Battlestar Galactica (2003)/Epiphanies

Epiphanies
Season 2, Episode 13
Airdate	January 20, 2006
Written by	Joel Anderson Thompson
Directed by	Rod Hardy
Nielsen Rating	1.9
Fleet Survivors	49,598
← 2x12 Resurrection Ship (2)	2x14 → Black Market
Battlestar Galactica (2003) — Season Two

Epiphanies is the thirteenth episode of the second season of Battlestar Galactica, and is the twenty-sixth episode overall.

Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin), Katee Sackhoff (Captain Kara "Starbuck" Thrace), Jamie Bamber (Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama), James Callis (Dr. Gaius Baltar), Tricia Helfer (Number Six), Grace Park (Sharon Valerii)

Michael Hogan (Colonel Saul Tigh), Aaron Douglas (Chief Galen Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Karl "Helo" Agathon), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Felix Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (PO Anastasia "Dee" Dualla)

Guest Star: Colm Feore (President Adar)

Guest Stars: Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Paul Perri (Royan Jahee)

Cast: Luciana Carro (Louanne "Kat" Katraine), Bodie Olmos (Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), David Richmond-Peck (Naylin Stans), Holly Dignard (Asha Janik), Jennifer Kitchen (Marine)

Uncredited: Tim Henry (Doctor) (archive footage)

Plot Summary

The fleet deals with sabotage and terrorism by a faction of Cylon sympathizers in the fleet. Meanwhile, President Roslin's cancer worsens, and she orders the termination of Sharon's pregnancy.

Notes

• This episode had the highest Nielsen rating of the evening for Sci Fi Friday.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• An organisation of Cylon sympathisers named Demand Peace have established themselves in the fleet, unaware that one of them, Gina, is key member. Roslin gets them to back down from their sabotage attempts, but Baltar gives Gina a nuclear warhead.

• Roslin orders the termination of Sharon's baby due to anomalies Cottle found in the fetal blood. However, Baltar discovers that it can be used to cure Roslin's cancer. In doing so, he secures the continuation of Sharon's pregnancy.

Characters

• Lee has been reinstated as Captain and CAG of Galactica again.

• Roslin's cancer brings her to the brink of death, but Baltar uses the fetal blood from Sharon's baby to cure her.

• As Baltar is primed to succeed Roslin upon her death, he is given the letter she wrote to him. He reads it, only to be burned when he learns Roslin doesn't trust him.

• Roslin was having an affair with President Adar and settled a dispute between the his administration and the Education Alliance, which caused him to threaten to request her resignation the day she attended Galactica's decommission ceremony.

• On her deathbed, Roslin recalls seeing Baltar with Number Six on the day of the attacks.

• Baltar tries to get intimate with Gina, but no doubt still uncomfortable with intimacy following her sexual assault, she bites his lip.

Referbacks

• Number Six reminds Baltar of the nuclear warhead he got from Adama in "Bastille Day".

• We see Adar using the quote she had earlier attributed to him in "Flesh and Bone".

Trivia

The Show

"Peace Now" pamphlets

(Front cover)

DEMAND PEACE

A MANIFESTO TO NEGOTIATE AN END TO THE SLAUGHTER

(Inside, read by Colonel Tigh)

Do not be afraid, we are not terrorists, but we will not sit back while Adama's war machine continues to press us into cruel and futile conflict.

(Paper insert)

WE BELIEVE

1. Only open dialogue can save mankind.
2. The military is the servant, not the master of the fleet.
3. The Cylons will respond to reasonable dialogue.
4. Democracy is the key to responsible decision making for the future of mankind.
5. Man and Cylons can coexist in peace.
6. We are at the dawn of a new beginning for mankind.
7. The enemies of peace are the enemies of mankind.

DEMAND PEACE

Roslin's letter to Baltar

President Baltar, I offer my sincere congratulations. I say that knowing we've had our differences, and that you take office despite my many reservations. You may be the most brilliant person I've ever met, but your intelligence is unleavened by compassion. You must be reminded of your ethical responsibilities and challenged to rise above your own selfish needs. I don't write this to hurt you, but to beg you to open your heart. Understand that the people in the fleet look to you not only for leadership, but for solace. Justice. Find a way to give them that, and you will be a great leader.

Laura Roslin

Behind the Scenes

• During the development of this episode, it was proposed that the flashbacks would reveal that it was Roslin who Number Six meets on Caprica in the miniseries. However, this was dropped when no one could reconcile this with why she did not have a familiar reaction to Shelly Godfrey.

Quotes

• Roslin: One of the interesting things about being President is you don't have to explain yourself to anyone.

• Adama: (to Baltar) Pull yourself together. You're about to become President of the Colonies. You're gonna be asked to make some very hard decisions - act like you can handle it!

• Baltar: You're totally insane!

Number Six: I'm trying to help you, you idiot!

• (Lee, Kara, and a squad of Marines are in Galactica's armament-producing facility)

Lee: (to Kara) Let's do this quietly. (approaches suspected terrorist) Asha Janik?

Asha: Captain Adama. I have a message for your father. (shrieking) They may take me-

Lee: Okay, stop her.

Asha: -but I'm one of many! We have declared war against Galactica's army of death! The Cylons aren't our true enemy, it's the military that refuses to negotiate! All we want is peace! Demand Peace! Demand Peace!

(Asha is dragged off by the Marines as the crew watching silently)

Kara: So much for being discreet, huh?

• Bomber: None of us wants to die, but the fighting must end. If my sacrifice sends a signal to the Cylon that brings peace, then it was worth it. I do this for my children and for the children that will follow them. God's will. Demand peace. Demand peace.

• Adama: People are dead.

Royan: I grieve for them, Admiral. And I assure you, the tylium ship's just a taste of what's in store unless (yelling) someone stars listening--

Adama: (grabs Royan by the throat) You listen, and you listen well. I don't care if I have to interrogate every civilian aboard this fleet. This is gonna stop. Do you understand?

Royan: (gurgles weakly) Yes...