1.06
“Litmus”
Paranoia and Loyalty. These are the two major themes of “Litmus”.
One of the chief strengths of being human is the very loyalty we show our friends. United we can accomplish much. Divided and mistrustful, we are easier targets for the Cylons.
We begin with a good show of camraderie bewteen tChief Petty Officer Tyrol’s crew of grease monkies. The Chief and Boomer’s relationship has continued despite the order of Colonel Tigh to end them. With that in mind, his crew makes excuses for them and watches out for them while they have secret trysts.
Furthermore, the Chief walks in on his crew trying to make alcohol. He jumps on them, but then laughs basically saying he’ll show them how to do it right.
It’s all fun and games until Dorral shows up. The man we know to be a Cylon. Tigh sees him walking as if he belongs there and calls security. Adama notices him as well and calls out his name. Dorral, turns, smiles and blows himself up in front of Adama and Tight.
Sgt. Hadrian, the Master of Arms is confronted by Adama regarding how this could have happened. She asks for the establishment of an independent tribunal to investigate. She also needs carte blanche to go wherever evidence leads. Adama agrees and convince Roslin to allow it, despite her misgivings.
Adama and Roslin agree to go public about the fact that the Cylons can mimic human form now.
Very quickly the investigation leads the tribunal to Chief Tyrol and Boomer. Everyone tries to cover everyone else. Of course the lies lead to more lies and eventually people trip over themselves to the point where Tyrol himself invokes the 23rd (same as invoking the 5th) to protect his relationship.
Unfortunately, Roslin was right though to be mistrustful of a tribunal. Sgt. Hadrian grows power hungry with her carte blanche authority and truly begins a witch hunt.
The incident as well as the announcement of Cylons looking like humans leads to exactly what the Cylons want…mistrust and fear. Even in Tyrol’s crew, not everyone is able to get past it.
Limited to one scene in this episode, Starbuck and Baltar have an intriguing conversation. It’s obvious that he is attracted to her, but she makes quite the motion when she mentions that it’s very possible the Cylon agent was looking to destroy his work. Baltar leaves quickly and has a battle with his Personal Six.
A member of Tyrol’s crew gets really tripped up and reverses his original testimony on Tyrol’s whereabouts and goes so far as to say he left the hatchway door open.
Hadrian oversteps her boundaries when she calls Adama to the stand and grills him over both keeping the Cylon information a secret as well as letting Tyrol and Boomer’s relationship continue.
Eventually Adama stands and ends it with as much dignity as he can muster. Hadrian won’t have it and orders the MPs to confine Adama back to the witness stand. Adama counterorder them to escort Sgt. Hadrian to her quarters.
There is a moment of tension, but truly no real suspense. The MPs side with Adama and the investigation is over.
The tribunal concludes that Tyrol’s man is guilty and he is stripped of his rank.
Tyrol feels extremely guilty and goes to confess to Adama, but Adama won’t hear it. Adama states that his man lied under oath and has to pay the price while Chief will be punished another way. Chief will have to walk out on that hangar every day knowing that he was the reason the kid was in the brig.
The Chief grows upset and leaves, and confronts Boomer, ending the relationship because he won’t risk anyone else’s career, freedom, or life.
He then point blank asks Boomer if she left the door open. She doesn’t answer and walks away.
We’re getting closer to see Boomer reveal herself, now that Chief won’t be covering for her anymore.
It’s a great episode, especially given there is only one small piece of physical action in the initial explosion.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any action at all. The rest of the episode is even better than the initial moment and that says a ton.
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