurions, informing them of who he is and instructing them to lower their weapons. They ask where the human went off to. He replies, "I extend my weapon that I may perform the following function." Cy guns down two of the approaching Cylons, but the third gets off a crippling shot before Starbuck drops him, and Cy sinks to the ground, mortally damaged.

• In his dying minutes, Cy describes his relationship with Starbuck as that of friends.

• Angela is standing on a rock ledge, saying that her mission is done and she's ready to return home. She judges Starbuck as good.

• Dr Zee's voice grows more disturbed as he recounts the progress of the pod towards Galactica, with its weak distress signal and carrying the child in its near frozen state. He reads a report that the recovery team brought the pod aboard Galactica, taking every precaution, lest it be some act of Cylon treachery. At the end, he notes that the ship carries an "incredible gift" from the stars.

• Zee is astonished that the tale is true and asks how he can know these things. Adama reveals that Zee was the child from the stars and, as he was there, knew of Starbuck's story. Zee asks if he could be Starbuck's son and asks about his mother, but Adama does not have these answers, noting that the answer is still out there, amongst the stars.

• Starbuck is sitting alone on the planet, his ultimate fate unknown.

Notes

Production

• This remains the most popular episode of Galactica 1980.
• The episode was originally titled "Starbuck's Greatest Journey". Then it was changed to "Starbuck's Last Journey".
• By the time the episode aired, Galactica 1980 had already been cancelled by ABC.
• The events leading up to Starbuck's landing on "Planet Starbuck" nearly mirror the events of the teaser for "The Young Lords". This is because the majority of the scenes concerning Starbuck and Boomer's battle with Cylons in the first act of this episode are taken from "The Young Lords," spliced with new scenes. A telltale sign that differentiates these scenes is the use of the two-seater Viper canopy in the scenes specifically shot for this episode.
• Had the series been permitted to live on, an episode called "The Wheel of Fire" would reveal that Starbuck was rescued by the Beings of Light to become one of their rank.
• Much of "The Return of Starbuck" was filmed in Red Rock Canyon State Park, 25 miles northeast of Mojave, California on Highway 14, near Cantil.

Characters and Events

• Who Angela is we are never really told, but she gives a hint at the end when she calls Starbuck a "mortal." She belongs to the mysterious "angels" on the Ship of Lights from the Original Series.
• There is no mention of Apollo in this episode; it seems to give the impression that he is already dead.
• For all his vaunted knowledge, Zee did not know of his origins, at least until these were confirmed by Adama.
• Starbuck's use of the word frack during the battle scene is the first and only instance that the word is used in a Galactica 1980 episode. The milder Galactican vulgarism felgercarb (also from the Original Series) is used sparingly in 1980 episodes, mainly by Lieutenant Dillon, himself patterned after Starbuck.
• The episode is deliberately patterned after "Hell in the Pacific," a story Glen Larson very much admired according to story editor Allan Cole.
• This story cleverly manages to insert the required educational dialogue in a way that is relevant to the plot.

Other Notes

• Starbuck uses Earth time instead of Colonial time when he tells Cy he has "the mentality of a two-year old." The correct term should have been "a two-yahren old."
• One of the reasons this episode has achieved such a classic status is because for many years it was unavailable as it rarely if ever aired in reruns. Around 1990, it was released by Good Times Home Video.
• This story may have inspire to Re-imagined Series episode of "You Can't Go Home Again"

Analysis

Continuity

• While not explicitly stated, this episode takes place between "The Hand of God" and "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I". Assuming Doctor Zee is ten years of age in Galactica 1980, this episode is set around 1970.
  • This also slightly contradicts Dillon's comment in "The Super Scouts, Part I," where he says that the Cylons haven't attacked in a generation. However, Galacticans may consider a generation to be as little as 10 years, not the 20 or 30, which is an average timespan for a generation.
• Both Athena and Cassiopeia are still alive during the events of this episode, though unseen. The whereabouts of other Original Series regulars, such as Sheba, Jolly, Salik and even Muffit remain unstated.

The Cylons

• Despite the Battle at Galaxy's Edge depicted in "The Hand of God," the Cylons still pursue the Fleet ruthlessly and seem to have only extended their sphere of influence.
• As Starbuck discovers in his talks with Cy, Centurions have major flaws:
  • They are incapable of acting independently. According to Cy, the Cylons were reviewing a manual and voting to determine the next steps in avoiding a dangerous crash before the crash finally occurred.
  • Centurions work as a team, each one equal to the other.
    • This is a slight contradiction of information provided in "The Hand of God," where Apollo explains that one Cylon acts as a gunner, another as a pilot, and another as the Raider's commander. However it should be noted that the Cylons voted on what to do, thus the third Cylon would be needed to avoid a 50/50 split in voting.
  • The Cylons have very limited knowledge of humanity, aside from their study of human women, who they found to be "weaker than man, less durable".
• In addition to their flaws, the Cylon Centurions are much more developed in this episode than previous episodes. From dialogue between Starbuck and Cy, the viewer discovers that:
  • Cylons view humanity as, in their words, "evil".
  • Despite their analytical thinking, the Cylons can either exhibit or merely emulate actionable emotions. Cy's emotion of being "disappointed" at Starbuck's cheating at pyramid and previous conversations with Starbuck pertaining to "woo-man" lead Cy to recover Angela, who appears to be a human woman.
  • Cy claims that "eternal perfection and order is the goal of the Cylon Empire". However, once this objective is achieved, Cy indicates that they haven't thought much (or at all) beyond that.
  • Cylons are capable of loyalty to those outside of their own race, as exemplified by Cy's defending Starbuck from a Cylon rescue party at the end.

Questions

• Now that the Cylons know about the first crash on planet Starbuck, will they follow up the first rescue mission with a second?
• What happened to Starbuck?
• Where is Apollo during this time?
• What is the status of the Fleet?
• What would have happened next had the series continued?
• Will the Cylons be defeated?
• How did Starbuck's Viper and the Cylon Raider crash so close to each other?
• How is Starbuck, who is not a technician, able to repair a Cylon Centurion? Furthermore, how are Starbuck and Cy able to build a ship without any real tools?
  • One possible explanation is that perhaps Angela, who appeared to have god-like powers, was helping all of these events along.

Deleted Scenes

• Click here to read deleted scenes from the original script.

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Starbuck's comment after reversing thrust, thus allowing the Cylons to shoot past him:

Starbuck: Goodbye. Thought I was going to give up and die, huh?

• The Cylons react to Starbuck's sudden maneuver:

Centurion #1: That was an unexpected move. He is a very good Warrior.

Centurion Commander: That is a small consolation. We are going to crash.

• Adama is forced to leave Starbuck behind:

Boomer: But sir, we can't just leave him there!

Adama: Boomer, don't you think I want to go back for him? You think I want to leave someone I love like a son, knowing we'll never see him again? Take a look out there!

Adama gestures at screen:

Adama: We'll be lucky if we can save our Fleet!

Boomer: You mean we can never go back?

Adama: That is correct! There is no going back! Our enemy pushes us on and on and on! And until we're strong enough or can find Earth and get help, we can never stop or turn away or look back!

Boomer: Thank you, sir. I appreciate your honesty.

• Adama and the Fleet flee:

Scan Officer: First enemy wave has been taken back. They're running with our fighters in pursuit.

Adama: Order our fighters to break off and let them run! Fleet is to proceed ahead at flank speed!

• Adama's goodbye to Starbuck:

Adama: Goodbye, Starbuck. I love you. We all love you.

• Starbuck interacts with his new "friend":

Starbuck: Well, this is a grand day! Only been in charge of this planet for three days and already I've doubled the population! I do hereby declare myself president-elect, if that's all right with you.

Cy: Die, human.

Starbuck: Don't be ridiculous.

• Starbuck takes gun from Cy:

Starbuck: You'd think I'd save you and then let you shoot me? Besides, it doesn't work. See. (pulls trigger, seizing sound) Here, try it.

(Starbuck hands weapon back, Cy pulls trigger)

Starbuck: You really did!

• Starbuck chides Cy over the Raider's landing:

Starbuck: So, what happened during the landing?

Cy: The situation did not compute.

Starbuck: So you didn't know what to do. What happened next? (jokingly) Someone whip out the manual.

Cy: Yes. The Manual did not help.

Starbuck: (gives Cy an odd look) What'd you do when it came time for a little personal initiative?

Cy: We were taking a vote when the ground came up and hit us.

• Starbuck introduces himself to Cy:

Starbuck: Starbuck. Just call me Starbuck. Just like this planet your on. This planet is called Starbuck.

Cy: What an interesting coincidence.

Official Statements

• Allan Cole discusses how this episode came to be:

Allan Cole: Basically, GL [Glen Larson] was tired and pissed off. [Galactica 1980] was never the show he wanted to do. And he and Dirk Benedict were always pretty tight. He talked Dirk into coming back to do one last episode. Which was basically a two-man radio play. Personally, I think it was the only decent episode in the series and showed what GL could have done if they had let him alone.

• Chris Bunch and Allan Cole discuss Kent McCord's (Troy) reaction to this episode:

Allan Cole: If the series hadn't been cancelled, there would have been a strike over it.

Chris Bunch: Larson decided that he was going to describe how Starbuck eats it. What he didn't do was pass the word along to his cohorts and say, "Oh, by the way, one episode is going to be a flashback."

So here's Kent McCord, who's desperately unhappy with the show. He's been coming down and crying the blues to us. Then all of a sudden he's told that he doesn't have to work next week because they're doing something with Dirk Benedict, the former star of the series. Well, that wasn't the most polite way to deal with it because all actors have an ego.

Cole: And he's been putting his ass on the line, making a fool of himself every week with these rotten scripts. By suddenly bringing back Dirk Benedict in without advance warning or kind words, it's sort of like trying to put the blame on Kent for how the show was going. He was pretty angry about it and in fact the two actors [McCord and co-star Barry Van Dyke] were going to refuse to shoot the next episode, which would have been "[The Day They Kidnapped] Cleopatra". They were supposed to shoot the next day but Kent and his costar were refusing to show up. As it turned out, it was an empty threat because that afternoon the network pulled the plug on the series.

• Galactica 1980 story editors Allan Cole and Chris Bunch on the cancellation of the series:

Q: Do you think the cast realized they were on a sinking ship?

Bunch: Everybody knew.

Cole: Actors never really believe it's over until they close the theater door. They started shooting The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra and then the word came down that the show was cancelled. ABC pulled the plug right there.

Bunch: So we had an impromptu wrap party. These actors are now on unemployment and we were trying not to break into hysterical laughter!

Q: Where did the excellent final episode The Return Of Starbuck come from?

Cole: That was actually a good piece of television because it was written like a radio play. The show had already been cancelled when the episode aired.

Guest stars

• Patrick Stuart as Doctor Zee
• Judith Chapman as Angela
• Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Boomer
• Rex Cutter as "Cy"
• Ellen Gerken (as "Ellen Gurkin") as Girl
• Gary Owens as "Cy" (voice, uncredited)

Get The Script

• To download a free PDF file of this script, click here.

References

External Links

• The Return of Starbuck full episode on YouTube

• The Return of Starbuck full episode review and analysis on Sheba's Galaxy

• The Return of Starbuck deleted scenes

• Hermitage One, Two, and Three - three fan fiction shorts that each give a different fate for Starbuck and also give a nice sense of closure to Galactica 1980.

"The Hand of God" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 10
Writer(s)	David Weddle Bradley Thompson
Story by
Director	Jeff Woolnough
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	110
Nielsen Rating	2.2
US airdate	2005-03-11
CAN airdate	2005-03-19
UK airdate	2005-01-03
DVD release	20 September 2005 US 28 March 2005 UK
Population	47,898 survivors ( 7)
Additional Info
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down	The Hand of God	Colonial Day
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
Podcast Transcript – View
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
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iTunes: USA | Canada | UK

With the Fleet short of fuel, Galactica launches a daring attack on a Cylon base.

Summary

• The Fleet is almost out of fuel, and Galactica has Raptors out scouting nearby star systems to find rare tylium ore — if they don't, the fleet can make two more jumps at best.
• Aboard one of the Raptors, Boomer and Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo find an asteroid filled with years' worth of tylium ore — unfortunately, the Cylons found it first and have built a refinery base on it.
• Faced with a choice between hoping to locate tylium elsewhere using their remaining supply of fuel, or taking the asteroid from the Cylons, Adama opts for the latter.
• On Colonial One, Laura Roslin reveals she is being affected by taking Chamalla extract to Elosha, having prescient visions – her dreams about Leoben Conoy which occurred immediately before he was found on the Gemenon Traveler, and her hallucination about snakes.
• On hearing about the snakes, Elosha reveals that it matches a prophecy in an ancient text written by Pythia 3,600 years ago concerning the exodus of humankind, which foretells that a dying Leader will lead the remnants of humanity to the promised land of Earth.
• Colonel Tigh and Apollo draw up an initial plan to take the asteroid, but Commander Adama decides to turn to Starbuck to come up with an unconventional idea to accomplish the mission, as she has a penchant for thinking "outside the box," and as machines the Cylons tend to predict more logical plans.
• Plans are drawn up for the attack on the Cylon base on the asteroid, and Gaius Baltar becomes involved in preparations when Starbuck and Tigh show him recon photos of the refinery. They tell him that they cannot simply nuke the base, as the radiation would render the tylium inert. Baltar suggests that the best plan is to destroy the containers holding the volatile unrefined tylium precursor, which leads Tigh and Starbuck to ask him to identify the containers. Since he has no idea which are the correct structures, in his mind, Baltar asks his virtual Number Six for help, but she tells him it is in God's hands and He will "tell" Baltar where to point. Baltar randomly picks an object in the base (though he doesn't tell the others that). Baltar is terrified, telling Six he didn't hear God's voice, but she reassures him that "God doesn't always speak in words".
• Apollo is concerned that everyone thinks Starbuck is a better pilot than he is and would be better leading the mission. Starbuck cannot fly in the attack, because in the weight room Commander Adama demonstrates that her knee has not yet fully recovered from its injury. On the hangar deck, Commander Adama encourages Apollo, telling him he thinks Apollo really can pull off this mission, because he is his son.
• The attack is launched, and the battle commences: civilian mining ships jump in on one side of the Cylon base pretending to be on a survey mission, drawing off some Raiders from the base, while Galactica jumps in on the other side and launches a squadron of Vipers against it, which are confronted by the base's reserve Raiders. The Raiders sent against the mining ships peel off and advance with the others on Galactica. Everything seems to be going wrong, but then Adama reveals that this was a feint, apparently only he and those directly involved in implementing the plan aware of the real plan.
• A second squadron of Vipers, led by Apollo, launches from inside of the mining ships. While appearing to be merely bait, and dismissed as such by the Cylons, the ships are the real thrust of the attack. With the raiders lured out of position by Galactica, Apollo and his wing have a clear flight to the base.
• Once the Vipers reach the moon, however, things are far from easy: the Cylon base has a formidable anti-air defense system, and the Vipers' missile attack fails as the Cylons are able to jam the missiles' tracking systems.
• In a move of reckless improvisation worthy of Starbuck, Apollo avoids the Cylon defense grid by flying through its tylium mining tunnels to the center of the base, then dropping a pair of explosive charges at the supposed tylium-precursor container.
• Much to Baltar's surprise, his wild guess at which container held the volatile tylium-precursor was correct: as Apollo flies away, the entire base explodes with the force of a 3-kiloton nuclear warhead.
• With their base destroyed, the Cylon Raiders go into a panic and are easy prey for Galactica's Vipers to mop up. All planes return to Galactica in a moment of celebration. Civilian mining ships will be able to get enough tylium fuel from the asteroid to last the Fleet several years.
• In Baltar's dream world, he expresses his astonishment to Number Six: Baltar "realizes" that the only "logical" explanation is that God truly did guide his hand to the right point on the Cylon base. The formerly atheist Baltar now accepts the possibility that he might truly be an instrument of God. . . .

Adama and staff plan the attack.

On Caprica

• Helo and Valerii are hiding out on a farm on their way to Delphi.
• When Helo offers to prepare a meal, Valerii is uncharacteristically sick, leading them to try and settle down for some sleep.
• They are interrupted by the arrival of a troop of Cylon Centurions - led by another copy of Number Six.
• Forcing a stunned Helo into action — he cannot believe the woman he saw Sharon kill is coming after them — Sharon forces him back on the run.

Notes

• Nine days have passed since the events of "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down".
• The Celtic victory music played at the end of the episode after the Cylon base is destroyed is titled "Wander My Friends," written and composed by Bear McCreary. The lyrics and translation for the song given in the liner notes for the Season 1 soundtrack are reposted on this page, with permission.
• Tylium ore is used to power FTL systems, but probably not through any fissionable reaction.
• Tylium has an energy density of about 5e14 J/kg, comparable to that of nuclear fusion.
• Cylon technology is clearly a Colonial off-shoot, as one would expect: from the use of tylium down to the shape of doorways.
• William Adama's father was Joseph Adama.
• Sharon Valerii on Caprica may be pregnant.
• Lt. Gaeta mentions in passing to Apollo that the Colonials actually know where the Cylon homeworld is, or at least its rough location ("they'd build a refinery this far from their homeworld?" "Why not? They need fuel out here just as much as we do").
• There is an ancient text some 3,600 years old foretelling humanity’s flight – and apparently, Roslin’s leadership.
• Mark II Vipers can carry both missiles and munitions pods (bombs).
• The Mark VII Vipers all appear to be out of commission — even Apollo is now regularly flying a Mk II.
• Based on the conversation between Commander Adama and Starbuck in the gym, it appears that Mark II Viper thruster pedals use a mechanical flight control system rather than a "fly-by-wire" linkage. This fits the concept of minimizing the use of computers mentioned in the Miniseries. The same conversation also establishes that a Viper can accelerate at "six, seven G's,"
• The religious overtones to the human / Cylon struggle are becoming more pronounced, with a now-promised confrontation due at the "home of the Gods".
• The Fleet has a tylium refinery ship among its number.
• With the capture of the tylium mining facilities on the asteroid, the Colonials should be able to gather enough tylium to keep them going for about 2 years – assuming they can shift that much tylium to their refinery ship before the Cylons return.
• A railway line can be seen below the balcony of Baltar's Caprica house at the end of the episode. Single track, mounted on apparently wooden (as opposed to concrete sleepers), on a bed of gravel, without any form of electrification (third rail or overhead wires).
• The title of this episode was also that of the 21st episode of the original series. Aside from both Adamas launching an offensive strike against Cylon forces, there is little comparison between the two episodes. However this is a coincidence; the writers weren't aware of this Original Series episode.
• Ronald D. Moore says in his podcast that Lee Adama's flight through the tunnel is an homage to Star Wars.

Analysis

• The introduction of the prophecy of Pythia further links the series' mythology to the ancient Greece of our own planet. In Greek mythology, the Pythia was the priestess at Apollo's oracle in Delphi. The name itself comes from Python, the dragon slain by Apollo. The Pythia operated as a vehicle for Apollo's will to be known to those on earth. A believer would make a sacrifice and present a question to a priest. The priest would then present the question to the Pythia. The Pythia sat on a bronze tripod in the adytum, or inner chamber of Apollo's temple. In this sacred chamber the spirit of Apollo overcame the Pythia and inspired the prophecy.
  • Pythia in ancient Greece was the Oracle of Delphi – and on Caprica, Helo and Sharon are making for the religious center of Delphi.
• Following his seeking God’s forgiveness (TRS: "33") and his repentance of his sins (TRS: "Six Degrees of Separation"), Baltar finally becomes God’s "instrument". He literally becomes the hand of God referenced in the episode title: he is the one that points out the target that will destroy the Cylon base.
• Over the last few weeks, Baltar has moved through the five emotional states that tend to guide human reactions to a new "truth" we’d rather not face:
  • Denial (dismissing the "disappearance" of the Olympic Carrier after the call from Dr. Amarak as anything more than a serendipitous event — 33)
  • Anger (his outright hostility towards Six as she continues to "bore" him with talk of God — Six Degrees of Separation)
  • Bargaining (praying to God for his safety in return for his obedience — Six Degrees of Separation)
  • Depression (leaving the Situation Room without having "heard" God’s voice and facing up to the fact that he had to – again — lie) during this episode
  • Acceptance (his messianic response to Six’s coaxing) at the end of this episode.
• Did the Cylons allow the Colonials to find an asteroid filled with fuel?
  • Executive producer Ron Moore has stated numerous times that the Cylons are not letting the Fleet escape, but are actively trying to destroy it.
• Why does Commander Adama order the fighters to pursue the fleeing Cylon Raiders, instead of securing the area? One possibility for attacking the remaining fighters to prevent them from getting reinforcements from a distant basestar. (Although Adama will not have discovered this until later episodes, Raiders have the ability to make a jump much farther than any Colonial vessel.)
  • Adama may have been maximising the spike in morale after a successful military operation by letting the pilots finish what they started with limited risk (from attack by an actively retreating enemy force).
• Are the Colonials able to build ships, such as Vipers, from scratch? Or can they take destroyed hulks and rebuild off them? (Answer: Vipers are frequently salvaged, but only to a point. Yes, they can build from scratch, although the result may not be a Viper. However, Pegasus is able to build Vipers from scratch, when she has the raw materials (metal ore, etc.) to do so (TRS: "Scar").)

Questions

Answered Questions

For answers to the questions in this section, click here.

• How many Vipers does Galactica actually have? Do they have a contingency plan should the majority of the Vipers be destroyed?
• How can a 3,600 year old text foretell the exodus of humanity, and the leadership of Laura Roslin?
• If Gaius Baltar read the Sacred Scrolls in "... the 6th grade," why, in spite of being the former Secretary of Education, doesn't President Roslin know who Pythia is?
• Is Baltar truly an instrument of "God?"

Unanswered Questions

• Does someone have time on their hands to build miniatures of the new Cylon Raiders for the Situation Room?
• Did the 240 FTL jumps the Fleet executed in "33" contribute to the fuel shortage?

Official Statements

• Katee Sackhoff discusses her dislike for Viper scenes, and why she wanted the writers to "break [her] knee again, please":

I despise [the Viper cockpit scenes]. It is very uncomfortable in that tight space. All of a sudden, you’re claustrophobic, you’re hot and sweaty, and then you’re cold, you have to pee, you need water, but you can’t drink it because you’ll have to pee again. . . . You have these rubber space suits and you get stuck to the seat. Gross! Then there’s wind in your face and you are falling asleep because it is so hot. You are trying to memorise all this dialogue – 50 pages – all this technical mumbo jumbo. You’re like, ‘Break my knee again, please.’ That was the best thing that happened to me in season one.

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Lee Adama sits with a battered Viper before the mission. He is joined by his father who, after a short conversation, hands him a lighter:

William Adama: It belonged to your grandfather. My mother bought it for him when he was in law school. See the engraving on it?

Lee Adama: [Reading the name "Joseph Adama".] Yes, I . . . can barely make it out. . . .

Adama: He was a better father than I was. Dad used to carry that into court cases. He claimed he never lost unless he left it behind.

Lee: So you’re worried too.

Adama: About what?

Lee: Sometimes it feels like the whole ship thinks . . . Starbuck . . . would do better.

Adama: I don’t.

Lee: How can you be so sure?

Adama: Because you’re my son.

• Commander Adama asks Kara Thrace to assist with developing a plan to attack the refinery:

William Adama: Captain Adama and Colonel Tigh are working on the plan now and I need some serious "out-of-the-box" thinking.

Kara Thrace: "Out-of-the-box" is where I live.

• During the briefing with Saul Tigh, Kara Thrace, Laura Roslin and both Adamas:

William Adama: Sometimes, you have to roll the hard six.

Guest stars

• Michael Hogan as Colonel Saul Tigh
• Aaron Douglas as Chief Galen Tyrol
• Tahmoh Penikett as Lieutenant Karl "Helo" Agathon
• Kandyse McClure as Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla
• Paul Campbell as Billy Keikeya
• Alessandro Juliani as Lieutenant Felix Gaeta
• Samuel Witwer as Lieutenant Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo
• Lorena Gale as Elosha
• Nicki Clyne as Specialist Cally Henderson
• Cailin Stadnyk as Ensign Davis
• Bodie Olmos as Lieutenant Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza
• Lucianna Carro as Lieutenant Louanne "Kat" Katraine
• Terry Chen as Sergeant Donald "Chuckles" Perry
• Christina Schild as Playa Kohn
• Biski Gugushe as Sekou Hamilton
• Paul Cummings as "Fireball"
• Camille Sullivan as "Stepchild"

References

"Unvanquished" An episode of the Caprica Series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 10
Writer(s)	Ryan Mottesheard
Story by
Director	Eric Stoltz
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	110
Nielsen Rating	0.4
US airdate	October 5, 2010
CAN airdate	October 5, 2010
UK airdate	2011
DVD release
Population	{{{population}}} survivors
Additional Info	Season 1.5 / Mid-Season Opener
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
End of Line	Unvanquished	Retribution
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition
iTunes: [{{{itunes}}} USA]

Three weeks after a series of devastating events, different paths are taken: Daniel Graystone seeks an alliance with the Ha'la'tha in order to retake his company, Sister Clarice Willow arrives on Gemenon to ask for supreme leadership of the Soldiers of the One, and Lacy Rand and Zoe-A continue their new lives.

Summary

Teaser

• Daniel Graystone is lost in despair, with his wife Amanda Graystone gone and control of Graystone Industries now in the hands of Tomas Vergis. Vergis has secured the U-87 contract with the Caprican Ministry of Defense, and Graystone Industries is producing new Cylon battle robots under his leadership.
• A teenaged girl is dropped off by her mother at Atlas Arena to see a pyramid match between the Caprica Buccaneers and the Gemenon Twins. Her farewell to her mother is unusually emotional. At the arena, she shares a signal with a number of other attendees. After she sits down, she takes a detonator from her backpack and places it under her seat. Others do likewise and begin to pray, ignoring the tens of thousands of spectators around them, including Clarice Willow. The stadium explodes.
• Clarice takes off her holoband. The scenario was a simulation illustrating her proposal to the leaders of the Monotheist Church on Gemenon. One of them, Obal Ferras, points out that a massive terror attack would not draw unbelievers to their fold. Clarice continues her proposal. The assembled return to their holobands and see a simulation of the "chosen" from the bombing being reborn in a V-world paradise. Clarice explains that this will happen if the monotheist church uses the holographic avatar program to offer its members tangible eternal life, what she calls apotheosis.
• Ferras disapproves of Clarice's idea, but he agrees to ask the Blessed Mother to meet with her, once Clarice points out that she has earned the right after the terrible things she has done for the church.

Act 1

• Daniel meets the Guatrau, leader of the Ha'la'tha, with Joseph and Sam Adama in attendance. Daniel proposes that the Ha'la'tha help him take control of Graystone Industries back from Vergis in exchange for access to the avatar program, in order to bring dead people "back to life" in V-world. He uses the recent death of the Guatrau's son as an example of the desire to reunite with the deceased. Despite the angry response from his men, the Guatrau calmly listens.
• The Guatrau has Daniel, Sam, and his guards leave the room so that he can talk to Joseph privately. Joseph advises him not to accept the deal, citing his own experience with the V-world avatar of his own daughter. Although the Guatrau respects Joseph's honesty, he decides to go ahead and that Joseph will represent his interests. This marks Joseph becoming a true Ha'la'tha instead of just an associate.

Act 2

• Daniel asks Joseph and Sam for the Guatrau's answer, but they tell him only that the Ha'la'tha will find him.
• The Blessed Mother and Ferras discuss Willow and her proposal. The Mother points out the talent that Willow has brought to the Soldiers of the One since childhood, but Ferras expresses nervousness over her following on Caprica and what he calls her "messiah complex" – and he does not hesitate to label apotheosis a blasphemy. The Mother authorizes Ferras to remove Willow.
• The Adama brothers visit the Graystone Estate with the Guatrau's decision: they will arrange for Daniel to be installed as CEO once again, in exchange for granting the Ha'la'tha full access to the corporation. Daniel seems to accept the terms, but then Joseph hands him a wireless trigger and demands that he detonate a bomb inside his mother's car. Daniel refuses. He is angered to learn that Joseph was bluffing, testing Daniel's personal limitations.

Act 3

• Despite lingering doubts from fellow members of the terrorist cell, Lacy Rand continues to demonstrate her dedication to Barnabas Greeley and the STO, in prayer and on the firing range.
• Willow visits Diego, one of the STO's commanding officers. Both of them bemoan the recent decline of the Monotheist Church and its negligence toward the STO, represented by the fact that the soliders are forced to live in tents in cold weather. Diego reveals that Ferras asked for permission to have Willow killed, but he claims to be unaware of the Mother's decision. Making vague promises to improve the lot of both the STO and the church, Willow seduces him.
• In the Graystone Industries labs, Cyrus Xander reports to Vergis that the burnt and broken U-87 prototype damaged in its escape attempt will not function again. Vergis orders it melted down, but he notes some hesitation. Xander assures him that he has no attachment to the robot like Daniel did, and is happy to dispose of it.
• Daniel places a video call to Amanda's answering system. He struggles to say something, but can only tell her that he misses her. He is interrupted by Serge announcing that Xander has arrived. Based on what he is told, Daniel believes that Vergis is already mismanaging the corporation. However, Xander informs him that Vergis is mass producing Cylons – non-sentient but fully functional, something that Daniel failed to accomplish. Xander sees Daniel becoming suspicious, but he reminds his former boss that he is reporting to him behind Vergis' back. Daniel relaxes, and tells him to be careful.
• Ferras gives Willow good news: the Blessed Mother has agreed to see her. As they walk, Ferras expresses concern about whether Willow is aware of the ramifications of apotheosis, and wonders aloud if she wants to set herself up as God by introducing this technology. They continue their walk, entering a seemingly empty hall in the church complex. She is confused, until the other leaders of the church and Diego step out of the shadows. Ferras apologizes, and Willow becomes terrified at what will happen next. Diego takes out a blade – and plunges it into Ferras. With a sudden air of triumph, Willow declares that Ferras has fallen from the faith, and the church leaders swarm him and stab him repeatedly.

Act 4

• Xander decides not to scrap the U-87 prototype, telling the workers that Daniel may be back for it one day. The robot is boxed in a wooden crate instead.
• Zoe-A walks through New Cap City wearing a dark hooded cloak. She is stopped by a group of thugs who identify her as "one of the deadwalkers" and attack her. Zoe "kills" them one by one with a katana, ejecting them from the game. The remaining assailant points a handgun at Zoe and has her at his mercy, until she causes him to freeze. Zoe identifies the mark on his forehead as belonging to the other deadwalker, but the man does not know where she is. Zoe unfreezes him and takes him down before he can escape.

Act 5

• Amanda Graystone receives Daniel's message from earlier. She is alive, and sitting on a bed in a forest cabin. Amanda begins to dictate a response, but then Sister Willow arrives and joins her on the bed, proclaiming that it is good to be home.

Notes

• Zoe's deactivated U-87 prototype becomes the first Cylon to be "boxed." In this case, the term is twice used to describe the literal crating of the physical machine for storage and possible future repair. Decades later, humanoid Cylons will use the term to indicate the electronic detention of the personalities/soul(s) of individuals or of entire lines, without bodies. Similarly, Zoe and Tamara exist only in V-world at this point, without corporeal bodies.
• The appearance and behavior of the thugs wearing bowler hats and suspenders who attempt to assail Zoe seem to be inspired by Alex and his "droogs" in A Clockwork Orange.

Analysis

• Zoe-A demonstrates the ability to manipulate the V-world with her mind, making a human assailant freeze, much like Tamara-A demonstrated in "There is Another Sky" by getting rid of programs that were in the form of guards.
• Before Zoe-A dispatches the last of the assailants, the hum of a Cylon scanning eye can be heard. This may suggest that aspects of the original pre-MCP combat programming transferred into Zoe-A when the prototype U-87 was destroyed and Zoe was uploaded into V-world. It may also explain Zoe's previously unseen prowess in battle.
• Daniel tells the Ha'la'tha that he has "lost" Amanda. This is misleading phrasing that makes it seem to the audience as though she is dead or he is allowing others to believe that she is dead. However, the next episode shows that the fact of her survival is not secret from the public.
• The unseen and previously unmentioned mother of Daniel Graystone and paternal grandmother of Zoe Graystone is still alive.
• The term "Soldiers of the One" refers only to the militant arm of the monotheist church, and not to the church itself. The clergy like to keep themselves separate from the STO even as they find them useful. Although Clarice Willow's cover is as an Athenian nun, in monotheist circles she is considered STO and not clergy.
• STO training camps, such as the one Clarice was trained in, were first mentioned in The Caprican.
• Other religious factions on Gemenon mentioned by Diego are the "polytheist rebels" and the "Hephaistons." The latter are presumably devotees of Hephaistos.
• Lacy continues to work with Barnabas Greeley, even though her reason for serving him - delivering the first U-87 to Gemenon - is gone. Presumably she is motivated by the justified fear that he would kill her for leaving the STO.

Questions

• How was Sister Clarice able to secretly take Amanda away from the Pantheon Bridge, the site of Amanda's suicide attempt and her own car bombing? (Answer: It wasn't a secret.)
• Does Greeley believe that Clarice is dead? (Answer)
• Why did the Mother ask Ferras to leave her a holoband after meeting with him?
• How did Zoe-A arrive in the V-world after the damage to her robot body?
• Do boxed humanoid Cylons (such as the Number Threes and individuals), end up in a V-world as well?
• Did Zoe arrive in New Cap City to start with, or did she go there intentionally after finding herself in the V-world?
• Did Zoe go to New Cap City to find Tamara-A, or did she learn Tamara was there after arriving?
• What does Zoe intend to do if she finds Tamara? (Answer)
• How close are Amanda and Clarice now?
• How has Daniel's mother been affected by the recent controversies surrounding her family?
• How do the droogs recognize Zoe as being a dead walker? Has Tamara become aware that she is not the only dead walker? (Answer)

Official Statements

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Obal Ferras speaks with Clarice Willow about her plans for creating a new heaven in V-world for the faithful:

Willow: We can be a faith that builds temples here in the dirt, or we can build them in the sky.

Ferras: So you really want to serve God?

Willow: I do.

Ferras: Or do you want to be God?

Guest Stars

• Meg Tilly as Mother
• Patton Oswalt as Baxter Sarno
• John Pyper-Ferguson as Tomas Vergis
• James Marsters as Barnabas Greeley
• Jorge Montesi as The Guatrau
• Winston Rekert as Obal Ferras
• Ryan Robbins as Diego
• Hiro Kanagawa as Cyrus Xander
• Feguins Toussaint as Bodyguard Sean
• Liam Sproule as Keon
• Jim Thomson as Voice of Serge
• Zak Santiago as Pann
• Aidan Dee as Hippolyta
• Kacey Rohl as Ada
• Linnea Sharples as Ada's Mother
• Greg Rogers as Businessman
• Doreen Ramus as Eldery Woman
• Chris Robson as Father of Family
• Luke Camilleri as Brewer

References

For direct navigation sans the tabbed navigational aid above, please select one of the following article links:

• The Living Legend, Part I
• The Return of Starbuck
• The Hand of God (RDM)
• Unvanquished