A series bible is a guidebook written by the creator(s) of a TV show so that all writers will know the general outline of the show; it contains the backstories of the characters and outlines the in-series universe. Typically, it contains information that might not actually be revealed to the audience until later, but is known to the writers from the start, so they won't make any conflicting new stories.
The re-imagined Battlestar Galactica series bible was written by Ron D. Moore after the Miniseries during a hiatus before production on the regular series began. It has not been released in its entirety, nor will it probably, as it still contains much information not yet revealed on screen. However, the series bible is not necessarily definitive, as sometimes the writing team may decide something different must be done in a script than was originally outlined. Still, so long as nothing new is made that conflicts with the bible, it contains the real backstories for the characters and basic plot outline for the future of the show.
For example, RDM has said in his season 1 podcast that, according to the series bible, Starbuck used to be a pyramid player, intending to play professionally, but got a knee injury and had to drop out and find a new direction for her life. Several episodes later, in "Resistance" Starbuck states on screen that she used to play pyramid but a knee injury forced her to stop.
RDM often refers to information from the series bible in the podcasts (usually, things he wanted to put onscreen but could not). Another example is Colonel Saul Tigh; RDM has stated that his series bible entry says he was a young Petty Officer not unlike Chief Tyrol when during the Cylon War his ship, Brenik, was boarded and the fighting with Cylons was some of the bloodiest of the war, devolving into hand to hand combat.
Later, Tigh was stationed on another ship which was also lost, and then he was dragooned into officer school to become a Viper pilot when Colonial numbers started running low. The series bible also fully described his poor relationship with his wife, Ellen Tigh. Originally, all the viewers would ever see of this relationship was that it (combined with Tigh's horrific war experience) had driven Tigh to alcoholism as seen in the beginning of the Miniseries, also when Tigh is burning her face out of a photo. Orignally, this was supposed to be all viewers actually saw of Ellen Tigh. However, other writers read the full description of her in the series bible, and subsequently thought she'd make a good character, and thus "resurrected" her in "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down".
Several lines from the series bible are briefly shown during Battlestar Galactica: The Lowdown. The images show that the series bible has sections on the Religion and the Culture and Society of the Colonials.
The following are lines seen during Battlestar Galactica: The Lowdown:
Our show is built…
1. Series Arcs
2. Multi-episode Arcs
3. Episode Arcs
The series arc run through the life of the show… pursuit of our fleet, while the Multi-Episode Arcs… specific crises lay on one planet discovered by… closed-end (unclear) for each show and giving… episode. By employing the structure, we gain… on the existing… and… the… the…
The key… Galactica lives in a perpetual state… And where terrorist bombs, murders, rebellions,… Routines of day to day life. There are no days for… Approaching the quiet normal existence they once…
The series is about a chase.
Let the chase begin.
…The centuries according to… …governmental structure existed… …events of the Cylon War.
Religion
The colonies have a poly-theistic belief… …God-like beings on the planet Kobol… …thanks to or ask for blessings from the… …how many there are is not yet known… …and Roman gods of Earth (this linkage… …roots to those of Colonial society,… …from the same homeworld, namely Kobol…
Religious belief and practice varies from co… …completely secular and others verging on…
There is a formal body of priests and clerics… …now operates in a quasi-civil role within the C… …to the British House of Lords. At the name imp… …representatives from each of the Colonies. The… …government on policy, matters from religious… …relatively narrow.
Culture and Society
Colonial society is very similar to 21st… …a parallel world for all intents and… …professional sports, they… …bureaucracies…
SkyOne Biographies[edit]
The following are bio information from SkyOne's website which was later removed. They might be based on Series Bible information.
William Adama[edit]
William Adama was born on the colony of Caprica, in a small coastal community.
His mother Evelyn was an accountant and his father, Joseph, was an attorney who specialised in criminal defence and civil liberties.
At the age of 16 his parents divorced and he applied to the Colonial Fleet Academy. That same year, the Cylon War broke out. Adama's training accelerated along with all other midshipmen.
After 3 years Adama was commissioned to work as a flight pilot; he gained a further two years of training before Adama joined his first squadron. He was a gifted, natural pilot and he shot down a Cylon fighter in his first mission.
After the war was over, Adama was mustered out of the service along with millions of other colonials as part of demobilization process. He went home to Caprica, married his high school sweetheart and started life over.
Adama struggled to find work as a pilot and so signed up as a deck hand in the merchant fleet. This experience would later give him an uncommon insight into the lives and struggles of the enlisted ranks aboard Galactica.
Adama later had two sons, Lee and Zak. But over the years his exploration aboard ships would see Adama spending less time with his sons. He always tried to instill duty and admiration for military services. But was still surprised to learn that both his sons decided to enter the Fleet and become pilots.
When Zak died during a training flight. Lee confronted his father and laid blame for his younger brother's death.
Laura Roslin[edit]
According to SkyOne, Roslin was born in Caprica City. Her father and two sisters were killed by a drunk driver and she came to the attention of Richard Adar after she earned a Teacher of the Year award.
Here is SkyOne's summary of Roslin:
- Laura Roslin was born in the bustling urban environment of Caprica City. Both her parents, Judith and Edward, were teachers in the public school system and her two older sisters also went into teaching.
- Tragically at the age of fifteen, both her sisters and her father were killed by a drunk driver. Her mother never recovered from the shock and Laura would spend the next twenty years caring for her mother. Laura then went into teaching and soon established herself in one of the large public schools in the city.
- Her success was acknowledged and she earned a Teacher of the Year award. In doing so, she came to the attention of Richard Adar, Mayor of Caprica City, who wanted her to help him run for Governor. Despite having no political experience, Adar persuaded her to join.
- Laura entered the harsh world of politics. Caprica City was crime-ridden and its public schools were a disaster. Adar and Laura brought the city back to its full potential.
- Uncomfortable with the spotlight, Laura let others take the credit for her work. But the Mayor knew what she had accomplished, and he never forgot.
- Her personal life was solitary; she remained a quiet, efficient public servant who ran her department fairly. This won her admiration across the political spectrum.
- Laura wanted to return to teaching but her loyalties to Adar would find herself fulfilling her political role. Her desire for a quiet life changed when she came under scrutiny and was accused of corruption in the Seacade District Scandal. Adar stood by her and eventually the scandal subsided.