Editing Kendra Shaw

{{Character Data
 | title= Kendra Shaw
 | photo= KendraShaw.jpg
 | age=
 | colony={{RDM|Caprica}}
 | birthname=
 | callsign=
 | nickname=
 | seen= Razor
 | pseen=
 | death=Destroying the [[Guardian basestar]]
 | parents=[[Marta Shaw]]† (prior to the [[Fall of the Colonies]])
 | siblings=
 | children=
 | marital status=
 | role= Executive Officer of ''{{RDM|Pegasus}}''
 | rank= Major
 | actor= [[Stephanie Jacobsen]]
 | serial=706541<ref group="footnotes">This number comes from the serial number on [[:Image:Kendra Shaw's dogtags.jpg|her dog tag]].</ref>
|archives=kendra-shaw}}

'''Kendra Shaw''' is an officer from the [[Ministry of Defense]] who is assigned to ''{{RDM|Pegasus}}'' as [[Helena Cain]]'s aide when the battlestar puts in for an overhaul at the [[Scorpion Fleet Shipyards]]. She sees the assignment as a stepping stone to her real goal, which is Fleet Command. 

Shaw's mother, [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] delegate [[Marta Shaw]], recently died of cancer prior to the lieutenant's posting to ''Pegasus''. It is insinuated by Cain upon her first meeting with Shaw that she receives this posting due to her mother's influence. Shaw also claims to be a "lapsed Classics major" upon recognizing that [[Gina Inviere]]'s last name is old [[Gemenon|Gemenese]] for "resurrection".

Never having served on a battlestar before, she quickly draws Admiral Cain's attention, initially drawing her ire for reporting in late because she couldn't find her way to the CIC, as well as the deduction that Shaw was using the assignment as a step on the career ladder. During the crisis, she becomes one of Cain's most trusted officers — Cain sees in her a potential to become molded into a "razor". Cain's confidence in her abilities gets her promoted to captain.

== Service History ==

During the attack on what turns out to be a Cylon staging area, she discovers that Gina Inviere is a humanoid Cylon agent when she spots and kills a Six copy that was part of a Cylon boarding party. She confronts Inviere in the CIC and uses a surveillance camera to prove her point, prompting Inviere to attack the guards. Shaw knocks Inviere unconscious when she hesitates to shoot Cain.

=== The Scylla Incident ===

Together with Fisk, she leads a boarding party to the civilian ship ''[[Scylla]]'' in order to strip it of resources and suitable personnel. When the civilians are unwilling to cooperate, Shaw shoots one of them in order to coerce the others, which leads to the deaths of nine more.

== Under Lee Adama's Command ==

After Cain's death, she is not particularly liked by her succeeding commanding officers, [[Jack Fisk]] and [[Barry Garner]], because she does not give them her respect. Garner dislikes her so much that she is demoted and assigned to kitchen duty following his ascension to commanding officer.

Later, Commander {{callsign|Lee Adama}} chooses her to become his [[executive officer]] after taking command of the ship and promotes her to the rank of major, noting that she received glowing reports from Cain, but bad ones from Fisk and Garner. Adama appreciates her scathing honesty about him and his predecessors and chooses Shaw because he needs someone close to him who upholds Cain's legacy to the crew, despite his aversion for that legacy. 

Shaw proves to be a very hard but competent XO. Not unlike {{callsign|Starbuck}}, she is strong-willed and has some problems with authority, which leads the two to clash over various issues, particularly over her tactical decision that almost destroyed Thrace's and {{callsign|Showboat}}'s [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s during their first encounter with the [[Guardians]]. 

She is still haunted by her actions during Cain's command, especially the shooting on ''Scylla'', and tries to cope by taking drugs {{TRS|Razor}}.

== Final Mission ==

In the [[Battle of the Guardian Basestar|attack on the Guardian basestar]] she leads Starbuck, Sergeant [[Erin Mathias]] and several Marines to the basestar in order to rescue a captured Raptor crew. In a firefight with Centurions she is seriously wounded. Instead of being evacuated with the others, she decides to stay back and forces Starbuck to hand over a nuclear device at gunpoint. Shortly before detonating the weapon to destroy the basestar, she finds an [[First Hybrid|ancient Hybrid]], who addresses her by name. He knows or deduces her desire to seek forgiveness for her deeds and delivers a [[The Destiny|cryptic warning]] about Kara Thrace {{TRS|Razor}}.

== Character Analysis and Actress Commentary ==

=== Character Development and Psychology ===

According to actress [[Stephanie Jacobsen]], Shaw's character was fundamentally shaped by the traumatic events aboard ''Pegasus''. Jacobsen described Shaw as becoming "almost inhuman" through what she had "seen and done," noting that the character "never laughed, she never cried, she rarely even smiled, she seldom regretted anything."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_character_analysis">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=she%20never%20laughed.%20She%20never,without%20any%20nails|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

Jacobsen interpreted Shaw's relationship with [[Helena Cain]] through a psychological lens, explaining that "Cain replaced her mother" for Shaw.<ref group="commentary" name="ugo_jacobsen_cain_mother_relationship">{{cite web|url=http://galactica-station.blogspot.com/2007/11/battlestar-galactica-razor-stephanie.html#:~:text=Cain%20replaced%20her%20mother|title=Battlestar Galactica: Razor - Stephanie Jacobsen Interview|publisher=Galactica Station (sourced from UGO.com)|date=November 2007|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref> This maternal connection helped explain Shaw's unwavering loyalty to the Admiral, though Jacobsen emphasized that Shaw was "never that vulnerable" and wasn't seeking shelter like "a child looking for shelter."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_vulnerability">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=she%20was%20never%20that%20vulnerable,child%20looking%20for%20shelter|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

Regarding Shaw's transformation from the "bright eyed optimist" seen in early flashbacks, Jacobsen viewed this as an inevitable progression, explaining that Shaw "had sort of pledged herself to Cain sooner than" the pivotal ''[[Scylla]]'' incident.<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_character_progression">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=she%20had%20sort%20of%20pledged,sooner%20than%20that|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref> The significance of the ''Scylla'' incident was that "there was no coming back from it" - it represented Shaw going "past the point of no return."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_point_no_return">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=there%20was%20no%20coming%20back,point%20of%20no%20return|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

=== Moral Perspective ===

Jacobsen's interpretation of Shaw's moral framework provides insight into how the character justified her actions. Rather than viewing Shaw as inherently "dark," Jacobsen described her as "exceptionally decisive and functional: she was all about getting the job done, and getting it done succinctly."<ref group="commentary" name="tvcom_jacobsen_character_perception">{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/battlestar-galactica/forums/an-exclusive-interview-with-stephanie-jacobsen-the-star-of-razor-11046-880173/|title=An exclusive INTERVIEW with STEPHANIE JACOBSEN, the star of "Razor"!|publisher=TV.com|date=November 23, 2007|accessdate=August 14, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> From Shaw's perspective as "that Colonial officer, she felt that she was justified in everything she did" and that "every officer around her was justified in everything that they did as well."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_justification">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=as%20that%20Colonial%20officer%2C%20she,they%20did%20as%20well|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

=== Relationship Dynamics ===

==== Relationship with Gina Inviere ====

Shaw's relationship with [[Gina Inviere]] was more complex than initially apparent. According to Jacobsen's interpretation, Shaw "was curious about Gina" and "perceived Gina as a vulnerable point in Cain."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_gina_relationship">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=she%20was%20curious%20about%20Gina,vulnerable%20point%20in%20Cain|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref> Interestingly, she felt that "Shaw, one to one, liked Gina" because "Gina was effective, she was good at what she did, they got along."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_gina_liked">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=Shaw%2C%20one%20to%20one%2C%20liked,they%20got%20along|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

==== Relationship with Kara Thrace ====

Jacobsen's interpretation of the Shaw-Starbuck dynamic revealed that Shaw "never actually liked or disliked people" but "either respected them, or she didn't, and she respected Starbuck."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_starbuck_respect">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=Shaw%20never%20actually%20liked%20or,and%20she%20respected%20Starbuck|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref> However, the two characters were fundamentally "very different" - while Starbuck's core "was always very human and very noble," Shaw's was "quite cold and quite desensitized."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_starbuck_contrast">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=they%20were%20very%20different,quite%20cold%20and%20quite%20desensitized|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref> For Shaw, respect was "the closest thing to affection that she was capable of."<ref group="commentary" name="ugo_jacobsen_cain_relationship">{{cite web|url=http://galactica-station.blogspot.com/2007/11/battlestar-galactica-razor-stephanie.html#:~:text=the%20closest%20thing%20to%20affection,she%20was%20capable%20of|title=Battlestar Galactica: Razor - Stephanie Jacobsen Interview|publisher=Galactica Station (sourced from UGO.com)|date=November 2007|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

=== The Scylla Incident Analysis ===

According to Jacobsen's analysis, the ''Scylla'' incident represented Shaw's complete embrace of Cain's philosophy, demonstrating that "she was embracing Cain's mentality more readily than even some of her superior officers were."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_cain_mentality">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=she%20was%20embracing%20Cain%27s%20mentality,her%20superior%20officers%20were|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref> When Colonel [[Jack Fisk]] hesitated during the operation, Shaw did not, making a choice that showed her complete commitment to Cain's harsh methods.

=== Drug Use and Coping Mechanisms ===

Jacobsen explained that Shaw's drug use was simply "how she functioned for a while," rather than seeing it as a moral failing or weakness.<ref group="commentary" name="tvcom_jacobsen_character_perception" /> This interpretation frames Shaw's substance use as a functional coping mechanism rather than self-destructive behavior.

=== Redemption and Sacrifice ===

According to Jacobsen, Shaw's sacrifice was "creatively speaking, the best possible ending for her" because "that sacrifice at the very end was her redemption, it really, in a way, purified what she'd been through."<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_character_redemption">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=that%20sacrifice%20at%20the%20very,she%27d%20been%20through|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref> Shaw was designed as "a character who, in essence, was a temporal POV [Point of View]" for the events of "Razor," and it would have been narratively odd for her to continue beyond that story.<ref group="commentary" name="galacticatv_jacobsen_temporal_character">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/stephanie-jacobsen-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=was%20a%20character%20who%2C%20in,stuck%20around%20for%20season%20four|title=Stephanie Jacobsen GALACTICA.TV interview|publisher=GALACTICA.TV|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

==Notes==
*Shaw's [[Insignia (RDM)#Other patches|shoulder patch]] has been unseen in the series, but is apparently the same patch worn by the [[Armistice Officer]] in the [[Miniseries]]. It is yellow and reads "Ministry of Defense" at the top and "{{RDM|Kobol}} HQ" at the bottom. The "Kobol HQ" reference may be part of a last-minute change in the central storyline of an early Miniseries script, where the Twelve Colonies of Kobol were actually ''on'' Kobol until [[Ronald Moore]] rewrote the storyline to make the Colonies individual worlds for the final script.
*Despite being a major, she wears a colonel's [[Uniforms (RDM)|uniform]] with grey/red trim when she becomes the XO of ''Pegasus''. As shown on Doctor [[Cottle]] earlier, a major's uniform only has a grey trim.
*In early interviews, Shaw's surname was Taggart.
*Considering Shaw's high placement among Cain's crew, her absence during the events of the "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]"-"[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" story arc remain a mystery.
*[[Stephanie Jacobsen]] added the name "Chaves" (her mother's maiden name) to her credit during ''Home & Away'' as "a gesture of sentiment" since her grandmother lived in England where the show aired.<ref group="commentary" name="tvcom_jacobsen_name_explanation">{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/battlestar-galactica/forums/an-exclusive-interview-with-stephanie-jacobsen-the-star-of-razor-11046-880173/|title=An exclusive INTERVIEW with STEPHANIE JACOBSEN, the star of "Razor"!|publisher=TV.com|date=November 23, 2007|accessdate=August 14, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

== References ==

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

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

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{{succession box||before=Eventually, [[Jack Fisk]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''|after=Eventually, [[Anastasia Dualla]]}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shaw, Kendra}}

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[[de:Kendra Shaw]]