Scar (3 Feb. 2006)

This is an episode about loss. Kat and Starbuck confront each other about their piloting skills and each vow to kill Scar (a Cylon spaceship) before the other.

Director:

Michael Nankin

Writers:

Ronald D. Moore (developed by), David Weddle,

Stars:

Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Edward James Olmos	...	Admiral William Adama
Mary McDonnell	...	President Laura Roslin
Katee Sackhoff	...	Cpt. Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace
Jamie Bamber	...	Cpt. Lee 'Apollo' Adama
James Callis	...	Dr. Gaius Baltar (credit only)
Tricia Helfer	...	Number Six (credit only)
Grace Park	...	Lt. Sharon 'Boomer' Valerii
Michael Hogan	...	Colonel Saul Tigh
Aaron Douglas	...	Chief Galen Tyrol
Tahmoh Penikett	...	Lt. Karl 'Helo' Agathon
Alessandro Juliani	...	Lt. Felix Gaeta
Kandyse McClure	...	Officer Anastasia Dualla
Luciana Carro	...	Louanne 'Kat' Katraine
Bodie Olmos	...	Lt. Brendan 'Hot Dog' Constanza
Christopher Jacot	...	Ensign Brent 'BB' Baxton

Storyline

The fleet has discovered an asteroid field with a large ore deposit, enough to construct at least two new squadrons of vipers. But the Cylons know about it and behind every rock there could be a raider. Since the destruction of the Resurrection ship they changed their tactics from mass to sneak attacks. Several pilots are already dead and especially raider Scar is feared. Meanwhile Starbuck hasn't been herself lately. She drinks a lot, thinks much about Anders and is getting irritated by Kat. She continually challenges her, beats her record in training and calls her the next Tigh. Both claim they will hunt down Scar. 200 cubits and the precious Top Gun trophy, currently in Starbuck's possession, are at stake.

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | space opera | starfighter | faster than light | spacecraft | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 2006 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver Film Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

R&D TV, NBC Universal Television, David Eick Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Starbuck's use of her thumb to block the sun in order to see if Scar was coming had originally been done by Gregory H. 'Pappy' Boyington in World War Two, where he discovered that doing so would allow him to see incoming Zeroes.

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Goofs

In Starbuck and Kat's final encounter with Scar, they are both in Viper Mk VIIs. However, the Viper being shown launching from Galactica is the stock footage of an older Viper Mk II.

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Quotes

Lt. Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace: I am hung up on a dead guy, OK? And it is pissing me off.
Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama: You are fine with the dead guys. It's the living ones you can't deal with.
Lt. Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace: [slaps Lee]

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Soundtracks

"Cavatina"
(uncredited)
Written by Stanley Myers
Adapted and Arranged by Bear McCreary
Performed by Steve Bartek

User Reviews

To die and fight another day.

In the 1st series episode, YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN, Kara is shot down on a barren moon. The Cylon raider that had engaged her in battle - and that was ultimately her ticket off the moon, is back.

The Cylon Raiders, like the humanoid models are re-born, as, it's through that, that their battle skills increase. As (good) Sharon says;

'It takes months to turn a 'nugget' into an effective Viper pilot - and then they get killed. then you lose their experience, their knowledge, their skill sets. It's gone forever. So, if you could bring them back, and put them in a new body, wouldn't you do it? Death, then becomes a learning experience.'

She closes, by telling Kara, that because of his many previous lives, the anger Scar has - especially for Kara - grows, just as hers has.

An enemy that, you cant stop, that learns from previous experiences.

It's in this episode,that we first learn that Raiders have 'basic consciousness and survival instincts - like an animal.' There's more to the mechanised killers. There's a sentience.

It's also here, that Kara looks into (good) Sharon's face, and reflects on how there are times when she looks at her, and remembers her, as the Viper pilot who was freaking the chief.

This Sharon - the 'good' Sharon recalls them to - but, it's not 'her' memories, they're 'bad Boomer,' another Eight's she's recalling.

I point that put, because the whole story is really a hall-of-mirrors of memories.

The 'real' memories, of Kara's, the 'memories' (good) Sharon has, that are someone else's, and, the memories of Scar.

What makes the memory 'yours,' and, what is a 'real memory?

Many people who've reviewed this, weren't that crazy about this episode, as I, but, this continuing battle, that Kara has, has stayed with me, since BSG's initial run.

The reality of memory, and the enemy that doesn't stay dead - that keeps coming back, has been the backbone of many a horror film, and, to me, these are what stick in my mind.