Jim Kirby

Jim Kirby
[show/hide spoilers] Spoilers hidden in infobox by default only.
Name	{{{name}}}
Age	{{{age}}}
Colony	{{{colony}}}
Birth place	{{{birthplace}}}
Birth Name	{{{birthname}}}
Birth Date	{{{birthdate}}}
Callsign	Sunshine
Nickname	{{{nickname}}}
Introduced	Blood and Chrome
Last Known Appearance	[[{{{lastseen}}}]]
Death	{{{death}}}
Parents	{{{parents}}}
Siblings	{{{siblings}}}
Children	Anslem
Marital Status	Married to Janey
Family Tree	View
Role	Viper pilot
Rank	Lieutenant
Serial Number	{{{serial}}}
Portrayed by	Sebastian Spence
Jim Kirby is a Cylon
Jim Kirby is a Final Five Cylon
Jim Kirby is a Human/Cylon Hybrid
Jim Kirby is an Original Series Cylon
Related Media
Additional Information
[[File:|300px|Jim Kirby]]

Jim "Sunshine" Kirby is a Viper pilot on detachment from the battlestar Valkyrie. He is officially listed as KIA by the Colonial Fleet circa 42 BCH (58YR), killed after the apparent destruction of the battlestar while attempting to make a surprise strike against Cylon forces near Canceron Prime. In truth, Kirby and Valkyrie are hidden away as part of a secret "ghost fleet" being amassed for an eventual offensive.

During his time in the ghost fleet, Kirby is reunited with an old friend, Coker Fasjovik, who informs him that his wife, Janey, had given birth to a baby boy, named Anslem after his father.

He participates in the Battle of Djerba, escorting Wild Weasel to the surface of Djerba to rendezvous with a marine special operations team. On the way, three Cylon raiders follow them, and Kirby engages, destroying one. After his wingman, Lieutenant Zachary Elias, is killed and his Viper takes damage, Kirby suddenly disengages from battle and claims that he is going home. His final fate is unknown ^{(TRS: "Blood and Chrome")}.

Script Version Differences

The pre-production script for Blood and Chrome provides significantly more detail about Jim Kirby's character development and emotional journey than appears in the final production.

Initial Call Sign

In the script version, Kirby's original call sign is "Goldbrick" rather than "Sunshine." After learning about his son from Coker Fasjovik, he takes black paint and changes his call sign to "Anslem" in honor of the child he has never met, covering over the original "Goldbrick" with crude white letters.

Expanded Relationship with Coker

The script includes a much more detailed reunion scene between Kirby and Coker Fasjovik. When they first encounter each other in the ghost fleet, Kirby initially ignores Coker due to strict security protocols that prevent interaction until personnel are properly cleared. Once they can speak freely, their friendship is shown to be deep and long-standing.

Learning About Fatherhood

The script provides extensive dialogue showing Kirby's emotional reaction to learning he has become a father. When Coker tells him about his son, Kirby is initially confused and then overwhelmed with joy, grabbing Coker in a bear hug and dancing him around while exclaiming "I've got a frakking son!" The scene reveals that the pregnancy must have occurred during his last leave, and that Janey didn't even know she was pregnant when they last spoke.

Ghost Fleet Context

The script explains that Kirby and the crew of Valkyrie were forced to witness their own death certificates as part of the psychological conditioning for ghost fleet operations. This official "death" means that Kirby's wife Janey believes he is dead while she raises their son alone on Picon.

Battle Abandonment

In the script, Kirby's decision to abandon the battle is given much clearer motivation. After learning about his son and changing his call sign, he becomes conflicted about the dangerous mission. When the battle intensifies and Zachary Elias is shot down, Kirby makes the conscious decision to prioritize his survival over duty, telling himself "I'm going home" as he flies away from the fight. The script emphasizes his internal struggle between military obligation and paternal responsibility.

Character Arc

The script version presents Kirby's story as a complete emotional arc - from dedicated military pilot to conflicted father figure. His transformation is symbolized by the call sign change and culminates in his choice to abandon his wingmen in favor of returning to his family. This provides a more complex portrayal of military duty versus personal responsibility during wartime.

Notes

• Sebastian Spence previously portrayed Noel "Narcho" Allison, also a Viper pilot, in the Re-imagined Series.