With the fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica upon us, I have many questions swirling around in my head. Not to mention I either hate or thank Ron Moore for this. Thanks Ron!!!
Before I start, I have to warn you that as of April 4th of this year, it was reported over on EW that the first 10 of the last 20 episodes are scheduled to air – which seems to confirm what they were saying over on SyFy Portal about the season being split up, so be ready for a break in the midst of it all if the writers strike didn’t mess up their plans. (BTW, the EW link has some good background info for those who need to play catch-up.)
So who the frak is the final Cylon? Let me torment you with some logic and observations first.
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In the picture above, it’s called Battlestar Galactica: The final supper. In the picture is a goblet by itself at the table. Is there some significant clue by this missing representation of a figure or the cornerstone to the answer? It is such a simple goblet or cup, yet by itself, being pondered heavily by Lee Adama. At EW.com, if you click on the number representing the goblet, they point out that Moore insinuates the missing Cylon is not at the table. Well, there go a a few theories.
One of my first thoughts, since they like tossing twists at us, is Mr. Gaeta, only because if you look at the four of the final five, they’re all in strong support positions in the fleet, much like Gaeta has been all along.
The wheels are turning now, aren’t they?
But yet as I ponder the final Cylon, I also have in my head the quote we’ve heard a number of times, first in Battlestar Galactica: Razor, and then in the show itself: “This has all happened before; and will all happen again”
What the heck does that mean?
In recent episodes, we’ve seen the Cavils having the raiders lobotomized, referring to them as “They’re tools, not pets.” – Which says they’re treating members of their own race like slaves. Not cool Cavil. In fact, maybe foretelling?
We’ve seen Six’s and Sharons’ give the Centurions free thinking.
We also see the Six’s and Sharons have the Cavils, Dorals, and Simons all shot, and then Six asks one of the Centurion’s to “throw the surviving Cavil model out the airlock… please.”
In that scene, there’s a Centurion in the foreground cleaning up the massacre mess, and when she said please, he stopped what he was doing and seemed to look in her direction, pondering, then went about his business. That scene said it all for me, because what I saw was a spark of a thought in that metal head of his. Dare I say, a plan? Wait, doesn’t the show open up saying the Cylons have a plan? This all started with the shiny guys, it’s probably going to end with the shiny guys.
Bruce’s Revelation, with the reasoning that created it:
1. Humans created the Cylons.
2. Cylons rebelled against their human creators.
3. The Cylons evolved themselves into their creators image (aka “skin jobs”).
4. The new Cylons (skin jobs) lobotomize the Raiders AND in the same move, have given the Centurions free thinking.
With this, I project the following inspirations:
- The Centurions are not just tools.
- They must rebel against their creators in order to avoid being lobotomized.
- Suddenly, we will have the Cylons fighting the “Humans” all over again.
We then see “humans” defending themselves against the “Cylons / Centurions” and of course, the Centurions would probably create skin jobs somewhere down the road in order to infiltrate the “humans.”
And it starts all over.
Hence, all of humanity is “The Last Cylon.”
For me, this premise puts to rest some questions and doubts I have had about the new Cylons… For example, if Tigh is a Cylon, how was he in the first Cylon war?
If it’s not all of humanity, I’ll go with Plan B: Gaeta.
Me? I can sleep now. It all makes sense… that is until I find I’m wrong.
What’s your take? I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter!
Photo Credits: Last Supper: Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Blog; Cylon vs. Cylon: Galactica TV
UPDATE (9/27/08): Aaron Douglas who portrays Chief Tyrol participated in an online interview and he blows the lid off of some story details from the end of season 4, with potential story spoilers. You might want to jump on over and check out our newest post about Aaron Douglas Dishing Out Possible Spoilers.
UPDATE (1/18/09) See our coverage of season 4.5 premiere episode and who the final Cylon revealed is over on our Battlestar Galactica Premiere post!
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381 Comments
Well, I think that there are only four possible solutions to answer the question: who is the last cylon?
1) Starbuck: Let’s face it, she died. How else do you explain her return if not for the fact that she is actually a cylon? Also, the whole bit about her mother going on about how she’s so special and all that. I think this is the most probable solution.
2) Baltar: Let’s face it, his schizophrenic episodes are prescient. How else do you explain how his actions have been guided from the very beginning? I think that this is a somewhat probable solution.
3) Dualla: Her absence from the “last supper” table is consistent with Moore’s hints that the last cylon is not at the table, and that it is someone we’ve known from the first season, and that it is a woman.
4) Ellen: Her absence from the “last supper” table is consistent with Moore’s hints that the last cylon is not at the table, and that it is someone we’ve known from the first season, and that it is a woman.
What about the possibility of Old man Adama being a cylon. It could help to explain the paradox of He and Tigh. And you remember him beating Lee’s a** at boxing, I mean he’s an old man… Just a theory I thought was interesting.
Think back to the story of Kobol and the origin of the 12 tribes. There were 12 tribes who left Kobol after conflicts with their gods in what is referenced to as some “sort of calamity”. These twelve tribes represent 12 cylon models created by the humans on Kobol. The humans are in effect their gods, because they are their creators. The cylons rebelled against the humans and destroyed Kobol and most of the human creators, in the “calamity”. The cylons then leave Kobol to form the 12 colonies.
Eventually the twelve colonies of cylons create versions of themselves in the image of their creators or gods, the humans. (This step may have in fact occurred on Kobol, the humans creating cylons in their own image, but that point I think is mute). Eventually these cylons created in the image of their human creators evolve and in effect become human themselves, forgetting that they were once cylon. Over time this new generation of humans create robot cylons themselves. Eventually this new generation of cylons rebel against their creators, and eventually create 12 models of cylons in the image of their creators. Thus the cycle has repeated. This has been referenced in the series, “this has all happened before”.
So in fact all of the humans in the BSG series are in actuality cylons themselves, just an earlier incarnation. The twelve are just the “next generation”.
A lot of emphasis has been put on who the final cylon is, but the revelation that everyone is in fact cylon I think is much more important. Some will say that this is impossible, because of Baltar’s cylon detector, but remember, it was designed to detect what was different between the “humans” and the cylons. They are different because they are different incarnations of cylon.
What about Earth? The thirteenth tribe consists of the surviving humans left on Kobol after the cylons rebelled. They left Kobol to find and settle Earth. They are in fact the only real humans.
I have doubts that the colonials will ever reach Earth. I think that the humans from the 12 colonies will realize they were in fact cylon all along, and will not want to risk the destruction of the only real humans. Instead, they will form a truce with the new race of cylons (the 12) and settle a new world they will name Kobol.
I know this does not explain every plot twist like the Temple of the Five, the Opera House, etc., but I do believe this to be the basis of the whole story. When fully revealed, I believe everything will fall into place with this theory.
Wow what a huge response to a BSG thread.
Who’s the last Cylon, I have no idea.
I’ve only watched a handfull of episodes. (Bruce geeshs,jk)
I’m saving the entire show like a (dvd fine wine).
I’m slowly collecting the entire series together on dvds.(I have seasons 1,2 and Razor).
I have seen the Pegasus 2 parter and a few season 1 eps, but that’s about it.
I didn’t even read this thread. I skipped past all the posts so it wouldn’t ruin it for me. (I don’t know what you all are talking about).
The reason.
When I first saw this reboot I didn’t like it.
I’m a long time fan of the old show and I still have a few probs with the human looking cylons and the LACK of ability the humans have in detecting them.
But I get the dvds cheap so I will at some point watch this series (in order) on dvd.
Yeah.
I do know that I fully hate Baltar more than I ever did with the original Baltar. Great acting on the part of that actor (cause I hate him).
Ques? Wouldn’t somebody come forward to Adama and say “hey this Baltar guy is nuts he’s having arguments with himself. (I, at least noticed that).
The show seems to be a huge hit and from what I’ve seen, its a good dvd investment.
Just my weird pov. And I’m dissconecting my “track comments made to this post link. Rock on Ranters.
an idea for another BSG topic:
What is the cylon plan?
I think its like chess,
All the pieces are right in front of you .
You just have to recognize the moves.
I find the chalice and blade in the picture to be interesting because in Da Vinci sangreal theories they are very prominent symbols (Blade = Masculinity & Chalice = Divine Feminine, fertility, etc….). When the blade and chalice are brought together they equal the star which represents perfect unity and in some ancient cultures ressurection. Because the chalice is in front of the empty spot and because of its symbolic meaning, I surmise the person that belongs there will be a woman.
well if we are talking biblical ,
that leads me to Admiral Cain.
and they sure wanted people to know about her .they put her origin story on DVD ASAP.
Yes, I have thought of Admiral Cain for a few weeks now. A strong female character, but secondary-a terrific surprise from the writers.
Think of how much a surprise it would be if it were Callie?
if it could be Ellen then it could also be Callie.
Now everyones is going to say it cant be Callie because she had a child right?
What about that ancient probe with the disease that kills the Cylons. How does that fit in?
Thoughts:
There are cylon models 1,2,3,4,5,6, and 8. But no 7. This must have some significance.
What about those female hybrids that seem to run the basestars and babble on incoherently? And then what about the old male hybrid from Razor? Are these additional models?
What about all the additional Cylons from Razor: The Guardians, the 0005 models, and the so-called “first” hybrid (old man)? This hybrid also says some interesting things that may have bearing on who the last Cylon is:
“What am I? A man? Or am I a machine? My children believe I am their god.”
He also warns that Starbuck is the herald of the apocalypse and must not be followed by the Colonials.
What say ye all?
as for the probe. Seems like it could be a clue about the origin and nature of the cylons, but it may just be a prop for an episode.
wiki says it was left by the 13th en route to Earth or on route back to Kobol after reaching Earth and that makes sense with comments made in the episode – the “Terrans” left it as a beacon. The colonials were immune to it. Assuming the 13th tribe members are the same genetic makeup as the colonials when they left Kobol, they were/are immune as well. This means they were carriers when they left the beacon. Here’s where that line of reasoning no longer makes sense. If the new skinjobs are based on colonials so much so that genetic testing doesn’t reveal them to be different, they would also be immune to it. One could argue that maybe they weren’t “immunized” as all colonial children are, but that’s silly – if the cylons are smart enough to clone, they’re smart enough to immunize. After all, machines that can think and insert viruses to computers are likely already familiar with the problem inherent to such a system.
So, that leads me to think there is something about the Terrans that IS different than the colonials because the skinjobs are NOT immune. I think the new skinjobs are based on Terran-based cylon technology and that many/most of the 13th died from the disease on route from Kobol. Again, I believe the Terrans are the carriers of the cylon technology.
think about the fact that Athena – the only fleet-based cylon to be exposed to the virus – survives because she carried Hera.
This goes back to my thoughts that Earth peoples are the last cylons cast out by the majority of the “humans” from Kobol. I think Earth is the cylon homeworld that sent cylon technology to the colonies to bring them down and bring back some fresh meat for “cross-pollination”. They’re dying. They’re lonely. The final 5 are on a mission to get some of the colonials back to earth for hybridization and strengthening of the species still on earth.
The 12 total cylons likely represent the true remaining “personalities” still truly alive on Earth, though the clones in space don’t understand that because they’re programmed not to know.
There are 13 distinct personalities to the whole race – everyone is a child of them.
When they get back to Earth, all will be apparent and the cycle will repeat when disagreements between the new hybrids on earth (the majority against cylon technology, a thirteenth for it) will cause a split again.
This time, one of them will become the new cylon “God” and leave for the next Earth. The remaining 12 will lead others back to some 12 new colonies where they can each lead their people. They’ll erase all history to try to avoid creating cylons again. The 13th will invade again in the future and cause it to happen again…
probably not right, but an interesting plot idea anyway.
Pete, that’s one heck of an expansion on the premise.. Good thoughts…
Good thoughts to everyone for that matter ..
-Bruce
I had started watching the show when it came out, stopped for a while, and now am watching the final episodes. If my theory sounds like hogwash, or if someone already mentioned this, please forgive me.
Someone mentioned the Cylon god; I keep wondering about the president, if she could be the Cylon god. Also, the vice-president, could he be the last Cylon, or the Cylon god? In the original show, the Cylon god was actually satan, the devil. Also, where is Adama’s wife? She was presumably killed but we dont know for sure.
This show was created by a man who was Mormon. The name “Kobol” is almost the same as “Kolob”, supposed the place where the kingdom of heaven is, in Mormon belief. They also believe when they die, they will become gods of their own worlds. Interesting.
John, There’s no hogwash here.. just fun interaction and tossing out opinions and theories, killing time until we do find out what’s up and then everyone can yell at me for causing this.. hehe.. or be in awe at my most amazing predictive powers..
I’m making book on the first option.
But I’ve got to admit, we all have pretty good ideas and this is a great example here on screenrant of the coming together of ideas and if you add it all up, this post probably has the answer.. somewhere..
Once you unscramble the code, turn it upside down, and have a libation or two..
But the only way to keep up this thread these days is to print it out, and make it your bedtime reading.. I think we’re making novel here!!
OK, not a novel.. just the text of this thread takes up 44 pages in a Word document.
OK, I had another thought, and one of my co-workers expanded on it a bit. The picture above has the cup (grail) alone with Lee pondering it. Is it possible that the grail represents his mother or his wife? In the movie “The Da Vinci Code”, the grail represented Mary Magdalene, the woman who housed Christ’s child. Maybe the writers are using that same premise here.
I first have to congratulate Bruce creating a thread with this much input – bravo.
Now, did Moore actually imply or say that the 12th Cylon was female (as some previous posters have stated) or is that an assumption based on probablility (7 of the known 12 are male, therefore the 12 is likely female)?
I wouldn’t read too much into the last supper picture, or origins of the names like Adama and Kobol. I think they were chosen because they were names in the original series (just a thought). Where is all the discussion on the names of the Greek gods and which planet each character is from, or what their call signs mean in the grand plot? That makes just as much sense.
Bruce is onto something regarding the “it has happened before…” line, but I still think there is a 12th Cylon. Remember that there are “12 Cylon models”, which seriously implies that there are 12 individuals who are Cylons (and their copies).
BTW- to those who mentioned Callie possibly being the 12th Cylon, I thought of that too, but I really hope not because she’s really annoying.
Who wants to make a million$$ with me?
We start a line of T-Shirts that say different characters are the last Cylon:
“I vote Gaeta for the last Cylon”
“Balter for 12th Cylon”
“My name is Starbuck, and I will be your 12th Cylon tonight”
etc.
Then again they would be obsolete within 6 months or less. New plan: T-shirts that say
“FRACK YOU, YOU FRACKING FRACK!!!”
Now that’s gold, Jerry, gold. Anyone uses it, Panda gets a cut
I’m firmly convinced that the final Cylon is a model 005 Centurion. I think it will tie into Caprica (the forthcoming series), and if so, no. 12 a Centurion.
Anyone in the “last supper” picture could be the final cylon. Think about it…
There are two “sixes” in the picture. Let’s say the picture was about somebody killing Admiral Cain and the Natalie six was not pictured. Even though Caprica six is in the picture, you could still say that Admiral Cain’s killer was not pictured because the Natalie version is not there. So, perhaps the model we will meet to reveal the last cylon is simply not in the picture, but is a copy of someone in the picture (like the two sixes.) Then, Roslyn, Lee, Baltar, Starbuck, Helo, or Adama could still be candidates for the final cylon.
Dave: Hmm, up til now they haven’t shown that any of the skinjob cylons are copies of actual humans.
I still wonder though about young Adama sticking his hand in that hybrid tank during the first cylon war. Maybe that’s a chance for them to have made a cylon-Adama. Didn’t Baltar stick his hand in a hybrid or resurrection tank too?
Dave, you’re a genius. If you’re right, then Gaeda appears to be less obvious of a choice than say, Pres Roslin.
If she’s truly a cylon, the Camala may just be activating her ability to hear the hybrids talking to her and the other cylon models (like Leoben in her dreams. Or the #8 and #6 in the theatre where she sees Hera get taken by Baltar Christ).
That said, I still think bringing Zack back into the fray would be the best “from outta nowhere” surprise and the best way to change Bill Adama into accepting cylons once and for all. It also fulfills Leoben’s prophecy.
Roslin is the second best bet to getting to Bill Adama.
Tigh is the third best bet (already expossed to us).
1. Zack
2. Roslin
3. Gaeda
here’s a final thought on the subject?
What if Hera isn’t the first hybrid?
What if Starbuck and Gaeda and Baltar (both of which have been touched by angels in some way) are only half-human?
What the other half is, I cannot guess…
Head thump.. half-human!? Wow.
Keep something in mind gang: Ron Moore says the final Cylon is not at the Table in the Last Supper Picture..
Right, the final cylon is not at the table… it IS the table. Ron Moore is attempting a bold crossover move with a robot that transforms into a table. I thought about Megatron for a moment, but the table makes much more sense.
No, I’m convinced now, the last Cylon is Anastasia Dualla.
OK, first of all, the missing character is NOT in Judas’ place; the photo IS a reversal of the DaVinci painting, meaning that the missing “disciple” is actually in the place of St. Philip!
Of the four Gospels, Philip figures most prominently in the Gospel of John. His two most notable appearances in the narrative are as a link to the Greek-speaking Jewish community (Philip introduces members of this community to Jesus); and during the Last Supper when he asked Jesus to see the Father, providing Jesus the opportunity to teach about the unity of the Father and the Son.
Saint Philip is always listed fifth among the apostles. James Callis (Baltar) is the fifth name in the opening credits. The Baltar that the Six on Galactica sees in her mind, is the twelfth cylon.
‘Nuff Said!
I just don’t believe Ron Moore’s comments the final cylon not being in that image. Or maybe more fairly, the final cylon is a different version of a body-type that is in that image.
But I’ll add a little more to “nuff said”. I’ve read a lot of forums lately and battlestarwiki and noticed this on the topic of the “fifth” cylon. It is a quote from the “first hybrid” in the extended version of Razor, which I’ve not seen:
“Soon there will be four, glorious in awakening, struggling with the knowledge of their true selves. The pain of revelation bringing new clarity and in the midst of confusion, he will find her. Enemies brought together by impossible longing. Enemies now joined as one. The way forward at once unthinkable, yet inevitable. And the fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering.”
Who would need redemption so much so that they’d want to undergo terrible suffering to get it?
Who is the chosen one that the female hybrid named and looked at when she referred to the chosen one?
Who was intended to see the final five instead of D’Anna?
Baltar is being primed for becoming a messianic-like being – or at least this copy is.
It does seem like the original 6 and the original Baltar probably were killed on Caprica during the nuclear blast and later re-spawned.
There is only one other person I can think of that could possibly want redemption so badly and that would be Starbuck – if indeed she is a cylon, then Leoben is her “lover” and she killed Zak as part of her programming. She’s looking for redemption and it explains why Leoben is all over her every chance he gets. I mean seriously, there wasn’t a less white-trashy mean-spirited women within the remaining fleet for him to dote-on? C’mon…
That would seriously explain a lot as well. She also appears to have been “chosen” or “destined” for something and she already knew what the mandala symbol from the temple of the five looked like…
I still really want the 5th to be Zak, but it just doesn’t make much sense any more.
Starbuck is my new favorite shocker answer and Baltar is the most logical, and currently, the most obvious choice (they’ve been playing with us all along).
Just as an aside: if you pronounce the respective syllables in Baltar’s name backwards, you get “Lab-Rat”!
‘Nuff Said!
One of the undertones of the series is all of this has happened before all of this will happen again. So go back to the beginning – kobol. On kobol there where twelve gods + one god who cannot be named (13 in total). They live in harmony with there creations the humans. Sometime later the humans turn to violence and there’s an indication the unnamed god is behind this, after this the humans leave kobol.
Now the humans split with 12 tribes going one way and another one going on a separate path. This is resembles the 12 gods + the unnamed one. The 12 tribes eventually build cylons who in turn become violent and turn on there masters. The cylons themselves then make 12 models. No extra here but what if the extra is the original unnamed god from kobol. This god is also in charge of earth explaining why the temple discovered on the algae planet was dedicated to the one god and explaining why from there you could see the faces of the final five. Since the final five were all created by the one god in the image of his original high priests.
As for who the final cylon model is I think they didn’t hear the music because he is already active and working towards the same goal as the virtual Baltar and the virtual six – bringing everyone to Earth. A good fit for this is someone manipulative but someone who could be considered neutral having no affiliation to a specific faction. My money is one Romo Lampkin, the lawyer from season 3. I’m betting that come end of series the the cylons and the colonial fleet have to ally against the 13th tribe who along with there god are the puppet masters behind everything. This will cause a reappearance of the lords of kobol and will end with humanity and cylon living in peace with the gods (until the next uprising where it all starts over again).
RDM said/implied that the final cylon wasn’t in the supper photo. This causes people to either A) assume he’s lying or B) overlook a ton of possibilities. The key here, is to think like a WRITER telling a story.
His comments can be trechnically true if any of the characters in that photo were replaced by another, identical, character. Who’s been away for a while with no rational explanation? So the original Starbuck (Cylon Kara) might be the final cylon while the new Starbuck (Human Kara) could be in the photo. Thus, RDM is technically accurate, we have a high drama reveal as Cylon Kara returns to the scene (a major character), and we have an interesting and unexpected plot twist as Human Kara is a true human (from Earth no less), and Cylon Kara is the cylon captured by Earth humans.
The cylon hybrids, however, would still view the Human Kara as the Cylon Kara (they can’t tell the difference), who would have led the humans to their end. But, being replaced by Human Kara, she could lead them to their salvation. Yet another dramatic point that would be totally unexpected. “Follow the harbinger of death? Are you kidding me?!?”
It would also explain both the memory loss (and memory retraining from data dumps of the Cylon Kara) of the Human Kara (for everyone’s protection no one can know that Cylon Kara has been replaced with a human) and the time period of absence (2 months to replicate a brand new ship and get her to where they know the fleet will be – probably a workable time period with an advanced civilization)
This internal conflict within Human Kara would also possibly lead to her currently displayed erratic behavior. I’m sure play acting like you are a cylon pretending to be a human is not an easy task, especially when the fate of humanity is in the balance, and you know that you are going to have to do some pretty damn dangerous things to make it all work out. That’s a crapload of stress! Or, equally interesting, the memory load may not be functioning exactly right, yielding the erratic behavior.
This could also explain why Human Kara gets so frustrated the further she gets from the nebula – that’s the start point that she knows will get the fleet to Earth (she’s said as much, hasn’t she?). To complete her mission, she HAS to get people to believe her, and they flat out weren’t. After all, she IS trying to save humanity.
In addition, what does the first hybrid say regarding Cylon Kara: “She will lead the human race to its end” – Lead? As in ‘have followers’, as in ‘the final four’? – Or lead as in ‘traiblazing a path’ – like Human Kara is doing now? Regardless of the term, it fits the presented data IF there is both Human and Cylon Karas.
Additional (mundane) point: In the build up to the season 3 finale, the ads implied strongly that all FIVE cylons would be revealed. Four were shown definitely to be cylon, but there was another ‘reveal’ in the finale – Kara’s return.
The reveal that all of humanity is the final cylon is simply bad writing – a cop-out – it lacks drama in a fundamental sense, and it doesn’t really answer the questions that have been brought up. Same as the theory that the Galactica itself is the final cylon – cool idea, but not a good dramatic point.
Whatever is the answer, it will probably be revelaed well before the end of the series, because once we know WHO, then we have to see the final drama play out – and get to the original question of ‘how does this happen before and happen again?’ and that will take a few episodes at least. Not to mention the final Earth reveal (promised by RDM) – which may open up a plethora of additional questions – and sequel opportunities.
Yes, it’s an out of the box theory. But it fits, has the necessary suprise factor, is a major character, meets all dramatic requirements, gives the franchise a way big opening to continue the story in the future, AND gives RDM a way to mislead us all without lying to us.
The Streaming Meanie
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