Joseph Adama

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For other people with the same or similar first name, see: Joe (disambiguation).

Joseph Adama
Name	{{{name}}}
Age
Colony	Born on Tauron, relocated to Caprica
Birth place	{{{birthplace}}}
Birth Name	{{{birthname}}}
Birth Date	{{{birthdate}}}
Callsign	{{{callsign}}}
Nickname	{{{nickname}}}
Introduced	Caprica pilot
Death	Within 20 years prior to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, based on Romo Lampkin's assumed age and apprenticeship
Parents	William Adama Sr.† Isabelle Adama†
Siblings	Sam Adama
Children	Tamara Adama† William "Willie" Adama William Adama
Marital Status	Widower of Shannon Adama Remarried to Evelyn Adama
Family Tree	View
Role	Civil liberties attorney
Rank
Serial Number	{{{serial}}}
Portrayed by	Esai Morales
Joseph Adama is a Cylon
Joseph Adama is a Final Five Cylon
Joseph Adama is a Human/Cylon Hybrid
Joseph Adama is an Original Series Cylon
Related Media
		@ BW Media
Additional Information
[[Image:|200px|Joseph Adama]]

Joseph Adama (a.k.a. Joseph Adams) was a notorious civil liberties lawyer on Caprica who was affiliated with the Tauron criminal organization Ha'la'tha in the years prior to the First Cylon War. Joseph Adama was also the father of William Adama, commander of the battlestar Galactica.

Early Life

Joseph Adama was born on Tauron to Isabelle and William Adama in the years leading up to the Cylon War. Joseph's father believed him to be an introverted child in contrast to his younger, more emotive brother, Samuel. Having learned the Sacred Scrolls, Joseph received his "Mark of Manhood" - a tattoo representing the colony of Tauron - on his right wrist (CAP: "The Dirteaters").

Coming of age during the Tauron Uprising, Adama and his brother were taught the importance of loyalty by their parents, both Ha'la'tha sympathizers who had knowledge of the resistance. Informing her sons of the risks and price of aiding the rebellion, Isabelle Adama told Joseph and Samuel that they had always been her "little Adama men", but that it was now time to be "men for Tauron" (CAP: "The Dirteaters").

The Adama Family on Tauron.

Shortly after, a Heraclitus soldier was killed in the alley outside the Adama home. Witnessing the murder, Samuel Adama climbed out of his bedroom window and removed the soldier's wallet and pistol, hiding them under his mattress despite the warnings of Joseph. Investigating the killing, three Herac officers later entered the Adama home to question the family. From their hiding place in a closet, Joseph and Samuel witnessed the torture of their father and the murder of their mother. Accepting that William Adama would not survive his injuries, Joseph shot and killed the Herac soldiers before turning the gun on his father (CAP: "The Dirteaters").

Escaping their home, Joseph and Samuel lived on the streets. There, Joseph gave his brother his own Mark of Manhood, the rudimentary tattoo sealing their own bond through the years (CAP: "The Dirteaters").

Caprican in a Tauron Body

Joseph Adama's lucky cigarette lighter.

Orphaned, Joseph and Samuel were sent to a refugee camp on Caprica. Arriving on the new world, Joseph was struck by the sight of flowers on the side of the road, something he had not seen on Tauron. In the refugee camp, the Adama boys met the Guatrau who later recounted that, even as a child, Joseph possessed a calculating air. Treating the Adamas as sons, the Guatrau took them under his wing, bringing Samuel into the Ha'la'tha crime syndicate and putting Joseph through law school (CAP: "Pilot" "The Dirteaters").

Early Years on Caprica

While he was in law school, Adama met Evelyn, who went on to be his legal assistant and later his second wife. Though he didn't smoke much until later in life, Adama used a chrome lighter engraved with his name in law school, later as a lawyer carrying it into court as a good luck charm. With Evelyn's assistance, Adama's practice grew from personal injury law ("ambulance chasing" as Evelyn described it) to criminal legal defense (CAP: "The Reins of a Waterfall", "The Dirteaters", "False Labor",TRS: "The Hand of God").

Joseph Adama in court with his Ha'la'tha client.

Adopting a less Tauron sounding name - "Adams" - Joseph took great efforts to assimilate into Caprican culture, prompting his brother to refer to him as a "Caprican in a Tauron body". Privately, however, Adama retained some traditions of the "old world". Living in an apartment in Little Tauron, Adama raised two children, Tamara and Willie with his wife Shannon and mother-in-law Ruth (CAP: "Pilot", "Gravedancing", "There is Another Sky").

Working as a defense attorney for the Ha'la'tha, "Adams" used cubits to bribe judges, often preventing his clients from facing jury trials. Despite the fact that the Guatrau had paid for his education, Adams was reluctant to fully embrace the Ha'la'tha and hoped to distance himself from the crime organization, saying that he was tired of doing their "dirty work" (CAP: "Pilot").

Tragedy

Fifty-eight years before the Fall, Adams faced the loss of both his wife, Shannon, and daughter, Tamara, when the Caprica City MLMT train was bombed by the Soldiers of the One terror group. Mourning in the traditional Tauron way - wearing black gloves to symbolize distance from the rest of the world - Adams was left to care for his son, William, alone (CAP: "Pilot").

Adama and Graystone commiserate over their loss.

Following the Global Defense Department briefing on the bombing, Adams met famed technologist Daniel Graystone outside Caprica City Hall, offering Graystone the use of his lighter. Having also lost a daughter - Zoe - Graystone commiserated with Adams at a downtown coffee shop, the two men spending hours simply smoking. As they went their separate ways, Graystone offered box seats at a Caprica Buccaneers game to Adams and his son (CAP: "Pilot").

Taking Graystone up on his offer, Joseph and Willie attended the game, viewing it from the owner's box and later visiting the locker room. Following the game, Graystone revealed to Adams that he was aware of his affiliation with the Ha'la'tha, asking Joseph for his help in a project that could bring both of their daughters back to life. Graystone proposed to implant a virtual avatar of Tamara inside a robot body, essentially creating a duplicate of Adams' daughter. The key however, was a piece of technology owned by Graystone's competitor, a Tauron company called the Vergis Corporation. Though dubious about the offer, Adams was nonetheless intrigued (CAP: "Pilot").

"Tamara-A"

Joseph reunites with Tamara in V-world.

Deciding to move forward with Graystone's plan, Adams approached his brother Sam Adama for help in the theft of the meta-cognitive processor from the Vergis Corporation. Working as an enforcer for the Ha'la'tha, Sam Adama was hesitant to betray Tomas Vergis - a friend of the Gautrau - but agreed to help if Joseph agreed to return the favor. Accepting the exchange, Adams agreed to deliver a threat to the Caprican Minister of Defense, Val Chambers, further increasing his involvement with the Ha'la'tha (CAP: "Pilot").

Upon receiving the stolen MCP, Graystone repaid Joseph by bringing him into the virtual world where a digital version of Tamara was being stored. At first embracing the avatar as his daughter, Adams' joy at seeing Tamara again quickly evaporated. The avatar was confused and panicked, screaming that she couldn't feel her heartbeat. Incensed, Adams called the entire endeavor an abomination and stormed out of the Graystone Estate, leaving the Tamara avatar behind in the virtual world (CAP: "Pilot").

Realizing that he could not escape the reality of his situation, Adams resolved to begin anew. Sharing with his son the story of his own father and life on Tauron, Joseph revealed that he had changed their family name to "Adams", but that they would now embrace the Adama name (CAP: "Pilot").

Fallout

Joseph and Willie Adama in Caprica City.

In the weeks that followed the tragedy, Joseph Adama struggled to cope with life as a single parent. Upon receiving a vision of Tamara reaching out to him, Adama became obsessed with seeing the avatar version of his daughter again. With Daniel Graystone ignoring his calls, Adama confronted Graystone at the MagLev memorial service at Apollo Park. There, Graystone informed Adama that after their last meeting, the program containing the avatars of Tamara and Zoe crashed, resulting in their apparent deletion. Unable to accept this, Adama confronted Graystone again, this time bring Sam Adama with him. Savagely beating him in an alley, the Adama brothers persuaded Graystone to reconsider his position and the scientist agreed to search for the Tamara avatar (CAP: "Rebirth", "Reins of a Waterfall").

Though Graystone suspected Tamara was in fact still inside his private virtual space, the avatar disappeared when it was discovered by the living Zoe avatar and released into the expanse of the virtual world. Believing his daughter was truly gone, Adama sought retribution, telling his brother to even the score by killing Graystone's wife, Amanda Graystone (CAP: "Reins of a Waterfall").

Later having second thoughts about the murder, Joseph attempted to call the hit off, but was unable to reach Sam. Aware of Joseph's high moral code, Sam Adama took the opportunity to scare both his brother and Amanda Graystone, revealing later that he had no intention of killing her (CAP: "Gravedancing").

Letting Go

Joseph receives a new tattoo at the funeral for Shannon and Tamara.

Sinking into a deep depression, Adama began neglecting his responsibilities, failing to go to work and to provide a stable home for his son. Lacking direction from his father, Willie spent time with his uncle Sam, who taught him about the Ha'la'tha. Discovering that Willie had skipped school to spend time with Sam, Joseph confronted his brother and took steps to reestablish his relationship with his son. Taking Willie on a fishing trip, Joseph attempted to bond with his son. The trip was cut short, though, when Willie entered a physical altercation with a teenage boy (CAP: "There is Another Sky").

Believing that he was quickly losing his son, Joseph decided to hold a traditional Tauron funeral to give his son - and himself - closure. Receiving a new tattoo on his chest, Joseph performed the funereal rights, giving the ferryman coins to ensure Tamara and Shannon safe passage to the afterlife. The following celebration, however, was interrupted by Tad Thorean - a New Cap City gamer - who arrived to deliver a message from Tamara - alive and lost in the virtual world (CAP: "There is Another Sky").

Search for Tamara

With knowledge of the Tamara avatar's existence in V-world, Joseph Adama sought out assistance from Tad Thorean. Locating Thorean at his workplace at a Little Tauron market, Adama demanded to be taken into the hacked virtual space. As Thorean - aka "Heracles" in the virtual world - introduced Adama to New Cap City, Thorean was shot and derezzed permanently from the game, leaving Adama to search for Tamara alone (CAP: "The Imperfections of Memory").

Mysteries

Searching the streets of New Cap City alone, Adama encountered "Emmanuelle", a beautiful user who claimed to have been sent by Tad Thorean. Really Adama's assistant Evelyn in disguise, Emmanuelle helped protect and guide Adama through the gaming environment. Entering New Cap City's version of Little Tauron, Joseph and Emmanuelle broke into the virtual version of his own apartment where they demanded information from the current resident. Being shot and nearly derezzed in the an ensuing melee, Emmanuelle insisted Adama leave V-world until he was prepared to shoot and to kill (CAP: "The Imperfections of Memory").

Joseph and "Emmanuelle" in New Cap City.

Taking advice from his brother, who told him killing is pretending it's not reality, Adama reentered V-world, accompanying Emmanuelle to the New Cap City nightclub Mysteries. Being called on stage by the host, Cerberus, Adama was given the opportunity to solve a riddle in return for information on his daughter's whereabouts. Refusing to answer, Adama was thrown out of the club and labeled a coward. Discovering Tamara's distinctive flower signature stamped on a wall outside the club, Adama used the performance-enhancing hack amp to charge back into Mysteries, opening fire on and derezzing the clientele and holding Cerberus at gunpoint (CAP: "Ghosts in the Machine").

Though Cerberus proved little use, Adama spared him from being derezzed. Outside the club, Joseph and Emmanuelle discovered a wall covered with Tamara's signature - Emmanuelle telling Adama that perhaps his daughter had found a new home in the virtual world (CAP: "Ghosts in the Machine").

End of Line

Adama is shot and derezzed by Tamara.

Undeterred, Adama continued to search New Cap City, using amp to heighten his abilities within the game (CAP: "End of Line").

Watching Adama's life deteriorate in the real world, Evelyn realized the search for the Tamara avatar was destroying his life. Entering New Cap City's Little Tauron as Emmanuelle, Evelyn lured Tamara into her family's virtual apartment. Explaining the situation, Evelyn convinced Tamara her father was better off believing she was dead (CAP: "End of Line").

Later entering his virtual home, Adama was shocked and relieved to find Tamara, but the reunion was short. Tamara told her father to stop following her and to focus on Willie. Aiming a gun at her chest, she shot herself, appearing to be mortally wounded before turning the weapon on her father and derezzing him from the game. Devasted by losing his daughter once again, Joseph collapsed into the arms of Evelyn in the real world (CAP: "End of Line").

Blood & Chrome

Adama and Graystone share a cigarette outside Graystone Industries.

Having dealt with Daniel Graystone in the past, Joseph Adama was asked to advise in dealing with the Ha'la'tha take over of Graystone Industries. A significant bump in the crime organization that he had previously despised, Adama personally represented the Guatrau's interests. Arriving at the Graystone Estate, he and Sam Adama staged a scenario in which Graystone was forced to choose between killing his mother or backing out of the deal. Despite Graystone's failure to prove willingness to work with the Ha'la'tha at any cost, the alliance was forged and both Adama brothers became instrumental in helping reinstall Graystone as CEO of the company (CAP: "Unvanquished", "False Labor").

To that end, Joseph and Samuel blackmailed members of the Graystone Industries' board. Though Graystone himself had difficulty exploiting people he had once considered friends, the work paid off and he was once again running his company - though with the guidance of the Ha'la'tha. Working out of the Graystone Industries Caprica City campus, Joseph and Evelyn operated to ensure the Guatrau's bottom line (CAP: "Retribution", "False Labor").

Tauron Uprising II

As Adama's personal life slowly returned to normal, political strife once again ignited on Tauron, recalling his childhood during the Tauron Uprising. With Sam Adama obsessed with the new Tauron rebellion, Joseph Adama sensed his brother's feelings of remorse concerning the deaths of their parents. Still, Joseph kept secret from his brother the knowledge that the Guatrau had decided not to smuggle Cylons to Tauron as Sam had suggested, but was instead selling them to the Soldiers of the One on Gemenon. Outraged when he learned of the deal with the STO, Sam Adama railed against his brother, asking Joseph how he could sell the robots to the people who had murdered his wife and daughter. Realizing that Sam was correct in his outrage, Joseph agreed to help him smuggle the Cylons to Tauron, an act of defiance against the Guatrau that could have serious consequences (CAP: "Blowback", "The Dirteaters").

The Notorious Lawyer

Joseph Adama's silver lighter

Adama believed that law was a way of exorcising everyone's demons, a belief that lead him to defend "the worst of the worst." Lee Adama remembered reading about how Joseph let "murderers go free," though never understanding why Joseph put himself through the abuse. In a discussion with Lampkin, it is revealed to Lee that Adama sought to understand the motivations that cause people to cheat, why people reward their enemies, go to war, and why people build machines to correct their flaws and shortcomings (TRS: "The Son Also Rises"). Lee apparently remains ignorant to Joseph Adama's connections to the Ha'la'tha, while it is uncertain whether Lampkin knew of the connection.

Adama always carried a silver lighter during his cases; he considered it good luck, and claimed he only lost a case when he left it at home. He later gave it to his son William, who, after the holocaust, loaned it to his own son as a token of luck for a crucial mission, which was returned to him after the mission's success (TRS: "The Hand of God").

Before going to trial, Adama would always break pencils before entering the courtroom as a reminder to "break preconceptions" and "work with what you had." He would then ask to borrow a pencil from the clerk. Adama's son recounted this ritual to Laura Roslin before her upcoming Presidential debate, leading her to try it herself (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I").

Legacies

After the Fall, his son William Adama (commander of Galactica) remarked that he thought Adama was a better father than he ever was to his own children (TRS: "The Hand of God"). Adama's grandson, Lee Adama, would repeatedly visit the elder Adama during his youth, sneaking a peek at Joseph's various law books (TRS: "A Day in the Life"). Joseph would repeatedly wave Lee over, telling him "Lee, be a good boy. Just don't be too good." (TRS: "The Son Also Rises")

During his tenure, defense attorney Romo Lampkin was one of Adama's students, likely meeting him while working in one of Caprica's civil litigation offices. Though Lampkin claims to have hated the man "because he was right" about the law, Lampkin also admits to learning everything he knows about the law from Adama, and even carries a worn copy of Law and Mind: The Psychology of Legal Practice with him. After first meeting Lee Adama, Lampkin claims that he looked like his grandfather (TRS: "The Son Also Rises"). Another book written by Adama is Trial Tactics and Strategies (TRS: "Crossroads, Part I").

Family tree

William Adama Sr. †

Isabelle Adama †

Larry

Sam Adama

Evelyn Adama

Joseph Adama

Shannon Adama †

Carolanne Adama †

William "Bill" Adama

Tamara Adama †

William "Willie" Adama †

Zak Adama †

Lee Adama

Anastasia Dualla †