It’s the year 2024 now. And this is still one of, if not THE, greatest court room speech(es) I’ve ever heard. They truly don’t make great shows like they used to. Battlestar Galactica is still one of, if not THE, greatest science fiction drama(s) of all time.
That is, in my opinion, Lee Adama's best scene in the entire series. And frankly, I think it's one of the best scenes period of the entire series. I still get chills listening to it. Jamie Bamber deserves a lot of praise for it.
@@bcmm1880Pegasus was a dishonored ship. Admiral Kane's actions whilst in command turned the very existence of that ship an abomination. Lee gave Pegasus a chance to redeem herself and she did.
So agreed. It is universal and comes to my mind ever so often. One of the most poignant points in this intelligent series. If I could only ever rewatch one scene from BSG I’d make it this one. Genius writing, great delivery.
My biggest issue with this series was Jamie Bamber's acting. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't good either. And I think his average ability is why he changed roles so often as they tried to find a way to play to his strengths. But Bamber killed this scene. It is, to me, along with the rest of the episode, the pinnacle of the series.
Great scene. Lee shows a crucial thing, that if Baltar is guilty, so are a lot of other people. I mean, sleazeball that Gaius is, the colonials put him on trial for one thing he didn't do.
Yup. If only they had known about him giving the nuke to Gina, cause that WAS treason. But perhaps that is the whole point of Baltar's redemption: the world doesn't even known how bad we truly are, and yet Christ offers us his forgiveness!
@@AuroraAustralis_ he still isnt directly responsible, even when forced via the drug he states the facts and only the facts, he never intended this to happen, he didnt know, infact he didnt even know that six was a cylon as far as im aware unless i glossed over something, he thought he was giving them to someone completely trustworthy.
@@kiddingjust6946 Except that he gave “Six” access to classified defense systems that she had no right to see, let alone interact with. He violated his security clearance and considering that these were vital to defense of the Twelve Colonies that is illegal bordering on treason no matter what he thought of her character.
He argued until he was blue in the face saying it was not worth it. It was the smart decision but he ultimately made the right choice. Whilst it did cost Pegasus, there are over 30 000 people in the Fleet that should be thanking Lee every day for making the rescue possible.
@@richardtaylor1652 Yes! It's exactly what Laura Roslin meant when she told Lee that he was so hell-bent on doing the right thing, that he won't do the smart thing.
This speech is what I did for one of my monologue in my Acting class. When I got feed back from everyone no one knew this scene and I was a little disappointed
I had a similar exp u just reminded me of...in English we had to do a back an forth between a black man and a sherif after a hanging back in early USA 1900s, now I'm not a good student and I'm in England so me an my freind didn't think of anything and forgot about it, this was early 90s and coolios gangstas paradise was out and I just acted his words out complaining to a sherif , probably the most wildy racist thing that's ever been done in this sort of situation and my early 20s English teacher didn't have a clue, we got a B and I was so upset for 2 reasons because she obviously never heard the song and because it was so racist and she never said a word because I'm brown not even the correct type of brown for the situation 😩 . Funny years later tho😂
I really do love this scene and the great acting in this. Especially Jamie Bamber(Lee Adama), and learning how not only did he write some of those lines himself, but the producers and directors found the time for his performance in this episode. So say we all!
I remember watching this show the first time, and going into the trial of Baltar wondering how anyone could possibly argue that this man didn't deserve to die. It seemed so clear-cut. Then Apollo gave this speech, and I realized I had been judging him guilty based purely on emotion as well. I hated his character so much, that I thought he needed to die, and I was totally in the wrong. Great scene.
I think you're forgetting that Baltar was responsible for giving the cylons access to Caprica's defense mainframe? He's responsible for the destruction of the planet and most of its population.
@@oobaka1967 he didn't do it on purpose he was tricked, but even if he wasn't. The cylons could have just tortured him for the information or gotten another person. If the colonial system relies on a single point of failures they would have been able to exploit it some other way. They waited 40? years. A month of torture to force him or a couple more years pressing a different person wouldn't make much difference to them
@@oobaka1967 the colonials were arrogant and stupid enough to have such an easily defeated system. The reason Galactica survived was due to a non-networked system. From that we know the Cylons have attacked via viruses before. But the colonials got lazy and arrogant in believing everything was ok. Also he was tricked by someone he thought was another human.
@@oobaka1967 He wasnt.. he never ever could had suspected Six was a Cylon.. all he did was fall in love with her and think she was using him for private advancement.. A Felony maybe but certainly not treason and not even the slight will of betraying or causing harm.. he says it very clearly before this scene when Roslin nearly throws him out of an airlock and he burst in anger citing one of the photos of the memory hall where he knew the guy and his daughters and how he never ever would do anything to harm them. Of all things Baltar was only guilty of giving Gina Inviere a nuke wich she used to destroy the biggest civilian ship and some other nearby ships.. and nobody ever brought that back or blamed him.. But of the genocide he wasnt responsible
I love how Lee is only able to go on his little speech because he refuses to testify against his dad, who then is the one who lets him speak. What an insane scene
Because Admiral Adama is a good is flawed man. He regrets that his unbending nature costs the life of his youngest son, and his marriage, but he respects Lee Adama for finding his own feet and his own voice even if those principles lead his son into conflict with him.
This is one of the reasons, why this is one of the greatest sci fi shows of all time. It doesn´t only show space action, exceptionell design of spaceships and such, but all the moral dilemmas and spiritual questions within the humanity versus the cylons. All wrapped up with great music and in an overall thought thru concept. I wish there were more shows like that. Miss it so much
@@cbennetts2746 That's speculation. Without the Pegasus' Vipers it was a fight they were bound to lose, yet if he'd taken the Vipers + full crew and lost anyways then the fleet would be 100% defenseless if both Battlestar's were lost.
@@TuxedoKamina not really speculation it hard but doable on deadlock, without fighters from both ships. and with delaying reactions by a turn to account for the lack of crew and with the galactic in the middle of the fight when the pegasus turns up
@@cbennetts2746 Deadlock also doesn't really do it right. In the show, the Galactica lost her main guns and her manouvering thrusters. She was unable to put up a fight. Lee drew the attention away from the Galactica by becoming the bigger threat. Cylons already went after Pegasus, sure. But if he didn't place the Pegasus in the spot he did, they would have destroyed the Galactica regardless. By forcing the Pegasus directly into the face of the Cylon Basestars, they had no choice but to shift their attention to Pegasus, this allowed the Galactica to make some basic repairs to get the hell out of there.
@@xyounax it's not a one or the other choice though there's multiple options, and in deadlock although you can't stay absolutely still you can represent drift at least and change mission options like ship hp etc.
Well, one of peculiarities of american culture and legal system is endless supply for great court dramas in TV an cinema. PS: "Measure of Man" was written by law school drop out, who knew what she was doing.
This is one of my favorite shows of all time, and in a show that's full of epic moments, Lee's speech is probably the most epic lol. He put the entire fleet on blast. Arguably the greatest "Everybody sucks" speech of all time lol.
But he didn't know what he was defending. He was doing it because of kara death and blaming his dad for it. All his actions were based on emotion. Out of all the characters he was the weakest. His only good feature was when he was fighting with a known target. The black market he let carry on because he wanted to be able to visit the prostitute.
@@shahidulkhan9566 that doesn't make what he said no less true despite his reasons. Yeah he was feeling guilt and shame and he even acknowledged his misgivings. I mean he literally admitted in a court of law that killed civilians and committed mutiny and called himself a coward. He included himself among everyone's sins. And he was right. There was a lot of hypocrisy in that trial.
@@adrianchatman5734 it made what he said even more dishonest. He was masking his true reasons behind a speech. He realized throughout the whole trial how similar he is to gaius baltar, rather than accept it he applied it to his fellow soldiers. Selective sacrifice is not the same as selfless sacrifice. He listed everyone's mistakes but his own, he mentioned that he fired upon a civilian ship but it was necessary as the ship was rigged to go boom. He failed to mention his actual mistakes.
@@shahidulkhan9566 no he wasn't dishonest. He literally he said he was guilty of mutiny and was forgiven. And he only would've been dishonest if he was lying. His reasons don't matter. What matters is the facts he was stating. His reasoning is subjective. The fact remains is that everything he stated was true and nobody could refute that. Roslin did try to steal the election, Adama did stage a coup, Lee did pull his gun on Tigh and commit mutiny. Lee did jump away and leave New Caprica defenseless. These things happened. He could've been doing it to impress a chick for that matter, it still doesn't change the facts. Everyone sucks including him lol.
I remember being so annoyed at Lee Adama when he joined Baltar's defense team. Annoyance had been the default emotion I'd been having whenever Lee was on the screen for quite a while. Then he spoke at the trial and everything clicked. The writers wanted the audience to dislike Lee as much as possible so they could slap us with some heavy truth bombs on that scene. It's also very reminiscent to Commander Adama's speech on the first episode before the Cylons attacked.
@@piotrd.4850 It shouldn't hold. Humanity is just a bunch of space pirates at this point in the series. They can't afford to live up to a legal justice system. Especially when they're trying to apply it to that one member of the crew. Gaius Baltar is a mess. He's also Humanity's mess. As Admiral Adama would always end up saying: 'we have to live with it'.
I have to ask: How many here realize that Lee's not just calling out the Fleet for their willingness to forgive people for their actions unless it was Gaius Baltar, but calling out the audience of the show as well for doing the same thing? He's basically saying that we, the audience, are willing to forgive almost all of the characters for certain things they've done, but we won't do it for Gaius Baltar. I guess the fourth wall couldn't protect us from his criticism about forgiveness as well.
In that sense, this is probably the best scene calling out the critics of a show that's ever been written, because those moments tend to be the worst parts of any show by a long measure. In this one, we get called out, and our response is to praise it as probably Lee Adama's best character scene.
That in turn, makes the scene great. When peoples viewpoints are challenged in such a poignant way, it permeates into their memory. Maybe I am alone in this but I tend to remember those times when I am challenged/forced to grow as a person. In a sense upsetting the apple cart of the way things are meant to be done .
we are all "guilty" of being soft on those who we like, who we consider friends. Its natural. Its not just, but thats not the goal when you want to benefit your close environment, your circle of firends and yourself in extent.
The only character I never forgave is Gaeta and Baltar was always my favorite character and found him to be the voice of the audience being the only human character that walked a fine line between the Colonists and the Cylons.
The great thing about this scene is that everything Adama says is absolutely right. Plenty of the so-called "good guys" have done countless bad things for the "greater good", yet no one wants to give any leniency for Balter. It reeked of hypocrisy, and Lee was correct in pointing that out. Even William had to admit the defense couldn't make their case. Of course this didn't phase Laura one bit...she was still in "Baltar must die" mode..
The evidence didn't match the charges of the trial, no. But we as the audience knew that Baltar was guilty of giving a nuclear warhead to a Cylon, and giving a Six access to the defense mainframe. And there weren't really any 'greater good' rationalizations to these (his motivations in both cases mainly pertained to Six and Gina who Baltar wanted to sleep with). Roslin instinctively knew something was up with Baltar, but didn't know *what*.
the hypocrisy argument is strong, what really takes this to the next level for me is when he calls out the motivation of the trial. That it's not justice, it's not even vengeance, it's guilt of those who fled and shame of those who were stranded. It was a nice endpoint of sorts for the dark storylines that season had with the shadow trials and executions.
This show does a really good job of changing your mind about the ‘enemy’. After watching season 4 for the first time, I can’t rewatch the show (which I’ve done twice) without having empathy for the cylons the whole time. Same goes for Baltar. Words cannot express how I love this show and how masterful it is
Empathy is good trait; however try to remember those outside of screentime - experimented at camps of old Caprica after the initial strikes, tortured & starved at the New Caprica (a new beginning, huh), had ever during the show cylons voiced their regrets about some of their actions?
@@queterian1526 well there was a whole ‘we’re sorry’ aspect in late season 2 when they left Old Caprica and attempted an alliance. That was all well and good until the “snakepit” known as New Caprica happened. But in regards to the farms on Caprica, yes that was a horrible and brutal thing for them to do. However, it was for their own survival. They were scared for their species’ future. It was an extreme thing to do, but in a disturbing way they’re justified. And there were constant disagreements between the Cylon models on New Caprica so I think it comes down to that
That was my favorite part about this show. You were expecting after the miniseries to find humanity, you just didn’t expect that it was also going to be shown in the machines as well.
The moment when Admiral Adama says he wants to hear from this witness. The realization on Lee's face when he realizes how much faith his father has in him to always do the right thing, how much he truly valued what Lee thought. I think Admiral Adama knew he should acquit but he was to emotionally tied upand being pushed by Laura, he needed to hear the truth from someone he trusted and loved.
First time I watched this show I was like come on your doing the whole trail thing. But after seeing the scene I couldn’t believe how good it was very good acting
My favorite episodes of the show. BSG was just as much a drama as it was sci-fi/fantasy. Mark Sheppard and Jamie Bamber were unbelievable in this episode. Pity Romo didn't turn up more in the series.
"The defense rests it's case." Frakking brilliant. This show ranks as one of the very best things ever seen on TV, and THIS is one of the best reasons why.
I wish they put all the extended episodes onto a streaming service. The few extended episodes on the blu-rays add in some really great scenes, especially in the last season. The extended final episode is 2.5 hours!
Baltar's trial was on when i first watched BSG. it was an interesting introduction to the series being able to know beforehand what occured. this is my fav episode arc of bsg
I watch this scene and it makes me want to watch the entire series again. It is a stellar performance in a spectacular show which is more relevant as the years pass.
I despised Baltar's character in this (though James Callis does a great job). I went into this episode thinking that they would kill him easily. I am man enough to say that I changed my mind after this scene. I still think that he should have died, but not at the hands of the colonials.
But for what crime? Like Lee said - what would you have done? It's easy to condemn someone when their options for others are "torture or death" - of course he's going to pick torture and exploitation, he was in an impossible situation with zero power. The entire point of Lee's testimony is that anyone else would have picked the same option, so to accuse Baltar of being the sole possessor of this twisted moral compass that was this big dastardly plan, is unjust, untrue and short-sighted.
Lee makes such a compelling argument. He’s able to stop a mob scenario before they scapegoat a man in the name of “justice”,. But in this situation, what everyone has had to resort to in order to survive, he calls it out so well. He knows the entire survival of humankind rides on this one trial.
When Lee asks the question, "What would you have done?", I have gone through that. Not with military operations and such which is much more extreme, but other things where it still feels like some sense of extremism. It's not fun, and it gives a sense of sympathy towards Gaius Baltar.
That’s what really sends this scene. It’s not just the meta commentary on the audience’s perception of Baltar but of the very concept and conceit of justice in general. Is it to find guilt in others or to absolve guilt in ourselves? High watermark for the series.
BSG is the greatest tv show ever made. [Spoiler Alert] This happens right after they appeared to have killed Starbuck and I though the show was finished after that but then they deliver these episodes about Baltar's trial and I would rank these easily in the top 10 episodes ever. The combination of the three characters Baltar, Romo, and Apollo was in my opinion the best combination they ever did. This is Apollo's best moment and one of the best in the entire show.
I'm rewatching Battlestar with my girlfriend. Cannot wait to get to this scene and see how she reacts, it's probably my favorite scene of the whole show.
Is it me, or is it intentional irony that Baltar only ever seems to face reprisals for betrayals he DIDN'T commit? I mean, it happens too often to be an accident. First he's accused of bombing the defence mainframe (rather than showing it to his girlfriend), then he's tortured for luring the Cyclons into a trap (he didn't know the beacon was there), and then there's this, being tried for surrendering (rather than giving Gina the bomb that led the Cylons to New Caprica). I'm not saying he doesn't commit acts of betrayal, but that never seems to be what he's punished for. Given the running theme of perception/ reality and the many hats Baltar has worn, that doesn't seem like a coincidence.
There's one historical figure Lampkin reminds me of here, and it's John Adams, who said this during his defence of the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre of 1770: "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
You can love this speech for what it's synthesizes for the show. You can love the speech for what it's synthesizes about our world. Can we just have 10 Like buttons on each of these videos please?
I went into this episode wanting Gaius thrown out the airlock. And leaving it I still did. Yet Lee over the course of this episode convinced me that executing him would be wrong.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" John 8:7 Ensuring that someone faces justice for their crimes is one thing, and Baltar certainly deserved to face justice for more than a few of his actions. But to project your own guilt onto another in the hopes of absolving yourself is wrong, without exception. Lee held up the mirror to every man and woman in that court room, and did it with an eloquence you just don't see on TV anymore. This show was lightning in a bottle.
This is easily right up there with another great speech.but from a different classic Syfy series. Dylan's speech to the Grey council.when she spoke of how the membari had the moral obligation to step up in the shadow war. And then both Religious cast and worker class walked . away.
@@ashes2diamond this is the truth, Helo is the true moral compass of the series. As Admiral Adama said, he’s the lone voice in the wilderness at times of right and wrong
Should have been like when are we going to have fleet law and drop all this Colony law nonsense. The colonies are gone! Each ship should be represented by its captain. They all have a mix of different people from different colonies.
It’s the year 2024 now. And this is still one of, if not THE, greatest court room speech(es) I’ve ever heard. They truly don’t make great shows like they used to. Battlestar Galactica is still one of, if not THE, greatest science fiction drama(s) of all time.
That is, in my opinion, Lee Adama's best scene in the entire series. And frankly, I think it's one of the best scenes period of the entire series. I still get chills listening to it. Jamie Bamber deserves a lot of praise for it.
Ya, though he left out his biggest crime of the lose of Pegasus, but I suppose this scene itself makes up for it
@@bcmm1880Pegasus was a dishonored ship. Admiral Kane's actions whilst in command turned the very existence of that ship an abomination. Lee gave Pegasus a chance to redeem herself and she did.
So agreed. It is universal and comes to my mind ever so often. One of the most poignant points in this intelligent series. If I could only ever rewatch one scene from BSG I’d make it this one. Genius writing, great delivery.
Testify!!!! 100%
I’d sacrifice a hundred Pegasus for 1 admiral adama. How can u still not understand the sacrifice?
"Because we are not a civilization anymore!"
Man, I love when a character finally says what we've been screaming for seasons on end lol
I can see why Jamie got a standing ovation from the cast after this scene.
Which girl is Jamie?
@@silenthill4 That's the name of the actor that plays Lee.
@@silenthill4 bruh
I didn't know that. I really wish I had more access to all the behind the scenes stuff for this show. If that's where you heard it...
My biggest issue with this series was Jamie Bamber's acting. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't good either. And I think his average ability is why he changed roles so often as they tried to find a way to play to his strengths.
But Bamber killed this scene. It is, to me, along with the rest of the episode, the pinnacle of the series.
Great scene. Lee shows a crucial thing, that if Baltar is guilty, so are a lot of other people. I mean, sleazeball that Gaius is, the colonials put him on trial for one thing he didn't do.
Yup. If only they had known about him giving the nuke to Gina, cause that WAS treason. But perhaps that is the whole point of Baltar's redemption: the world doesn't even known how bad we truly are, and yet Christ offers us his forgiveness!
I don’t think baltar was ever evil, and Lee perfectly states why.
@@kiddingjust6946 The Colonies fell because Gaius couldn't keep it in his pants. Of course, nobody knows about that, so they can't try him for it.
@@AuroraAustralis_ he still isnt directly responsible, even when forced via the drug he states the facts and only the facts, he never intended this to happen, he didnt know, infact he didnt even know that six was a cylon as far as im aware unless i glossed over something, he thought he was giving them to someone completely trustworthy.
@@kiddingjust6946 Except that he gave “Six” access to classified defense systems that she had no right to see, let alone interact with. He violated his security clearance and considering that these were vital to defense of the Twelve Colonies that is illegal bordering on treason no matter what he thought of her character.
"I even tried to persuade the Admiral never to return."
So many goosebumps
He argued until he was blue in the face saying it was not worth it. It was the smart decision but he ultimately made the right choice. Whilst it did cost Pegasus, there are over 30 000 people in the Fleet that should be thanking Lee every day for making the rescue possible.
@@richardtaylor1652he could have effected the rescue by sending his raptors and vipers there he didn’t have to involve Pegasus.
@@richardtaylor1652 Yes! It's exactly what Laura Roslin meant when she told Lee that he was so hell-bent on doing the right thing, that he won't do the smart thing.
This speech is what I did for one of my monologue in my Acting class. When I got feed back from everyone no one knew this scene and I was a little disappointed
I had a similar exp u just reminded me of...in English we had to do a back an forth between a black man and a sherif after a hanging back in early USA 1900s, now I'm not a good student and I'm in England so me an my freind didn't think of anything and forgot about it, this was early 90s and coolios gangstas paradise was out and I just acted his words out complaining to a sherif , probably the most wildy racist thing that's ever been done in this sort of situation and my early 20s English teacher didn't have a clue, we got a B and I was so upset for 2 reasons because she obviously never heard the song and because it was so racist and she never said a word because I'm brown not even the correct type of brown for the situation 😩 .
Funny years later tho😂
I did a speech from a Knight's Tale lmao. Yeah ppl had no clue about the speech either. I was sad.
@@BipoIarbear Gangsta's Paradise isn't racist. Now, if you dressed up like Coolio we might need to have a conversation lol
@@PY5RA I give you my lord Liechtenstein!
@@jedsithor o I did the the accent from the American streets but in more of a strapped to a board rowing it
I really do love this scene and the great acting in this. Especially Jamie Bamber(Lee Adama), and learning how not only did he write some of those lines himself, but the producers and directors found the time for his performance in this episode. So say we all!
yeap i agree, probably his only good performance
So Say, We All! Scapegoat Justice never works 100%!
So say we all. For all of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again.
I remember watching this show the first time, and going into the trial of Baltar wondering how anyone could possibly argue that this man didn't deserve to die. It seemed so clear-cut. Then Apollo gave this speech, and I realized I had been judging him guilty based purely on emotion as well. I hated his character so much, that I thought he needed to die, and I was totally in the wrong. Great scene.
I think you're forgetting that Baltar was responsible for giving the cylons access to Caprica's defense mainframe? He's responsible for the destruction of the planet and most of its population.
@@oobaka1967 he didn't do it on purpose he was tricked, but even if he wasn't. The cylons could have just tortured him for the information or gotten another person. If the colonial system relies on a single point of failures they would have been able to exploit it some other way. They waited 40? years. A month of torture to force him or a couple more years pressing a different person wouldn't make much difference to them
@@oobaka1967 the colonials were arrogant and stupid enough to have such an easily defeated system. The reason Galactica survived was due to a non-networked system. From that we know the Cylons have attacked via viruses before. But the colonials got lazy and arrogant in believing everything was ok.
Also he was tricked by someone he thought was another human.
@@oobaka1967 You don't blame the flood xD
@@oobaka1967 He wasnt.. he never ever could had suspected Six was a Cylon.. all he did was fall in love with her and think she was using him for private advancement.. A Felony maybe but certainly not treason and not even the slight will of betraying or causing harm.. he says it very clearly before this scene when Roslin nearly throws him out of an airlock and he burst in anger citing one of the photos of the memory hall where he knew the guy and his daughters and how he never ever would do anything to harm them.
Of all things Baltar was only guilty of giving Gina Inviere a nuke wich she used to destroy the biggest civilian ship and some other nearby ships.. and nobody ever brought that back or blamed him..
But of the genocide he wasnt responsible
I love how Lee is only able to go on his little speech because he refuses to testify against his dad, who then is the one who lets him speak. What an insane scene
Because Admiral Adama is a good is flawed man.
He regrets that his unbending nature costs the life of his youngest son, and his marriage, but he respects Lee Adama for finding his own feet and his own voice even if those principles lead his son into conflict with him.
saul tigh, was probably wheing the options of suicide boming his best freinds son
Admiral said he wanted him to testify, and Lee took EVERYBODY to church 😂
This is one of the reasons, why this is one of the greatest sci fi shows of all time. It doesn´t only show space action, exceptionell design of spaceships and such, but all the moral dilemmas and spiritual questions within the humanity versus the cylons. All wrapped up with great music and in an overall thought thru concept. I wish there were more shows like that. Miss it so much
Seeing Lee grow from beneath the shadow of his father brings a tear to my eye :')
Seriously. One of the best character growths.
About time... He absolutely failed as a commander of Pegasus. So at least some redemption.
Bit of his grandfather as well
A character redeeming all of the viewer's annoyance and frustration against the plot without defying the plot. Absolutely amazing, perfect.
except he didn't apologize for suiciding the pegasus when he couldve won the battle regardless.
@@cbennetts2746 That's speculation. Without the Pegasus' Vipers it was a fight they were bound to lose, yet if he'd taken the Vipers + full crew and lost anyways then the fleet would be 100% defenseless if both Battlestar's were lost.
@@TuxedoKamina not really speculation it hard but doable on deadlock, without fighters from both ships. and with delaying reactions by a turn to account for the lack of crew and with the galactic in the middle of the fight when the pegasus turns up
@@cbennetts2746 Deadlock also doesn't really do it right. In the show, the Galactica lost her main guns and her manouvering thrusters. She was unable to put up a fight. Lee drew the attention away from the Galactica by becoming the bigger threat. Cylons already went after Pegasus, sure. But if he didn't place the Pegasus in the spot he did, they would have destroyed the Galactica regardless. By forcing the Pegasus directly into the face of the Cylon Basestars, they had no choice but to shift their attention to Pegasus, this allowed the Galactica to make some basic repairs to get the hell out of there.
@@xyounax it's not a one or the other choice though there's multiple options, and in deadlock although you can't stay absolutely still you can represent drift at least and change mission options like ship hp etc.
This ranks right up there with Picard’s defense of Data in The Measure of a Man
Glad I wasn't the only one who thought so
🎯 💯
Well, one of peculiarities of american culture and legal system is endless supply for great court dramas in TV an cinema. PS: "Measure of Man" was written by law school drop out, who knew what she was doing.
Jamie Bamber should have won an Emmy for that performance. As good as bit of acting you'll ever see. With all credit due to the writers and director.
This is one of my favorite shows of all time, and in a show that's full of epic moments, Lee's speech is probably the most epic lol. He put the entire fleet on blast. Arguably the greatest "Everybody sucks" speech of all time lol.
But he didn't know what he was defending. He was doing it because of kara death and blaming his dad for it. All his actions were based on emotion. Out of all the characters he was the weakest. His only good feature was when he was fighting with a known target. The black market he let carry on because he wanted to be able to visit the prostitute.
@@shahidulkhan9566 that doesn't make what he said no less true despite his reasons. Yeah he was feeling guilt and shame and he even acknowledged his misgivings. I mean he literally admitted in a court of law that killed civilians and committed mutiny and called himself a coward. He included himself among everyone's sins. And he was right. There was a lot of hypocrisy in that trial.
@@adrianchatman5734 it made what he said even more dishonest. He was masking his true reasons behind a speech. He realized throughout the whole trial how similar he is to gaius baltar, rather than accept it he applied it to his fellow soldiers. Selective sacrifice is not the same as selfless sacrifice. He listed everyone's mistakes but his own, he mentioned that he fired upon a civilian ship but it was necessary as the ship was rigged to go boom. He failed to mention his actual mistakes.
@@shahidulkhan9566 no he wasn't dishonest. He literally he said he was guilty of mutiny and was forgiven. And he only would've been dishonest if he was lying. His reasons don't matter. What matters is the facts he was stating. His reasoning is subjective. The fact remains is that everything he stated was true and nobody could refute that. Roslin did try to steal the election, Adama did stage a coup, Lee did pull his gun on Tigh and commit mutiny. Lee did jump away and leave New Caprica defenseless. These things happened. He could've been doing it to impress a chick for that matter, it still doesn't change the facts. Everyone sucks including him lol.
He did list his own they literally mentioned a few he mentioned in the comment above you.
Lee's testimony single handedly won the whole case.
No further questions.
Hands down it is one of the best Jamie's scenes in the entire series 🙇♂️
"What a remarkable moment in jurisprudence..."
Α large part of why I went to study law was this scene. An excellent meditation on the meaning of justice and public opinion.
I remember being so annoyed at Lee Adama when he joined Baltar's defense team. Annoyance had been the default emotion I'd been having whenever Lee was on the screen for quite a while. Then he spoke at the trial and everything clicked. The writers wanted the audience to dislike Lee as much as possible so they could slap us with some heavy truth bombs on that scene. It's also very reminiscent to Commander Adama's speech on the first episode before the Cylons attacked.
Except, that logic wouldn't hold even in american legal system.
@@piotrd.4850 It shouldn't hold. Humanity is just a bunch of space pirates at this point in the series. They can't afford to live up to a legal justice system. Especially when they're trying to apply it to that one member of the crew. Gaius Baltar is a mess. He's also Humanity's mess. As Admiral Adama would always end up saying: 'we have to live with it'.
This testimony by Lee Adama is an epic for times to come!
I have to ask: How many here realize that Lee's not just calling out the Fleet for their willingness to forgive people for their actions unless it was Gaius Baltar, but calling out the audience of the show as well for doing the same thing? He's basically saying that we, the audience, are willing to forgive almost all of the characters for certain things they've done, but we won't do it for Gaius Baltar. I guess the fourth wall couldn't protect us from his criticism about forgiveness as well.
In that sense, this is probably the best scene calling out the critics of a show that's ever been written, because those moments tend to be the worst parts of any show by a long measure. In this one, we get called out, and our response is to praise it as probably Lee Adama's best character scene.
That in turn, makes the scene great. When peoples viewpoints are challenged in such a poignant way, it permeates into their memory. Maybe I am alone in this but I tend to remember those times when I am challenged/forced to grow as a person. In a sense upsetting the apple cart of the way things are meant to be done .
Ill be honest, I never picked up on that, but then again, Team Baltar from day one 🤷🏻♂️🤣
we are all "guilty" of being soft on those who we like, who we consider friends. Its natural. Its not just, but thats not the goal when you want to benefit your close environment, your circle of firends and yourself in extent.
The only character I never forgave is Gaeta and Baltar was always my favorite character and found him to be the voice of the audience being the only human character that walked a fine line between the Colonists and the Cylons.
The great thing about this scene is that everything Adama says is absolutely right. Plenty of the so-called "good guys" have done countless bad things for the "greater good", yet no one wants to give any leniency for Balter. It reeked of hypocrisy, and Lee was correct in pointing that out. Even William had to admit the defense couldn't make their case. Of course this didn't phase Laura one bit...she was still in "Baltar must die" mode..
The evidence didn't match the charges of the trial, no.
But we as the audience knew that Baltar was guilty of giving a nuclear warhead to a Cylon, and giving a Six access to the defense mainframe. And there weren't really any 'greater good' rationalizations to these (his motivations in both cases mainly pertained to Six and Gina who Baltar wanted to sleep with). Roslin instinctively knew something was up with Baltar, but didn't know *what*.
the hypocrisy argument is strong, what really takes this to the next level for me is when he calls out the motivation of the trial. That it's not justice, it's not even vengeance, it's guilt of those who fled and shame of those who were stranded. It was a nice endpoint of sorts for the dark storylines that season had with the shadow trials and executions.
This show does a really good job of changing your mind about the ‘enemy’. After watching season 4 for the first time, I can’t rewatch the show (which I’ve done twice) without having empathy for the cylons the whole time. Same goes for Baltar. Words cannot express how I love this show and how masterful it is
Empathy is good trait; however try to remember those outside of screentime - experimented at camps of old Caprica after the initial strikes, tortured & starved at the New Caprica (a new beginning, huh), had ever during the show cylons voiced their regrets about some of their actions?
@@queterian1526 well there was a whole ‘we’re sorry’ aspect in late season 2 when they left Old Caprica and attempted an alliance. That was all well and good until the “snakepit” known as New Caprica happened. But in regards to the farms on Caprica, yes that was a horrible and brutal thing for them to do. However, it was for their own survival. They were scared for their species’ future. It was an extreme thing to do, but in a disturbing way they’re justified. And there were constant disagreements between the Cylon models on New Caprica so I think it comes down to that
Excited for the reboot by Sam Esmail?
@@Kona_AJ not especially
That was my favorite part about this show. You were expecting after the miniseries to find humanity, you just didn’t expect that it was also going to be shown in the machines as well.
After this shoot all the actors praised Jamie for his acting and said it was some the best acting they been apart of.
I still can't get over just how good Jamie Bamber's American accent is. Brits, take note. That's how you do it. Impeccable.
The moment when Admiral Adama says he wants to hear from this witness. The realization on Lee's face when he realizes how much faith his father has in him to always do the right thing, how much he truly valued what Lee thought. I think Admiral Adama knew he should acquit but he was to emotionally tied upand being pushed by Laura, he needed to hear the truth from someone he trusted and loved.
What a great performance James Callis gave throughout the series.
James Callis = the voice of Alucard in the animated Castlevania series...he nails his role there too!
The non verbals are so good. 11/10.
"Objection, he's Badgering the witness."
"It's his witness."
This scene made this series transcendent over the rest of the genre. This is a challenging script to put into mainstream televison. Amazing
First time I watched this show I was like come on your doing the whole trail thing. But after seeing the scene I couldn’t believe how good it was very good acting
My favorite episodes of the show. BSG was just as much a drama as it was sci-fi/fantasy. Mark Sheppard and Jamie Bamber were unbelievable in this episode. Pity Romo didn't turn up more in the series.
Definitely one of the best scenes in the show, not only because of the great acting but also because it encapsulates the entire theme of the show.
The series was very well written.
One of the finest moment in the series.
It is hard to say which one is, but this is ONE of the BEST scenes in the series.
I haven't gotten a notification from this channel in ages! Still rewatching this brilliant show!!
Where can I find this show to. Want to re watch
@@WelshmanSudios
It's on Peacock, I think. I rewatch on DVD and the Comet Network on cable.
"The defense rests it's case."
Frakking brilliant. This show ranks as one of the very best things ever seen on TV, and THIS is one of the best reasons why.
Gaius is many things, but he was never anything less than human, sometimes the most human of them all.
I wish they put all the extended episodes onto a streaming service. The few extended episodes on the blu-rays add in some really great scenes, especially in the last season. The extended final episode is 2.5 hours!
It was on BBC iPlayer
I like the fact that this summed up the entire series, up to this point.
Baltar's trial was on when i first watched BSG. it was an interesting introduction to the series being able to know beforehand what occured. this is my fav episode arc of bsg
Love this scene, still get chills
0:41 lucky that among the few dozen ships that survived the colonies' destruction, one had a stenograph.
One was a prison transport, so it's not too surprising.
I watch this scene and it makes me want to watch the entire series again. It is a stellar performance in a spectacular show which is more relevant as the years pass.
Apollo Romo and Blather were an amazing trio
so much talent in this show
Bamber’s monologue was outstanding. Bravo. Just amazing and 👏
This scene continues to live in my head rent free
Wow. I forgot about this scene. Outstanding!!
This is my second favorite scene of this whole serious .. 2nd only to when the president and the hybrid had a conversation when the ship jumped
My god, this show was fire. So say we all.
What a performance! Bravo!
I despised Baltar's character in this (though James Callis does a great job). I went into this episode thinking that they would kill him easily. I am man enough to say that I changed my mind after this scene. I still think that he should have died, but not at the hands of the colonials.
But for what crime? Like Lee said - what would you have done?
It's easy to condemn someone when their options for others are "torture or death" - of course he's going to pick torture and exploitation, he was in an impossible situation with zero power. The entire point of Lee's testimony is that anyone else would have picked the same option, so to accuse Baltar of being the sole possessor of this twisted moral compass that was this big dastardly plan, is unjust, untrue and short-sighted.
Best scene and story arc for giaus baltar.
Lee makes such a compelling argument. He’s able to stop a mob scenario before they scapegoat a man in the name of “justice”,. But in this situation, what everyone has had to resort to in order to survive, he calls it out so well. He knows the entire survival of humankind rides on this one trial.
What a great show
What a great scene
Brilliant acting from Sheppard and Bamber- one of the greatest scenes in a truly iconic show
Way to go Lee for telling everyone present that this was not a popularity trial. 👏
Great scene!
Best Sci-fi drama ever.
When Lee asks the question, "What would you have done?", I have gone through that. Not with military operations and such which is much more extreme, but other things where it still feels like some sense of extremism. It's not fun, and it gives a sense of sympathy towards Gaius Baltar.
That’s what really sends this scene. It’s not just the meta commentary on the audience’s perception of Baltar but of the very concept and conceit of justice in general. Is it to find guilt in others or to absolve guilt in ourselves? High watermark for the series.
Been looking forward to this one a lot.
This cast was perfect , no reimagining no remake could recapture it.
BSG is one of the few occasions where a remake is superior to the original in literally every way.
BSG had some fine tailors and materials to spare for a small, rugged and runaway group of (the last) humans.. Lee's wearing a fine suit.
Hahaha
i've waited years for this clip to be posted!
I went hunting for it incase I had to post it
BSG is the greatest tv show ever made. [Spoiler Alert] This happens right after they appeared to have killed Starbuck and I though the show was finished after that but then they deliver these episodes about Baltar's trial and I would rank these easily in the top 10 episodes ever. The combination of the three characters Baltar, Romo, and Apollo was in my opinion the best combination they ever did. This is Apollo's best moment and one of the best in the entire show.
I agree
“You're out of order! You're out of order! The whole trial is out of order! They're out of order!"
I'm rewatching Battlestar with my girlfriend. Cannot wait to get to this scene and see how she reacts, it's probably my favorite scene of the whole show.
Amazing performance
Whenever i watch this scene i am left in tears... What a great speech. What a great movie...
You mean TV show
@@anthonygonzalez2897 Technically it is a moving picture show which is what a movie is. Perhaps that person was really, really, old.
@@anthonygonzalez2897 Series, movie... who cares...did you get my point?
Is it me, or is it intentional irony that Baltar only ever seems to face reprisals for betrayals he DIDN'T commit? I mean, it happens too often to be an accident. First he's accused of bombing the defence mainframe (rather than showing it to his girlfriend), then he's tortured for luring the Cyclons into a trap (he didn't know the beacon was there), and then there's this, being tried for surrendering (rather than giving Gina the bomb that led the Cylons to New Caprica). I'm not saying he doesn't commit acts of betrayal, but that never seems to be what he's punished for. Given the running theme of perception/ reality and the many hats Baltar has worn, that doesn't seem like a coincidence.
It's possible tat the deity that is repeatedly mentioned is using Baltar as one of many agents of change.
He's really just Sisyphus in that context.
im glad crowley no longer does the cross roads but is instead a space lawyer, one who fights for good! man has come a long way, good man i am proud
Lee Adama is da man
This is right up there with Tyrion's speech during his trial.
My favourite scene in the entire series.
There's one historical figure Lampkin reminds me of here, and it's John Adams, who said this during his defence of the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre of 1770:
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
Yes well Maga has destroyed that.
Can't believe the best scene in BSG is Apollo doing a Picard Speech.
Prosecutor: I object!
Judge: You can't object to your own question.
😂
This scene lives rent free in my head
Everyone deserves a trial and a lawyer. *EVERYONE.*
Better call Saul
well, sheeeit. what did i do that i deserve a trial? and how did you know?
Matt Murdoc. Still killing it on the floor even in space.
Truly amazing scene, brilliant
You can love this speech for what it's synthesizes for the show. You can love the speech for what it's synthesizes about our world.
Can we just have 10 Like buttons on each of these videos please?
Whoa...Thank you, Crowley.
Lee's defence reminds me of Jesus' phrase in John 8,7: "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".
Jacques Vergès would be proud.
Powerful!
I went into this episode wanting Gaius thrown out the airlock. And leaving it I still did. Yet Lee over the course of this episode convinced me that executing him would be wrong.
Likewise
5:18: I could swear I see daggers in Laura's eyes right about now
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"
John 8:7
Ensuring that someone faces justice for their crimes is one thing, and Baltar certainly deserved to face justice for more than a few of his actions. But to project your own guilt onto another in the hopes of absolving yourself is wrong, without exception. Lee held up the mirror to every man and woman in that court room, and did it with an eloquence you just don't see on TV anymore. This show was lightning in a bottle.
This is easily right up there with another great speech.but from a different classic Syfy series. Dylan's speech to the Grey council.when she spoke of how the membari had the moral obligation to step up in the shadow war. And then both Religious cast and worker class walked . away.
hands down best speech of the series
One of the best. Baltar’s speech at the end to Cavil and Chief Tyrell’s speech about Cally are both up there.
Lee is consistently the most moral and upstanding person...the conscience of the series.
That would have been Helo. Lee has a good heart, sure, but Agathon was the moral compass.
Until it came to his brother’s girlfriend.
@@ashes2diamond this is the truth, Helo is the true moral compass of the series. As Admiral Adama said, he’s the lone voice in the wilderness at times of right and wrong
@@clownfiesta8840 I've watched this series numerous times, would you mind letting me know which episode he says that? If you get around to it, thanks
I like how we're never told who voted in favor and who voted against Baltar on the court.
Actually we are told of at least two..the woman judge and Admiral. He admitted it and Lampkin brought up her vote in a later episode.
@@Jeremiahservant admiral voted innocent right?
@@TheNord06 yes. the president was very angry with him.
@@Jeremiahservant thanks! Was checking if I was remembering it correctly
@@TheNord06 "Not guilty is not the same as innocent. But we have to look to the future."
Ladies and gentlemen... Jamie Bamber.
In the not distant future we will miss the days in which justice was decided reasonably. We live in peaceful times, and we do not recognize that.
Love when said Fight to Survive a nod to oBSG
I'm just getting warmed up!
Hoo-ah!
This is what science fiction can do. Take notes, younglings! Take notes!
Should have been like when are we going to have fleet law and drop all this Colony law nonsense. The colonies are gone! Each ship should be represented by its captain. They all have a mix of different people from different colonies.
8:09
Sita....Ram....🙏