Battlestar Galactica 1978 - The Magnificent Warriors
by Nancy Mathews
I think it is quite clear that I am a Starbuck lover. I’ll even cross gender lines. Male Starbuck, female Starbuck - either way I’m in love. I’ve never had those type of feelings for either Apollo. Boy scouts don’t float my boat. Blinded as I am, I had no idea that there was another option. There are some who believe Commander Adama is the hotness.
We open on a battle (are you as tired of that as I am?) The cylons actually get past the vipers and hit some of the fleet. They destroy two agricultural ships and seriously damaged the third. No one seems overly concerned about the lives lost. There’s no population count going up and down in this fleet - the larger issue is the grain lost. They need seeds to get things going again. Conveniently, very conveniently, they discovered one of the nearby planets is an agro planet. They decide to attempt to trade for what they need: a generator or “energizer” for seed. Adama tells Apollo to find an old model of energizer so no one can trace it back to the fleet.
Apollo finds one in the possession of a woman named Siress Belloby. Last week we had Britt Ekland, this week it’s Brett Somers - did they cut the budget already? Apollo explains that she won’t give up her energizer until she speaks to Adama personally. Tigh thinks this is no problem. She just needs to be ordered to give it up for the good of the fleet. Adama is squirming, in fact he looks frightened. He explains that “no one orders Siress Belloby to do anything”.
Adama goes to see the lady in question with Apollo and Tigh pushing him along. He brings her flowers (so sweet that one). They obviously have history. She brokers a deal: she wants Adama in return for her energizer. Anything for the good of the fleet, right? Adama decides to go on the mission with the others. It seems that Belloby will be joining them as well. Boxey complains that Apollo’s leaving him, again and talks Apollo into taking him and Muffit alongl. It’s a frakkin’ party!
Oddly enough, in this episode we get a small bit of narration and location titles about the planet. Its planet Sectar and the settlement is named Serenity. Adama explains in his voice over that it may have been settled by pioneers from their 12 colonies or from the 13th tribe. Thanks for the info, Adama.
All is not serene in Serenity. The moon rises and everyone runs and hides. They’ve never heard of a lunar calendar?
Two men are trying to talk the local constable into confronting a herd of creatures - this would be the reason they freak out when the bad moon rises. They are freaky, animal looking humanoids called Borays that are attacking on horseback. It seems they come to steal grain and women, which is too disturbing for words. The constable reluctantly goes out to keep them from invading the town itself. They kill him; although, I’m still unclear as to how they actually did it since he had a gun, but whatever. It seems constables are pretty disposable around this joint. The Borays come stampeding in, the constable makes his stand and ends up dead on the ground. I don’t see how this protects the town, but there it is.
The team lands on the surface. Apollo is about to go into town when Adama tells him he can’t go. He wants Apollo to stay with him and Boxey, presumably to protect him from Siress Belloby. Starbuck and Boomer go into town to try to make the trade. They fail miserably and end up getting mugged and getting their energizer stolen. The leader of the settlement, Bogan, hatched a plan to get the energizer and a new constable.
Starbuck decides the only way to deal with this is to go back to the bar and gamble (Starbuck’s answer for most of life’s challenges). He offers to buy the seed but doesn’t have enough money to pay Bogan’s asking price. He tells Bogan he’ll play to make enough money to buy the seed, and promptly starts winning.
Boomer heads back to the shuttle and tells everyone what happened. Adama’s had enough of this. He tells Jolly, who is only here to babysit it seems, to watch Boxey. They make it to town just in time to see Starbuck rake in all his winnings, including the constable badge. Doesn’t he ever learn that when he’s on a winning streak something bad is going to happen? It seems the law in this town states that whoever possesses the badge is the constable for life, even if they have no idea what it is. Not so surprisingly this doesn’t sit well with Starbuck. At this moment the Boray return. The colonials go to greet them. They do drive the Boray off, but not before they take Belloby. Seriously!?! She’s a tad old for their purposes, no? Surprisingly Adama says they have to save her. If it were me I would have cut and run.
Having witnessed actual bravery, Bogan realizes he is in the presence of colonial warriors, ‘ cause they corner the market on bravery in this part of the ‘verse, I guess. He frees Starbuck from his commitment and wishes them good luck on getting Belloby back.
They go to confront the Boray leader. Turns out he’s just a lazy ass. The Boray used to grow their own food (they don’t discuss the women issue, thankfully) but the leader decided it would be easier to just steal from the humans. Adama is completely frustrated in his negotiations. Starbuck comes up with a plan that we are not privy to.
They return to town. Starbuck introduces Bogan to his new constable, Nogow, the leader of the Boray. It seems he traded the constable’s badge for Belloby. I suppose that protects the town. Certainly law enforcement in small towns are often the place where you can put a problem citizen. I’m just not sure about the wisdom of the idea, but I seem to be alone in my concerns. After a brief hesitation Bogan accepts his new appointee. Belloby dumps Adama for his lack of negotiating skills and lays a lip lock on Starbuck, whom she declares is a real man. So say we all.
What we learned this week:
- Adama actually only leaves people he cares about behind, if you get on his nerves he’ll rescue you.
- Strangers make excellent cannon fodder.
- When in doubt, gamble.
- Cougars love Starbuck as much as everyone else.
Nancy Mathews works very hard at masquerading as a grown up to go to work and raise her two sons. Once the sun goes down she reverts to the 10 year old that she actually is. You can follow her plans for world domination through the formation of an army of knitters on her blog, Bronxgirlknits.
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