Talk:Sherman Cottle/Archive 1

Am I the only one who thinks cottle is a cylon?--Glaucon

I've thought so for a long time, for one big reason: I think it is just preposterous and unbelievable that a Cylon could be medically indistinguishable from a human. They've got light-up spines, and they can transmit/receive data by sticking a cable into their hands! I cannot accept that it would be so difficult to isolate some medical differences, based on that. Cottle has medical technology that's roughly the same as our present-day technology, such as MRIs. He has had access to plenty of Cylon patients, plus Hera. He has had over a year of opportunity to study Athena (if he asked for her consent). If Cottle weren't a Cylon himself, he'd have developed a Cylon-screening test in the first few weeks of this series. There's also the fact that Cottle was conveniently absent when Boomer shot Adama. He's a Cylon, count on it! --Smw 13:09, 1 February 2007 (CST)

Welcome to the wiki, Smw. (You're replying to an older conversation, but I'll jump in.) Cottle is unlikely to be a Cylon, if Three's revelation in her vision of the final five is to be believed. She spoke with the man after he treats injuries of a Number Five in "Exodus, Part I." Her comment when she sees what she believes is another Cylon in her vision doesn't fit; Three apologizes to the image, but she's never personally harmed Cottle, where the dialog suggests that a personal threat was exchanged by the Three to the unknown Cylon. And, most importantly, not even Cavil is as ornery as Cottle is. :) --Spencerian 13:20, 1 February 2007 (CST)

A few points... Cylons are virtually indistinguishable to humans, even on a cellular level. Baltar even proved this. The only difference is how they react to certain classes of radiation–which is why Baltar needed the nuclear warhead. Therefore, Cottle would not have developed a Cylon-screening test a few weeks, or even a few months, into the first exodus. -- Joe Beaudoin ^{So say we all - Donate} 16:48, 1 February 2007 (CST)

Joe, then how do you explain the light-up spines, and how do you explain Sharon cutting open her hand, sticking a cable in, and transmitting data through it? These things aren't anatomically possible for a human. And that ought to be as obvious to the characters as it is to the viewers. It's a glaring inconsistency that needs to be explained onscreen, someday. The simplest explanation is this: any physician with an MRI could examine a Cylon's spine and find the lightbulbs (or whatever), but Cottle never looked, because he was intentionally perpetuating the myth that Cylons are medically indistinguishable from humans. --Smw 23:54, 1 February 2007 (CST)

Light bulbs? Not really. Bioluminescence. Also, the spine thing is a flashing arrow of sorts, letting us know that something is simply abnormal with Baltar's mystery woman. It wouldn't surprise me if the cellular structure of Cylons is photo-sensitive either. Also, while I'm not a scientist by any means, what I do know is that cellular testing is very time-intensive and requires sensitive, complex scientific equipment that Galactica likely doesn't carry. Also, Doc Cottle isn't a biologist by any means, but more of a general medical practitioner. -- Joe Beaudoin ^{So say we all - Donate} 00:50, 2 February 2007 (CST)

No, he's apparently well known, has been there for years, and seems to (at least) have been old enough to have been in the Cylon War. --The Merovingian 03:25, 26 February 2006 (EST)

I appreciate your response. Particularly since, having glanced at several of the other discussions, you apparently know the subjects far better than I and appear to be somewhat of a scholar. Nevertheless, having now glanced at the page about such speculation, I believe some of the assumptions to be unwarrented or at least weakly supported. The most obvious being apparent age. ( forgive me if I don't give citations, but I am remembering rather than running them down and I believe your familiarity will make it unncessary.) I saw it mentioed at one point that the cyrlon models represent archtypes, a father/wiseman/partiarch (perhaps even shaman/doctor) arhetype would possibly be created old as would a martriarch/etc.etc. ( I am unaware if there is any evidence one way or another that they physically age with time, but supposing arguendo that they do, this maight account for the seeming greater ages of earlier numbered models than that of newer models - though it would also imply that those downloaded at death actually enter "unused" rather than new bodies, six revives in a body just like her's not a younger version of it.) I also don't find the number or years agrument to be compelling as far as I recall the only statement on how the cylons have been around is in given by Six to Balter and implied by Sharon. Six is clearly an unrealiable narrator, both through manipulation and perhaps through knowledge. All we know for sure that she can speak on is her own time since insertion and we cant necessarily trust that she is honest about that. --Glaucon 13:29, 2 March 2006 (CST) Gluacon

A) Number Six was being honest to other Cylons in "Downloaded", B) While Doctor Cottle's PHYSICAL age doesn't really matter--yes, as seen in the upcoming Cavil-model, they can be old--what I mean is that Doctor Cottle has apparently been serving for many years aboard Galactica and other ships and is well-known. Cylons would tend to be people whose past cannot be confirmed. --The Merovingian 13:47, 2 March 2006 (CST)

Thank you again for your response. In Re A: was she speaking of her own tenure on caprica and if so why would that have any implications for the existence of other models and their time lines? Do we assume she is privy to all the informaiton of the cylons ( clearly dangerouse in an infiltrator who is subject to torture.) In re B: clearly my objections to this are bound up in the answer to A.--Glaucon

We don't, but BattlestarWIki has pieced it together that A) Caprica-Six was on Caprica for 2 years, and Galactica-Boomer was on Galactica for 2 years (stated by Adama in The Farm)). We actually think infiltration could have started before then, but "wide-scale" infiltration only started 2 years ago. Regardless, there is very little information that would support Cottle as a Cylon, other than just random accusations. --The Merovingian 14:37, 2 March 2006 (CST)

I agree that there is nothing overt wich is why I ask about disqualifiers. Many of the things I am considering are extrinsic to him, the fact that we "know" there are a number of other cylons in the fleet, that it is likely there is at least one with a high enough level of access to leave notes in adama's quarteres about the number of cylon models, that other than into the command structure itself, the doctors position would be an ideal place for an agent. Brain chip- Batlar is just nuts, has an undetectable chip in his head, or the doctor did not tell him of the positive result. In Flesh and Blood, Conoy displys a great deal of knowledge of Kara's mental state and personal psychology, while this could have been gathered other ways, her medical records and the observation the doctor was able to make of her in the wake of her injury seem more likely candidate that the information even of others like sharon as Kara doesn't seem to really be the "shareing" type. Cottle seems protective of sharon and her child and his reaction to the attempted rape implies that he sees them as more than machines ( this creates an interesting, though by no means fatal, dichotomy between his advocacy of human abortion, I'm pro-choice myself, but one of those Gemonons could argue that he values cylon life over human life). He seems to encourage dissention on issues that, while they may not endanger the fleeet directly, due keep things tense and act as wedges betweeen the government and the people as well as between adama and the president -helping Roslin escape captivity, performing abortions of unclear legality and in such a way as to be caught at it, then pushing asylum when adama tries to sweep it under the rug - in each case aiding or stimulating the conflict and then letting others due the fighting and reap the animosity. He is ideally situated to gather information and to be a low-level provacatur. Wrong, perhaps, but certaily not a random accusation. --Glaucon 20:32, 2 March 2006 (CST)

Still just looking for things were there is no incriminating pattern. --The Merovingian 23:25, 2 March 2006 (CST)

Regarding the note... it always seemed to me that we were meant to believe that Baltar left the note in Adama's quarters, given that he was the only one told (on screen anyway) that there were twelve models. -- Joe Beaudoin 20:41, 2 March 2006 (CST)

Good point, thank you. I didn't think that simply becuase he does not seem inclined to be helpful and I think he would be terrified of being caught leaving it and questioned as to the origin of his knowledge, but it is certainly a possibility. --Glaucon 20:49, 2 March 2006 (CST)

Uniform Picture

Question: Can anyone get screencaps of Dr. Cottle in a Major's Uniform from Downloaded? I don't think Apollo's quick promotion made him change his uniform in Captain's Hand, so I think that here is the first time we see what a Major's uniform actually looks like: But my problem is that it is dark: does the Major's uniform have a white line, or a gold line? I cannot tell. --The Merovingian 03:25, 26 February 2006 (EST)

If Cottle has a different uniform because he's a major, doesn't this mean that Lee did as well during his tenure as Major? -- Joe Beaudoin 07:40, 26 February 2006 (EST)

Cottle might not have a normal Major's uniform. I'm postulating that there might be a special "Medic/Doctor" uniform that he wears. Plus, based on the character himself, he really couldn't give two craps about rank and the trappings thereof. --BklynBruzer 01:18, 28 August 2006 (CDT)

He's actually in a regular uniform a few times. --The Merovingian ^{(C - E)} 01:24, 28 August 2006 (CDT)

I'm still right about Cottle not giving two craps about rank and the trappings thereof! --BklynBruzer 02:13, 1 September 2006 (CDT)

Yes, you are. :-) -- Joe Beaudoin ^{So say we all - Donate} 09:08, 1 September 2006 (CDT)

Cottle's First Name

According to two websites that are now shut off, Major/Doctor Cottle's name is "George" or "Daniel". Is their any source that can find him a first name?--CoreyDanian 3 October 2006

Try asking Bradley Thompson at BW:OC. --Peter Farago 22:33, 2 October 2006 (CDT)

Hi, Corey. We're honored to have some crew of the show who answers some questions of the show. They may not answer your question because it might reveal something of future episodes. However, past episode data might be revealed. Visit the Battlestar Wiki:Official Communiques article to see other questions or post your own. Remember to keep your question brief and succient. --Spencerian 22:41, 2 October 2006 (CDT)

See the article, where Mr. Thompson says that, while Cottle does have a first and middle name, RDM does not want it revealed as yet. --Spencerian 13:22, 1 February 2007 (CST)

Favorite character

I have not seen any favorite character remarks on any topic. Not that I have sought for one exhaustively. Anyways I thought I'd start one.

The way he handles himself around man of higher rank and 'heroes' is just superb. He is hands down the coolest human in this universe.

--Alcibiades 15:12, 21 December 2006 (CST)