Coker

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Coker FasjovikCoker's InterludeCoker Theme

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

Junior Lieutenant Coker Fasjovik is a Raptor ECO (electronic countermeasures officer) serving the Colonial Fleet during the tenth year of the First Cylon War, circa 42 BCH (58YR).

Service

Drafted into the Colonial Fleet immediately after graduating from the University of Aerilon, and having served two tours of duty, Fasjovik has become emotionally worn by the war, and is openly contemptuous of inexperience and optimism in the face of the long and violent conflict. He is saddled with Ensign William Adama as the pilot of his Raptor, Wild Weasel, upon the young ensign's assignment to Galactica. Fasjovik actively despises Adama's gung-ho nature and rebukes Adama's attempts to befriend him, even declaring his previous pilot, who was killed in combat, an "asshole" who was nevertheless worth "ten huskers like" Adama.

Fasjovik is relieved when Commander Silas Nash gives him and his new pilot a "milk run" to deliver cargo, as he only has forty-seven days remaining in his (mandatory) second tour of duty. However, much to Fasjovik's chagrin, the "milk run" is a pretense for a classified mission deep in Cylon space involving Becca Kelly, a computer programmer who refined the Cylons' artificial intelligence before the start of the war.

During an assignment on Djerba, Fasjovik eventually realizes that Kelly is hiding something, and forces her at gunpoint to reveal her plan. She dupes him into believing that she intends to infect the Cylon computer network with a virus. However, as Kelly works, Fasjovik sees information about Colonial warships being uploaded. Realizing that she is betraying the hidden "ghost fleet" of Colonial ships being prepared for a surprise attack, he shoots her, but before he and Adama can leave the Cylon facility, he is in turn shot by Kelly. Adama destroys the communications array and stops the upload after Kelly runs out of ammo. Fasjovik and Adama help one another to escape, and are soon found by a SAR Raptor. His wounds heal, and with a new sense of respect and friendship for Adama, plans to finish off his remaining six weeks in the service.

Private Life

Fasjovik's father was a mining engineer who later became a professor at Promethea A & M. Despite this family connection, Fasjovik elected to attend the University of Aerilon, first intending to be a playwright, then later deciding to study music and becoming a skilled pianist. While taking shelter at an abandoned ski lodge on Djerba, he plays on a grand piano, and laments to Ensign Adama about the rarity of such opportunities in his life. He also has a wife, Katie, but is reluctant to discuss her. Before passing out from his wounds, he gives Adama a photo of her for safe keeping ^{(TRS: "Blood and Chrome" deleted scene)}.

Script Version Differences

The pre-production script for Blood and Chrome contains significantly more character development and backstory for Coker Fasjovik than appears in the final production.

Extended Personal Background

The script provides much more detail about Coker's family and educational background. His father worked for major Tylium companies before becoming a professor at Promethea A&M, and Coker "broke his heart" by choosing to attend the University of Aerilon instead, an arts school where he initially wanted to be a playwright before switching to music.

Marriage and Emotional Distance

The script reveals that Coker's wife Katie lives on Aerilon and had been writing letters to him, but he stopped responding during his second tour. When Adama asks about this, Coker explains his psychological defense mechanism: soldiers sometimes stop thinking about what they have waiting for them at home because "it's easier not to sweat the future if you think you don't have one."

Piano Bar Scene

The script includes an extensive piano bar sequence where Coker plays a mournful melody while drinking expensive alcohol at the abandoned resort on Djerba. During this scene, he reflects on his failed artistic aspirations and engages in deeper philosophical discussions with Adama about war and survival. He admits that back home he couldn't afford such luxury items but "figured it'd be a crime to let it go to waste."

Friendship with Jim Kirby

The script features an expanded subplot involving Coker's friendship with Jim Kirby, a Viper pilot presumed dead but actually serving in the ghost fleet. Coker informs Kirby that he has become a father―his wife Janey gave birth to a son named Anslem (after her father). This revelation causes Kirby to change his call sign from "Goldbrick" to "Anslem" and ultimately influences his decision to abandon the mission when the stakes become too high.

Enhanced Character Arc

The script version shows Coker's evolution more gradually, with extended dialogue exploring themes of survival, cynicism, and the psychological toll of extended combat. His relationship with Adama develops through more detailed conversations about their respective backgrounds and motivations, providing greater context for his eventual respect for the young pilot.

Notes

Musical Theme

Bear McCreary composed a specific theme for Coker Fasjovik in Blood and Chrome, marking one of the few times a supporting character received their own musical motif in the Battlestar Galactica universe. The Coker Theme is a simple six-note melody played by bansuri and supported by duduks, reserved exclusively for the character's emotional moments.

According to Bear McCreary, the theme highlights the tender side of Fasjovik's wise-cracking personality rather than providing comedic support, as "that part of his personality shines through easily." The theme appears in touching scenes throughout Blood and Chrome, including when Fasjovik encounters his old friend Jim Kirby and informs him that he is now a father, and during his piano performance at the abandoned lodge on Djerba.

Behind the Scenes

Ben Cotton, who portrays Coker Fasjovik, was announced as cast in the role on 26 January 2011 alongside Luke Pasqualino as William Adama. The character was specifically created for Blood and Chrome as a foil to the young, idealistic Adama, representing the war-weariness and cynicism that would later influence Adama's own military philosophy.

The character's background as a musician and playwright was incorporated to show the human cost of the First Cylon War - talented individuals forced into military service and away from their creative pursuits. This theme resonates throughout Blood and Chrome, emphasizing how the war affected all aspects of Colonial society and culture.

References

References

References

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