Battlestar Galactica: The Oath

January 31st, 2009

Season 4, Episode 13

Disclaimer: Spoilers! The posts covering the last ten episodes will undoubtedly be full of spoilers and are intended for discussion after watching the associated episode. If you’re not up to speed, look away now.

Synopsis

As Tigh tells Adama about various ships still resisting to the Cylon alliance, Gaeta escorts Zarek from prison.

Gatea has enlisted the help of a lot of soldiers. They cause a distraction to put Zarek aboard a raptor. Back on the bridge, Gaeta covers for the launch by saying it’s a problem with the radar. Zarek arrives on Colonial One to join the Quorum which is in the depths of argument.

Seelix confronts Anders wondering if there was something between them. Some soldiers come from behind and capture him.

Gaeta says there is a fire on one of the decks and it may not be an accident. Adama dispatches some marines to investigate. Starbuck realizes something is amiss when she sees troops grab weapons from the arms lockers. Starbuck makes a call to the bridge only to have Gaeta hang up on her.

Zarek warns Lee about the unwarranted power Admiral Adama has gathered. Lee flies to Galactica and is captured by soldiers. Starbuck comes from behind and shoots some of them, freeing Lee. They escape into the ship. Meanwhile, soldiers burst into Helo and Athena’s quarters and capture them.

Starbuck kisses Lee as they try to figure out their next move. Confusion reigns on the bridge as the fire takes out communications. Athena, Anders, Helo, and Hera, are thrown into the same cell as Caprica Six.

Marines burst onto the bridge and fire on Adama and Tigh. It becomes clear Gaeta is calling the shots, and he arrests Adama for treason, saying he is not the leader he once was and has unwisely allied with the Cylons. An irate Adama and Tigh are escorted off the bridge.

Lee and Starbuck find Roslin, who she says she will help. Chief is holed up with Baltar and his followers, who expect soldiers to arrive shortly. Baltar’s followers have made arrangements for his escape. Roslin, Lee, and Starbuck make their way to Baltar’s area. Chief tells them to get Admiral Adama to a certain compartment so he can escape.

As Adama and Tigh are being led to the brig, Adama trash-talks the military escort. allowing them to commandeer their weapons and escape.

Roslin uses Baltar’s religious communications to address the fleet, saying that trust in the Cylons is the only way to end the years of conflict between them. Gaeta jams her broadcast.

Starbuck and Lee meet up with the heavily-armed Adama and Tigh. Baltar calls Gaeta and pleads with his sense of honor, mentioning “our little secret”. The escape raptor docks with the Galactica. Roslin leaves aboard the raptor as Tigh and Adama decide to stay behind and fight off the approaching soldiers. Gaeta gives the order to destroy the fleeing raptor. A grenade is tossed into the bay door and it explodes.

Thoughts

I’m very glad to see a revolution take place amid the fleet. I’ve felt the whole Cylon alliance thing that took up most of season 4 would be a really hard thing for the fleet at large to swallow, especially considering the humans were fighting against them for the first three seasons. So it’s great to see the fallout of that ill-advised alliance finally come to pass. It was awesome to see it play out, especially Gaeta handling all the small details to make it work. Also interesting was how some of the revolting soldiers were on the Pegasus, showing long running annoyance ever since they were integrated into the fleet.

This is not to say I agree with the side of the revolutionaries, but acknowledging the serious dissent among the fleet is a reality that the show ignored for far too long. Most individuals would be unable to see the big picture.

I also got a kick out of seeing a heavily-armed Adama and Tigh taking pot-shots at various targets. The old man can still handle a weapon.

The continuing romance between Adama and Roslin still annoys me… isn’t she supposed to be dead by now?

Next Episode: Blood On The Scales
Previous Episode: A Disquiet Follows My Soul