Editing Starbuck (TOS)
From the only original and legitimate Battlestar Wiki: the free-as-in-beer, non-corporate, open-content encyclopedia, analytical reference, and episode guide on all things Battlestar Galactica. Accept neither subpar substitutes nor subpar clones.
More actions
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
| Latest revision | Your text | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Character Data | |||
|title=Starbuck | |title=Starbuck | ||
|photo= StarbuckSystem.jpg | |photo= StarbuckSystem.jpg | ||
| Line 17: | Line 16: | ||
|cylon= | |cylon= | ||
|name= | |name= | ||
|sepcon title=Starbuck (TOS alternate)| | |sepcon title=Starbuck (TOS alternate)}}{{Disambiguation|Starbuck|other subjects that share this name|This article covers the [[Original Series]] character.}} | ||
Lieutenant '''Starbuck''' is the [[fumarello]]-smoking, womanizing, smart-aleck [[Colonial Warrior]]. He's also one of ''{{TOS|Galactica}}''{{'|s}} finest pilots. | |||
Starbuck was born on [[The Twelve Colonies of Man#Caprica|Caprica]] in the agro settlement of [[Umbra]]. He was orphaned when a [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylon]] raid destroyed the settlement {{OS|The Man with Nine Lives}}. | Starbuck was born on [[The Twelve Colonies of Man#Caprica|Caprica]] in the agro settlement of [[Umbra]]. He was orphaned when a [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylon]] raid destroyed the settlement {{OS|The Man with Nine Lives}}. | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
| Line 43: | Line 38: | ||
Lieutenant Starbuck desperately wants to help Apollo when he is chased off by Raiders during a recon mission, but is ordered to hold back in order to avoid giving away the Fleet's position. Boomer and Starbuck later pick up Apollo's transmissions and guide him back to ''Galactica'' after his ordeal {{OS|The Lost Warrior}}. | Lieutenant Starbuck desperately wants to help Apollo when he is chased off by Raiders during a recon mission, but is ordered to hold back in order to avoid giving away the Fleet's position. Boomer and Starbuck later pick up Apollo's transmissions and guide him back to ''Galactica'' after his ordeal {{OS|The Lost Warrior}}. | ||
Starbuck is the first to test pilot an experimental reconnaissance Viper. Being the test pilot earns him a dining slot on ''{{TOS|Rising Star}}'' where he ends up trying to juggle simultaneous dates with both {{TOS|Athena}} and Cassieopeia. During his test flight he encounters a [[Sixth-millennium starfighter]] attacking a shuttle and intervenes. The pilot of the shuttle ends up stealing Starbuck's Viper, and Starbuck is captured when he flies off with the shuttle. He is taken to a [[Proteus|prison]] where the prisoners are named for the crimes of their ancestors, and are all | Starbuck is the first to test pilot an experimental reconnaissance Viper. Being the test pilot earns him a dining slot on ''{{TOS|Rising Star}}'' where he ends up trying to juggle simultaneous dates with both {{TOS|Athena}} and Cassieopeia. During his test flight he encounters a [[Sixth-millennium starfighter]] attacking a shuttle and intervenes. The pilot of the shuttle ends up stealing Starbuck's Viper, and Starbuck is captured when he flies off with the shuttle. He is taken to a [[Proteus|prison]] where the prisoners are named for the crimes of their ancestors, and are all descendents of criminals. He incites a prison revolt, just in time for Apollo and Boomer to show up (along with Starbuck's missing Viper). Starbuck helps the two of them defeat their Raider pursuers. In the process of destroying the Raiders Starbuck accidentally destroys the vast stores of [[ambrosa]] that the prisoners had made, dashing his dreams of making a fortune off of it {{OS|The Long Patrol}}. | ||
The lieutenant is part of a patrol that encounters the [[Ravashol pulsar]]. Starbuck is adamant about trying to save [[Cree]], who is captured by the Cylons during their initial encounter with the pulsar. He rigs the computer to include his name on the mission to [[Arcta]] {{OS|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I}}. Starbuck helps to destroy the pulsar, rescues Cree, and makes some [[Tenna|interesting friends]] {{OS|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II}}. | The lieutenant is part of a patrol that encounters the [[Ravashol pulsar]]. Starbuck is adamant about trying to save [[Cree]], who is captured by the Cylons during their initial encounter with the pulsar. He rigs the computer to include his name on the mission to [[Arcta]] {{OS|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I}}. Starbuck helps to destroy the pulsar, rescues Cree, and makes some [[Tenna|interesting friends]] {{OS|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II}}. | ||
| Line 70: | Line 65: | ||
Despite Cassiopeia's misgivings, Starbuck helps Apollo fly Baltar's Raider onto a basestar. After successfully infiltrating the basestar they manage to disable the ship's sensors, and escape. Their sabotage allows ''Galactica'' to get the drop on the basestar and destroy it {{OS|The Hand of God}}. | Despite Cassiopeia's misgivings, Starbuck helps Apollo fly Baltar's Raider onto a basestar. After successfully infiltrating the basestar they manage to disable the ship's sensors, and escape. Their sabotage allows ''Galactica'' to get the drop on the basestar and destroy it {{OS|The Hand of God}}. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
=== Character Conception and Portrayal === | === Character Conception and Portrayal === | ||
According to ''[[So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica]]'', the casting of Lieutenant Starbuck was a contentious process. While several actors tested for the role, including [[w:Don_Johnson|Don Johnson]] who gave a "very good job" in his tests, creator [[Glen A. Larson]] was a strong advocate for [[Dirk Benedict]], lobbying heavily for him.<ref | According to ''[[So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica]]'', the casting of Lieutenant Starbuck was a contentious process. While several actors tested for the role, including [[w:Don_Johnson|Don Johnson]] who gave a "very good job" in his tests, creator [[Glen A. Larson]] was a strong advocate for [[Dirk Benedict]], lobbying heavily for him.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|64-65}}</ref> The network, ABC, resisted for months, arguing that Benedict wasn't "sexy enough," and only relented after production had already begun.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|65}}</ref> Benedict himself described the process as a "huge struggle" and believed the network's final reason for their reluctance was his perceived lack of sex appeal.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|65-66}}</ref> | ||
Dirk Benedict modeled his portrayal of the "cigar-smoking ladies' man" on [[w:James_Garner|James Garner]]'s character from the Western series ''[[w:Maverick_(TV_series)|Maverick]]''. He envisioned Starbuck not as a straightforward hero, but as a reluctant one who would rather play cards or spend time with an attractive woman than fly into battle. This unheroic approach—a hero who wasn't eager to get into his fighter and risk his life—was unusual for television at the time and became a defining trait of the character.<ref | Dirk Benedict modeled his portrayal of the "cigar-smoking ladies' man" on [[w:James_Garner|James Garner]]'s character from the Western series ''[[w:Maverick_(TV_series)|Maverick]]''. He envisioned Starbuck not as a straightforward hero, but as a reluctant one who would rather play cards or spend time with an attractive woman than fly into battle. This unheroic approach—a hero who wasn't eager to get into his fighter and risk his life—was unusual for television at the time and became a defining trait of the character.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|67}}</ref> The audience responded positively to this portrayal, and Starbuck quickly grew from a supporting character into one of the show's leads.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|135}}</ref> The character's trademark cigars became so popular with female fans that when ABC threatened to fire Benedict for smoking them on screen, an influx of cigars sent to the studio by admirers caused the network to reverse its decision.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|213}}</ref> Benedict greatly enjoyed the role, later stating, "I would have liked to have played Starbuck for another three or four years. It was a wonderful character... one of the greatest experiences I ever had."<ref>{{cite book/sswa|67}}</ref> | ||
=== Absence from and Return in ''Galactica 1980'' === | === Absence from and Return in ''Galactica 1980'' === | ||
[[Dirk Benedict]] declined to return as a series regular for the ''[[Galactica 1980]]'' spin-off, stating that he found the new concept "very cheap" and not something he wanted to be a part of.<ref | [[Dirk Benedict]] declined to return as a series regular for the ''[[Galactica 1980]]'' spin-off, stating that he found the new concept "very cheap" and not something he wanted to be a part of.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|244-245}}</ref> | ||
However, he did return for the final episode, "[[The Return of Starbuck]]." The episode, written by [[Glen A. Larson]], is considered by many involved with the production to be the only worthwhile installment of the series.<ref | However, he did return for the final episode, "[[The Return of Starbuck]]." The episode, written by [[Glen A. Larson]], is considered by many involved with the production to be the only worthwhile installment of the series.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|267}}</ref> Framed as a dream that [[Dr. Zee]] is having, the story chronicles [[Starbuck (1980)|Starbuck's fate]] after he is stranded on a [[Planet Starbuck|desolate planet]]. Desperate for companionship, he [[Cyrus (Cylon)|reprograms a damaged Cylon]], teaches him to play [[Pyramid (TOS)|pyramid]], and the two form an unlikely friendship reminiscent of the film ''[[w:Enemy_Mine|Enemy Mine]]''.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|269}}</ref> The story takes a mystical turn, revealing that Starbuck is Dr. Zee's father.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|267}}</ref> | ||
=== Re-imagined Series Perspective === | === Re-imagined Series Perspective === | ||
The character of Starbuck from the Original Series was a major influence on the 2004 re-imagined series. Creator [[Ronald D. Moore]], when developing the new show, felt that the dynamic between the straight-arrow Apollo and the roguish Starbuck was a cliché. One of his first and most significant decisions was to gender-flip the character, making Starbuck a woman.<ref | The character of Starbuck from the Original Series was a major influence on the 2004 re-imagined series. Creator [[Ronald D. Moore]], when developing the new show, felt that the dynamic between the straight-arrow Apollo and the roguish Starbuck was a cliché. One of his first and most significant decisions was to gender-flip the character, making Starbuck a woman.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|315-316}}</ref> Moore believed this would fundamentally change the dynamic and allow for a fresh, modern character, reflecting the increasing presence of women in combat roles in the real world.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|542-543}}</ref> This change was met with enthusiasm by the network and became a cornerstone of the new series.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|315}}</ref> | ||
=== Additional Details === | === Additional Details === | ||
| Line 111: | Line 96: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
{{ | {{Characters (TOS)}} | ||
}} | |||
[[Category:A to Z]] | [[Category:A to Z]] | ||