653 – Galactica 1980 – Return of Starbuck

Find out what happens when a production team looks at their series and says, “Hey, this just isn’t working,” when John and Eugene look at the Return of Starbuck. Episode Synopsis Dr. Z has a dream, and he comes to discuss it with Adama.  When Adama hears it is about a warrior named Starbuck, he’s all ears Yahrens ago, Starbuck and Boomer were in a battle with the Cylons.  Through fancy flying, as always, Starbuck defeats the Cylons, but his ship is critically damaged.  Boomer must abandon him, knowing there is no hope. Starbuck crashes on a barren, but vaguely habitable planet, which he names Starbuck.  He discovered the wrecked Cylon fighter, and in a fit of lonely madness, he rebuilds one of them, and convinces him not to kill him.  While Starbuck hopes he has a friend, the Cylon makes it clear they are not friends. They work together and begin to form a life together, but the Cylon, now called Cy, realizes Starbuck has gotten bored with him, and wishes to have a woman instead.  He goes out to get one and Starcuk realizes he cares what happens to Cy. Miraculously, literally, Cy finds a woman – and not just any woman, she’s beautiful and pregnant, but she does not talk. In the intervening days, Starbuck pours out his life story to the silent woman. Then she talks, asking if Starbuck would sacrifice his life for her and “their” baby.   “Hold on, what?” It’s your spiritual baby, Starbuck. Cy is, frankly jealous,, and this leads to constant sitcom bickering between Starbuck and him. Angela, as the woman is know, tells Starbuck that the Cylons are coming and he needs to build a spacecraft from the wrecked parts of the ships, which he does, with Cy’s help.  Angela is certain that Starbuck’s final judgment is coming. When the Cylons arrive, Starbuck places Angela and the newly-arrived baby into the ship and launches towards the fleet.  He goes to stand down the Cylons.  Cy, who had left earlier, returns and kills two of the approaching Cylons, before he is, in turn killed.  Starbuck finishes off the last one, and as Cy dies in his arms, he finally admits that he and Starbuck are friends. The ship arrived at the fleet, but on the baby was onboard, and that baby was Dr. Z.