Humanoid Cylon
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- For information on the robotic Cylons of the Original Series, see Cylons (TOS). For information on a human-appearing Cylon from Galactica 1980, see Andromus.
- This article is capitalized for technical reasons. The correct term is "humanoid Cylon" and is not a proper noun.
Humanoid Cylons[1] are the quintessential Cylon form in the Re-imagined Series. These Cylons biologically mimic human form so completely that they are nearly undetectable to current Colonial technologies. Humanoid Cylons have the capacity to emulate many human physical acts, including sex. They are also "programmed" to genuinely possess human personalities traits (affection, jealousy, sadness, anger, sense of humor, religious faith, etc.).
The humanoid Cylons are responsible for masterminding the complete destruction of the Twelve Colonies through their use of sabotage and infiltration.
Origins
Following the end of the Cylon War (Miniseries), nothing was heard of the Cylons in 40 years.
During their forty years of isolation, the Cylons developed humanoid models [2]. The first step in their evolution from pure machines to organic beings was known as the "Hybrid." Other hybrids were later created to control baseships (Razor).
The humanoid Cylons were created by five early generation Cylons from Earth in exchange for the Centurions ending the Cylon War. These five early generation Cylons (now known as the "Final Five") are the descendants of humanoid Cylons created by humans on Kobol thousands of years ago. These humanoid Cylons were the Thirteenth Tribe that left Kobol and settled Earth.
The Five created Number One first and named him John. They initially developed eight humanoid models. However, the seventh model, Daniel, was destroyed by Number One out of jealousy. Number One (also known as "Cavil") contaminated the amniotic fluid in which the Daniel copies were maturing and then corrupted the genetic formula.
Physiology and Psychology
Humanoid Cylons are visually indistinguishable from humans, down to the cellular level, but not completely at a molecular level. Dr. Gaius Baltar is able to create a detector that can distinguish Cylon from human, but rarely used the device to a positive end ("Litmus", "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down").
Each humanoid Cylon has the same face, stature, hair, eye and skin color, gender, apparent age, and other biometrics as all the others of his or her model. This point technically makes each copy a twin of itself, but there are some models that choose to make cosmetic differences. Examples include D'Anna Biers, Gina Inviere, and a Number Six model with black hair (Torn). In addition, each copy appears to start with the same basic personality, but each personality grows more distinct due to their individual experiences.
The Cylon brain appears to have the same basic anatomical structure as the human brain and is claimed by Caprica-Six to operate on the same principle (Escape Velocity), yet is based on the silica pathway technology developed by the Colonies for the original mechanical Centurion models (Miniseries). It is this inherited technology that apparently allows humanoid Cylons to do things that a human brain and nervous system may not or cannot do, such as stellar navigate with the naked eye (The Face of the Enemy, Episode 2), program and compile computer code (Flight of the Phoenix), and interface directly with other technologies (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I).
Humanoid Cylons can be programmed as "sleeper agents", who appear to have a low-level Cylon personality that can conduct operations while placing the human sleeper personality "on-hold." "Boomer" Valerii was one such agent (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II). Most agent copies, particularly Numbers Five and Six, assume a human persona but are fully aware of their true nature and behave more or less as a human "spy."
They are susceptible to the same emotional traumas and joys that their human counterparts are, as they cannot "turn off" their ability to feel pain or other emotions (Escape Velocity), further proving that personalities are a realistic part of their psyche. A case in point is a copy of Number Six, known as Gina Inviere, who is physically and sexually assaulted repeatedly by the crew of Pegasus. These repeated assaults lead to Inviere's near-catatonic state at the time Pegasus discovers the Fleet (Pegasus).
Humanoid Cylons can dream, a process that appears to be natural to them[3], however they do not biologically require sleep, and the Ones have reprogrammed themselves to prevent it.
Some or all Cylon female models may have the capacity to bear children seeded by human males ("33", "Flesh and Bone", "The Hand of God", "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II"). The Cylons tested numerous methods of sexual reproduction, yet these failed due to a known flaw in their design. The seven widely known models of Humanoid Cylons cannot reproduce with each other biologically, so in an attempt to subvert this deficiency, they try to interbreed with humans, creating hybrid offspring. "Farms" were set up across all the occupied Colonies where survivors, specifically, young fertile women of child-bearing age, were rounded up, placed under heavy sedation and turned into "baby machines" through artificial insemination[4]. However, these methods have been unsuccessful thus far. Another drastically different approach is taken by attempting to conceive a child through a bond of love. To most of the characters it seems that Helo and Athena's love-child, Hera is the lone success story of the relatively short history of Cylon sexual reproduction (The Farm). More recent conceptions of human-cylon hybrids or pure cylon offspring have either been proven untrue (in the case of Galen Tyrol's child Nicholas Tyrol)) or miscarried during pregnancy (Saul Tigh (another of the Final Five) and Caprica-Six's unborn child Liam Tigh).
The bodies of humanoid Cylons sometimes appear to have tremendous stamina and strength, and appear to be designed to destroy or resist commonly dangerous human diseases[5], although they are not immune from all contagions[6]. In keeping with their desire to be a better human, however, the Cylons did not or could not further improve on other characteristic design flaws of the human body.[7] Humanoid Cylons are heavily fortified to resist damage from intense radiation fields that would kill a human after short exposure (The Passage), but they are still susceptible to damage from certain types of radiation or trauma (Miniseries). Despite their resistance to certain forms of energy, humanoid Cylons, unlike the Cylon Centurion, cannot be made "bulletproof" ("The Farm", "Precipice", "Hero").
Cylon Religion
- Main article: Cylon Religion
The Cylons follow a monotheistic religion to varying extents. Fanatical devotion to God is the central part of Number Two's character, whilst the Sixes, Threes and to a lesser extent the Eights also seem to have strong faith. The Number Ones appear to be atheistic. Fours' and Fives' views are not so well known, but they too take the "non-religious side" in the Cylon Civil War.
Cybernetic Behavior
Upon the death of its body, a humanoid Cylon's consciousness is automatically transferred into another copy of itself. This "resurrection" is limited by signal integrity and proximity to the Cylon homeworld or a Resurrection Ship (Miniseries, "Flesh and Bone", "Resurrection Ship, Part II").
It appears that all humanoid Cylons share a collective knowledge base of data from other active or deactivated humanoid Cylons, regardless of their model.[8]
As a humanoid Cylon downloads after being killed, it is apparent that the Cylon's memories are automatically stored for future use, such as uploading them into another copy of that specific model. Once these memories are implanted they become as real to the receiving Cylon as their own original memories. This downloading of memories seems to be involuntary as Sharon Agathon had no reason to do such a thing (The Hub).
The humanoid Cylons' psychology is based on what they simply refer to as "projection". Essentially an enhanced form of a self-induced and controlled hallucination, projection is how they choose to see the world around them, in any form they wish, whenever they wish. For example, if a Cylon were standing in a hallway, they could choose to see it as a forest filled with birds, trees, and sunlight. This mode of visualization is pleasing to humanoid Cylons (Torn)[9].
Although they cannot do so remotely or wirelessly, humanoid Cylons can interface with a computer system or computer network by photo-electrical means. They can perform this through subdermal physical contact if required (Flight of the Phoenix) or, preferably, through a Cylon data-font[10]. This might be possible through the use of bio-luminescent and photosensitive cells in their hands.
The presence of a water-like fluid as an integral part of the basestar, the ability to interface photo-electronically through subdermal and dermal contact, and the fact that humanoid Cylon are anatomically indistinguishable from human beings, implies that the techniques used in their creation are advanced enough to incorporate cybernetic functions into their design without the use of specific internal structures other than human-like organs.
After being "stared at" by a Cylon Raider, Samuel Anders's right eye briefly flashes red, the Raider responds to this apparent IFF procedure by flying away, and a Cylon fleet attacking the Colonials retreats (He That Believeth In Me).
The Thirteen Cylon Models
By the time of the Cylon attack on the colonies, there are twelve models of humanoid Cylons (Miniseries), representing twelve personality archetypes that the Cylons have witnessed in humanity. These can be divided into two separate groups, the "Significant Seven"[11] and the "Final Five". [12] There was once a thirteenth model, Number Seven, which is no longer extant (No Exit). With the loss of the Number Three model, there are currently eleven active models (Sometimes a Great Notion).
The Significant Eight have numerical designations, however the Final Five do not[13]. All the Significant Eight models except the Sixes have come to be associated with a particular "human name", and even other Cylons will refer to "Leobens", "Sharons", "Daniels", "D'Annas" and so on. Although there was originally no in-universe significance to any of the specific numbers assigned to the different Cylons,[14] the Ones predate the other models (No Exit).
Significant Eight
The seven surviving models of the Significant Eight were the first seven Cylons to be revealed to the Colonials. With the exception of Number Seven, whose entire line was sabotaged (No Exit), there are many copies of each model, all totalling in the millions according to Number One and Ellen Tigh. The identities of these mechanized copies are determined by their model and each model is unique (Six of One). These models were designed by the Final Five (No Exit).
Number One
One of the Number One models poses as a Colonial brother named Cavil, a lay clergyman in the Fleet.
Ones do not appear to subscribe to overall theology of the Cylons, but adhere to group consensus, and often are persuasive leaders. Ones have displayed a condescending attitude toward the beliefs of the other six known Cylons at times.
In several instances, the Ones advocate dark, draconian solutions to the insurgency on New Caprica that reveal a militant zeal equaling that of Numbers Three and Five.
This Number One model in particular seems to be in something approaching a leadership role on one of the basestars, as seen in the episode "Six of One". This model assumes some authority and wields influence over the others, yet decisions are still reached through majority vote. However, this is soon overturned by the rebellion of the Cylons led by Natalie, a Number Six, and the body of this One is killed by Centurions. The resurrected Cavil assumes leadership of one faction in the Cylon Civil War.
The Number One model was the first model created by the Final Five, and assisted them in creating the other models of the Significant Eight. Unfortunately, the Number Ones eventually rebelled against the Five and exiled them to the Twelve Colonies with their memories erased. Prior to this, they eradicated the entire Number Seven model line out of jealousy. The Number One model was given the name John by the Final Five, but does not like this appelation.
Number Two
Number Two, better known as Leoben Conoy, has shown to be mystically oriented--making references to the oneness of the universe, the illusion of time, etc.--and claims to be prescient on some level, albeit with a known propensity for intermixing truth with falsehoods. He is first discovered on Ragnar Station shortly after the Holocaust on the Twelve Colonies, claiming to be a scavenger and arms dealer (Miniseries).
The Two models also appear obsessed and fascinated with Kara Thrace and her special destiny. One model in particular claims to be in love with her and has tried to get her to return his affections, and to guide her towards fulfilling her destiny ("Flesh and Bone", "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II", "Occupation", "Precipice" and "Exodus, Part II").
Two can be likened to the serpent of the Genesis tale in the Earth Christian Bible, taunting people with knowledge, then watching as the negative consequences come into devastating fruition. Copies have likely been encountered by the Caprica Resistance, as Samuel Anders recites in jest some comments made by another Number Two copy captured in the Fleet ("Flesh and Bone", "The Farm").
The Number Twos are part of the rebel faction in the Cylon Civil War.
Number Three
First seen posing as a reporter from the Fleet News Service, this model created a documentary about the crew of Galactica - which was later shown on Cylon-occupied Caprica to a theatre full of Cylons, including a second copy of Number Three (Final Cut). Threes are among the most calculating and duplicitous models shown to-date, even manipulating and deceiving other models if they feel warranted, though they've got nothing on the duplicity and manipulations of the Number Ones. The copy that tried to box Sharon Valerii exhibited these characteristics strongly "Downloaded).
This model's status as a Cylon is unknown to the Colonials until either shortly after the rescue of the surviving members of the Caprica Resistance or after the Cylon occupation of New Caprica (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).
After the Threes defy other Cylon models in their attempt to discern the identity of the five missing Cylon humanoids, the other Cylons conclude that the Three model has an inherent flaw that threatens their overall reliability. After the failure on the algae planet to gather information on the path to Earth, the Cylons have all Number Three models boxed indefinitely, until she is unboxed to ostensibly stop the rebels from fighting (Rapture). With the Resurrection Hub destroyed, she is the only Number Three copy in existence. She joins the rebels to make contact with the Final Five and eventually reaches Earth with them, but decides to stay behind there and die following the revelation that Earth is a barren nuclear wasteland ("The Hub", "Revelations", "Sometimes a Great Notion").
The first encountered copy of this model appeared under the alias "D'Anna Biers", and the D'Anna name is used to describe the model as a whole.
Number Four
The Number Four model is first encountered by Kara Thrace on Cylon-occupied Caprica. Posing as a doctor under the name Simon, this Number Four is actually involved with the Cylon hybridization program. Simon resembles a tall, somewhat thin middle-aged black man who speaks in a comforting strong voice (The Farm) Unlike other models, Number Four does not seem to have many military aspects to his physical or mental configuration, and is easily overcome by a wounded Thrace. Simon is a model based primarily on human intellectualism and logic[15]. It is unknown if a Four model infiltrated the Fleet prior to the occupation of New Caprica. In any case, the model is now known to the general populace, many humans likely saw a Number Four model during the occupation.
The Number Fours are part of Cavil's faction in the Cylon Civil War.
Number Five
This model attempts to sow the seeds of discontent or confusion, particularly during crucial life-threatening situations, and endeavors to undermine authority that threatens his objectives (Miniseries). Number Five models are more covert than others, assuming an ordinary "everyman" appearance that's blended in what may seem to be insignificant behind-the-scenes issues (such as converting Galactica into a museum). Of all the models thus far, the Number Five models are among the most militant, fanatic, and consistent in message and objectives to the Cylon objectives, whether he is dispassionately discussing the fate of humanity with his comrades or attempting to kill or maim Colonials in a suicide bomb attack (Litmus).
Viewers first meet a Number Five during a tour of Galactica with other Colonial citizens (possibly the press) at the start of the Miniseries, but are not sure of the Cylon's true identity until the Miniseries' conclusion.
Copies of this model have appeared under the alias "Aaron Doral".
The Number Fives are part of Cavil's faction in the Cylon Civil War.
Number Six
This is the first humanoid Cylon model shown to viewers at the start of the Miniseries.
Stunningly beautiful, promiscuous and sensual, this model utilizes the human need and desire for sexual relations to her advantage. She tends to be very religious and monotheistic. Number Six desires to know what it is to be alive. There is something inherently mysterious about her, more so than with the other models. Sixes have been described as "usually so hardcore", referring to their tendencies towards violence.
Sixes are the only model who appear not to have one particular "human name", copies have appeared under the aliases "Shelly Godfrey", "Gina Inviere", "Natalie", "Lida", "Sonja", and "Caprica" (in honor of her work on Caprica towards the destruction of the Colonies). Six is also the only model known to exhibit significant variations in appearance -- several different hairstyles and haircolors have been noted -- as well as noticable differences in personality, ranging from idealistic (Caprica) to assertive and take-charge (Natalie) to wide-eyed and innocent (Lida).
Shortly after the attacks, Gaius Baltar began experiencing interactions from an entity (informally dubbed Virtual Six) that resembles the version of Caprica-Six that seduced him prior to the attacks. It is unclear what relation if any that Virtual Six -- that only Gaius Baltar can see and hear -- has to the physical Sixes. Caprica-Six, meanwhile also began to experience interactions with a Virtual Baltar after the attacks.
The Number Sixes are part of the rebel faction, of which Natalie was originally the leader, in the Cylon Civil War.
Number Seven
Number Seven, also known as "Daniel", is a previously-undisclosed model whose existence is revealed by members of the Final Five who have recovered their memories (No Exit). This model is believed to be defunct due to a sabotage by Number One prior to the Second Cylon War. The Daniel model was artistic and sensitive, and had a close relationship with Ellen Tigh.
Number Eight
Number Eight is generally a saboteur assigned to infiltrate Colonial military units and is likely programmed to use any Colonial munitions to cause havoc (Water). The Number Eight model is the closest witnessed humanoid Cylon model to show its abilities as a soldier. This model has shown naiveté in many matters. She is religious like most other Cylon models, has demonstrated that she can love, and is capable of being impregnated by a human ("Six Degrees of Separation", "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II").
She may be "defective", as the Cylon programming within the sleeper agent known as "Boomer" on Galactica conflicts multiple times with its human personality (Water). Also, the fully aware Sharon Valerii found by Helo on Caprica switches allegiances from Cylon to Colonial after falling in love with Helo and aids the Colonials many times (several episodes, most notably "Flight of the Phoenix"). This copy, now known Sharon "Athena" Agathon, has defected from the Cylon and has joined the Colonial Fleet, generally replacing her "Boomer" counterpart as a Raptor pilot.
The original sleeper agent copy of this model appeared under the name "Sharon "Boomer" Valerii."
The Number Eights are part of the rebel faction in the Cylon Civil War, with the exception of Boomer (who is Cavil's consort) and Athena (who is aligned with the human fleet).
Final Five
- Main article: Final Five
The identities of the remaining five Cylon models remains a mystery long after the revelation of the identities of the "Significant Seven".
Gaius Baltar, who knows there are twelve extant Cylon models yet has only observed seven aboard the Cylon baseship, coins the term "Final Five" for the five that are missing. Caprica-Six informs him that the seven do not discuss or know the identities of the five ("Torn"). After entering the Ionian Nebula, four major players in the human fleet become awake to the fact that they are Cylons: Galen Tyrol, Saul Tigh, Samuel Anders and Tory Foster. They were previously unaware of their nature, because they were boxed by the Number One model and introduced to the Twelve Colonies one at a time with fabricated memories and histories (No Exit). They keep the knowledge that they are Cylons to themselves until a standoff between Galactica and the rebel baseship forces them into the open. The identity of the final Cylon remains a mystery until Saul Tigh realizes it was his wife Ellen (Sometimes a Great Notion).
Although the Final Five are the same race as the Significant Eight, and their own earliest ancestors were constructed, their nature differs because each of them was originally born to Cylon parents on Earth. Thus, they have no copies (aside from the blank bodies created for them to download into) and only ever had names, not numbers.
Samuel Anders
Samuel T. "Longshot" Anders is a rook Viper pilot aboard Galactica, former resistance fighter, and husband to Captain Kara Thrace.
Prior to the Cylon assault on the Colonies he was a Pyramid player for the Caprica Buccaneers and was leading his team in high-altitude training in the mountains outside of Delphi when Caprica was attacked. Anders and the resistance movement conduct acts of terrorism against the Cylons for months with variable success until their eventual rescue by Kara Thrace.
He settles on New Caprica and becomes a leader of the New Caprica Resistance, along with Saul Tigh and Galen Tyrol when the Cylons arrive. After the Fleet's abandonment of New Caprica and the apparant death of his wife, Anders decides to follow in her footsteps by obtaining a commission and joining the Fleet as a pilot trainee
After becoming aware of his Cylon nature Anders joins the Demetrius's crew on its mission to find Earth, an action which eventually leads to an unintended conflict with Felix Gaeta. The events on board Demetrius lead to the unboxing of D'Anna, who is aware of his nature as a member of the "Final Five".
Tory Foster
Tory Foster becomes President Laura Roslin's new aide and campaign manager following the death of Billy Keikeya.
When President Roslin makes the decision to keep the new-born Cylon/human baby as far away from Sharon Agathon and the Cylons as possible, it is Tory who chooses Maya ro raise the child. During the occupation of New Caprica Tory is responsible for ensuring the safe transport of Maya and Hera off the planet, but she fails at this task.
Before and during the trial of ex-president Gaius Baltar, she is tasked with helping Roslin assemble a tribunal to bring charges against Baltar, as well as establish security arrangements ("The Woman King", "The Son Also Rises", "Crossroads, Part I").
Since the events of the Ionian nebula Tory appears to have embraced both being a Cylon and her own version of Baltar's teachings, allowing her to by-pass feelings such as guilt and adopt an almost hedonistic approach to life. She declares herself to be "perfect", something that uneases fellow Cylons Tigh and Tyrol, and is in marked contrast to Tigh's and Caprica Six's guilty consciences (Escape Velocity). She has also displayed a cold-blooded streak, murdering Cally Tyrol when the wife of Galen Tyrol discovers the four's Cylon nature. ("The Ties That Bind")
Ellen Tigh
Ellen Tigh was the wife of Colonel Saul Tigh and a survivor of the Cylon Holocaust. Ellen claims to have been on Picon at the time of the Cylon attack, on her way back home for a reunion with her husband. When the airport was hit in the attack, she claims an anonymous hero found her unconscious body and got her on to one of the last transports out, where she had been unconscious aboard the Rising Star for some three weeks prior to Adama finding her.
Ellen is well known for her sexual promiscuity and her desire for power. After Adama's attempted assassination, she encourages her husband to take extreme measures to assert his authority, sometimes in contrast to the more reasoned approaches he is proposing. Her pressures lead her husband to drink and take unwise steps, including a standoff on the Gideon that leaves four people dead.
One year after New Caprica is colonized, Ellen Tigh settles on the planet. Her husband joins her later, after Admiral Adama's insistence. After the Cylons arrive Ellen begins a relationship with Cavil to protect her husband. When her collaboration is discovered the resistance leaders compel Saul Tigh to execute his wife. Saul carries out the execution by poisoning Ellen's drink prior to the Battle of New Caprica (Exodus, Part II).
In a flash of memory on Earth, Saul Tigh realizes that Ellen is the last of the Final Five.
It is later revealed that Ellen did in fact survive her husband killing her: she downloaded into a new body on a Resurrection Ship after which Cavil kept her prisoner and a secret from all of the other Cylons but Boomer. With her resurrection she regained all of her true Cylon memories and had a much different personality then when she was originaly on the show. It's revealed that it was in fact a Cavil that put her on that transport. Cavil plans to open her brain for information on resurrection technology but she escapes with the help of Boomer and makes it back to Fleet, where she attempts to assert leadership over her four colleagues. ("Deadlock")
Saul Tigh
Saul Tigh is the Executive Officer (XO) of Galactica, and serves as acting commander in the absence of William Adama.
Since the Cylon attack Tigh has proved himself to be an excellent battle manager and tactician. His quick actions sometimes saved the ship and the Fleet from damage or destruction ("Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down", "Scattered", "Valley of Darkness").
Tigh has a somewhat dysfunctional marriage with his wife Ellen. Soon after her reunion with Tigh, he returns to drinking and often finds himself acting as an unknowing pawn as his wife plays her political schemes. After the attempted assassination of Adama by Sharon Valerii Tigh temporarily acts as Commander of the Fleet, a position which almost leads to catastrophe.
During the occupation of New Caprica Tigh commands the resistance. In the months spent on the planet Tigh suffers many harsh losses, including losing an eye to the Cylons and the death of his wife.
After learning of his Cylon nature Tigh finds himself repeatedly visiting Caprica-Six in the brig in an attempt to understand and come to grips with his unwanted identity, a course of action that is not without consequences.
Galen Tyrol
Galen Tyrol, often referred to as "Chief", is the highest ranking NCO remaining aboard Galactica. Tyrol was demoted for a while until Peter Laird was KIA before being reinstated as Galactica's "Chief" again (No Exit). He is a respected an well liked officer on Galactica, and has great respect for Commander Adama. Tyrol attempts to model his own style of command after Adama, unknowingly modeling even the extremes of his style, such as the reckless actions he sometimes makes in support of his subordinates.
For several months prior to the Cylon attack, and in its aftermath, Tyrol was engaged in an affair with Lieutenant Sharon Valerii, one of Galactica's Raptor pilots, a relationship which was forced to end. Tyrol is part of the team assembled on the ill-fated recon to Kobol on the Raptor 1, which then crashlands near the ruins of the Tomb of Athena.
By the time he has settled on New Caprica Tyrol is married to Cally Henderson and is the father of a young son, Nicholas. Together with Saul Tigh and Samuel Anders he runs the New Caprica Resistance.
Tyrol has difficulty coping with the revelation that he is a Cylon, beginning to cut himself. Although trying to act normally, Tyrol's changed behavior eventually has an effect on his marriage. He blames himself for Cally's apparent suicide, but finds himself unable to pull the trigger when he tries to kill himself.
Early Generation Cylons
The thirteenth tribe consisted of an earlier generation of humanoid Cylon first created on the planet Kobol. They colonized Earth after the exodus from Kobol. Because they reproduced sexually, they were a diverse population without a limited number of models. Their remains, when tested using procedures known to the Significant Seven, match as Cylon. The Thirteenth Tribe destroyed itself in a nuclear holocaust (Sometimes a Great Notion). The Thirteenth Tribe originally used resurrection technology to sustain themselves, but this was lost after they began to procreate naturally. The Final Five are the last five survivors of this Cylon civilization, having rediscovered resurrection technology (No Exit). The five were also the only surviving members of the humanoid Cylon race until they created the Significant Eight.
Human/Cylon Hybrids
Conceived by Sharon and Karl Agathon, the infant Hera Agathon is the first and only known human/Cylon hybrid[16].
Gaius Baltar's internal Number Six regularly insists that Hera is actually the child of herself and Baltar, though there is no physical reason yet presented to justify that claim.
For some time Hera was hidden away from both humans and Cylons, and believed to be dead by her parents. President Laura Roslin had the baby hidden with Maya as her adoptive parent. Despite Roslin's attempts to protect the child on New Caprica, Hera is later found by the Cylons (Exodus, Part II).
After Hera's mother discovers that her daughter is alive, she uses her ability to download to transport to the Cylon ships, and manages to convince Caprica-Six to return the child to Galactica for medical treatment for a possible intestinal blockage, which the Cylon doctors, lacking pediatric knowledge, were unable to comprehend (Rapture).
A child, Kacey Brynn, is presented by a Number Two model to Kara Thrace as a hybrid offspring purportedly created with their genetic material in the episode "Precipice". The Cylons' ruse is revealed when Kacey's real mother later claims the child, who is a normal human girl (Exodus, Part II).
Nicholas Tyrol was thought to be a human-Cylon hybrid until it was revealed that Brendan Constanza, not Galen Tyrol, is his biological father. He is a fully human baby.
Speculated Infiltrators
- See the Humanoid Cylon speculation article for analysis on characters and their likelihood of being a humanoid Cylon, based on episode information.
Notes
- Ron D. Moore stated in an interview with TheFandom.com, "There is no original human Sharon. The idea is not that there was likely an original human model that they were copied from. The idea was that these models of Cylon were sort of developed out of their own study of us. The Cylons on some level looked at humanity and said 'You know what? There's really only 12 of you.' If these are the 12, and sort of if you look at them they each represent different archetypes of what humanity is." This established as what was thought to be canon that:
- There are precisely twelve human Cylon models. The other varieties of Cylon spacecraft or fighters are not factored into this count of 12 models.
- None of the humanoid Cylons were ever an actual human.
- The twelve models are based on archetypes determined by the Cylons that form what they perceive were the specific kinds of human behavior and/or personality, distilled into twelve varieties.
- However, much of it has been disproven or called into question by revelations about the nature of Cylons in season 4 episodes, particularly in "No Exit":
- Although the twelve model count is accurate as of the start of the series, including the lost Number Seven in the Cylon count raises the total number of models to 13.
- Cavil was revealed to be based on Ellen's father, a Thirteenth Tribe Cylon, raising the possibility that other models cauld be based on individuals known by the Final Five.
- Unlike the eight numbered Cylon models, the Final Five are the product of natural reproduction by members of the Thirteenth Tribe, so they could not have been designed around specific personality archetypes, although this possibility is still open for the numbered Cylons.
- A Cylon Centurion cannot distinguish the differing versions of one model from another (Precipice). For example, if faced with two differing Number Eight models, Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and Sharon "Athena" Agathon, it would not be able to discriminate between them without external aid.
- While Centurions may not be able to tell the difference between different versions of the same model, other humanoid Cylons do not have this problem ("Downloaded", "Exodus, Part I", "The Eye of Jupiter", "Six of One").
- According to Cavil in "Exodus, Part I", the pain associated with each successive download is worse than the one before. The first download feels like little more than a headache, but the third feels like someone has rushed a white hot poker through the head. However, this might be a subjective feeling that varies with model and circumstances. Sharon Agathon's report in "Scar" supports Cavil, but a Number Three considers her last download to be rejuvenating (Downloaded).
- Some characters refer to humanoid Cylons as "skinjobs". This is a reference to the film Blade Runner in which Edward James Olmos has a supporting role. In the movie "skinjob" is used as an insult to replicants, which are bio-mechanical robots made to look human.
- According to Ron Moore, the Final Five Cylons, unlike the Significant Seven, "do not" have model numbers [17].
See also
References
- ↑ Viewers initially lacked an authentic term to call the humanoid Cylons during Season 1. Here on the Battlestar Wiki, the descriptive term "Humano-Cylon" was used for a time. Dialogue in several episodes throughout Season 2 has canonically established "Cylon agent" to refer specifically to Cylon infiltrators, but since Sharon Agathon works for the Colonials, Battlestar Wiki's preference is to use "humanoid Cylon" (which Tricia Helfer often uses in interviews, but apparently more for convenience than an official name). Some of the resistance fighters on Caprica refer to the humanoid Cylons as "skin jobs," an homage to Blade Runner. William Adama refers to them as "humanoid models" in "Precipice".
- ↑ The idea of Cylons in humanoid form in Battlestar Galactica is not new. This concept appeared over 25 years earlier in the episode "The Night the Cylons Landed" in the short-lived spinoff of the Original Series, Galactica 1980. Unlike the humanoid Cylons, however, Andromus was an android, akin to the character of Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- ↑ A Number Three speaks casually to Doctor Cottle about her prophetic dreams of the child Hera in "Exodus, Part I".
- ↑ Ron Moore said there are presumably also farms for male humans, plus in vitro experiment labs, etc.
- ↑ The blood from Hera's fetus destroys the cancer within Laura Roslin's body in "Epiphanies".
- ↑ An infection ravages the Cylons in the episode, "Torn".
- ↑ Dr. Cottle complains of birth complications with Caprica-Valerii in the episode, "Downloaded".
- ↑ A collective knowledge base works more like an internet chat forum, or even a wiki, which differs from the concept of the collective consciousness as seen in SciFi species such as the Borg in Star Trek. Writers of the show have indicated this type of "hive mind" is not employed. Many Cylons are seen describing or detailing events that one of the models experienced but did not participate, such as Caprica-Valerii's description of meeting Kara Thrace for the first time--a memory physically experienced not by that Number Eight copy, but "Boomer" Valerii, in "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II". When under duress, "Boomer" Valerii is able to tell Gaius Baltar the number of remaining humanoid Cylons in the Fleet. This information would be impossible to know without a collective knowledge base to all humanoid Cylons (Resistance)
- ↑ Gaius Baltar's dreamlike interactions with his virtual Number Six is strikingly similar to Cylon projection. See the article, Baltar as Cylon speculation for more on this issue.
- ↑ Sharon Agathon steals back the Fleet's launch keys by infiltrating a Cylon base by using a Cylon data-font. Humanoid Cylons are seen operating a basestar in the episode "Torn" by touching an optical pad that illuminates these arm interfaces.
- ↑ Podcast: Frak Party Q and A , Seek to: 19:14. Total running time: 78:27.
- ↑ According to show producers, the two groups are "fundamentally different."
- ↑ Sullivan, Brian Ford (11 June 2008). Rants & Reviews - Live at the "Battlestar Galactica" Midseason Finale Premiere (backup available on Archive.org) (in ). Retrieved on 13 June 2008.
- ↑ On Ronald D. Moore's blog on Scifi.com, he stated that "Number Six was specifically a homage to 'The Prisoner,' but the rest [of the humanoid Cylons] were assigned their numbers randomly."
- ↑ A Four expresses the moral dilemmas of rescuing a crippled basestar as having no scientific answer in "Torn".
- ↑ These beings should not be confused with the living computer of a basestar, also called a Hybrid.
- ↑ Sullivan, Brian Ford (11 June 2008). Rants & Reviews - Live at the "Battlestar Galactica" Midseason Finale Premiere (backup available on Archive.org) (in ). Retrieved on 13 June 2008.