383 – Battlestar Galactica – The Magnificent Warriors

A small town connives to get a group of battle-trained warriors to help defend their town against maurading bandits. That description sounds a bit generic – and so does this episode! Ben and Eugene discuss The Magnificent Warriors. Synopsis Blue Squadron defeats an incoming Cylon attack fleet, but a few ships get through, the reach the fleet and destroy ⅔ of the agro ships in the fleet. The other loses its air and the crops are destroyed. The only way the fleet will be able to feed itself is if they can get new seed for the remaining agroship. What luck! There’s an agricultural colony not far out of their way. Adama makes plans to trade an energizer for seed. One hitch, the only suitable energizer in the fleet belongs to Siress Bellaby and despite the fact that she’ll die along with everyone else on the fleet she refuses to give it up without concessions from Adama. Specifically, she wants Adama to woo her. Bellaby also insists on going on the mission to make sure they get a good deal for the energizer. [expand title=”More…” swaptitle=”Less” tag=”strong”] The inhabitants of the planet have a problem. Every time the full moon surprises them, the Borays, a group of pig-like humanoids, stampede into town, steal the grain from the farmers, take a few of their women for sex slaves and kill the town constable. The job of constable is a difficult position to fill for the town recruiter. Starbuck and Boomer enter town. The mayor of the town is more interested in them taking a job as constable than he is in trading for an energizer – or so it seems. On their way back to the shuttle, Starbuck and Boomer are attacked and the energizer stolen. Starbuck returns to town as he thinks he knows who stole the energizer. Starbuck starts winning the money he needs to buy the seed by playing pyramid against the local yokels, but when it comes to the final hand, Starbuck is tricked into accepting the constable’s shield (and unknowingly, the office it represents) in the final kitty. When Adama and the rest of the Colonials arrive and ask to speak to the local lawman, they’re introduced to Starbuck. Another raid by the Borays happens, but this time the constable doesn’t die because the Borays are met with Starbuck, Apollo and Boomer with laser guns. Instead, the Botrays just capture Bellaby and go home. The warriors follow the Borays and, with Starbuck’s unique understanding of the lazy, self-serving, interested in own pleasure mind of the Boray’s leader, he secures Bellaby’s release and works out a unique arrangement to stop the Boray raids on the town. Bellaby, impressed with Starbuck’s talents, but unimpressed with Adama’s ability to get her released, dumps Adama. [/expand]