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A '''series bible''' is a guidebook written by the creator(s) of a TV show so that all writers will know the general outline of the show; it contains the backstories of the characters and outlines the in-series universe. Typically, it contains information that might not actually be revealed to the audience until later, but is known to the writers from the start, so they won't make any conflicting new stories. | A '''series bible''' is a guidebook written by the creator(s) of a TV show so that all writers will know the general outline of the show; it contains the backstories of the characters and outlines the in-series universe. Typically, it contains information that might not actually be revealed to the audience until later, but is known to the writers from the start, so they won't make any conflicting new stories. | ||
== The Re-Imagined Series bible == | == The Re-Imagined Series bible == | ||
The [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|re-imagined Battlestar Galactica]] series bible was written by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron D. Moore]] after the [[Miniseries]] during a hiatus and was completed on 17 December 2003<ref>{{cite_book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|pages=41|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|location=|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref> before production on the regular series began. It has not been released in its entirety, nor will it probably, as it still contains much information not yet revealed on screen. However, the series bible is not necessarily definitive, as sometimes the writing team may decide something different must be done in a script than was originally outlined. Still, so long as nothing new is made that conflicts with the bible, it contains the real backstories for the characters and basic plot outline for the future of the show. | |||
For example, RDM has said in his season 1 podcast that, according to the series bible, [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] used to be a [[pyramid (RDM)|pyramid]] player, intending to play professionally, but got a knee injury and had to drop out and find a new direction for her life. Several episodes later, in "[[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]" Starbuck states on screen that she used to play pyramid but a knee injury forced her to stop. | |||
RDM often refers to information from the series bible in the podcasts (usually, things he wanted to put onscreen but could not). Another example is Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]; RDM has stated that his series bible entry says he was a young Petty Officer not unlike Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] when during the [[Cylon War]] his ship, ''[[Brenik]]'', was boarded and the fighting with [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|Cylons]] was some of the bloodiest of the war, devolving into hand to hand combat. | |||
Later, Tigh was stationed on another ship which was also lost, and then he was dragooned into officer school to become a [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] pilot when Colonial numbers started running low. The series bible also fully described his poor relationship with his wife, [[Ellen Tigh]]. Originally, all the viewers would ever see of this relationship was that it (combined with Tigh's horrific war experience) had driven Tigh to alcoholism as seen in the beginning of the Miniseries, also when Tigh is burning her face out of a photo. Orignally, this was supposed to be all viewers actually saw of Ellen Tigh. However, other writers read the full description of her in the series bible, and subsequently thought she'd make a good character, and thus "resurrected" her in "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]". | |||
RDM previously indicated considering releasing the series bible, as "a lot of the background information on the characters is starting to come out in both Seasons One and Two, so there might come a point where I'd let the bible be put out there for public consumption."<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://blog.scifi.com/battlestar/archives/2005/03/index.html#a000023|title=RDM Blog|date=12 March 2005|accessdate=6 March 2007|last=Moore|first=Ronald D.|format=|language=}}</ref> As of the closing of [[Season 3 (2006-07)|season three]], this has not come to pass. | |||
Several lines from the series bible are briefly shown during ''[[Battlestar Galactica: The Lowdown (Season 1)|Battlestar Galactica: The Lowdown]]''. The images show that the series bible has sections on the Religion and the Culture and Society of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonials]]. | |||
== Excerpt == | |||
The following are lines seen during ''Battlestar Galactica: The Lowdown'': | |||
:Our show is built… | |||
:1. Series Arcs | |||
:2. Multi-episode Arcs | |||
:3. Episode Arcs | |||
:The series arc run through the life of the show… | |||
:pursuit of our fleet, while the Multi-Episode Arcs… | |||
:specific crises lay on one planet discovered by… | |||
:closed-end (unclear) for each show and giving… | |||
:episode. By employing the structure, we gain… | |||
:on the existing… | |||
:and… | |||
:the… | |||
:the… | |||
:The key… | |||
:Galactica lives in a perpetual state… | |||
:And where terrorist bombs, murders, rebellions,… | |||
:Routines of day to day life. There are no days for… | |||
:Approaching the quiet normal existence they once… | |||
:The series is about a chase. | |||
:Let the chase begin. | |||
:…The centuries according to… | |||
:…governmental structure existed… | |||
:…events of the Cylon War. | |||
:Religion | |||
:The colonies have a poly-theistic belief… | |||
:…God-like beings on the planet Kobol… | |||
:…thanks to or ask for blessings from the… | |||
:…how many there are is not yet known… | |||
:…and Roman gods of Earth (this linkage… | |||
:…roots to those of Colonial society,… | |||
:…from the same homeworld, namely Kobol… | |||
:Religious belief and practice varies from co… | |||
:…completely secular and others verging on… | |||
:There is a formal body of priests and clerics… | |||
:…now operates in a quasi-civil role within the C… | |||
:…to the British House of Lords. At the name imp… | |||
:…representatives from each of the Colonies. The… | |||
:…government on policy, matters from religious… | |||
:…relatively narrow. | |||
:Culture and Society | |||
:Colonial society is very similar to 21st… | |||
:…a parallel world for all intents and… | |||
:…professional sports, they… | |||
:…bureaucracies… | |||
==Sky One Biographies== | ==Sky One Biographies== | ||
The first evidence of this was that [[Richard Adar|President Adar's]] first name is given as "Richard" in Laura Roslin's biography, obviously long before Adar's first name was mentioned on screen. Further | The following are bio information from Sky One's website which was later removed. It has now become apparent that they were based on information from the original Series Bible. | ||
The first evidence of this was that [[Richard Adar|President Adar's]] first name is given as "Richard" in Laura Roslin's biography, obviously long before Adar's first name was mentioned on screen. | |||
In addition, the description of [[William Adama|Admiral Adama's]] mother as an accountant named Evelyn was later confirmed in the [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] episode "[[Hero]]". | |||
The description of Gaius Baltar coming from a farming family has now being confirmed as well. [[Ronald D. Moore]] confirmed in the podcast for the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]" that according to the Series Bible, Baltar grew up a farmer's son in a rural community. Moore also confirmed that originally Baltar was suppose to be from [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Sagittaron|Sagittaron]]. Further in the podcast for "[[Maelstrom]]," Moore confirms that according to the Series Bible [[Kara Thrace]] grew up on several colonies on account of her mother being a sergeant major in the [[Colonial Marine Corps|Colonial Marines]] (although the [[:Image:SocrataThraceLetter.jpg|letter]] she receives lists her, maybe incorrectly, as Corporal). | |||
===William Adama=== | ===William Adama=== | ||
| Line 45: | Line 104: | ||
:''When Zak died during a training flight. Lee confronted his father and laid blame for his younger brother's death.'' | :''When Zak died during a training flight. Lee confronted his father and laid blame for his younger brother's death.'' | ||
===Laura Roslin=== | ===Laura Roslin=== | ||
According to Sky One, Roslin was born in | According to Sky One, Roslin was born in Caprica City. Her father and two sisters were killed by a drunk driver and she came to the attention of Richard Adar after she earned a Teacher of the Year award. | ||
Here is Sky One's summary of Roslin: | Here is Sky One's summary of Roslin: | ||
| Line 66: | Line 123: | ||
:''Laura wanted to return to teaching but her loyalties to Adar would find herself fulfilling her political role. Her desire for a quiet life changed when she came under scrutiny and was accused of corruption in the Seacade District Scandal. Adar stood by her and eventually the scandal subsided.'' | :''Laura wanted to return to teaching but her loyalties to Adar would find herself fulfilling her political role. Her desire for a quiet life changed when she came under scrutiny and was accused of corruption in the Seacade District Scandal. Adar stood by her and eventually the scandal subsided.'' | ||
===Kara "Starbuck" Thrace=== | ===Kara "Starbuck" Thrace=== | ||
According to Sky One, Thrace was born on Picon but raised all over the Twelve Colonies. Her mother was a | According to Sky One, Thrace was born on Picon but raised all over the Twelve Colonies. Her mother was a Sergeant Major in the Colonial [[Marines]] and a decorated veteran of the [[First Cylon War]]. Her father was named Dreilide, and is described as a "frustrated" musician. | ||
Here is Sky One's summary of Thrace: | Here is Sky One's summary of Thrace: | ||
| Line 76: | Line 131: | ||
:''Starbuck is Commander Adama's best pilot, as well as flight partner and closest comrade to Apollo, Adama's estranged son.'' | :''Starbuck is Commander Adama's best pilot, as well as flight partner and closest comrade to Apollo, Adama's estranged son.'' | ||
:''Kara Thrace was born on the Picon | :''Kara Thrace was born on the Picon Colony, but raised all over the 12 Colonies. Her childhood was spent bouncing from one military outpost to another. Her mother was a sergeant major in the Colonial Marines, and a decorated veteran of the Cylon war. Her father, Dreilide, was a frustrated musician.'' | ||
:''Kara was a tough minded-child who dreamed of playing Pyramid in the big leagues someday. her mother wanted her to pursue a career in the military...Kara did not want this, so signed up to the academy to pursue her love of sports.'' | :''Kara was a tough minded-child who dreamed of playing Pyramid in the big leagues someday. her mother wanted her to pursue a career in the military...Kara did not want this, so signed up to the academy to pursue her love of sports.'' | ||
| Line 84: | Line 139: | ||
:''She would be a pilot for life - unless she got kicked out first, as Kara hated taking orders and military protocol. If that wasn't enough, Kara drank and gambled too much. While her academic and personal life was not first class, it couldn't be disputed that she was destined to fly.'' | :''She would be a pilot for life - unless she got kicked out first, as Kara hated taking orders and military protocol. If that wasn't enough, Kara drank and gambled too much. While her academic and personal life was not first class, it couldn't be disputed that she was destined to fly.'' | ||
:''Kara served her first tour aboard the | :''Kara served her first tour aboard the Battlestar Triton, but she was not admired by all, and soon found herself shipped back to where she started.'' | ||
:''This is where she met Zak Adama, and fell in love. Tragedy struck when Zak failed a key flight test and his plane crashed. Kara was devastated. She then spent two years on | :''This is where she met Zak Adama, and fell in love. Tragedy struck when Zak failed a key flight test and his plane crashed. Kara was devastated. She then spent two years on the Galactica - concentrating on her flying.'' | ||
===Lee "Apollo" Adama=== | |||
=== | |||
Here is Sky One's summary of Lee Adama: | Here is Sky One's summary of Lee Adama: | ||
| Line 96: | Line 149: | ||
:''Lee was born and raised on the colony of Caprica, where his family were born. A headstrong, scrappy boy, he was forever getting into fights at school.'' | :''Lee was born and raised on the colony of Caprica, where his family were born. A headstrong, scrappy boy, he was forever getting into fights at school.'' | ||
:''His parents divorced when he was just eight and his younger brother Zak was raised by their mother. His father visited him when he could, but military life often took him away for long periods. Nevertheless, both boys grew up | :''His parents divorced when he was just eight and his younger brother Zak was raised by their mother. His father visited him when he could, but military life often took him away for long periods. Nevertheless, both boys grew up worshipping this distant figure.'' | ||
:''Lee always wanted to be a pilot; to follow in his father's footsteps and join the fleet. He studied hard at school, aced his entrance exams to the academy and graduated third in his class. But the boy's hero-worship eventually turned to resentment, and neither knew how to repair it.'' | :''Lee always wanted to be a pilot; to follow in his father's footsteps and join the fleet. He studied hard at school, aced his entrance exams to the academy and graduated third in his class. But the boy's hero-worship eventually turned to resentment, and neither knew how to repair it.'' | ||
:''While Lee was at flight school, his younger brother was away at Viper Squadron and a plum assignment on | :''While Lee was at flight school, his younger brother was away at Viper Squadron and a plum assignment on Atlantia - flagship of the fleet. Lee tried to dissuade him, but Zak did not want to be the only Adama without wings on his uniform. Zak's application was turned down. As Commander Adama pulled a few strings to get his son in, Lee was furious.'' | ||
:''Two weeks later, Zak's plane went down while he was flying a routine solo mission and he was killed. Lee spent the next two years focusing on his career, having no personal life and working to become the perfect fighter pilot.'' | :''Two weeks later, Zak's plane went down while he was flying a routine solo mission and he was killed. Lee spent the next two years focusing on his career, having no personal life and working to become the perfect fighter pilot.'' | ||
As this information does not come from the official Scifi.com site, it's authenticity is in question. Further, it is contradicted by on screen evidence: Zak was killed in an accident at flight school, and was never on a battlestar. Further, Lee did not work hard (at least after Zak's death) to be the best Viper pilot or to improve his career; multiple cast interviews and RDM podcasts state that he was despondent, didn't know what to do with his life, and was considering leaving the service. Further, in "[[Final Cut]]" we see that he is a member of the Colonial Fleet Reserves, not regular fleet, indicating that he wasn't particularly concerned with a lifelong career. | |||
===Gaius Baltar=== | ===Gaius Baltar=== | ||
| Line 110: | Line 163: | ||
Here is Sky One's summary of Baltar: | Here is Sky One's summary of Baltar: | ||
:''Scientific | :''Scientific genuis Gaius is one of the greatest minds humanity has to offer. Unfortunately, his abundance of intellect is counterbalanced by a complete lack of ethics. His moral weakness allows the Cylons to infiltrate and neutralize the defences of the 12 Colonies.'' | ||
:''Gaius Baltar was born on a farm on the colony of Sagittaron.'' | :''Gaius Baltar was born on a farm on the colony of Sagittaron.'' | ||
| Line 126: | Line 179: | ||
:''Still it wasn't enough; he hungered for a chance to work on a true artificial intelligence project. He then meets a smart and beautiful woman who seemed to understand him in a way no other had. She shared his passion of A.I. systems. The relationship lasted for two years and during this time she provided him with new and innovative ideas. Only one thing was missing; Gaius could not find out anything about her. Was it the perfect relationship he once thought it was?'' | :''Still it wasn't enough; he hungered for a chance to work on a true artificial intelligence project. He then meets a smart and beautiful woman who seemed to understand him in a way no other had. She shared his passion of A.I. systems. The relationship lasted for two years and during this time she provided him with new and innovative ideas. Only one thing was missing; Gaius could not find out anything about her. Was it the perfect relationship he once thought it was?'' | ||
===''Galactica''-Sharon=== | |||
=== | |||
According to Sky One, Sharon's memories were of growing up on the mining settlement of Troy. | According to Sky One, Sharon's memories were of growing up on the mining settlement of Troy. | ||
| Line 141: | Line 192: | ||
:''She later applied for flight school and was accepted over more qualified candidates. Flight school was rough on Sharon. Not a born pilot, she laboured long and hard. By the time she had graduated. she managed to earn the second chances that she seemed fated to be given. Her first assignment was aboard the battlestar ''Galactica'', and by the time of the Cylon attack, she had been there for almost a year.'' | :''She later applied for flight school and was accepted over more qualified candidates. Flight school was rough on Sharon. Not a born pilot, she laboured long and hard. By the time she had graduated. she managed to earn the second chances that she seemed fated to be given. Her first assignment was aboard the battlestar ''Galactica'', and by the time of the Cylon attack, she had been there for almost a year.'' | ||
As this information does not come from the official Scifi.com website, its authenticity is questionable. Her backstory is contradicted by her telling Boxey that her parents died when she was little ([[Miniseries]]), but supported by a comment in "[[Downloaded]]", that she received a gift from her mother when she left for the Academy. Furthermore according to Adama, she had been on ''Galactica'' for nearly ''two'' years, not almost one ([[The Farm]]). | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
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[[Category: A to Z]] | [[Category: A to Z]] [[Category: Sources]] [[Category: Behind the Scenes]] [[Category: RDM]] | ||
[[Category: Sources]] | |||
[[Category: Behind the Scenes]] | |||
[[Category: RDM]] | |||