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We uncover more secrets about Battlestar Galactica's final episodes
Ronald D. Moore, the executive producer of Battlestar Galactica, revealed more possible spoilers for the award-winning show's upcoming final episodes, including what to expect from the recently revealed fifth Cylon.
And the Cylon—that is, the actor who plays the Cylon—speaks as well. (Massive spoilers ahead!)
In last week's episode, "Sometimes a Great Notion," Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon), the late wife of Col. Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan), was revealed as the final Cylon. Vernon told reporters in a conference call on Wednesday that Ellen will turn up in most of Battlestar's remaining episodes, making life even more hellish for Saul, who poisoned his wife in the third-season episode "Exodus, Part II."
Moore, speaking in the same conference call, elaborated on what to expect as the fourth and final season winds up, as well as the deliberations that went into Ellen's choice as the final Cylon. Friday night's episode, "A Disquiet Follows My Soul," airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Ron, at what point did you decide that Ellen was the final Cylon, and why did you pick her?
Moore: I've been trying to figure out exactly when I picked Ellen, and I'm not quite sure. It was sometime in the third season. I think the option of presenting her as one of the final Cylons was sort of kicking around for a while, but we didn't really have an intention of revealing all four of the final four Cylons in the season finale until we were breaking that actual episode. So there wasn't really a focus on delineating exactly who the final five were for quite a while.
But I think Ellen's name was kicking around the office in terms of "Well, who could the remaining Cylon be? Maybe it would be Ellen." And we put in the name and said, "Yeah, that might be cool. Maybe we'll get back to that someday." And it wasn't really until after we had decided to reveal four of the final five in that season finale that it became a more pressing question. And then, in between the two seasons, we went on a writers' retreat and talked about everything in detail, and Ellen was the primary candidate to be the fifth Cylon.
But we were very open to a wider discussion. "Well, we think it's Ellen. Let's say she's the leading candidate, but who are the others?" We talked about other possibilities, but none of them really held water and none of them made sense and none of them really gave us much, so we stuck with Ellen. And I would say it works primarily because of her relationship with Tigh. It really anchored that couple as something that was very special, and I liked the fact that Ellen as a character was an off-camera presence right from the beginning of the show, of the miniseries. We started hearing about Tigh's wife, and it was one of his key, defining characteristics. So we knew that she was important in the mythology of the show.
And I liked the idea of saying that this couple had been together a very long time, that this couple was something special, that they were this eternal romance and eternal love, which I really thought was interesting and cool. And it completed the framework of the final five. It just fit. It all kind of fit. It also made the fact that Tigh had killed his wife back on New Caprica even richer and more complicated and filled with more ironies and more conflicted feelings about what was happening and what the story was. So that's essentially how the process went.
Who was the first runner-up among the other options?
Moore: Oh, I knew you were going to ask that! We just kind of threw them all out. I don't know that there was a second. ... We talked about Dualla [Kandyse McClure]. We talked about Gaeta [Alessandro Juliani]. We talked about all of our regulars, and we dismissed Eddie [Edward James Olmos, who plays Adm. Adama,] and Mary [McDonnell, President Laura Roslin,] pretty quickly, because we'd said, "What if it was Adama? What if it was Laura?" I felt that took something away from the show, that that would actually hurt us, because once you said Adama was a Cylon it'd just feel like part of the journey itself wasn't right, and it didn't have the same meaning I wanted it to. So they fell out early.
We talked briefly about Dualla and Gaeta. They were interesting characters, but it didn't feel like it heightened the stakes. It didn't feel like it would just bump everything to a different level. And with Ellen it did.
Kate, how hard was it to keep this a secret?
Vernon: There were waves of intense agony and frustration, and then I would completely forget about it. I had two years to ride this. ... I think we decided that it was around ... that amount of time. We're not exactly chronologically sure, but it's been a really long time. So within that enormous length of time, I did actually forget about it for a minute. But, for the most part, this was something I wanted to talk about desperately just because it was such an honor to have been given this role. When they killed me off, I went up to Ron and I looked him straight in the eyes, and I said, "Is there any way I can come back? Is there any way of coming back?" He just looked at me very carefully and assuredly said, "No."
So I was done in Ron's eyes, but in my heart I personally had a love affair with Ellen as an actress, and with this show. So I never let go of it, and Ron can attest to that because I called him several times. And thank you, Ron, for taking all of my phone calls.
Were there any special precautions taken to keep the secret a secret?
Vernon: What was asked of me—and I understood it—was really to disappear, to go invisible. My character came back a few times, and when people found out that I was working in Vancouver on Battlestar, it was, "Yeah, of course, I'm coming back to torture my husband who killed me off. Why else would Ellen be back?" That's her thing; she's coming back to torture her husband. So that's how I played it off, and I know NBC and Ron asked me just to lay low, really, and to honor and respect this enormous hit that was going to happen eventually. Part of it was a thrill. Of course I was going to keep this quiet. This was one secret you wouldn't want to blow.
Kate, now that we know you're back for most of the final episodes, give us some sort of preview as to what Ellen will actually be up to.
Moore: Talking, lots of talking.
Vernon: Yeah, I'll be talking. I'll be walking and talking. I get to reunite with my husband in the good old-fashioned way that they do. Let's see ... I can't really talk too much about that without giving [something away]. Right, Ron?
Moore: Just saying that you reunite alone is probably enough.
Vernon: OK. See, I'm a little nervous talking about anything, still!
Moore: The trick is that from now until the end of the series it's pretty much one continuous story. And so we don't want to give any of the building blocks away, because then you'll kind of know where the current story arcs to. So we're just trying to be as opaque about what's left as we can.
By psiwire at 3:13 AM ON 01/22/09
Ellen being the final Cylon sucks. It's a total cop-out.
By TheHomegaMan at 4:08 AM ON 01/22/09
Ellen being the Fifth enhances Hogan's role as Tigh more than anything else. Look at it that way, and get over the fact that a few years ago a storyteller didn't consult you on how to express his vision.
By albegao at 4:30 AM ON 01/22/09
Hello! "BSG" guys you rock!
Never saw Helen coming; But i agree, her character is perfect! The idea's so convoluted! Is sheer genius! I hope you milk it for every single drop!
Show is great! I LOVE GRACE PARK!
By Battlestar Galactica Sucks at 4:53 AM ON 01/22/09
Hello, she's not one of the final five. The entire colony were Cylons ... plus, Sci Fi Wire discovers more secrets? Bastards, it;'s a Sci Fi Channel show. That's like CW claming they have exclusive secrets on Smallville's last episode. Hello, it's their show, if course they're gonna have exclusive secrets.
By darkzionite at 10:14 AM ON 01/22/09
The final five refer to the last five surviving Cylons of the 13th colony, Earth, who return to the 12 colonies of Kobol. Just throwing that out there.
By yendor0001 at 11:19 AM ON 01/22/09
Maybe Helen is the legacy version of Number 6. That's why Helen's head keeps popping up on 6's body. Saul got the serious upgrade... What raises a question here is not that Helen is a Cylon, it's that Tigh and 6 are pregnant. Weren't all those experiments done because Cylons couldn't reproduce? Must be a final 5 thing...
By walleymr at 11:27 AM ON 01/22/09
Does put events that date back to "Tight Me Up, Tigh Me Down" into an interesting context ...
By walleymr at 11:28 AM ON 01/22/09
"Tigh" even
By drewg at 11:45 AM ON 01/22/09
When I read that the creators weren't real sure when they picked Ellen, a chill ran down my spine. I had hoped that the BSG story was more, or less, cast in stone. I really hope the final 9 episodes don't turn into the last seasons of X files...that is...I hope there is a concrete place where the saga is, and was always, supposed to end.
By Nightgaunt at 12:13 PM ON 01/22/09
Meh. I'm not really impressed by the choice either way. I don't really agree that "it would just bump everything to a different level."
Duala or Gaeta would have been better choices because they've been steady bulwarks who's understated presences have bolstered those around them. To have them turn out to be "the enemy" would have been more dramatic because in a real way Ellen has always been Saul's enemy. She's never been good for him or done right by him. He knows this, but doesn't know how to quit her.
By LazarusFL at 12:18 PM ON 01/22/09
Perhaps a dumb question, but if Earth was inhabited by the 13th tribe, ALL of whom were human form Cylons, where the heck are the rest of the models? Or are we to believe that Earth was inhabited by billions of Cylons, with only 13 different types?
By NathanBrazil at 12:31 PM ON 01/22/09
Lazarus: Moore has said since the episode that there were all sorts of cylons on Earth, not just the known types. The 5 are all from that population, but why they are still around an noone else is still left unstated.
By NathanBrazil at 12:39 PM ON 01/22/09
drewg: While I agree it can be a bit of a let down to know that the writers did not decide on Ellen until later, that is not really all that uncommon. Writers constantly change there vision as they write. Even the books you cherish often do not end the way the writer intended when they started. Take Tolkien. When he wrote the Hobbit he had no intention that Bilbo's ring was THE ring. It was just a magic tricket. He did not even start to develop this idea until he was into writing the Lord of the Rings. He even went to the extent later of re-writing the Bilbo/Gollum scene for later printings of the Hobbit to fit the concept better. He even has Gandolf mention that Bilbo's telling might have been inaccurate. The whole thing was 'retconned' so to speak. So changes to the final plot are common in many if not most stories you read or watch.
By misravot at 1:53 PM ON 01/22/09
I'm not sure how I feel about it. Who the final one was is less important than what is the plan? If it makes sense then all wiil be well. If it is trite or cliched or preachy then sale for 4.2 are gonna tank.
By misravot at 1:53 PM ON 01/22/09
I'm not sure how I feel about it. Who the final one was is less important than what is the plan? If it makes sense then all wiil be well. If it is trite or cliched or preachy then sale for 4.2 are gonna tank.
By Wiz33 at 2:14 PM ON 01/22/09
After all the hype, there is no way that everyone would be satisfied with the reveal. I don't really care who's the last Cylon as it really means nothing. The Important questions are.
Is the last Cylon special in any ways?
Does the last Cylon have a big impact on the direction of the show for the rest of the season?
And more important that who is the last Cylon. WTF is Starbuck?
By CMAC at 2:24 PM ON 01/22/09
Making Tyrol and Tigh cylons was enough of a gut punch to fans. If they made the fifth cylon one of the big 4 -- Adama, Apollo, Starbcuk or Roslin -- they would have lost a of fans. That being said, I still think Starbuck will be the final cylon. Helen being the 12th is just to throw us all off the trail. Who says there can be only 12 models? 13 models for 13 colonies. That's my bet.
By BloodJaw at 2:53 PM ON 01/22/09
Ellen is a fine choice – a character there from the beginning, very manipulative and cunning and tragic all at the same time. Yet she has had a lot less screen time than the others, so she remains mysterious. It is a little disappointing to not know that this was the plan from the beginning, but it is a good story choice, and it shows how good epics mirror life – not everything is known from the beginning, just like life.
The question is, is she the one in control? What were the positions of the final 5 on Earth that they would be the ones who survived the holocaust? Here’s my take: The final 5 were working on the first resurrection hub – a facility on Earth that could resurrect them. It’s still there on Earth and that’s where Ellen went when Tigh killed her on New Caprica. It’s also what happened to Starbuck – but she is the first human to be resurrected. It’s Ellen who brought her back.
By Wurl124 at 3:17 PM ON 01/22/09
I still believe Ellen is an older version of 6. That would leave another model. Just watched the episode. However, Dualla was humming something before she blew her brains out. I still need to check that. Another thing, Apollo made a comment to Starbuck about never being able to find out why she did it. If Dualla is the final Cylon, he'll find out later.
Just my thoughts.
By sgt_t at 3:25 PM ON 01/22/09
ok if ellen is the final cylon????? whats up with starbuck finding herself in the crashed viper huh
By Simeron at 3:47 PM ON 01/22/09
Final show we will find out its all a dream of Baltar's and Six is his RL wife.
*smirk*
By TBK1701 at 3:52 PM ON 01/22/09
I feel the same way. I feel like Ellen is an older 6. And Dualla on earth first picked up a pocket watch then put it down and picked up the jacks. Also I want to know what she was humming. I feel there is still more to her killing herself.
By anachronite at 4:38 PM ON 01/22/09
yea there's gotta be more to Dualla's death. Ellen being an old version of 6 makes total sense. especially since saul was having visions of ellen when he was with Tigh. I think whatever dualla found on the beach kicked in her programming and she killed herself to get back to an old rez hub somewhere. And in the end, all of them are Cylons, as are everyone of us that are reading and posting here. We are all a bunch of frakin skinjobs and we dont even know it!
By sje at 5:30 PM ON 01/22/09
Obviously it had to be someone who was dead or missing when Dylan makes his performance... IMHO, of the characters fitting that description, Starbuck would have been the biggest cop-out. That said, I was rooting for it to be Cain. THAT would have been a kick in the head...
By Capt Spaulding at 6:40 PM ON 01/22/09
I was rooting for Cain as well. After all, she also had a Cylon lover. And it is disappointing that they were making this up as they went along at the end. Kind of lessens the tension for me.
By theTVaddict at 8:27 PM ON 01/22/09
While at first I wasn't pleased with Ellen being the fifth, the more I thought about it throughout the week, the more I love the idea. Can't wait to see what happens next.
By Old 6 at 9:29 PM ON 01/22/09
I love reading these post! Ellen as an older 6 would be great. And Dualla has to be one of them. Starbuck's future (and past), however, remains up in the air. I like CMAC who said she's the fifth. She did lead them to earth, didn't she?
By sungoddess at 6:26 AM ON 01/23/09
I love that it's Ellen... and it makes sense against the story and deepens the relationship between her and Tigh, but it also gives Tigh an opportunity for salvation, because that is really what he's looking for... redemption.
By MIchelle67 at 7:14 PM ON 01/24/09
I thought the irony was so supposed to be that Saul killed Ellen for conspiring with the cylons to eventually find out he was one.
Now we find out Ellen was too so the irony becomes redundant. I would have much preferred a major cast member being the FF - a lot more exciting than Ellen Tigh.
By blackwan at 6:12 AM ON 01/25/09
Lot of interesting poins on Ellen and Dualla. Starbuck seeing her dead body blow me away. I can't wait to see more. There's lots more twists and turns to this great show.
By vipersw at 8:52 AM ON 01/25/09
There had to have been more models..They shopped,worked and had children. But who nuked them? Where did they go?
By Someone Else at 3:46 PM ON 01/26/09
for Simeron:
Yep, Baltar and Shelly Godfry (number 6) wake up in bed and Baltar tells her he just had the wierdest dream, and then says "You should were more sweaters."
By Someone Else at 3:48 PM ON 01/26/09
for Simeron:
Yep, Baltar and Shelly Godfry (number 6) wake up in bed and Baltar tells her he just had the wierdest dream, and then says "You should were more sweaters."
By Ryanbuck at 4:50 PM ON 02/13/09
So many questions. What is Starbuck? Why do so many humans have vivid visions? Why is all dead life on Earth Cylon? My answer is this: There ALL cylons, all of them. Just different or older versions. Real humans died off on Kobal, and the Cylons took off to found earth and the 12 colonies, forgot their history's (on purpose or accident).
What about all this talk of God(S)? The moral of the series is: We're our own Gods.
By Ryanbuck at 4:52 PM ON 02/13/09
o many questions. What is Starbuck? Why do so many humans have vivid visions? Why is all dead life on Earth Cylon? My answer is this: There ALL cylons, all of them. Just different or older versions. Real humans died off on Kobal, and the Cylons took off to found earth and the 12 colonies, forgot their history's (on purpose or accident).
What about all this talk of God(S)? The moral of the series is: We're our own Gods.
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Ryanbuck:
o many questions. What is Starbuck? Why do so many humans have vivid visions? Why is all dead life on Earth Cylon? ...More »