Editing Elosha

{{Character Data
|photo= Elosha1.jpg
|series=TRS
|birthname=Elosha
|callsign=
|seen= Miniseries
|lastseen=Home, Part II
|death= Killed on {{RDM|Kobol}}, c. {{ACH|1}} {{TRS|Home, Part II}}
|role=Priest, Colonial Fleet / Spiritual Advisor to [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]]
|actor= [[Lorena Gale]]
}}

'''Elosha''' is a [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol|Colonial]] priest present at the decommissioning ceremonies for ''{{RDM|Galactica}}'', and later serves as the Fleet's primary religious leader and spiritual advisor to [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]].

== Early Role in the Fleet ==

At the time of the [[Cylon Attack|Cylon attack]], Elosha is aboard ''[[Colonial Heavy 798]]'', returning to [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] with other attendees of ''{{RDM|Galactica}}'''s decommissioning ceremony. When word comes that President of the Twelve Colonies [[Richard Adar]] and the rest of his cabinet have been wiped out, Elosha administers the oath of office to Secretary of Education [[Laura Roslin]], making her President of the Twelve Colonies {{TRS|Miniseries, Night 1}}.<ref group="companion" name="bassom_companion_presidential_oath">{{Cite book|author=David Bassom|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=1845760972|page=31}}</ref> <blockquote>The ceremony is deliberately designed to mirror Lyndon B. Johnson's historic inauguration as US President aboard Air Force One in 1963.<ref group="companion" name="bassom_companion_johnson_parallel">{{Cite book|author=David Bassom|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=1845760972|page=31}}</ref></blockquote>Following the Fleet's escape from the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] at [[Ragnar Anchorage]], Elosha presides over the funeral service aboard ''Galactica'' for the ship's dead. With the crew suffering from shock and low morale, Commander [[William Adama]] enlists Elosha's knowledge of the [[Sacred Scrolls]] and the legend of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] to give his people hope {{TRS|Miniseries, Night 2}}. She later presides over the Service for the Dead for the seven ''Galactica'' pilots lost in a freak accident during a celebration in the port [[hangar deck]] {{TRS|Act of Contrition}}.

== Crisis of Faith and Spiritual Awakening ==

While keeping it from others, Elosha struggles with a personal crisis of faith. Though she is well-versed in the Sacred Scrolls and the history of the Thirteen Tribes of {{RDM|Kobol}}, she does not entirely believe in the truth of either {{TRS|Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I}}. Her faith is renewed when she is called to ''[[Colonial One]]'' to speak with [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] and learns that Roslin is having visions, one which mirrors the writings of [[Pythia]], an ancient [[oracle]] {{TRS|The Hand of God (RDM)}}.

Inspired by their mutual spiritual awakening, Elosha becomes Roslin's confidante and spiritual advisor, helping Roslin discern the meanings of her visions {{TRS|Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I}}. She becomes the fourth person to know of Roslin's terminal cancer, which confirms in Elosha's eyes Roslin's role as "[[Sacred Scrolls#The Dying Leader|the dying leader]]" in prophecy {{TRS|Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I}}.

== Final Mission and Death ==

[[File:Home_pt1_mourning.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Roslin, et al. mourn the loss of Elosha on Kobol.]]

After Roslin's escape from incarceration on ''Galactica'' following her arrest in a military coup, Elosha accompanies her on a Raptor piloted by [[Lee Adama]] to the ''[[Astral Queen]]''. She is visibly uncomfortable when Roslin decides to play "the religious card" to persuade 24 ships of the Fleet to follow her to Kobol {{TRS|The Farm}}.

While plans are drawn above Kobol to explore the planet, Elosha mentions the Scrolls say [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies#The Lords of Kobol|Zeus]] warns any return to Kobol would [[Sacred Scrolls#Kobol and the Blood Price|exact a price in blood]]. Once on Kobol, Elosha triggers an antipersonnel landmine left by [[Cylon Centurion|Cylon Centurions]] while examining an ancient gravestone marker on the path towards the [[Gates of Hera]] and the [[Tomb of Athena]], and is killed instantly. Roslin takes Elosha's scorched copy of the Sacred Scrolls and sadly continues her journey without her {{TRS|Home, Part I}}.{{clear}}

== In Roslin's Visions ==

During the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon rebel]] baseship's pursuit of the [[Resurrection Hub]], Roslin experiences visions featuring Elosha at each [[Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series|FTL jump]]. In these visions, Elosha guides her through an empty ''Galactica'' and shows Roslin her death from cancer. Elosha tries to teach her to love, and convinces her to save [[Gaius Baltar]], who is seriously wounded during the battle. Elosha also helps Roslin realize ''Galactica'' is her home now, and acknowledge her feelings toward William Adama {{TRS|The Hub}}.

== Character Development ==

=== Background and History ===

According to actress [[Lorena Gale]]'s interpretation of the character based on various scripts, Elosha had served on the [[Quorum of Twelve]] for approximately twenty years and was present on ''Galactica'' to "cut the tape" at the decommissioning ceremony.<ref name="podcast">[http://scifitalk.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=18387 SCI-FI TALK, Lorena Gale - Battlestar Galactica]</ref> In her backstory, Elosha had been a "wild child" and a "juvenile delinquent," given a choice between reform school and the monastery. She chose the monastery, where they "do a lot of drugs," referring to [[Chamalla|chamalla]].<ref name="podcast" /> This background informed her deep knowledge of the scriptures and her understanding of human nature.

=== Relationship with President Roslin ===

Elosha's most significant relationship is with President Roslin, whom she serves as spiritual guide and confidante. Their bond deepens when Roslin begins experiencing prophetic visions that align with ancient scriptures. Elosha sees Roslin as fulfilling the prophecy of "the dying leader" who will guide humanity to the promised land, and becomes instrumental in helping Roslin understand and accept this role.

== Behind the Scenes ==

=== Character Development ===

The role of Elosha underwent significant evolution during development. Initially conceived as "an eighty-year-old wizened male priest," the character was later offered to [[Richard Hatch]], who played Apollo in the [[Original Series]]. When Hatch declined the role, it was rewritten for a female actress.<ref group="companion" name="bassom_companion_elosha_development">{{Cite book|author=David Bassom|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=1845760972|pages=53, 133}}</ref>

=== Casting Process ===

Despite the casting agents initially looking for a male actor, they decided to have [[Lorena Gale]] audition for the unusual role. "At the time I did the audition, I assumed I wouldn't get the role and I didn't know the Battlestar Galactica miniseries was a pilot for a series," Gale recalled. "So everything was a bonus for me when I was offered the part."<ref group="companion" name="bassom_companion_elosha_casting">{{Cite book|author=David Bassom|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=1845760972|page=133}}</ref>

=== Actress's Interpretation ===

Actress Lorena Gale viewed Elosha as "a tough woman who has a great sense of depth and spirituality" and believed she became important because she "represents organized religion."<ref group="companion" name="bassom_companion_elosha_character">{{Cite book|author=David Bassom|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=1845760972|pages=133-134}}</ref> Gale saw the role as an opportunity to play a strong female character and explore her own real-life spirituality.

She especially enjoyed developing Elosha's relationship with President Roslin. "I loved the idea that Elosha is Laura's spiritual guide," she explained. "In a way the role gave me a chance to honor the nun who was once my spiritual advisor, but is no longer with us. She was this tough old broad from California who didn't become a nun until she was fifty, so she understood why things happened in people's lives a lot more than some other people in the spiritual world."<ref group="companion" name="bassom_companion_elosha_roslin">{{Cite book|author=David Bassom|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=1845760972|page=134}}</ref>

== References ==

=== Companion Sources ===
{{reflist|group="companion"}}

=== Other Sources ===
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://scifitalk.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=18387 Podcast conversation] with Lorena Gale on Sci-Fi Talk (about 24 minutes, BSG talk near the beginning, no spoilers)

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