Battlestar Galactica (2003)/The Road Less Traveled (1)

The Road Less Traveled
Season 4, Episode 5
Airdate	May 2, 2008
Written by	Mark Verheiden
Directed by	Michael Rymer
Fleet Survivors	39,676
← 4x04 Escape Velocity	4x06 → Faith (2)
Battlestar Galactica (2003) — Season Four

The Road Less Traveled is the fifth episode of the fourth season of Battlestar Galactica, and the fifty-eighth episode overall.

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

Michael Hogan (Colonel Saul Tigh), Aaron Douglas (Chief Galen Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Captain Karl "Helo" Agathon), Michael Trucco (Samuel Anders), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Felix Gaeta)

Guest Star: Callum Keith Rennie (Leoben)

Guest Star: Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster)

Co-Starring: Bodie Olmos (Hotdog), Keegan Connor Tracy (Jeanne), Alisen Down (Barolay)

Cast: Eileen Pedde (Sgt. Mathias), Jennifer Halley (Seelix), Finn R. Devitt (Baby Nicky), Leela Savasta (Tracey Anne), Lara Gilchrist (Paula Schaffer), Ryan McDonell (Lt. Eammon "Gonzo" Pike), Lori Triolo (Phoebe)

Uncredited: Leo Chiang (Tattooed pilot)

Plot Overview

Day 58 of the Demetrius's search, approaching the deadline for rendezvous with Galactica. Kara is becoming affected by the pressure. When she goes out in a Viper, she finds the wreckage of Leoben Conroy's (Number Two's) ship. The Demetrius takes the Cylon captive. Kara Thrace is relieved of command when she plans to avoid the rendezvous with Galactica to search for the Cylons, under Leoben's recommendation.

Tyrol attends one of Baltar's sermons, and the two eventually reconcile.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Baltar appears to have increased in the number of followers.

• Demetrius happens upon a damaged Heavey Raider. Inside is Leoben who informs them that there's been a conflict between the Cylons. He offers an alliance: if they help protect them from Cavil's faction, they'll take her to the Hybrid to help Kara lead the path to Earth.

• With Demetrius set to rendezvous with Galactica, Kara wants to pursue Leoben's proposal. This becomes too much and even Helo refuses to follow orders and invokes Article 10 in relieving her of her command.

Characters

• Tyrol finds the nature surrounding Cally's death to be suspect. Tory lies and doesn't confess her role in her death.

• Leoben notes that he sees Kara now has changed, calling her an "angel blazing with the light of God."

• Tyrol stops by Baltar's when Baltar attempts to make make peace with him. Tyrol lashes out and attacks him. He returns to his quarters and puts a gun to his before calming down. Baltar later visits him, insisting that even Tyrol is need of his message. After letting Baltar talk, Tyrol finally lets Baltar take his hand for which Baltar thanks him.

Referbacks

• Tyrol tells Baltar that Cally had read the "bogus manifesto" he wrote in "Dirty Hands".

Trivia

The Show

• This marks the first absence of Mary McDonnell in the series and the only episode not to feature Edward James Olmos.

Behind the Scenes

• In the final scene with Baltar, Tyrol was supposed to have lines, but both actors were against it. Moore was insistent on it being as written. Rymer compromised and filmed it both ways. When Moore saw both versions, he understood that the version the actors wanted was best.

Goofs

• After Kara beats Number Two until his nose bleeds, the blood on his teeth disappears and reappears throughout the scene.

Quotes

• Baltar: Mr Tyrol. Mr Tyrol. I know that we have had our differences, but I am begging you right now to set those aside. Come down here and take my hand. If not for yourself, then for your wife. For Cally. She would've wanted this.

Tyrol: Cally wasn't like me. She forgave you for New Caprica. Even read your bogus manifesto, but not me. You may have your sheep fooled. They may be buying into your message of forgiveness, but let me tell you, there are some sins that even your imaginary God can never forgive.

Baltar: I have not been talking about an imaginary God. I am asking you to take my hand. Take my hand, Mr Tyrol. For Cally. It's what she would've wanted.

(Tyrol reaches out and begins choking Baltar as his followers try to help him)

Baltar: Leave him! Leave him!

(the two are separated)

Tyrol: You didn't know her!

• Kara: I'm not really very good at any of this. We've all come to remember Sgt Erin Mathias, to grieve for our loss, to honour her. Mathias is dead because of me. We've all heard the words, the prayers, but I don't know what any of it means anymore. We want to believe that she died for something. But in this war, people die and it is just stupid. It's an accident. There's no nobility to it. There's nothing we can grab onto that's gonna make it any easier. They're just gone. I have to live with that.

• Baltar: Look, Chief, I... I'm here to ask for your forgiveness about my presumption earlier. You were right, you know. I hardly knew your wife. I'm sorry. Would you mind if I just, uh... (sits down) I know it's hard to make sense of things sometimes. In my own life... In my own life, I joined the fleet as a scientist, as a sceptic, as a supposedly a man of reason. Only to have fate turn that all on its head. But I understand now that there is a purpose to it. We change. We evolve. Maybe we even learn something along the way. I have committed unconscionable crimes, and I have been offered one last chance at redemption, because I chose to accept my fate, not fight it anymore. I'm so sorry for your lost, Chief. She was a very beautiful woman, your wife. I'm also told quite spiritual. You know, I don't expect you to believe me, but I would've very much have liked to know her better.

(Tyrol extends his hand and Baltar takes it)

Baltar: Thank you.