#16: Take the Celestra

[Croft2014]

A solid action episode although they monkey with Starbuck's character here for the sake of the plot; I don't guy that he's dismiss or let down Apollo and Boomer et al like he does here. There's a big blooper as well: the scene where Apollo and Starbuck land their Viper's on the Celestra, you can see that the Viper in the foreground is only a partial mockup due to poor framing.

[johnnybear]

Not so keen on this episode but it's okay! I first watched it during Thames's run in 1980 and they showed it after Fire in Space as a brief close to the series! I was probably a bit rattled because it wasn't on the following week I know but it does seem to be a filler episode more than anything!
JB

[Specter]

It's really just filler. Damon is a really annoying character, and the control stick on a pole is pretty ridiculous.

But like all episodes, it had its good points. The double mutiny was a clever plot device. Paul Fix was a great guest star, and Ana Alicia did a good job too. It's also one of the few episodes where we get to see ceremonies performed aboard the Galactica, both the award presentation and the space funeral (which I imagine had some influence on The Wrath of Khan). Consequently, it's the only episode where we see Sheba in the dress uniform. The ceremonial arrangement of the title theme is nice too.

[johnnybear]

And oddly also it has the Patrick MacNee announcing at the beginning of the episode which has been missing for the past ten shows!!!
JB

[Specter]

And oddly also it has the Patrick MacNee announcing at the beginning of the episode which has been missing for the past ten shows!!!
JB

Maybe the episode ran 30 seconds short!

[johnnybear]

I would have put a few planet images or extra shuttle scenes instead if I was finished with the opening MacNee stuff to be honest!
JB

[Specter]

But those cost money...

[johnnybear]

What old shots cost money?
JB

[Specter]

Obviously, stock footage would be a wash. No expense or added value.

[johnnybear]

Were all the Galactica shuttles labelled GAL 356 or was it the only one they ever seemed to use?
JB

[Cylon-Knight]

I doubt it was not the only shuttle on the Galactica, in-universe. There were certainty many others. Perhaps something season two may have shown.

Production limitations are the likely culprit. There was probably the only the one filming model made and no one thought to make the numbers come off/be interchangable to give the illusion of more shuttles.

[johnnybear]

Yeah I know there were meant to be more and ~I always think that GAL 356 was just the model number rather than the actual registration number!
JB

[bishopdonmiguel]

There was one other... “UIY 1138”. It was the shuttle that crash landed on Ice Planet Zero.

UIY obviously a character shift for THX.

[johnnybear]

Can't say I noticed that one, Don, but thanks for that keen eyed observation!
JB

[bishopdonmiguel]

https://www.byyourcommand.net/cylongall ... play_media