One of the most talked about aspects of the final season of Battlestar Galactica has been who will be revealed as the final Cylon. Many will argue (and rightfully so) that this show is much more than discovering who this final Cylon is, but the fact remains that this discovery is an important aspect of the show. Otherwise, why would such a reveal be such a well-kept secret? Because it makes good TV, that's why.With four of the final five Cylons being revealed in the third season finale, lots of speculation is flying on who that fifth Cylon might be. There are two interesting theories in particular I want to mention.
Earlier this week I posted my early look at the fourth season premiere. In the comments for that post, reader Stu mentioned a theory I hadn't thought of before (though I admittedly don't read all of the fan boards). In that comment he reminds us of Leoben's exchange with Roslin in 'Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down', where he whispers "Adama's a Cylon." I remember this scene explicitly, as I had to rewind my DVR to make sure I really heard what he said.
Most viewers automatically assume Leoben meant Bill Adama. Still others thought perhaps he meant Lee Adama. Commenter Stu, however, reminds us there's another Adama on the table: Zac Adama, Lee's brother. Remember, he died in a crash before the events of this series. Could he perhaps come back?
While this theory is great to speculate upon, I'm doubtful. I emailed the talent manager for Tobias Mehler, the man who played Zac one time in the series (he was played by someone else in the mini-series), and as for him having a role this season: "not to my knowledge." Not exactly 100% concrete, but seeing as I doubt she'd lie and didn't say "no comment," I'm inclined to say Zac was human and is dead and buried/burned.
I still wonder why Leoben bothered to say that to Roslin, though. I understand it causes confusion and distrust, but it didn't really work well, did it? And it just seemed ... uncharacteristic of a Cylon. Maybe he meant Carolanne Adama (she appeared once in 'A Day in the Life')? Maybe I should call Lucinda Jenney's agent next. Nah.
The second theory that's intrigued me for a while is the return of Billy Keikeya as the final Cylon. You might remember that he was killed in 'Sacrifice'. This would be quite a wild reveal, but not as wild as some others. However, just to see what would happen, I emailed Paul Campell's talent agent. When I asked if Campbell would be reprising his role in season four, he said, "you can ask, but I can't tell you." When I then asked if that meant he didn't know or if his answer was "no comment," he replied: "no comment."
The "no comment" remark from a talent agent could mean anything. It could mean he really is returning and has been told not to say (or that he knows by saying it would mean big trouble for him.) It could be that he signed a NDA that states he can't comment on the actor's involvement with the show. It could also just be him messing with us, hoping that I'll do this post and get Paul more press -- and, look, it worked. Heck I would have posted about Paul anyway, but only if he would have really been given a true greenlight for Nobody's Watching. Damn you, NBC! But I digress.
What are some of the better theories you've read or heard out there? I've got a few of my own that just seem way too far-fetched to me, but I'll just pat myself on the back if/when one of those theories comes true.
(Oh, and while I'm talking BSG, let me know in the comments if you want me to open a chatroom during the premiere!)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
4-02-2008 @ 4:47PM
charles said...
Actually, I am the final cylon.
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4-02-2008 @ 4:55PM
bambeluvr said...
I say Adama is a Cylon (as in Bill Adama). Everything has happened because of him. He sent one of his men across the line into Cylon space, triggering the war - this was seen in "Hero." He has projected like Six (and Three in the outtakes in Season Three) - he interacted with his ex-wife when it was pretty obvious he was on the Galactica. And when "Caprica" comes out, it is going to involved the Adamas and a very young Bill Adama. Maybe it's going to involve an A.I. type storyline where the Adamas can't have a child and he is the first one. Just a thought.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:02PM
Chris said...
DEE!! Don't forget, she's an adama too now ;)
4-02-2008 @ 5:13PM
Oreo said...
By your logic through then Baltar should be a Cylon too because he sees Six in his head.
4-02-2008 @ 6:24PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Not Bill Adama. No way.
Look at the "Last Supper" picture. The final cylon is NOT at the table. Bill is.
4-02-2008 @ 7:38PM
bsgfan2003 said...
I read that in Caprica the Adama's child died, and that is why they were so keen on artificial intelligence. But, I suppose it could change before then.
4-13-2008 @ 10:45AM
alexanna said...
I agree with Bill being the final cylon. Also when D'anna has that vision and appologizes the one of the final five I think she is talking to Bill because she programmed Sharon to shoot him.
4-02-2008 @ 4:55PM
Oreo said...
None of the Adamas are Cylons, the Cylons lie.
I still think the final Cylon will be Mrs Clinton of Al Gore, they both seem like human robots to me.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:15PM
RTW said...
The 4 final cylons that we know about are all living characters. The final 5 seem to be unique one-off cylons. No multiple copies. So Billy and Zac seem out if that is true.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:13PM
Robobagins said...
I think it's either Tom Zarek or Geada. Having any of the Adama family or Roslyn being a cyclon would just be to easy. And having a character that has died, or only appeared in the background or flashbacks would just be a cop-out. It's going to be someone we know, someone who's been there like the rest of them, someone that when they're revealed to be the final Cyclon will bring their actions and motivations into a new light.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:15PM
RTW said...
Dee wasn't an Adama at the time. Although it would be cool for her character.
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4-03-2008 @ 5:51PM
MJLavelle said...
I believe it is Ellen Tigh. In the end of the "Tigh me up, Tigh me down" episode, Six asks Baltar what the results of Ellen Tigh's cylon test were, and he says "I will never tell". I think it was positive. Also, The actress that plays Ellen is in several episodes this season.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:23PM
RTW said...
Geata or Zarek are strong possibilities. Hope the powers that be get the 2nd half of season 4 out in the fall and not 2009.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:34PM
Will said...
I think Ronald Moore said that there was only one copy of each of the final five. That would mean that it can't be anyone that already died. How would the other seven not know their identities if there were extra copies of them on resurrection ships.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:54PM
Kim said...
I read a Ron quote on Wikipedia today that said this:
"Ronald D. Moore has confirmed in interviews that there are twelve different models of humanoid Cylon, with many copies of each model in existence."
As for where the extra copies of the final 5 are kept, my guess is Earth.
4-02-2008 @ 7:49PM
jason said...
Actually replying to the other person who replied to this comment.
That Wikipedia quote sounds like something Ronald D. Moore might have said at the beginning of the series.
It sort of strikes me that the Final 5 concept wasn't developed until the series had been going for a while (nothing wrong with that, it just seems that way). The thing that bugs me is the Cylon numbers.
The human models we see with multiple copies are fairly recent evolutions. It seems that the Final 5 have a different origin, and are much older (given Tigh's age and relationship with Adama during the first Cylon War). Since they were probably around before the current humanoid models, you'd expect them to be numbered 1-5. But we know Lucy Lawless's character is #3. And they can't be later models because Sharon is #8. I get the feeling the numbers we've been given just don't jive with the Final 5 plot, and they're just hoping we don't think about it too much.
4-02-2008 @ 8:46PM
Akbar Fazil said...
To Jason:
Adama and Tigh were never in the first war together. They never met each other until after the war when they worked on a freighter together.
4-02-2008 @ 5:45PM
Ian said...
Maybe everyone is a Cylon? And humanity dies long ago. But the Cykons got bored with nobody to fight so they created super Cylons and chase 'em around the Nebula to find Earth.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:52PM
Kim said...
I have been rooting for Billy to be the final cylon. First because I want Paul back on my tv screen, but also because it would be an interesting reveal. One scene he had with Bill always stood out was when he told Billy that Roslin told him Billy reminded him of President Adar. I always thought that down the line Billy would become president. Perhaps he'll be the fifth cylon and become president of Earth.
That's my wishful thinking vote. Truthfully I think the final cylon could either be Gaeta or Roslin.
And I also think that Starbuck will be revealed as The Oracle and in some way in association with the final 5 cylons. I spent way too much time reading up on Greek mythology today instead of working...
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4-02-2008 @ 5:59PM
Matthew H. said...
Because Deanna (D'anna??) tells the Final Cylon that "she's sorry, she didn't know", I can't imagine it would be either Billy or Zach, rather someone she's interacted with. Maybe it could be someone on Galactica that she talked to when she was making the documentary, but it feels more likely that it was someone down on New Caprica, since she would have had a great deal more interaction with them, including possible torture/general repression.
Also, Leoban's comment to Roslin was probably a lie, especially because it set in motion the events of the next episode, in which she wonders whether Adama is a cylon and asks for him to be tested by Baltar first, so I don't think anyone should rely too much on Leoban. Plus, the normal 7 aren't supposed to discuss the final 5, and Deanna was boxed for the lengths to which her obsession with finding them out took her. If Leoban really knew, wouldn't it be easier to find a way to get it out of him, as opposed to going through all the trouble with the Eye of Jupiter?
I feel like a nerd. In my defense, I've been rewatching the entire series with my friend who has never seen it in preparation for season 4, so it's all pretty fresh in my mind.
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