# Battlestar Galactica 4.16 - "Blood on the Scales" (note change in spoiler policy) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716 "2009-02-06T16:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/121 "2009-02-08T00:57:04Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > Jumped to thread end - I missed it Friday night - can someone PM me as to where I can rewatch online? I’m doing my bestest to avoid spoilerificness. No need to PM, you can watch it entirely legally at [Hulu.com](http://Hulu.com) ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/122 "2009-02-08T01:12:21Z")
> [@MaddyStrut](#): > > I was thinking the same thing. Plus, it’s not like they’ve been able to take Galactica in for maintenance. She’s been shot up, bombed, dropped through the atmosphere, jumped excessively… poor gal’s gotta be showing some stress! > > One (rather minor) thing I’ve been wondering: why did Adama take off his admiral clips and give them to Gaeta? > > Don’t get me wrong, I loved the shots of Gaeta looking at those clips with a mix of “what have I done? am I ready for this responsibility? did I really just betray the man I’ve followed all these years?” (The actor really nailed these last two episodes). But I was surprised to see Adama throw off a symbol of his command. I’d have expected him to hang onto them since he didn’t recognize the authority of the muntineers. That response in Gaeta is exactly what Adama wanted… Gaeta had just called him “Admiral” again, so, by taking off the rank and thrusting it on Gaeta, the full weight of Gaeta’s actions started to come down on his shoulders. Had Gaeta truly believed the charges/guilt that he was thrusting on Adama, Gaeta would not have kept referring to him as “Admiral” after he was “removed”. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/123 "2009-02-08T01:29:07Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > You know… we _have_ seen FTL drives before. That’s what Lee used for the EMP in the miniseries. I’ll have to go back and do a visual comparison. Actually, in the miniseries I think Lee called them “generators” or something for FTL drives. But I’d have to pop it in to confirm. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/124 "2009-02-08T02:23:45Z")
> [@simster](#): > > That response in Gaeta is exactly what Adama wanted… Gaeta had just called him “Admiral” again, so, by taking off the rank and thrusting it on Gaeta, the full weight of Gaeta’s actions started to come down on his shoulders. > > Had Gaeta truly believed the charges/guilt that he was thrusting on Adama, Gaeta would not have kept referring to him as “Admiral” after he was “removed”. That’s what I got out of it. I half expected Adama to say “Mr. Gaeta, I’m either Admiral or removed from Duty. Make up your Frakkin mind!”. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/125 "2009-02-08T02:28:01Z")
I just watched the webisodes. Whoa. I am so torn right now. On the one hand, I’m totally into the show and don’t want it to end because I’m enjoying the ride! On the other hand, I am totally impatient to find out how it all ends, so I am glad it’s the last season! On the gripping hand… I just can’t wait to get the boxed set on DVD and watch all the special features 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/126 "2009-02-08T02:30:41Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > Naah, a little bit (well, liberal amount, really) of JB Weld and a couple of spare hull plates and she’ll be as good as new, well, at least able to jump, these old Battlestars are tough buggers My own personal thought was that it was something leaking radiation that meant that Tyrol was hosed. Being stress fractures that spell the end of Galactica makes more sense, though. [Quote=MaddyStrutt] One (rather minor) thing I’ve been wondering: why did Adama take off his admiral clips and give them to Gaeta? [/quote] It was his way of saying, “You’re wearing the big pants now, kid. Humanity lives and dies based on what you do. It’s all going to be about you, and it’s all going to be on your head. Think you can handle it?” -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/127 "2009-02-08T02:52:13Z")
One little question for everyone, since I didn’t get to watch most of this episode in HD. I read a blog/review that said that Romo killed his guard by garroting him. It looked to me like he just (“just”!) stabbed him in the throat a bunch of times with a pen. Which was it? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/128 "2009-02-08T03:15:25Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > It was his way of saying, “You’re wearing the big pants now, kid. Humanity lives and dies based on what you do. It’s all going to be about you, and it’s all going to be on your head. Think you can handle it?” > > -Joe I saw it as “you think these are going to a damn thing for you? Good luck with that.” What you wear on your collar don’t mean squat. > [@Merijeek](#): > > One little question for everyone, since I didn’t get to watch most of this episode in HD. > > I read a blog/review that said that Romo killed his guard by garroting him. It looked to me like he just (“just”!) stabbed him in the throat a bunch of times with a pen. > > Which was it? > > -Joe Looked like a pen-stab to me. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/129 "2009-02-08T03:34:45Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Being stress fractures that spell the end of Galactica makes more sense, though. Foreshadowing: When Tyrol crawls through the ventilation shaft (a scene that’s been done so often it surprised me to see it on this show) into the arms locker, the redshirt who had been his old friend comments “She used to be a great ship, didn’t she?” Or something like that. Past tense, anyway. Adama handing the pips to Gaeta ISTM meant “You dare to judge my actions? Take on a little responsibility yourself and you just might understand a little, punk.” Anders can’t be dead or they’d have shown him dead, not just bleeding bad. The FTL drive was totally steampunk. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/130 "2009-02-08T03:40:27Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The FTL drive was totally steampunk. Yup, and I also really expected to see Kaylee from Firefly run in and give the thing a good whack with a wrench. “There, that’ll do it.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/131 "2009-02-08T03:44:10Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The FTL drive was totally steampunk. Yes, but I can’t decide if it is a good or bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/132 "2009-02-08T04:15:18Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > the redshirt who had been his old friend comments “She used to be a great ship, didn’t she?” One of the best things about this show is that there are very few “redshirts”. That was Captain Kelly who has been a part of this show since the miniseries: > **[Aaron Kelly](https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Aaron_Kelly)** > > Captain Aaron Kelly is the Landing Signal Officer aboard the battlestar Galactica leading up to its decommissioning circa 0 BCH (2000BYR), serving many roles aboard ship as needed in the aftermath of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. He is part of... ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/133 "2009-02-08T04:22:02Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Yup, and I also really expected to see Kaylee from Firefly run in and give the thing a good whack with a wrench. “There, that’ll do it.” I’ll be in mah’ bunk! 😉 MMMM…Kaylee… I wonder how BSG would have fared differently in the Whedonverse… Admiral; Malcom Reynolds XO; Zoe Chief/Engineering; Kaylee Ops/Navigation; Wash President; Inara CMO; Simon Tam Best Pilot in the 'Verse; River Tam Science/religious crap; Shepherd Book Not sure where Jayne fits in… and the Whedonverse Cylons (Non Final-Five); Six; Saffron Boomer/Athena;?? D’anna/Xenabot;?? Simon?? Leoben; Badger Doral;?? Cavill; Niska ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/134 "2009-02-08T04:25:22Z")
Question: When Laura was making her “I will come for you all” speach, did the Cylons look inspired, or terrified? I though they were all like, “Of whose bombs and guns do you speak?” But others have told me they thought they were inspired by her…what do ya’ll think? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/135 "2009-02-08T04:30:21Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > I’ll be in mah’ bunk! 😉 > > I wonder how BSG would have fared differently in the Whedonverse… Same thing as the Roddenberry universe; they would kick Cylon ass and never get past the miniseries. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/136 "2009-02-08T04:37:10Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > Question: When Laura was making her “I will come for you all” speach, did the Cylons look inspired, or terrified? I though they were all like, “Of whose bombs and guns do you speak?” > But others have told me they thought they were inspired by her…what do ya’ll think? They were thinking, “That bitch is fierce!” They looked scared/in awe. They were definitely not second-guessing her IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/137 "2009-02-08T05:00:25Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > The count’s below 32,600 now. Huh? The ep started at 39,603 - did I miss an updated number later? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/138 "2009-02-08T05:22:09Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > I’ll be in mah’ bunk! 😉 > > MMMM…Kaylee… ::Kaylee runs in:: :whack! “There, that’ll take it down.” Tyrol: “Wha… who are you… what did you do?” “These old FTL drives. They’re tempermental. You need to stroke the shaft just right if you want them to… behave.” “Uh, did you just say… uh…” ::Backing Tyrol into a corner:: “Yes… I did…” ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/139 "2009-02-08T06:35:41Z")
So, did Gaeta sack the entire engineering crew when he took over the ship? I would have expected to see somebody down there, keeping an eye on the engines. At very least, I would have expected something in the neighborhood of the entire enginneering department to show up within a minute of the FTL going offline. I’m also vaguely curious to know how a flight deck (Senior)Chief knows exactly how to take the FTL offline(so easily). Don’t get me wrong. I loved the episode. Just a few little things that bugged me. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716/140 "2009-02-08T06:51:17Z")
They don’t _have_ an engineer any more. The Galactica was supposed to be a museum – Tyrol was the closest they had to an engineer, and that probably only until the ship was to have been decommissioned. They _did_ have Laird. Until Zarek killed him with a wrench. Before that, there was the Pegasus chief engineer, who was Apollo’s predecessor (literally) as commander. He’s long dead, though. So, yeah, there really is no one watching the engines. And the crew who normally operate 'em were probably in hiding from the coup – seeing as how Gaeta’s boys were even firing on Gaeta’s men transporting Romo around… not too safe anywhere. _And_ we’ve known this is the case for some time – that is why Tyrol was always the one to go evaluate engineering-type stuff for Adama. He’s the one sent over to get the tyllium ship processing again, for example. So if Tyrol is the best if not only person they have to deal with the equipment, he knows how to turn off the engines. Plus, we’ve had both Adama and Tigh comment that Tyrol knows the Galactica better than anyone, so if anyone knows the engines, it is he. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-4-16-blood-on-the-scales-note-change-in-spoiler-policy/484716.md?page=8)