Editing Daniel Novacek

{{Character Data
|photo= TRS - Hero - Daniel Novacek.jpg
|age=
|colony= 
|birthname= Daniel Novacek
|nickname= Dan, Danny
|callsign= Bulldog 
|seen= Hero
|rank=Senior Lieutenant
|actor= [[Carl Lumbly]]
|sortkey=Novacek, Daniel
|sepcon=y
}}

Lieutenant '''Daniel "Bulldog" Novacek''' is a pilot who served under then-Commander [[William Adama]] aboard the [[Valkyrie type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Valkyrie]]'', approximately {{BCH|6}}<ref group="footnotes" name="hero_timeline_continuity">While dialogue from "Hero" places these events at 1 BCH, this contradicts previously established dates about the time Adama and others served on ''Galactica''. See [[Hero#Analysis]] for a detailed explanation why ''Battlestar Wiki'' chooses to treat this as a continuity error.</ref>. Novacek had family on [[Scorpia]], including his mother who had recently moved to [[Aerilon]] to a retirement community.<ref group="production" name="eick_hero_script_family_background">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 24, script page 19}}</ref>  

Novacek was part of a covert mission from the admiralty of the [[Colonial Fleet (TRS)|Colonial Fleet]] as the sole pilot of a special fighter known as a [[Stealthstar]]. The mission was to fly over the [[Armistice Line]] for reconnaissance of [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] activity.

Upon crossing the Line, Novacek was quickly interdicted by an [[Raider (RDM)|unknown contact]]. Under fire, his fighter is severely damaged and was spinning out of control.

With two more unknown craft bearing down on him, Commander Adama ordered Novacek's fighter destroyed so as to eliminate any evidence of their incursion into Cylon space. Novacek ejected a split second before the incoming missile struck, and is subsequently captured and imprisoned by the Cylons {{TRS|Hero}}.

== The Escape ==

[[File:Season 3 - Promo - Hero - Novacek.jpg|180px|thumb|left|Novacek as a prisoner of war.]]

Around {{ACH|3}}, Novacek is permitted to escape his imprisonment as part of an elaborate ruse by the Cylons. Two Raiders in pursuit of Novacek's escape Raider were apparently unable to shoot Novacek down. As {{callsign|Starbuck}} later discovered, the Cylons deliberately missed an obvious kill shot, allowing him to escape and bring a measure of terror to the admiral. 

Shortly after telling Novacek of Adama's actions, [[Saul Tigh]] finds Novacek in the process of killing Adama. After stopping him, Tigh berates Novacek for almost giving the Cylons the assassination they wanted.

Later, Novacek boards a [[Raptor]] to start a new life on a civilian ship. Admiral Adama presents Novacek with a [[Uniforms (RDM)|Colonial uniform]] and assures him he will always have a place as an officer on ''Galactica'' {{TRS|Hero}}.

His fate thereafter remains unclear.

== Notes ==

=== Production History ===

[[David Eick]]'s video blog "Introducing Bulldog"<ref group="external" name="eick_bulldog_video_blog_introducing">{{cite_web|url=http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/video/index.php?cat=videoBlog&vid=34824|title=Introducing Bulldog|date=2006-10-11|publisher=Sci Fi Channel|archive=Y}}</ref> revealed that after agreeing to the role, [[Carl Lumbly]] stated that he wanted to keep his dreadlocks, much to the bemusement of director [[Michael Rymer]].

In early drafts Novacek's first name was Seamus<ref group="commentary" name="moore_hero_podcast_seamus_first_name">{{cite rdm podcast|episode=Hero|act=3|id=seamus|timestamp=00:32:06|totalrunning=00:47:05}}</ref> and then Eugene.<ref group="production" name="companion_season3_novacek_eugene_name_change">{{cite companion|season=3|page=58}}</ref> When [[Cottle]] checks if Novacek is a Cylon, the computer screen shows Novacek's first name to be Eugene, an on-screen remnant of the prior name before its change to Daniel.

[[Michael Rymer]] considered [[Dennis Haysbert]] for the role of Novacek.<ref group="production" name="companion_season3_novacek_haysbert_consideration" />

=== From Script to Screen ===

[[File:TRS - Hero - Eugene Novacek.jpg|thumb|A remnant for the Novacek's earlier first name before its change to Daniel by production {{TRS|Hero}}]]

Comparing the "Hero" script to the final aired episode reveals several significant differences:

* An extensive scene between Admiral [[Peter Corman]] and Adama establishing the mission's political context and reconnaissance objectives appears in the screenplay<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_corman_adama_briefing_political_context">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 14, script page 8}}</ref> but was omitted from the aired episode, which conveys the mission background through dialogue and flashbacks instead.

* Detailed descriptions of Novacek's imprisonment include extended sequences about the [[Aaron Doral|Doral]] deception where Novacek believed Doral was a fellow prisoner for over a year, only to discover he was a Cylon when another identical copy walked in. The script describes Novacek being forced to play psychological "games," including being handed an empty gun and told to kill Doral or be killed himself.<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_novacek_doral_psychological_torture_games">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 17, script page 11-12}}</ref> These sequences were significantly condensed in the aired version, likely for pacing and broadcast standards.

* The screenplay consistently uses "Daniel" for Novacek's first name throughout, indicating the name change from earlier drafts (Seamus, then Eugene) had been finalized by the October 2006 version, despite the on-screen computer display error showing "Eugene" in the final episode.

* More extensive dialogue during Tigh's confrontation with Novacek includes detailed explanations of Cylon manipulation tactics and Tigh's analysis of how Novacek was "played" by the Cylons.<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_tigh_novacek_confrontation_cylon_manipulation">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 50, script page 42}}</ref> The aired episode streamlines this confrontation while maintaining the core dramatic beats.

* An extended conversation between Tigh and Novacek about their shared military past was removed from the final version, including Novacek's reference to a woman called "[[Eileen the Machine]]" whom he describes as having "no front teeth" and being a "gift" to Tigh during their earlier service together.<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_tigh_novacek_eileen_machine_conversation">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 30, script page 29}}</ref> This dialogue provided insight into the military culture and personal relationships between the characters during their ''Valkyrie'' service.

* Novacek's family background receives more detailed treatment in the script, including specific mention of his mother's recent move from [[Scorpia]] to [[Aerilon]] and his emotional reaction to learning of the Colonies' destruction.<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_novacek_family_background_scorpia_aerilon">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 24, script page 19}}</ref>

== References ==

=== Footnotes ===
{{reflist|group=footnotes}}

=== Script References ===
{{reflist|group=script}}

=== Production History ===
{{reflist|group=production}}

=== Commentary and Interviews ===
{{reflist|group=commentary}}

=== External Sources and Reviews ===
{{reflist|group=external}}

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