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{{Character Data
{{Character Data
| series=TOS
     |title= Apollo
     |title= Apollo
     |photo= ApolloLostPlanet.jpg
     |photo= ApolloLostPlanet.jpg
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Captain '''Apollo''' is ''{{TOS|Galactica}}''{{'|s}} lead {{TOS|Viper}} pilot, leading [[Blue Squadron]] in the defense of the [[The Fleet (TOS)|rag-tag, fugitive fleet]].
Captain '''Apollo''' is ''{{TOS|Galactica}}''{{'|s}} lead {{TOS|Viper}} pilot, leading [[Blue Squadron]] in the defense of the [[The Fleet (TOS)|rag-tag, fugitive fleet]].
As the eldest son of Commander {{TOS|Adama}}, Apollo carries the weight of leadership and the responsibility of protecting humanity's survivors in their search for [[Earth (TOS)|Earth]]. He represents the idealized [[Colonial Warrior]]: brave, principled, and dedicated to the survival of the human race.


=== The Peace Conference ===
=== The Peace Conference ===
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Apollo's team discovers Count [[Iblis]]. Apollo is wary of Iblis, especially due to the apparent threat against Adama's power {{OS|War of the Gods, Part I}}. Apollo later confronts Iblis, and ends up stepping in front of a blow meant for [[Sheba]]. Apollo is killed, but by doing so Iblis apparently oversteps his bounds and is forced to flee. Apollo is resurrected by the [[Beings of Light]], and returns to ''Galactica'' with Sheba and Starbuck {{OS|War of the Gods, Part II}}.
Apollo's team discovers Count [[Iblis]]. Apollo is wary of Iblis, especially due to the apparent threat against Adama's power {{OS|War of the Gods, Part I}}. Apollo later confronts Iblis, and ends up stepping in front of a blow meant for [[Sheba]]. Apollo is killed, but by doing so Iblis apparently oversteps his bounds and is forced to flee. Apollo is resurrected by the [[Beings of Light]], and returns to ''Galactica'' with Sheba and Starbuck {{OS|War of the Gods, Part II}}.


Apollo accompanies Starbuck to ''Rising Star'', where Starbuck plans to try a new {{TOS|Pyramid|Pyramid}} system. They discover [[Chameleon]], and inadvertently protect him from the [[Borellian Nomen]] that are [[Blood trail|pursuing him]] {{OS|The Man with Nine Lives}}.
Apollo accompanies Starbuck to ''Rising Star'', where Starbuck plans to try a new {{TOS|Pyramid|Pyramid}} system. They discover [[Chameleon]], and inadvertantly protect him from the [[Borellian Nomen]] that are [[Blood trail|pursuing him]] {{OS|The Man with Nine Lives}}.


Apollo and Boomer serve as Starbuck's "Protectors" (legal council) when he is framed for the murder of a [[Ortega|Colonial warrior]]. Apollo manages to get the [[Karibdis|real killer]] to reveal his entire plot while Boomer pipes in the audio so that the Tribunal can hear the confession {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star}}.
Apollo and Boomer serve as Starbuck's "Protectors" (legal council) when he is framed for the murder of a [[Ortega|Colonial warrior]]. Apollo manages to get the [[Karibdis|real killer]] to reveal his entire plot while Boomer pipes in the audio so that the Tribunal can hear the confession {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star}}.
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While out on patrol, Apollo is taken aboard a [[Ship of Lights]]. There, [[John]] recruits him to help the Terrans. Apollo poses as a [[Charlie Watts|Terran Nationalist]] to try to avert a war. With some help from Starbuck, ''Galactica'' ends up protecting the Nationalists from the Eastern Alliance missiles. Their attack thwarted, the Eastern Alliance is forced to consider peace as an option {{OS|Experiment in Terra}}.
While out on patrol, Apollo is taken aboard a [[Ship of Lights]]. There, [[John]] recruits him to help the Terrans. Apollo poses as a [[Charlie Watts|Terran Nationalist]] to try to avert a war. With some help from Starbuck, ''Galactica'' ends up protecting the Nationalists from the Eastern Alliance missiles. Their attack thwarted, the Eastern Alliance is forced to consider peace as an option {{OS|Experiment in Terra}}.


When Starbuck visits an [[Aurora (TOS)|old flame]] aboard the [[Celestra|electronics ship]], Apollo accompanies him. Shortly after they arrive, they find Aurora apparently involved in an ill-fated mutiny attempt. They accompany the [[Kronus|senior officer]] with the prisoners, taking a shuttle to ''Galactica'' for trial. The [[Charka|first officer]] has other plans, and attempts to strand their shuttle. With the help of the prisoners, the group manages to return to the electronics ship. They surprise the crew, and retake control of the ''Celestra'' {{OS|Take the Celestra}}.
When Starbuck visits an [[Aurora (TOS)|old flame]] aboard the [[Celestra|electronics ship]], Apollo accompanies him. Shortly after they arrive, they find Aurora apparently involved in an ill-fated mutiny attempt. They accompany the [[Kronus|senior officer]] with the prisoners, taking a shuttle to ''Galactica'' for trial. The [[Charka|first officer]] has other plans, and attempts to strand their shuttle. With the help of the prisoners, the group manages to return to the electronics ship. They suprise the crew, and retake control of the ''Celestra'' {{OS|Take the Celestra}}.


Apollo takes Starbuck, Cassiopeia, and Sheba up to the [[Celestial chamber]]. Inside, they discover an [[Gamma frequency]] old signal. With Boomer's help they trace the direction of the signal. Scouting in that direction, they discover a Cylon basestar, but manage to flee before being detected. Adama decides to engage the basestar. Apollo hatches a plan to use Baltar's raider to infiltrate the basestar and knock out its sensors. Apollo and Starbuck succeed in the mission, and ''Galactica'' destroys the basestar {{OS|The Hand of God}}.
Apollo takes Starbuck, Cassiopeia, and Sheba up to the [[Celestial chamber]]. Inside, they discover an [[Gamma frequency]] old signal. With Boomer's help they trace the direction of the signal. Scouting in that direction, they discover a Cylon basestar, but manage to flee before being detected. Adama decides to engage the basestar. Apollo hatches a plan to use Baltar's raider to infiltrate the basestar and knock out its sensors. Apollo and Starbuck succeed in the mission, and ''Galactica'' destroys the basestar {{OS|The Hand of God}}.
=== Tie-in Material Information ===
* ''According to ''[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]'' (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):''
: '''6525:''' Apollo is born. <ref name="EG13">{{cite book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=13}}</ref>
: Apollo is the eldest child of Adama, Councilor of Caprica, and Commander of the Battlestar ''Galactica''. <ref name="EG13" />
: After graduation from the Academy in 6560, he stayed on as a Viper pilot instructor until his transfer to the Battlestar ''Galactica''. <ref name="EG13" />
: He served with distinction during [[Thousand-Yahren War|the Great War]], rising to the rank of Captain, commanding [[Blue Squadron (TOS)|Blue Squadron]]. <ref name="EG13" />
: At age 45, he was awarded the [[Gold Cluster|Golden Cluster]] for extraordinary heroism during the [[Final annihilation|First Destruction]]. <ref name="EG13" />


==Family tree==
==Family tree==
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== Notes ==
== Notes ==


=== Character Conception and Portrayal ===
* Handpicked and sought after by [[Glen A. Larson]], Richard Hatch did not originally accept the Apollo role, finding the character to be too one-dimensional in the original drafts of "[[Saga of a Star World]]". However, changes to the script were made and he accepted the role of Apollo, which has fueled his life and dreams ever since.
According to ''[[So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica]]'', the casting of Captain Apollo proved to be a significant challenge for the production. The role, originally named Skyler, was envisioned as the traditional, straight-arrow heroic lead, a contrast to the more roguish Starbuck.<ref group="production" name="sswa_apollo_casting_challenge_traditional_hero">{{cite book/sswa|63}}</ref>


[[Richard Hatch]] was the network's choice for the role, a decision creator [[Glen A. Larson]] agreed with.<ref group="production" name="sswa_hatch_network_choice_larson_agreement">{{cite book/sswa|60}}</ref> However, Hatch initially turned down the audition. A fan of ''[[Star Wars]]'', he was wary of what he feared would be a second-rate television imitation.<ref group="production" name="sswa_hatch_initial_reluctance_star_wars_concern">{{cite book/sswa|61}}</ref> It wasn't until about a week before shooting began, with the role still uncast, that Larson took Hatch to dinner and personally offered him the part. Larson described the show as a combination of the character-driven dramas ''[[w:Wagon_Train|Wagon Train]]'' and ''[[w:Family_(1976_TV_series)|Family]]'', which convinced Hatch to join the production.<ref group="production" name="sswa_larson_dinner_wagon_train_family_comparison">{{cite book/sswa|62-63}}</ref> He was on set filming just 24 hours later.<ref group="production" name="sswa_hatch_filming_twenty_four_hours_later">{{cite book/sswa|63}}</ref>
* In early script drafts, the Apollo character was named "Skyler"; many believe the name was changed to "Apollo" to avoid similarities with the name "[[Wikipedia:Luke Skywalker|Skywalker]]". According to the DVD commentary track for "[[Saga of a Star World]]" done by Richard Hatch, the name was changed days into shooting, and the dialogue had to be re-looped.  
 
[[Richard Hatch]], who portrayed Apollo throughout the original series, brought considerable intellectual depth to his interpretation of the character. Speaking to ''Starlog'' magazine about his approach to Apollo, Hatch explained his vision:<blockquote>"I see Apollo as an idealized character. Through him, I'd like to show the sensitive side of a strong man. He's as much a Renaissance man as I can make him. And he's an evolved man. He's gained an advanced perspective of life through living and through learning from thousands of years of social evolution."<ref name="houston_starlog_hatch_apollo_idealized_renaissance_character" group="commentary">{{cite magazine|last=Houston|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|year=1978|month=December|title=Two Crazy Kind of Guys|magazine=Starlog|volume=|issue=|pages=29|id=|url=|accessdate=}}</ref></blockquote>Hatch further elaborated on the complexity he sought to bring to Apollo's characterization: <blockquote>"He's down-to-earth, able to learn from the past and see the present in a rational way. I don't mean he's stoic — merely, perspicacious. He has a strong sense of responsibility, and he cares about the people he deals with. Even though he lives in a highly complicated, highly evolved, mechanized society, there's a simplicity about him, a certain naivete. He has a strong sense of values and he really believes in honesty and truth."<ref name="houston_starlog_hatch_apollo_character_complexity_values" group="commentary">{{cite magazine|last=Houston|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|year=1978|month=December|title=Two Crazy Kind of Guys|magazine=Starlog|volume=|issue=|pages=29|id=|url=|accessdate=}}</ref></blockquote>Throughout the series, Hatch expressed some frustration that the character of [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]] often received more of the fun and multi-dimensional storylines, leaving Apollo to drive the main plot as the straightforward leader.<ref name="sswa_hatch_frustration_starbuck_storylines_apollo_limitations" group="production">{{cite book/sswa|135-136}}</ref> He often discussed with the writers how to give Apollo more depth and challenge him as an actor.<ref name="sswa_hatch_writers_discussions_character_depth" group="production">{{cite book/sswa|137}}</ref> This desire for a more complex character was something the writers started to incorporate toward the end of the first season, balancing Apollo's serious nature with more romance and humor.<ref name="sswa_writers_incorporation_complexity_romance_humor" group="production">{{cite book/sswa|137}}</ref>
 
=== Absence from ''Galactica 1980'' and Comparison to Re-imagined Series ===
When the spin-off ''[[Galactica 1980]]'' was being developed, Richard Hatch was approached to reprise his role. However, upon reading the script, he discovered that the character names had already been changed to [[Dillon]] and [[Troy (1980)|Troy]]. This led him to believe that the production had already decided to move on from the original characters, and he declined to participate.<ref group="production" name="sswa_hatch_galactica_1980_character_names_decline">{{cite book/sswa|244}}</ref> Hatch's only appearance in ''1980'' is in a family photo that Dillon and Troy handle, where it is established that Troy is the proper name for [[Boxey (TOS)|Boxey]].
 
The original Apollo contrasts significantly with his [[Lee Adama|re-imagined counterpart]], Lee "Apollo" Adama. The 1978 character was conceived as the "straight-arrow heroic lead," a classic archetype.<ref group="production" name="sswa_original_apollo_straight_arrow_heroic_archetype">{{cite book/sswa|63}}</ref> The [[Re-imagined Series]], however, presented a more complex figure on a "voyage of self-discovery."<ref group="production" name="sswa_reimagined_apollo_voyage_self_discovery">{{cite book/sswa|479}}</ref> Actor [[Jamie Bamber]], who played Lee Adama, noted that with the re-imagined, female [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] taking on the "traditional role of the young masculine lead," his character was left in a "vacuum." This forced Lee Adama's journey to be one of redefining masculinity and finding his own identity outside of the conventional hero trope.<ref group="production" name="sswa_bamber_starbuck_masculinity_vacuum_identity">{{cite book/sswa|483}}</ref>
 
=== Additional Details ===
 
* In early script drafts, the Apollo character was named "Skyler"; many believe the name was changed to "Apollo" to avoid similarities with the name "[[Wikipedia:Luke Skywalker|Skywalker]]." According to the DVD commentary track for "[[Saga of a Star World]]" done by Richard Hatch, the name was changed days into shooting, and the dialogue had to be re-looped. [[Leslie Stevens]]' unproduced script, "[[The Beta Pirates]]," also features this spelling.  


* Apollo is the lead character of the series, and one of only five characters to be featured in every episode.
* Apollo is the lead character of the series, and one of only five characters to be featured in every episode.


* Richard Hatch returned for the new series as [[Tom Zarek]], a political prisoner that rose to the position of Vice President of the [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol|Twelve Colonies]].  He was a recurring character for all four years of the show.
* According to the [[non-canon]]ical ''[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]'', Apollo was 45 [[yahren]] old at the [[Battle of Cimtar]]. He is said to have graduated from the Academy when he was 35, thus  serving as a full-fledged Warrior for 10 yahren.<ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=13}}</ref> Prior to his assignment to ''{{TOS|Galactica}}'', Apollo was a {{TOS|Viper}} pilot instructor at the Academy.<ref>''Ibid.'', 14.</ref>
* Richard Hatch returned for the new series as Tom Zarek a political prisoner that rose to the position of Vice President of the Twelve Colonies.  He was a recurring character for all four years of the show before the character was executed for mutiny and treason.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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== References ==
== References ==


=== Commentary and Interviews ===
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|group=commentary}}
 
=== Production History ===
{{reflist|group=production}}


=== Footnotes ===
{{Characters (TOS)}}
{{reflist|group=footnotes}}


{{Tabnav
{{#related:Leland Adama}}
| series = TOS|Characters
| episode1 = Saga of a Star World
}}{{#related:Leland Adama}}
{{#related:Thomas Zarek}}
{{#related:Thomas Zarek}}


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[[Category:Characters (TOS)]]
[[Category:Characters (TOS)]]
[[Category:Main Characters (TOS)]]
[[Category:Main Characters (TOS)]]
{{indicator|TOS}}
[[Category:TOS]]
 
[[de:Apollo (TOS)]]
[[de:Apollo (TOS)]]
[[fr:Apollo (LSO)]]
[[fr:Apollo (LSO)]]


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