War of the Gods (Battlestar Galactica)
Encyclopedia
"War of the Gods" is a two-part episode of the original Battlestar Galactica
television series.
on patrol encounter mysterious orbs of light and are soon overtaken by a larger ship, which disables the Viper's instruments and emits a deafening sound. Aboard the Galactica
, other pilots are engaged in a Triad match. Colonel Tigh
calls a meeting where Commander Adama
briefs the pilots on the Vipers' situation. Apollo
, Starbuck
, and Sheba
go to investigate the oddly lit planet (the scenes for which were shot in infrared
). They find the wreckage of a ship and a white-robed being named Count Iblis
, whom they take back to the Galactica.
Iblis seems to have a strange effect on Sheba, as well as on other crew members. Adama is anxious to get to the bottom of the mystery and questions him about those whom Iblis terms his enemies. Iblis reveals his knowledge of the humans and his plans for leading the fleet to Earth. The crew members must speculate on the stranger’s origin as their instruments are ineffective in scanning him. Iblis is able to somehow read Sheba’s inner feelings and increases his captivating effects on her. The mysterious lights reappear around the fleet, and the Red Squadron of Vipers attempts to pursue them. They are overtaken by the same lighted ship as the first pilots.
Apollo and Starbuck threaten to take Iblis into custody if he does not accompany them to see Adama. Under Adama’s questioning, Iblis declares that he is an advanced being from another world, and that Adama should devise three tests so that he may prove his powers. Meanwhile, the mysterious lights also swarm around Baltar
’s Cylon Basestar
.
Sheba leads Count Iblis
on a tour of the fleet, stopping on a ship where there is little to eat. He gains the support of the people by promising to improve their living conditions and then delivers by miraculous increases in food. Later, Iblis knows exactly what the three tests will be before they are even spoken. The first is to deliver the humans’ enemy, the second, to accurately plot a course to Earth, and the third is as of yet undecided on. At the end of Part I, their enemy, Baltar, does indeed decide to turn himself in to Galactica; he is delivered.
and is powerless against the psychic control exhibited by Iblis. Iblis addresses the council and discusses his intention to join the celebrations across the fleet. It is proposed that the Quorum elect Count Iblis president, but Adama voices his concerns in order to delay the vote. Iblis visits Baltar in his cell, addressing him as "old friend", and Baltar recognizes his voice - the voice of the Imperious Leader. Baltar however is confused by Iblis' observation that he must be a thousand yahrens old if that were so.
Athena urges Adama to join her at the Triad match and expresses concern that Apollo won't attend either. Boxey is worried that Apollo won't play because he is a coward as his friends have said. Apollo assures the child that he is more concerned with the fleet, and that it doesn't matter who wins the game. Adama joins Apollo, and convinces him to play, saying he's not doing his missing friends a service by simply worrying about things.
Iblis offers Boomer help in beating Apollo's team in Triad, apparently taking Boomer under his influence. Boomer's Blue team wins. Apollo and Starbuck lament their loss and join people celebrating in the nightclub setting. Iblis encourages all of the drinking and partying across the ship.
Meanwhile the light orbs swarm around the ship, and Adama is unable to get anyone to react at their stations on the bridge. Tigh informs him that crew members across the ship are stricken with an "overdose of pleasure". None of the pilots respond to the red alert, and Iblis scolds them in their quarters for their disgraceful behavior. Apollo then lunges toward Iblis, and when Adama intervenes, Iblis threatens Adama's command after the Count ascends to the presidency. Adama questions Iblis' fear of the lights, while Iblis counters that he is not afraid of any human nor creature, and that the gods' laws do not apply to him.
Apollo, Starbuck, and Boomer chase the light, but the deafening ship catches them and takes Boomer. So far the Galactica has lost nine pilots, and Adama and Apollo are concerned about Iblis' certain ascendancy to the presidency. Doctor Wilker believes that Iblis did not cause the plants to grow, but that the light orbs did. Then, Adama proves to Apollo that humans can have similar mind over matter abilities that Iblis has. Adama believes Iblis and the other beings are so advanced that they may have been termed angels by earlier humans.
Apollo and Starbuck return to the planet to examine the wreckage of the ship. Iblis, relaxing with Sheba, senses Adama's thoughts about Apollo's mission and threatens another crew member to Adama. Sheba heads out after Apollo and Starbuck by herself, and arrives just as Apollo and Starbuck stumble upon a frightening secret left in the wreckage. Iblis reaches the three and commands his power over Sheba. When Apollo fires his pistol through Iblis, the Count's head transforms briefly into an image of a devil, and then Iblis strikes Apollo down dead with a bolt of energy fired from his hand. Starbuck, in a fit of rage over the death of his friend, draws his laser and fires twice at Iblis, causing the Count's head to turn into an image of a 'demonic' demon with each shot. At this point, the strange lights zoom overhead. Iblis looks up, his face clouded in worry and dread. Starbuck asks him why he looks so worried and whether he has broken some divine law by killing Apollo because Apollo would not willingly follow him. Iblis simply tells him that they will meet again. He then transforms again into the devil incarnation and then dematerializes. Starbuck and Sheba, grief-stricken, take Apollo's body and head back to the Galactica in their shuttle.
While returning in the shuttle, Starbuck and Sheba are overtaken by the same ship of lights, appearing inside the ship dressed all in white. Angelic beings lead them to Apollo's body. The angels, as Starbuck calls them, indicate that Apollo was not meant to die and is of great importance. They tell the pair that Iblis had broken their laws by killing someone who would not willingly follow him. They then ask Sheba if she is willing to sacrifice herself for Apollo's sake as he did for hers. She nods yes, crying. They raise him from the dead and tell Starbuck that they are on the same side of a struggle - as humans are, the angels once were. The pilots are all returned to the fleet. Adama has a celebratory dinner where Apollo, Starbuck, and Sheba seem to have little recollection of what happened, except for a sense of light and goodness. A post-hypnotic suggestion causes the three pilots to spontaneously recite the navigational coordinates for "Earth Quadrant Alpha" - an apparent gift from the mysterious beings.
Guests:
Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson. It starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict and ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer and...
television series.
Part I
Four VipersColonial Viper
The Colonial Viper is the primary fighter spacecraft type used by the human protagonists in the Battlestar Galactica fictional universe. Appearing in both the 1978 original series and the 2003 reimagined series, as well as various derivative works, the single-pilot spacecraft are carried aboard...
on patrol encounter mysterious orbs of light and are soon overtaken by a larger ship, which disables the Viper's instruments and emits a deafening sound. Aboard the Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (ship)
The Battlestar Galactica is a space battleship in the original and re-imagined science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica.The Twelve Colonies of Man in the original television series built a number of Battlestars during their thousand-year war with the Cylons, whose battleships are...
, other pilots are engaged in a Triad match. Colonel Tigh
Colonel Tigh
Colonel Tigh is a fictional character in the original 1978 TV series Battlestar Galactica, played by Terry Carter. He is the Executive Officer of the titutlar ship. In his early years, he flew a Viper in the same squadron as Commander Adama. Tigh at first appears to be strictly by-the-book and a...
calls a meeting where Commander Adama
Commander Adama
Commander Adama is a fictional character in the 1978 movie and subsequent ABC television series Battlestar Galactica and its continuation series, Galactica 1980. Adama is the commander of the great military vessel Battlestar Galactica, commander of the refugee fleet and military commander of the...
briefs the pilots on the Vipers' situation. Apollo
Captain Apollo
Captain Apollo is the name of a fictional character in the Battlestar Galactica franchise. He was first played by Richard Hatch, who would also later appear as the character of Tom Zarek in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series in 2005....
, Starbuck
Lieutenant Starbuck
Lieutenant Starbuck of the Colonial Service, played by Dirk Benedict, is a fictional character in the 1978 science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. Starbuck is a Viper starfighter pilot, gambler, womanizer and smoker of "fumerellos," or cigars. He is involved with Lieutenant Athena...
, and Sheba
Lieutenant Sheba
Lieutenant Sheba, portrayed by Anne Lockhart, is a fictional character and regular cast member of the 1978-1979 ABC television series Battlestar Galactica....
go to investigate the oddly lit planet (the scenes for which were shot in infrared
Infrared photography
In infrared photography, the film or image sensor used is sensitive to infrared light. The part of the spectrum used is referred to as near-infrared to distinguish it from far-infrared, which is the domain of thermal imaging. Wavelengths used for photography range from about 700 nm to about...
). They find the wreckage of a ship and a white-robed being named Count Iblis
Count Iblis
Count Iblis is an alien on the TV series Battlestar Galactica. He was part of the original 1978 series, and was central to the plot of the two-part episode War of the Gods. In that episode, he was played by Patrick Macnee. He did not appear in the re-imagined series.- 1978 continuity :When a...
, whom they take back to the Galactica.
Iblis seems to have a strange effect on Sheba, as well as on other crew members. Adama is anxious to get to the bottom of the mystery and questions him about those whom Iblis terms his enemies. Iblis reveals his knowledge of the humans and his plans for leading the fleet to Earth. The crew members must speculate on the stranger’s origin as their instruments are ineffective in scanning him. Iblis is able to somehow read Sheba’s inner feelings and increases his captivating effects on her. The mysterious lights reappear around the fleet, and the Red Squadron of Vipers attempts to pursue them. They are overtaken by the same lighted ship as the first pilots.
Apollo and Starbuck threaten to take Iblis into custody if he does not accompany them to see Adama. Under Adama’s questioning, Iblis declares that he is an advanced being from another world, and that Adama should devise three tests so that he may prove his powers. Meanwhile, the mysterious lights also swarm around Baltar
Count Baltar
In the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, Count Baltar was a leading antagonist character who betrayed the human race to its enemy, the robot race of Cylons...
’s Cylon Basestar
Cylon Basestar
The Basestar is the capital ship of the Cylons in the 1978 science fiction television series and movie Battlestar Galactica along with its re-imagining in the 2003 miniseries and 2004 television series.- Battlestar Galactica :...
.
Sheba leads Count Iblis
Count Iblis
Count Iblis is an alien on the TV series Battlestar Galactica. He was part of the original 1978 series, and was central to the plot of the two-part episode War of the Gods. In that episode, he was played by Patrick Macnee. He did not appear in the re-imagined series.- 1978 continuity :When a...
on a tour of the fleet, stopping on a ship where there is little to eat. He gains the support of the people by promising to improve their living conditions and then delivers by miraculous increases in food. Later, Iblis knows exactly what the three tests will be before they are even spoken. The first is to deliver the humans’ enemy, the second, to accurately plot a course to Earth, and the third is as of yet undecided on. At the end of Part I, their enemy, Baltar, does indeed decide to turn himself in to Galactica; he is delivered.
Part II
Baltar appears before the Quorum of TwelveQuorum of Twelve
The Quorum of Twelve is a fictional governing body of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol on the two Battlestar Galactica television series. In both series, it was composed of one representative from each colony.Series creator Glen A...
and is powerless against the psychic control exhibited by Iblis. Iblis addresses the council and discusses his intention to join the celebrations across the fleet. It is proposed that the Quorum elect Count Iblis president, but Adama voices his concerns in order to delay the vote. Iblis visits Baltar in his cell, addressing him as "old friend", and Baltar recognizes his voice - the voice of the Imperious Leader. Baltar however is confused by Iblis' observation that he must be a thousand yahrens old if that were so.
Athena urges Adama to join her at the Triad match and expresses concern that Apollo won't attend either. Boxey is worried that Apollo won't play because he is a coward as his friends have said. Apollo assures the child that he is more concerned with the fleet, and that it doesn't matter who wins the game. Adama joins Apollo, and convinces him to play, saying he's not doing his missing friends a service by simply worrying about things.
Iblis offers Boomer help in beating Apollo's team in Triad, apparently taking Boomer under his influence. Boomer's Blue team wins. Apollo and Starbuck lament their loss and join people celebrating in the nightclub setting. Iblis encourages all of the drinking and partying across the ship.
Meanwhile the light orbs swarm around the ship, and Adama is unable to get anyone to react at their stations on the bridge. Tigh informs him that crew members across the ship are stricken with an "overdose of pleasure". None of the pilots respond to the red alert, and Iblis scolds them in their quarters for their disgraceful behavior. Apollo then lunges toward Iblis, and when Adama intervenes, Iblis threatens Adama's command after the Count ascends to the presidency. Adama questions Iblis' fear of the lights, while Iblis counters that he is not afraid of any human nor creature, and that the gods' laws do not apply to him.
Apollo, Starbuck, and Boomer chase the light, but the deafening ship catches them and takes Boomer. So far the Galactica has lost nine pilots, and Adama and Apollo are concerned about Iblis' certain ascendancy to the presidency. Doctor Wilker believes that Iblis did not cause the plants to grow, but that the light orbs did. Then, Adama proves to Apollo that humans can have similar mind over matter abilities that Iblis has. Adama believes Iblis and the other beings are so advanced that they may have been termed angels by earlier humans.
Apollo and Starbuck return to the planet to examine the wreckage of the ship. Iblis, relaxing with Sheba, senses Adama's thoughts about Apollo's mission and threatens another crew member to Adama. Sheba heads out after Apollo and Starbuck by herself, and arrives just as Apollo and Starbuck stumble upon a frightening secret left in the wreckage. Iblis reaches the three and commands his power over Sheba. When Apollo fires his pistol through Iblis, the Count's head transforms briefly into an image of a devil, and then Iblis strikes Apollo down dead with a bolt of energy fired from his hand. Starbuck, in a fit of rage over the death of his friend, draws his laser and fires twice at Iblis, causing the Count's head to turn into an image of a 'demonic' demon with each shot. At this point, the strange lights zoom overhead. Iblis looks up, his face clouded in worry and dread. Starbuck asks him why he looks so worried and whether he has broken some divine law by killing Apollo because Apollo would not willingly follow him. Iblis simply tells him that they will meet again. He then transforms again into the devil incarnation and then dematerializes. Starbuck and Sheba, grief-stricken, take Apollo's body and head back to the Galactica in their shuttle.
While returning in the shuttle, Starbuck and Sheba are overtaken by the same ship of lights, appearing inside the ship dressed all in white. Angelic beings lead them to Apollo's body. The angels, as Starbuck calls them, indicate that Apollo was not meant to die and is of great importance. They tell the pair that Iblis had broken their laws by killing someone who would not willingly follow him. They then ask Sheba if she is willing to sacrifice herself for Apollo's sake as he did for hers. She nods yes, crying. They raise him from the dead and tell Starbuck that they are on the same side of a struggle - as humans are, the angels once were. The pilots are all returned to the fleet. Adama has a celebratory dinner where Apollo, Starbuck, and Sheba seem to have little recollection of what happened, except for a sense of light and goodness. A post-hypnotic suggestion causes the three pilots to spontaneously recite the navigational coordinates for "Earth Quadrant Alpha" - an apparent gift from the mysterious beings.
Actors
- Dirk BenedictDirk BenedictDirk Benedict is an American movie, television and stage actor, perhaps best known for playing the characters Lieutenant Templeton "Faceman" Peck in The A-Team television series and Lieutenant Starbuck in the original Battlestar Galactica film and television series.-Early life:Benedict was born...
- Lieutenant StarbuckLieutenant StarbuckLieutenant Starbuck of the Colonial Service, played by Dirk Benedict, is a fictional character in the 1978 science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. Starbuck is a Viper starfighter pilot, gambler, womanizer and smoker of "fumerellos," or cigars. He is involved with Lieutenant Athena... - Terry CarterTerry CarterTerry Carter is an American actor and filmmaker who is known for his roles as "Sgt. Joe Broadhurst", on the seven year hit TV series McCloud and as "Colonel Tigh" on the original Battlestar Galactica.-Early life:...
- Colonel TighColonel TighColonel Tigh is a fictional character in the original 1978 TV series Battlestar Galactica, played by Terry Carter. He is the Executive Officer of the titutlar ship. In his early years, he flew a Viper in the same squadron as Commander Adama. Tigh at first appears to be strictly by-the-book and a... - John ColicosJohn ColicosJohn Colicos was a Greek-Canadian actor. He was a distinguished stage actor in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.-Career:...
- Count BaltarCount BaltarIn the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, Count Baltar was a leading antagonist character who betrayed the human race to its enemy, the robot race of Cylons... - John DullaghanJohn DullaghanJohn Dullaghan is an American television actor who portrayed Ray Brewer on Barney Miller .-External links:...
- Dr. Wilker - Lorne GreeneLorne GreeneLorne Greene , was the stage name of Lyon Himan Green, OC, a Canadian actor.His television roles include Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza, and Commander Adama in the science fiction movie and subsequent TV Series Battlestar Galactica...
- AdamaCommander AdamaCommander Adama is a fictional character in the 1978 movie and subsequent ABC television series Battlestar Galactica and its continuation series, Galactica 1980. Adama is the commander of the great military vessel Battlestar Galactica, commander of the refugee fleet and military commander of the... - Richard HatchRichard Hatch (actor)Richard Hatch is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, and also as Tom Zarek in the remake of Battlestar Galactica....
- Captain ApolloCaptain ApolloCaptain Apollo is the name of a fictional character in the Battlestar Galactica franchise. He was first played by Richard Hatch, who would also later appear as the character of Tom Zarek in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series in 2005.... - Herb Jefferson, Jr.Herb Jefferson, Jr.Herbert Jefferson Jr. is an African-American actor. He graduated with honors from New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1969. He is probably best known for his role as Lieutenant Boomer on the original Battlestar Galactica television series...
- Lieutenant BoomerLieutenant BoomerLieutenant Boomer, later known as Colonel Boomer, was a character on the 1978-1979 television series Battlestar Galactica and its spin-off series Galactica 1980. He was portrayed on both series by Herbert Jefferson, Jr. Boomer was a lieutenant in the Colonial Service, an officer with a background... - Maren JensenMaren JensenMaren Kawehilani Jensen is a former American model and actress, best known for portraying Athena in the 1970s television series Battlestar Galactica.-Biography:...
- Lieutenant AthenaLieutenant AthenaLieutenant Athena is a fictional character in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, which ran on ABC from 1978 to 1979. The character was portrayed by Maren Jensen.-Character history:... - Anne Lockhart - Lieutenant ShebaLieutenant ShebaLieutenant Sheba, portrayed by Anne Lockhart, is a fictional character and regular cast member of the 1978-1979 ABC television series Battlestar Galactica....
- Laurette SpangLaurette Spang-McCookLaurette Spang-McCook is an American television actress. She portrayed Cassiopeia in the original Battlestar Galactica.-Early life/family:...
- CassiopeiaCassiopeia (Battlestar Galactica)Cassiopeia is a fictional character in the original Battlestar Galactica which ran on ABC from 1978 to 1979. The role was portrayed by Laurette Spang.-History:... - Tony SwartzTony SwartzTony Swartz is an American actor whose roles include Flight Sergeant Jolly on the original Battlestar Galactica television series....
- Sergeant Jolly
Guests:
- Kirk AlynKirk Alyn-External links:...
- Old Man - Ed Begley, Jr.Ed Begley, Jr.Edward James "Ed" Begley, Jr. is an American actor and environmentalist. Begley has appeared in hundreds of films, television shows, and stage performances. He is best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich, on the television series St...
- Ensign Greenbean - Janet Louise JohnsonJanet JulianJanet Julian , also credited under her birth name Janet Louise Johnson, is an American actress who has starred in film and television.-Biography:...
- Brie - David Greenan - Omega
- Patrick MacneePatrick MacneePatrick Macnee is an English actor, best known for his role as the secret agent John Steed in the series The Avengers.-Early life:...
- Count IblisCount IblisCount Iblis is an alien on the TV series Battlestar Galactica. He was part of the original 1978 series, and was central to the plot of the two-part episode War of the Gods. In that episode, he was played by Patrick Macnee. He did not appear in the re-imagined series.- 1978 continuity :When a... - George MurdockGeorge Murdock (actor)George Murdock is an American actor.Known for frequently playing judges, , he also performed the role of "Big Daddy" in Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with the Arizona Theater Company during the 1988...
- Dr Salik - Sarah RushSarah RushSarah Rush is an American actress, best known in television for her work in the original Battlestar Galactica. She narrated and starred in the 2005 documentary The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania produced by Patricia Heaton and directed by David Hunt, which won the 2006 Heartland Film...
- Flight Cpl. Rigel - Olan SouleOlan SouleOlan Soule was an American character actor with hundreds of credits in films, radio, commercials, television and animation.-Early life:...
- Carmicheal - Jack StaufferJack StaufferJack Stauffer is an American actor of film, television, and theater. He is also a director of theater productions....
- Lieutenant Bojay - Norman Stuart - 2nd StatesmanStatesmanA statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
- Paula Victor - Old woman
- John WilliamsJohn WilliamsJohn Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
- Council Man
External links
- War of the Gods, Part I at the Battlestar Wiki
- War of the Gods, Part II at the Battlestar Wiki