Battlestar Galactica Complete Episode Guide
The new "Battlestar Galactica" is creating waves, but the original is where it all started--and for some, it's still the definitive version. Here's a detailed look at all the episodes from the 1978-1979 series.
1. “Saga of a Star World” (September 17, 1978): The original pilot aired as a three-hour TV event, and later was cut down to create the motion picture (in repeats, this episode was split into three hour-long episodes). The colonies are about to celebrate the advent of peace with the Cylons, thanks in large part to Baltar (John Colicos). Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) of the Galactica is skeptical—and he’s proven right when the Cylons launch an offensive that destroys their entire civilization. The last remnants of the human race, led by the one surviving battlestar, head off toward the stars—and the fabled 13th colony of Earth. As they do so they must deal with shortages of every kind along with corrupt politicians and shell-shocked civilians. Apollo (Richard Hatch) proposes a stop at the mining post of Carillon, which turns out to be a tourist’s paradise. Or is it?
2. “Lost Planet of the Gods Part I” (September 24, 1978): The fleet encounters a void in space—but it’s either find a way through that or go past a Cylon post. Adama believes this is the path to Kobol, fabled planet of the gods. Boomer (Herbert Jefferson, Jr.) and Jolly (Tony Swartz) bring a virus on board, and it spreads through the ranks so quickly that very few pilots are left to protect the fleet. As a result, inexperienced female shuttle pilot trainees are forced to take their place—including Serina (Jane Seymour), Apollo’s new fiancee.
3. “Lost Planet of the Gods Part 2” (October 1, 1978): Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) is captured; Apollo and Serina are married. The ship reaches Kobol, where the crew discovers the tomb of the ninth lord of Kobol. Adama goes down to look for clues to the whereabouts of Earth—and there, Adama confronts Baltar, who has led the Cylons there to destroy the pyramids before Adama can find any information. There is another casualty: Serina.
4. “The Lost Warrior” (October 8, 1978): When Apollo is marooned on a planet that resembles the Wild West, a mother and son take him in and shelter him. He discovers that the man who runs the town is using a Cylon to enforce his evil rule. Though the townspeople hope that Apollo will use his weapon to get rid of Red-Eye, Apollo is cautious because he doesn’t want to alert any Cylons to his presence—and this makes him look like a coward in the eyes of some.
5. “The Long Patrol” (October 15, 1978): Starbuck volunteers to test-fly a superfast Viper with no weapons, with an on-board computer named C.O.R.A. His ship is soon hijacked—and Starbuck, in hot pursuit, is apprehended for bootlegging ambrosia and hauled off to prison on an asteroid. There, he finds that all the other prisoners are descendants of the original criminals. Fortunately, Starbuck has some friends waiting in the wings to help get him out.
6. “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero Part 1” (October 22, 1978): Baltar attempts to lead the Galactica into range of a huge cannon on the ice planet Arcta. When Adama realizes what his enemy is doing, he recruits a group of unruly criminals for a mission to take out the gun. Once on the planet, infighting among the group causes their vehicle to be disabled, but they’re rescued by a group of clones who live in a cave.
7. “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero Part 2” (October 29, 1978): With help from Dr. Ravashol (Dan O’Herlihy), who created both the clones and the big pulsar cannon on Arcta, Apollo and his group of convicts scale the mountain on which the gun is located. Meanwhile, Baltar’s ships force the Galactica closer into range of the weapon.
8. “The Magnificent Warriors” (November 12, 1978): During a battle the fleet’s agroships are damaged or destroyed. To replenish their food supply, Adama seeks out an agricultural planet where he can trade an unmarked weapon (provided by Siress Belloby) for seed. Turns out the town they encounter is being attacked regularly by a group of pig-like beings called the Borays. Starbuck is conned into becoming the town sheriff, a job with a high turnover rate—and the Borays kidnap Belloby.
9. “The Young Lords” (November 19, 1978): In this episode Starbuck is the one who crash lands, this time on a planet where Cylons have decimated most of the adult population, leaving tribes of children in charge. One such family rescues Starbuck from the Cylons’ clutches, but only to trade him for their father, who is being held prisoner. Starbuck cautions them to beware of treachery, then helps them mount a rescue operation.
10. “The Living Legend Part 1” (November 26, 1978): While flying a routine patrol Starbuck and Apollo are intercepted by fighters from the long-lost Battlestar Pegasus. The battlestar’s survival, and the presence of legendary Commander Cain (Lloyd Bridges) boosts morale—but he wants to confront the Cylons, while Adama insists they must put the well-being of the fleet first. Cain is willing to go to huge lengths to get his way. Cain is reunited with Casseopia (Laurette Spang), his former lover.
11. “The Living Legend Part 2” (December 3, 1978): The Cylons continue to pursue the battlestars. Cain has a plan to attack the Cylon city of Gamoray, using the Pegasus to draw fire while the fleet refuels. Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer are joined by three others for the ground mission: Sheba (Anne Lockhart), Bojay (Jack Stauffer) and Cassie. The warriors realize that Cain is planning to engage both basestars on his own, and Apollo and Starbuck take it on themselves to give Cain an advantage. As the Pegasus disappears in the fray, the injured Bojay and Sheba are left behind on Galactica.
12.“Fire in Space” (December 12, 1978): In the wake of a Cylon suicide attack parts of the Galactica have ignited and continue to burn. The landing bay is ablaze and a group of people are trapped in the Rejuvenation Center—including Boomer, Athena (Maren Jensen) and Boxey (Noah Hathaway). Also fighting for survival: Commander Adama—a metal shard has lodged itself in his heart, but power surges and other malfunctions make operating on him particularly tricky at this time.
13. “War of the Gods Part 1” (December 14, 1978): When several pilots disappear in space after seeing mysterious lights, Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba go searching for them and bring back a strange being who calls himself Count Iblis (Patrick Macnee). He promises to lead the fleet to Earth if they accept his leadership, but Adama and Apollo remain skeptical. Iblis rallies the refugees and the Council of Twelve say they’ll follow Iblis if he passes certain tests. The first: to deliver their enemy. Then the fleet gets the news that Baltar has contacted the Galactica and is coming aboard.
14. “War of the Gods Part 2” (December 21, 1978): Baltar is sentenced. Apollo and Starbuck lose a triad game to Boomer, which is seen as another sign of positive change, and the entire fleet celebrates. Then, more pilots disappear on patrol. Apollo, looking for answers, decides to revisit the planet where they found Iblis. Sheba, incensed by his distrust, follows him and Starbuck. By now Apollo has a good idea of the Count’s true identity, and hopes to open Sheba’s eyes—but a final confrontation results in a terrible tragedy and a return of the mysterious lights.
15. “The Man with Nine Lives” (January 28, 1979): Chameleon (Fred Astaire), a con man on the Rising Star, meets Starbuck and convinces him that he’s Starbuck’s long-lost father. But Chameleon has an ulterior motive—he’s being chased by Borellian Nomen, the Klingons of the Galactica universe. Starbuck insists on spending more and more time with his “father,” and even considers leaving his life as a warrior to do so.
16. “Murder on the Rising Star” (February 18, 1979): After a particularly ugly triad match, Starbuck loses his temper at opponent Ortega (Frank Ashmore). When Ortega turns up dead hours later, Starbuck is accused of the murder. Apollo convinces Starbuck not to flee prior to the trial. He discovers that Ortega was blackmailing three men, and that Ortega feared a nonexistent man named Karibdis. However, he’ll need Baltar’s help to unmask the real criminal, and Baltar’s not in a mood to cooperate.
17. “Greetings from Earth” (March 11, 1979, 2 hrs.): The warriors discover a small ship carrying humans in hibernation. Adama, Apollo and the Council start to bicker about what to do with this treasure, but tampering with the craft leads to power losses and fear for the inhabitants’ safety. An attack by the rudely-awakened male human Michael (Randolph Mantooth) gives Adama an excuse to put the ship under military control. The ship is put back on its original trajectory and lands on a planet called Paradeen, escorted by Starbuck and Apollo. There, Michael and Sarah (Kelly Harmon) hope to start a new life with the help of two androids (Bobby Van and Ray Bolger). They tell Apollo they’re from Lunar 7, a colony of Terra, which Apollo thinks might be Earth. Though the androids never destroyed the beacon that helped them get from Lunar 7 to Paradeen, Michael refuses to let Apollo use it to find Terra. He’s worried that the Eastern Alliance will locate their rural homestead with it. Turns out he had reason to worry. Starbuck, meanwhile, goes into an abandoned city to find information about Terra in Paradeen’s libraries.
18. “Baltar’s Escape” (March 11, 1979): The Council tells Adama that it’s time to end martial law, and insist that Siress Tinia (Ina Balin) stay on the bridge to observe the military’s actions. The Council hopes to develop a relationship with the Eastern Alliance members now in custody, but back on the prison barge Commandant Leiter (Lloyd Bochner) has already formed a plan of escape with the Borellian Nomen and Baltar. As the Council gathers to greet the Alliance representatives, they’re captured. Tinia and Adama develop a plan to free the hostages.
19. “Experiment in Terra” (March 16, 1979): The Galactica has tracked the escaping Alliance members to Terra, where Apollo is approached by John (Edward Mulhare), last seen on the Ship of Lights. He is asked to help avert a war between the Eastern and Western factions on Terra, and sets down on the planet in the guise of a man who everyone thought was dead. The president of the Western side is, as with the Colonies, being tricked into a treaty with the Eastern Alliance while the Alliance plans a devastating attack. It’s up to Apollo and Starbuck to save the planet from a familiar fate.
20. “Take the Celestra” (April 1, 1979): At a ceremony celebrating the exploits of Celestra commander Chronos (Paul Fix), Starbuck is sure he glimpses an old flame named Aurora (Ana Alicia Ortiz). Aurora is Chronos’ pilot—and part of a liberation force that intends to mutiny and free the ship from Chronos’ tyrannical rule. The firefight results in the arrest of Aurora and her cohorts. But Chronos isn’t the real culprit here, and with both Chronos and the mutineers out of the way the true enemy can put his plans into gear.
21. “The Hand of God” (April 29, 1979): Starbuck, Cassie, Sheba and Apollo go up to an unused celestial chamber, where they discover a signal that could come from Earth. In trying to discover the source of the transmission, they come upon a Cylon basestar. Tired of running, Adama proposes a surprise attack. Apollo and Starbuck come up with the additional idea of taking a captured Cylon fighter into the basestar to sabotage the basestar’s tracking system from within, while Boomer and Sheba lead the assault. It’s a suicidal mission, leading to a tearful confrontation between Starbuck and Cassie and a confession of love from Sheba to Apollo.
1. “Saga of a Star World” (September 17, 1978): The original pilot aired as a three-hour TV event, and later was cut down to create the motion picture (in repeats, this episode was split into three hour-long episodes). The colonies are about to celebrate the advent of peace with the Cylons, thanks in large part to Baltar (John Colicos). Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) of the Galactica is skeptical—and he’s proven right when the Cylons launch an offensive that destroys their entire civilization. The last remnants of the human race, led by the one surviving battlestar, head off toward the stars—and the fabled 13th colony of Earth. As they do so they must deal with shortages of every kind along with corrupt politicians and shell-shocked civilians. Apollo (Richard Hatch) proposes a stop at the mining post of Carillon, which turns out to be a tourist’s paradise. Or is it?
2. “Lost Planet of the Gods Part I” (September 24, 1978): The fleet encounters a void in space—but it’s either find a way through that or go past a Cylon post. Adama believes this is the path to Kobol, fabled planet of the gods. Boomer (Herbert Jefferson, Jr.) and Jolly (Tony Swartz) bring a virus on board, and it spreads through the ranks so quickly that very few pilots are left to protect the fleet. As a result, inexperienced female shuttle pilot trainees are forced to take their place—including Serina (Jane Seymour), Apollo’s new fiancee.
3. “Lost Planet of the Gods Part 2” (October 1, 1978): Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) is captured; Apollo and Serina are married. The ship reaches Kobol, where the crew discovers the tomb of the ninth lord of Kobol. Adama goes down to look for clues to the whereabouts of Earth—and there, Adama confronts Baltar, who has led the Cylons there to destroy the pyramids before Adama can find any information. There is another casualty: Serina.
4. “The Lost Warrior” (October 8, 1978): When Apollo is marooned on a planet that resembles the Wild West, a mother and son take him in and shelter him. He discovers that the man who runs the town is using a Cylon to enforce his evil rule. Though the townspeople hope that Apollo will use his weapon to get rid of Red-Eye, Apollo is cautious because he doesn’t want to alert any Cylons to his presence—and this makes him look like a coward in the eyes of some.
5. “The Long Patrol” (October 15, 1978): Starbuck volunteers to test-fly a superfast Viper with no weapons, with an on-board computer named C.O.R.A. His ship is soon hijacked—and Starbuck, in hot pursuit, is apprehended for bootlegging ambrosia and hauled off to prison on an asteroid. There, he finds that all the other prisoners are descendants of the original criminals. Fortunately, Starbuck has some friends waiting in the wings to help get him out.
6. “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero Part 1” (October 22, 1978): Baltar attempts to lead the Galactica into range of a huge cannon on the ice planet Arcta. When Adama realizes what his enemy is doing, he recruits a group of unruly criminals for a mission to take out the gun. Once on the planet, infighting among the group causes their vehicle to be disabled, but they’re rescued by a group of clones who live in a cave.
7. “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero Part 2” (October 29, 1978): With help from Dr. Ravashol (Dan O’Herlihy), who created both the clones and the big pulsar cannon on Arcta, Apollo and his group of convicts scale the mountain on which the gun is located. Meanwhile, Baltar’s ships force the Galactica closer into range of the weapon.
8. “The Magnificent Warriors” (November 12, 1978): During a battle the fleet’s agroships are damaged or destroyed. To replenish their food supply, Adama seeks out an agricultural planet where he can trade an unmarked weapon (provided by Siress Belloby) for seed. Turns out the town they encounter is being attacked regularly by a group of pig-like beings called the Borays. Starbuck is conned into becoming the town sheriff, a job with a high turnover rate—and the Borays kidnap Belloby.
9. “The Young Lords” (November 19, 1978): In this episode Starbuck is the one who crash lands, this time on a planet where Cylons have decimated most of the adult population, leaving tribes of children in charge. One such family rescues Starbuck from the Cylons’ clutches, but only to trade him for their father, who is being held prisoner. Starbuck cautions them to beware of treachery, then helps them mount a rescue operation.
10. “The Living Legend Part 1” (November 26, 1978): While flying a routine patrol Starbuck and Apollo are intercepted by fighters from the long-lost Battlestar Pegasus. The battlestar’s survival, and the presence of legendary Commander Cain (Lloyd Bridges) boosts morale—but he wants to confront the Cylons, while Adama insists they must put the well-being of the fleet first. Cain is willing to go to huge lengths to get his way. Cain is reunited with Casseopia (Laurette Spang), his former lover.
11. “The Living Legend Part 2” (December 3, 1978): The Cylons continue to pursue the battlestars. Cain has a plan to attack the Cylon city of Gamoray, using the Pegasus to draw fire while the fleet refuels. Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer are joined by three others for the ground mission: Sheba (Anne Lockhart), Bojay (Jack Stauffer) and Cassie. The warriors realize that Cain is planning to engage both basestars on his own, and Apollo and Starbuck take it on themselves to give Cain an advantage. As the Pegasus disappears in the fray, the injured Bojay and Sheba are left behind on Galactica.
12.“Fire in Space” (December 12, 1978): In the wake of a Cylon suicide attack parts of the Galactica have ignited and continue to burn. The landing bay is ablaze and a group of people are trapped in the Rejuvenation Center—including Boomer, Athena (Maren Jensen) and Boxey (Noah Hathaway). Also fighting for survival: Commander Adama—a metal shard has lodged itself in his heart, but power surges and other malfunctions make operating on him particularly tricky at this time.
13. “War of the Gods Part 1” (December 14, 1978): When several pilots disappear in space after seeing mysterious lights, Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba go searching for them and bring back a strange being who calls himself Count Iblis (Patrick Macnee). He promises to lead the fleet to Earth if they accept his leadership, but Adama and Apollo remain skeptical. Iblis rallies the refugees and the Council of Twelve say they’ll follow Iblis if he passes certain tests. The first: to deliver their enemy. Then the fleet gets the news that Baltar has contacted the Galactica and is coming aboard.
14. “War of the Gods Part 2” (December 21, 1978): Baltar is sentenced. Apollo and Starbuck lose a triad game to Boomer, which is seen as another sign of positive change, and the entire fleet celebrates. Then, more pilots disappear on patrol. Apollo, looking for answers, decides to revisit the planet where they found Iblis. Sheba, incensed by his distrust, follows him and Starbuck. By now Apollo has a good idea of the Count’s true identity, and hopes to open Sheba’s eyes—but a final confrontation results in a terrible tragedy and a return of the mysterious lights.
15. “The Man with Nine Lives” (January 28, 1979): Chameleon (Fred Astaire), a con man on the Rising Star, meets Starbuck and convinces him that he’s Starbuck’s long-lost father. But Chameleon has an ulterior motive—he’s being chased by Borellian Nomen, the Klingons of the Galactica universe. Starbuck insists on spending more and more time with his “father,” and even considers leaving his life as a warrior to do so.
16. “Murder on the Rising Star” (February 18, 1979): After a particularly ugly triad match, Starbuck loses his temper at opponent Ortega (Frank Ashmore). When Ortega turns up dead hours later, Starbuck is accused of the murder. Apollo convinces Starbuck not to flee prior to the trial. He discovers that Ortega was blackmailing three men, and that Ortega feared a nonexistent man named Karibdis. However, he’ll need Baltar’s help to unmask the real criminal, and Baltar’s not in a mood to cooperate.
17. “Greetings from Earth” (March 11, 1979, 2 hrs.): The warriors discover a small ship carrying humans in hibernation. Adama, Apollo and the Council start to bicker about what to do with this treasure, but tampering with the craft leads to power losses and fear for the inhabitants’ safety. An attack by the rudely-awakened male human Michael (Randolph Mantooth) gives Adama an excuse to put the ship under military control. The ship is put back on its original trajectory and lands on a planet called Paradeen, escorted by Starbuck and Apollo. There, Michael and Sarah (Kelly Harmon) hope to start a new life with the help of two androids (Bobby Van and Ray Bolger). They tell Apollo they’re from Lunar 7, a colony of Terra, which Apollo thinks might be Earth. Though the androids never destroyed the beacon that helped them get from Lunar 7 to Paradeen, Michael refuses to let Apollo use it to find Terra. He’s worried that the Eastern Alliance will locate their rural homestead with it. Turns out he had reason to worry. Starbuck, meanwhile, goes into an abandoned city to find information about Terra in Paradeen’s libraries.
18. “Baltar’s Escape” (March 11, 1979): The Council tells Adama that it’s time to end martial law, and insist that Siress Tinia (Ina Balin) stay on the bridge to observe the military’s actions. The Council hopes to develop a relationship with the Eastern Alliance members now in custody, but back on the prison barge Commandant Leiter (Lloyd Bochner) has already formed a plan of escape with the Borellian Nomen and Baltar. As the Council gathers to greet the Alliance representatives, they’re captured. Tinia and Adama develop a plan to free the hostages.
19. “Experiment in Terra” (March 16, 1979): The Galactica has tracked the escaping Alliance members to Terra, where Apollo is approached by John (Edward Mulhare), last seen on the Ship of Lights. He is asked to help avert a war between the Eastern and Western factions on Terra, and sets down on the planet in the guise of a man who everyone thought was dead. The president of the Western side is, as with the Colonies, being tricked into a treaty with the Eastern Alliance while the Alliance plans a devastating attack. It’s up to Apollo and Starbuck to save the planet from a familiar fate.
20. “Take the Celestra” (April 1, 1979): At a ceremony celebrating the exploits of Celestra commander Chronos (Paul Fix), Starbuck is sure he glimpses an old flame named Aurora (Ana Alicia Ortiz). Aurora is Chronos’ pilot—and part of a liberation force that intends to mutiny and free the ship from Chronos’ tyrannical rule. The firefight results in the arrest of Aurora and her cohorts. But Chronos isn’t the real culprit here, and with both Chronos and the mutineers out of the way the true enemy can put his plans into gear.
21. “The Hand of God” (April 29, 1979): Starbuck, Cassie, Sheba and Apollo go up to an unused celestial chamber, where they discover a signal that could come from Earth. In trying to discover the source of the transmission, they come upon a Cylon basestar. Tired of running, Adama proposes a surprise attack. Apollo and Starbuck come up with the additional idea of taking a captured Cylon fighter into the basestar to sabotage the basestar’s tracking system from within, while Boomer and Sheba lead the assault. It’s a suicidal mission, leading to a tearful confrontation between Starbuck and Cassie and a confession of love from Sheba to Apollo.
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