Season 3, Episode 20:
Crossroads, Part II
Various events are occurring throughout the fleet during a break in the trial.
Anders and Tory are having sex, but are distracted when they both hear the strange music again. She notes the music, and he comments that he's surprised she can hear it too. The pair are interrupted by Seelix immediately afterward in an awkward moment. At the same time, Tyrol begins humming the same music to himself. He starts wandering Galactica's halls to hear it more clearly.
Bill is shaving in his cabin when he is called by Roslin, who needs motivation facing the trial again. He manages to playfully goad her back into action, and receives her thanks for the motivation.
Lee, Baltar and Lampkin are discussing the case in the latter's apartment. Lee and Lampkin both suggest going for a mistrial, even though Baltar disagrees.
Roslin has another dream about Hera while receiving medication in Galactica's sickbay, and somehow shares the same vision with Sharon, who is also there with Hera. They both wake up screaming at the same time and decide to share their experiences with Caprica-Six. When questioned about it, Caprica-Six says that she feels like she has to protect Hera with her life.
The trial resumes with Gaeta taking the stand. Although Gaeta lies that Baltar didn't resist signing the execution order on New Caprica, Lampkin doesn't cross-examine and excuses him. He then argues for a mistrial, pointing to Bill's testimony several days earlier.
Lee is then called to the stand and questioned about his father's actions. Although he refuses to paint his father in a bad light, Lampkin presses him on his opinions about Baltar's actions, and Lee says that the former leader was trying to do the best he could in a bad situation. Lee then gives a Rousing Speech where he points out that many of the command crew have done questionable or illegal actions and have been pardoned for it, yet Baltar is singled out for punishment because of the fleet's guilt for their own behavior.
Lampkin rests for the defense, and the trial ends. Roslin congratulates Cassidy for her role as the prosecutor, but everyone is shocked when the tribunal returns with their decision.
Baltar is acquitted, 3-2, and the proceedings turn into chaos as Baltar is shepherded away by Marines as the press try to interview him. Baltar is thankful for Lampkin and Lee's help, but his joy is short-lived when both say they want nothing to do with him. He becomes fearful and goes to collect some files from his office, but notices that he is being watched by everyone wherever he goes. Lee also says goodbye to Lampkin, who reveals that he was using his cane as a psychological tactic to feign sympathy from others.
Roslin is angered at the verdict. She goes to Bill, and discovers that he was the deciding vote that freed Baltar. He tells her that the prosecution failed to make its case, and that they have to move forward if they want to unite as a fleet.
Galactica and the other ships make their final jump to the Ionian Nebula, but power within the fleet fails completely soon after. As Bill checks on Roslin's health, people scream to light up the ships with flashlights and restore power. Caprica-Six has a dream where she is in the Opera House and is with Baltar holding Hera while the Final Five stand in front of them.
Baltar attempts to flee his office under cover of darkness, but is accosted by three women who tell him they will take him to safety…
Tigh, Anders, Tyrol and Tory begin to hear the music more loudly, and start quoting lyrics from a song. All four head to Galactica's gym and stare at each other in shock. Tyrol reveals the unthinkable—all of them are Cylons.
The four people hum the music together before Tigh tells them to stop and closes the hatches. He tells them that it doesn't matter if he's a Cylon or not, because he's still a Colonial officer and will do his job. Anders doesn't believe it either, and the power is restored throughout the Fleet. All four pledge to continue doing their jobs and not let on what has happened.
In the CIC, DRADIS picks up a large Cylon fleet approaching. Tigh and Tory head to the CIC while Anders and Tyrol head to the hangar deck. Lee also hears the commotion and grabs his flight gear before entering his Viper and heading out with the other pilots. As Bill orders the Fleet to prepare for a Cylon attack, Tigh and Tory both pledge to help their respective leaders.
Lee picks up an identified signal and moves in to investigate, only to have his own shocking revelation. Kara is alive and well, sitting in her Viper. She tells him not to freak out, and reveals that she has been to Earth and will take the Fleet there.
The music picks up in intensity as the view zooms out from the impending battle with the Cylons, and zooms back in again on a familiar sight… Earth.
Tropes:
- Astronomic Zoom: The final shot zooms out from a battle to show the entire Milky Way Galaxy before zooming back in on a nearby area to show how close the Fleet are to Earth, though given the sizes involved they could be right next to it and never find it without help.
- Back from the Dead: Kara, who reappears in her Viper and speaks with Lee.
- Call-Back: During an important moment of questioning, Lee references multiple instances throughout the Fleet's journey where people who should have been charged with serious offenses were acquitted, including the destruction of the Olympic Carrier, the coup Bill carried out against Roslin, Lieutenant Thorne's death, the suicide bombings on New Caprica and the execution of Cylon collaborators.
- The Chessmaster: Lampkin. Lee later understands this after Lampkin walks off without his cane, as he realizes that the attorney drove a wedge between him and his father to acquit Baltar.
- Courtroom Episode: Continuing from the last episode, the trial of Baltar keeps going, eventually ending in his acquittal. This causes the crowd to erupt in anger.
- Dare to Be Badass:Gaeta: (over the intercom) Action stations, action stations. Set condition one throughout the ship. This is not a drill.
Tory: My Gods, what are we going to do?
Tigh: The ship is under attack, we do our jobs. Report to your stations.
Tyrol: (incredulously) Report to stations?
Tigh: My name is Saul Tigh, I am an officer in the Colonial Fleet. Whatever else I am, whatever else it means, that's the man I want to be. And if I die today, that's the man I'll be. - Dramatic Irony:
- After accusing Tyrol of being a Cylon in a previous episode, both Tigh and Tyrol are revealed as such.
- It also makes the New Caprican Resistance this, as three of the Final Five (Tyrol, Tigh and Anders) were its ringleaders.
- Dreaming of Things to Come: Roslin, Sharon and Caprica-Six all have dreams about Hera and/or the Final Five.
- Easter Egg: Coupled with Foreshadowing. Tigh, Anders, and Tyrol quote lines from "All Along the Watchtower" during the episode. Each line makes sense in context, to hide their true meaning. RDM revealed in his commentary that in a viewing party he was a part of, after Tigh says, "There must be some kinda way out of here," someone quoted the next line, making Moore concerned that it would become an untwist.
- Five-Second Foreshadowing: The use of "All Along The Watchtower" becomes extremely overt in the last two minutes before The Reveal, with characters quoting the first four lines from the song ["There must be some way out of here" (Tyrol) / "Said the joker to the thief" (Tigh) / "There's too much confusion" (Anders) / "Can't get no relief" (Tory)]. For fans of the song, it's the clearest indication that the show is riffing off the Bob Dylan song.
- Foreshadowing: When Tigh realizes he's a Cylon, he tries to make sense of his past history, asking, "What about Ellen?" As we find out nearly an entire season later, Ellen is the last of the Final Five.
- Gallows Humor: Baltar, after Gaeta accuses him of being passive while signing the execution order.Baltar: The whole Fleet knows that this man tried to stab me through the neck… and you missed! Butterfingers!
- The Hecate Sisters: The Opera House dream is shared by Caprica-Six (the Maiden), Athena (the Mother) and Laura Roslin (the Crone).
- Not Proven: The result of Baltar's trial, as explained by Adama.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Lee ends the trial by explaining that the actions of many of the command crew, including himself, are just as morally grey (or worse) than anything Baltar did during the Cylons' reign on New Caprica. Who and what does he talk about?
- First, Lee brings up Baltar’s own mistakes, but adds that he didn’t commit any crimes. He had no choice but to surrender lest the Cylons nuke New Caprica and be done with it.
- Roslin issued a blanket pardon on all of the collaborators.
- Colonel Tigh used suicide bombers which killed Cylon and humans alike.
- Helo and Tyrol killed a Pegasus officer who was about to rape Athena.
- The then-Commander Adama launched a Coup d'état against President Roslin.
- What about Lee himself: he shot down the Olympic Carrier; he raised his weapon to Colonel Tigh during Adama’s coup; and when the Cylons arrived at New Caprica, he made the call to jump away. He even tried to persuade the Admiral never to return.
- The Reveal: Of four of the Final Five Cylons. Also of Starbuck's fate.
- Rule of Symbolism: Roslin, Sharon and Caprica-Six all having dreams about Hera's importance and the Final Five (also doubles as Foreshadowing).
- She's Back: Kara, after being presumed dead in "Maelstrom".
- Space Clouds: The Ionian Nebula reduces visibility, which gives the Cylons an opportunity to get the jump on the Fleet.
- Suddenly Shouting: Once Tigh realizes exactly what the other three in the bulkhead are talking about, he immediately screams at them to deadbolt both entrances into the area.
- Tomato in the Mirror: Tigh, Tyrol, Tory and Anders realize they were Cylons all along.
- Unexplained Recovery: Kara.
- Waxing Lyrical: Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower", recited by the four Cylons. Played for Drama, as it ends up revealing who the four Cylons are, while causing them distress along the way.
- Wham Episode: Four of the Final Five Cylons are revealed, Kara returns and Earth is seen for the first time.
- Wham Line: Practically every line in acts 3 and 4, but especially:Tyrol: We're Cylons. And we have been from the start.(later)Starbuck: Hi, Lee.
