Battlestar Galactica Retrospective S1E6 “Litmus”
Posted by Mr Random on June 25, 2008
Key Events
Another copy of Doral (number 5) boards Galactica and after obtaining explosives blows himself up when confronted by Commander Adama
It is publically announced that there are humanoid cylons
The Deckhands try to cover for Chief Tyrol and Boomer but end up giving contradicting reports to Sergeant Hadrian
Soccinus lies for Tyrol about leaving the hatch combing on causeway C open (it was probably Boomer) and ends up in jail
Hadrian starts to interrogate Commander Adama about the bombing virtually accusing him of being in league with the cylons, so Adama stops the Tribunal and puts Seargeant Hadrian under House arrest
Boomer and Tyrol split up
On Caprica Helo “rescues” Athena from the cylons
What we Learn
It is 17 days since the fall of the colonies
The cylons will kill Helo if he is not in love with Athena
Chief Tyrol knows how to build a still
Commander Adama’s father was a civil liberties lawyer
Tyrol has worked under Adama for over 5 years
The 23rd Article provides for the right to silence
The Cylons are not aware of Head 6 or her relationship with Baltar
Unanswered Questions
Why was Sergeant Hadrian so obsessed with Chief Tyrol and Boomer?
She seemed to target them straight away, so was she just jealous of their relationship or did
How difficult is it to open a Hatch?
Given that this is what Hadrian was so obssessed about it would have been nice to know why the cylon could not have simply opened it by themselves
How did Doral know the Hatch would be open?
This implies that it was pre-planned and the Sleeper part of Boomers programming was able to contact Doral and tell him
Was Baltars Lab the true target for Doral?
What happens to Sergeant Hadrian?
Plot Discrepancies
Tyrol gives up his right to silence at the start of questioning yet later uses it, and there seems to be no consequences for this
Why was Sergeant Hadrian both chief investigator and “prosecutor” for the inquiry, this seems a possible conflict of interest since as Tyrol pointed out she is in charge of internal security of Galactica
Given that Adama had no sympathy for Soccinus’ punishment it is strange that he did nothing to Gaeta after he lied during Baltars trial
Episode Rating
7/10
