The Long Patrol is on the whole, quite an entertaining episode. Starbuck gets his Viper stolen and ends up imprisoned on a planet with a bunch of oddballs in cells that aren't even locked.
This is one of those episodes where at times it looks really low budget. The officers who capture Starbuck are all Irish and they've mistaken him for an Irish bootlegger.
Where it seems weak is in the idea that there's a bunch of Irish fellas flying round in space and getting wasted every chance they get. It even looks like they just grabbed a bunch of hard drinking Paddies and asked them to guest star in the episode. That gripe aside this is an entertaining episode with a few clever and original ideas, even if it is another "pilot crash lands on a planet" episode.
6 Reviews
Fun characters, weak story
Fluke_Skywalker9 June 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Plot; Starbuck is sent on a long-range recon mission, but when his Viper is stolen he finds himself locked away in a long forgotten penal colony.
With the previous episode being Apollo-centric, I'm not surprised that the focus here is on Starbuck. Whether to appease fans or appease the actors I'm not sure, but it helps to keep things fresh because the characters are so very different. Here the lovable lothario gets to have a little fun with the 'ol "one guy, two dates" scenario, then he mixes with the colorful characters of the Proteus penal colony. The latter is where the episode really shines, because as such the plot and the action here are so-so.
Among the prisoners are some sorta-kinda familiar faces like James Whitmore Jr. (son of the elder James Whitmore and now a very prolific and successful TV director), Ian Abercrombie ('Seinfeld's' Mr. Pitt) and Arlene Martel (perhaps best known as Spock's bride T'Pring from the 'Star Trek' episode "Amok Time"). All of them bring a nice bit of zing. Mixed with a breakneck pace, it's all almost enough to make you forget how weak the episode is otherwise. Almost. - 6/10 - Starbuck's retrofitted Viper is given a female AI (C.O.R.A.) with a display quite similar to that of K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider. Of course both 'BSG' and 'KR' were created by Glenn Larson, who never met an idea he didn't re-use (see; the streaking red light of the Cylons).
With the previous episode being Apollo-centric, I'm not surprised that the focus here is on Starbuck. Whether to appease fans or appease the actors I'm not sure, but it helps to keep things fresh because the characters are so very different. Here the lovable lothario gets to have a little fun with the 'ol "one guy, two dates" scenario, then he mixes with the colorful characters of the Proteus penal colony. The latter is where the episode really shines, because as such the plot and the action here are so-so.
Among the prisoners are some sorta-kinda familiar faces like James Whitmore Jr. (son of the elder James Whitmore and now a very prolific and successful TV director), Ian Abercrombie ('Seinfeld's' Mr. Pitt) and Arlene Martel (perhaps best known as Spock's bride T'Pring from the 'Star Trek' episode "Amok Time"). All of them bring a nice bit of zing. Mixed with a breakneck pace, it's all almost enough to make you forget how weak the episode is otherwise. Almost. - 6/10 - Starbuck's retrofitted Viper is given a female AI (C.O.R.A.) with a display quite similar to that of K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider. Of course both 'BSG' and 'KR' were created by Glenn Larson, who never met an idea he didn't re-use (see; the streaking red light of the Cylons).
A humor Starbuck episode.
mm-3927 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The Long Patrol is a humorous Starbuck episode. Starbuck suddenly by mishap has two dates at on time and well gets out sticky situation humorously. Well Starbuck gets out the mess by having to go on recon patrol with a long haul no laser Viper. There is a bit of Irish bootlegger humor in The Long Patrol. Add to the mix a female Viper computer which gives aKnight Rider robot humor. A a get rich scheme and Cylons puts the episodes over the top. The Long Patrol is a fun episode to watch. What I like is the ending with the prison wall story. Humor , science fiction, and great special effects makes a great story. Stood out when I watched this as a child and the re run as an adult aged well. 7 stars.
the patron saint of two-timers
RavenGlamDVDCollector30 April 2017
From back in the day during "innocent times..."
Well, Adulteress 58 did ask what kind of a crime "starbuckin'" was, and it is very clear, as Athena and Cassiopeia got demonstrated to by the space cowboy who refuses to be tied down to a single choice.
Good thing wow-girl Maren Jensen is on the scene. The loss of Jane Seymour was a critical mistake. Never mind the circumstances, that it was her stipulation, it shouldn't have been that way, at the very least, not so soon. What I am trying to say is that the human element makes the show, it's all quite spectacular to see the Cylon raiders attacking the Galactica, and to see the Colonial Vipers get launched to skirmish with them, but the romance has got to be there, what else do they have up there worth living and fighting for?
Episode itself? Disappointing. Almost all the episodic plot lines since the pilot seem to involve human life on far- flung but not unknown planets, which totally shoots the entire series concept to hell, the search for life "somewhere in the heavens." I keep wanting to yell out that all the drama taking place should have been aboard the Galactica and the rag-tag convoy itself. This seems set to continue, more and more planets will be conveniently along the way to provide story- lines. Somebody else posted "fun characters, weak story" or something like that as a title, I'd say, "fun characters, strong basic premise, weak story" but at the same time, I really cheer for this show, savoring the good moments, of which there are PLENTY!
Well, Adulteress 58 did ask what kind of a crime "starbuckin'" was, and it is very clear, as Athena and Cassiopeia got demonstrated to by the space cowboy who refuses to be tied down to a single choice.
Good thing wow-girl Maren Jensen is on the scene. The loss of Jane Seymour was a critical mistake. Never mind the circumstances, that it was her stipulation, it shouldn't have been that way, at the very least, not so soon. What I am trying to say is that the human element makes the show, it's all quite spectacular to see the Cylon raiders attacking the Galactica, and to see the Colonial Vipers get launched to skirmish with them, but the romance has got to be there, what else do they have up there worth living and fighting for?
Episode itself? Disappointing. Almost all the episodic plot lines since the pilot seem to involve human life on far- flung but not unknown planets, which totally shoots the entire series concept to hell, the search for life "somewhere in the heavens." I keep wanting to yell out that all the drama taking place should have been aboard the Galactica and the rag-tag convoy itself. This seems set to continue, more and more planets will be conveniently along the way to provide story- lines. Somebody else posted "fun characters, weak story" or something like that as a title, I'd say, "fun characters, strong basic premise, weak story" but at the same time, I really cheer for this show, savoring the good moments, of which there are PLENTY!
Condemned Of Space
profh-128 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Of the 4 one-off episodes that were quickly thrown together, this has always been the most watchable. Donald Bellisario, who worked on such shows as BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON and MAGNUM P.I., contributes his 1st solo script for the series, and it's a whopper. A lot goes on here, so much that it almost seems this one could have been a 2-parter. But maybe having so much going on at a rapid-fire pace was a good way to cover up for the fact that, simply, a lot of it just DOESN'T make sense!
The story opens with the fleet leaving their own star system. Are we to really believe that everything we've seen up to now has all been in the same system-- even "LOST PLANET OF THE GODS"? Seemingly against character, Starbuck has volunteered for a long solo re-con mission, but mostly because whoever does so can enjoy themselves in luxury on the "newly-reopened" Rising Star cruise ship. Due to a mix-up, he winds up dining and romancing BOTH Athena and Cassieopia, each without the other knowing. (What a guy!) But when his re-con ship is ready, his dinner is interrupted by the call to duty (what kind of "special privilege" is that?). The reactions of the ladies when they see each other is priceless. Athena gets angry-- Cassieopea, merely amused.
The re-con ship has been outfitted with an advanced talking tactical computer nick-named "C.O.R.A.", who Starbuck slowly develops a grudging admiration for. This was an idea reused by Glen Larson 4 years later on the show KNIGHT RIDER. I wonder how many TV series wound up owing something to GALACTICA?
Things get very complicated when Starbuck discovers the existence of a penal colony whose prisoners used to supply arms and liquor to the Colonies. Used to-- because sometime during the 1,000-year-long war with the Cylons, communication was lost and the penal planet was somehow FORGOTTEN. But that didn't stop their production of booze or their patriotism-- especially when the guards in charge insisted on keeping things going as they were, without ever telling anyone that nobody has come to pick up their "products" in 500 years. Generations have gone by, with the children of the guards still guarding the children of the prisoners. Talk about an insane science-fiction concept! Rod Serling might have gotten something deep and thoughtful out of this... on GALACTICA, you feel like you've wandered into an episode of LOST IN SPACE.
Among the guest cast are Sean McClory (who played the ghostly Scotsman in the LIS episode "The Astral Traveller"); James Whitmore Jr. (who, before turning to directing, was a regular as the "comic relief" character on the first season of HUNTER); and Arlene Martel (who played Mr. Spock's Fiancée in the STAR TREK episode "Amok Time"!).
When a greatly relieved Apollo & Boomer finally find Starbuck, Boomer is exasperated at Starbuck's being all exited about being "rich" for finding a small mountain of aging booze. I can really picture James Garner in Starbuck's role sometimes.
In the end, it was not to be, for a few Cylon fighters, following a radio signal, wind up destroying all the booze before getting blown away themselves. As the fleet continues on its way, the indication is that unlike the previous episode, the humans from the prison joined the refugees, presumably because if they were left behind the Cylons would have come in force and wiped all of them out.
This is definitely a case where the characters totally outshine the plot, and you wind up enjoying the episode in SPITE of itself!
The story opens with the fleet leaving their own star system. Are we to really believe that everything we've seen up to now has all been in the same system-- even "LOST PLANET OF THE GODS"? Seemingly against character, Starbuck has volunteered for a long solo re-con mission, but mostly because whoever does so can enjoy themselves in luxury on the "newly-reopened" Rising Star cruise ship. Due to a mix-up, he winds up dining and romancing BOTH Athena and Cassieopia, each without the other knowing. (What a guy!) But when his re-con ship is ready, his dinner is interrupted by the call to duty (what kind of "special privilege" is that?). The reactions of the ladies when they see each other is priceless. Athena gets angry-- Cassieopea, merely amused.
The re-con ship has been outfitted with an advanced talking tactical computer nick-named "C.O.R.A.", who Starbuck slowly develops a grudging admiration for. This was an idea reused by Glen Larson 4 years later on the show KNIGHT RIDER. I wonder how many TV series wound up owing something to GALACTICA?
Things get very complicated when Starbuck discovers the existence of a penal colony whose prisoners used to supply arms and liquor to the Colonies. Used to-- because sometime during the 1,000-year-long war with the Cylons, communication was lost and the penal planet was somehow FORGOTTEN. But that didn't stop their production of booze or their patriotism-- especially when the guards in charge insisted on keeping things going as they were, without ever telling anyone that nobody has come to pick up their "products" in 500 years. Generations have gone by, with the children of the guards still guarding the children of the prisoners. Talk about an insane science-fiction concept! Rod Serling might have gotten something deep and thoughtful out of this... on GALACTICA, you feel like you've wandered into an episode of LOST IN SPACE.
Among the guest cast are Sean McClory (who played the ghostly Scotsman in the LIS episode "The Astral Traveller"); James Whitmore Jr. (who, before turning to directing, was a regular as the "comic relief" character on the first season of HUNTER); and Arlene Martel (who played Mr. Spock's Fiancée in the STAR TREK episode "Amok Time"!).
When a greatly relieved Apollo & Boomer finally find Starbuck, Boomer is exasperated at Starbuck's being all exited about being "rich" for finding a small mountain of aging booze. I can really picture James Garner in Starbuck's role sometimes.
In the end, it was not to be, for a few Cylon fighters, following a radio signal, wind up destroying all the booze before getting blown away themselves. As the fleet continues on its way, the indication is that unlike the previous episode, the humans from the prison joined the refugees, presumably because if they were left behind the Cylons would have come in force and wiped all of them out.
This is definitely a case where the characters totally outshine the plot, and you wind up enjoying the episode in SPITE of itself!
Weak tries at unnecessary humor
cashbacher1 May 2020
The story opens with the newly reopened Rising Star, a space equivalent of a luxury dining car, hosting Starbuck on a dinner date. He volunteered to go on a solo deep patrol and as a consequence was put near first on the list of patrons. Since Athena was scheduled to work, he made a dinner date with Cassiopeia. However, when Athena is able to cut short her control room duty, both women are there at the same time. In some sense, he is saved by an urgent call to return to the Galactica. This is the first try at humor.
He is flying a modified Viper that is faster than anything else but has no laser generators. His mission is to examine a cluster of planetoids, looking for life and evidence of Cylon penetration. The Viper has a new computer system called C.O.R.A. that is capable of interacting with Starbuck and flying the ship. It has a seductive human female voice, and this begins a human-machine flirtation sequence that is the second attempt at humor.
Starbuck discovers a penal colony where the prisoners make the adult beverage ambrosia and have for generations. Children of criminals are automatically incarcerated with their parents. Children of the enforcers (jailers) also become enforcers. Starbuck upsets this pattern amidst an attack by a Cylon patrol. The patrol is defeated but there is a catastrophic loss of high quality ambrosia.
The two attempts at humor are weak attempts and were largely unnecessary. It is logical that there would be isolated, small human settlements that the Galactica convoy would encounter. They would be at risk of a Cylon attack and could provide the Galactica convoy with desperately needed resources. With so much room within that area, there is no need to introduce a dining three-way or a seductive computer.
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