Battlestar - 12 models vs. infinite variety by Knibblet

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Battlestar - 12 models vs. infinite variety

POSTED BY: KNIBBLET
UPDATED: Monday, April 3, 2006 03:37
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Thursday, March 2, 2006 2:45 AM

This entire post was made possible by "Beer! Frosty beverage provided by my neighbor as we discussed Battlestar the other night" I had what we, in our beer heightened state, declared an epiphany.

Okay, so it seems to me that the real difficulty in creating 'skin jobs' would be in creating a viable body to hold the cylon consciousnes.

If the difficulty is in creating a viable body, then creating variety in that body would be easy.

If creating variety would be easy, then why did the Cylons stop at 12 models? Looking at the same 12 faces would be boring and having a conversation with 22 folks who wear my face would be ... disconcerting.

I believe that the Cylons could have created thousands of different models but created only 12 because they see themselves as the replacements for the 12 tribes of man.

I do believe that Caprica Six (or the Baltar living in her head) was correct when she said that Cylon society was based on unity. Having every 12th person wearing your face would tend to stamp out a lot of "I gotta be me" activity.

As soon as you are preceived as being 'different' or 'unique', you're one toasted toaster.

What one has to do with the other (unity vs. 12 tribes) I haven't figured out yet. There's always more beer to assist me in this process.

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/ Big Damn Shindigity Good Time
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Sunday, March 5, 2006 7:28 PM

VERA2529

I'm happy to know I'm not alone in philosophical BSG discussions. I usually engage in this sort of thing Saturday morning after espresso, my preferred elixir. Beer makes me sleepy, unfortunately.

I also have wondered why 12 models. I would not be surprised if the 12, lords of Kobol and cylon skin jobs, ties into 12 apostles or something of Christian iconography. Since the series plays up the one god vs. many gods issues.

I'm holding out for Gaius Baltar to be a 13th skin job and the "god" figure. I had this hunch at the beginning and I'm sticking with it for now.

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Monday, March 6, 2006 7:58 AM

KNIBBLET

Actually, the entire series is influenced by Mormonism which, depending upon your POV is either a legitimate Christian denomination or a dangerous cult.

Glen Larson was a Mormon and it influenced the original series. Here are some essays on the connection.

http://www.millennialstar.org/index.php/2006/02/12/ligbattlestar_galac
tical_ig_and_mormonis

http://www.michaellorenzen.com/galactica.html

http://www.proaxis.com/~sherlockfam/art5.html

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/ Big Damn Shindigity Good Time
http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

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Tuesday, March 7, 2006 9:35 PM

VERA2529

I'll check those links out more thoroughly, but I don't see as much Mormonism in the re-imagined series as ths first. But then, I am not well versed in the Mormon history or religion.

I am more into Late Antiquity and transition between Roman polytheism and Christian monotheism, so that is where I make a lot of connections in the new series.

Thanks for the references.

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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 3:19 AM

KNIBBLET

I'm just hoping that when the fleet finally reaches Earth, I get to enjoy the ultimate feast

....... a Starbuck / Apollo sandwich.

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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 7:17 AM

VERA2529

Quote:
Originally posted by Knibblet:

....... a Starbuck / Apollo sandwich.

Indeed! that would be well received here too.

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Sunday, March 12, 2006 5:00 PM

BREWSKI

Good links! I enjoyed reading them.

And make no mistake people - several things about the New BSG have changed, but several Mormon messages remain.

The 12 models are a Mormon reference to the 12 colonies of man, as were the 12 planets, including Caprica. I believe the mini-series/show are making the 12 models of Cylon into the 12 personalities of man, as I have not seen a single one of the Cylons have the same type of personality.

Select to view spoiler:

Cylons who are part of the 12:

Seductress (#6 - Jamie Bamber)drien Do
Everygirl "Girl next door" (#8 - Grace Park)
Cleric (Dean Stockwell)
Reporter (Lucy Lawless)
Businessman (Matt Bennett)
Everyman "Neighbor Guy" (Callum Rennie)

I like the idea of 12 models - besides I think looking forever for all the cylons will still happen anyways, since the humans will not believe them.

http://boxofficebrewery.com

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Tuesday, March 14, 2006 2:49 AM

KNIBBLET

You forgot:
Doctor "Simon" - (Rick Worthy)

Quote:
Originally posted by Brewski:
Seductress (#6 - Tricia Helfer)
Everygirl "Girl next door" (#8 - Grace Park)
Cleric (Dean Stockwell)
Reporter (Lucy Lawless)
Businessman (Matt Bennett)
Everyman "Neighbor Guy" (Callum Rennie)

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/ Big Damn Shindigity Good Time
http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

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Thursday, March 16, 2006 5:44 PM

BREWSKI

Actually, I didn't know he was a Cylon. I have not watched every single episode (I've tried though - and no, I don't have the money to TiVo).

_______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
"He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor.
Stood up to the man and gave him what for.
Our love for him now ain't hard to explain.
The hero of Canton the man they call Jayne!

http://boxofficebrewery.com

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Monday, March 20, 2006 5:53 PM

KNIBBLET

This is NOT Doc Cottle on Galactica. I don't want to confuse you.
This was the doctor on Caprica at the baby farm. Starbuck killed him. Here's his photo.

Quote:
Originally posted by Brewski:
Actually, I didn't know he was a Cylon.

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/ Big Damn Shindigity Good Time
http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

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Sunday, March 26, 2006 3:23 PM

SADLITTLEKING

Quote:
Originally posted by Brewski:
Good links! I enjoyed reading them.

And make no mistake people - several things about the New BSG have changed, but several Mormon messages remain.

The 12 models are a Mormon reference to the 12 colonies of man, as were the 12 planets, including Caprica. I believe the mini-series/show are making the 12 models of Cylon into the 12 personalities of man, as I have not seen a single one of the Cylons have the same type of personality.

Good observation. And I believe that's why the Cylons only built 12 human models. My reasoning behind why they stopped there is because they don't just want to keep building more human models and populate that way. That would make them machines. In order to be truly human, they have to populate through reproduction.

On a side note, I wonder what Sharon's and Helo's baby will grow up to look like. Certainly not like any of the 12 human models.

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Thursday, March 30, 2006 12:51 AM

BREWSKI

Quote:
Originally posted by Knibblet:
This is NOT Doc Cottle on Galactica. I don't want to confuse you.
This was the doctor on Caprica at the baby farm. Starbuck killed him. Here's his photo.

Quote:
Originally posted by Brewski:
Actually, I didn't know he was a Cylon.

Yeah, I had to have missed that episode. Hey, at least I got most of them right!

I really do wonder what the "half-Cylon" baby is going to look like too... that side story alone will make for some good TV!

I honestly can't wait for October!

______________________________________________________
"He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor.
Stood up to the man and gave him what for.
Our love for him now ain't hard to explain.
The hero of Canton the man they call Jayne!

http://boxofficebrewery.com

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Thursday, March 30, 2006 7:02 AM

KNIBBLET

They look just like any regular human ... except for the 'lighter - darker' rheostat dial on the side of the neck.

Quote:
Originally posted by Brewski:
I really do wonder what the "half-Cylon" baby is going to look like

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/ Big Damn Shindigity Good Time
http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

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Monday, April 3, 2006 3:37 AM

KNIBBLET

I can't believe no one has booed that last one.

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/ Big Damn Shindigity Good Time
http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

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