Poliblogger on "BSG"

Over at Poliblogger, Steven Taylor has opened a thread speculating on who else might be a humanoid Cylon (aka Spylon) somewhere in the human fleet.  Remember, we are under the impression that there are 12 models, of which we are aware of five: Number Six, Leoben, Doral, Boomer, and Simon (the doctor in "The Farm").  Before being killed, BSG Boomer (as distinguished from Caprica Boomer) said that there were 8 other models scattered throughout the fleet, which makes sense since no one on the ship had yet encountered Simon.

Based on the fact that the Cylons need humans to mate with, as revealed in "The Farm," Dr. Taylor rules out Baltar, Helo, Chief Tyrol, and both Adamas (Lee because he is the product of human mating).  His top candidates are Billy Keikeya, Lt. Gaeta, Zarek, the Tighes, and Cally.

Here are my thoughts:

1) First, all of this is based on the not unreasonable assumption that the Cylons cannot create a human model based on a real person.  Otherwise, the two years that Lee Adama was away on training would be awfully convenient. . . .

2) I doubt that the Tighes are Spylon.  The last Cylon war was 40 years ago, and back then, the Cylons were walking toasters.  It's only in the intervening time that they've developed the human models.  Col. Tigh has been with Cmdr. Adama long enough that I don't think he could have been inserted that far back.  I suppose Ellen Tigh is marginally possible, because she seems like she's only in her mid-40s, but still seems unlikely.

3) For the age reason, Zarek seems unlikely too.  It's hard to know how old Zarek is, but actor Richard Hatch is 60.

4) I've speculated about Gaeta before.  I don't have a logical reason for my skepticism about him, but it just doesn't feel like we've been given solid clues the way that we were about Boomer (shaky piloting, no fatigue, etc.).

5) I hadn't thought of Billy or Cally before Dr. Taylor's post, but both seem like serious candidates to me.

6) Since there are *8* models, no doubt some could be yet to be introduced characters, or perhaps very minor characters we've seen, like some of the Chief's flight crew.  Then again, maybe Xena (warning: spoilers) is a Spylon!

Comments

[Dylan]

There could also be duplicates of the same model on different ships. There's a physical Number 6 (probably) running around somewhere in addition to the purely mental one.

[Kris (Random)]

She said "8", but if I recall correctly, that was in response to the question how many other Cylons are in the fleet. In other words, there could be only one model of which we're not aware, but 8 individuals of that model. I've erased it off my TIVO already, but I'd swear that's what was asked. If so, that means the number of models is not fixed yet. There could be up to 8 more that have infiltrated the fleet, more in prototype form.

I need to think more before making a "who's the cylon" guess.

[Lugosi]

The important thing to remember about the Cylons is that "they have a plan." We are reminded of that fact at the beginning of every episode.

Now what that plan is, we mere viewers don't know, and probably neither do the script writers. But as long as the current series avoids sinking to the depths of silliness that the original 'Galactica' did 25 years ago, I plan to enjoy the ride.