THE YOUNG LORDS by Troy Chronology - This is the seventh episode of the series' first season. It was after THE MAGNIFICENT WARRIORS and before THE LIVING LEGEND. A. What We Learn In This Episode 1. Spectre and Lucifer have had "dealings" before as evidenced when Baltar jokes with Lucifer and he responds, "Speaking from past experience. . .I would not say it is beyond his (Spectre) programming." 2. Galactica/fleet is in Omega sector in this part of their voyage to Earth. 3. Baltar gets a new command "bridge" which replaces his "audience chamber" seen in earlier episodes. 4. Attila had many "fortresses" before the "tin cans" invaded. Megan's family evidently is the last holdout and has since become nomadic. B. New Technical/Cultural Information 1. The Colonial Viper has a blind spot located slightly to left (and conversly right) of immediate rear. It is this location that a Cylon Raider approaches Starbuck and disables his engines. 2. Surprisingly, the colonial viper has NO ejection system. 3. Spectre is an earlier IL series Cylon than Lucifer. 4. Although not explored in detail, I deduced the following: The Cylon command structure normally has centurions (silver) answer to commanders (gold) who answer to ILs. Which would mean the ILs are a higher order of Cylon. No where else during the show's run do we see an "opposite" command structure. Before TYL, we saw very little interaction between centurions/commanders/ILs. Therefore, this episode gives us more details regarding Cylon command/culture. C. Story Arcs 1. For the 5th time, the Galactica "stumbles" upon a group of 13th tribe descendants. Could this mean that all human colonists found in their journey are direct descendants of the 13th tribe? If so, are the Terrans and Eastern Alliance? 2. Why does the Galactica "abandon" the colonists found in their journey towards Earth? Although, it is made clear Megan and family want to stay on Attila, at the very minimum the fleet should have offered them more capable weaponry for combating the Cylons that will undoubtedly return. 3. Tigh comments that the Cylons have penetrated deeper into the galaxy than they expected. This begs the question, "Just how expansive is the Cylon Empire?" 4. Spectre's clever escape from Attila offered the possibility he may have resurfaced in Galactica's second season to challenge our heroes AND Lucifer! Although this was not to be, he did play prominent roles in BG novels 11,12, and 14. I guess you can't keep a good character down! D. Strengths 1. The verbal jousts between Baltar/Lucifer/Spectre are perhaps the best thing about this episode (IMO). Baltar seems to enjoy "rubbing" Spectre's allegiance against Lucifer's loyalty. Also, for the first time, we see a weak spot in Lucifer's confidence. Before this episode, Lucifer always "out thought" Baltar's schemes but here seems a bit threatened by Spectre's use of plying Baltar's ego (something Lucifer would NEVER do). 2. The high-tech Cylons with their chrome armor look great in Attila's medieval stone castle lit by candles! 3. First ten minutes is well constructed. Starbuck's discussion with Boomer sounds genuine and the space battle that interrupts it, is short but exciting. Also little details like Starbuck's sweaty forehead after combat, heighten the drama that he is in real trouble and perhaps scared for his life. He didn't seem scared during emergency landing in "Saga..." or break a sweat when captured in "Lost Planet of the Gods". 4. Although I expect to be criticized for this . . . I rather enjoyed the twist in seeing Boxey "care" for Adama. In THE LONG PATROL, Adama tells a depressed Boxey of "a shining planet called Earth". In TYL, we see Boxey turn the tables and tell a bed-ridden Adama about a "shining planet called Mushie Land". Although the scene is short, it helps strengthen our perception of this "family in space". 5. Although flawed, Starbuck's escape from his viper (that has crash landed near a swamp) is exciting. Although his leg is severly injured, he manages to limp/crawl perhaps several hundred meters before being captured by a Cylon patrol. He raises his hands and looks terrified as a centurion finds him. He may have been thinking he was going to be killed on the spot. Instead, as he is carried to the garrison, he uses humor to cope with his predicament: Centurion: These humanoids are not well constructed, they damage easily. Starbuck: At least we don't rust! Halfway through the series' first season, he emerges as the most well-developed of GALACTICA's characters. 6. Someone on list (I think Michele) mentioned that the battle plan that is "sung" when family rescues Megan, shows Starbuck as very creative in his battle tactics. I agree! It is also most appro- priate because his troops are (ahem) children. D. Weaknessess/Plot holes (Hold on, there are plenty!) 1. If the GALACTICA had never been in this part of space, how did Boomer know the planet Starbuck crashes on, is named "Attila"? 2. Starbuck goes from not being able to stand after his crash, to full warrior mode when rescueing Megan from cylons. How did he heal so quickly without a lingering limp? Miri treated his leg with common herbs and has no access to advanced technology (like device used on Cassie's broken arm in SAGA). In real medicine, herbs can be very effective but typically take longer to work their results than other treatments such as antibiotics. 3. Apollo tells Adama that sending a squadron to rescue Starbuck is too risky. He suggests a shuttle. WHAT?! Isn't the shuttle unarmed? Isn't that more dangerous? Why can't he take shuttle with one viper as escort? I have tried to figure this one out for years, and cannot. Can anyone explain this away? 4. How did Kyle know Starbuck is a lieutenant when greeting him for the first time after their attack on the Cylon patrol? 5. How did Kyle/children know where to attack Cylons to rescue Starbuck? Come to think of it, how did they know Starbuck was a colonial warrior that needed rescueing? They have no advanced technology that would let them identify a viper (versus raider) was crash landing. Even assuming they found his viper and deduced a colonial needed their help, didn't the cylon patrol already have a head start back to the garrison? Although this scene could be explained it comes across as muddy and confusing in televised episode. 6. I have a hard time accepting three children and two semi-adults capable of defeating a platoon of trained centurions. 7. Why did Spectre offer Megan his freedom in exchange for his family's cessation of attacks? He never meant to keep his end of the bargain, so what good did it do? I may be reaching with this . . . but perhaps he was playing games with Megan to further his "understanding" of the human ego/mind. Again, this scene is not well constructed as shown in episode. Comments? 8. Cylons should have been able to ferret out and kill Megan's family with their scanner technology and/or cylon raider strafing runs. What is Spectre's "scorched planet policy"? Why didn't he use this earlier? 9. When Megan sees Spectre coming to his cell he tells him "he will never get anything out of him". What does Spectre want from him? He can't get information of Megan's family location since it is established they are nomadic (as evidenced when Kyle tells Miri/ Starbuck they are moving to another location again and Starbuck is dumbfounded when Kyle blows horn). 10. Assuming Megan has information needed by Spectre, why doesn't Spectre just torture him (like Cree in "Gun on Ice Planet Zero")? 11. As shuttle approaches Attila, how did Boomer know where Starbuck "went down"? We saw in opening battle, Boomer takes off as Starbuck approaches Attila. He doesn't stick around to see Starbuck "land". Again he practically lies to Cassie when she asks if Starbuck landed safely. 12. Why doesn't Colonial Viper have an ejection seat system? 13. Spectre tells Baltar he is "destroying last of the humanoid habitants" although earlier Lucifer reports Spectre's progress state Attila has no humans left on it. Although we know Spectre is lying, why doesn't Baltar react to this contradiction? 14. After rescue, Megan/Miri/Starbuck enter main command center of castle and Kyle and children follow from the SAME staircase. Shouldn't they be coming from a different direction? Perhaps entrance below and left of staircase? 15. Adama's comment to Apollo that if they don't find Starbuck in 24 centares, they will never catch up to the fleet sounds odd. After all, wasn't Starbuck/Boomer's patrol directed ahead of the fleet? There would be little reason for a GALACTICA patrol to spend time where the fleet had been or where it was not headed. Given their limited fuel supplies (remember this is right before "Living Legend"), it is only reasonable to assume their patrol ahead of the fleet. Also, I must assume the shuttle can travel faster than the GALACTICA (which maintains speed of its slowest fleet ship), otherwise why not wait till Attila is in range and then attempt rescue? If shuttle is faster, they should be able to rescue Starbuck and rendezvous with the GALACTICA (which should be approaching at a "cruising" speed). Somebody help me. 16. Although Kyle knows the garrison well (was family's home), he has never attempted to break his father out before Starbuck's arrival(?!?). Starbuck's plan of creating a diversion while Megan is rescued is hardly original and I find it unbelievable Kyle didn't think of this before. E. Character development 1. Starbuck - At the beginning Starbuck is thinking about "words from an old flight instructor." It is unusual to see this character so melancholy and introspective. It gives him more depth and allows viewers something to relate to. Other than this wonderful tidbit, we get more of the "space casanova" (which was quickly becoming tired-IMHO). Although I loathe stories with children, I must say Starbuck related well to them. It would be interesting to see if this character would have gone on to have some (I am not commenting on that dreadful Dr. Zee). Benedict's performance is well handled from his concerns before crash landing to his regretful "goodbye". 2. Boomer - Although I don't know if I should bring this up since our last debate on this matter . . . Starbuck's discussion with Boomer supports my idea that he MAY be closer to him rather than Apollo. Correct me if you saw things differently, but it seemed to me, Boomer was more concerned about Starbuck's condition than Apollo was. Apollo wanted to go in and get Starbuck, yet Boomer seemed very concerned (in their journey) if they would indeed find Starbuck. It is these small observations, that I find interesting about Boomer/Starbuck's friendship. They seem to be more "equals" in what they share/display with one another. Of course, I am willing to concede I may be all wrong, since I have very few episodes as evidence. :( 3. Baltar - Colicos turns in another fine performance as the commander in charge of finding the rag-tag fleet. This time, the character has the opportunity to goad/exploit his first officer's (Lucifer) insecurities over Spectre's ambitions. We also see (for the first/only time) another character (Spectre) feed Baltar's ego. The way Baltar "eats up" Spectre's "compliments" further illustrates what an "oily" character Baltar is. It is unfortunate the Cylons have to depend on such a man to understand their opponents. As the only human in the Cylon fleet for some time, it isn't surprising that Baltar enjoys Spectre's reports; he must be terribly lonely. 4. Adama - For all of the episode, Adama is bed-ridden. Although he should be allowed to recuperate, Tigh reports Starbuck is missing. I conclude Adama instructed Tigh he needed to be kept up-to-date on all fleet concerns. Starbuck's disappearance should be something Tigh is capable of dealing with, yet he reports it to Adama. Again this illustrates just how in-control their commander is and how the burden of command could finally be catching up to his physical health? That or he caught some "bug" from Siress Bellaby in THE MAGNIFICENT WARRIORS. ;) 5. Lucifer/Spectre - Here the character is developed a little more than competent first officer to Baltar. We learn he has past dealings with Spectre and does not trust or like him. Before this episode Lucifer was the only IL we saw in "action". Now that we can compare him to Spectre, we learn ILs are indeed very ambitious and capable of "independent" thought. Lucifer does a background check on Spectre's garrison and is quick to point out to Baltar his findings. Also, in LPotG it is Lucifer who decides to attack the fleet's forces on Kobol. Whether this feature is programmed into ILs or created by them isn't answered, but (IMO) would make an interesting story. SCI-FI CHANNEL CUTS-I need some help here as I don't have SFC and my tape is store bought (I think complete). ODDITIES 1. Boomer's "I don't know how he does it" comment at the end, as Starbuck says goodbye to Miri, gave me a chuckle. 2. Opening "preview" (before main title/credits) shows a viper shot on top wing. This never appears in episode and is instead replaced by cylon shooting (Starbuck's) viper underside. 3. In THE YOUNG WARRIORS novelization: - Attila is Antilla - Megan is Kyle/Miri's mother (not father) - Spectre has an assistant named Hilltop who is given a bit of characterization. In fact, as Spectre escapes Antila, Hilltop orders the troops' surrender to the children. This tidbit shows centurions to be independent in thought (which is contrary to everything shown in the series). This character is dropped from televised episode. 4. Can anyone explain to me what was the deal at the very end where Starbuck seems to do a double take and Apollo yells "STARBUCK". Was he compelled to stay with Miri (unlikely), convince family to join the fleet, wanted the pin he gave to Kyle back? What is this? ************************************************************************ "I'm not going to live in a house of * yort@earthlink.net evil, just to save a few dollars!" * -Troy - Marge Simpson, * STAR WARS/BATTLESTAR GALACTICA THE SIMPSONS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL I * BABYLON 5/X-FILES/SIMPSONS ************************************************************************