Sherman Cottle

Sherman Cottle
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Introduced	Act of Contrition
Last Known Appearance	Daybreak, Part II
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Role	Chief Medical Officer, battlestar Galactica
Rank	Major
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Portrayed by	Donnelly Rhodes
Sherman Cottle is a Cylon
Sherman Cottle is a Final Five Cylon
Sherman Cottle is a Human/Cylon Hybrid
Sherman Cottle is an Original Series Cylon
Related Media
Additional Information
Sherman Cottle in the separate continuity
[[File:|300px|Sherman Cottle]]

Major Sherman Cottle, M.D. is Galactica's Chief Medical Officer. As the battlestar operates with a minimal crew complement leading up to its expected decommissioning, Cottle is the only qualified physician and chief surgeon aboard Galactica, supported by a handful of medics such as Layne Ishay and Howard Kim. While Cottle acts as the Fleet's de facto Surgeon General, conducting inspections on other ships, there are also civilian physicians like Dr. Robert ^{(TRS: "The Woman King")} and Dr. Stoffa ^{(TRS: "Hero")}, though the latter might be a clinical psychologist and not a medical doctor.

Cottle is known for his distinctive eccentricities, namely being a heavy fumarella smoker despite the obvious medical risks, his outwardly abrasive demeanor, and being unimpressed by positions of authority. He is considered a "bastard" among some of Galactica's crew, but above all things he is a healer. To him, nothing else truly matters, be it rank, riches, or species. However, Cottle has shown a caring side that he hides under his gruffness, comforting the mortally wounded Natalie as she dies by holding her hand and taking good care of President Roslin. When Roslin acknowledges his compassion, he shows he does care and is clearly affected by her words, but she has him return to his usual grumbling and smoking to preserve his reputation.

Biography

Post-Fall

Cottle is the third person in the Fleet to learn about President Laura Roslin's fight with cancer, after Lee Adama and Billy Keikeya ^{(TRS: "Miniseries, Night 2", "Bastille Day" and "Act of Contrition")}. He agrees to treat her condition without revealing it to anyone else, and further agrees to support more unorthodox treatments, namely the use of chamalla extract against his better medical judgment. Knowing the extent of her illness and Roslin's reluctance to undergo Doloxan therapy, the doctor also recommends prayer.

Cottle takes a personal interest in Kara Thrace's recovery from injuries suffered during a mission ^{(TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again")}. The doctor works with Lee Adama to get her out of sickbay, though without initial success ^{(TRS: "Six Degrees of Separation")}.

Commander Adama's Assassination Attempt

After the assassination attempt on William Adama ^{(TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II")}, Cottle is unavailable to stabilize the Commander as he is aboard another ship in the Fleet. Matters worsen after Galactica's jump to the emergency coordinates separates Cottle from the battlestar. Colonel Tigh orders Cottle's medics to stop Adama's internal bleeding ^{(TRS: "Scattered")}. However, while the medics stabilize the Commander's condition, they are unable to fully stop his bleeding. Cottle finally arrives and is able to operate on Commander Adama, saving his life after much risky work ^{(TRS: "Fragged")}.

During this crisis, Cottle demonstrates his characteristic disdain for military hierarchy and protocol. When Colonel Tigh inquires about Adama's condition as Cottle begins the life-saving surgery, the doctor curtly responds: "How should I know? I'm not a psychic. Now get the hell out of here" ^{(TRS: "Fragged")}. Later, after Tigh's ill-advised attempt to restore supply runs to Galactica aboard Gideon results in four civilian deaths, Cottle is unsympathetic when Tigh asks what happened: "What'd you expect, genius? You put a pilot in charge of crowd control" ^{(TRS: "Resistance")}.

Presidential Conspiracy

At President Roslin's request, despite his blunt assessment of the plan's illegality and danger (responding to her pitch with "You're a lousy salesman"), Cottle assists Roslin in escaping Galactica by filing a medical request for a Raptor flight to care for patients on other ships. Roslin successfully leaves Galactica on this "appropriated" Raptor with Lee Adama at the helm ^{(TRS: "Resistance")}.

Medical Ethics and Patient Care

Major Cottle performs a series of medical scans on Gaius Baltar's head at Baltar's request. Unknown to Cottle, Baltar is seeking evidence of a Cylon computer chip implanted in his brain. The scans show nothing unusual, and Cottle dismisses Baltar as a hypochondriac, noting "There's one on every bloody ship" ^{(TRS: "Home, Part II")}.

Even Cottle's stony exterior gives way to the pain he witnesses when delivering devastating news to Laura Roslin about her cancer's progression. Her cancer has spread aggressively, and the doctor gives Roslin, bluntly but compassionately, one month to live ^{(TRS: "Flight of the Phoenix")}. His concern for Cylon Sharon Valerii and her unborn hybrid child demonstrates his strict adherence to medical ethics, especially remarkable given the crew's distrust and hatred of her. He describes Lt. Thorne's attempted rape of Sharon as "unforgivable" and voices his strong opposition to Baltar using Sharon's baby's blood as a cure for Roslin's cancer ^{(TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part I" and "Epiphanies")}.

Abortion Controversy

Cottle gains a controversial reputation among the Fleet for performing abortions. When Rya Kibby, a young Gemenese girl, seeks to end her pregnancy, she stows away to reach Galactica and see Cottle. The doctor explains his approach to Admiral Adama with characteristic directness: "I get a note that a girl's on the way. She arrives. I do my work. And then she leaves. I don't ask a lot of questions." When Admiral Adama asks Kibby to return to her parents, Cottle boldly suggests that the girl instead request political asylum aboard Galactica, earning a stern stare from Adama ^{(TRS: "The Captain's Hand")}.

New Caprica

After President Baltar's election and the settlement of New Caprica, Cottle, like most of Galactica's crew, retires from military duty. One year after the election, he serves as a civilian doctor on New Caprica in private practice ^{(TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II")}.

During the Cylon occupation of the planet, Cottle continues his work as a doctor and surgeon, operating as a neutral party in the Cylon-administered state within New Caprica City. He treats human and Cylon patients alike. When a copy of Number Three (likely D'Anna Biers) questions why he provides medical care to Cylons, he responds that he would do the same for anyone who sought his help ^{(TRS: "Exodus, Part I")}.

Second Exodus

After the events on New Caprica, Cottle faces numerous medical challenges as Galactica takes on refugees. Among the diseases discovered is Mellorak infection. Hoping to conserve the dwindling supply of medicines, he assigns medication for Mellorak to Galactica personnel for immunization and distributes it to others on a need basis. Due to the investigative efforts of Karl "Helo" Agathon, the appointed "mayor of Dogsville," Cottle investigates the activities of his longtime friend, Michael Robert. After performing extensive autopsies on several of Robert's patients, Cottle discovers that Robert has been systematically killing patients based on their birth colony, primarily targeting those from Sagittaron. With help from Saul Tigh, Cottle puts an end to Robert's murderous practices ^{(TRS: "The Woman King")}.

Roslin's Cancer Return

Shortly after discovering that Laura Roslin's cancer has returned, Cottle begins Roslin's Doloxan treatment. After the treatment is completed, he and his medical staff are completely baffled when Roslin and Sharon "Athena" Agathon wake up screaming simultaneously. It is unknown whether he is informed of the shared vision experienced by the two women and Caprica-Six ^{(TRS: "Crossroads, Part II")}.

Gaeta's Amputation

Cottle treats Felix Gaeta when he returns from the Demetrius mission with a severely infected leg. The infection is so advanced that Cottle doesn't attempt to save the limb, immediately calling for a cut-down tray for amputation. When Gaeta requests to remain awake during the operation, Cottle initially tries to dissuade him but ultimately agrees sympathetically after Gaeta explains his reasoning. Cottle successfully amputates Gaeta's right leg below the knee ^{(TRS: "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?")}.

Final Compassionate Moments

Cottle treats the mortally wounded Natalie and attempts to save her life, but ultimately fails. As she dies, she reaches out to him, and he takes and holds her hand, offering comfort during her final moments with no hope of resurrection ^{(TRS: "Sine Qua Non")}.

Final Mission and New Earth

When Admiral Adama plans one final rescue mission for Galactica, Cottle and Ishay discuss it in sickbay, unaware that Laura Roslin is listening. When Adama calls for volunteers for the dangerous rescue mission, both Cottle and Ishay volunteer, but Adama sends Cottle back, addressing him by his first name and explaining that he's too valuable for the Fleet to lose ^{(TRS: "Daybreak, Part I")}.

In a poignant final interaction with President Roslin, Cottle provides her with injections to keep her functional for two days during the rescue mission, but warns her that doing so will consume what little life she has remaining. Roslin thanks him sincerely, and Cottle is genuinely touched, appearing almost ready to break down emotionally. Roslin, noticing his vulnerability, tells him not to ruin his gruff reputation and instructs him to go smoke a cigarette ^{(TRS: "Daybreak, Part I")}.

Later, Cottle is seen on New Earth as part of the landing party investigating the tribal humans they encounter. He reports that after examining graves, the DNA of the humans on New Earth is compatible with the Colonials, providing crucial scientific validation for their new home ^{(TRS: "Daybreak, Part II")}.

Character Analysis

Medical Philosophy and Ethics

Dr. Cottle embodies a complex medical philosophy that prioritizes patient care above all social, political, and military considerations. His willingness to treat Cylons during the New Caprica occupation demonstrates his commitment to the fundamental medical principle that all sentient beings deserve care regardless of their nature or origins. This ethical stance often puts him at odds with military protocol and popular opinion, but Cottle remains unwavering in his medical obligations.

Relationship Dynamics

Despite his gruff exterior, Cottle develops meaningful relationships with key characters throughout the series. His treatment of President Roslin evolves from purely professional to deeply personal, with mutual respect developing between the pragmatic doctor and the determined leader. His interactions with Admiral Adama show a grudging respect for authority when it serves the greater good, while his contempt for Colonel Tigh's leadership reveals his intolerance for incompetence that endangers lives.

Symbolic Elements

Cottle's constant smoking serves as more than mere character eccentricity; it represents his rejection of conventional medical wisdom and authority, his acceptance of mortality, and his commitment to personal autonomy even in the face of societal expectations. This behavior, while medically irresponsible, symbolically reinforces his role as an iconoclast who challenges established norms while maintaining his essential humanity.

Notes

Character Development and Conception

According to series developer Ron D. Moore, Dr. Cottle was specifically created to be the antithesis of the typical "touchy-feely" television doctor, such as Dr. McCoy from Star Trek. Moore deliberately wanted a character who would smoke in front of a cancer patient and refuse to put it out when asked.

According to actor Donnelly Rhodes, the character as initially conceived was quite minimal: "Doctor Cottle is an offbeat and quite irreverent character. He's supposed to be retired but was pressed back into service following the destruction of the Colonies. He doesn't have a lot of supplies, so he's a bit cranky. And he's not someone who practices what he preaches — which you can see in the fact that he's a smoker." This led to the development of Cottle's most distinctive trait: his constant cigarette smoking, even during surgery. Many of these decisions establish Cottle as a uniquely memorable character who challenged conventional medical drama archetypes.

The character was named by writer David Weddle after a real-life physician he knew from childhood. "He was the doctor I had as a kid," reveals Weddle. "He bears absolutely no resemblance to this Dr Cottle. He was kind, solicitous and did not smoke. And this is how I repay him!" Cottle's first name, Sherman, is later revealed in Season 4; it is, perhaps, a possible reference to Col. Sherman Potter, the commanding officer of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital on the television series M*A*S*H.

Casting

Actor Donnelly Rhodes was originally one of three finalists for the role of Colonel Saul Tigh, but when that role went to Michael Hogan, the impressed producers created the recurring role of Dr. Cottle specifically for Rhodes. Thus, Rhodes made his debut as Dr Cottle in "Act of Contrition." A veteran Canadian stage and screen actor whose credits range from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Young and The Restless and Soap to The Wedding Dress and Da Vinci's Inquest, Rhodes knew little about Battlestar Galactica before he was cast as Cottle, but worked hard to make his character an interesting addition to the saga.

Continuity and Series Connections

• Cottle's counterpart in the Original Series is Salik.
• As a Major and non-line officer, Cottle would not assume command unless all senior line officers were incapacitated.
• Doctor Cottle is first mentioned in "Bastille Day," but the character does not appear on-screen until "Act of Contrition."
• Cottle's first initial is visible on prescription bottles made available during the Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes auction. His first name, Sherman, is revealed in "Daybreak, Part I."
• A "Cottle" is mentioned in the Caprica episode "The Heavens Will Rise" by Amanda Graystone as the practitioner on duty when Jordan Duram was shot, suggesting the Cottle name has a medical legacy within the Colonial healthcare system.

References