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Experiment in Terra Rate and Discussion Thread
#2
Posted 05 March 2009 - 10:03 AM
(wiping the dust off of this topic....coughs) It's funny, I never liked this episode all that much in its original run (when I was 12, all I wondered was, "When are the Cylons coming back!??" I missed my 'homies'
). But upon rewatching it (as I did a few days ago, while I was multi-tasking with other stuff), it kind of grew on me. It is almost a backdoor pilot for "Quantum Leap" (Apollo as Sam, "John" the Angel as Al). Apollo is seen outwardly by everyone on Terra as Col. "Charlie Watts" (no, not the Stones' drummer...hee hee), and he had a specific task to do before his real visage is seen by everyone (like "leaping out"). No surprise that Donald Bellisario is a producer on both shows. And the Terra/parallel worlds thing was an opportunity for the Galactica and crew to help others for a change, instead of just running and avoiding detection (thus proving their worthiness of a new home to the "Angels"). The idea of the ol' 'G' using her big, damn forcefield to save Terra from its own arcing nukes makes you a little sad, though (too bad the battlestar fleet wasn't able to do that for their own colonies, since the Cylons lured them out of range for the 'armistice'.
). And I remember on the bonus features of the TOS dvd set that Richard Hatch said he and Dirk Benedict swapped dialogue on that episode. You can see that, as it made Apollo the 'funny guy' for a change, and RH clearly loved it (not to mention he got Melody Anderson!
).
All in all, it was an interesting episode with an anti-nuclear war message as well (not like there are many pro-nuclear war people out there!). My biggest gripes, though? THE PRESIDENT'S WARDROBE! Shame on the otherwise talented Jean-Pierre Dorleac!
The guy looked soooo far beyond ridiculous. Like he rummaged through the Mad Hatter's closet. Awful. The Eastern Alliance also suffered an acute case of "TOS-era Baltar" disease (lack of solid motivation). But that was kind of common in those days, with the seemingly irrational Cold War in full swing. Anyway, only a couple years late, but those are my two bits on "Experiment in Terra".

"HE started it...."
#3
Posted 05 March 2009 - 05:19 PM
The reason why the dialogue is switched is because Starbuck was going to be the main one in this episode, not Apollo. That is what Richard Hatch said in an interview I read.
#5
Posted 06 March 2009 - 12:20 AM
QUOTE (DecepticonSpike @ Mar 5 2009, 11:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I always felt this episode was going to be key, later on, if they had not canceled it , and brought it back as G80. That somehow Terra was the key to finding Earth.
Seemed to me Terra was an 'exercise' by the Angels/Ship-of-Lights folks to test humanity and their worthiness for a new home. And the crew of Galactica, despite their own hunted refugee status, proved their worth by helping another civilization avoid their fate (with their handy-dandy, big, damn force-field). Echoes of this are in the new show as well, like when the Final Five race from Earth to the 12 colonies to try to warn them to avoid the cycle of destruction by not enslaving their own Cylon race.. And yes, Terra could've been significant later on had the show not been canceled. Again, I didn't like the episode when I was a wee brat, but now it's OK.

"HE started it...."
#6
Posted 06 March 2009 - 12:38 AM
This is also the only episode that Apollo says 'felgercarb' too!
#7
Posted 06 March 2009 - 09:12 AM
QUOTE (Aphrodite @ Mar 6 2009, 05:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This is also the only episode that Apollo says 'felgercarb' too!
Really? Did NOT know that. Probably because it was meant to be Starbuck's line.

"HE started it...."
#9
Posted 06 March 2009 - 11:47 AM
QUOTE (DecepticonSpike @ Mar 6 2009, 03:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This episode also has one of my all time favorite quotes "The opposite of war is not peace. Often, the opposite of war is extinction." or something like that.
I also remember Apollo saying, "Freedom cannot be negotiated. It is rarely given; and once lost, the price of regaining it is high", or some such thing. Sounded better when RH said it! Ha ha.

"HE started it...."
#11
Posted 06 March 2009 - 09:19 PM
QUOTE (DecepticonSpike @ Mar 7 2009, 03:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't know, the laine about 12 planets would get my attention faster than anything. I'd be like "Holy frak! he's an alien!....That's cool!" then go about my day.
Too bad Apollo's honesty made Terran president "Mad Hatter" (that stupid outfit!!) question his credibility. President MH also get's the episodes' dumbest line (regarding the Eastern Alliance's treachery),"But...I have this treaty, they've signed it!" Derr! It's called deceit, moron!

"HE started it...."
#12
Posted 06 March 2009 - 10:05 PM
You can't tell very well, but in the scene where Starbuck lands his Viper and is confronted by John DeLancie (yes, you can hear his voice)...that scene was filmed at Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce, Calif. It should look familiar to a lot of sci-fi freaks out there. They've only used them for lots of shows. Most recently, it was used for an NCIS episode.
#13
Posted 06 March 2009 - 11:17 PM
QUOTE (Aphrodite @ Mar 7 2009, 04:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You can't tell very well, but in the scene where Starbuck lands his Viper and is confronted by John DeLancie (yes, you can hear his voice)...that scene was filmed at Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce, Calif. It should look familiar to a lot of sci-fi freaks out there. They've only used them for lots of shows. Most recently, it was used for an NCIS episode.
It's where Captain Kirk fought the Gorn!

"HE started it...."
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