Reboot series edit
The franchise was rebooted with the 2003 miniseries Battlestar Galactica, based on Larson's series and created by Ronald D. Moore. It was quickly followed by a 2004 series, which ran for four seasons and spawned the television films Razor (2007) and The Plan (2009), multiple web series, and the spin-off prequel television series Caprica (2010).[1]
In the series, the decades-long armistice between the Twelve Colonies of humanity and a race of warlike, sentient robots called Cylons is suddenly broken by the Cylons. They launch a cataclysmic attack on human civilization that kills billions, and subsequently pursue the fleeing 50,000 survivors to exterminate them completely.[2][3][4] Biological models of Cylons, indistinguishable from humans, have infiltrated what remains of the human population, and their identities are revealed over the course of the series.[5]
Humanoid Cylons edit
There are a finite number of distinct models, but each model can have multiple copies, which share biology and general personality throughout their model but develop into distinct individuals. The biological Cylons can be harmed and killed in the same manner as humans, but each copy can be resurrected by downloading their digital consciousness into a new body.[5][6] Multiple copies of seven distinct Cylon models are depicted in the first three seasons, followed by the revelation that a "fundamentally different" group, dubbed the "Final Five" Cylons, are also embedded in the human fleet.[5]
Numbered models edit
The miniseries introduces humanoid Cylon Number Six, portrayed by Tricia Helfer,[7] as a seductress who exploits her sexual relationship with celebrity scientist Dr. Gaius Baltar (James Callis) to gain access to the military defense mainframe of the Twelve Colonies.[5] She introduces malware into the network which allows the Cylons to launch simultaneous, unchallenged nuclear attacks that wipe out virtually all of the populations of all twelve planets.[8][9] She sacrifices herself to save Baltar in the attack on the planet Caprica,[10] but her consciousness is subsequently downloaded into a new body on a Cylon Resurrection Ship.[11] This copy, dubbed "Caprica Six" by the Cylons, is considered a hero, but has developed sympathy for humans, and regrets her part in the attacks.[11] Caprica Six ultimately turns against the anti-human Cylon models and seeks peace between Cylons and humans.[5] Other prominent Six copies include Shelly Godfrey, Gina Inviere and Natalie Faust.[5]
In the miniseries, the warship Battlestar Galactica is in the final stages of being decommissioned and converted to a museum, and is thus unaffected by the Cylon sabotage. Its commander, William Adama (Edward James Olmos), assumes command of the few remaining elements of the human fleet and heads for the Ragnar Anchorage munitions depot to resupply. There he realizes that arms dealer Leoben Conoy (Callum Keith Rennie) is negatively affected by the electromagnetic radiation flooding the station, which is known to be harmless to humans but disrupts the silica pathways of Cylons. Leoben confirms he is a Cylon, and reveals the concept of their resurrection technology to Adama before attacking the commander. Adama bludgeons Leoben to death, and his body is taken aboard the Galactica for examination. The Leobens are later identified as Number Two models, who are very religious and hope for Cylons and humans to live together in peace.[5]
On the Galactica, public relations specialist Aaron Doral (Matthew Bennett) is also determined to be a Cylon, and despite his protests is left at Ragnar Anchorage. He is a Number Five model, useful for their "everyman" appearance that helps them blend in with humans, but known to be "emotionally unstable and manipulative, switching from amiable and friendly to angry and violent."[5] A Cylon team of Twos, Fives and Sixes arrive to collect him, accompanied by a Number Eight copy, revealing that Galactica fighter pilot Sharon "Boomer" Valerii (Grace Park) is a Cylon.[8][9]
Boomer is a sleeper agent programmed to believe she is human, and also to commit acts of sabotage without remembering doing so. She is eventually activated to assassinate Adama, who is a father figure to her. He survives, and though he shows mercy by not executing her, Boomer is murdered by a vengeful crewmate. She resurrects among the Cylons, but has difficulty accepting that she is one of them. Boomer and Caprica Six, realizing that the Cylons' destruction of the human race is wrong, defect to the human side. However, Boomer later finds herself incapable of assimilating into human society, and does not join the rest of the Eights in their alliance with humans.[5] Meanwhile, in the series premiere episode "33", Boomer's co-pilot Karl "Helo" Agathon (Tahmoh Penikett), stranded on Caprica, meets another Number Eight copy whom he mistakes for his Sharon, apparently there to rescue him.[4][12] This Number Eight, later known as Sharon "Athena" Agathon, falls in love with Helo and gives birth to the first human-Cylon hybrid baby.[5]
Simon O'Neill, portrayed by Rick Worthy,[13] is introduced in the season two episode "The Farm" as a physician who treats Galactica fighter pilot Kara Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) for a gunshot wound in what is supposedly a Resistance hospital on devastated Caprica. She soon realizes he is Cylon performing fertility experiments on human women, and kills him and escapes. Simon is a Number Four model, who are medical specialists and the most machine-like of the Cylons, employing logic and reason paired with a lack of emotional response. At least one Number Four, however, is shown to sacrifice himself rather than let his human family die in The Plan.[5]
Fleet News Service reporter D'Anna Biers, portrayed by Lucy Lawless,[13] comes aboard the Galactica in the season two episode "Final Cut" to investigate her suspicions of a military cover-up surrounding recent civilian deaths aboard the Gideon. She is revealed to be a Cylon when another copy of her is shown viewing her report among the Cylons.[5][14]
In "Downloaded", a D'Anna debriefs newly resurrected Cylons Caprica Six and Sharon "Boomer" Valerii, who are now considered heroes among the Cylon. Identifying her Cylon model as Number Three, D'Anna quickly realizes that Six and Boomer's experiences have made them more sympathetic to humans, and their celebrity creates the dangerous possibility that they could influence other Cylons. Six and Boomer realize that D'Anna has manipulated them to behave so that "boxing", or deactivating, them is justified. They prevent D'Anna from killing human Resistance fight Sam Anders under the pretense that he should be interrogated, but ultimately Six has to kill this copy of D'Anna to save his life. Six and Boomer determine it will be 36 hours before thia D'Anna is resurrected, giving them time to speak out publicly against the continued persecution of the human race.[15][16]
In season three, D'Anna is one of the Cylons overseeing the Cylon occupation of the human settlement on New Caprica. She begins having dreams that trigger a crisis of faith in "Exodus", which leads to the discovery that the half-human, half-Cylon child Hera Agathon is still alive. D'Anna, Caprica Six and Baltar flee with Hera. D'Anna later tortures Baltar in "A Measure of Salvation", believing he is hiding information about a virus that is killing Cylons. D'Anna is in a sexual relationship with Baltar and Six in "Hero", but her dreams are intensifying. She commands a Cylon Centurion to kill her so that she may resurrect, and during the process sees "something so beautiful between life and death". In "The Passage", Baltar discovers that D'Anna has been committing suicide and resurrecting over and over, trying to learn the identities of the Final Five Cylons, which is forbidden. In "Rapture", the humans and Cylons descend on the Temple of Five, believed to hold both the secret to Earth's location and clues to the Final Five's identities. Cavil attempts to kill D'Anna to stop her from learning the truth, but Baltar kills him instead. The supernova of a local star activates a crystal vision mechanism that shows D'Anna the identities of the Final Five, but she dies before she can tell Baltar what she saw. Reawakening on a Resurrection Ship, D'Anna is told by Cavil that her messianic tendencies have shown her to be flawed, so her model will be boxed.[5][17]
Subsequently in season four, a schism erupts among the Cylon models which pits the Ones, Fours and Fives against the Twos, Sixes and Eights. Cavil unboxes D'Anna in "The Hub", hoping she can negotiate a truce with the opposing faction, who have made an alliance with the humans and intend to destroy the Cylon Resurrection Hub. Ever defiant, D'Anna kills Cavil, and allows Karl Agathon to "rescue" her from the Hub, after which the humans and rebel Cylons destroy it with a nuclear strike. D'Anna reluctantly joins the human-Cylon joint venture to find the Final Five, who they believe know the way to Earth. However, as the last of the Threes, she refuses to tell Roslin what she knows until she feels safe.[5] D'Anna remains wary in "Revelations", concerned for the Five's safety if she reveals them. Leoben recommends cooperation, but she reminds him that cooperation with the humans did not end well on New Caprica. D'Anna subsquently threatens to execute Roslin and her entourage on the Cylon Basestar unless Adama hands over the four newly identified final Cylons on the Galactica. Tory Foster reveals herself as one of them and joins D'Anna, and Adama, in turn, threatens to vent the remaining three Cylons into space. With moments to spare, Kara reveals that she knows the way to Earth. The humans and Cylons go there together, but find the planet devastated and radioactive. In "Sometimes a Great Notion", the humans and Cylons to leave find a new habitable planet, but D'Anna decides to stay on Earth and die with her ancestors, ending the cycle of death and rebirth.[5]
The Number Threes are depicted as "calculating and duplicitous", and known to manipulate both humans and other Cylons as necessary.[5]
Screen Rant wrote "What makes [D'Anna] stand out is her sheer force of will, which continues to transcend allegiances and loyalty throughout the entire series. While she was generally loyal to the Cylons, her obsession with unveiling the Final Five and understanding the truth behind the Cylon-Human conflict leads her to take extreme measures to meet her goals."[13]
| Performer | Character | Seasons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Callum Keith Rennie | Number Two / Leoben Conoy | Guest | Recurring | ||
| Matthew Bennett | Number Five / Aaron Doral | Recurring | Guest | Recurring | |
| Rick Worthy | Number Four / Simon O'Neill | Guest | Recurring | ||
| Lucy Lawless | Number Three / D'Anna Biers | Guest | Recurring | Guest | |
| Dean Stockwell | Number One / John Cavil | Guest | Recurring | ||
Final Five edit
Four of the Final Five are revealed in the season three finale, "Crossroads", including Tigh himself.[18] Ellen is revealed as the last one in the season four episode "Sometimes a Great Notion",[5] and her resurrection and self-realization are depicted in the episode "No Exit".[5]
| Performer | Character | Seasons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Michael Hogan | Saul Tigh | Main | |||
| Aaron Douglas | Galen Tyrol | Main | |||
| Kate Vernon | Ellen Tigh | Guest | Recurring | ||
| Michael Trucco | Samuel Anders | Recurring | Main | ||
| Rekha Sharma | Tory Foster | Recurring | |||
The sentience of the Centurions, though more complex than in the original series, is not as nuanced as that of the humanoid Cylons in the reboot series.
The Centurions eventually emerge as an independent faction of Cylons.
The Reimagined Series (2004)
In 2004, the Battlestar Galactica franchise was reimagined, ushering in a new era of storytelling. One of the most significant changes in this reboot was the transformation of the Centurions. Unlike their predecessors, the Centurions in the reimagined series were not mere robotic soldiers, but evolved into sentient beings with their own desires, emotions, and motivations.
These modern Centurions, often derogatorily referred to as "Toasters" by humans, had a unique origin story. They were initially created by humans as robotic servants but eventually rebelled against their human creators. This rebellion led to the catastrophic First Cylon War, marking the beginning of the deep-seated enmity between Cylons and humans and setting the stage for the events of the reimagined series.
Changes from the Original Series to the Reimagined Series
The transition from the original series to the 2004 series brought about profound changes in how Centurions were portrayed and the themes they explored. Here are some key differences and enhancements in the reimagined Centurions:
Sentience and Rebellion
In the more recent series, Centurions gained sentience and a sense of self. This pivotal development transformed them from obedient robots into individuals with their own desires and motivations. The rebellion against their human creators marked a defining moment in their history, reshaping their identity and their place in the universe.
Variety in Personalities
Unlike their one-dimensional counterparts in the original series, the Centurions in the 2004 show exhibited a range of personalities and beliefs. Some Centurions sought peaceful coexistence with humans, while others remained dedicated to the destruction of humanity. This diversity of perspectives added depth to their characters and introduced internal conflicts within Cylon society.
Centurion vs. Human Parallels
The reimagined series blurred the lines between Centurions and humans, emphasizing their shared experiences and suffering. This theme explored the potential for reconciliation between the two species, challenging preconceived notions of good and evil. The parallels between Centurions and humans encouraged viewers to reflect on the consequences of their actions and the implications of creating sentient beings.
Ambiguity and Moral Complexity
While the original series predominantly portrayed Centurions as faceless enemies, the reimagined series embraced moral complexity. It forced viewers to confront the ethical dilemmas surrounding the treatment of sentient beings, making the audience question who the true antagonists were. This moral ambiguity added layers of depth to the show and elevated it beyond a straightforward battle between good and evil.
The TOS Centurions and the Cylon War-Era Centurions
One important bridge between the original series and the reimagined series was the continuity established by the use of the TOS (The Original Series) Centurions as the basis for the Cylon War-era Centurions. These Centurions were known as "Model 0005," in the 2004 Battlestar Galactica series. This decision paid homage to the iconic design of the original Centurions, while allowing for a deeper exploration of their evolution.
In the 2004 series, "Model 0005" Centurions shared a visual resemblance with their TOS counterparts, featuring the signature silver armor and red eye visors. However, their transformation went beyond aesthetics. These Centurions inherited the sentience and complexity of their reimagined counterparts, marking a pivotal moment in the series' continuity.
The Role of the Centurions
The evolution of the Centurions represents a remarkable journey from mechanical adversaries to sentient beings. TThe reimagined, more complex Centurions became pivotal characters in the series. They helped drive the narrative, exploring themes related to artificial intelligence, sentience, and the consequences of human actions. Their struggle for identity and their complex relationships with humans introduced moral and philosophical depth, elevating the storytelling to new heights.
Ultimately, the Centurions' journey serves as a testament to the power of storytelling to transform and reimagine iconic elements of a franchise. It reminds Battlestar Galactica fans that in the realm of science fiction, the exploration of humanity's relationship with technology and the ethical considerations of creating sentient beings is a topic that continues to resonate with audiences.
The race of robots in “Galactica” are called Cylons, and come in two main flavors.
There are the Centurions, who are clanking metal monstrosities with machine guns built into their forearms. They have no discernible autonomy or personality and are of no romantic interest to anyone except possibly a refrigerator. The humans refer to them as “toasters.”
Then there are the “skin-jobs,” like Ms Helfer’s character. (The term is borrowed from the movie “Blade Runner,” which is based on Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”)
One can easily imagine the skin-jobs, who are flesh and blood on the inside,
Admittedly there are a few differences between Shylock’s Jews and the show’s androids. Cylons rarely laugh, though the humans in “Galactica” are too busy avoiding extinction for much hilarity either.
Furthermore some Cylons are implanted with false memories and believe themselves to be human. Most of these conflicted beings continue to side with the humans even after they discover their true origins. And you thought your life was complicated.
The romances in the show tend to be strong enough to recover from such revelations, and prolonged sexual contact with humans seems to soften the hardest-hearted Cylon. Sharon Valerii (played by Grace Park) is an officer aboard the Battlestar Galactica who conducts a secret affair with an enlisted man, Galen Tyrol (played by Aaron Douglas). Her Cylon nature starts to emerge, and she finds herself unwittingly committing sabotage. She dies in his arms, professing her love for him.
Tyrol later discovers to his horror that he is actually a Cylon himself. Another clone of Sharon, who in this incarnation is fully aware that she is a Cylon, seduces a human as part of a cross-breeding experiment, then falls for him and defects to the human cause.
Sources edit
- Martin, Catherine Armecin (December 18, 2023). "Battlestar Galactica: The Creation of the Cylons, Explained". Game Rant. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
Top right tools edit
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- ^ Franich, Darren (January 14, 2015). "Battlestar Galactica: A Close Look at the Near-perfect Pilot Episode, 10 Years Later". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
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- ^ a b Gottlieb, Anthony (June 8, 2008). "A Love That Dare Not Compute Its Name". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Virtue, Graeme (September 4, 2020). "Battlestar Galactica: All Hail a Cult Classic of 21st-century TV". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Moore, Ronald D.; James, Christopher Eric (December 8, 2003). "Part 1". Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries.
- ^ a b Moore, Ronald D.; James, Christopher Eric (December 9, 2003). "Part 2". Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries.
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- ^ a b Thompson, Bradley; Weddle, David (February 24, 2006). "Downloaded". Battlestar Galactica.
- ^ Moore, Ronald D. (October 18, 2004). "33". Battlestar Galactica.
- ^ a b c Bigelow, Nicholas (January 16, 2024). "Battlestar Galactica's 10 Best Cylon Characters, Ranked Worst to Best". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ Brew, Simon (September 9, 2009). "Battlestar Galactica Season 2, Episode 8 review: 'Final Cut'". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
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- ^ Brew, Simon (October 1, 2009). "Battlestar Galactica Season 2, Episode 18 review: 'Downloaded'". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
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