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Battlestar Galactica: Lay Down Your Burdens (2)

As the fleet vote for their new leader, a shift in the Cylons' own leadership offers humanity a reprieve. However, Roslin is certain that Baltar's presidency will bring with it only disaster, and is prepared to do whatever it takes to prevent it.


8.9/10 (7 Votes cast)

Episode Info


Episode number: 2x20
Production Number: 220
Airdate: Friday March 10th, 2006
Special Runtime: 90 Minutes


Alternate Airdates:

UK (Sky One) May 16, 2006
NL (Sci-Fi) Jul 10, 2009

Guest Stars
Richard HatchRichard Hatch
As Tom Zarek
Recurring
Michael TruccoMichael Trucco
As Sam Anders
Recurring
Callum Keith RennieCallum Keith Rennie
As Leoben Conoy
Recurring
Kate VernonKate Vernon
As Ellen Tigh
Recurring
Donnelly Rhodes (1)Donnelly Rhodes (1)
As Dr. Cottle
Recurring
Matthew BennettMatthew Bennett
As Number Five
Recurring
Rekha SharmaRekha Sharma
As Tory Foster
Recurring
Dean StockwellDean Stockwell
As Brother Cavil
Recurring

Co-Guest Stars
Michael Hogan (1)Michael Hogan (1)
As Saul Tigh
Recurring
Aaron DouglasAaron Douglas
As Galen Tyrol
Recurring
Tahmoh PenikettTahmoh Penikett
As Karl "Helo" Agathon
Recurring
Nicki ClyneNicki Clyne
As Cally
Recurring
Alessandro JulianiAlessandro Juliani
As Felix Gaeta
Recurring
Kandyse McClureKandyse McClure
As Anastasia Dualla
Recurring
Alisen DownAlisen Down
As Jean Barolay
Recurring
Erica CerraErica Cerra
As Maya
Recurring
Winston RekertWinston Rekert
As Priest
Recurring
David Kaye (1)David Kaye (1)
As James McManus
Recurring
Main Cast
Edward James OlmosEdward James Olmos
As William Adama
Mary McDonnellMary McDonnell
As Laura Roslin
Katee SackhoffKatee Sackhoff
As Kara "Starbuck" Thrace
Jamie BamberJamie Bamber
As Lee "Apollo" Adama
James CallisJames Callis
As Dr. Gaius Baltar
Tricia HelferTricia Helfer
As Number Six
Grace ParkGrace Park
As Sharon "Boomer" Valerii/Sharon "Athena" Agathon
Episode Notes
Survivor count: 49,550

The population of New Caprica City is 39,192.

Aside from its runtime, this episode is different in that there is no teaser. Instead the credit sequence picks up directly from the recap and then proceeds into the first act.

The seventh Cylon is revealed: Brother Cavil.

A 60-minute version of this episode is available for international distribution, which completely drops some plot threads.



Episode Quotes
Dr. Cottle: I'm kickin' ya outta here and sending ya back to work.
Cally: Work like this?
Dr. Cottle: You gotta love a woman who can complain even with her jaw wired shut.

Kara: I'm not going back to one of those farms.
Sharon: Yeah, well, you won't have any choice! None of us will! They're gonna lob some gas in here and then we'll all wake up somewhere else!

Roslin: I know in my gut that settling on this planet's gonna mean disaster for humanity, and I will not say otherwise just to win an election.

Roslin: So, I guess I should start packing up my office unless you have some super secret backup plan for victory in your pocket.
Tory Foster: There's always a backup plan for victory.

Kara: They're gone. They just left.
Cavil: Thank the Gods! It's a miracle.

Cavil: Yes, uh, he's right. I'm a Cylon. And I have a message. So... take me to your leader.

Helo: Sharon, we finally got he Admiral to start trusting us! Finally! And what?
Sharon: They killed my baby. You think I care about you, or us, or whether the Admiral trusts me anymore?

Brother Cavil: You mind telling me what's going on? I'm not a frakking Cylon! I'm no - (sees another Cavil model in the cell) Oh. Well... okay then.

Brother Cavil: There is no God.
Cavil: Supernatural divinities are the primitives' answer for why the sun goes down at night.
Brother Cavil: At least that's what we've been telling the others for years.
Cavil: Can't really prove it, one way or the other, of course.
Roslin: I know a way to prove it. Throw them both out the airlock. Let them see if there really is a Cylon God.

Tom Zarek: I've seen a lot of elections, Gaius. Most honest, a few fixed. And you can always tell the fixed ones because they don't make sense. And this doesn't make sense.
Baltar: Laura Roslin is many things... but she's not corrupt, and she's not dishonest. It's over.

Adama: Congratulations, Madam President.
Roslin: Oh, thank you.
Adama: I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but are you as shocked as I am?
Roslin: I'm relieved.
Adama: Well, you don't sound it.
Roslin: I'm just tired. It's been a long campaign.

Adama: Do we steal the results of a democratic election or not? That's the decision. Because if we do this, we're criminals. Unindicted, maybe, but criminals just the same.

Adama: You try to steal this election, you'll die inside, likely move your cancer right to your heart. The people made their choice. We're gonna have to live with it.
Roslin: It's the wrong choice.
Adama: Yes, it is.
Roslin: All right. All right. All right. So that's it. We just give it up, just like that.
Adama: The battle, perhaps, but not the war.

Baltar: How many Cylon attacks have there been since I took office? How many?
Gaeta: None, sir.
Baltar: None, precisely so why do the people complain? Tell the union to get off their fat arses and do some frakking work for a change or I'll start rounding up their leaders and holding them in detention. I'll doubt they'll like that very much!

Tyrol: Please! Please be quiet!
Cally: Hey! Shut the frak up!

Gaeta: Mr. President! Mr. President!
Baltar: Don't you knock?
Gaeta: Gaius. Gaius!
Baltar: Yeah, what is it?
Gaeta: The Cylons just jumped into orbit and the fleet's jumped away.

Baltar: (to the Cylons) On behalf of the people of the Twelve Colonies, I surrender.

Tyrol: What do you want to do now, Captain?
Kara: The same thing we always do: fight them until we can't.



Cultural References
Tyrol's union speech on New Caprica is a paraphrase of a famous speech given by Mario Savio.



Analysis
Corruption of the uncorruptiable is carefully analyzed in this episode whilst the president is seen even by her anthesis as being far from reproach. Still, glaringly one sees that even among even the stillfast held to honour, sway from their ideals amidst the torrents.



Other Episode Crew

DeveloperRonald D. Moore
Executive ProducerRonald D. Moore  |  David Eick
Co-Executive ProducerToni Graphia  |  Mark Verheiden
ProducerHarvey Frand
Co-ProducerDavid Weddle  |  Bradley Thompson  |  Paul M. Leonard (1)
Consulting ProducerGlen A. Larson
Associate ProducerTrisha Brunner
Production DesignerRichard Hudolin
EditorJacques Gravett  |  Andrew Seklir
CastingCoreen Mayrs  |  Heike Brandstatter  |  Eric Dawson  |  Robert J. Ulrich  |  Carol Kritzer
Line ProducerRon French
First Assistant DirectorWayne Rose
Second Assistant DirectorMichael Shandley
MusicBear McCreary
Music EditorMichael Baber
Costume DesignerGlenne Campbell (1)
HairstylistGerald Gibbons
Key GripCurt Griebel
Set DecoratorJonathan Lancaster
Location ManagerKent Sponagle
Transportation CoordinatorBill Janssen
Property MasterKen Hawryliw
Construction CoordinatorChris Claridge (1)
Production AssistantAnthony Alvaro  |  Tim Bennett
Script SupervisorLinda Strathdee
Production CoordinatorJennifer Tanami
Script CoordinatorRyan Mottesheard
Assistant EditorHarry Jierjian  |  Christine Kim (2)
Post Production SupervisorGregg Tilson
Supervising Sound EditorJack Levy (1)
Re-Recording MixerKen Kobett  |  Mike Olman
GafferDon Saari
Director of PhotographyStephen McNutt
Stunt CoordinatorMike Mitchell (1)  |  Duane Dickinson
Assistant Production CoordinatorRhiannon Charles
Production ManagerRon French
Sound MixerRick Bal
Based On The Works OfGlen A. Larson
Third Assistant DirectorTroy Scott
ConsultantJerry Hultsch
Costume SupervisorPamela Cameron
Boom OperatorGreg Hewitt
Art Department CoordinatorLynn Snedden
Visual Effects CoordinatorJonathan MacPherson
Main Title ThemeRichard Gibbs
Visual Effects SupervisorGary Hutzel
Main Title DesignAndrew Seklir
Production AccountantLaurie Boyle
Extras CastingJames Forsyth
Transportation CaptainLawrence Albright  |  Mitch Lafleur
"A" Camera OperatorRyan McMaster
Visual Effects EditorEric Lea (1)
Sound AssistantGraham Timmer
Visual Effects ProducerMichael D. Gibson
Post Production AssistantDan Delaney
MedicMike Campbell (2)
Steadicam OperatorTim Spencer
On-set DresserColin Meacham
Set Decoration BuyerFelipe Barragan
Assistant Costume DesignerCali Newcomen  |  Glenna Owen
Props AssistantSacha Moiseiwitsch  |  Chuck Newson
Rigging GafferGuy Patterson
Special Effects CoordinatorAndrew Chamberlayne
Dolly GripPhillipe Palu  |  Ross Newcomb
Writing AssistantSeamus Kevin Fahey
Assistant AccountantReva Clavier
Foley ArtistDoug Madick
Assistant Art DirectorKen Rabhel  |  Ivana Vasak
Payroll AccountantDave Hoodless
CompositorMelissa Best  |  Aurore De Blois
Makeup ArtistPatricia Murray
Sound DesignDaniel Colman
Best Boy GripBudd Legree
Dialogue EditorVince Balunas
Supervising Art DirectorDouglas McLean
AssistantJames Halpern  |  Maril Davis
"B" Camera OperatorTim Spencer
Camera TraineeNorm Li
Lead PainterNoel Burke Gaffney
Assistant Location ManagerBonny Northcott
Construction ForemanJim Hayes
Paint CoordinatorSean Lavoie
Assistant Set DecoratorPerry Battista
Second Assistant "b" CameraRob Devitt  |  Chris Rothfelder
Best Boy ElectricianJeff Trebenski
First Assistant "b" CameraRyan S. Gillard
Lead DresserOcea Ringrose
Cgi SupervisorDoug Drexler
Cgi ArtistAdam Lebowitz
On Set PainterDave Pirie
Computer/video Playback CoordinatorRoss Framo
Producers AssistantSian McArthur
Genny OperatorMurray Chysyk
2nd Assistant Production CoordinatorQadesh Markowski
Accounting ClerkRosemarie Martin  |  Tony Lort  |  Jennifer Lloyd
Color TimerKim Schneider
"a" Camera First AssistantChris Thompson (2)
Orchestral EngineerSteve Kaplan
"a" Camera Second AssistantColin Mullin
Leadman SetupAndrew Mackie
Location AssistantJessica Feskun  |  Nathan Conchie  |  Jonathon Watson  |  Stacey Campbell
Science AdvisorKevin Grazier
Special Effects AssistantStacey Goodman  |  Ron Seida  |  Rob Carter (2)
Visual Effects AssistantRoss Woo
Craft ServicesMike Campbell (2)
Scoring EngineerSteve Kaplan
1st Assistant Hair StylistWayne Russell
Set Decorator CoordinatorPaul Burton (2)
Military Tech AdvisorRon Blecker
1st Assistant Make-upHayley Miller
Hd TechnicianMike Sankey
Special Effects Best BoyBill Ryan
On Set CarpenterMatt Clancy
Vfx ConsultantKelly Myers
 
Episode Trailer
   
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