"33" Episode one of the Series!

Season 1 Episode 1- "33"

Original Airdate: October 18, 2004


So the series begins here. Fresh off their leap from the Ragnar station in the Mini-Series we open with a clock ticking in the background. The camera is tight on Baltar’s face, asleep. We see that he is dreaming of his house on Galactica.

One minute to mark says a clearly tired Apollo. Starbuck shakes her head to keep her eyes open in deep space. We cut to the CIC where everyone is clearly exhausted but anxious about the ticking clock.

We cut to Six stating that God has a plan for Gaius, a plan for everything and everyone. Six states that Gaius has to believe in something. Baltar states that he only believes in a rational world with rational explanations. Six says she loves him. That is not rational. Gaius states that it’s not rational that they are not really there.

Cut to the deck where we finally get our explanation. Cally asks Chief Tyrol why do the Cylons come every 33 minutes, not 34, not 32? He tells her to shut up.

Cut to CIC where Dualla informs Commander Adama that many ships are having trouble spinning up their FTL drives. Adama states to Tigh “We are getting slower”. Days old beards are shown on their faces. “Maybe this time” Tigh states. Right on cue as all the clocks hit OO:OO on their faces the Cylons reappear.

We next see Gaius talking to Head Six on Colonial One. He states that the constant chase is hard to take, that there are limits to the human capacity to stay awake and aware. Tolerances that the human body and mind can’t push beyond.

A battle ensues between the Cylons, Galactica, and the Colonial Vipers.
Colonial one is finally ready to jump and the Vipers make a combat landing so the Galactica can jump the heck out of there.

Jump 237 is complete according to Gaeta. They reset the clock to 33 minutes.

“You know you’re not safe” Head Six states as Baltar dreams they are at his house on Caprica. We will learn later that she didn’t just mean that the Cylons are going to continue to chase them for the 238th time.

The Colonial fleet has now gone 130 hours without sleep. Adama states that he wishes to split the fleet up and have jump to common coordinates after a few jumps on their own.

As the pilots leave after their clearly exhausted briefing they all touch the picture of the presumed dead Helo who is back on Caprica.

We next cut to Dualla looking for her family with the officer in charge of locating survivors throughout the fleet. He states that they are not able to transmit photos yet to see who is out there but that there are over 5,000 survivors from Dualla’s home planet of Saggitaron. The officer then instructs Dualla that she may leave her picture on the wall in the Hallways of Galactica. The next shot is both touching and very heart breaking. It is a clear echo to the many walls lining the streets of New York City after 9/11. Hundreds or thousands of photos of the lost line the hallway of the Galactica like they did the streets of New York. Candles are set up as memorial shrines.

Billy updates the President on the current head count in the fleet. She asks how they lost 300 from the last update. He states there were a few over counts, a few dead from wounds, and a few missing from the last attack on the fleet. Roslin stands up and clearly dejected erases the figure of 50,298 from her white board and changes it to 49,998. She stares at the number and starts to weep.

Head Six appears to Gaius. She asks if he wants children. He says no. Six tells Baltar that procreation is one of God’s commandments. He sarcastically says “Really?” Six wants she and Gaius to have a child.

Billy states that Dr. Emmerich has requested to meet with the President and it is urgent. Gaius takes a great interest in this as he worked with him at the Department of Defense. Billy states that he has important information on how the Cylons were able to break through the Colonial defenses. An act that Baltar allowed when he let Six into the defense mainframes back on Caprica.

Six states to Baltar alone that maybe Emmerich has information about a certain traitor in the group speaking about Baltar. Six goes on to point out that Gaius Baltar now has a serious problem, but more on that later.

We next cut to Karl “Helo” Agathon during his sixth day on Caprica walking through a rainy forest. He is on the run from a pair Cylon Centurions who are quickly gaining on him. He hides among the trees and tosses out a grenade that pretty much destroys the Cylons with only one’s torso still alive, evoking a scene from the first Terminator. Helo then proceeds to put many rounds in the head of the surviving Cylon expressing the rage he has stored inside him.

We next see Commander Adama telling Tigh to make sure that for jump 261 that the pilots are to use stimulant drugs to make sure they are fully awake and aware for their latest patrol and fight with the Cylons.

Adama can’t remember if this is his ten minutes to sleep on this cycle or Tigh’s. Tigh states that it’s Adama’s. Dualla who is with them points out that it is Tigh’s turn. Tigh, protecting his friend, states that if the “Old Man” can’t remember if it’s his turn then Adama is the one who needs the sleep showing the deep bond these two gentlemen share.

Starbuck refuses Apollo’s order to take the Stim’s. Starbuck asks why they are arguing about it? She says that he’s the CAG, no more friends, that he needs to order her to take her stims. A friendly banter ensues as they are both clearly giddy with exhaustion. She takes her Stims as ordered.

We next see Helo back on Caprica taking his Anti-Radiation meds when out of the rain he sees a copy of six in a white coat. This is the first person he has seen in days. As he looks and points his gun at her a Cylon Centurion steps up behind him and he is clearly captured.

We next see the most current jump of the fleet. Dualla states that all the not every ship made the last jump. That she may have missed one called “The Olympic Carrier” Their 1,300 souls aboard and they are left behind for the Cylons to easily destroy. Tigh starts to berate Dualla for not doing her job and states that they are all tired. Mistakes are easily made at this time. He continues to state that the fleet can’t afford mistakes from the Galactica crew. If Galactica makes mistakes people die states the Commander. There aren’t many humans left. He then calmly asks Dualla to resume her job, clearly feeling sympathy for her.

Billy then erases the 1,300 people from the white board on Colonial one. Roslin is shown in the foreground crying and states “Okay, next crisis”.

Billy states that Dr. Emmerich was aboard the Olympic Carrier. We next see Gaius on the deck of his Caprican house with Head Six. Six states that God is watching out for him. Gaius says that the Universe is a vast and complex system, accidental and serendipitous events can happen. Six states that Emmerich was a threat to Gaius and that logic states that God is watching out for him and took that threat away. Gaius states that there is no God, Gods, men or women in the sky taking an interest in the lives of the mere, small mortals down below. Six then threatens Gaius “Be careful of blasphemy, what God gives He can also take away”.

Maybe this time Tigh states as the counter again counts to zero. As it does Gaeta states that there are no enemy contacts in complete surprise. Adama is cautious and states that they must wait and keep the clock running.

45 minutes later and still no Cylon contact. The crew still waits. Adama asks for the President on the phone. Roslin asks “Why this time?” She asks if the loss of The Olympic Carrier has something to do with it. He doesn’t know. They then both decide to allow people to get some sleep. Roslin states how much she is grateful for the job that the Galactica crew is doing in protecting the fleet.

Commander Adama asks Apollo to leave a small combat patrol out but let the rest of the pilots rest. Apollo, Starbuck and Sharon are chosen because they are “100% stimulated” on the stim drugs that is so they take the first patrol.

Boomer seems to be holding up better than anyone else in the group according to the doctor states Apollo. Starbuck jokingly states that the reason is that she is a Cylon. Sharon says that she will have to go over and kick Starbuck’s ass for that comment. Of course we the viewers know that Kara is right but no one else including Sharon herself know the truth.
We next see a nice touching moment between Tigh and Adama. Tigh states that he hasn’t felt this alive in years though a few hours sleep does sound great right now. Adama agrees and says how great it is to see Tigh in such good condition without the cup, of alcohol, in his hands. Adama continues that there are many aboard ship who probably aren’t happy that Tigh is doing so well. Tigh then states that it’s his job to make the rest of the crew hate him, if he didn’t how would he make the “Old Man” look good? Adama jokes that he always looks good, Tigh tells him to check the mirror. Then Adama says “Seriously, it’s one thing to push the crew it’s another thing to break them”.

Right then the DRADIS pops up with a contact bearing 138 right towards the Galactica and the fleet. So much for the rack time. Adama sets condition One back in the fleet and they get ready for another battle.

Gaeta states that he is getting a recognition signal that it’s the Olympic Carrier. Tigh is relieved but Adama is not fooled. He believes it to be a trap.

We next see Baltar talking to Six. He asks how the hell did they return? Why didn’t the Cylons destroy the Olympic Carrier and Dr. Emmerich? Six says it is God’s punishment for Baltar’s lack of faith. Baltar needs a more logical explanation. She states that the ship has been infiltrated by Cylon agents and logically for Baltar to live the Carrier must be destroyed.

Sharon “Boomer” Valerii hails the Olympic Carrier and they said that they had a problem with their FTL and they have no idea why the Cylons jumped away without killing them. The pilot of the Olympic continues that he has been driven crazy by a Dr. Emmerich who is desperate to get a message to the President. This message of course, overheard by Baltar, drives him to madness.

Baltar then states that they must break off communication with the Carrier that they only reason the Olympic Carrier survived is because they are carrying a Cylon agent right now. Roslin asks the clearly mad Baltar to calm down but does follow his logic. Commander Adama then agrees and asks Boomer to signal the Olympic Carrier using the Colonial version of Morse Code to stop heading towards the fleet.

When all parties agree to cut off wireless communication Billy states “Thank the Gods you are with us”. Baltar quickly states “God has nothing to do with this”.

Roslin and Adama feel that this is not heading in a good direction. Boomer’s signal does not go through. The Olympic carrier continues even though Starbuck fires a burst of bullets across their bow. The carrier is refusing all orders to stop.

A tough decision now has to be made as a radiological alarm is set off as the Cylons show up. The Olympic Carrier must be destroyed as there are nukes aboard that ship as well. As Adama tells Roslin that they have to destroy it she asks him about the 1,300 people aboard. Adama states that they may have already been captured by the Cylons but isn’t sure.
Cut to Baltar on his own in the hallway speaking with Head Six. Baltar says she has to do it, Roslin has to order the destruction of the ship, and by a matter of course Dr. Emmerich and his information about Baltar. Six states that the decision is not up to Roslin, Adama or anyone else. It is God’s decision to destroy the ship or not. It depends on whether Baltar believes. Baltar must repent his sins.

The tension builds as the members of the fleet contemplate what they must do, and quickly, as the Olympic Carrier and Cylons are bearing down on them. Baltar, to save his own skin, out of desperation repents. Right after he says he repents Roslin gives the order to destroy the ship.

Boomer receives the order to destroy the ship and can’t believe it. Starbuck refuses to comply and Apollo, evoking the earlier conversation about the stims, has to order Starbuck to join him in destroying the ship. Apollo clearly has a hard time issuing the order but knows his job. They destroy the Olympic Carrier.

Flashback now to Caprica. Helo is in chains captured by the Cylons. The model Six asks him if he is alive. She says she knows who he is, then kisses him. As Six kisses him she is shot in the back by Sharon. Helo can’t believe that she is there in her flight suit. She doesn’t answer at first and just tells him to move and escape.

We see another six clearly happy that their plan has worked. Sharon has been united with Helo and they are off on their own.

We next see Apollo in the flight ready room with his father approaching him. The Commander states that it was his order and therefore it is the Commander’s responsibility. Lee “Apollo” Adama responds that he pulled the trigger “that’s mine”.

We next see an exhausted Roslin clearly distraught about what happened sitting in her chair aboard Colonial One. Billy tells her “24 hours without an attack by the Cylons, at least you know it was the right choice”, clearly trying to console her. She responds “The right Choice” then asks Billy to leave, that she needs some time alone.

Billy gets up to leave but stares at the President something still on his mind, one last thing to say. Roslin asks what it is, almost snapping at him. Billy has an update on the head count. Roslin automatically asks “Subtract how many?” Billy responds “Actually you can add one; a baby was born today on the Rising Star”. Roslin thanks him as he leaves. She stands to change her board to now reflect the 47,973 now alive in the fleet. She has a large smile on her face, tears in her eyes.

Critique:

I have to say that this is one my favorite show of the entire series. The tension that it builds throughout the episode, the sense of sheer desperation in the fleet is felt while watching the show by the viewer. We get a bit of what’s to come with both the fleet and Helo back on Caprica. It was a brilliant opening episode that really sets the tone of the darkness to come throughout the series. This is not your father’s Battlestar Galactica. Yet as dark as the series can get there is always a note of hope. The birth that was mentioned at the end of the episode is so moving you’d have to be dead not to be affected by it. Of course the brilliant acting by the entire cast but especially Mary McDonnell in this episode really sells it.

Comment:
Well the series is underway. This was a very dense but brilliant episode. I look forward to