Introduction

“33” is the first episode of first season and the pilot episode of the reimagined military science fiction television program Battlestar Galactica, immediately following the events of the 2003 miniseries.

“33” follows Galactica and her civilian fleet as they are forced to contend with constant Cylon pursuit for days without sleep; they are forced to ultimately destroy one of their own ships to foil the Cylons and earn their first respite of the series.

Outline of Series 01, Episode 01

Having fled the besieged Ragnar Anchorage, the convoy of refugee spaceships is relentlessly pursued and attacked by Cylon Basestars. The colonial fleet must execute a faster-than-light (FTL) jump every 33 minutes to escape the Cylons, who consistently arrive at the new jump coordinates approximately 33 minutes later. After over 130 hours and 237 jumps, the fleet’s crew and passengers, particularly those aboard Galactica, have been operating without sleep while facing the strain of nearly constant military action.

Upon the 238th consecutive jump, Olympic Carrier (a commercial passenger vessel with 1,345 souls aboard) is accidentally left behind and the attacks unexpectedly cease, allowing the fleet some respite. When the vessel arrives three hours later, President Laura Roslin and Commander Adama order Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama and Lieutenant Kara “Starbuck” Thrace to destroy it, believing that it has been infiltrated by Cylons and now poses a threat to the fleet’s safety. The colonial pilots destroy Olympic Carrier while the rest of the colonial fleet jumps away. Baltar’s internal Number Six explains to him that God is looking after his interests, implying that a scientist aboard Olympic Carrier was preparing to reveal Baltar’s unwitting collusion with the Cylon attack on the colonies.

After the fleet’s last jump, the Cylons do not return, and the President’s survivor whiteboard aboard Colonial One, the result of a fleetwide census, is updated with one additional soul (to 47,973) with the birth of the fleet’s first child aboard Rising Star – a boy.

Meanwhile, on Caprica, Lieuteant Karl “Helo” Agathon is captured by a Cylon patrol and then “rescued” from his Cylon captors by a Number Eight in the guise of his crewmate Sharon “Boomer” Valerii, who shoots a Number Six to free him.

Battlestar Galactica TV Series, Films & Webisodes

You can find a full index of Battlestar Galactica TV series, films, and webisodes here.

Trivia

You can read interesting trivia and background details about the BSG franchise here.

Production & Filming Details

• Director: Michael Rymer.
• Writer: Ronald D. Moore.
• Release Date: 18 October 2004 (UK).
• Running Time: 45 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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