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Upon delivery of the MCP chip, Daniel works tirelessly to bring his daughter's avatar from the virtual world and into the physical one. Downloading the program into the MCP, Daniel then implants the chip into the U-87 chassis. At first appearing to be a successful integration, the U-87 takes a step towards Daniel, speaking a single word: Daddy. | Upon delivery of the MCP chip, Daniel works tirelessly to bring his daughter's avatar from the virtual world and into the physical one. Downloading the program into the MCP, Daniel then implants the chip into the U-87 chassis. At first appearing to be a successful integration, the U-87 takes a step towards Daniel, speaking a single word: Daddy. | ||
<blockquote>This pivotal moment was not in the original script and was added during editing to heighten the emotional impact of the scene.<ref | <blockquote>This pivotal moment was not in the original script and was added during editing to heighten the emotional impact of the scene.<ref>[[Podcast:Caprica pilot|Podcast for ''Caprica'' pilot]], timestamp 01:17:13</ref></blockquote> | ||
The [[datastream]] within the chip, however, destabilizes and results in a catastrophic loss of data and the apparent deletion of the Zoe avatar {{CAP|Pilot (Caprica)}}. | The [[datastream]] within the chip, however, destabilizes and results in a catastrophic loss of data and the apparent deletion of the Zoe avatar {{CAP|Pilot (Caprica)}}. | ||
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====Musical Representation==== | ====Musical Representation==== | ||
Composer [[Bear McCreary]] developed a specific musical approach for scenes featuring the U-87 prototype that deliberately connected the robot to its ''Battlestar Galactica'' lineage. For the U-87 testing sequences, McCreary brought back the full ethnic percussion ensemble that had defined the ''Battlestar Galactica'' sound, including taiko drums, frame drums, dumbeks, chang changs, and tsuzumis.<ref group="production" name=" | Composer [[Bear McCreary]] developed a specific musical approach for scenes featuring the U-87 prototype that deliberately connected the robot to its ''Battlestar Galactica'' lineage. For the U-87 testing sequences, McCreary brought back the full ethnic percussion ensemble that had defined the ''Battlestar Galactica'' sound, including taiko drums, frame drums, dumbeks, chang changs, and tsuzumis.<ref group="production" name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot_u87_percussion">{{cite_web|url=https://bearmccreary.com/caprica-pilot/#:~:text=These%20sequences%20are%20the%20only%20scenes%20where%20I%20brought%20in%20the%20full%20ethnic%20percussion%20ensemble|title=Caprica: Pilot|author=Bear McCreary|publisher=Bear McCreary|date=22 January 2010|accessdate=6 August 2025}}</ref> | ||
However, McCreary intentionally kept these cues relatively small and raw, describing the sound as "prototype ''Battlestar'' music" that was "more raw, edgy and unpolished" compared to the full-scale action cues of ''Battlestar Galactica''. This deliberate musical choice reinforced the U-87's role as the primitive ancestor of the more advanced Cylons viewers would encounter in ''Battlestar Galactica''.<ref | However, McCreary intentionally kept these cues relatively small and raw, describing the sound as "prototype ''Battlestar'' music" that was "more raw, edgy and unpolished" compared to the full-scale action cues of ''Battlestar Galactica''. This deliberate musical choice reinforced the U-87's role as the primitive ancestor of the more advanced Cylons viewers would encounter in ''Battlestar Galactica''.<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot_u87_percussion" /> | ||
==Shape of Things to Come== | ==Shape of Things to Come== | ||
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===Gemenon=== | ===Gemenon=== | ||
[[File:U-87s on Gemenon, 1x16.jpg|thumb|Dozens of U-87 soldiers power up on Gemenon {{CAP|The Heavens Will Rise}}.]] | [[File:U-87s on Gemenon, 1x16.jpg|thumb|Dozens of U-87 soldiers power up on Gemenon {{CAP|The Heavens Will Rise}}.]] | ||
At the STO training camp on Gemenon, dozens of [[Black market (organization)|black market]] U-87s are employed as soldiers by the [[Monotheist Church]], guarding the training camp and keeping order within {{CAP|Blowback|The Heavens Will Rise}}. In a significant moment, a U-87 is used to execute recruits who failed their loyalty tests, marking one of the earliest instances of Cylons being used as enforcers against humans.<ref | At the STO training camp on Gemenon, dozens of [[Black market (organization)|black market]] U-87s are employed as soldiers by the [[Monotheist Church]], guarding the training camp and keeping order within {{CAP|Blowback|The Heavens Will Rise}}. In a significant moment, a U-87 is used to execute recruits who failed their loyalty tests, marking one of the earliest instances of Cylons being used as enforcers against humans.<ref>[[Podcast:Blowback|Podcast for "Blowback"]], timestamp 41:49</ref> | ||
During a minor squabble, an STO commander orders a U-87 to execute new recruit [[Lexon]]. Seeing the robot about to kill her fellow recruit, Lacy Rand intervenes, ordering the U-87 to stand down. Despite being programmed to respond only to authorized users, the U-87 obeys Rand, refusing to comply with orders given by anyone else. Unable to explain her influence over the robot, Rand begins to suspect that the Zoe Graystone avatar exists within this U-87 and attempts to make contract. Despite her efforts at reaching the robot, however, the U-87 never identifies itself as Zoe {{CAP|The Heavens Will Rise}}. | During a minor squabble, an STO commander orders a U-87 to execute new recruit [[Lexon]]. Seeing the robot about to kill her fellow recruit, Lacy Rand intervenes, ordering the U-87 to stand down. Despite being programmed to respond only to authorized users, the U-87 obeys Rand, refusing to comply with orders given by anyone else. Unable to explain her influence over the robot, Rand begins to suspect that the Zoe Graystone avatar exists within this U-87 and attempts to make contract. Despite her efforts at reaching the robot, however, the U-87 never identifies itself as Zoe {{CAP|The Heavens Will Rise}}. | ||
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
[[File:U-87, 1x02.jpg|thumb|The physical U-87 prop {{CAP|Rebirth}}.]] | |||
*The U-87 was designed in the real world by ''[[Battlestar Galactica (TRS)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' and ''[[Caprica (series)|Caprica]]'' illustrator [[Richard Livingston]] <ref>http://richardclivingston.wordpress.com/2010/06/26/caprica-u-87-cylon/</ref> and rendered as a computer-generated character by [[Pierre Drolet]] and [[Gary Hutzel]]'s effects team. The producers noted that the visual effects for the U-87 were a significant challenge, particularly for the final scene of the pilot, and that the technology to make a CGI character so central to a dramatic moment had only recently become advanced enough to be effective.<ref>[[Podcast:Caprica pilot|Podcast for ''Caprica'' pilot]], timestamp 01:16:29</ref> To aid the actors and camera crew, a special effects team member would perform the robot's movements on set, and it was noted how closely the final animation matched the on-set stand-in's performance.<ref>[[Podcast:Caprica pilot|Podcast for ''Caprica'' pilot]], timestamp 01:23:29</ref> | |||
*Effects supervisor [[Doug Drexler]] led a team to create a physical version of the U-87 for scenes in which it was not required to move or act: | |||
::"Gary enlisted the aid of awe-inspiring model maker, Lou Zutavern. Lou and his guys built the U-87 in an unbelievably short time frame. What's really remarkable is that Lou and the crew built every part by hand with no computer prototyping of any kind. I might also add that Lou built the robot where no other shop could have pulled it off, meaning that they did it for a pittance. It's a regular Hollywood battle cry in our arena… no time and no money. Funny how sometimes the best stuff grows from those limitations. Lou and his guys made it happen because they thought it was cool." <ref>http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/the-u-87-keeping-it-real/</ref> | |||
*According to materials provided to the 2010 [[Wikipedia: Creative Arts Emmy Award|Emmy Awards]] voters, the CG model of the U-87 featured cables that "bend and articulate along with the character's actions, as do the translucent hoses which visually pump the robot's coolants... The CG model is exquisitely detailed to the point of obsession. It weighs in at 259774 [[Wikipedia: Polygon (computer graphics)|polygons]]." <ref>{{cite web|url= http://drexfiles.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/u87_pg02.jpg|title= Ghost In The Machine - U-87}} | |||
</ref> | |||
*According to materials provided to the 2010 [[Wikipedia: Creative Arts Emmy Award|Emmy Awards]] voters, the CG model of the U-87 featured cables that "bend and articulate along with the character's actions, as do the translucent hoses which visually pump the robot's coolants... The CG model is exquisitely detailed to the point of obsession. It weighs in at 259774 [[Wikipedia: Polygon (computer graphics)|polygons]]."<ref | |||
*On his personal website, VFX modeler Pierre Drolet described his involvement in the creation of the U-87: | *On his personal website, VFX modeler Pierre Drolet described his involvement in the creation of the U-87: | ||
::"I started with the original Cylon Centurion I did for "[[Razor]]" and rebuilt it inside out without the armor. The robot's head took the most time due to the amount of detail that I put on it and the complexity involved. I'm glad I did it because we ended up doing a lot of close up on the U-87 head and I never had to up-res it."<ref | ::"I started with the original Cylon Centurion I did for "[[Razor]]" and rebuilt it inside out without the armor. The robot's head took the most time due to the amount of detail that I put on it and the complexity involved. I'm glad I did it because we ended up doing a lot of close up on the U-87 head and I never had to up-res it."<ref>http://sci-fi-museum-pierre-drolet-com.webs.com/u-87-robots</ref> | ||
*In an audio commentary recorded for the Season 1.5 DVD release, executive producer [[Kevin Murphy]] noted the increase in action sequences featuring the U-87s, saying that they adopted a "less dancing, more shooting" mentality regarding the Cylons as depicted in ''Caprica''. | *In an audio commentary recorded for the Season 1.5 DVD release, executive producer [[Kevin Murphy]] noted the increase in action sequences featuring the U-87s, saying that they adopted a "less dancing, more shooting" mentality regarding the Cylons as depicted in ''Caprica''. | ||
*On 19 January 2013, Doug Drexler posted a chart on his Facebook page depicting CG models of the various Cylon models used in ''Battlestar Galactica'' and ''Caprica'', labeling the Marine U-87 models seen in "Apotheosis" as "Combat" models. The chart also depicted an "Armored' U-87 not seen in the series, which Drexler described as "the bullet proof, and transparent plastic armor edition"<ref | *On 19 January 2013, Doug Drexler posted a chart on his Facebook page depicting CG models of the various Cylon models used in ''Battlestar Galactica'' and ''Caprica'', labeling the Marine U-87 models seen in "Apotheosis" as "Combat" models. The chart also depicted an "Armored' U-87 not seen in the series, which Drexler described as "the bullet proof, and transparent plastic armor edition" <ref>http://www.facebook.com/doug.drexler.7?fref=ts</ref> | ||
*Pierre Drolet later posted images on his own website of the U-87s created for "Apotheosis," depicting both Marine and Army U-87s (distinguished by urban and desert camouflage, respectively), as well as the transparently armored version which first appeared in Drexler's chart. According to Drolet, the armor of all the military U-87s is made of a transparent carbon-fiber material, and is painted over in camouflage patterns to create the Marine and Army variants after construction.<ref | *Pierre Drolet later posted images on his own website of the U-87s created for "Apotheosis," depicting both Marine and Army U-87s (distinguished by urban and desert camouflage, respectively), as well as the transparently armored version which first appeared in Drexler's chart. According to Drolet, the armor of all the military U-87s is made of a transparent carbon-fiber material, and is painted over in camouflage patterns to create the Marine and Army variants after construction.<ref>http://sci-fi-museum-pierre-drolet-com.webs.com/u-87-robots</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
=== Production History === | === Production History === | ||
{{reflist|group=production}} | {{reflist|group=production}} | ||
{{Template:Characters (RDM Cylons)}} | {{Template:Characters (RDM Cylons)}} | ||