'Battlestar Galactica': Ellen Tigh's awakening

The Cylon revelations are crystallizing in "Battlestar Galactica" as the final one of the final five is unveiled, Anders becomes aware of the history of the final five on Earth, and the extent of Cavil's hate toward humanity is put on display.

The humans are going through their own evolutions as well. Bill Adama must struggle with the fact that his ship, a symbol of stability and safety among this ragtag fleet, is crumbling around him. Galen Tyrol shows him the damage, and is charged with fixing it. The other Adama, Lee, is given just as big a responsibility by President Roslin: basically to rebuild the government after Tom Zarek decided to scrap the last one (which I still believe was a wrong, out-of-character act for Zarek, despite his history of 20-plus years as a revolutionary who killed people, commenters!). Laura would remain as the president, but Lee would do the actual work.

To the Cylons on Galactica ...

Doc Cottle's excellently gruff beside manner is great, and before he lets the brain guy (guest star John Hodgman -- you know, PC from the commercials) get to the bullet in Anders' head, he lets Starbuck and the others speak to Sam. Anders' returning memories, which he gladly relays to the final four Cylons during storytelling time in the emergency room, fill in some of the reasons they're there, and tell of a benevolent purpose. They worked together on Earth in a research facility (Galen and Tori shacked up too) and helped reinvent "organic memory transfer." The people from Kobol had invented it first, but they rediscovered it.

After being poisoned on New Caprica, final Cylon Ellen Tigh was resurrected and kept from most of the other Cylon models on the base star by Cavil, save for a lone No. 8 (Boomer). In the past, Ellen gets a scolding by Cavil on the physical imperfections and limited sensory input that the human body can perceive (among other things), and is really upset with Ellen for being instrumental in his creation. Through Cavil, you can see how and why the Cylons' human-hating ways festered, and why they not only fought against injustice for their kind, but also hunted humans.  The killing machine doesn't hide the fact that he despises humans, but he may hate the final five even more.

During Ellen's detainment, and from Anders on Galactica, we find out that there is one more Cylon model, Daniel, that was apparently murdered/discontinued by Cavil. With that knowledge coming at us on two fronts, let the speculation begin on when/whether Daniel will be resurrected and if he's someone that we already know.

Adama's wrestling with whether or not to use Cylon tech on his ship is understandable, but at this point, with the ship so far gone and them being out in space, the decision shouldn't have even taken that long, or that many drinks.

Boomer pulls a fast one and rescues Ellen Tigh, apparently taking her back to Galactica. Her reunion with Sol (and Sol's pregnant Six -- cute scene kissing her belly) and the rest of the Cylons will be next. Not sure about the condition of Anders, but it doesn't look good. And with no resurrection, this could be it for Mr. Starbuck.

What's all this mean? Where's all this going? Well, this has happened before. And it will happen again.  That point's been hammered home enough. So either they break the cycle, or the history Anders laid out becomes the future. Those seem to be the clear choices.

-- Jevon Phillips

Photo: SciFi.com

Related

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-- Blatant use of "Battlestar Galactica" in legal comparison
-- Did you know SHE was the final Cylon?
-- Michael Hogan, surprised to be a Cylon

Comments

[City of Evil]

Some of the things I still don't get...

- Were the inhabitants of Earth Cylons (that is, synthetic)? Or were they just a human population that had lived apart from the 12 Colonies for a long time? If they were Cylons, then who created them?

- Did the inhabitants of the 12 Colonies and those of Earth invent the Centurions independently? Or do the Centurions have a common origin?

- How exactly does Kobol fit into the whole Human/Cylon history? Who were the inhabitants of Kobol, and what happened to them?

- Who built the temple on the Algae Planet?

A pretty information-dense episode, all in all. I might have to watch it again just to figure out what's going on.

Also, I never really cared for Anders - I thought he was a pretty boy with no depth. If he's turned into a vegetable, it really won't detract from his performance that much.

[Harrison]

A great episode. Anders' brain is fried but I have to believe that when the 5 get re-united something will happen to it. I look forward to the final episodes. Sad the show is going away.

[caro]

what does john mean by the comment to ellen "they know about the hub, but not about the colony" "all your equipment is still there" ??????

[Jason Scott Jones]

whoa no takers on:

"...I still believe was a wrong, out-of-character act for Zarek"

Here's my two cents. Zom Zarek's actions were totally fitting, because although we never saw it Tom Zarek was a terrorist. As we know, one of the defining attributes of such people is an ends justifies the means mentality. And that mentality frequently rationalizes the killing of innocents toward the realization of a goal or ideology. So although we haven't seen Tom murder, he has in his history. There has never been a reason to assume he could not and would not again willfully. That fact was clear in the near unanimous hatred he inspired in those who knew his history.

Richard Hatch's charmed presentation of Zarek made him charismatic and likable, especially after the Exodus. But the fact remained in Zarek's unwavering mind, the cylons are an enemy only, who had to be destroyed. And anyone who in his opinion stood in the way of that branded themselves enemies is another reason for Zarek's thinking. Zarek tried to cajole the masses and make a soft coup d'tate against his will, but once he was clearly rebuked by the Quorum, "I think you should leave, Mr. VICE-president..." it was a wrap. He knew he didn't have the clout to win a charm offensive and it was a wrap. Hence his actions

JSJ

[Distant]

The daniel model is starbuck..she glowed when anders looked at them, daniel was an artist and overtly sensitive (bells ringing to earth etc...)
as to how a boy cylcon becomes girl starbuck (a) the original starbuck was a fella, so its a kind of reference totaht, and (b) it is stated in the episode tha Cavil didn't just 'box' daniel, but messed with the DNA and destroyed all bodies.

As to how she gets to comeback after crashing on earth...no clue, except for the mention of the final fives lab on an un-named cylon colony, and the fact that somewhere on earth would be the original research lab the final five used to 'rediscover' resurrection technology. (though they themselves rezzed in orbit on a ship....saying that, that still leaves one potential resurrection ship unaccounted for, the one they theoretically travelled at sublight speeds to the colonies on...which may also explain starbucks time-loss.)

As to whether starbuck is a grown daniel-clone, or is in fact the child of the last surviving daniel post- cabils 'boxing with prejudice', who knows. Its so obviously starbuck that if it isn't, they will have to write hoops to explain what starbuck is.

Incidentally...I have a had a theory on starbuck being cylon for practically whole series...if only i had gone to bookmakers, since odds must no be stupidly short compared to what I could have got.

The only other possibilty for daniel is probably Baltar, since (a) his part in history has happened before adn will again, or (b) he is only other person actively involved in prophecies. Mind you..how they explain his 'levitation' when trying to get back into his reigious sanctuary without involving a real 'god' is going to be tricky.

[BrandonC]

@ Distant

Starbuck is NOT Daniel, sorry but no. THey went to great lengths to prove that in the episode. She is a religious figure in the series, "the harbinger of death". What she really is most likely wont be revealed until the finale.

RDM has already posted about it, he said that Daniel is not going to be revealed and he is done with the "who is the next Cylon?" subplot.

Daniel will not be in the series he is just a device used to illustrate how depraved John Cavil really is and what lengths he is willing to go to. ALthough I admit that your Baltar theory was pretty good.

[bob jones]

Starbuck isn't Daniel. Daniel is most likely her father. It would explain why she's special, the first hybrid.

As far as Zarek only wanting to kill Cylons, that his killing of the Quorum being out of character? Uh, NO! He's that same evil monster that wanted to kill Adama and Roslin on Kobol. Killing the Quorum fit perfectly with his character, when they(Quorum) didn't go along with the coup, why would he keep them alive? They'd be a constant thorn and hindrance to his new "presidency."

- Were the inhabitants of Earth Cylons (that is, synthetic)? Or were they just a human population that had lived apart from the 12 Colonies for a long time? If they were Cylons, then who created them? They were cyclons, skinjobs. It was clearly explained in the season 4.5 opener. The humans on Kobol made them. The rebelled, Kobol was destroyed. They went to earth, made cylons of their own, those Cylons revolted and they killed each other, except for the Final Five.

- Did the inhabitants of the 12 Colonies and those of Earth invent the Centurions independently? Or do the Centurions have a common origin? Seperate, just artificail life. The fact that there were both called Cylon points to the one true god.

- How exactly does Kobol fit into the whole Human/Cylon history? Who were the inhabitants of Kobol, and what happened to them? Kobol is where the humans/cyclons lived before the cylons of the 13th tribe revolted. Kobol humans founded the 12 colonies and the cylons the "13th tribe" founded "Earth."

- Who built the temple on the Algae Planet? The humans who founded the 12 colonies.

By the by, spoiler: The "13th tribe" isn't.

[bob jones]

Starbuck isn't Daniel. Daniel is most likely her father. It would explain why she's special, the first hybrid.

As far as Zarek only wanting to kill Cylons, that his killing of the Quorum being out of character? Uh, NO! He's that same evil monster that wanted to kill Adama and Roslin on Kobol. Killing the Quorum fit perfectly with his character, when they(Quorum) didn't go along with the coup, why would he keep them alive? They'd be a constant thorn and hindrance to his new "presidency."

- Were the inhabitants of Earth Cylons (that is, synthetic)? Or were they just a human population that had lived apart from the 12 Colonies for a long time? If they were Cylons, then who created them? They were cyclons, skinjobs. It was clearly explained in the season 4.5 opener. The humans on Kobol made them. The rebelled, Kobol was destroyed. They went to earth, made cylons of their own, those Cylons revolted and they killed each other, except for the Final Five.

- Did the inhabitants of the 12 Colonies and those of Earth invent the Centurions independently? Or do the Centurions have a common origin? Seperate, just artificail life. The fact that there were both called Cylon points to the one true god.

- How exactly does Kobol fit into the whole Human/Cylon history? Who were the inhabitants of Kobol, and what happened to them? Kobol is where the humans/cyclons lived before the cylons of the 13th tribe revolted. Kobol humans founded the 12 colonies and the cylons the "13th tribe" founded "Earth."

- Who built the temple on the Algae Planet? The humans who founded the 12 colonies.

By the by, spoiler: The "13th tribe" isn't.

[vikkitikkitavi]

If you really want to know who Daniel is, check out the character names for the IMDB listing for the next BSG series, "Caprica."

[Chris V]

The killing was definitely in character for Tom Zarek. He's a realist--he knows that ideals alone will never win, and the failed coup proved him right. If Gaeta had been willing to go along with the faster killing schedule that Zarek wanted (particularly executing Adama instantly), the coup would probably have succeeded, and Zarek would have become president, all the while sincerely believing that he had done the right thing.

[JR]

The Five arrived at the twelve colonies during the first cylon war. So Daniel in Caprica series cannot be a number 7. Caprica takes place before the humans of the 12 colonies created cylons.

[FoolPocket]

I agree that Starbuck is not the final Cylon. Any opinions that it might be Baltar? He certainly has some mental issues and could be viewed as overly sensitive. Besides, I never did buy the fact that he survived the initial attack on Caprica that killed the 6 and destroyed his house. Yet he walks away with hardly a scratch. That always seemed weird to me.

Also, what about Athena and Helo's child, I thought she was to have a bigger role in the whole human/cylon relationship.

Unless I missed something, Laura's revelations and visions with the opera house were never really explained either. So many questions and so little time left.

[bob jones]

@ vikki

Nope

[bob jones]

Everything will be explained. Moore stated so explicitly. There will be no "loose ends" in Caprica left over from BSG.

Daniel Graystone isn't a cylon, spoiler he creates the Cylons and becomes the first hybrid. He dies at the end of razor.

[TickleOnTheTum]

Here's my take on the whole mythology:

There was a race called humans on a planet called Kobal.
They invented artificial life, memory transfer and resurrection.
What they created rebelled and destroyed most of the humans.
The surviving humans & 'creations' went out and formed the 13 colonies.
Then they created their own 'robots', the Cylons.
The Cylons rebelled but had to flee.
The Cylons discovered Earth, and found the plans for creating 'organic' Cylons.
They created a new race of 'human Cylons'.
They attacked the 12 Colonies, and won.
Those that survived (human & Cylon) went out into space.
They eventually find Earth, but it is barren.
They then carry on and find 'New Earth', our Earth.
A handful survive to hide I our society.
Where they will live & breed.
One day we (human, Cylon, Earthman) will invernt machines that can think.
They will revolt...
The cycle repeats... forever!

[Aegaron]

Okay, just a thought. What if the humans are actually descendants of the Cylons? The 7 in the brig is pregnant with the first Cylon/Cylon child...what if the result is a Human child. That would mean that the God's of Kabal were Cylons that created a race of humans that created a race of cylons that...well you get my point. The cycle continues over and over.

[Juggler65]

First off, as much as I, and maybe many others, might like to put Zarek in some kind of positive light, (Maybe because it's Richard Hatch playing him), he has always seemed to me to be a devoted opportunist more than anything else, his narcissism only outmatched by Baltar. I found his actions entirely believable.

Just the way that Anders so simiply and emphatically said "Daniel died", leads me to believe that there will be no appearance, at least in the present tense, of Daniel. I don't know what Starbuck is, but she is not Daniel.

Given recent events aboard the Galactica, sparked by the issue surrounding the use of Cylon technology, Adama's reluctance to allow Galen to use it is somewhat understandable. But yes, the writing was on the wall before Adama noticed the cracks in his quarters. His hitting the bottle so hard, (With Tigh being sober no less!), might have been a bit much, but EJO sold it so well, it worked fine.

Redemption for Boomer? A happy reunion for her and Galen? We know how dark this show can be.

The scene with Lee and Laura was my favorite. Mary McDonnel is just flat out amazing. The only thing more heartbreaking than watching Laura slide toward her demise is having to see he go through it again.

It was a fantastic episode, and one of the best of the series.

[johnny]

So. Cylons are Christians ?