Introduction

“Crossroads” (Parts 1 and 2) are the nineteenth and twentieth episodes of the third season and season finale from the science fiction television series, Battlestar Galactica.

Neither episode begins with a survivor count.

Outline of Series 03, Episode 19

President Roslin and Athena share the same vision of chasing Hera Agathon through the ancient opera house on Kobol, where they also encounter Caprica Six. At Joe’s Bar, Colonel Tigh and Samuel Anders share a different form of vision, ethereal music which only the two of them are able to hear.

Just before Baltar’s trial is set to begin, Cassidy refuses Roslin’s request that Baltar be tried for conspiring with the Cylons. Meanwhile, Baltar is visited in the brig by a woman who asks him to bless her child. He refuses, but she reaffirms her belief in him nonetheless. Although the fleet is nearing the Ionian Nebula, and has not encountered the Cylons for weeks, Adama is unconvinced the fleet has truly outrun them. His suspicions are confirmed when Racetrack’s trailing Raptor narrowly dodges an attack by a massive Cylon fleet. When Tigh questions Caprica Six, she informs him the Cylons had found a way to track the fleet’s Refinery Ship. The interrogation turns to blows when Six takes her imaginary Baltar’s suggestion to bring up Tigh’s wife. Shaken, Tigh has Six shackled.

At the beginning of the trial, Cassidy’s opening arguments rest on Baltar having been a failed leader and the devastating loss of 5,197 people on New Caprica. Defence attorney Romo Lampkin opens by condemning Baltar in the harshest terms, finally obtaining an unruly shout from a member of the gallery. Lampkin uses the outburst to turn his arguments abruptly into the notion that Baltar is being railroaded to execution and the trial is being held as a formality to justify the carnal desire to punish Baltar beyond any blame he deserved. Lampkin also takes advantage of Roslin’s arrival at the courtroom to suggest she would have pursued confrontation with the Cylons, and gotten more people killed than Baltar had by unconditional surrender.

The trial moves further into Baltar’s favour when Colonel Tigh takes the witness stand and admits to masterminding the New Caprica Police graduation bombing (see “Occupation“), with Baltar as the primary target. After Cassidy opens up the subject by suggesting Ellen is another victim of Baltar, Lampkin pushes him into eventually confessing to killing Ellen. Lampkin also coaxes Tigh into admitting his drinking problem, and Tigh further degrades his own position when he again hears the ethereal music and angrily yells for it to be turned off. He is effectively barred as a witness after repeatedly admitting he would do or say anything to see Baltar executed.

When Roslin herself takes the witness stand, she confirms for Lee Adama that Baltar helped save her life during her bout with cancer a year beforehand, and later also confirms, over the objections of Adama, that she had resumed taking medication because her cancer had returned. As the chamalla has hallucinogenic side effects, Roslin’s credibility is seriously damaged.

During a recess in the trial, Romo Lampkin asks Lee Adama to consider that his role in the trial may get him expelled from the “aristocracy” of the Adama family in the fleet. Soon afterwards, Lee argues with his father over the principle of trying Baltar. Admiral Adama confirms the trial is a formality and that he already feels Baltar is guilty. He also condemns Lee for the damage done to Saul, though Lee had no knowledge of Ellen Tigh’s death, much less that Saul murdered her. In disgust, Lee resigns his commission, and Adama readily accepts it. Later, in their quarters, Dualla takes Lee’s role in the trial as the final straw to break their troubled marriage, packs her things and leaves over his pleas to stay.

On Colonial One, Roslin is badgered with questions from reporters about the resurgence of her cancer. Tory Foster, suffering from constantly hearing the music in the same way as Colonel Tigh, angrily tells the reporters to stop prying into Roslin’s personal affairs, earning her a private reprimand from Roslin. On Galactica’s bridge, Felix Gaeta and Helo review a plan to use the refinery ship as a decoy to lure the Cylons off course, and brood over a gathering storm.

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: Michael Taylor.
• Release Date: 18 March 2007 (UK).
• Running Time: 45 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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