Originally Broadcast: December 8, 2003
We enter into a foreign space environment evoking the space station scenes from 2001. We see a man clearly annoyed with having to waste his time on a job no one wants and has had to do since the 40 years since the Human/ Cylon war. Shocked by the arrival of two robotic Cylon Centurions the ambassador is asked if he is alive, and then asked to prove it with a kiss. The theme of what it means to be alive is one of the key questions that this series asks. What does it mean to be a human, what is sentience? What is life? “It has begun” says the model #6 as the space station is destroyed.
We next zoom to Starbuck running the halls of the Battlestar Galactica, as we see a tour leader describing the age of this retiring ship and how it was the Caprican representative in the fleet of the Twelve Colonies against the war with the Cylons. There is a mention of the missing representative to the Armistice station as mentioned above. The crew, and most likely the Twelve Colonies believe the representative had mechanical problems and do not suspect the coming Armageddon.
Commander Adama is presented with his original Mark II viper. It along with the ship evokes an earlier age, lack of computers and modern telephone systems litter the ship. The antiquated technology was a requirement fighting a mechanical enemy in the Cylons who could defeat any modern computer system.
A card games ensues and we get our first real character moments. Starbuck and the second in command XO Saul Tigh are already competitive and are at each other’s throats from the beginning. We can sense the rivalry. Perhaps they see too much of their own ego’s in each other eyes. Starbuck strikes Tigh as he is quite upset for winning the game. They both had been drinking quite a bit. Starbuck is thrown in the brig. Not the first time she has been in this kind of trouble.
Flash to a flyover of Caprica city we see the height of technological society in the Colonies. On a side note the special effects company who produced Firefly, a show by Joss Whedon have a Serenity class ship from that show landing behind the Education Minister Laura Roslin who has been informed that she has stage four terminal cancer. She is next shown on route to the Galactica for its retirement ceremony.
Caprica City, another model 6 (as we will learn there are multiple copies of each human looking Cylon model) approaches a baby. This is the first time she has seen a child as the Cylons are born fully grown. She is fascinated and mentioned that the baby will not have to cry much longer. As the baby’s mother steps away six snaps the child’s neck. As she walks away, a pained look on her face, we are left to wonder why she committed such an act. Personally I believe she feels this is an act of mercy as she knows about the impending nuclear attack on the colony and wishes to spare the baby from a more horrible death.
Next we flash to a clearly arrogant Gaius Baltar, one of the foremost minds on computers and artificial intelligence in the Colonies being interviewed for a Good Morning Caprica type show. As he is being introduced he is staring off to the side as if deep in thought, though my view is that he is deep in lust for the Six who is about to arrive at his house, and wants to show how much better he is than all of the viewers in the audience.
We next see him about to have sex with Six. She asks him quite seriously about if he is in love with her. He avoids the question as he quite obviously see’s her as just another conquest at this point. The first major point that she is a Cylon is seen here as we can see her spine glow red like the Cylon Centurions eyes as they make love. Though much more on this as we go through the series.
Flash to Apollo landing his Mark VII advanced Viper on the Galactica. He is shocked that they do not have an automated landing system and he needs to make a “hands-on” approach. This lack of an automated system is due to the orders of Commander Adama, his old ways evoke the long ago war with the Cylons. We will soon learn that Apollo is Lee Adama, the estranged son of Commander William Adama of the Galactica. He also has a complicated relationship with Kara “Starbuck” Thrace. Starbuck was in love with, and training Zak Adama to become a Viper pilot like his father and Brother. While there is obvious sexual tension between Starbuck and Apollo there is a deep estrangement due to the death of Zak. While training Zak, Starbuck quite obviously put her feelings in the way and promoted Zak to higher levels of training before he was ready. Zak was killed in a training accident some years before the events of the mini-series. It is due to this that there is such a high level of tension between Apollo and Starbuck. Commander Adama is unaware of Kara’s involvement in Zak’s death and perhaps, at this point it may be to this knowledge and the obviously damaged feelings surrounding his death that Lee has not spoken with his father since Zak’s funeral.
A quick moment on the flight deck happens next with the deck Chief Tyrol and newbie Raptor (bigger troop transport and scout ship than the Viper fighters) pilot Sharon Valerii. They start off fighting about the fact that she is unable to land the ship properly and she blames the Chief for bad parts installed in her ship. As they continue to fight they retreat to a back room where we see that they are lovers. This is known by the deck crew but ignored as this relationship is against military regulations. Sharon is an enlisted officer and the Chief’s superior officer. This little moment is one of many showing that the Galactica is a ship where everyone knows that it is being retired and regulations are not followed as strictly as they should be according to military code, at least when not in the eyes of Commander William Adama or his XO Tigh.
We next see that Baltar is bragging about his computer upgrades for the fleet. Six reminds him that he would not be as famous or successful with this program had she not helped him rewrite over half the algorithms for the program. Baltar comments on the fact that he allowed her access to the defense mainframes to help her secure a contract for the company she said she was working for. She says that is not why she helped him. That it was for love and more importantly God told her to. This is the second main theme of the series. Faith. Unlike the Colonials who believe in the Polytheistic Greek Gods from our mythology the Cylons believe in only one God. Baltar, like many Colonials at this point, is atheistic and believes that Science is the only constant in the Universe. He states that he doesn’t mind when she asks if it is a problem that she has her faith, yet also can’t believe that a woman of her intelligence would believe the mystical mumbo-jumbo that he believes is the province of the un-intelligent and uninformed.
Six is then off on a mission to meet someone unseen. At this Gaius Baltar states that he is off to work on another “defense project” but we will learn later it is to meet with another sexual conquest.
Roslin arrives on the Galactica. Her aide loses his way and is directed by the communications officer Dualla on how to find his way to his quarters. More on this relationship later.
Roslin meets tensely with Commander Adama about trying to set up a computer network on his ship. He adamantly denies her request as he still holds to his old anti-Cylon ways.
We next flash to Gauis’ house where Six wakes both he and his new partner up. She is not very happy and he tries to wiggle his way out of it to no avail. She then informs him of who and what she truly is. He is incredulous at the thought of her being a synthetic human. He then retreats to his paranoid mode as he she tells him exactly what her mission was, to find out the military weakness and orders of the Colonial military. Gaius is unconcerned about the ramifications of the impending doom of the Colonies but is only concerned about his part and whether it will be discovered.
And now the first meeting of the Adama’s since the funeral. William tries to be cordial and talk with his son, but Lee is all business and treats him as a superior officer only. He states that he is there only on orders and can’t wait to leave. “A man isn’t a man until he wears the wing of the Viper pilot” is the quote Lee uses against his father who says it’s unfair. Lee states that it was his father’s help and assistance that got him into flight school and the accuses him of killing his son. Adama then dismisses his son military fashion.
The next scene is a nice flashback to the original Battlestar Galactica series. The Colonial Anthem is the original show’s theme song. Adama begins his speech as he has been rehearsing all day. As he goes along he starts to improvise and question about why have the humans made the sacrifices they have made? What does it mean? The humans decided to create life and that life fought against them. If the humans decided to play God then they cannot just wash their hands when their creations rebel against them. The sins of the people, and specifically he as a father, are still visited upon their offspring. He states that eventually a day comes when the humans cannot hide from the things that they have done before. While this is a direct response to his fight with his son Lee, it also foreshadows the concurrent attack on Caprica and the other colonies though those on Galactica are currently unaware of the situation.
Gaius and Six are sitting in Gaius’ house watching the destruction of his world. All Gaius can think about is saving his own skin, inquiring about how Six is going to survive and return to her people. She states that whether or not he believes God has a plan for Gaius and she uses her body to protect him from a nuclear blast that destroys his house. Before she does she says that she is model Six out of twelve Cylon models and that when she dies her consciousness is downloaded to a new body. That technically she cannot die.
The action picks up from here as an alert about the Cylon attack is received by the Galactica.
Galactica’s attack squadron is on patrol. They encounter a wave of Cylon raiders. Immediately the Vipers are disabled by a computer virus sent by the Cylons. Most likely this is a result of Six’s knowledge of the defense tactics of the Colonials. This attack helps the Cylons disable all the updated computer networks Battlestar’s of the Colonies. Sharon “Boomer” Valerii and her electronics control officer Helo back off from the fight allowing them to survive where the rest of the Mark VII vipers are disabled and destroyed like shooting fish in a barrel.
Sharon and Helo are able to evade the missiles using electronic counter measures but are hit by shrapnel and Helo’s leg is damaged. They then turn off the power so they can glide to Caprica unnoticed.
Roslin as a member of the political cabinet decides to inform the passengers of the attack. She is questioned about why she is a member of the leadership and states that as the ranking government official and that she has been placed in charge due to this fact. Confusing scattered messages are received as Roslin’s ship is target by a Cylon missile. Lee Adama destroys the missile but needs to land his ship as it too has been disabled by shrapnel.
As Sharon and Helo land on Caprica, with nuclear explosions surrounding them, they are approached by survivors running from the attack. As a small ship they are soon overwhelmed by the numbers trying to escape as Sharon repairs the ship for a return to the Galactica. The survivors are allowed on by lottery and Gaius shows up and is allowed to enter the ship in the place of Helo as Helo knows that Baltar is a genius and could be helpful against the Cylons. When first noticed by Helo Baltar’s response is that he didn’t do anything. Baltar’s paranoia and guilt are already setting in but his survival instinct is much stronger.
Lee backs up Roslin on the Colonial passenger ship as Doral questions her leadership. Her immediate control of the situation and her want to help the stranded vessels in Colonial space demonstrates her command abilities.
The first attack on the Galactica ensues. Starbuck is frustrated in the inability to join the fight as her Viper has a broken valve. When she does eventually join the fight her flying prowess is quickly and greatly demonstrated. Due to the lack of computer technology on the older Vipers are able to make short work of the Cylons, but not before a nuclear warhead strikes the Galactica.
Due to the fires created by the blast Tigh needs to make his first tough decision. He has great difficulty but eventually decides to save the ship he must decompress over a hundred men and vent the areas they are in into space. His leadership ability is tested but he passes this test much to the great disdain of Chief Tyrol.
An automated message is received by the Colonial passenger ship that states that all ministers are to report in due to the fact that the President and most of the Cabinet are incapacitated. She speaks with Lee Adama stating how she knew all 42 in line before her personally and that she wanted out of politics but that President Adar had a way about him that kept her in her office longer than she had originally wished. Laura, 43rd in succession is ascended to the Office of the President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. The Colonial Passenger ship then becomes Colonial One.
Roslin defies the command of Commander Adama who has taken command of the Colonial fleet now that all superior officers have been killed. Laura wishes to engage in rescue operations and has Lee inform his father who doesn’t believe that he should be taking orders from “a School teacher”. While speaking with his father Lee is informed that two Cylon Raiders have showed up and are going to attack Colonial One. William Adama sees this on his Dradis (radar) system and tells Lee to get out of there. Lee disappears into the ship as he knows that they have no way to fight back against the Cylons. Night one of the miniseries end with Commander Adama screaming for his son as he witnesses a massive 50 kiloton nuclear explosion on his screen where Colonial One was stationed.
Critique:
I have to say that this is a very action packed and engaging first broadcast. There is enough information supplied about each of the main players to provide you with their motivation going into this war. The past plays a strong role in setting the tone for the future. In particular we get great insight in to the character of Gaius Baltar, the show’s most fascinating character to me. Hints are dropped by many others as to how they arrived at this point in their lives and where they are headed. Of note should be the aspect of faith mentioned primarily in passing by Six. This aspect of faith and humanity will be the primary focus of the entire series. All in all a great introduction to the Battlestar Universe and it leaves you wanting to immediately move to night two and on to the series.
Closing comments:
This show is a strong commentary on a post 9/11 world. Written and broadcast right after the attacks on the United States and with the series continuing during the duration of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan many topics related to the United States behavior are touched upon. While this is not an inherently political show it shows the great ability of fiction to comment and question what our life and beliefs are all about. My fascination with this show should be quite obvious but among the many reasons it resonated with me so much was due to its ability to comment on our current political situation without being a direct criticism of the then current administration. Questions may be asked but never fully answered by the show. The writers leave it up to us, the viewers, to decide which side of the moral fence we sit on and what can and cannot be done in a time of war.
In the future I don’t believe I will be doing as much story summary as I have provided here but if you read this you will get a good sense of what the story is and how the show and characters evolve as I move through the series. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it and I hope you come back for the many more in the days and weeks ahead.
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