Exodus (Battlestar Galactica)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Exodus


Caption = The fleet is reunited
Series = Battlestar Galactica
Season = 3
Episode = 3 and 4
Airdate = October 16, 2006
October 23, 2006
Production = 303 and 304
Writer = Bradley Thompson
David Weddle
Guests = Lucy Lawless
P.J. Prinsloo
Director = Felix Enriquez Alcala
Episode list = Episode chronology
Prev = Precipice
Next = Collaborators

"Exodus" (parts one and two) are the third and fourth episodes of the third season from the science fiction television series, "Battlestar Galactica". The episodes originally aired on the SciFi Channel on October 16 and 23, 2006.

The plot details the struggle of the human refugees, led by Colonel Saul Tigh, as they lead an insurrection on Cylon-controlled New Caprica. Meanwhile, Admiral Adama and the crews of "Galactica" and "Pegasus" plan a rescue attempt of the survivors.

Despite setting new low Nielsen ratings records for the show, the episodes received critical praise and were later nominated for three Emmys, winning one of them.

Plot

Part I

The episode begins with a replaying of the final minutes of the previous episode: Jammer has let Cally Tyrol escape in anticipation of the imminent Cylon Centurion slaughter. The episode then jumps back one hour and cuts to Colonel Tigh.

Chief Tyrol shows Tigh a list of people the Cylons are going to execute. Tyrol has received the list from his source inside Baltar's administration (presumably, Felix Gaeta again). Cally's name is on the execution list. Tigh realises that they still have time to prevent the executions, and dispatches Tyrol and some other armed resistance members to the execution map coordinates.

Meanwhile, Sharon Agathon and her marines land on New Caprica and initiate their rendezvous with the Resistance. Sharon posts two marines to cover her as she makes contact with Samuel Anders. As they begin discussing the plans, namely that Sharon is to retrieve the launch keys for the remaining colonial ships so that an evacuation can be executed, Centurions ambush them and manage to kill some of the Resistance members. Sharon's colonial marines destroy the attacking Centurions, and snipers kill two Humanoid-Cylons that have been spotted fleeing from the scene. The Resistance finds the rendezvous map on one of the corpses and Anders realises that Ellen Tigh has betrayed them.

At the execution site, Tyrol and the resistance manage to destroy the Centurion firing squad and wound Brother Cavil. Tyrol saves Cally and gives his regards to Laura Roslin and Tom Zarek who were also part of Cally's convoy. Tyrol tells Roslin that Admiral Adama is coming back to rescue them all.
Number Three has an intense nightmare and wakes up from her dream with the urge to go into New Caprica and talk to an oracle at the temple. Upon doing so, the priestess convinces her that she knows of her dreams and has a message for her from the gods: "The fruit born of two peoples is alive". Number Three refuses to believe the oracles, who then adds that Number Three will hold the child in her arms and finally understand true love.

Gaius Baltar and Caprica Six struggle with their roles in the betrayal of humanity. Baltar has sunk deeper into self-pity during the Cylon occupation. Caprica Six is selfishly focused on what she needs from him for their relationship, to the detriment of her position within the Cylon hierarchy.

Starbuck watches her "daughter", Kacey, as she recovers from her accident. Leoben Conoy is shocked at how she is transforming with the prospect of being a mother. Starbuck apologizes for leaving Kacey, who seems to understand what her mother is saying, alone. Kacey forgives her and the two appear to begin to bond.

Number Three is walking back to the Cylon facilities through Caprica City when she comes upon a dog and begins to pet it. She looks across the way and sees Dr. Cottle operating on a wounded Cylon, whom he says is a Number 5 (a copy of Aaron Doral) that was shot up by insurgents. When he comes out for a smoke, she asks him how he could put Sharon's baby in the incinerator. He tells her that it was the President's order. Number Three sees this as proof that the baby is still alive.

Meanwhile back on "Galactica", Admiral Adama and Commander Lee Adama finalize the mission plans: Lee and the "Pegasus" are to wait at the specified coordinates for 18 hours for Admiral Adama to arrive on successful mission completion. Should Adama fail, Lee is to take the remaining fleet and continue the search for Earth. Lee assures Dee that they will see each other again.

Back on New Caprica, Sharon successfully infiltrates the Cylon facilities, taps into the Cylon datastream and recovers the colonial ships' ignition keys. Her escape is interrupted by Number 3, who tells her that Hera is still alive. Sharon refuses to believe that Adama has lied to her. She incapacitates Number Three by knee-capping her (shooting her knees), and escapes to give the launch keys to Tyrol. She asks Tyrol about Hera's ashes to confirm that her death actually occurred.

The Resistance meets to plan the details of their evacuation strategies. Anders confronts Tigh about Ellen's betrayal. She confesses to having done it, but pleads for Saul to understand the motive behind her actions.

Back on "Galactica", Helo presents Admiral Adama with the news that the keys have been retrieved. Adama makes a rousing speech to his crew to prepare them for the impending action, and with that the civilian evacuation is set in motion. (The speech has echoes of the "St. Crispin's Day" exhortation delivered by Henry V in William Shakespeare's play of the same name.)

Part II

Lee wrestles with his order to protect the civilian fleet as Adama launches his rescue mission.

On New Caprica, Col. Tigh confronts Ellen over her betrayal of the insurgency. Ellen confesses, telling Tigh that she did it in order to save his life. Tigh consoles her with a drink. She collapses, dropping the cup. Col. Tigh lays her down, and breaks down sobbing over poisoning his wife.

With the "Galactica" in far orbit within the nebula, the Vipers and Raptors execute their planned attack. The Raptors successfully launch multiple drones in two groups. The "Galactica" and the "Colonial One" DRADIS immediately registers the two groups of drones as two Battlestars.

While Baltar and the humanoid Cylons discuss their current situation, a series of explosions rock the New Caprica settlement. It is the beginning of a coordinated uprising, meant to distract the Cylons until the human population can meet at predesignated coordinates for evacuation. Number Eight announces that their sensors have detected the approach of two Battlestars in orbit. The humanoid Cylons realise that they have lost control of the situation and prepare to withdraw. Number Five says that they should detonate a nuclear device that they have hidden inside the settlement. When Baltar, Caprica Six, and Gaeta are alone in the office, Gaeta threatens to kill Baltar. Baltar asks him to do so, but Gaeta relents, saying that Baltar has one chance to redeem himself: by disarming the nuclear weapon.

Tigh, Tyrol, and the rest of the fugitives race for the landing field but are pinned down by guarding Centurions. Suddenly, "Galactica" jumps into the upper atmosphere and scrambles Vipers during free-fall (this maneuver is known to fans as the 'Adama maneuver'). Wreathed in fire, and about to crash to the ground, "Galactica" jumps away with a loud thunderclap, while the Vipers bombard the guard tower and landing field gate, allowing the population access to the ships.

The "Galactica", now back in orbit over New Caprica, is suddenly outnumbered when two additional Cylon Basestars jump in to defend, doubling the enemy's firepower to four ships. Already damaged by its atmospheric excursion and lacking fighter support, "Galactica" is soon overwhelmed. Just when Admiral Adama is about to issue final orders, however, Lee returns in the "Pegasus", destroying one Basestar on arrival and attracting the fire of the remainder. In the ensuing firefight, "Pegasus" — also without Vipers as they were left behind to guard the civilian fleet — is critically damaged, but Lee has bought "Galactica" time to repair her FTL and escape. Lee then places the "Pegasus" on a collision course with the nearest basestar and orders his crew to abandon ship. The "Pegasus" rams and destroys its Cylon target, and a flight pod torn from the exploding "Pegasus" slams into another basestar, destroying it as well.

Back on New Caprica, Baltar and Caprica Six come across the baby Hera, her foster mother, Maya, having been killed. Number Three appears and asks to hold Hera in her arms. Caprica Six persuades Baltar to allow this, realising that Number Three won't detonate the nuclear device while Hera is still in the vicinity.

The New Caprica escapees return to "Galactica" and the fleet. Starbuck has brought Kacey with her, but before she can explain to anybody who Kacey is, another woman recognises Kacey as her own daughter, who was taken from her by the Cylons. Laura Roslin re-installs herself upon "Colonial One", even though she is no longer President. Tory Foster informs Roslin that Hera and Maya did not make it off New Caprica.

On "Galactica", Adama shaves off his moustache and returns to work.

Reception

These episodes set consecutive records for the lowest Nielsen rating for "Battlestar Galactica" episodes. Part One earned a 1.6 rating, [ [http://www.gateworld.net/galactica/s3/302.shtml BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SEASON THREE - EXODUS, PART 1] ] the lowest at the time, while Part Two earned an even lower 1.5 rating. [ [http://www.gateworld.net/galactica/s3/303.shtml BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SEASON THREE - EXODUS, PART 2] ]

Despite the low ratings, the episodes were well-received critically. Although there was some disappointment that Part I did not live up to the high standards of the season premiere, it was considered a solid episodecite news|first=Eric|last=Goldman|title=Exodus, Part 1 Review|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/738/738710p1.html|publisher=IGN|date=2006-10-12|accessdate=2008-04-20] and an appetizer for Part II.cite news|first=Patrick|last=Sauriol|title="Battlestar Galactica": "Exodus Part I" Review|url=http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=15590|publisher=UGO|date=2006-10-12|accessdate=2008-04-20] The second part was highly praised, with special attention to the performances of Michael Hogan and Kate Vernon as Colonel Tigh and his wifecite news|first=Patrick|last=Sauriol|title="Battlestar Galactica": "Exodus Part II" Review|url=http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=15763|publisher=UGO|date=2006-10-19|accessdate=2008-04-20] and Michael Trucco as Samuel T. Anders.cite news|first=Eric|last=Goldman|title=Exodus, Part 2 Review|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/740/740459p1.html|publisher=IGN|date=2006-10-19|accessdate=2008-04-20] The special effects, especially those surrounding the space battles, were also acclaimed by critics, and IGN referred to Adama's atmospheric entry maneuver with the "Galactica" as the "hands-down the coolest thing I've have ever seen a Battlestar do, new or old series combined."

Awards

The episode won the 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series and was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series and Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series. [ [http://www.courant.com/entertainment/tv/sns-ap-emmy-nominations-list,0,5050282.story?page=2 List of Primetime Emmy Nominations - Auto Trends, Matthew Perry, Miami (Miami-Dade, Florida) - Courant.com ] ] [ [http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/wire/sns-ap-emmy-nominations-list,0,1410176.story?page=5 List of Primetime Emmy Nominations - Auto Trends, Ron Clark, Hell's Kitchen - Newsday.com ] ] Michael Hogan submitted this episode for consideration in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" on his behalf for the 2007 Emmy Awards.cite web|title = 2007 Emmys CONFIRMED Episode Submissions|url = http://goldderbyforums.latimes.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1106078764/m/53610293|publisher = The Envelope Forum, Los Angeles Times|accessdate = 2007-06-18] These two episodes also won the 2007 VES Award for "Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series". [ [http://www.vesawards.com/5thvesannounced.pdf] ]

References

External links

* at the Battlestar Wiki
* at the Battlestar Wiki
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0801849/ Exodus, Part I on IMDb]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0867671/ Exodus, Part II on IMDb]