Battlestar Galactica "Someone to Watch Over Me" TV episode Written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle Directed by Michael Nankin Original air date: February 27, 2009

Starbuck befriends a piano player at Joe’s Bar, who helps her face a shattering realization about her destiny.

Read the summary of the episode at the Battlestar Wiki

Notes from the BSG chronology

Dr. Cottle's dialog about Sam Anders' comatose condition indicates it has been weeks since his brain surgery (in "No Exit"), with no discernible conscious thought.

Didja Know?

The title of this episode, "Someone to Watch Over Me", is most likely borrowed from that of the 1926 song written by George and Ira Gershwin which has inspired the titles of a number of film, stage, television, and music projects.

The opening titles show the fleet at a population of 39,556, no change from the previous episode "Deadlock".

Slick (Dreilide Thrace, Starbuck's father; in vision only)

Starbuck

Rafferty (bartender at Joe's)

Helo

Hot Dog

Number Six

Athena

Number Eight

Chief Tyrol

Sonja

Apollo

Admiral Adama

President Roslin

Dr. Cottle

Lt. Hoshi

Sam Anders

Dr. Gerard (mentioned only)

Number Eight

Ellen Tigh

Tory Foster

Boomer

Cally (in Tyrol's memories only, deceased)

Hera

Dionne Tyrol (imaginary, in Boomer's projection only)

Corporal D. Wallace

day care provider (unnamed)

Kayro (voice only)

Specialist Marcie Brasko

Specialist Dealino

Didja Notice?

As the episode opens, the Galactica crew is awakened by an announcement of Reveille on the P.A. system. "Reveille" is usually a bugle call for military or incarcerated personnel in Great Britain and its current or former colonies.

At 2:31 on the Blu-ray, Starbuck presents to her flight crew a (apparently half-used) tube of Felgercarb toothpaste for anyone who finds a habitable planet. The toothpaste brand is said to be of Tauron origin. "Felgercarb" was a Colonial swear word in BSG70, essentially meaning "shit". "Tauron" is derived from the constellation Taurus the bull. So, Tauron felgercarb is "bull shit".

At 2:38 on the Blu-ray, co-scripter David Weddle is seen at Joe's Bar smoking next to Starbuck.

At 3:41 on the Blu-ray, a production crew member can be seen behind Apollo's on the right-hand side of screen!

This episode introduces Sonja, a Number Six model who is the elected Cylon representative to the new fleet council.

While speaking to Starbuck about Sam's comatose condition, Dr. Cottle indicates that his eyes being open or closed at any given time is normal for a coma patient. This is very roughly true in a simplified form.

At 11:01 on the Blu-ray, a book in the crate full of Starbuck's stuff that Helo bought back for her since her return from the dead is Behold the Gods of War by Ken Rabehl. This is a prop book; Rabehl was an assistant art director on the series.

At 21:11 on the Blu-ray, the music Slick begins to play on the piano as he and Starbuck try to develop a second movement of the piece he is working on is referred to by Starbuck as a steal from Nomion's 3rd Sonata, Second Movement. In reality, the notes he plays are from the preamble music of early episodes of BSG70. Listen: Nomions 3rd Sonata.mp3  

BSG70 opening preamble theme.mp3

At 24:46 on the Blu-ray, President Roslin reads over and signs the extradition papers to hand Boomer over to the rebel Cylons for trial.

When Boomer, impersonating Athena, picks up Hera at the day care center and prods the girl to drink something on the way out, the drink presumably contained a tranquilizer to knock the girl out so she could be stuffed in a supply crate to smuggle her off Galactica.

After the battered Athena stumbles into the pilots ready room and Helo realizes Boomer has escaped with Hera, he shouts to the others to get a med team and for another man with a name that soulds like "Kayro" to inform CIC.

    When Boomer, as Athena, is waiting for clearance to launch in a Raptor, she begins to suspect the jig is up and initiates the vessel's preflight sequence. Seeing this from CIC, Adama gets on the line and tells her to return to "checkers red" (presumably "stop", just as "checkers green" seems to be "go" in previous episodes). While giving this command, he refers to the Eight as Boomer, but she calmly acknowledges "Copy" as if she is Athena accepting her commanding officer's orders, but she then fires up her engines and takes off. Was calling her "Boomer" a slip of the tongue on Adama's (or actor Olmos') part? Did it alert Boomer that her cover was blown? Or was Adama tired of playing with her and wanted her to know they had discovered the truth?

    The Raptor Boomer escapes in is referred to as both Raptor 719 and 219 by Lt. Hoshi. 

At 42:34 on the Blu-ray, the title of the music cassette released by Starbuck's father is Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House. Is the Helice Opera House the same opera house seen in the visions of Roslin, Baltar, Athena, and Caprica Six?

Unanswered Questions

Was Slick a vision from a higher power to Starbuck? Or just a figment of her own imagination?

Why was the dream house of Boomer and Tyrol to be built on Picon? Boomer was programmed with a history that had her believing she was from the mining colony of Troy. Tyrol was originally from Earth but was programmed to believe he was from Gemenon. So again, what attracted either of them to building a house on Picon?

Did Chief Tyrol kill the Number Eight model he hit with a wrench to stand in for Boomer in the brig? It's not clear whether the stand-in is dead or just unconscious.