Mini-Series Night 2: Conclusion

Original Airdate Dec. 9, 2003

OK back to the second part of the Battlestar Galactica Mini-Series.

We open with Saul Tigh’s arm around Commander Adama in CIC (Command in Control or the Bridge of the Galactica. Dualla and Gaeta nervously resume the preparation for the Jump to Faster than Light.

Starbuck barely blinks at the Chief’s mention of losing the 85 members of his deck crew. She is quite upset though about losing her friends. At this point the crew still thinks that Lee is lost with the President.

Sharon begins her jump prep as she launches a communication pod so that she can reconnect with the Fleet. Here we meet a character named Boxey who has lost his father on Caprica. Though he never shows up in the series again he is a call back to the 1978 version of Battlestar. Sharon mentions that she lost both her parents too when she was little. We know that she has no parents because she is a Cylon.
Galactica successfully makes her FTL jump to the Ragnar Anchorage facility and emerges in a gas cloud surrounding the last Colonial outpost station.

Meanwhile, 4 hours away Colonial one recovers from Lee’s improvised explosion using some old FTL engines that were in storage on Colonial One. He used an Electro-Magnetic Pulse to destroy the Cylons and the nuclear warheads headed to destroy the ship.

There is a strong bonding moment between President Roslin and Apollo as she thanks him for saving “Their collective Asses” and agrees that they need to get the hell out of there as soon as possible to avoid and further Cylon entanglements.

Back on Galactica we see a lonely moment as Kara “Starbuck” Thrace is mourning the loss of her ex-boyfriend Zak and his now presumed dead brother Lee. She prays to the Lords of Kobol to take the souls of all the lost hands that day but especially that of Lee’s.

We next see Adama surveying the many dead bodies on his flight deck. He silently paces between them contemplating their fate and the fate of his ship.

The Galactica achieves a “hard seal” with the Ragnar station. As the Chief leads a crew to load up all the munitions they can carry one lost soul is found among the otherwise empty station. We will come to know this person as Leoben.
Sharon brings Gaius Baltar to meet up with Colonial One. Gaius is brought to meet President Roslin. He agrees to be her chief scientific advisor.
Sharon is then tasked by the President to find all the survivors in the system and rendezvous them with the fleet.
Leoben is seen back at the Anchorage with a gun asking for an untraceable ship. The

Chief calmly disarms him and gets back to getting the armaments.
Next a very important scene between “Head Six” and Baltar: While she is clearly seen talking to him, Baltar is convinced that she is a hallucination. A part of Baltar’s unconscious guilt for the destruction of the Colonies. She then asks him “What if I am not a hallucination?” Is it possible that she is something different? What if she is something that exists outside and apart from him? As we will learn throughout the course of the series, and indeed to the very end “Head Six” as she is affectionately known, is very much real and very important to the overall story arc of Battlestar Galactica. She states that perhaps she is a Cylon chip put into his head. He denies this and moves on. She wonders what he is working on. She asks him to indulge her when she states she doesn’t know what he is doing. He says if she was a chip in his head he would not have to explain this to her. She states that all she wants is his love and that God is love. An important fact to remember as it a major theme throughout the series.

Adama is next seen escorting Leoben around the station and Leoben explains that he was ransacking the station for armaments. Adama next states that Leoben is not looking too good as Leoben is sweating profusely and white as a ghost. All of a sudden a rack of explosives falls destroying the door to the hatch he and Leoben and sealing the two of them inside.
Leoben promises Adama another way out and they start walking the corridors of the station.

Flash to President Roslin aboard a vessel speaking with a little girl who has just lost all of her family. The girl does not understand the gravity of the situation or her great loss. We will learn later that this ship does not possess faster than light capability.

There are currently 60 ships in the civilian fleet with only 40 of them possessing FTL capability. Adama and Roslin, who have obviously not slept and are quite tired, begin the efforts of figuring out how to move the civilians from the non FTL ships to those possessing the FTL drives.

A council of the leaders ensues with Lee explaining that they need to make a jump to the Ragnar facility before they are able to transfer all the civilians. The fleet is a sitting target that the Cylons could knock out with a single strike that if they don’t leave immediately. The President’s aide Billy tries to tell Roslin that the girl she spoke with earlier will be one of those left behind, but she interrupts him telling Billy about her terminal cancer. He states that he knew based on comments she made. She asks him “How selfish is it that the world is coming to an end and that all she can think about is how she has cancer and she is going to die.” Billy states that it’s not selfish, it’s human. As he leaves he does inform Roslin that the girl she met earlier, Cami, can’t make the jump.

Many ships scream in complaining about being left behind. They have no defenses and will either be destroyed or captured by the Cylons. As difficult as it is the Captain of Colonial One and Lee make the jump leaving thousands stranded civilians, right as the Cylons arrive to destroy them.
Those possessing the drives escape before dozens of nukes are launched destroying the civilians.

Back at the Anchorage we see Adama walking with Leoben as he gets sicker and sicker. Leoben states that he is “allergic” to something at the station. That he is an observer of humanity. He states that maybe the Cylons are retribution for the humans past mistakes. Adama states that the humans created the Cylons and they didn’t include souls when they did. Leoben continues to debate Adama on the nature of humanity. Whether they humans are evolved or just warlike creatures?

Tigh is in charge of the Galactica while Adama is away and greets the President when they arrive at Ragnar. He refuses her direct order to help the wounded and sick with the rest of the fleet. Lee steps in and brokers a deal to allow two disaster pods to help with the refugees. Tigh informs him he is the senior pilot and the Commander of the Air Group. (CAG).

We next see a very touching reunion between the Chief and Sharon Valerii. The Chief believed her lost in the attack on Caprica.
Dualla meets Billy, lost, leading Gaius Baltar to the CIC. She greets him with a kiss that he never expected.

Lee next arrives at the air deck where Starbuck is repairing her Viper. She is stunned believing him dead. They have some very nice playful banter as we clearly see the strong sexual tension between the two of them.

Leoben and Adama are walking further into the station as Leoben doubles over in pain. Adama muses that his “allergies” must be getting worse. Leoben goes on to say that he doesn’t have allergies. Adama knows this and says that what he has is Silica pathways to his brain which are being destroyed by the radiation from the nuclear warheads stored at the station. Adama has known he is a Cylon. This though is the first indication that the Colonials have that Cylons have evolved from their previous metallic incarnations to the human like bodies they possess now.
Adama asks him how he feels when he knows that he will die. Leoben lets Adama know that he will resurrect when he dies. Adama believes that if that was the case, if the storm didn’t interfere with his connection to the Leoben would have killed himself long ago. While possessing greater strength than Adama a fight ensues with Adama brutally killing the Cylon. Blood spattered on his face he takes out some of the aggression he feels over the current situation and the anger he feels knowing that anyone in the fleet could be a Cylon.

Next, we see a moment between Gaeta and Baltar where Baltar admits that his computer program may have been infected by the Cylons. Gaeta willingly helps delete the program from the ship and all the Vipers but asks Gaius about the guilt he must be feeling knowing that one of his creations was twisted and used to help kill so many people. “Head Six” makes a reappearance stating that Gaius once told her that guilt was only possessed by the small and weak minded. This is the first of many dual conversations where Baltar is speaking to a crew member, who can’t see Six, and communicating to Six at the same time. Gaius states that he “feels responsible, in a way” while admitting no guilt and not actually feeling any guilt. Gaeta says he shouldn’t feel responsible, while Six says he thinks nothing about cheating, lying stealing. When Baltar answers Gaeta he also answers Six by saying “I know exactly what you saying”.

“Head Six” then, despite some cheeky remarks by Baltar, helps him to find a hidden Cylon device installed right in the CIC. This find will launch Baltar into even greater status among the Fleet and with Adama and the military. The device matches one that Six used to carry around in her bag. As Gaius learns it was not her who placed it there he realizes that there must be another Cylon on the ship.

Six then tempts Baltar with sex as he tries to figure out how he will present the evidence. Doral approaches Baltar, who is flush and Doral points this out, with the info on how many civilian ships had his doomed program in their computers. Doral in case I haven’t mentioned is the Tour Guide for what was going to become the museum of Battlestar Galactica. So he has very intimate knowledge of its environment and workings.

Baltar does realize that Doral is a new person aboard ship, an outsider who has had unlimited access to the ship over the last few weeks. Though at this point no one else knows that the Cylons look like humans now.
Tigh is next shown with Adama recovering in his quarters. They both ponder how they will deal with the fact that the Humans look like Cylons. Tigh then informs Adama that his son is alive.

Flash to Adama’s quarters where Lee is waiting for his father to return. Adama returns and while Lee is eager to get out of there Commander Adama embraces his son and they share the feeling of relief and anguish of so much unsaid.
Gaius, Tigh, and Adama are now meeting to figure out how to detect Cylons. Baltar of course feigns ignorance when they state this fact. Baltar is charged with the task of creating a Cylon detector. He says “I will give it my all” though of course he has no idea how to do so.

Kara is then charged with scouting outside the storm surrounding the Ragnar station. She then admits that Zak failed his basic flight training, or should have, but she passed him because she had strong feelings for him. She basically warns Lee not to let his feelings get in the way of his job as the new CAG. Lee asks why she is telling him this now. She says it’s the end of the world and she feels the need to confess her sins. Though of course this is used to offset the current tension between the two.

We next see some Colonial marines capturing Doral and throwing him in the Brig. Gaius convinces Tigh that Doral is a Cylon by stating that Leoben had been in the storm for months and that Doral would not begin to feel the effects of the radiation for quite some time. Gaius then goes on to use a bit of technical “mumbo-jumbo” to state that Doral’s is the only sample he has screened with synthetic material in his DNA. Head Six appears and knows that Gaius is lying. Baltar is only using the information that he gleaned from his conversation with Six to detect Doral as a Cylon. This time he got lucky and he knows it. But God’s help was with him as Six goes on to state. God has a purpose for Baltar and the series will reveal just what that is.

Doral continues to try to convince Tigh that he is human and grew up on Caprica. Baltar then convinces Tigh to inspect the console in CIC where Baltar saw the Cylon device. This is the final nail in Doral’s coffin.
Starbuck is out scouting and emerges from the storm clouds surrounding the Ragnar anchorage. She finds that the station is surrounded by Cylon ships and Cylon Basestars. The Basestars are the equivalent battleship to the Battlestar Galactica.

We next have a meeting between President Roslin and Commander Adama. Roslin lays down the law when informed of a prison ship The Astral Queen that no one will be left behind. Even prisoners deserve rights as human beings.
Roslin then questions Adama allegiance. She asks if he is declaring martial law. Adama states he is not but that he is going back to fight the enemy leaving the civilian fleet at the Ragnar Anchorage. Roslin again remains Adama that the human race is going to be wiped out. There are 50,000 people left and they need to get a safe star system far away from the Cylon’s eyes. Adama does not want to hear this and does not acknowledge Roslin’s leadership and walks out on the meeting.

We next flash to the CIC where Starbuck informs the leaders that the Cylons have found them. Adama surprises us by assessing the situation and realizing Roslin’s advice decides to take the fleet and run. While this is going on Billy and Dualla have a nice but awkward moment, flirting and getting to know each other. Adama decides to run to the Promar sector far beyond the Colonial range in an attempt to avoid the reach of the Cylons.

Adama decides to leave Doral on the Station. Of course he will later be rescued by his Cylon brothers and sisters but he protests that he is human to the very end.
The Galactica then leads the fleet to the edge of the storm and runs interference so that the civilian ships may reach a safe jump distance so they can go Faster Than Light.

A great battle ensues between the Cylon fighters and the humans. The special effects shown here rival any movie released at the time. The use of “snap and zoom” camera work evokes a clear tie to battle camera here on Earth and enhances the realism of the shots.

During the battle Apollo’s ship is damaged and left to float in space. Starbuck comes to his rescue destroying missiles about to destroy him. Adama calls the ships back to the Galactica as the last of the civilian fleet ships jump. All ships are recalled and only Starbuck and Apollo remain. The Galactica knows it has to jump, but Adama can’t leave his son and favorite fighter behind.

Evoking an earlier conversation from the first meeting between Starbuck and Commander Adama, the Commander asks Starbuck “What do you hear?”. She answers, as she probably has every day, that she hears “nothing but the rain” as bits of debris hits her windscreen sounding like rain. Adama then repeats their familiar call with “Then grab the cat and come on home.” What ensues is a powerfully dramatic moment where the reckless Starbuck crashes her ship into Apollo’s now broken ship and pushes him into the landing bay. Lee states that she is “beyond insane” for attempting the maneuver, the two ships make it just as the Galactica’s landing decks are retracting for the jump into hyperspace. The Galactica jumps away her most precious cargo safe aboard the flight deck on into the great Galaxy beyond in hopes of finding a new home.

We next see a memorial service as the fleet is floating free in space. The Lords of Kobol are honored as the many dead are remembered. The Gods are evoked to help lead them to a new home.

Commander Adama echoes the priestess last words “So Say We All” until the crew no longer echoes a quiet prayer but lead a rallying call. He goes on to say that this is not the end of the human race. There is a new home for the Colonials among the stars. He says that when the Twelve Tribes of Kobol left their paradise world to settle the Twelve Colonies that a thirteenth tribe set out in a different direction to a place that only a privileged few have known about down through the ages. A planet that will be their new home. While they are limited in supplies, are in uncharted space, they have somewhere to go. To the planet Earth.

From the prophecies of Pythia, Adama asks the priestess if there was a thirteenth tribe. She states that there was and it orbits an unknown star somewhere in the deep of space. He states that he knows where it is. That the military commanders have kept the secret but dare not let the public know about it during a time of war. That their final refuge will come, that they will have a home that the Cylons know nothing about. He states that it will be a long and arduous journey lies ahead of them but that they will all make it. “So say we all” echoes through the chamber as Adama gives hope to the fleet to great applause, their happiness known.
We next flash to a meeting between Tigh and Starbuck. Tigh tries to apologize for behavior by stating that he may have been out of line too and apologizes. Kara’s response “You’re a bastard”. She knows that Tigh is weak, that he is a drunk and speaks off the record to inform him of this. Her clean slate is not wanted and wiped away.

Roslin approaches Adama in his quarters. She calls him on his lying about knowing the location of Earth. He admits that there is no Earth. But Adama states that it’s not enough to just live, that there must be something to live for. Adama states “Let it be Earth” and that he just wants the human race to survive. That in accordance with Roslin’s wishes they will survive with the hope of Earth to satiate them. The President and Commander discuss the role of the government and whether or not Adama will institute martial law or whether he will hand over control of the civilian vessels to the Colonial Government. He will “think about it Madame President”, but no clear conclusion is met here.

We next see Baltar walking the hallways of the Galactica where he runs into Head Six who informs him that the Cylons will find them, will continue to pursue the humans. Baltar in his arrogance states that “You will try”. She reminds him that there may be other Cylons among the fleet, that there may be Cylons who are sleeper agents who don’t know they are Cylons and will “wake up” when called. Baltar responds that he will find the Cylons. Six goes on to tell him that “We will find them. You are not on their side” meaning the Colonials. Baltar then tells her that he is on no one’s side.

Tigh is next shown returning to his quarters deciding whether or not to drink. Kara is shown with the picture of Zak and Lee. The two Adama’s discuss the fleet operations. Life is finding its way, its pattern in their new existence. Lee tries to speak from the heart to his father, knowing how fragile life is. The Commander asks him to “save it for another time, son” knowing the incredible time they have been through and the many perils ahead.
Dualla shyly smiles as she walks by an interested Billy. Kara smokes a cigar; the Chief is working on his ships with his crew. Life does continue.
A note is left in the Commanders quarters that there are only twelve Cylon models. We do not know where this note has come from.

We next flash to a sick Doral back at the Ragnar Anchorage being rescued by his fellow Cylons. Two metallic Centurion models emerge from the mist followed by many copies of Six, Doral, and Leoben. The Cylons decide that while it may take several decades to track the humans down it is in the humans’ nature to want revenge. That if the Cylons let them go they will rebuild and seek to destroy the Cylons in the future, and then the big reveal!

From the mist the words “Don’t worry. We will find them” comes to our ears. A copy of the Sharon model emerges in the first clear evidence that she is a Cylon. A six echoes with the familiar “By Your Command” taken directly from the original series. This was a refrain used by all the Cylons when answering a call to action.
So ends the Mini-Series Battlestar Galactica.

Critique:

As evidenced from my not so short recap this was an action packed and emotion filled finale to the opening notes of the Battlestar Galactica series. Many questions were asked here that will be recurring themes throughout the series. What does it mean to be human? What is humanity? What is Earth? Where is Earth? Is it a real tangible place to be found? Or is it an ancient prophecy from a long dead religion? The series will explore these questions and many more as we go on.

It has to be noted again that this series and mini-series were scripted right after 9/11. To ignore the influence of the attack against our great civilization and the parallels to the fate of the Colonials would show great ignorance on my part. I too felt the sting of 9/11 as did all of us in the United States and beyond. What we do with our civilization in the wake of such an attack, apocalyptic or not is what this series asks of us. There will be many more episodes ahead that parallel the events and those that followed 9/11 and many more questions will be asked of us the viewers. I can’t wait to explore them with you.

As for the special effects, as mentioned above they are spectacular. The sense of realism, if you can call it that we are talking about space battles here, is palpable. The effects studios should be greatly commended on their outstanding work. The effects never detract, but always add to the story here. We shall see if I still feel the same way as the series goes ahead.

Comments:
I am thrilled to be sharing my recaps and reviews of the story with you. I hope you enjoy reading as I continue my journey deep into the heart of the Galactica universe. I will leave it at that for now as my hands are about to fall off. I hope you continue to read and enjoy. Please feel free to email me at seanokeefe75@gmail.com with any of your questions or comments.
Next: On to the Series!!