and that's not even a threat.

it's a friendly warning.

Cheers!

I can't download from this country in any other way!

bring on the flying motorcycles!

ps: Google "Jim Jones Kool Aid" for your daily lesson.

Here's what I don't understand: what about the Cylon homeworld? Shouldn't there be a resurrection facility there independent of the fleet resurrection facilities? And what are the Cylons actually doing now? It seems like they're as adrift as the colonial fleet. Why? Have they abandoned their homeworld? What is up with them?

It's compared to Star Trek because it's had the same 'impact' (though not in terms of magnitude cuz ST was prime time) today as Star Trek had back when the original series was airing and especially TNG when they tried to tackly the heady political issues of the day.

A Battlestar is also more like an aircraft carrier than the Enterprise so the whole angle with the pilots brings in a Top Gun feel to it (Star Wars-esque there), which you could not imagine on Star Trek.

Oh, and we know the final Cylon is Gaeta. That's been obvious since Season One.

Not sure if RDM is going in that direction, but it sure looks possible and would be a remarkable development IMHO!

Thanks for the updat on the movies too. As I was reading I kept wondering about them, but of course you addressed it at the end.

However - clever guy that Ron Moore is - with his mention that only one movie is likely (as opposed to the reported three), it looks like he might be using your article to assist in the negotiations with the network. ;-)

But I am worried that it does....

Just the Herc-age above had me grippin the chair with my butt cheeks--tomorrow can't come soon enough.

Start Carbo Loading now, so you will have sustainable energy! (Whole grain pasta, bagels, pancakes----okay: PIZZA!)

At this point, the 5th Cylon is meaningless to me. Yes, he or she may have info for getting to Earth, but in terms of character reaction, we've pretty much seen it already from the Final Four of Five.

...unless the Final Fifth knew it all along

the galaxy is in a pendant formerly worn by a cat (the lawyer's cat?), but is now on a chain and dangling from Linda Fiorentino's neck.....

Linda Fiorentino..... (sigh)

It is also possible, but not likely in my judgement, that NatalieSix is actually the dying leader who points them to earth--she pointed them in the direction of the Final Five, said they were in the fleet, knew the way to earth, and offered cooperation in finding them via unboxing D'Anna. If Natalie is the prophesied dying leader, then Roslin could be off the hook.

I do recall the phrase "dying leader" popping up all the time throughout the series--dying does not necessarily mean dead: did they quote a Pythia verse that specifically said the leader dies and does not make it to earth, does anyone recall?

I suspect the Who part may be that the Fifth has been appearing freely as many different (InHeads, NotLeoben, others) or "occupying/inspiring" others as needed. As the Watchtower music may have been "projected" into the minds of the Four, almost anything could be projected. Six made a point of explaining to Baltar that Cylons project the "reality" that suits them individually, and they showed them standing in a corridor, but she was out in the forest... Projection has definitely been established within the rules of the show.

I think it is also worth remember a scripture quote from the Jupiter episode (that was repeated at least TWICE within that episode): The Five Serve The One....

And the priestess spent a fair amount of time getting Roslin to open herself to Love last week.

InHead Six kept telling Baltar about God's Love, and now Baltar is telling everyone else (even Centurions! :-) Much of the Cylon motivation seems to be around feeling Love.

I guess Love will be the theme of the whole show. Gotta keep that in mind as we go forward....

Just in case, be prepared to take action once again!

Of course, the masses love to build something up, just to tear it down once it becomes popular, hence all the "...sucks" posts in the BSG threads. It the quality suffered at all in my mind, it was probably related to the writer's strike throwing things slightly out-of-whack, coupled with my own by-that-time, ridiculous expectations. Ad to that, the long painful gaps SciFi forces us to suffer through, and people get disgruntled. I for one still find it the best thing currently on TV, and One of the best things Ever aired.

Can you boys believe it's the "mid-season" break already?

Good one, Chromie.

Extending it further: the Final Five Cylons were created on Earth/Cylon homeworld, but the others weren't, thus the Five know the way to Earth AND serve the one (i.e. Dirklon). The Four simply don't know that the Cylon Homeworld is Earth, but the Final Fifth is the one who DOES know it.

Taken to the extreme, it would also be a world where those who not embrace love are EXILED until they change their wicked ways.

As for knowing about NatalieSix, I am not sure I agree that, since it was before the hub went all splodey, it was just normal information. They had explained that the Hub coordinated all the Resurrection Ships, and it seemed clear from earlier eps that the local "ship" had been destroyed, and they were, in that area, too far from any other ship to download. Plus, it seemed like NatalieSix's death was taking her Somewhere Else. So, it may just be that the Hybrid noticed that Natalie was Just Gone.

However, with the Hub's coordinates closely guarded, and moving all the time, and so MANY jumps away, for the Hybrid to have Instant knowledge of D'Anna's status was interesting, I thought.

There is more to the Hybrids than meets the eye, so say I....

But hey, I'm certain that alot of TBers would not have thought about it had you not mentioned it.

and chow down on some sweet tasty ribs

if they had a Sharon/Boomer/Athena/Eight version of Know Your Cylons, I would paper the walls with em!

ri ght now!

When I used to watch Trek, I knew it was gonna suck, but I would hope against hope that maybe just maybe it would be good - or at least ok...

and it sucked

and so far season 3 and 4 have had exactly ONE good episode each.

and here's this review telling me "it's not gonna suck" and I'll watch - hoping against hope...

I'm just sayin, is all....

Because last I saw, you were the one actually looking for a job, remember? Don't throw your insecurities on me because you'd rather post one-liners on AICN all day than be a productive member of society.

Don't mean to sound cruel but, seriously, get with the program.

Quote: "follow people around in every thread"

Bullshit. Look at my screenname...I'm in a BSG thread. Where else would I be?!

Quote: "never comment on the actual topic"

Bullshit again. You should READING some of my posts in the various threads on this site. I know you have the time for it.

Batman_Cape - sorry to wind you up, fella. I didn't realize it was so easy.

Well, this TB is going on blackout until I see the mid-season finale episode. I hope it's every bit as good as Herc claims. Until then, gentlemen. So Say We All.

It's pretty tough to get banned on AICN. So, whatever you did, that's your problem - not mine.

Do carry on.

Poor, poor Joss

It opened up a can of worms because, you know, it's a 'modern' (relatively speaking) Earth song. But TPTB said that it's not a clue about the time relationship to Earth.

MY GEEK FU IS STRONG!

See ya after the finale tonight.

The last cylon is NOT with the fleet?

By the way, much apologies for those who wish to remain unspoiled. Not going to happen in this talkback.

;)

And the music was phenomenal.

As for the content ... well ... let's put those in different posts

However, I am beginning to wonder a few things. 1) If I did hear correctly, the final cylon is not with the fleet. If this is the case, it is on Earth. Or is it?

More importantly, what are they going to do for the other episodes? Other than make a new home and find the final Cylon.

I am rambling.

I'm honestly not sure what they're going to do moving forward. I'm stunned they found Earth so soon this season.

But let's see how Earth looks now: Pretty bad. And it may have been pretty bad for awhile. So how does this sound:

The Pythia and all the markers were created by someone(s) fleeing Earth before or during or maybe even after the devastation. They wanted the colonists to find their way to Earth because ... because why?

All this has happened before and will happen again ... the Cylons were originally created on Earth, maybe, and uh ... damn. I'm not seeing it. I think I'm going to need more than 10 minutes.

You sure this isn't Young and the Restless? There certainly seems to be a lot of "swapping" going on.

I'm not going to read a damn thing you guys have posted. But keep the homefires burning for the rest of us. This TB should be epic.

The radiation, however, sort of mucks with that, although at low-enough levels it might be hard for modern scientists to distinguish from other sources.

Unless maybe the 13th Tribe weren't the original settlers of Earth? Ok, wait I found this on Battlestar Wiki:

Several clues point to Earth as the true homeworld of humanity. As the Fleet approaches Earth, the artifacts they encounter become more ancient. The ruins on Kobol are 2,000 years old, the Lion's Head nebula beacon is 3,000 years old, and the Temple of Five is dated to 4,000 years.

So Earth first, then Kobol, then back to Earth. Maybe not everyone left Earth for Kobol, and when the 13th Tribe arrived, there was a conflict.

Adama: If I'm a Cylon, you're really screwed

ca. 3,000 years BCH: A beacon is left at the Lion's Head Nebula, later marking the way to Earth. At some undated point, someone travels from Earth to Kobol, passing on information about Earth, including a map of its night sky

ca. 3,600 years BCH: Pythia records her prophecies

ca. 2,000 years BCH: The remaining Twelve Tribes leave Kobol

Who knows, maybe the TV movie/movies will do a special theatrical screening where we get to see Earth in all its glory.

This is up there with the best of the recent blockbusters. IMHO skeptics who see this will find their faith restored. Powerful story telling and excellent visuals.

BTW it was so engrossing that watching it on my computer screen was not an issue at all.

The more I think about the happenings here, the more questions come up and the more I think there is no way to wrap up all of the loose strings.

All in all, a very fine episode.

2) What happened to Earth?

3) What happened to the 13th tribe?

4) What happened to the Lords of Kobol?

5) Who or What are the In-Head Baltar, Six, and Leoben?

6) What destruction is Kara Thrace leading everyone to?

7) Why isn't Roslin dead (yet)? Will she die?

8) The Final Fifth

9) How have the Final Five "been to Earth"?

10) Who is the 'jealous god'? Is it the Cylon god? Lord of Kobol?

11) Are they going to Keel Haul Helo?

12) Is Lee going to get a haircut?

12 loose strings, 12 episodes remaining

" How does it end, spoiler-boy? With the survivors, stunned into silence." A great understatement, sir.

(2) Is this really Earth?

(3)When will the Hybrid speak about the current state of affairs

(4)Why didn't Elosha appear to Roslin during the jump?

(5)What do the centurions know, but are not telling?

(6)Why is another TBer trying to ape my handle?!:^)

And by the way, if Ron and David get what they want, those loose ends should definitely be answered in the (three?) post-Galactica TV movies.

It would be much more fitting to bring it back sometime in the fall - that is unless Sci Fi is broadcasting the TV movies this fall BEFORE the final ten episodes air.

So says this BSG fan.

The above makes no sense other wise.

I don't read that as finding Earth depopulated, because the human race is not at its end.

And maybe there is more to come.

Whoever is behind Kara's return is against the finding of the "true" Earth, which is probably where the 13th Tribe actually went once they found Earth destroyed [speculation]. They haven't found it yet, because they followed the wrong path.

And judging by the look on Starbuck's face, Calico Pete, I'd say she only took a glimpse of the planet before returning to Galactica. That and...y'know, the fact that she conveniently forgot to mention IT WAS A WASTELAND! I keed, I keed.

Now consider what the podcast told us when she returned: Kara DIED. And was returned. What if the splendor she saw was the one Roslin and Natalie glimpsed, not Earth?

The movie or movies might be so 'mind-roastingly intense' you'd find it even harder to wait for the last ten episodes.

If it's not the afterlife (you could be right), and if it was Earth as an actual place she describes (are we sure she died?), then a MILLENNIAL event took place since the time of her visit.

Chrth (dare I speak on his behalf) and I would appreciate it. ;-)

I'm convinced they followed the wrong path.

I believe that Starbuck was sent back to lead the colonists to the wrong place. They didn't listen to the Hybrid; the Final Five have been to the "13th House", not Starbuck. She's been to Earth. But Earth is no more. The true goal is to reunite with the 13th Tribe, and they need the Final Five to do so.

Starbuck, sobbing: I saw Earth. The shape of it, the smell of it. The feel of it on my skin in my pores. And I swear to you, it was like I'd been there before. Like I never left."

Acording to those words, her Earth experience appears to have been a most pleasing one. It doesn't sound like she's talking about the Earth environs that we see in this episode.

"We survived. They must have as well."

"Where did they go?"

"They led us here. They'll lead us there."

I never watched a single episode of the os, but since its common knowledge that there are a bunch of plot homages and events parallel in the series, its padding my half-assed theory that "Everything has happened before and will happen again" is insinuating that this series is a prequel or sequel to the original continuity, and just one loop in a series of predestined/ inevitable events- and at some point either near the end of the season or start of the next half, they'll find the remains of the 1979 BSG (it did make it to Earth at the end right?).

Anyways, it'd make sense from a business perspective too since by tying this into the original they can enhance the popularity of both series. When this is finished it'll give fans of this series a reason to watch the original and the fans of the old to watch this one (if they aren't already). This would expand the breadth of the 'Battlestar Universe' as a whole, and allowing the birth of new related properties without (overtly) looking like they're milking a single show or beating a dead horse.

Of course Im drunk right now. So I may think very differently tomorrow afternoon.

Classic.

2) If it is the very near future, that means the 13th tribe arrived sometime in our recorded past (they left Kobol 4000 years ago) ... which seems unlikely since there's no evidence of a mass emigration of humans from space in the historical record

I seriously thought that they were only looking for a place that they could inhabit ie: breathe.

I missed some stuff, I guess.

Plus, hats off to Tyrol, who had a smirk there too (two, count 'em, two brilliant smirks by Tyrol in the episode)

Now my add-on: The scrolls and prophesies were not a "history" of a 13th Tribe that had fled TO earth long ago, but a deliberate map/instruction/set of clues for the future, when one day The Fleet would go in search of earth. The current Fleet IS THE THIRTEENTH TRIBE.

The damage on earth seemed complete, hard to tell if it was old or new.

If the humans originally fled FROM earth, rather than to it, then the underlying question is why they fled. Iblis? Something else?

okay, now I will go read the talkback!

Just a rePurveying of the Hybrid Theory According to Chromedome.

You raise another issue too - where are the rest of the planets in our solar system?

With that assumption, Helo, in order to be the Fifth, which is possible, would have been fully aware and manipulating things from the beginning! Putting Baltar on his Raptor, staying behind, knowing even as he was running away with false-Boomer that she was false, and playing along, etc. Stopping the virus. It could well be that he is, but it means he is a sneaky duplicitous conniving manipulator, pretending to be kind of a lump.... I think it would be a cop out, and the Hybrid would be a Smokin Solution for the Fifth.

What the Centurions know the Hybrid knows too since she is connected in some way to into all toasters.

What's key IMHO is the Centurions did not need a "vision" to know Anders as a Final Fiver, whereas D'Anna did, which shows that chromedomes have higher levels of cognition with respect to the Final Five.

chromedomes in general know toastery things :-)

The Hybrid seems to have a lot of instant access to information--perfect position to manipulate events from, if you ask me. She knew instantly that Natalie was Offline, that D'Anna was Online, and could have even been the one that interpreted the data stream, recognized Anders, and commanded the stand-down of the Raiders.

They showed us Tyrol smirking/smiling a lot tonight:I think that is significant: has he lost it, or does he SEE or KNOW something the others don't, or have thus far missed. He seems very unconcerned about all this now, don't he?

Wait! D'Anna is back, so you and CapSix and her are all under the blankets getting re-acquainted?

Well Then: CARRY ON!

Yes, Tyrol was acting as if he had high toastery knowledge. He IS the guy who figured out the Temple of Jupiter. If there some toastery figurin' to do be done he's the one. Since last time dealt with a temple, I wonder if it has to do with the Temple of Aurora that has been discussed.

Oh yeah, and... WHAT THE FUCK. I can't say I'm surprised they Planet-Of-The-Apes-ed it, I even joined the bandwagon in an old talkback and partly called it. I wish it was more surprising, but I liked it nonetheless. Felt they slowed down way too much at points during this episode, particularly to celebrate and shit. I wanted it to keep up the breakneck pace without anyone exhaling like it has been all season so far (even if the action's been intermittent, the tension hasn't).

SO WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON. That definitely looks like the Brooklyn Bridge.

And LMFAO, I agree completely with the guy who said "So NJ's radioactive, WHAT ELSE IS NEW", ahahahah.

They can still set up shop on Earth, just on the less irradiated parts I guess. Or they can go to Mars, and terrafarm it if it's not already so.

I agree with the rest who think Starbuck fell into a wormhole or something that drew her to Earth where humans or cylons or SOMETHING here, gave her a brand new viper, and sent her back. And clicked on the final four/five Cylons. I just wonder how the hell they've been to Earth. Whoever the "higher power" is that's been orchestrating shit (somehow connected to the Hybrid), they have to be here on Earth somewhere.

Btw, all this Kobol, 12-13 colonies/tribes crap has me confused so I just ignore it all. Please tell me there's a site which sums up the Colonial tradition in a nice page or two?

*splurt*

Thoughout the series, Earth was this fabled promised land, a kind of Eden, the survivors last hope. And then to get there and to see what's become of it, it's got to be a shock to the fans as well as the characters.

Can anyone honestly say they expected that? Let's face it...we all expected a past/present/future Earth or an alternate Earth. We expected them to either populate the planet and begin greek culture, though it would have begun before them with the 13th tribe which brings up the idea that the 13th tribe are the original colonists of a non-human Earth and we are all descendants of that tribe, or we expected a modern Earth like Galactica 1980, or a future Earth with Star Trek like technology and a world inhabited by advanced humans or cylons.

That's what most of us expected...either way it was going to be the last episode, we might see some Earth humans or Cylons, and the series would close out with a big battle.

Instead we get an Earth that looks like it's in the far future, from the state of the ruins, it's OUR Earth, and it's destroyed...no Earth Cylons or humans in sight. We see an Earth where something terrible, something horrific has happened.

And reading the talkbacks, most of us are shocked. We can't make any sense of it. And I bet that's exactly how the colonists and cylons feel...and frankly...

It's FRAKING GENIUS.

For the first time in the entire run of the show...the audience is in the same position as the characters...we don't have a clue what's going on. It just seems wrong somehow.

Am I surprised they reached Earth so early? A little...but it definitely works. And we now have 11 hours of Galactica to explain just what the hell is going on.

Even if it does turn out to be an attempt at social commentary about the human race destroying itself, it doesn't matter. That would work.

Where does the show go from here? Who or what orchestrated this whole journey? Is the final cylon behind it all? Is it Iblis? Are they one and the same? Are there any humans left on the planet? What about the other cylons, Boomer and the others? Hera, the Opera House.

And what about Gaius Fraking Baltar? Will he ever become the fully fledged traitor or will he remain a victim of circumstance?

How could the 6 be pregnant? Is Saul Tigh half human like Hera? Is that why he can procreate? Was Ellen a 6? What exactly are the in-heads? Instruments of Iblis? Will Dirk Benedict ever get a cameo?

These questions and more...someone said that the final scene was quiet and not a "holy shit" moment.

I respectfully disagree.

Yes it was quiet...but it was most definitely a "HOLY SHIT" moment. Better than Watchtower Four, Better than 1 year later...heck, better than the identity of the person in the coffin in Lost.

It did what few shows have ever managed to do. It put the viewer in the exact same position as the characters. And that is quite an achievement.

Can Moore deliver the payoff in the final episodes? Will the questions be answered? Only the gods know.

But dammit, I can't wait to find out.

And Scifi, please bring it back sooner than 2009. I believe the finale has now been shot. So get your effects team working and release the episodes as and when they are finished. Don't hold them back just because you want to promote the Caprica spin off.

I still have a strange feeling that Baltar might lead the centurians against the skinjobs by the way, dunno why.

how long can it be...?

/cries

I haven't watched a lot of BSG but I kinda gathered that some of the jist of the series had a "mission statement" on affairs of the NOW - religon, racism, warism, ecoligicalism and isn't it the most? (John Lennon)

And Chrth, I understand that they have more to do; more to protect themselves from...but look at it this way...

They have a clean - yet somewhat dusty and scaffold-y - slate. They should dig in, protect and if need be, fight for each scrap. Because it may look like a shit heap now but with a few curtians and a well placed floor mat - you got something working for ya.

I'm just sayng that you can't disregard something because it *looks* bad.

Perhaps Earth can be a "fix-R-upper".

What if the Cylons are the 13th Tribe? err Colony...

But then aren't we just rehashing the New Caprica plotline? Barely ekeing out a survival until the Cylons show up? Granted, it would give new meaning to 'All this has happened before and will happen again' ... but I can't imagine RDM doing a second verse same as the first

1) I thought the Final Five together would show the way to Earth? We are still missing one, and only three of them were involved in finding the secret of the Viper... perhaps it was a tad off and didn't actually point to Earth?

2) They keep saying that The Final Five have been to Earth. How the hell would they have been there before, if this is meant literally?

3) Where are the flying bikes? :D

Ben_Gazzara: OBEY

The Hybrid warned against following Kara Thrace, but the Colonials did it anyway. Now they're in the wrong place. They need to find the Final Fifth, who, with the Final Four, will show the way to the home of the 13th Tribe ... all while fighting off the Cavil-led Cylons.

Disclaimer:

This is just something I came up with. It's not written in stone (notepad, actually). The purpose in posting it is to test it. If you find a flaw, GREAT. If you have a different interpretation, that's also great ... we can discuss it and see what we come up with. I may embrace your position, I may not, don't take it personally. The goal is discussion, not conclusion. This is a start point, not an end point.

The Nebula:

The Nebula is KEY. This is where things went wrong. Up until that point, the Colonials were following the correct path. The activation of the Final Five was the next step in the correct path. However, something else happened: Starbuck came back from the dead (confirmed in a podcast that she was dead). Multiple Hybrids warned against following her. The Colonials did anyway. Why? Because whoever brought Starbuck back returned her at the exact moment to pre-empt the next step. Since In-Head Leoben led her to her death, I'm going to guess that he was an agent of that power (we'll talk about them all later). So upon Starbuck's return, the wrong path was taken.

Now, there are some questions here (and possible flaws). Starbuck's path took them to the Hybrid and the destruction of the Resurrection Hub. The hybrid didn't want them following Starbuck, but she did seem to want to destroy the Hub. So it gets kind of confusing. Was the purpose just to follow Starbuck some of the way? Would the Hub destruction happened anyway if they followed the Final Five? Hard to say.

The McGuffin:

BTW, I think there's a giant McGuffin that is everywhere in the BSG universe and I think we've been tricked with it. I refer, of course, to "This has all happened before and that will all happen again". Many of us are trying to fit events into some sort of cycle. This has resulted in some far out looping (Cylons invented on Earth thousands of years ago, etc). I think we've taken it too far. For all we know, the cycle in question is tens of thousands of years old. So I am not going to try to fit the events into a cycle. There's an almost infinite number of ways to do it, and I don't think it gets us any closer to the 'truth' of the remaining episodes.

Earth:

Ah, good old Earth. And yes, I do believe they're on Earth. I believe that Earth was the previous home for those that ended up on Kobol, but it really becomes an academic question. Was Earth destroyed before the 13th Tribe set out for it 4000 years ago? Possibly; would make sense why everyone was on Kobol and ONLY Kobol (in a Universe with no aliens, why, 4000 years ago, was all of humanity on one planet? Could it be because they had been on another planet earlier that they destroyed, and their new leaders, the Lords of Kobol, kept a tight rein on them for unknown reasons?) Or was Earth destroyed after the 13th Tribe arrived, either in a battle with other (original) inhabitants or some sort of pseudo-Cylon event like what happened to the colonies (here's a place for our McGuffin)?

Ultimately, IT DOESN'T MATTER. See, a lot of people forget (because of New Caprica and the opening credits) that the real goal wasn't Earth; it was to reunite with the 13th Tribe. Reunited (and it feels so good), they would be able to fight off the Cylons. Despite all the truces and toaster-frakking going on, there's something still out there, because ...

Here Comes the Cavil-ry:

There are now a lot more bad Cylons than good Cylons. There's only D'Anna. A handful of Leobens. Some Sixes and Eights.

But there are potentially hundreds of thousands of all the other models. Not to mention Raiders, Centurions, and whatnot. Granted, those may no longer attack due to the revealed presence of the Final Five, but there are a lot more bad basestars than good ones. And there's still the Cylon homeworld, where resurrection still happens (unless RDM retcons this out) and they could build a new resurrection hub if they felt like it, one that the 'good' Cylons could no longer use.

The Thirteenth Tribe:

So that's what it comes down to -- finding the Thirteenth Tribe. There has to be some survivors somewhere. Back to our McGuffin: if the Colonials survived the Cylon attack, than I'm sure the 13th Tribe survived whatever happened on Earth (or if Earth was already like that). And I'm sure they got into some ships and went looking for a place called ... you got me. But I'm guessing the 13th Tribe is there. And I'm guessing they got there before the colonists left Kobol.

The Final Five:

This is where the Final Five's path comes into play. The Final Five's path leads to the 13th Tribe. Since the path they have followed has been laid out thousands of years ago, it seems that the 13th Tribe returned some of its members to Kobol at some point to create a new path, one that didn't lead to Earth (or led to an Earth 2 or New Earth or something). Now since we don't know the Final Fifth (who could be dead, or one of the colonies/New Caprica, or could've been on the Basestar already, or D'Anna could've been lying, whatever the explanation for the location is), I believe that the plot directions points to the joined Five being able to find the correct path. So the Fifth needs to be found (and I'm sure they'll figure this out pretty quick).

Roslin's Upcoming Death:

She's still the dying leader (remember, it's a wasting disease. Those championing Natalie for this role forget this fact). But the scripture never says Earth. Just the 'promised' or 'new' land. Since the 13th Tribe is what set down the markers, it makes sense that she doesn't die until they're close to their home.

The In-Heads and the Lords of Kobol:

Here's one of the big questions. What is the purpose of the In-Heads? I'm guessing they're avatars of the Lords of Kobol, but it's just a guess. The Cylon God is likely a former Lord of Kobol who was exiled for wanting to be the top dog, and the Cylons found him and he converted them to belief in him. The In-Head Six and Baltar are his doing. Is the Cylon God responsible for them following Kara the wrong way? It's the easiest solution to the problem (since it utilizes an established entity), but the Why is tricky. Maybe he doesn't want the 13th Tribe reunited with the Colonials because the other Lords of Kobol reside with the former? But it's also possible that one of the other Lords of Kobol (Aurora is a very likely suspect here because of her connection with Kara Thrace) doesn't want them reunited because they do not want the agents of the Cylon God amongest the 13th Tribe.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Well, I think the path is simple: find the Final Fifth. Follow the path to the 13th Tribe. Unite with them to stop the (bad) Cylons. Live happily ever after ... until it happens again. This doesn't mean there aren't loose threads (and some of them are already answered above, but we'll include them all) that need answering, but I think this is the core of the final episodes. Some of these are academic (as noted, does it really matter what happened on Earth? All that matters is that it happened).

The Open Threads:

1) The remaining 'bad' Cylons (as well as the Cylon homeworld)

2) What happened to Earth?

3) What happened to the 13th tribe?

4) What happened to the Lords of Kobol?

5) Who or What are the In-Head Baltar, Six, and Leoben?

6) What destruction is Kara Thrace leading everyone to?

7) Why isn't Roslin dead (yet)? Will she die?

8) The Final Fifth

9) How have the Final Five "been to Earth"?

10) Who is the 'jealous god'? Is it the Cylon god? Lord of Kobol?

11) What's the deal with Hera? What's the secret of the Opera House?

12) What's the deal with Tigh-Caprica Six's child?

Miscellany:

I don't think they'll settle on Kobol or Earth. The former seems like going backwards to me, and the latter seems like a replay of New Caprica.

Predicted Dialogue for the next episode:

"Something went wrong. Are they all lost?"

"We survived. They must have as well."

"Where did they go?"

"They led us here. They'll lead us there."

Also: "Frak"

The splendor Kara's Earth opposed to the Earth they're on now: Roslin and Kira see a green bank. Natalie sees verdant trees. These are the glimpses of death/afterlife we've been shown on the show. Now consider what the podcast told us when she returned: Kara DIED. And was returned. What if the splendor she saw was the one Roslin and Natalie glimpsed, not Earth?

I think that's enough for now. If you made it to the end and read everything, good for you.

The "thirteenth colony" and the "fifth cylon" are one and the same - it's the next generation of human-cylon hybrids ... and they'll be the ones to survive on this radiated planet (more on that below), which will become Earth because they'll rebuild it as such. The distinction between humans and cylons will dissolve, and history will continue in this cycle ... blah blah blah ...

My one quick thought about the hybrid children being able to survive on Earth comes from the cylon blood's effect on Roslin way back when - the blood combined has a greater resistance to disease or something ... kind of a weak link in my theory, but I think everything so far has been leading us to this conclusion. That humans and cylons must merge to survive.

I can totally see Tigh saying to Hera, on a bended knee and holder her shoulders in wonder, "You're the fifth!" It could also be why D'Anna only referred to the "four" in the fleet ... because the fifth isn't ONE PERSON, it's a generational happening. And that's how the visions come together in the opera house. They're all seeing a vision of the fifth cylon / thirteenth colony being ushered into the world. The "dying leader" could be the human race ... or the old cylons, or both! They don't make it, because they can't survive on Earth, or else all kill each other in a final battle with the Cavill-led cylons.

Any thoughts?

Earth does look really crappy doesn't it. As has been said by other Herc and TBers, the Temple of Aurora, which was discussed by Kara and Lee in the beginning of the show is key. Like the open field in the Tomb of Athena where they saw the 12 constellations, it could be that they are all standing in the Temple of Aurora and cannot see the real Earth yet.

I thought it was an awesome ending. Now we have 10 more episodes for the gang to figure out whether they can live together on Earth in peace -- and live up to their true potential -- or repeat the cycle yet again.

http://tinyurl.com/68nrz2

Watch in HD. You see clearly that it's our Earth. Listen to the dialogue. The constellations are correct. Look at the cityscape: It's New York city as seen from Brooklyn. The "temple" is just some architecture that looks like the remains of a library or government building.

So what's the story, then?

We blew ourselves to shit. Some of our human replicant/cylons got away (the five) and they were the first of the new humans. They aged slowly, but they did age, and their aging accelerated once the first Cylon war (in which Adama and Tigh fought) happened. The Cylons were created by people who are descendants of Cylons. The old centurians got away, and disappeared. They evolved to the human-like state, but retained some robotic ideals (resurrection ship, no individuality, supposedly sterile, etc.) but that all changed when they decided to attack Caprica and wipe out "humanity" -- They were attacking their own ancestors, including the five (four?) founders of their race.

So the series begins, the "humans" flee and seek Earth. The Cylons follow. It isn't until the human-like Cylons lose their immortality, gain individuality, begin procreating, and ally with "humans" that they are ALL able to find the world of their origin: Earth.

The final four (five?) are hearing an actual transmission from Earth-- A satellite signal beamed into deep space-- because they are still made from original Earth technology and something about them is tuned to that special frequency. It is because of this that they are able to tune into the homing beacon on the Viper, which has been altered (or supplied) with the same technology.

The four (five?) are as close to human as it gets-- They are the product of our Earth's future bio-engineering technology. They are essentially improved replicants. The line between humanity and engineered humanity is blurred to the point of being inconsequential. The rest of "humanity" are the descendants of Tigh, Tyrol, Tory, and Anders, and perhaps one more like them (which leads me to believe it's a female).

13. Cylons attack Caprica and the colonies. They chase their creators (including the five) across the stars.

14. The nebula channels a signal from Earth, and it snaps the five out of their self-induced programming/hypnosis. No memories remain, though.

15. The Cylons split up. 16. The Cylons that embrace mortality, procreation, individuality, and truce are led to Earth. 17. The "humans" only get to Earth once they embrace the idea that "skin jobs" are essentially human, and grant amnesty to the five. 18. Together, the various collected ancestors of the original human replicants discover their ancestral homeworld's tragic past. 19. All that remains is to make the connection between each other and join as one species on Earth, as they should have done ages before. 20. Profit!

Trik_Ster - The fifth human-Cylon is the one who saved Kara. She never died. We never saw a body. We saw her viper go into the nebula, then we saw BOOM. The Final Cylon (also, perhaps, the First Cylon or First "new" human) supplied her with a new Viper somehow, but she didn't die. She was pulled in by a tractor beam, warp bubble, or some other Hail Mary sort of device. While she was unconscious, she was fed mental images. She was never on Earth, but she was shown what it *should* look like by someone who remembered it in better days, and her ship (new or rebuilt) was programmed with the same "homing" tech as the Final Five.

Of course, I could be happy with the story if this episode were the last, too. It would be kinda cool-- kind of a "Hey, you found Earth. Congratulations, shit-heads!" sort of ending.

2. Earth: Humans advance robots into androids.

3. Earth: Humans advance androids into bio-engineered replicants.

4. Earth: World War erupts (or perhaps human/android war). Several (or maybe just five) of the replicants get away.

5. Kobol/Caprica: The five (or more) arrive.

6. Kobol/Caprica: The five (or more) discover how to breed. They do.

7. "Humans" are born. They spread across the galaxy.

8. Humans create robots (Cylons).

9. The five program themselves to forget their origins, start aging, and start "normal" lives once the Cylons are created, or upon other historical events (war's end, etc.)

10. The Cylons rebel, and war begins. One of the five actually fights in the war (Tigh) and perhaps started aging earlier than others.

11. The Cylons retreat, and begin upgrading themselves.

12. Years later, Cylons have perfected the same process that created the original replicants, but as they're robots, they build them with robotic ideals: No procreation. No individuality. Limited appearances. No aging or death.

13. Cylons attack Caprica and the colonies. They chase their creators (including the five) across the stars.

14. The nebula channels a signal from Earth, and it snaps the five out of their self-induced programming/hypnosis. No memories remain, though.

15. The Cylons split up over ideological differences.

16. The Cylons that embrace mortality, procreation, individuality, and truce are led to Earth.

17. The "humans" only get to Earth once they embrace the idea that "skin jobs" are essentially human, and grant amnesty to the five.

18. Together, the various collected ancestors of the original human replicants discover their ancestral homeworld's tragic past.

19. All that remains is to make the connection between each other and join as one species on Earth, as they should have done ages before.

20. Profit!

So this is Earth. However, as chrth quoted above, the scrolls say the dying leader will not live to enter the new "homeland"--so they can be on Earth, Roslin can still be alive, and no 'rules' have been broken. They simply have not reached the "the new homeland" yet. But they have 11 more episodes to go lookin!

Maybe Earth is populated by post-humans? Cylons project and seem to possess other "super powers" - but lack the kind of genetic diversity that prevents extinction through the destruction of a manufacturing plant or "Hub" - until now...

I think it's Earth. They're in the right place, but Kara's arrival earlier somehow led to the destruction.

Earth or Not Earth, IMHO what they discovered has more to do with that connection than the fact that humanity messed it all up once again.

President of what's left of Humanity is better than Just Another Cylon from a tactical POV.

jus sayin

Also, they frequently have the cast throwing out red herrings on purpose as well. So I wouldn't read too much into what she said until we find out who it is.

IS.

GALACTICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*** I'm a huge TWIN PEAKS fan, too! ***

BTW I have to ask this since there's been so much discussion about it, what's your take on whether its Earth or not Earth?

1. The notion that they would arrive on Earth only to find it an apparent bombed-out husk is something I distinctly recall theorizing about in earlier BSG Talkbacks. In fact, I believe I said something to the effect that they arrive on Earth, realize that we (The 13th Tribe) have destroyed ourselves, the planet is uninhabitable, and the Fleet is forced to move on and, once again, search for a new home. (At the time, some of my fellow Talkbackers thought that idea was a little too bleak.)

But wow! If that is indeed Earth, I was pretty damn close. And what we just saw was pretty frakkin' crazy!

2. I also mentioned in Talkback (sometime during the announcements for the start/length of Season 4) that I read an interview with Eick who said that there was no question the Fleet will find Earth - and they may find it earlier than people think. Herc actually replied and said that he had it on good authority that they would not find Earth until the very end of the series. Now, if what they found is the real Earth, I want some sort of AICN No-Prize.

Herc! Do you hear me?! I want my No-Prize!

:^)

I'm inclined to believe that the planet is the real Earth (the huge stone crucifix in one of the background shots, the familiar -though vague- city skyline, and the alleged glimpes of North America from orbit). If that's the case, then I'm really intrigued by the "The Fleet is the new 13th Colony Theory". That would make sense in the circular nature of their scriptures.

However, if it's not the real Earth, then we have yet another entirely new ballgame about to go afoot. Either way, I think we can all agree that there is a 3rd party invested in the future of the Humans and Cylons.

Based on everything that has happened with the destruction of the colonies, the Cylon civil war, the hub, and now a devastated planet Earth, if someone was to ask if the 3rd party was friend or foe, I would have to say foe at this point.

http://tinyurl.com/6yhsxw

"Holy cow, I love this episode beyond the saying of it, and 'thank you' to the fans who have been going out of their way to tell all of us that, too. Adama's reaction to the reveal was stunning -- my gods -- and Starbuck-- her face said it all. A thunderclap. Simply beautiful. You wouldn't want more and you can't imagine less. I'm stating the obvious when I say that a more labored reaction would've attenuated the emotions, given the characters a chance to gather themselves before the big blow that was to come, which certainly would be a mistake. And there's a difference, of course, between finding out that your XO is a Cylon if he's handing you a giftbox filled with a fertile verdant Earth, and finding out that he's holding a cinder-planet. I think the *real* reactions are yet to come, just like in life. The beauty of this episode is in its urgency, in the tumbling breathless slide that lands us on that grim gr ay unfamiliar beach... It's so gray, in fact, that I think it earns the British spelling. It's grey, which is even worse.

And -- oh -- that haunting devastated city there, with the massive ruined temple and our people trying to find their footing in a strange dead city I did not recognize... that image just kills me. Every time I watch this episode, I well up with hope, and it lasts right up through that handful of soil, and then the radiation counter breaks my heart all over again. I do not easily tear up, but the race to the planet -- don't the ships look like they're *running*? I always think of running... Anyway, that race and then the reveal brings tears to my eyes in a way I'm not sure I've experienced before during a television show. Someday I'll see those images without having to blink through them. Right?

David and Bradley (David Weddle and Bradley Thompson, our writers) did an excellent job throughout this rocketsled of an episode - the writing had to be so delicate, precise and emotional... and they also did such a good job doing little things like dealing with the fallout from my episode the previous week. Baltar saying he loves living is such a gem of a moment among a cascade of gems -- thanks for that, David and Brad! And then, of course, the big stuff starts happening and never ever lets up.

When we screened this episode at Ron's house, months ago, we all sat stunned, and then agreed it was perhaps the best the show had ever produced. And seeing it Wednesday and again Friday night with fans in attendance bore that out... every time the blue clouded planet was revealed, I could hear the inhales of hope, despite the lack of indication of any continents -- and I knew we were about to break some hearts. But, I hope, they only broke like mine did.

I wish we could bring you the next episode right away. In my mind the two fit together so closely so as to almost be a two-parter, and I have that awful sense of having had a phone call cut off mid-sentence with so much left unsaid.

There's so much left unsaid.

Thanks to the fans from me, but especially from David and Bradley -- these two episodes are their babies, and they are so grateful for the appreciation they've been receiving. We all put our hearts and tears and then more hearts into these episodes, and they become parts of us like our flesh. So thank you. Very much. We have the best fans in television.

(And you cannot trick me into revealing the identity of the Fifth by pretending you don't care! I won't fall for that! Not again.)

Smiling,
Jane"

The Shiny New Viper's "Earth" homing signal manifested to the Frakkin' Four as static, interfering with or replacing their "Watchtower" vibe. It even temporarily incapacitated Tori (who may be especially susceptible to it's influence... I expect this to be important later).

Therefore, the SNV signal (and by extension Kara) comes from a *different*, and *opposed*, source than does the FF signal. This supports those posters who have pointed out that the fleet was *not* supposed to follow Kara, but rather somehow follow the FF+1. Kara's rationalization for how the FF "led" them to their current location seems pretty weak to me; their prophetic role has been co-opted, not fulfilled.

So, one signal comes from one faction (let's call them the Ship of Lights), and another comes from another faction (e.g., Iblis). But which is which? It's tempting to assume that nuked-out "Earth" is more Iblis-y; on the other hand, in the original show, Iblis was all about the pretty temptations and the hopeful promises, not overt destruction and despair.

Regarding the Cylon God: While it hasn't yet been spelled out explicitly in the show, hasn't there been an awful lot of in-show hinting and out-of-show commentary over the years to the effect that the 13th Lord of Kobol wanted to be top god, fought the others until Kobol was ruined, and left with the 13th Tribe to found (or re-occupy) Earth (with Himself as the only God)? In which case, it can hardly be coincidence that the Cylons are monotheists.

Yes, that was certainly a stone cross at the landing site. While it could just be part of some architectural element (a dome would tend to have intersecting vertical and horizontal support elements and decorations), it could also be an actual religious crucifix, *whether or not this is Earth*, as long as a hypothetical "Terra" was founded by, based on, modelled after, or was guided to evolve parallel to Earth (or vice-versa).

(There looked to be some rubble that was in a circular shape; much like the center design of the temple rendering that Apollo was looking at in the beginning of the episode...)

Sorry, chrth.

The lack of continents might be because they don't want to reveal what era it is due to continental drift.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether this is Earth or not. It's where the 13th Tribe is that's important.

I guess there is a chance that they are the 3rd party MNG mentioned, which would make my 3rd-party-as-foe theory incorrect.

Did you catch the other Buffy shout-out? Saul Tigh with a chip in his head a la Spike? I giggled before Bill Adama shut that down quick.

But the cross is a really good point too. I'd be disappointed if they just up and leave.

http://tinyurl.com/4rr mx4

"He will find her." Is he talking specific people? Earth? And "the Fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light." Sheds a little light on what differetiates the fifth from the Final Four. Even the hybrid knew the Fifth was different. So D'Anna's "the fifth isn't in the fleet" can't be taken so literally to mean "dead" or "on the basestar". Interesting...

"Soon there will be four, glorious in awakening, struggling with the knowledge of their true selves, the pain of revelation bringing new clarity, and in the midst of confusion, he will find her. Enemies brought together by impossible longing, enemies now joined as one. The way forward at once unthinkable, yet inevitable. And the fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering. I can see them all. The seven, now six, self-described machines who believe themselves without sin, but in time, it is sin that will consume them. They will know enmity, bitterness, the wrenching agony of the one splintering into the many, and then they will join the promised land, gathered on the wings of an angel. Not an end, but a beginning."

"in the shadows" is likely someone no one expects while "clawing" "toward the light" could be the signal that when he or she begins stepping forward - beware.

Hopefully other TBers will chime in soon while it's still a TOP TB.

"I can see them all. The seven, now six, self-described machines who believe themselves without sin, but in time, it is sin that will consume them. They will know enmity, bitterness, the wrenching agony of the one splintering into the many" ... the Cylon Civil War, natch

"then they will join the promised land, gathered on the wings of an angel. Not an end, but a beginning." ... so the Cylons will join with the 13th Tribe to? Wings of an angel: the In-Heads? Kara Thrace?

"And the fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering." ... too good to parse

Thrace -- eh, not anymore, I mean, she got everybody to Ear-

Fuck me, I got it. Gaeta. Redemption is regarding New Caprica/Baltar (Butterfingers!) ... and the howl of terrible suffering was his leg.

I don't know of anyone else that fits the criteria. Not Helo (the line isn't "hungering for self-righteousness that will only come in the howl of smugness"), not Doc Cottle, not Dualla ... there really aren't many other characters to choose from.

Nah, I'm reasonably certain it's Tigh and Six.

Take your stinkin' Dome temple in the middle of NYC, and shove it up your ass.

Adama could still hunger for redemption over Zack, which to this day, colors his relationship with Lee. Kara could still have some redemption issues over with respect to Zack too.

Helo saved Baltar in the beginning so that could put him the same category as Gaeta concerning the need for redemption(i.e. assisting Baltar and indirectly helping him to hurt others).

Then of course there's Baltar.

Who has died in the course of the show that would need to return to life and seek out redemption? And who would've had to have died before the music activated the other members of the Final Five?

Kendra Shaw - She murdered civilians. She confessed to the Hybrid, but he really didn't give her absolution.

Admiral Cain - What doesn't she have to atone for? Executions, ordering brutal rapings and beatings, abandoning her sister, attempting to murder a fellow officer and subvert the Colonial government. The problem is, whatever conscience Helena had, it rarely bothered her in life. Perhaps what she found in the shadow, at the hands of her former Six lover, has changed all that. Ellen Tigh - The show's Lady Macbeth, a woman who caused nothing but trouble in her quest for power and prestige. Her arrival in the Fleet was never adequately explained. (She was knocked out during the Cylon attack, a mysterious benefactor put her on an escaping ship?) To save her husband's life, she slept with the enemy and was selling out the resistance. And on top of all that, she was notorious for being unfaithful to her husband, sleeping with "half the Fleet" according to Adama. (However, that may have been part of her plan to gain Saul and herself powerful connections for exploitation.) Starbuck's mother - A cold woman at best, a child abuser at worst. She never had a kind word for her daughter, even though she kept telling Kara that her full potential and destiny had yet to be tapped. Starbuck's vision could've been a form of absolution...but one more for Starbuck. The mother's redemption may still be holding. Jammer - Someone who made a string of bad choices and ended up compromised on all sides. He tried to do what was right, but it was too little too late. Executed by the Circle, he met a fate that was planned for Tigh, Tyrol, and Anders and experienced by a Leoben. Jack Fisk - Cain's replacement right-hand man kowtowed to her orders in abject fear. He did nothing as Shaw instigated the slaughter of civilians. And even once freed from Cain's grasp, he was still afraid of her shadow. He came to a violent end without making a proper confession, only half-drunken admissions that he immediately denied. Those are the top suspects I can think of for chracters dead (in shadow) and needing redemption (crawling towards the light).

For me, the most likely candidate for Final Cylon is: Ellen Tigh.

She has the connection to Saul. Her story of surviving the Colonial holocaust is dubious at best. She has much to atone for just from New Caprica alone. Saul, upon finding out he himself was a Cylon, wondered, "What about Ellen?" Caprica Six has appeared to Saul as Ellen, and two women share an uncanny resemblance. Ellen often divided those around her, fomenting chaos in the name power and manipulation.

If not Ellen, the next best suspect would have to be Kendra Shaw. Her dark times on the Pegasus and the interaction with the Hybrid makes her a prime candidate. It would also explain why she was the focus of Razor, the bridging segment between Cain and Apollo, a cautionary tale of what following orders too closely can lead to.

But who knows? Maybe former presidential aide Billy had some deep dark secrets we never got a chance to learn about. And Roslin thought he'd one day serve as President. Sure would give Dualla a kick in shins since she threw him off in favor of Apollo!

Who has died in the course of the show that would need to return to life and seek out redemption? And who would've had to have died before the music activated the other members of the Final Five?

Kendra Shaw - She murdered civilians. She confessed to the Hybrid, but he really didn't give her absolution.

Admiral Cain - What doesn't she have to atone for? Executions, ordering brutal rapings and beatings, abandoning her sister, attempting to murder a fellow officer and subvert the Colonial government. The problem is, whatever conscience Helena had, it rarely bothered her in life. Perhaps what she found in the shadow, at the hands of her former Six lover, has changed all that.

Ellen Tigh - The show's Lady Macbeth, a woman who caused nothing but trouble in her quest for power and prestige. Her arrival in the Fleet was never adequately explained. (She was knocked out during the Cylon attack, a mysterious benefactor put her on an escaping ship?) To save her husband's life, she slept with the enemy and was selling out the resistance. And on top of all that, she was notorious for being unfaithful to her husband, sleeping with "half the Fleet" according to Adama.

Starbuck's mother - A cold woman at best, a child abuser at worst. She never had a kind word for her daughter, even though she kept telling Kara that her full potential and destiny had yet to be tapped. Starbuck's vision could've been a form of absolution...but one more for Starbuck. The mother's redemption may still be holding.

Jammer - Someone who made a string of bad choices and ended up compromised on all sides. He tried to do what was right, but it was too little too late. Executed by the Circle, he met a fate that was planned for Tigh, Tyrol, and Anders and experienced by a Leoben.

Jack Fisk - Cain's replacement right-hand man kowtowed to her orders in abject fear. He did nothing as Shaw instigated the slaughter of civilians. And even once freed from Cain's grasp, he was still afraid of her shadow. He came to a violent end without making a proper confession, only half-drunken admissions that he immediately denied.

Those are the top suspects I can think of for chracters dead (in shadow) and needing redemption (crawling towards the light).

For me, the most likely candidate for Final Cylon is: Ellen Tigh.

She has the connection to Saul. Her story of surviving the Colonial holocaust is dubious at best. She has much to atone for just from New Caprica alone. Saul, upon finding out he himself was a Cylon, wondered, "What about Ellen?" Caprica Six has appeared to Saul as Ellen, and two women share an uncanny resemblance. Ellen often divided those around her, fomenting chaos in the name power and manipulation.

If not Ellen, the next best suspect would have to be Kendra Shaw. Her dark times on the Pegasus and the interaction with the Hybrid makes her a prime candidate. It would also explain why she was the focus of Razor, the bridging segment between Cain and Apollo, a cautionary tale of what following orders too closely can lead to. And the Hybrid warned her that the cycle may be ending, but it would soon start over.

Who knows? Maybe former presidential aide Billy had some deep dark secrets we never got a chance to learn about. And Roslin thought he'd one day serve as President. Sure would give Dualla a kick in shins since she threw him off in favor of Apollo!

Gaeta matched up the constellations, but nothing was confirmed regarding the origin of the signal.

Once they track down the origin of the signal(which may or may not come from the planet that they landed on), IMHO they will likely find the 3rd party discussed earlier (i.e. the 13th Tribe, Iblis, etc).

That viper could be the key to the major clues left behind by the 13th Tribe.