nBSG Episode 4.13 “The Oath” (SPOILERS)

[CaptJodan]

Not too fond of both Seelix and Racetrack going bad.

Most of this episode had some real pure Adama gold, and Tigh was his usual old self as well. The two of them were back in their true form. I'm guessing what they tossed in the room was a flash bang, not a real grenade.

I liked some new shots we saw of garbagebarge Galactica...the ship just looks like crap from the outside.
I also appreciated the guy Felix has manning his old post having no fucking idea what he's doing (shutting down the wireless). This is exactly how it should have played out. These morons couldn't run my dishwasher, let alone a battlestar, and this was Felix's master plan. What's he going to do when Cavil shows up?

I rather hate Starbuck, but enjoyed her entrance to save Lee there. But she really is looking like the harbinger of death now.

Probably not going to make any reviews on this episode till it concludes next week (or whenever). These "to be continued" episodes tend to float or sink based on how the whole story comes together.

[Bladed_Crescent]

I donno, It just might. It certainly appears a large number of Galactica's marines and pilots are compromised, and the civvies arent in any condition to do anything . So, where else in the fleet are there any combat troops?
*Eyes Cylon basestar, which the President , Baltar, Lee and Starbuck are en route to...... hmmm

Next week, I think Spoiler

Hot Dog's going to shoot down Narcho to defend the Raptor; a slightly lower possibility is the baseship scrambling its Heavy Raiders to defend Roslin, Tyrol and Baltar

But it would definitely be neat to see Adama take back command flanked by Colonial Marines and Cylon Centurions. Unfortunately, given the previews, I don't think it's likely to go down that way. The basehip is a problem, though - as Caprica said, they're hostages to prevent the rebels from obliterating them. With Galactica in the throes of a mutiny and if they've killed all the Cylons aboard it, there's no way they can keep the baseship from taking them out... or any reason for the Cylons not to, considering that a very strident anti-toaster bridgade has just taken command of a rather powerful warship; even if the Rebels want peace, they'd pretty much have to launch a pre-emptive strike to destroy - or at least cripple - Galactica. Because once Gaeta and Zarek have the ship, who's their next target?

Hint: it's spiny, damaged and has no air cover.

I could see Seelix going bad; she's always hated Cylons more than most. And she was trying to get with Anders, who hooked up with Tory instead, so that adds an extra personal dimension to her. Racetrack was more out of left field - she's served with /under Athena for over a year now. Granted, it's a probably bit different when it's "your" Cylon as opposed to an entire ship full of them who are installing Gods-know-what onto human vessels.

I remember when Exodus concluded and someone on this board - can't remember who - commented on Adama shaving his moustache that he was merely returning it to the armoury, to await the day that it was once again needed to defend humanity, like Excalibur. Who else thought that as he and Tigh prepared for their final stand, that Adama was going to go get his moustache?

"Sir, weapons locker nine has been broken into."

"More loyalists. What was taken?"

"Nothing, just.. a small box was left open, sitting on the floor."

Gaeta goes as white as a sheet. "Oh my Gods... he's got the moustache!"

Cut to a shot of Adama storming up the hallway, mutineers tossed aside just from the sheer force of his presence, bullets bouncing harmlessly aside as he heads towards command. Adama has finally unleashed the pure, unstoppable fury of the moustache.

[Darth Lucifer]

I remember when Exodus concluded and someone on this board - can't remember who - commented on Adama shaving his moustache that he was merely returning it to the armoury, to await the day that it was once again needed to defend humanity, like Excalibur. Who else thought that as he and Tigh prepared for their final stand, that Adama was going to go get his moustache?

"Sir, weapons locker nine has been broken into."

"More loyalists. What was taken?"

"Nothing, just.. a small box was left open, sitting on the floor."

Gaeta goes as white as a sheet. "Oh my Gods... he's got the moustache!"

Cut to a shot of Adama storming up the hallway, mutineers tossed aside just from the sheer force of his presence, bullets bouncing harmlessly aside as he heads towards command. Adama has finally unleashed the pure, unstoppable fury of the moustache.

Courtesy of the magic search button

[SylasGaunt]

I have to agree with the idea that loyal marines and rebel centurions storming Galactica to take it back would be bad ass. Don't know if we're lucky enough to get something like that though.

Adama has decided once more to remind us that he's the man who beat a skinjob to death with a flashlight. An old warhorse is still a warhorse.

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

What the fuck. Racetrack was totally supposed to be BSG's Wedge, goddamnit.

[FedRebel]

"I got all your names motherfrakers! We're going to need O2 replenishment for all the times we're going to cycle the airlock!"

Well...we could reduce that by arranging some "poetic" justice to any former Pegasus goons among the mutineers...

Basically they'd have the rebel Cylons affix 'certain' "aftermarket components" to their centurions, which'd be charged with carrying out the sentence.

[Haruko]

That was the greatest hour of television ever.

Did they suddenly hire Batman to write the second half of the final season?

[Haruko]

Also, Adama and Tigh still prove their total badassery...even at age 60-70ish. I just watched "Rome" and am wondering if they're like older versions of Lucious Vorenus and Titus Pullo...IN SPAAAAAAACE.

I'm quoting that in my signature.

[Gil Hamilton]

That was indeed a great hour of television. It even manage to make me not hate Starbuck's character for like a few minutes, which is damn impressive. As I predicted before, she is totally going to kick Gaeta's ass from here back to Caprica before this is over.

And I know I know that the Marines just threw a flashbang in there, but I like to imagine that the flash of light was actually Adama's mustache gloriously springing full grown from his upper lip to save the day once more.

[DrMckay]

What the fuck. Racetrack was totally supposed to be BSG's Wedge, goddamnit.

I thought that was Hotdog or Tyrol-Hotdog for the viper pilot survivabliity, and Tyrol for the everyman quality. Man was I pissed when they made him a cylon.

But damn, I liked Racetrack. She's pretty too.

As to the Episode-Damn. Just Damn. Felix is an efficient bastard, even when plotting a mutiny. Gotta admire the professionalism that went into it as well as the feelings. I sort of empathize with why the mutineers are doing what they're doing, if not outright supporting them.

Principled rebels versus the cult of personality around a military leader. Sound familiar?

It's a bit different from most shows in that it makes us question who is actually right.

Never thought I'd be that happy to see Starbuck.

Adama and Tigh are pure badass. How do they compare to Eastwood? is it a different sort perhaps?

[Haruko]

Had to do it. That was just begging for a motivational poster.

[Uraniun235]

Excellent episode. Most excellent. Hell yeah.


That said, NOOOOO LAIRD, I bet those fuckers in the writing room were like "fuuuck, those fucking fans keep writing in asking for more Laird, let's bring him back just to kill him off!"

[CaptainChewbacca]

I really want to find out what exactly is the 'secret' Baltar and Gaeta share, that Baltar was hinting at. I bet its something good.

[Flagg]

I really want to find out what exactly is the 'secret' Baltar and Gaeta share, that Baltar was hinting at. I bet its something good.

Watch the 'Face of the Enemy' webisodes.

[Traveller]

>Killing Laird was pretty low, even by BSG standards. Though I used to regard Zarek as a bit of a douche, he was more or less harmless and I didnt really mind him too much as long as he was kept in the margins. Zarek is the kind of thug-terrorist that lacks the courage to even face someone hes about to kill head-on. Starbuck on the other hand...

>The Galactica definately looks like 40 Light-years of bad road.

>Once again, the leaders of the RTF show just how, out of touch they really are. While one could understand that Adama has a lot on his plate, he was really blind-sided by the mutiny. Its hard not to to get the impression he really doenst spend a lot of time attempting to gauge of the mood of his crew. Its one of those less-tangible but vital aspects of command, espeically given there situation, where stress and other factors make keeping tabs of the crews general mood even more important. Roslin, otoh, was also asleep at the switch but she has even less excuse. While Adama is caught flat-flooted by events, Roslin, at least *knew* there was political crisis to some degree brewing, yet she only acted when the crisis was full upon them. Up to that point, she basically does nothing. Defusing , or at least attempting to defuse the polictical crisis ,*may* have taken some of the steam out of the military crisis, but no. While as a person, I can see her pov, shes tired, dieing, and certainly under no small stress herself, her sitting on hands, whether we feel she deserved it not, certainly didnt help matters any. Even Adama himself recognized this, but she was not to be moved .

The other theme I think this epsisode highlights, is the general tendancy of the RTF core leaders, to really keep things close to there chests. Over the series, you see a marked tendancy of the core group to seldom explain either to the fleet at large, or even there imediate subordinates, there actions. This doenst mean every decision is a town-hall or some issues are not top-secret. But I think they get a very poor score(amoung many others) on basic communication. Adama is especially poor at this. At press conferances he really only ever has 2 things to say it seems, No comment and No comment. Even issueing bland vaguely comforting platitudes to the people of the RTF seems to be beyond him. In short hes a lousy politican, and in this instance, we see him not reading either the fleet or his own crew very well. With all the rack time him and the president are getting, you would think they could at least trade some -know-how. His military experience, for her political savvy. Even Roslin fails partly at this. Her wireless broadcast imploreing the quorum to re-consider there hard-line on the jump drives, comes across.... as pleading,and too little too late. That Adama, Roslin, all the senior people, should have made the rounds, talked to people *in person*, hear there concerns, talk to the people whos lives there decisions effect into there confidence, but thats not Adamas style and Roslin adbicated her responsibilites so the crisis could move forward to the point there at now...unfortunate. As for the rebels, in many ways its not to feel some sympathy for there feelings, Adama and co. in many ways, have it comeing, though not all will agree, of course. Problem is, rather than attemping to elict any sort of sympathy or at least understanding of there position, the writers are definately makeing sure they come across as real douche-bags as well. If a mutiny is borne of frustration, that doenst necessarily mean the people involved *have* to be evil, muntiny is wrong of course, but since the mutineers are being cast in the worst possible light, its really hard to see what hope remains for any of them. If they do get through the crisis, I have a hard time seeing how the Galactica crew could ever work together again, no matter how much they have to.

[His Divine Shadow]

I wasn't too fond of Starbuck not executing every last one when she freed Apollo. Kill all the traitors, no pardons.

[tezunegari]

I wasn't too fond of Starbuck not executing every last one when she freed Apollo. Kill all the traitors, no pardons.

Yeah. That was kind of disappointing. When I saw that scene I expected her to give headshots to everyone save Apollo. Though I would have liked to see their faces when Apollo walks to Starbuck, takes a gun turns to leave and just tells her to shoot them all. But that would be OOC for Apollo (but interesting to witness).

Overall this episode was pure gold. I hope the next part will keep the quality (or even rise it). The "to be continued" at the end really got me by surprise.

About Adama and Tigh: Are you shitting me?! Two old men have more badassery in their pinky fingers than the bloody fleet?
Spoiler

Somehow I expect Gaeta to airlock Adama as shown in the preview for the next episode. But with his pure badassery he will just stand in the decompressed viper launcher and stare them all to death... through that blindfold he's wearing.

Spoiler

Though it was stated by Adama himself that Tigh was killed during that standoff I surely hope that is not true.

[Skylon]

Also, Adama and Tigh still prove their total badassery...even at age 60-70ish. I just watched "Rome" and am wondering if they're like older versions of Lucious Vorenus and Titus Pullo...IN SPAAAAAAACE.

I'm quoting that in my signature.

Glad someone agrees with me.

Out of curiosity, who do we have that hasn't picked a side/could go to Adama? The main cast is all behind Adama. Plus Hoshi who was marched off to the brig.

On the undecided we got Hot Dog, that older looking deck hand who appears now and then, Cottle...um....THIS GUY who has been around, with no lines since season 1: http://media.battlestarwiki.org/images/ ... ilot_1.jpg

Yeah...

They really took most of the tertiary characters and just turned them fucking evil. At this rate I wouldn't be surprised if the damn Sergeant from season 1, who accused the Chief of being a Cylon shows up looking for vengeance.

[JME2]

I remember when Exodus concluded and someone on this board - can't remember who - commented on Adama shaving his moustache that he was merely returning it to the armoury, to await the day that it was once again needed to defend humanity, like Excalibur. Who else thought that as he and Tigh prepared for their final stand, that Adama was going to go get his moustache?

"Sir, weapons locker nine has been broken into."

"More loyalists. What was taken?"

"Nothing, just.. a small box was left open, sitting on the floor."

Gaeta goes as white as a sheet. "Oh my Gods... he's got the moustache!"

Cut to a shot of Adama storming up the hallway, mutineers tossed aside just from the sheer force of his presence, bullets bouncing harmlessly aside as he heads towards command. Adama has finally unleashed the pure, unstoppable fury of the moustache.

Courtesy of the magic search button

Heheheh, the Colonial Matrix of Leadership.

I'm presently without cable, so I'll have to watch it (and the previous episode) through iTunes), but this is looking good; the final season is really shaping up for a helluva finale.

[tezunegari]

I can't wait for the next xx,xxx SURVIVORS ticker... guess it will fall below 39,500 mark considering the sounds of firing and screaming during this episode.

Funny thought: Could we please get a demonstration of how strong the cylons really are? It would be so cool if Tigh went Wookie on Gaeta, Gage and the rest of the traitors. (ripping their arms out of the sockets)

[His Divine Shadow]

They are strong but I've got the memory of having seen one cylon be successfully detained by 2-3 people before, so they are probably twice as strong as a human but not several times like a Wookie is. I do remember when Apollo and Sharon fought for a gun in season two and when Adama tried to strangle her, she overcame them both but it wasn't a cakewalk.

[Gil Hamilton]

I'd actually bet they aren't much stronger than natural humans. They've still got human dimensions and muscles. What they have that humans don't is a probably a much better means to ignore pain, probably by going to their Happy Place while they do it*. Most people are alot stronger than they realize and, under the effects of epinephrine (or other, more illicit chemicals), can do some pretty amazing feats of strength because they aren't feeling the pain associated with it that normally stops most people. Overcoming the Adamas probably isn't beyond what a human woman of Sharon's dimensions is capable of, if she were juiced up enough. You hear stories about several police officers being necessary to restrain a suspect, just because they are high as shit and full of retard strength. There is no reason a Cylon shouldn't be able to do that on command.

(*Lord, I wish that wasn't an accurate description of what Cylons do)

Of course, they obviously can just turn pain off as an input, as you'd expect a robot to be able to. We've repeatedly seen Cylons in pain and even can be traumatized by it, which is kind of funny design choice by whomever made them.

[CaptJodan]

I've gotta give it to Hobo Tigh. I was sure that, long before now, he would become a greater problem than most of the other Earth based cylons. The man has been shit on up one side and down the other, and I expected him to slowly turn towards the Cylon way of thinking. But the man continues to be loyal to the old man more than anyone else on the ship, despite being a Cylon and despite being hated by everyone in the fleet.

It's also interesting to see Lee (I think it was Lee and Tigh, not sure) talk about the destruction of the colonies and how it was their fault. I was under the impression that these final 5 really have nothing to do with the destruction of the colonies. Tigh and the rest may be Cylons, but they sure had nothing to do with the genocide. Given that Lee was the one that gave them amnesty, I'm surprised he was the mouthpiece for the "I hate your guts because of what you did to the colonies" spiel.

[Mayabird]

Zarek: "I happen to know a few things about revolution." If I remember my Colonial history correctly, your so-called revolution failed. All you did in the end was get a bunch of innocent government desk jockeys killed and make yourself lord of the situational homosexuals.

Only now you're doing your jockeying for power with the entire remnant population of humanity and are willing to wipe out two races/subspecies/who the frak knows at this point, and for what? So you can be the lord of a few thousand survivors while the ships slowly wear away and die (or Cavil shows up and quickly puts everybody out of their misery)?

[Posner]

I'm presently without cable, so I'll have to watch it (and the previous episode) through iTunes), but this is looking good; the final season is really shaping up for a helluva finale.

Try Hulu.com if you just want to see the episode without having a copy of it. It's on the up and up. But you probably want a copy to rewatch over and over, and I can't blame you for that.

I hope Hot Dog's comment is a sign of things to come. I don't mind Starbuck Mary Sue nonsense as long as everyone treats her like a sociopathic whore. And it was nice for her badassery to do something other than show off how awesome she is.
I was a little concerned about running out of episodes to answer all of the questions, but then I realized it would only take a 10 minute monologue to answer the biggest questions, so I am going to stop worrying, sit back and enjoy.