"The Magnificent Warriors" is the eighth episode of Battlestar Galactica. It premiered on November 12, 1978.
In syndication and on streaming, "The Magnificent Warriors" is sometimes listed as the tenth episode of the season. This happens when the series premiere episode, "Saga of a Star World", is split into three episodes.
Plot[]
Act 1[]
The Cylons have again found the Galactican refugee fleet, with Blue Squadron deployed to engage an oncoming raider force. Six raiders successfully break through Blue Squadron bound for the fleet, with Greenbean and Jolly turning back to intercept the Raiders headed for the Agro Ships. Though they are successful in destroying or repelling the fighters, two Agro Ships are destroyed, with a third seriously damaged with its crop destroyed.

Tigh meets with the Agro Ship captain.
Following the attack, Colonel Tigh visits the surviving Agro Ship while repairs are underway, and learns from its captain that while it is now capable of growing crops once more, they lack enough seed to even provide food for the farmers. Tigh meets with Commander Adama to discuss these recent developments, and is informed a recent patrol has discovered a small human farming colony in Quadrant Zeta. Adama believes they can barter for the seeds with an energizer, understanding they have limited power sources. The problem however is that while Galactica has an abundance of energizers, they are Colonial Fleet spec and could easily be linked back to them. Apollo, assigned to look for one amongst the civilian fleet, reports in having found an older model made by the Orions, which is perfect for the barter. However, this energizer belongs to Siress Belloby, and refuses it be requisitioned without a meeting with Adama personally.
Apollo, Tigh and Adama fly by Shuttle to Gemini Freighter to meet with Belloby. Adama, forced to carry a bouquet with him, has second thoughts and tries to back out. His worrying gets Belamy's attention from her personal suit, and Apollo pushes him through the door. The two make attempts at flirting, which convinces Belloby he really is desperate for her energizer, and forces more stronger demands on him.
Back on Galactica, Adama meets with Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer as they prepare to go on the settlement mission. He has unexpectedly decided to join the mission rather than remain on Galactica, and confuses Apollo by ordering him to make provisions for the five of them. When asked about this, he concedes and admits he promised to court Belloby in exchange for the energizer, but as he never gave her a specific time he may as well take her to the planet, Sectar, while Apollo's team does the work. As Apollo gets ready for the mission, Boxey is upset he is leaving him again, so Apollo brings him and Muffit along as additional members of the landing party, rationalising that if Belloby can go anyone can.
Act 2[]
- "Equally important to our quest for food seed, the planet, our advanced scouts located, supports a small band of human inhabitants. Perhaps they're the remnants of pioneers who set out yahrens ago from our own Colonies. Or even more hopefully, they might be descendants of the Thirteenth Tribe, those elusive brothers of man whose trail might lead us to the planet Earth."
- —Adama
Down on the surface, a man leaves a bar in the town, Serenity, to smoke. When he looks up into the sky, he sees Sectar's moon shining in the sky. Afraid, he runs back into the bar to warn the other patrons who begin boarding the windows or fleeing home. The town's new Constable, Farnes, is warned of the incoming Boray riders by Dipper and the town Mayor, but complains the gun he has been given is not enough to tackle the invaders. He realises too late that he, a drifter, was tricked into the job and every Constable before him was killed the same way. The Constable is pressured into going outside by, where he is quickly killed by Boray raiders armed with spears. As the raiders leave, the two men check on the body and, realising no one in Serenity would ever accept the job, hope another drifter will pass by before the next moon.
The shuttle lands on Sectar, which Adama ponders was either settled by Colonial pioneers and forgotten about or was settled by the Thirteenth Tribe. Spotting the settlement in the distance, Starbuck and Boomer set off to the town. The two officers reach the town, and quickly have doubts the people of Serenity would have any need for an energizer unit; nonetheless they step inside the tavern to try.
Serenity, a small agricultural community, has been under constantly harassment at nights by Borays, a race of pig-faced people. Armed only with primitive firearms, it is the duty of the town's Constable to defend the town from the Boray attackers, despite their deaths being guaranteed. With the loss of another Constable, the Mayor, Sire Bogan is unable to find a new Constable amongst the towns folk and, when he sees Starbuck, tries to give him the job in exchange for the seed, prioritising defence over the energizer unit, but hoping to get both soon enough.
Starbuck and Boomer leave Serenity with nothing, and drive back to the shuttle to report the situation. They are ambushed by a group of masked men, Dipper and Duggy, who steal their power sled and the energizer. Starbuck heads back to Serenity, believing Bogan to be responsible, while Boomer returns to the shuttle to report to Adama. Starbuck returns to the bar to get back the energizer, but they pretend they have no knowledge of it. Insisting Starbuck's money to be near worthless for his needs, Bogan continues with his job offer; Starbuck instead tries to gamble in a Pyramid game to raise the money.
Act 3[]
Playing against Bogan, Starbuck wins the Constable's badge, believing it to be jewellery, accidentally accepting the job.
The other Colonials enter town after Boomer reports the theft. During their visit, the Borays begin another raid. Belloby is quick to work out the location of the energizer after noticing tracks on the ground. Entering the bar to ask questions, Adama becomes furious with Starbuck not only for getting into this serious situation but also for getting into the situation through gambling. Adama pleads for Starbuck's retirement, which is not allowed. Bogan tries to persuade the Colonials into helping them, warning them that the Boray leader Nogow will soon take his bandits to raid Serenity's food stocks and abduct its women as sex slaves. As humans, the colonials will be targets just as anyone else. Adama agrees to help them, and has Belloby hide.
The four Colonial men make their stand against the Boray horsemen and try to startle them with their advanced weapons. This strategy fails as the Nogow refuses to flee. While the four take shelter from spear throwers, Belloby is abducted. After witnessing the fight, Bogan realises the four could only be Warriors from the Twelve Colonies, and gives them back their equipment so they can rescue Belloby from the Boray camp.
Act 4[]
Adama attempts to negotiate Belloby's release with Nogow, but he has no interest. Starbuck takes part in negotiations instead, as his more laidback persona could be respected by Nogow.
Back at the town, the townsfolk change their town charter to allow Constables to resign. Starbuck returns, announcing that Nogow has promised to end the Boray raids on the condition he be made Constable. Thrilled at Starbuck's abilities, Belloby loses interest in Adama for being too refined to secure her freedom and, after drinks to celebrate, the four return to Galactica with the much-needed grain.
Production[]
Cast[]
Actor | Character |
---|---|
Herbert Jefferson, Jr. | Boomer |
John Colicos | Count Baltar |
Maren Jensen | Athena |
Noah Hathaway | Boxey |
Laurette Spang | Cassiopeia |
Tony Swartz | Jolly |
Terry Carter | Tigh |
Ed Begley, Jr. | Greenbean |
Barry Nelson | Bogan |
Brett Somers | Siress Belloby |
Dennis Fimple | Duggy |
Eric Server | Dipper |
Olan Soulé | Carmichael |
Rance Howard | Farnes |
Sarah Rush | Rigel |
David Greenan | Omega |
Ben Frommer | Nogow |
Sources[]
External links[]
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