Downloaded (Battlestar Galactica)

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“Downloaded”
Battlestar Galactica episode
Number Three congratulates Caprica-Six on infiltrating the Colonies, while a sneering hallucination of Gaius Baltar simultaneously asks if she preferred the sex more than the betrayal.
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 18
Written by	Bradley Thompson and David Weddle
Directed by	Jeff Woolnough
Guest stars	Lucy Lawless (Number Three)
Original airdate	February 24, 2006
Episode chronology ← Previous Next → "The Captain's Hand" "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 1"
Episode chronology

"Downloaded" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the SciFi Channel on February 24, 2006.

The episode takes place alongside the rest of the re-imagined series, with 49,579 human survivors left in the Fleet. The episode primarily details the lives of two specific Cylon models after their apparent destruction who were declared Cylon heroes. One model is "Caprica-Six", the copy of Number Six who was responsible for disabling the Colonial defense system prior to the events of the miniseries. The other model is Sharon "Boomer" Valerii, a sleeper agent who was a member of the crew of Galactica.

The concept of a Cylon-centric episode was proposed long before the episode aired, in an episode which would've seen the Cylons discuss their equivalent of the "Final Solution". "Downloaded" instead focuses on showing the personality of the Cylon race, in particular, Caprica-Six and Boomer. The episode was universally well received due to this unconventional format.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Production 3 Reception 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Plot

The episode primarily takes place on Cylon-occupied Caprica. After the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, the copy of Number Six (Tricia Helfer) that was responsible for disabling the Colonial defence system (affectionately known as "Caprica-Six") and Sharon "Boomer" Valerii (Grace Park) were both "downloaded": a standard Cylon practice of rebirth which takes place if a model is to perish, and have both been hailed as Cylon heroes due to their efforts in infiltrating human society.

Both are having difficulties in adjusting to life on Caprica. In particular, Caprica-Six is having visions of Gaius Baltar (James Callis) that only she can see, much like Baltar's visions of Caprica-Six, and Boomer is having problems accepting her Cylon nature to the point of the denial, even in danger of being "boxed"; a Cylon version of permanent death. Number Three (Lucy Lawless) asks Caprica-Six to help Boomer in this regard. However, when Caprica-Six starts to associate more with Boomer, they both realise that the holocaust the Cylons effected was a sin.

Caprica-Six and Boomer are next shown conversing with Number Three. While the three move up a stairwell, explosives set by the resistance led by Samuel Anders (Michael Trucco) detonate, trapping Anders, Three, Boomer, and Caprica in a parking garage. While Anders is originally shielded and hidden by the blast, Caprica-Six is injured, so much so that Number Three tries to euthanise her before finding Anders, who she tries to kill instead. Number Three goads the other survivors so much that Caprica kills her, and forms a pact with Boomer to attempt to change Cylon opinion of humans.

The episode's secondary plot takes place on Galactica. The copy of Number Eight that defected from the Cylons gives birth by cesarian section to a baby who she and Karl Agathon (Tahmoh Penikett) call "Hera". However, President Laura Roslin, Vice President Gaius Baltar, and Admiral William Adama (Mary McDonnell, Callis, and Edward James Olmos, respectively) conspire to fake Hera's death for the baby's own safety; the birth would only inflame opinions on the Fleet. At the end of the episode, the child is given to a woman who believes the child was born on Pegasus, while Helo and Chief Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) scatter the ashes they believe to be Hera's into space.

[edit] Production

The concept of a Cylon-perspective episode was originally proposed for an episode called "The Raid", which would've consisted on a Cylon meeting not unlike the Wannsee Conference, but was dropped as the equivalent "final solution" had already happened during the miniseries. Nevertheless, Sci-Fi liked the concept, and commissioned this episode.^[1]

A major theme of the episode is the humanisation of "Caprica-Six" – while Caprica-Six shows her manipulative streak in parts of the episode, in particular during her conversation in the beach-side house with Boomer, the Destruction of the Twelve Colonies and her love of Baltar have somewhat changed her psychology. Conversely, Boomer shows resistance to her Cylon nature. Series creator Ronald D. Moore found the scene that took place in Boomer's apartment interesting as it showed a major amount of her backstory. It also serves the purpose of Boomer's denial that her memories were manufactured, and that the Cylons are more passive than humans.^[1] Another major subplot is the "Virtual Baltar" only visible by Caprica-Six, which Moore commented was a "delicious symmetry" to Baltar's "Virtual Six". Both were intended to show how the couple had been changed through experience, in particular, the events of the miniseries.^[1]

Several scenes were cut from the episode. Of these, the most notable is an entire subplot centering around Gina and D'Anna kidnapping Hera Agathon, which was excised as Moore felt there would be "too many Cylons".^[1]

The production team also had significant problems with the scenes in the parking garage, and how to avoid the anatopism of contemporary cars being found on Caprica. In order to avoid this, the production team used cars mostly found in Eastern Europe, for the purpose that the audience would not immediately recognise the types of cars, but still to keep a sense of realism.^[1]

[edit] Reception

Ronald D. Moore stated that "Downloaded" is his favourite episode of the series, and especially admired the acting of Park, Helfer, and Callis, the latter especially for his change in role.^[1] Jacob Clifton of Television Without Pity gave the episode an "A+" rating.^[2] Keith McDuffee of TV Squad commented that the episode was "perfect", and made up for any issues he had about the show before the episode. He found the storyline concerning the birth of Hera Agathon, the hybrid baby, a "clever twist", and appreciated the episode's general Cylon perspective.^[3] The Chicago Tribune appreciated Park, Helfer, and Lawless' acting and the appearance of Dr. Cottle, and concluded by saying that it was well-crafted and added to the "deftly drawn moral confusion" over whether the Cylons were good or evil.^[4] The episode was nominated by the World Science Fiction Society for the 2007 Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form,,^[5] an award that was won by the Doctor Who episode "The Girl in the Fireplace".^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• "Downloaded" at the Internet Movie Database
• Downloaded at the Battlestar Wiki

v • d • e 2007 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form Winner "The Girl in the Fireplace" (Doctor Who) Nominees "200" (Stargate SG-1) • "Army of Ghosts"/"Doomsday" (Doctor Who) • "Downloaded" (Battlestar Galactica) • "School Reunion" (Doctor Who)