Number One
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| Number One | ||
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Human Name |
John Cavil | |
| Age | ||
| Colony | ||
| Birth place | {{{birthplace}}} | |
| Birth Name | ||
| Birth Date | {{{birthdate}}} | |
| Callsign | ||
| Nickname | {{{nickname}}} | |
| Introduced | Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I | |
| Death | Suicide (Daybreak, Part II) | |
| Parents | Claimed as a child by Ellen Tigh | |
| Siblings | ||
| Children | ||
| Marital Status | ||
| Family Tree | View | |
| Role | Cylon infiltrator, lay clergy | |
| Rank | ||
| Serial Number | {{{serial}}} | |
| Portrayed by | Dean Stockwell | |
| Number One is a Cylon | ||
| Number One is a Final Five Cylon | ||
| Number One is a Human/Cylon Hybrid | ||
| Number One is an Original Series Cylon | ||
| Related Media | ||
| @ BW Media | ||
| Additional Information | ||
| [[Image:|200px|Number One]] | ||
"Number One" is the first of eight humanoid Cylon models created by the Final Five for the Centurions following the first Cylon war. The Final Five referred to him as John, and he was created in the image of Ellen Tigh's biological father.
One of the Number Ones, prior to being discovered among the Fleet, posed as Brother Cavil, a member of the Colonial clergy. However, contrary to his assumed role, he did not share the other Cylons' religious beliefs and frequently mocked them.
"John" and the Final Five
After the Final Five contacted the Centurions, they agreed to create humanoid Cylons and share resurrection technology with them in exchange for an end to the Cylon War. The first humanoid Cylon created by the Final Five was "John", named after and created in the likeness of Ellen Tigh's biological father. He was "treasured" by the Five, and even assisted them in the creation of the other seven models.
John grew intensely jealous of Daniel, the seventh model, because Daniel was emotionally favored by Ellen. John sabotaged the Sevens' genetic code and amniotic fluid, wiping out the entire line permanently. He later trapped the Final Five in a room, suffocated them, and boxed them before they could be resurrected fully. Sometime after, he obscured their original memories, gave them false ones, and planted each of them "like a Boomer" among the humans in an effort to teach them a lesson about their foolish appreciation for humans. This plan backfires when The Five become even more sympathetic towards the colonials, a fate that is eventually sealed with the destruction of the resurrection hub. Without The Hub, The Five can no longer regain their original memories, thus remaining colonials and enemies with John. Although The Five still unconsciously possess their lost memories, if any of The Five were to die resurrection technology would be lost forever. John also corrupted the memories of his six surviving "sibling" models to remove from them the knowledge of the Final Five's identities and programmed them not to think about the matter, though they still knew that another five models were extant. John was extremely contemptuous of many of the human traits the Five gave him. He eliminated his need for sleep and dreaming by rewriting his own software.
Galactica Copy
On Galactica, the first viewed copy of Brother Cavil provides counsel for Chief Tyrol after Tyrol's maddened attack against Cally Henderson. Cavil identifies the source of Tyrol's anxiety as arising from the fear that he could be a Cylon sleeper agent. This Cavil seems to be personally very familiar with Tyrol and is apparently aware that Henderson harbors romantic feelings for him (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I). (Later analysis of Cavil's nature, from behavior in season 3 and 4 episodes, suggests that Cavil's comments were aimed to incite torment in Tyrol.)
A somewhat eccentric figure, Cavil is a surprisingly harsh critic of prayer for a Brother, but claims to have been preaching "longer than you [Tyrol] have been sucking down oxygen" (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I). This claim is patently false, as Tyrol is among Cavil's creators.
Despite his cynicism, Cavil prays with Laura Roslin for her re-election to the presidency to be successful. When Tyrol deduces the Caprica copy of him as a Cylon, Cavil is thrown in the brig along with his copy. He is later ejected through an airlock along with his copy (deleted scene). Due to the loss of the Resurrection Ship, his death is presumed to be final (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).
Caprica Copy
A second copy of this model emerges from the crew of resistance members rescued by the Caprica SAR team, telling them that the Cylons had left the Colonies. What he does not tell them — until Tyrol blew his cover upon his arrival at Galactica — is that he is a Cylon.
Due to this copy's discovery, the Fleet copy is arrested as well and thrown in Galactica's brig. Laura Roslin orders them ejected into space after Caprica-Cavil informs her and Admiral Adama that the Cylons had made two mistakes: the attack on the Colonies and the pursuit of the Fleet (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II). Due to the loss of the Resurrection Ship, his death is presumed to be final. Though their execution is not shown, a later conversation indicates that they were executed (deleted scene).
Like his Fleet counterpart, the Caprica copy also expresses doubt in the active involvement of divine forces in the real world, although he focuses his contempt on the Cylon religion. He says that "There is no God", something that the Ones have been telling the other Cylons for years, though he acknowledges that God's existence or nonexistence can't actually be proven. Based on his conversation with the Fleet copy, this viewpoint appears to be shared between at least these two copies, and possibly across the entire model.
New Caprica Copies
At least two Ones are present in the invasion fleet on New Caprica, as seen in "Occupation" and "Precipice." They have some authority over humans in detainment, as Ellen Tigh is able to use sexual favors to bribe another into releasing Saul Tigh. This may have been a self-serving ruse, because after a second sexual encounter, One says to her of Saul, "When's his next meeting with the insurgents?" and "We know he's their leader - why do you think we let him out of detention?" Ellen replies, "I thought it was because of the 'twist'", referring to a sex act, and One says, "Oh, yes, that too."
Two copies are also involved in the Cylon leaders' discussions such as whether to kill Gaius Baltar.
Another copy also acts as a type of liaison between the NCP and their Cylon masters. He gives Jammer the list of Colonials to detain, and later accompanies the NCP to the site of a mass execution of Colonial Detainees (Occupation).
The NCP liaison version is critically wounded during an attack by the Resistance movement. One is left with a bullet wound to the stomach and is left to die after the detainees are liberated. He resorts to suicide by severing his carotid artery with a spent casing. He downloads into a new body for the third time; an experience that, as he explains, is similar to having a white hot poker slammed through his skull (Exodus, Part I).
Shortly before her death, Ellen Tigh descibes the One she seduced as the one "in charge" of the Detention Facility (Exodus, Part II).
Basestar Command Copies
After the Cylon fleet arrives at the algae planet, a Cylon negotiation team negotiates a meeting on Galactica, which consists of Gaius Baltar, Boomer, a Number Three, and a Number One. The One ad-libs during the discussion, personally suggesting that the Cylons will hand over Baltar to the Colonials as part of the negotiation ("to sweeten the pot").
Later, a One (likely the same one) argues that they should destroy Galactica now and be rid of them for good. He thinks it does not matter if the Cylons find Earth in five days or five thousand years, saying that they can last forever, whereas the Colonials can't. He then determines Admiral Adama's claim that he will nuke the temple is a bluff even as Galactica preps its missile launchers (The Eye of Jupiter).
Another copy greets Number Three when she resurrects on a Resurrection Ship and informs her of the decision to box her model. She replies that someday he will know the truth of the Final Five like she does just before he removes the device storing her consciousness. Other Cavils are shown boxing other Number Threes all over the room in the Resurrection Ship (Rapture).
Faction Leader Copy
- Owing to the identical nature of the Ones, the singular copy referred to below may actually be several different copies. Furthermore this copy could be the same as one discussed above, although there is no particular indication this is the case.
In "Six of One" a Number One model, consistently referred to as "Cavil", despite the egalitarian and democratic principles of Cylon command, exudes an definite sense of assumed authority. As of such, he appears to be the de facto leader of one side of the schism between the Cylons, composed of Ones, Fours, Fives, and Sharon Valerii, opposed to the Twos, Sixes and Eights loyal to Natalie. His is among the first blood shed in the Cylon Civil War, as Natalie has the self-aware Centurions (a concept Cavil is horrified by) attack. He initially appears to be forgiving, negotiating generous terms of truce with the rebels, although this is turns out to be a ploy for a devastating ambush, one which he justifies: "they started it".
Cavil is in a romantic relationship with Valerii, although the nature of it is odd, he condescendingly refers to her as his "pet Eight" (The Hub). He has been holding Ellen Tigh prisoner ever since she was killed by her husband and resurrected (No Exit).
This copy is killed by Number Three after he un-boxes her to try to convince her to get the rebels to stop. She breaks his neck when she learns of the attack on the Hub, believing that he won't have time to resurrect before it is destroyed (The Hub).
It is likely that she was wrong, as Boomer brings a kidnapped Hera to a Number One which seems to be the same Cavil. He may have had to time to resurrect before the Hub was destroyed contrary to what D'Anna thought. It is equally possible that this is a different copy entirely, as they seem to share similar personalities. Regardless, this copy, alongside a Simon, runs many tests on the child. (Islanded in a Stream of Stars).
He is later seen with Boomer and Hera in The Colony, and remarks upon how Hera "holds the key to their survival somewhere in her genetic code". (Daybreak, Part I)
During the attack on The Colony, Cavil invades the Galactica CIC to take back Hera Agathon. He agrees to hand her over to the Colonials in exchange for the secret of Resurrection, and backs down. His trademark sarcasm surfaces when he is impatient with the Final Five, saying they're "keeping two civilizations waiting". When Tyrol attacks and kills Tory Foster, he takes this as a sign of aggression, attacking the Colonials. When his attack fails, he swears and puts a gun in his mouth, committing suicide. Many other Number One copies died with him when The Colony falls into the black hole it was orbiting and is destroyed. (Daybreak, Part II)
Analysis
In "Occupation" and "Precipice", the Ones are the most outwardly sadistic and cruel to humans, appearing to take pleasure (or at least a noticeable level of amusement) in their own acts of psychological and physical cruelty. They are even described by one of their creators, Ellen Tigh, as being sadists. The Ones like toying with the idea of liquidating the human population on New Caprica as a solution to the Resistance, to "perhaps a more manageable number. Say, less than a thousand."
The Ones are described as being driven by base emotions, principally anger and jealousy (No Exit). They try to hide behind a facade of genial yet sarcastic superiority, but when situations move beyond their control they often lash out in rage, abandoning any pretence of civility. The Ones are a vindictive model; even their creators do not escape their anger and wrath. They specifically torture the Final Five psychologically and physically as a means of exacting "justice" for perceived slights against them. In conversation with the other Cylons, Ones are vocal and callous proponents of harsh measures against the New Caprica Resistance and are strong advocates of mass executions.
Though apparently atheistic, the first two known copies of this model pose as clergy. possibly as an intentional mockery of religion on their part. The Cavils on New Caprica often speak of "God" sarcastically when among other Cylons but seem to recognize the pragmatic aspects of religion, referring to the Cylon "plan" as "God's Plan." The Cavil who lead the main Cylon faction against the rebel faction is also implied to possess more personal knowledge than other Cylons as the nature of the Cylon god and possibly the Final Five. He plays a "gatekeeper" role, and refers to "God" as "the voice of reason."
With the Cylons apparently occupying New Caprica at the end of the Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II, it appears that the Ones on Galactica are either lying about the Cylon change of heart or the Cylon plans changed after the second Number One was captured on Galactica.
"Exodus, Part I" reveals that a Number One unit, the leader of the execution squad intercepted by the Resistance and who died there (his third death), experienced increasing head pain with each resurrection.
Several comments Number One makes in the episode "The Ties That Bind" indicate that he has some deeper knowledge of the Centurions than the rest of the Cylons do. This is because the Ones are the eldest of the eight Colonial-era Humanoid Cylons, the firsts ones to be created by the Final Five. They played a key role in helping the Five create both their seven brother and sister models and the advanced Centurions and Raiders.
Notes
- The word cavil is a noun and verb involving an irrelevant or trivial point made during an argument or discussion; synonyms include quibble and carp. (Dictionary Reference)
- Cavil's numerical designation isn't revealed until the episode "Six of One" in Season Four and his given name "John" is not revealed until "No Exit", also of Season Four.
- Cavil is also revealed in "No Exit" to have been, among other things, the anonymous stranger who placed an unconcious Ellen Tigh aboard the Rising Star during the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. His copy on Caprica was a member of Sam's resistance fighters, which is why his sudden appearance in "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II" was not remarked on with surprise.
