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
First all my considerations are based on the excellent theories posted in this blog and the following sites, especially the interesting analysis of the “Last supper” image (c):
a) http://www.galacticavariants.blogspot.com/
b) http://www.cellounge.com/2008/04/27/the-final-cylon-will-be-revealed-now/
c) http://www.spacewesterns.com/articles/60/
Resorting to the work of the brilliant people around i want to make some own assumptions how the show might evolve (as things are now at episode 04×07 “The Road Less Traveled”):
1. Anastasia Dualla Adama is the final cylon.
2. Starbuck will discover Earth.
3. Starbuck and Lee will resume their romantic relationship.
4. Tyrrol will kill Gaius Balthar.
5. There will be a conflict between two groups if the colonials should cooperate with the rebelious cylons or not. The one group in favour consists of Natalie, Roslin and Tigh. The other group which doesn’t trust the cylons consists of Adama, Helo and Athena.
6. The cylons will pay for the genocide they committed.
Okay, there are more open questions than i could answer but “the truth is out there”. Here are the points that lead me to the aforementioned assumptions:
ad 1. In this blog and on (a) are good theories why one of the main characters (i only count Roslin, Starbuck, Balthar and Lee as halfway viable) could be the last cylon. But i take the word of Moore seriously that the last cylon is not on the last supper picture (in fairness i don’t know his exact quotation on this) so they are all ruled out (i also dismiss the theories which are based on the wording with at/on or something like this, also the clone theories – although some have compelling points – that there could be a second Balthar/Starbuck like the two Sixes, at last they are too weird in my opinion). So the minor characters are left over. Here most indices point to Dualla (look at (b) for the argument). The evidence for Gaeta, Zarek, Ellen (or some other Adama familiy member) is in my opinion unimpressive and farfetched. Admittedly i have no answers why Dualla didn’t hear the music like the other four second generation cylons or why she got ill (also look at (b) for possible theories on that). But i think plausible explanations could easily be incoporated in the story. Furthermore if you put Dualla at the blank spot in the last supper picture Lee’s distanced posture to her would fit nicely (maybe also the “interested gaze” of Tigh).
ad 2. All considerations concerning the points 2-5 are based on the composition of the characters on the edited last supper image (c). On the edited picture the grail stands directly in front of Starbuck. First i thought it may be a hint that she is the last cylon but then i choose a more simplistic approach. The search for the holy grail is a symbol for the search of earth (earth is their holy grail) and Kara will find it (i also have the slight feeling that the actual storyline point somehow in this direction).
ad 3. On the edited image she is leaning on Lee and i draw that conclusion out of it. No big deal?
ad 4. The knive is in Balthars head. Also no big deal.
ad 5. I just draw this conclusion from the lineup of the two groups in the edited image. Maybe a bold hypothesis.
ad 6. Only based on my ethic conscience that they should pay for what they have done.
Norddeichradio
If you aren’t a battlestar fan then you don’t deserve to watch television. I know who the last cylon is and many of you are close.
I have not read the entire chain of discussion.
My theory is Baltar.
Baltar in his quest for immortality recreated his persona in an everlasting design; this occured sometime in the pastwith Baltar ‘the creator’ not even likely still alive. The first of which is the Baltar we see today; the others being his ‘children’ created in his image. His Baltar still has no idea that he is the original Cylon.
Here are a few other ideas to toss around.
1. The Cylons are actually Cyborgs. i.e. They are not machines that became human-like, but humans turned into machines to be used as slaves. That’s why they rebelled, and that’s why they created the twelve models, to regain their humanity.
2. There is no 13th tribe on Earth. When they reach there they find a race of reptiles have long since colonized it after a great war in which the twelve tribes barely escaped to Kobol.
3. When they get back to Earth, the starship Enterprise is patroling the area, and on seeing an”Invasion Fleet”, opens fire and destroys Human and cylon alike.
4. Kobol and the twelve tribes was an archaeological experiment to see how a polytheistic society would function in a modern setting. The exodus back to Earth is the end of the experiment.
I don’t like the “everyone is the final cylon” idea because wouldn’t that negate the episode with the cylon virus? It was shown that humans were immune to it, so how then could everyone be a cylon. I know that there are a lot of ways to explain this away, like the new cylons are different than the rest of them. But then, wouldn’t that mean that there is an individual twelfth still to come.
I’m trying to think back to that episode to see if any of the revealed four were ever exposed to the virus but did not get sick. There might be a plot hole there, or better yet, a clue to the final cylon.
But I can’t remember. Oh well.
I see Baltar as more of a Moses character, rather than Jesus.
Visions from God, leading people and whatnot.
Concerning Ellen Tigh: I don’t think she’s her own cylon model, but possibly an older version of the Six?
I support the Gaeta/Final Cylon theory. The other other four cylons were involved in humanity’s escape from the Occupation on New Caprica. He was very instrumental in helping the others.
Was not Keikeya very conveniently removed from early in the series? Just so conveniently as to create a “whoaah” response to him reappearing?
Well I have observations, questions, and theories.
Just like everybody else.
1.What was holding up Baltar in the last episode
that he got beat down in? We see # 6. Was that for the audience’s benefit? None of the other characters in the scene seemed to me to react to it. Is there a # 6 that’s also invisible instead of just in Baltar’s head?
2.Their’s a #6 with Baltar in her head does that have significance at this point?
3.Starbuck was captured and has been completely brain washed.
4. Mr. Gaeta was the one who almost found the deciphered photo of Baltar sabotaging the main computer on Caprica. Was ditched on the Cylon detector project. Tried to kill Baltar on new Caprica. Lied at his trial. Did I miss anything?
5.When they find Earth they will find that the missing tribe has created what we refer to as Atlantis. It will be destroyed in a final showdown with all the hostile Cylons. A few people will survive to start the story of Adam and Eve. Fast forward to a few years in our future, remnants of Atlantis are found and the story of man comming from the stars, that they had polytheistic beliefs and the pieces of an artificial intellegence is found. Which of course leads to a new Cylon race eventually being built.
6.Dualla will be the final Cylon who will lead those Cylons that will ally themselves with the colonials.
7.It has been the purpose of the Cylons to goad the Colonials to find the Thirteenth colony in order to completely wipe them out. However the 12 th Cylon will reveal that the final five have been a fifth coulmn. It’s purpose is to unite all known life and find a way to perserve it. I suspect that the “Puppet Master’s” arguments from “Ghost In The Shell” and or the “STNG” Data is a person arguments will be paraded.
What do you think?
I think that the last cylon is Galactica
but just can’t hear the music yet.
“Adama” does not mean Earth in Hebrew.
Alright: What the hell is going on!!!???
This storyline is getting ridiculous; I mean c’mon! If viewers don’t get some friggin’ coherent (albeit complex) plot to wrap their escapist minds around soon, I think we’re gonna lose it!
Throw us a friggin’ bone already!
And additionally, Baltar cannot be a Cylon because he is dead. He died in the initial attack (his end consistently played during the opening montage) but is a clone, and a mixed one at that because he and Six are constantly in each other’s space (the BG equivalent of a transporter error?). So in many respects, Six is talking to *herself*, rather than as we view it (Baltar talking to an imaginary friend.)
Is this is the case, it makes it easier for Six to act in ways that helps the Colonials, i.e., finding the right spot to destroy the mining base on the asteroid in Season 1. If Six is really talking to herself in the guise of Baltar, she can claim that he’s an instrument of God, when the “reality” is that she is the active agent and resolves any potential conflict (a Cylon helping humans) by pawning it off on God.
If so, that adds to the mystery of her central position in the picture, with her “twin” right next to her.
Other than that, I’m fairly indifferent to Battlestar Galactica.
I’ve seen some pretty interesting ideas out there. Do not forget to at least consider the series is designed after the original and will in some ways use similiar ideas.
Baltar betrays the human race and leads the cylons.
Baltar made his perfect descendants in his own image and is the last cylon. ‘Six’ does it for him because she was likely closest to his fantasy woman when he modeled his personality.
Well further ruminations after 5-16 episode.
1. Is Gaeta really the 5 th or a red herring?
2. Missed the connection of the Dylan/Hendrix
song. However it should also be noted that since
radio waves travel at the speed of light that what they are listening to is from the past not
BSG’s present. That could rule out an ancient ending to the earth episodes.
3. Finding a post apocalyptic earth is becomming
more likely.
4. I think four or all of the final 5 will refuse
to leave Galactica willingly.
5. If Galactica is the fifth how do you reconcile
its participation in the previous colonial/cylon war?
6. If you follow the 5th being Galactica reasoning, then how is it distinct from the basestars, the original centurions, or the cylon fighters? If you factor the episode with Scar in it you realize that they arn’t just tools. However the’re not of the 12 that the note that was on Adama’s desk [pilot] talks about either.
7. Then in the original series prior to Baltar taking over command of the cylons, wasn’t their a locust cylon that commanded the centurions? Had kind of a animated buble gum head err.. points of light swirling around in a bubble of blue gas? Will this be the 13th cylon or the cylon god?
8. Could this whole story be, and I know that its been said before just a cylon simulation to determine how a second war against humanity might play out?
“2. Missed the connection of the Dylan/Hendrix
song. However it should also be noted that since
radio waves travel at the speed of light that what they are listening to is from the past not
BSG’s present. That could rule out an ancient ending to the earth episodes.”
There’s no connection. I read in an interview somewhere recently that “The Watchtower” was used only because one of the writers had always wanted to use it in a show at some point.
Last nights episode was pretty intense when all you’re doing is watching for clues.
Even though I don’t think it’s the President, her shared dreams sure are confusing me. I think the shared dreams come from the baby Cylon blood infusion and nothing more, but she keeps seeing Baltar in her dreams and the “prophecy” says she knows the fifth.
And Gaeta singing, especially with such a knowing look in his face at the close isn’t helping me distance myself from my idea that Gaeta is the final model.
The other day, I did a wrap up of votes that have been cast in this post. It probably is not accurate.. counting words when the guesses are for someone and ignoring them when they’re only referencing a character ain’t easy.. and believe it or not, despite the number of comments, I didn’t come up with a large number of votes.
Before last nights episode, here was my tally (I counted votes if someone said A or B.. I didn’t push the issue of one vote per person.)
9 Baltar
9 Gaeta
8 Dualla
7 All of Humanity
5 Zack Adama
4 Bill Adama
4 Cottle
4 Zarek
3 Adm KANE (sp?)
3 Galactica
3 Kara Thrace
3 Lee’s Mom
3 The President
2 Ellen Tigh
2 A female
2 Lee Adama
1 Boxey
1 A Centurion
1 Count Iblii
1 George Bush
1 Jack Black
1 Keikeya
1 A metaphore
1 Romo Lampkin
The popular votes are Baltar, Gaeta or Dualla.
But if you saw the previews for upcoming episodes at the end of last nights epi., there was one person whom I saw, and only ONE person had voted for: Baltar’s lawyer, Romo Lampkin. Why would he be back if he already served his purpose in the show? (And yes, I liked the klepto-wisdom spouting lawyer.)
Indeed, this is getting very heady and entertaining as they keep us spinning about who is.. or what..
That’s my additional 2.5 cents. I guess we stay tuned.
Thanks for coming by and saying hi and giving your thoughts on the issue.. it’s made this post an awesome group thought type of post.
The final five are real humans from Earth.
The “all happened before” thing is that the humans on Earth created cylons who rebelled. The humans fled (to Kobol) and interbred with cylon skinjobs on Kobol. Then they recreated new cylons and they rebelled. etc etc.
Now they are returning to Earth.
All of them/us are varying degrees of Human/Cylon hybrids.
db, I guess that makes sense, because Scifi’s website keeps asking visitors if they are cylon or human! Singe, thanks for the clarification. Well this is shaping up as a rather messy ending to a good show, imho. I guess it’s better than the originals ending.
I’m not going to guess who is the final model, but I do believe that Starbuck is definately NOT the last of the final five. My reasoning for this is simple: Thrace is the “harbinger of death,” but this death refers to the forthcoming destruction of the resurrection hub, which will rob the entire cylon race of immortality. I’d say that would qualify as an apocalypse, wouldn’t you?
On a side note, there was a comment made earlier about us never seeing any of the “original humans” the skinjobs were based off of. Correct ne if I am wrong, but didn’t Adama see Leoben and black cyclon who was Karas “doctor” (can’t remember the name of the model) in the Caprica breeding facility? Weren’t they trapped upon the baseship with the original hybrid, and Adama was unable to free them?
Steve: I also thought the guy young Adama was unable to free during the first Cylon war sounded an awful lot like Leoben, and had similar eyes – although we didn’t get a good look.
I checked IMDB, and it doesn’t show Callum Keith Rennie in the cast of Razor, and instead has other actors listed in roles like “Man in Cage” or “Male captive” – so I took that to mean it wasn’t a human-Leoben.
Hmmm. I went back and checked, and you are right. Also the black cylon wasn’t even there, so I’m not sure where I came up with that… The Leoben lookalike still might be him, sure sounds like him, I agree. Oddly enough, the second person is a woman, who looks suspiciously Starbuck-like, but then again you do not get a very clear image of her…
“I also thought the guy young Adama was unable to free during the first Cylon war sounded an awful lot like Leoben”
I doubt it was Leoben, considering Leoben was the first skinjob Adama encountered (during the miniseries). Then again, maybe that’s how Adama knew he was a Cylon – sorry if this was posted before.
After the 5/16 episode, Gaeta’s actions again make me think he’s up to something. Trying to convince Helo to leave Starbuck and the others behind and meet up with Galactica to save his leg? He has an agenda – being a Cylon or otherwise, I don’t know
Can anyone tell me why the newest episode has not been posted on scifi.com? It’s usually up by Saturday.
Dunno, bud. Never watch it online.
Vic
Hello All…
Bruce, thank you for the thread! It is the most fascinating BSG thread I have seen so far and |LOVED your theory…and many others for that matter in this thread.
Unfortunately as one theory answers some of the issues that need to be answered in the series, and another theory answers some other andthe two theory are contradicting each other.
I think we need a BSG GUT (Grand Unified Theory)
Among many things I think it should be able to answer the following issues:
1. The hybrid’s quote:”It all happenned before and will happen again, again, again, again…”
2. The female hybrid in the base star qoute: “The children of the one reborn shall find their own country”
3. Tigh is too old to be the type of skin job that was made after the war. Adama knows him for so long.
4. The reason that the cylons are forbidden to talk about the 5
5. The reason the human areforbidden to talk about the 13th god
6. The 5 are from the earth and know the way back. (That fracks my mind)
7. The disease from the ancient probe
8. Starbucks coming back from the dead and the prophecy of two hybrids about herbeing the harbingerof death. One (the old man in razor) specifically said: “she would lead the human race to its end they MUST NOT follow her”
9.The opera house
One thing also bugs me. In Razor,Kendra Shaw asked the hybrid what are you? he answered: “my children think of me as god” (are his children the centurions?) and imediately after she calls Kendra: ” come closer my child”! probably nothing to it…but bugs my mind…
Thanks for the awesome recap Nasim and the kudo.
It will be very fascinating to see out the writers pan it all out!
Nasim, superb run-down. Would you mind dropping me a line?
bounding squirrel at yahoo dot com
Nasim, don’t forget that “end” doesn’t have to mean end as in death or ruin, it may be that the hybrid is saying he sees Starbuck as being the one to “lead the human race to its end,” which could be taken as meaning earth, the end destination.
Just out of curiousity, when is a thirteenth human god mentioned?
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