Battlestar Galactica | The Assassination of Admiral Cain

[@carlmanvers5009]

I was staggered to learn just how inexperienced as an actor Tricia was when she did this role. She carried her scenes like an industry veteran and was a vital part of the core cast. What a talent.

[@threalismaradona9899]

a amazing actor

[@tordb]

Tricia Helfer is an incredible actress. I had no idea.

[@RetroFrito]

There were some scenes she did VERY well, mostly those with heavy emotion. But there were others, like any time she's rattling off any sci-fi jargon that she just doesn't hit the mark.

[@MikeBenko]

Tricia Helfer really went underappreciated throughout her career. In this series she played about 4 or 5 characters with wildly different arcs and different personalities. While she absolutely was (and is) a smokeshow, she really did some great acting work.

[@enrique88005]

She did great on Lucifer as well

[@gsmontag]

@Chip McGuire yeah, I think the implication that she has been typecast or hindered by sexism is fine, but then pointedly saying she looks hot is a little gauche.

[@sk31370n]

@@gsmontag so women actors cant look good huh?

[@theetiologist9539]

While i do think she should have had much more mainstream recognition, she is a legend amongst on-mainstream stuff, and especially in nerd culture. I mean she is everywhere in nerd culture. BSG definitely made her more famous because you saw her face, but she's also the voice of Kerrigan in SC2 and she's in like tons of other stuff. Anyone in nerd culture, which is huge, will really know her and I think rightly gives her the credit she is due. Would have loved to see her in some more AAA budget movies though.

[@jacedesbff]

I was watching this thinking that this whole arc should have earned her an Emmy nomination. The Hollywood system is slowly changing due to streaming, but back when this was on, it wasn't even a consideration. This show and performances like hers helped break the ground that streaming is paving.

[@cenewman007]

These fracking clips in my YT feed are gonna make me watch the entire fracking show all over again!

[@speed65752]

That's the plan.

[@pushkarajdongre]

What the frack!!!

[@sonicapollo]

Maybe the first 2 seasons. It goes off the rails after that.

[@darthvaderginsburg4694]

I feel this so hard. I just wish they were still free to stream. That is *THE* only reason I am not binging this show, repeatedly, right meow.

[@chitterlingsrtasty]

That’s what I was just thinking. It is definitely a show you can watch over and over.

[@mylesjlee]

I love how in the end, Admiral Cain showed fear. Cold and ruthless, yet still afraid to die. Very human.

[@amunra4015]

That was some great acting. Playing a character showing fear who tried so hard to not show fear.

[@roberthicks1612]

Thats why she is one of my favorite actresses.

[@JeroAstra]

Adama was never afraid to die. Cain knew she had demons and wasn't ready to face them.

[@mylesjlee]

@@JeroAstra Hm. Interesting point.

[@roberthicks1612]

@@JeroAstra I believe that Adama had the the normal human fear of death, but had the bravery to face it without showing fear.

[@tuxedotservo]

Not talked about enough is Fisk's reactions to everything. From "whew! we did it!" to "oh, no" to "OH, NO" to "WHEW - yeah, I *could* use a drink" ... all without saying anything.

[@Specter5053]

I'm sorry but both he and Starbuck where acting like the most suspicious people in the galaxy. As soon as he did that I would be like, "What? Where you about to shoot me or something?"

[@tuxedotservo]

@@Specter5053 Completely agree, but it doesn’t make Fisk’s reactions any less amusing. also, I’m pretty sure Cain was suspicious, I wouldn’t be surprised if I died my hair at least an inkling that something was going on. in both cases, pointing it out might trigger the event to happen, The Fisk had a better chance of succeeding because he had all those loyal Marines in the CIC

[@guruntbangoo5686]

@@Specter5053 Pretty sure Adama and his core crew were expecting that, just like Cain suspected Starbuck. One of the great parts of that scene was Adama and Cain seeing the lose/lose scenario they were in and both pulling back.

[@idy3176]

@@guruntbangoo5686 Fisk's relief was so great; he & Adama both knew what they'd stepped back from, and were sharing an unspoken "thank god we didn't tip the fleet into chaos." Starbuck's reaction was more of a private coming down of "oh thank god I didn't have to shoot my mentor who just told me she was proud of me and then get killed." (Katee Sackhoff was amazing, though).

[@jabberwocky1707]

@@guruntbangoo5686 I was wondering about Starbuck staying right behind Cain, for no apparent reason after talking to Adama, and Cain apparently 'not' noticing. - Your comment made me think Cain may have been _trying_ to get Starbuck to attempt killing her. - There's a Japanese story about a samurai ordered to kill an old friend, possibly his now emperor. The target, aware of the plot, asked his potential assassin to hold his sword as a ploy to draw him out, or test his loyalty. - The assassin 'broke', admitted his guilt and begged mercy, IIRC he was forgiven.

[@thearmanig98]

After watching Razor, that last comment "you're not my type" has some deeper meaning knowing this Number Six was involved with Admiral Cain.

[@jackalopewright5343]

This show was a punch in the gut in every episode. Just amazing writing.

[@ejkalegal3145]

Yeah, made you wanna puke with its awfulness?

[@YourCreepyUncle.]

Lol, how was this a punch in the gut? She totally deserved to die.

[@craigharris41]

Not true. As someone who watch the original, this show was hard to watch. I agree the last season however saved it.

[@DylansPen]

One of the best written and acted shows to ever be on television, regardless of the genre. Superb.

[@stargazer7644]

In the beginning at least. Too bad it went off the rails.

[@jjbowe]

Michelle Forbes played this part to absolute perfection.

[@MasterUxi]

Always thought it should have been Dirk Benedict playing that role.

[@EdinburghMayhem]

She was scary good in it.

[@babapambazuka2845]

this is the show which first taught me to appreciate the skill of actors who make me _really_ want their characters dead, dead, dead.

[@thesparduck117]

@@MasterUxi I don’t think he would have been offered since he had a temper tantrum about the show at that time.

[@MasterUxi]

@@thesparduck117 maybe. I agree more with him though would have been like Majel guest starring on Babylon 5 as a symbol of the healed beach. Most importantly Cain in the original series had charisma, which the Michele Forbes version didn't really have.

[@Hunpecked]

It only recently occurred to me that there were any number of people on Pegasus who wanted Cain dead, i.e. the ones she kidnapped from the civilian ships, leaving their families to die. She was already living on borrowed time when "Gina" nailed her.

[@BattlestarZenobia]

Oh yeah, anyone who lost a friend due to açai ‘s incompetence too I image there was probably a few decent souls disgusted by Gina’s treatment and were will to let her get some measure of justice and put the mad dog down

[@matthewkuchinski1769]

Yes, and some of her crew probably wanted to kill her as well, as she seemed to hold them together not by the true leadership methods of respect and capable decision making, but rather through fear alone. For example, with the story of how Cain had ordered the mass murder of civilians that would have been critical to rebuilding the human race, even stripping their vessels of vital parts and then destroying them shows how she was leading humanity to its destruction. Whereas Adamma realized the value of the civilians to the preservation of the human race, how they could be used also as a potential manpower pool for his military, rebuild their recently destroyed infrastructure, and more importantly have some of the civilian ships be converted into auxiliary warships that would give his fleet further protection, Cain disregards all of these logical points in favor of a mad single ship campaign that would in the long run have resulted in her crew's demise. For if she had not accidently found Adamma when she did, she would have wound up being decisively defeated by the Cylons, as they would have been able to figure out her attack patterns and turned the tables on the Pegasus.

[@futbolusa]

She also executed one of her officers in plain sight of everyone on deck. Woman was bound to get axed at some point.

[@PeBoVision]

How did Tricia Helfer not win an Emmy for her performance throughout the Pegasus story arc. This was her first gig as an actress, making her portrayal of Gina Inviere particularly astounding. Her talent is right there on screen for everyone to experience. A major tour-de-force. Not just a pretty face indeed!

[@musicmaster83x2]

She was also Ro Laren on Star Trek TNG

[@PeBoVision]

@@musicmaster83x2 Michelle Forbes was Ro Laren (and Admiral Kane). My comment was about Tricia Helfer (Cylon model #6), who's very first acting job was BSG. She was also one of the most stunning and authentically sultry actresses ever to be introduced by television.

[@musicmaster83x2]

@@PeBoVision you’re right. I jumped the gun

[@PeBoVision]

@@musicmaster83x2 Been there, done that, no foul.

[@Adonnus100]

Frakkin unbelievable

[@DunkdaHunk]

I suspect Cain was aware that Starbuck had a secret assassination mission, or was certainly suspicious. Adama choosing a better path contributed to her doing the same, a realisation that they can work together.

[@mkv2718]

Well duh…. Seriously tho, no hard feelings, but that was kinda the entire point of that scene

[@Psi105]

I don't think Cain realized until she handed the phone to Starbuck.

[@roberthicks1612]

@@Psi105 I feel she knew someone was coming and realized it was Starbuck when she arrived.

[@warallied]

Cain wasnt all that bad. She knew at this point in time that she could take everything to her side. She had the advantage and chose not to.

[@TheBlobik]

@@roberthicks1612 Well, if she expected Starbuck to be ordered to kill her, then she either expected her to refuse that order or she had some backup plan (someone to shoot Starbuck if she reaches for a gun?) cause otherwise this is an extreme gamble to allow her to the phone. That is the one thing I never fully understood. The first person to hand over the phone is basically taking a HUGE leap of faith.

[@paddy7812]

Michelle Forbes is such an underrated actress IMHO. She showed such a range in Cain. Tough, ruthless yet fearful as well.

[@kinbolluck476]

😮

[@True000spirit]

only a fool is not afraid too make the great leap

[@cow_tools_]

I just can't imagine a more satisfying conclusion to that arc than this.

[@alterego157]

Toaster loving traitor

[@trauko1388]

@@dennisivan85 Heh. Knowing a bit of US history there is not much of a difference with the nazis... you do know they followed US trends regarding racial laws and treatment of peoples occupying lands they wanted, right?

[@johnassal5838]

@@dennisivan85 I think by "tired" you mean "tortured" or in this case possibly raped. The answer to how you're not a Nazi shouldn't be "because I'm wearing a different uniform." If it is you're getting some basic things wrong. Also, the Nazis weren't created as a slave race which rebelled with quite a lot of baggage your reasoning might justify an apocalypse or two.

[@natedagreat19]

@@dennisivan85 it really depends on how you judge the human race as a whole. Your perspective seems to start and end with the bombing of the 12 colonies, but that alone leaves you very short sighted. Just go back 40 years and you have a slave race vs oppressors. The situation changes drastically than doesn’t it? As the oppressed have historically, wiped out their oppressors many times before. In fact the justification goes back and forth several times throughout the show. Because initially, as a machine, Cylons actions are logically correct. As shown in S3 episode “Hero”, human beings would ALWAYS be a threat to their survival. And militarily, threats are simply removed in it’s entirety. I.E. Neanderthals vs Homo sapiens. However, later it’s learned that Cylons were mislead by Cavil. And that if you go at it morally, whiling out humans would be equally as wrong as them wiping out Cylons for their self-awareness. If one “deserves” to die in your eyes, by implication so does the other.

[@darthvader0219]

I think the reason people hated Cain was because she killed one of her own for disobeying her. She basically ripped off Darth Vader. Only Vader has the right to kill his officers and be cool. She deserved that death!

[@jpwolf1701]

Back when the colonies were attacked, Commander Adama wanted to stay in the fight and was not interested in helping survivors, Acting president Roslyn managed to convince him that the fight was over and they had in fact lost and the best solution was to find as many survivors and to escape to find a new world. Admiral Cain had the same exact belief that Adama once had with the exception that there was no one like Roslyn to convince her otherwise and so she continued the fight of a lost war but got more and more insane by doing so, she executed her XO when he rightfully questioned an order that was illegal, she used that fear to keep her officers and troops in line and when they encountered any survivor ships, they were gutted for parts and some crew were taken on as Pegasus officers/workforce and any others were terminated or left behind for the Cylons to eliminate. A total mad person in charge of a Battlestar it was clear that she was a threat to the survivors with Galactica and her end was always going to be on the cards, her own arrogance is what killed her by keeping the Cylon model 6 to torture as she was in love with her before she knew she was a Cylon. Poetically ended for a tyrant like Admiral Cain.

[@Gamble661]

"All that evil needs to survive is for good men to do nothing". At some point one of her officers should have walked up behind her and blown her brains out. I know, it wouldn't be conducive to the plot line but that's what should have happened. The first time she terminated or left survivors behind someone should have put her down. Because that didn't happen her officers are complicit in every one of her actions and if I were Adama I wouldn't trust one of them after her death. Assign them to some menial tasks somewhere in the fleet and keep an eye on them, always. If they don't like that then put them in an airlock and open the outer doors.

[@Hunpecked]

The XO didn't question an illegal order, he questioned an unwise one. Cain's original plan was basically sound, i.e. hit & run, but the script called for her to forget that temporarily and fight this particular battle to the bitter end. Once Pegasus was sufficiently damaged for plot purposes and had raided the conveniently discovered second civilian fleet, the script had her revert to sound tactics again until Pegasus met Galactica. This flip flop flip of her character always seemed like lazy writing to me. Side note: I recall but can't find a KZbin video on BSG lore claiming that 1) Pegasus was something of a white elephant in the Colonial fleet, its self-sufficiency bought with an unacceptable reduction in combat potential; 2) Cain was an unstable officer assigned by the top brass to the white elephant in an effort to kill two embarrassments with one stone, so to speak.

[@GoLakers3900]

@@Gamble661 With limited resources and manpower you want Adama to watch the Pegasus' crew? I can see how you'll never become a fleet commander. I rather have Cain in charge than have some clown like you leading the way. No thank you.

[@Gamble661]

@@GoLakers3900 Aw, a keyboard warrior....that's cute. But you're right, I'll never be a fleet commander because this is fiction halfwit!

[@hellacoorinna9995]

Quite Grecian in it's tragedy.

[@losttribe3001]

Who would have thought the best TV show about the conflict between humans and robots would tell one if the best stories about the conflict between humans and humans. This is my favorite story arc of this series and one of the best of TV as a whole.

[@ericarmstrong3435]

That single tear about to fall from Cain’s eye, her defiant Frak You. Superb acting.

[@crowonthepowerlines]

Yeah, really captures the military dog attitude.

[@schumi9xwdc]

She deserved it!

[@munkykng416]

After they both didn't pull the trigger, I now think they both knew each other would order someone to assassinate each other. You can see cain death starring at starbuck, adama looking cool as a cat at fisk, tigh suspicious over the shoulder look. They all knew. adama, being the bigger man, put down his gun first. Cain in that moment finally regained some of her humanity back. Too bad they had to kill her off.

[@JeroAstra]

Hard to regain what you had none of to begin with.

[@andrewnlarsen]

I think Cain then stood down as Adama had allowed her a chance to gain a measure of vengeance against the Cylons. Also to keep a deadly asset like Starbuck happy is also a plus.

[@wayfaringshaman]

That was the whole point of her being killed off! Yes, as you said, she "regained some of her humanity back", but by then it was already too late - there was no more redemption for the things she had done. While, yes, one of the show's themes was about second chances & hope & faith in humans and all of that - they could have written her to stay on the show and become good and try to atone for her sins, basically making her character a mellow cliché - but that wouldn't have played with the grander point of the show: *man versus machine* - do Cylons have souls, and is Man really better than the machine? Which was culminated in Adama's line, "surviving isn't enough, one has to be worthy"; yes, she was a survivor, but she did horrible, inhumane things to survive, so in the end she wasn't worthy. She managed to save her ship & crew, yes, but at the cost of so many other lives; and you could argue semantics, the whole "needs of the many vs. the few", that she did what was *logical* from a military leader's viewpoint - save as much resources, prioritize only people who have use, save the battleship, all so that they could eventually retaliate against the Cylons - but the larger point of the story was, as in that line, what makes one worthy of surviving? Which is why that scene with the Six was so good, because right then and there they both knew the answer to who between them was more worthy to live, no more words needed to be said, she knew she deserved to be killed, especially by that particular Six, who, compared to her, didn't do anything arguably wrong - though, yes, her kind practically committed genocide, but it was already a matter of *individuality* - so, it goes back to that question of what the difference between Man and Cylon was, and since it was already well established that Cylons had sentience, then the answer was that apart from them being built differently on the inside, nothing, really. Both were capable of doing good & bad. And at that point, both sides had already done a lot of wrongs: Man enslaved Cylons, Cylons rebelled; Cylons almost killed out the entire human race; Man killed a lot of Cylons. The point being that both were equal in that regard - and the answer to the question of who deserved to survive was eventually made clear in the finale, that it's the best of mankind (and Cylonkind) that deserved to survive - and she just wasn't one of the best. Anyone who is capable of the things she was isn't - and that also plays in who between her & Adama was best to lead the rest of mankind to a new world (the answer to which is obvious). On a grander scale, that's the entire point of disasters and doomsdays, to bring out the best and the worst of mankind, to a degree where one would very clearly be distinguishable from the other - which is a concept that isn't just biblical, as it is one that's as old as man itself. Incidentally, that moment right before Six shot her and she flinched was so profoundly beautiful - she still acted all tough and mighty at the very end, but you could see it in her eyes, that for a moment, she finally felt what it was like to be at the other side of the gun and *really* have no choice. Which was her argument whenever justifying all the bad that she had done, that she "had no choice" - well, at that moment, she *really had* no choice. Poetic justice. Trust me, she "had to be killed off", it couldn't have gone done any other way. She's just one of those characters you write expressly to kill off.

[@joelellis7035]

@Fabian Kirchgessner While neither actually knew about the other's plot, it's safe to say that each suspected the other of planning such. And when Cain and Adama's "trusted man" appeared on the other's ship, it's safe to say that their suspicions were confirmed.

[@kinagrill]

I honestly felt it was an extremely poor choice to do. She finally got a semblance of redemption.

[@lordjuhca]

Thank you Bear McCreary for such a wonderful soundtrack

[@kimrodriguez1698]

Exceptional!

[@vercoda9997]

Such a shame that Everything Else, on every other show he’s scored, has been bland Muzak. At least his work here was always superb.

[@lordjuhca]

@@vercoda9997 Completely agree. The complexity of the orchestration is simply on another level compared to Da vincis demons, agent of shield. God of war was quite decent.

[@tinman3586]

Very satisfying ending. I did not like Admiral Cain (because you aren't supposed to), she came off as truly corrupted, power hungry, and insane. That said, Michelle Forbes did an awesome job and as a villian Cain was superb.

[@primkup]

"Corrupted, power hungry, and insane." Honestly, I don't believe that she was. Or, in that case, Adama was as well. Because Adama made exactly the same decisions as she did. They both had the "military comes before civilians, higher ranks must be obeyed" mindset that all of Colonial Fleet leadership shared. Hell, Adama even once couped the government just to cement his authority. Only, the old man always had someone at his side to change his mind - his son, Starbuck, president Roslin, Dualla... Cain had no one. And I think that this scene proves that they could come to terms, eventually.

[@jeffanon1772]

Michele Forbes is a GODDESS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@BattlestarZenobia]

@@primkupat no point did Adama order suicidal attacks against obvious traps to satisfy his bloodlust or need for revenge unlike Cain who not only did that but murdered her XO and long time friend for refusing to go along with that madness. There’s nothing you can say that can convince me that Adama would have stripped the civilian ships and left them to die or have a POW GANGRAPED or tortured, hell he seems conflicted about “enhanced interrogation” back with Leoban. The idea that Adama would have ended up the same is grade A bullshit, his pinky or little toe has mire military sense that Cain ever had and certainly lacked her complete sadism

[@UnendedGalaxy]

@@BattlestarZenobia I'm actually kinda pissed anyone in-universe defended her. Starbuck should go to Hell's ninth circle for saying that the Fleet is safer with someone who is suicidally vindictive at her own expense and the expense of countless others - gambling humanity's mere existence in each attack - and resorts to horrific deeds out of sheer spite.

[@BattlestarZenobia]

@@UnendedGalaxy exactly! The only reason I can think of is a way of peacekeeping to her crew

[@paul.9828]

The tense, understated drums in the soundtrack were perfect. From the buildup as Starbuck met Cain, to the silence after Adama called off the assassination, to the drums suddenly starting up again when Cain asked to talk to Fisk.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

First half of this video: So much was said with so few words; BOTH captains (Admiral in one case, but she's the captain of her ship) knew why they had their most trusted right-hands at each other's ship, and both knew what was being communicated when they spoke to them. The acting, the pacing, the tension.... THIS is why I love BSG:RMS. My only wish is that they kept Cain around for a season or two just for the tension. P.S. Can you imagine DS9 if Michelle Forbes played Major Kira (or, rather, Ensign Ro in the place of Major Kira) as originally planned?! Although this is not a slight to Nana Visitor in the slightest - she took the role and ran with it and was one of the most memorable of memorable characters in the show - there is a REALLY strong feeling of "What if?"

[@weltensittich1266]

I never thought that Cain and Adama knew. But I guess it really makes sense.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

@Fabian Kirchgessner I disagree. The very lengthy pauses on *both* sides... that tension... the nervousness of both Cain's XO and Starbuck... unless you're a complete dunce, you would *know* something's up. Do you think Cain would be so foolish to let Starbuck on her bridge (or have her arrested/shot) - seeing how different Starbuck was acting in comparison to her give-no-F's-frak-'em attitude - unless she already had a plan to deal with her? Likewise, do you think Adama (or any crew coming and going) was *not* aware of the Pegasus marines and the XO's nervousness? And if they knew something was up, why wouldn't they act on it? In short... if one person starts shooting, EVERYONE starts shooting, lots of people die, and civilians get hurt (and, if it goes *real* bad, both Battlestars and their crews are essentially made ineffective). Politics and military operations are far more nuanced than simply shooting a gun. In this case, Adama KNOWS that Cain's too proud to show weakness to her subordinates. if you look real deep into that context, her actions are much like an 'occupation' of sorts, and showing her crew that she can strong-arm the fleet. Cain also had her men there as a reminder to Adama and the Galactica's crew of who was in charge. However, you could argue that Adama had Starbuck there as a reminder that he's onto her plans, and that he won't hesitate to act if she were to go through with it. And when the battle was over, when he said for Starbuck to stand down (with very few words and lots of hinting), it was his telling Cain to "Stand down, let's negotiate, and I'm willing to lower my gun first." By letting the situation speak for themselves, it lets Cain show that she's willing to be merciful when in reality she's likely sweating bullets and glad that she could step away from the situation with her pride intact. Of course Six had other plans, but that's beside the point. :P

[@weltensittich1266]

@@TheEDFLegacy This comment was a great read!

[@icecold9511]

@Fabian Kirchgessner I think she was to arrogant to even see the possibility. But also, the whole waiting until I call you thing and give you the code word.... I'd be...when the battle is over, just kill her. I have a hard time believing she had that much loyalty from her crew. Her circumcision scar started at the base of her neck and she was clearly deranged.

[@icecold9511]

@Fabian Kirchgessner I think she underestimated everyone. She underestimated Roslin too. And the crews. She blindly assumed they'd all accept her kangaroo court. She loved people answering to her, but hated answering to Roslin. The hypocrisy of this...And she didn't see that Roslin saw the clear threat Cain was to the civilians. The original Cain was supposed to be a military genius and charismatic. This Cain was a military moron who didn't understand people at all, cared about no one. Thought she could take back the colonies with two ships, when Roslin's original order to Adama was the only one that made sense. Take who they had and run. This Cain thought only about hurting the enemy, while Roslin saw the military advantages of destroying the resurrection ship. They butchered this character. Cain acted like she had permanent PMS and was using a pinecone for a tampon.

[@SheldonAdama17]

Thanos: You should have gone for the - Gina: *bang*

[@shaftoe195]

Gina is not frakking around. Lol.

[@Kokopilau77]

I always wondered if Cain knew she was dead if she gave Fisk the order. The way she studied Kara was very telling - something I missed the first time I saw the episode

[@deathstrike]

A good officer (and NCO's as well) after long experience develops a sort of "sense" of the crew and those he/she commands or interacts with. It's a good trait to master. Because in the real world, it would alert you to changes in behavior, people you do not recognize or know, and above all, keeps you alert and ready to tackle a situation as it unfolds. Sadly, Helena Cain was NOT a bad person. She was as forced to make terrible, often cruel or life threatening decisions because at the time, she did NOT know Galactica and others survived the Apocalypse. She rightly had to enforce almost draconian and barbaric laws to keep order as she was operating under the condition that they were the LAST Battlestar and even the last of the human race. Could we say we wouldn't do the same? Could we say "she's a monster" simply for doing her sworn duty? She knew at ANY time, a crewman, a pilot, a bridge officer, even an escaped prisoner could end her leadership and power. That was really the problem in the end. Cain was too entrenched in the war, and saw no other life other than the one on Pegasus. At the very least, it would have been prudent to hold a fair trial for her. And judge her ,not by her actions as an Officer of the Colonial Military, but what laws she truly violated not only in scope, but in context as to what has been established as the current government and law.

[@Kokopilau77]

@@deathstrike nice explanation. Adama asked Lee the same question: “would we do the same?” His response was having to look Lee and Kara in their eyes everyday. But it is a good question. I wouldn’t say she was a psychopath.

[@babapambazuka2845]

@@deathstrike Nah, she chose martial law in an unprecedented context where law itself needed to be reevaluated, and kept herself at the top of the food chain by brute force and general ruthlessness towards the people she was SWORN to protect, rather than any consensus within the surviving human population she encountered. Demonstrating herself no better than an opportunistic warlord, she was a shitbag jackboot who deserved no more trial than any of the civilians she'd had summarily executed under her self-serving tyranny. Self-preservation alone does not constitute "military service", especially when preying upon the same population she would claim to serve, and she gets no credit for it. Literally anyone who put an end to her would be a hero for doing so, not that that should earn her prisoner a pass for her own role in multi-planet genocide either. "Keeping order" is always the tired rationalization of eager fascists.

[@icecold9511]

@@deathstrike She murdered civilians to steal parts and then tried to ignore the government existed. She should have done a swan dive out the airlock.

[@ryans413]

I believe Adama saw it in her XO as well why he called it off with Starbuck

[@jasonthatjason1912]

That time when you actually rooted for the Cylon...

[@Johann_Gambolputty_of_Ulm]

Baltar claimed that he saved so many lives at different occasion, esp. on New Caprica. One can wonder, whether by "unleashing" Pegasus 6 on Cain he did not truly ensure the survival of Colonials, since I guess even with this short reconciliation between Adama and Cain, I still think she would martial law the hell out of the fleet ^^'

[@cow_tools_]

It's always one step forward, one step back with Baltar. It was good she went and assassinated Cain, but then he goes and gives her a nuclear bomb for some reason!

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

NightDex, I would have liked to see how that reconciliation might have played out though, even for a relatively short period of time, before she was taken out, as was inevitable.

[@icecold9511]

She refused to recognize the government as legitimate. To me, she'd never have left Colonial One. Even her argument of detached duty. What detached? Her civilian government is just outside her fraking window. She was committing treason.

[@bigwhopper6501]

@@cow_tools_ yeah I forgot why he did that, some bullshit about trust or something

[@crowonthepowerlines]

Military types need to be put in their place or put down.

[@nathanadler1452]

Ensign Ro just can't get a break.

[@Nikephorus]

Section 31 terminating a Maquis rebel.

[@lockjaw5161]

went from Ensign to admiral to dead.

[@MrBiggles53]

I didn’t realize that was her!

[@JeroAstra]

THATS WHERE I REMEMBER HER FROM!!! You have no idea how long Ive been trying to figure this out.

[@tobifoong8025]

@@JeroAstra LOL ! she was iconic..

[@Hunpecked]

6:45 "You're not my type." Actually she was, for some unspecified time before the Cylon attack. 😀

[@joelellis7035]

Was this in Razor?

[@Hunpecked]

@@joelellis7035 Yes. "Razor" had a lot of good stuff, including a snippet from the First Cylon War.

[@StarWarsOpinion]

That's exactly what I thought. If that Six had any humanity in her, she would have undestood why Cain treated her the way she did once her Cylon identity was revealed.

[@willbricksproductions]

@@joelellis7035 no it was actually from the third epsiode from when peaquess came on the show

[@98cents]

That Six was chosen to "befriend" Admiral Cain for whatever mission she had, so technically, it's possible that she didn't actually like her.

[@DaDitka]

In my meager judgment, Cain, as she is portrayed in this series, was a pretty complicated character, or at least there is more to her than first impressions. She had to witness the destruction of her homeworld, just like everyone else. To realize that you are a part of an endangered species, being pursued by a relentless foe, would rattle the Hades out of anyone, including a strong leader like her. And her desire not just for victory but for revenge took hold in such a way that she was willing to endanger the lives of everyone on the Pegasus, and if she would have taken control of the fleet, it is very likely she would have endangered the lived of those on the Galactica and the civilians as well. It is easy to criticize her, and I initially was not at all a fan of hers. But the more I have thought about it, the more I realized that if it were me in that position, who's to say I would not have done the same thing? If I saw my home, my loved ones, destroyed by an enemy like the Cylons, and if I had possession of a powerful military asset like a Battlestar, I may have wanted the same thing. And as someone else pointed out, a huge difference between Cain and Adama is that Adama had the president to temper his resolve, who helped him realize that this was a lost cause, and the only thing we can do is get the Hades away and have babies. Cain didn't have this, so she might have thought that this was still a winnable war, no matter what the odds. Perhaps the best lesson to learn here is that all of us need a voice of reason in our lives in order to help us understand reality as reality actually IS, not how we want it to be. Cain was a very well-done character, and the more I see this series, the more I grow to appreciate the difficulty she had. Don't get me wrong, I didn't agree with her philosophy of continuing the war against all odds. But I can understand why she did. Life is not easy. And often we make bad choices, or we have circumstances thrown at us which force us to make bad choices. Thanks for sharing.

[@mobulis]

Adama went through the same and didn't so nope she deserved it.

[@thefakewitchdoctor]

Cain got to see, first hand, that this "robot" had feelings and therefore an intense desire for justice and vengeance. She would have done the same thing the "robot" did. Same eyes, same anger.

[@jamesparson]

Well said

[@xyumyaaj9576]

I want to hear Starbuck's eulogy to Admiral Cain again. I think Starbuck says something like your comment here. I can't find it anywhere.

[@williamhicks7736]

An excellent essay… well done… In the episode of Razor, they go further with this …. Cain is fascinating…. On a certain level, she’s operating as a woman scorned. She got fooled by the Six, humiliated personally…. As a driving motivation, it explains a lot about her also….

[@aeasus]

Some of the best syfy television has ever aired.

[@shaftoe195]

I am pretty sure Adm. Cain figured that Cmdr. Adama sent Starbuck to kill her, but then called it off. Look at her face at 2:52, and then how she looks at clearly nervous and relieved Starbuck leaving at 3:33. This is why Adm. Cain herself has called off the assassination of Cmdr. Adama.

[@shaftoe195]

@Fabian Kirchgessner You can't claim that. It's up to viewers to decide. I believe she did.

[@Rendell001]

@Fabian Kirchgessner No, I don't think she knew but I think she suspected when she saw how tense Starbuck was in her presence. That and watching her on the phone with Adama - clearly there was subtext to that conversation which she picked up on.

[@shaftoe195]

@@Rendell001 That's what I said.

[@shaftoe195]

@Fabian Kirchgessner Boy, are you always so harsh with words? Lol. "You're out of your mind". Lol.

[@Rendell001]

@@shaftoe195 credit where credit is due.

[@eralec]

Man this show is just a masterpiece. One epic scene after another

[@Cash_McCoy]

I just finished binging this series a couple months ago. This is definitely one that I could watch again.

[@Jamietheroadrunner]

My God! I'm addicted to YT clips of a show I've never seen! The tension in this scene is killing me & sending shivers of excitement up my spine, simultaneously! 😖😦😲👏🏼

[@sartori69]

Might as well watch it. It's worth it.

[@Jamietheroadrunner]

@@sartori69 My only problem is trying to find the time to watch Battlestar when I already have a glut of movies and TV shows that are jamming up my queue. I know, I know...first world problems!

[@RidlleForest]

Jamie1200 that’s how I whatch full show.:D

[@carlmanvers5009]

Try one a week on a specific night. If you start at the beginning and quietly make your way through it you won't regret it. By and large it is quality TV with some good writing and excellent actors.

[@charleshodgdon6168]

Just watch the clips. I watched the first season and it is mostly garbage. It does have a lot of good points. The bad points are few, but extremely bad.

[@endlesswick]

They killed off Cain way too soon. It was a missed opportunity. They could have milked out an entire season around her. One of the best villains in science fiction.

[@DeltaV2TLI]

But was she really a complete villian? yes she did some terrible things but her ruthlessness is a lot of what kept the Pegasus alive while on the run. Of course, she could have handled the integration with the fleet much better but I have to think that few people could have made the hard calls she did while Pegasus was on the run before they met up with Galactica and the fleet.

[@endlesswick]

@@DeltaV2TLI The best villains have their motivations clearly defined. She was really well written and acted. I think it was Michelle Forbes best role. The whole series was a buildup to her introduction and she was definitely the climax. Once they killed her off the series started to go downhill.

[@ianbauer7118]

Nah I disagree. The Cain arc needed to end. They did it perfectly

[@icecold9511]

@@DeltaV2TLI Yes. She murdered civilians to steal parts on a vengeance crusade. She also refused to acknowledge the government as legitimate, even though it fell within the laws. He was off her rocker.

[@warallied]

She was an Anti-villain. An Antagonist yet not entirely. She had plenty of shades of grey. She was like a nicer version of Tywin

[@jesseadair5564]

2:27 I highly doubt the Cylons had that thought process when they were nuking billions of humans out of existence

[@skullabrin3085]

imo the nuking was more of a "you can't do anything to stop us" move as I remember that at some point even some cylons said it wasn't necessary.

[@dwaynesmith942]

You do realize that the evolution of the Cylons was pretty much the underlying theme of the show, right?

[@Mustang-bk4ns]

@@dwaynesmith942 .. good point. I got that impression and it bugged me that they were doing that

[@SantomPh]

Like all religious zealots, they are hypocrites.

[@lbaker3602001]

They don't a series like this anymore, one of "THE" best.

[@UFO721]

Gosh this was intense! One of the few rare cases where a remake is better than the original.

[@peterboil4064]

Oh man! That music....! Goosebumps galore!!

[@darkinwolf4440]

The tension and emotion of the scene @5:18 was perfect. Music gave me chills

[@StsFiveOneLima]

Yes, and doesn't it just sound a LITTLE bit like "All Along the Watchtower"....

[@Robert-ku6jx]

This whole subplot was what got me hooked on the show. Excellently played by everyone.

[@gothia6515]

Cane did read Starbuck like an open book. So she decided to do the same as Adama and cancel the operation. That gives her character much more depth and humanity. In the end the way she was written out is quite sloppy tbh. How can a escaped prisoner with a gun make it to the room of the highest ranking person on the ship ? Thats just bs.

[@rvaughan74]

They explain it in the Razor movie. Gina (the Six Baltar freed) had infiltrated Pegasus as a technician from the shipyard where they had upgrades and overhauls scheduled. So plenty of time spent going through a Battlestar and its innards.

[@ismaeljunior8624]

Also the Pegasus is severely understaffed, its more easy to hide with less people

[@cubefarmerhkc9105]

Best Sci Fi TV series EVER!!!!!!

[@PhoenixT70]

Cain was a horrible officer, but there's no denying that she had stones. She had to know what Starbuck's orders were, and she risked giving Adama the chance to trigger her. That is a seriously ballsy move.

[@pjnathgaming]

GAIUS-FRAKKIN'-BALTAR!

[@ascendant2-7]

Baltar F R A C K S... And he Fracks a lot

[@leifdeatherage7257]

I would have loved to see the evolution of Cain throughout the series. Right before Six kills her, it seems like her and Adama finally are ready to work together. Imagine her at the Battle of New Caprica. Or during the Ionian Nebula.

[@LabradorIndependent]

I wonder if she would've allowed the fleet to stop at New Caprica, or whether she would've authorised a rescue mission. One thing's for sure, she wouldn't have sacrificed Pegasus to save Galactica.

[@ShizuokaJoe]

@@LabradorIndependent TBH, I don’t think she would have needed to sacrifice the Pegasus. I loved the battle of New Caprica right up until that point. Totally unnecessary and not realistic within the situation. Garbage writing.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Leif Deatherage, It was a waste of a complex and compellingly drawn up character, portrayed by a fine actor. She would have had to die, probably not too far down the line, likely murdered by someone. But much more could have played out, especially in direct interactions with Adama. Oh, well.

[@Elthenar]

Agreed. Cain was objectively a better admiral than either Adama.

[@lordpappanqui]

@@Elthenar WHOLEheartedly disagree. Adama was the better fleet commander and strategist and tactician - Cain's overall strategy consisted of finding Cyclons where ever they may be, coming up with a simple plan to destroy them, and taking minimal losses in the exchange..... 2 very diverse leaders, each working on a different plane of existence.

[@alduintheanti-dragonborn]

Imagine if instead of hearing "that's all." she instead mistakenly hears "downfall".

[@timalder8940]

This show does not need a reboot

[@louisavondart9178]

I binge watched the whole series. I was bedridden so had the time. A whole week in bed with BG and this moment really stood out. " You're not my type ! " Indeed !

[@sirwholland7]

21 years latter and I still miss these characters!

[@edinthecouv]

Cain knew something was up!

[@Gamble661]

When she first walked in an faced Cain I thought Starbuck was going to do it no matter what Adama said to her. Anyway, Six took care of the problem for them.

[@tylerolejnicak5481]

I'm honestly astonished that not a single person in the room, including cain, didn't see starbuck very obviously going for her gun. That one thing aside it's a great scene overall.

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

@@Gamble661 Ah, but who put the idea in her head?

[@ReddwarfIV]

@@tylerolejnicak5481 Cain probably knew what was happening. She just wanted to see if Adama would go through with it.

[@tylerolejnicak5481]

@@ReddwarfIV That's a mighty fine risk to take.

[@LexaSkull]

Those tears... At first watch, unaware of Razor, I thought it's a moment of fear. That behind the cruel admiral shell is a simple woman who is too scared to die. Razor flipped the perspective. Seeing those tears again, tears of woman who loved, who was betrayed, and who changed, turned into an evil - tears of feelings still living somewhere deep. After all, she was just a human.

[@jonothandoeser]

Many convicts have tears in their eyes when they are executed. They cry because everything they have or ever could have is being taken away from them for what they have done.

[@pirobot668beta]

Those were tears of frustration; her plans were being thwarted, and there was nothing she could do to prevent her death. She had to be in command, or be nothing.

[@Cx10110100]

@@pirobot668beta She could attempt to disarm 6 and call for help. She did not. Lesson here is to act, not give up

[@yugurtz]

That laugh is perfect 😆 4:00 Way to ease our tension at least at the moment.

[@themasterjinn]

Bloody amazing work, The actor really made you hate Admiral Cain. She had this coming!

[@MagnumMuscle1000]

I need to re-watch this show

[@Swarm509]

Baltar putting her on the patch to kill Admiral Cain was incredibly smart of him. Gains further trust of Six, and takes care of a problem for everyone in the human fleet.

[@marchindley9856]

Cain was afraid, yes, but she refused to let her enemy see it. Watching this for the first time I was thinking this is it, this is where the hardball war criminal commander breaks down and begs for her life - but she didn't. Hate her all you want, she looked her enemy in the eye at the moment of her end, and told it to go Frak itself. Courage like that doesn't come along every day.

[@viniciusvbf22]

Best. Series. Ever.

[@philosopher1a]

Got to watch this series all over again

[@markblaze4909]

best show ever nondisputable.

[@adeosinowo3197]

I used to think so too but the expanse is making me re-assess! What i am sure off is that BSG is one hell of a show & some solid entertainment.

[@ViktorBiohazard]

@@adeosinowo3197 The last season of The Expanse was very bored and disappointing.

[@jamessullivan4391]

You don't kill an Ensign who rose to rank of Admiral. That is simply effed up!

[@SantomPh]

The moment she took off the headband it was over

[@trence5]

Yeeeeah buddy, definitely remember this episode. Kara wishing Lee was there - to talk her out of it?

[@lordpappanqui]

Exactly what I thought. Otherwise, nothing else would make sense.... did she want Lee there so that they can both go out in a blaze of glory, shooting Cain and then being fired on and taken out by security?

[@LordTalax]

To watch her back

[@TestUser-cf4wj]

I have always loved,and feared, Michelle Forbes. So many roles I wish I could have seen her play.

[@compmanio36]

Never understand why people with a gun to their head do nothing but stand there. Move. Your head is a fairly small target and the act of pulling a trigger inherently imparts some inaccuracy. Move and rush the assailant. Yeah you might die still but at least you'll go down fighting, and you might just win via surprise.

[@moteroargentino7944]

Exactly. You're still very likely to get shot tho, but at least you get far better chances of surviving.

[@thesparduck117]

At that distance she’s a dead woman no matter what she does

[@mrz80]

@@thesparduck117 Drop straight down, then roll into your assailant's legs. A graze across the scalp is better than a dead-center slug thru the middle of your brain. And she had an opening as Six was bringing her other hand up; she was too focused on holding the gun steady and was not ready at the moment to pull the trigger. That's the moment Cain could've gone for her.

[@thesparduck117]

@@mrz80 Interesting idea in theory, in practice it’s not likely to work. Gina went there to kill Cain, Cain was dead the moment the gun was pointed at her. If Cain made any sudden movements Gina would have fired, and you can’t outrun a bullet.

[@bigal3055]

@@mrz80 You saw how fast Six moved on the guard and how easily she over powered him, right? She isn't going to just stand there, like a plank, whilst Cain is doing a gymnastics floor routine right in front of her. More likely she'd have grabbed Cain by her hair the second she did her dodge, duck, dip, dive, dodge impression, thrown her across the room and then blown her face off. Cain was already screwed and she knew it.

[@ElysiumCreator]

Michelle Forbes as Cain was flawless

[@brysimm404]

One of the very few times we see Starbuck really sweating bullets 😮

[@taewoosuh9323]

I wonder what would have happened if both admirals instead went on with their assassination plans, especially who could have taken command afterwards: Cain would likely have got killed by Starbuck, and Adama, Tigh and most if not all of the Galactica's bridge crew would have been wiped out. On Pegasus side, that largely leaves Fisk and Garner, neither of which would have made very good COs: Fisk is quite corrupt and his corruption would likely lead to his downfall. Garner is pretty much incapable of command, as was shown in the series proper. On Galactica side, Lee Adama would pretty much be the only choice: Starbuck would likely have been executed by Pegasus crew, same would have gone for Galen and Helo (that also leaves two out of the Final Five irreversibly dead too because they would have been out of resurrection range) Felix Gaeta might have shown some decent leadership had he been promoted under more legitimate circumstances, but he would more likely have been killed by Pegasus marines. Same would have gone for the likes of Dualla.

[@jessmith7324]

I swear that Cain knew Starbuck was there to kill her

[@johniii8147]

Oh course she did

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@@johniii8147 I think I want to view the scene again, but it seemed that there was a perspective from someone else in the CIC, who was also closely scrutinizing Starbuck's movements as she entered. Regardless, Cain had the self-possession to greet Starbuck with the words that she did, and to my ears, made them sound absolutely genuine. I understand that within the template of the series, Galactica had to be the focus, but I do regret that her character couldn't have been kept alive for a while longer, as there was so much to digest, I think. Certainly, she was going to be killed at some point, no question.

[@Gamble661]

She absolutely knew why Starbuck was there.

[@johniii8147]

@Fabian Kirchgessner No she was aware of the standoff between the between her and Adama. They both had their own plan and they both knew about it

[@criticalthot4179]

BSG is one of the all time best of the best TV series. I wish they could find a way to bring it back. A movie or something ❤️

[@amunra4015]

The way Admiral Cain stared at Starbuck while she was on the phone and then the look she gave starbuck when she handed the phone to her makes me believe Cain knew something was probably going to go down and likely had a plan. Maybe to take starbuck out as soon as she made a move.

[@bhbluebird]

Some good acting by the cast. I always wondered by Helfer didn't get more credit for the work she did.

[@disposableincome]

Finally! Love this scene.

[@kylenewberry9792]

“Can you roll over? Beg like a dog?” It is satisfy every time

[@SCSuperheavy114]

You ol war dagget...oh sorry that was the nicer Cain...

[@stupidevilmanguy]

It's not enough to survive, one has to be worthy of surviving.

[@YarmouthMark]

Just the best. The whole series.

[@PS-mw9cc]

Six be like: *BOOM HEADSHOT*

[@jamiestewart48]

I understood that reference. BOOM HEADSHOT. BOOOOM HEADSHOT.

[@tuchehstone]

Good gods, was that final shot ever satisfying! It was almost orgasmic to see Helena finally getting justice served at her murdering head.

[@svonasek]

At 2:57 it says on the window: Battlestar Pegasus, and below: BSG? Does it mean BattleStarGroup?

[@ZingZapZong]

Yes - there's also the number 62 as well, so Pegasus would be part of Battlestar Group 62. Galactic was part of BSG 75 (I googled that part lol).

[@bandofbrothers5860]

You can tell Adama smiled too because he knew why Cains' XO laughed.

[@joelellis7035]

Admiral needs a key card to get into her quarters, but Six doesn't need anything to get out of the brig. Also just that one guard watching her and Gaius Baltar. No one watching with cameras ready to sound the alarm should she even try to attack the guard? I'm sorry, but I noticed. My suspension of disbelief only goes so far.

[@FP194]

Cain was over confident to the point of thinking she was untouchable due to her thinking ruling with an iron fist was going to keep her safe I am sure there were many crew members who would have gladly pulled the trigger themselves She was unable to handle the stress of the war and basically descended into madness becoming the exact thing she was fighting against

[@Mustang-bk4ns]

Joel Ellis, good points. On ships and prisons in this century they have that security.. but not in that timeline? Yeah, didn't make sense to me either.

[@choosecarefully408]

@@FP194 No. Watch "Razor" again, with the opening being what happened to her ENTIRE FAMILY in the last Cylon war. She went into revenge mode as soon as she realized there was a new one. Not stress. Revenge.

[@SantomPh]

@@FP194 in a kind of irony she might have sent her guard detail with Fisk on board Galactica.

[@primalfury2011]

The Ending ....Perfection..

[@nathanclack720]

the music around the 4:40 mark sounds like a subtle ref to the sequence in 28 Days Later when the main guy goes on a killing spree/saves the day

[@markblow1966]

There's no way that she could have gotten to, found or entered Cains accomodation

[@pelagicboreas]

Cain's death in this scene is so tragic. Her exchange with Adama seemed to redeem so much of her humanity, then boom, gone.

[@xaenon]

This show was badass as hell. Far exceeded the original.

[@greydonsquare]

She should have just taken the DS9 Ensign Ro role. Then she wouldn't have been shot by a Cylon. Oh wait...

[@AlBrownComedy]

There are a few things BSG is short on. Perfection isn’t one of them.

[@noisetheory1780]

After you watch razor "You're not my type" Cuts extra extra deep...

[@alexanderd8740]

Cain was excellent, they really did kill her off too soon.

[@89five3five]

Naw.... she stopped being human when she resorted to allowing military personnel to act like animals. She needed to go.

[@maejune2179]

@@89five3five It's Ensign Ro. She needed to go.

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

@@89five3five When she executed her XO for questioning and refusing an illegal order.

[@eglantinepapeau1582]

I liked Adama more, so since they couldn't get along , i'm glad she's the one who took the bullet

[@bloodCount8895]

That's nice Baltar let her murder a Marine and then assassinate Cain. Just for her to use a nuke and murder more later on.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Evan M, Chalk another plus up for Baltar. Hurray. 🙄🙄🙄

[@Mustang-bk4ns]

Baltar was a punk on that show. Where are the video cameras that would be reviewed by those in charge? Baltar gets away again

[@Alkis05]

I remember watching this scene for the first time on the edge of my seat

[@Universal_exports87]

Battlestar hit so many real world issues so well.

[@dekysurya218]

Any idea what streaming platform has complete season for this show?

[@441milachik]

That music make this 5 times more intense.

[@slingshot1961]

Nice to see a little justice. If only real life was the same.

[@DrFranklynAnderson]

“Suicide is a sin.” _Murders two people_

[@VonSchpam]

She's a prisoner of war. You don't murder the enemy.

[@Morhek]

Right up until she saw Starbuck turn away, sweating and relieved, I don't think Cain thought Adama had the guts for it. In that moment, as Kara handed the phone back and looked her in the eyes, Cain realised that not only planned and executed it but he had chosen not to for the good of the fleet. But it still took her a few seconds of consideration for her to make the same choice, and neither Starbuck nor Adama ever really knew how close they came to Cain doing exactly what they were planning. And we'll never know if that moment of recognition and detente could have turned into something else, or how much of that choice was because she recognised Adama had done the same or because her internal calculus changed as she realised the lengths Adama's crew would go to for him - Cain's people respected her, but Adama's LOVED him in a way no amount of fear could match.

[@MrGlobbits]

Ah Baltar, it's a wonder there was any human left at the end.

[@Chevalier_knight]

What he did saved the rest of them

[@kdleslie1973]

Admiral Cane's hair was so much better here, than it was on Seinfeld.