Put me down for immortality, relative eternal youth and no wasting diseases before I resurrect. And kids too. See, you can have it all. As long as you find other inhabitable planets.
I agree with this theory, if for no other reason that I know most writers, including the ones on this show, usually make the names of their characters count. Here’s what I’m talking about:
From the Hebrew name דָנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning “God is my judge”. Daniel was a Hebrew prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. He lived during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, where he served in the court of the king, rising to prominence by interpreting the king’s dreams. The book also presents Daniel’s four visions of the end of the world.
Hmmm.
:Face Palm: “burning question,” great lords of kobol!
But what if, OT, resurrection came with Cavil’s body? Would you feel so awesome about it then?
From my perspective, I see the appeal of procreation over resurrection for Cylons. Here’s why: Let’s say that I believe in an afterlife that will, if I have brought more positive feelings and influences into the world than negative, bring me closer to god. That premise (which I will call Premise A) is something that all the Cylons except Cavil accept as true. In particular, the Cylons who programmed the beliefs and personalities of the skin jobs who currently wield control over other Cylon life forms believe in the validity of that premise.
Premise B: any species which thrives to the point of being able to take over an entire planet (Cylons and humans) is hardwired to ensure species survival.
If an individual believes Premise A, it is pretty cold comfort that she can download over and over again, striving to do the right thing as she cycles through numerous temporary biological shells, because she never gets to that afterlife. If you are a FF Cylon, you also have access to history that tells you that your people used to have access to that afterlife with god through.
The Cylons cannot willingly self-destruct by destroying resurrection without having a viable alternative for perpetuating the species-- they, like we, are hard-wired to ensure their survival (see Premise B).
Considering both premises, it seems obvious that they would strive to maintain species viability by using resurrection while also searching for a way to move beyond it.
The cylons massacred humanity & screwed w/ the remainder in deviish ways.
Further, cylon procreation (per Sharon/boomer and Ellen) requires love. Ergo love was lost for they have not been able to procreate. With no love they were further from humanity.
As “proof” Cavil programmed 'em. He hates being a fleshbag. I submit he programmed out love–it is not the machine way.
I don’t think I buy the whole Cylon procreation requires love thing. It’s not been proven, really, although the only Cylon/Cylon conceptions we know about have resulted from loving relationships in some sense. It’s also true that we don’t know the degree to which Cavil reprogrammed the other skin job models after he disposed of the FF. However, we also don’t the degree to which Cavil’s programming by the FF effects him. We know something is wrong with him- that he hasn’t turned out the way they expected- but it seems clear that some of the characteristics they set him up to have have held true.
I don’t know if I buy this reasoning as to why Premise A (the FF and therefore the skin jobs they programmed and the bullet heads who the skin jobs control believe that there is an afterlife which brings them closer to god, if they have been good) is false. I think your points complicate the matter, certainly. But Premise A isn’t meant as an absolute truth even within the BSG-verse. It’s meant to be an expression of one of the fundamental viewpoints that inform Cylon decision-making and action (why they pursue procreation when they have resurrection, which might seem superior to us meatbags).
But what if, OT, resurrection came with Cavil’s body? Would you feel so awesome about it then?
Do I get to earn what Dean Stockwell does?
My point is that any group of humans would opt for both, if available. And resurrection would be especially popular among the atheist/agnostic set. As well as those who don’t care to be desperately ill.
“Man” has long sought The Fountain of Youth and always will. Or at least the cosmetic surgeons better hope so. No way would “humanity” let resurrection become obsolete in return for procreation - not if it could have both. (Or even if it could only have one, in my opinion.)
I think the loss of resurrection tech by the 13th is just a necessary plot device.
Well said. I agree while wishing it wasn’t. I am getting tired of these plot device thingies.
To give up resurrection for mortality would be a monumental change in a society, and so it would be marked in history books, lore, art, music and everything else. It would’ve been near impossible to give it up and forget all about it.
And besides, even if it was given up, you know there would be people in power or the very wealthy who would keep something like that going.
I agree, so how did the 13th Colony (Erf) lose/forget resurrection tech?
Is Ellen just not telling the full story?
I think that one will be left hanging with, so how did a several million humans travel from Kobol to find and settle the 12 Colonies. That must have been one heck of a big galleon.
But I cannot write anymore about this without incurring the Wrath of Chuck. (What if kahn’s name had been Chuck? Would he have had an easier time dealing with his anger issues?)
Oh, I totally agree with you, there. My point seems to be sliding right by yours in parallel rather than directly engaging. I meant that the Cylon either/or choice that appears to see resurrection as inferior makes sense given that they DO have religion.
Isn’t it an important clue in the last episode when Boomer reveals that Cylons have the ability to project thoughts?
Pehaps Hera, being half human half cylon, has the ability to project in both camps and from greater distances. That could potentially explain why Laura, Caprica 6, Athena and Gaius could share visions of the opera house.
If Starbuck’s father was Daniel, perhaps she has similar abilities and that is why she can act as a the “tuning fork” for all the Watchtower segments that the FF experience.
Food for thought.
You mean project with each other? We already knew they could project individually. I think we found that out in Season 3 when Baltar was wandering the basestar in a robe with Caprica Six.
By the way, anyone care to guess how they’re going to explain all the coincidences of the show if they choose to explain the main mysteries with technology? I mean, how did the FF all manage to survive the destruction of the colonies? There are other coincidences that aren’t coming to mind right now.
I think they have to go with Cavil arranged for it - as unsatisfying as that may be. (He made sure that they “ducked and covered” as thermonuclear hell was being rained down on the Colonies. Of course, at least 2 - we don’t know where Tory was, do we? - were “safe” on The Big G.)
well… Ellen was Killed when the attack happened, and “found” among the injured. Sam, could have been killed and the “put” into the resistance.
I’m really hoping that they don’t make it seem as if Cavil orchestrated every little thing. I can understand him boxing and reprogramming the FF to get them out of the way so he can manipulate a new war, but if they say that he made the Cylon fleet spare Galactica and the other ships, I won’t be too happy.
My wife and I are rewatching the entire series right now, and the Cylons were definitely out to destroy the fleet, not just make it seem like that. However, I can handle the “God watched over us” explanation.
Good point… If you accept Starbuck as having been reinserted to the Fleet by Cavil, like the FF, then maybe Baltar, too?
Do we know Ellen was killed? I thought all we got from her is that she was thrown onto a “transport” during the attacks. On her first episode she said she was at an airport when it happened, so I assumed the transport was a vessel at the airport.
Anyway, I too hope they don’t try to make it seem Cavil orchestrated the survival of the Galactica and other ships. That would mean he wanted to go chasing the fleet around for lack of anything better to do. That just won’t add up and would be retcon overkill to say the least.
True. Did Cavil say that he resurrected the FF so they could witness how vile humans were - and that was the only reason? Or did he say that he also wanted the FF to witness their destruction? And “preserve” the FF from the same fate?
If the answer to the third question is that he did not, then the survival of the FF is either quite a coincidence or the work of some other agent. (Why do I keep thinking that we do know that Cavil had a hand in saving Ellen? Information overload?)
We don’t know it, OT, but I’ve felt since finding out about Ellen as an FF that she was re-inserted into the fleet for sure.
He said that he wanted the FF to have “front row seats to a holocaust”. And I actually think that is the exact quote. I don’t think he said anything else about why he put them in the colonies.
This made me think he intended for them to die in said holocaust, and then they would be resurrected and carry that awful memory.
He’s really a bastard, isn’t he?