A Theory About the Cylon Raiders
One of the most popular questions fans are asking after last week’s Battlestar Galactica episode, “He That Believeth In Me,” has to do with the Cylon raiders. Or, more specifically, a certain Cylon raider in particular and a certain moment. For those who have seen the episode, click below. For those who have not, beware of spoilers.
One of the coolest, and most quizzical, moments of the fourth season premiere was the incident when the Cylon raider seems to recognize Anders as a Cylon by reading something in his eye.
There are some fans who think that the red light in this eye was just a reflection of the Cylon’s red scan, but most argue that the red light in Anders eye was some sort of technology or response to the Cylon raider. To me it seemed like some sort of question was asked, and Anders’ body gave some sort of answer. Here’s the scene again, watch carefully:
Pretty cool, huh?
But what did the Raider recognize? And why is the eye that responded the same eye the Cylons removed from Colonel Tigh when they tortured him on New Caprica - did some Cylon, somewhere, want to remove the other Cylons’ ability to recognize Tigh? Or is there a larger significance to that particular bodily organ?
And, most intriguingly, how can the Cylon Raider recognize what Anders really is but the other humanoid Cylons cannot?
I have the beginnings of a theory, and it is based on an off-hand comment made on Monday evening’s ShaunOMac radio show.
We know the Raiders are biological organisms in themselves, much like trained pets. Remember when Boomer stroked the raider that the Galactica had captured, singing to it like a treasured animal friend?
In our world, there is plenty of evidence that dogs and other pets can sense things that humans cannot see. Dogs can do amazing things, they can sense seizures and sometimes even sense death. There are countless stories of dogs and pets possibly seeing spirits, and the idea that some dogs or pets can sense someone’s true nature is a common belief that is hard to dispute.
It is that much of a stretch to think that the Cylon Raiders, with their animal-like qualities, were either given heightened abilities of perception or developed them over time? Perhaps they can see something in the humanoid Cylon biology that other humanoid Cylons cannot. It’s an interesting thought, and one that would explain the moment with Anders and perhaps other mysteries as well.
As for why the Raiders did not notice this before, we can only assume that All Along the Watchtower awoke more than self-knowledge in the Cylons’ four new friends.
April 10th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Why are you doing this to me…hehe…my theory is getting way out there now…as with many of us BSG fans we are almost nearly confused now…LOL but I have to say your theory is pretty good and wow. I just keep thinking something different, but I will ask my other BSG fan starlace and see what she thinks.
I do have a question?
What do you think about Kara overpowering the guards and making her way to the president? starlace keeps telling me that Kara is different maybe like cylon, and I keep saying that Kara is tough and knows how to kick butt? we have been going back and forth all week with this intriguing question…can you help me out there?
April 10th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I can’t seem to remember which episode it was, but don’t we learn that the Centurians (and presumably, the Raiders) can recognize the Skinjobs as their masters, but can’t differentiate between them… to keep them in line?
Maybe now that Freaky Four have been activated, Anders communicated his wish for the battle to stop through his new-found ‘muscles’, much like people describe the experience of astral projection and other extra-sensory phenomena.
But they are puppies, those Raiders, aren’t they? So cute and cuddly! I’d keep one over a dog any day… Although I have my doubts over whether they’re housetrained.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Thanks for your comments, fellas!
Remmy, that is a very interesting question about Starbuck. I had not thought about her hand to hand combat skills being enhanced, since she has always been a bad ass. Plus she has the advantage that these guys probably don’t want to hurt her, being recently back from the dead and all … it is possible she has some newfound strength, but until I watch the scene again I will probably think it is her natural passion and skills that let her take those guys down.
And Michael, the astral projection theory is interesting. I don’t know about that, but I do think you have a good point that Anders desire to have the situation end may have played a factor in the way the scene played out. Anders was clearly miserable in that Viper, and the raider could have sensed it somehow … either way, I think I will stick with my German Shepherds as pets!
April 10th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
maybe the way the Cylons learn that the final five are on board the ship is by the data from this raider. because i believe the raider did scan his pupil , asked a question and Ander’s body did answer .
April 11th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
The raider / Anders scene was just too cool. margie, thank you for posting it!
It seems to me that the raider recognized Anders as a “friend” well before the scan occurred. Otherwise, why not blast a viper to oblivion when it had the chance? No, it already knew that this particular viper was special. The raider could sense Anders’ Cylon presence first, and that’s why it made itself vulnerable by turning and doing the scan.
The little buzzing sound when the scan connected reminded me of a communications link, like when a fax machine or old phone modem connect so they can pass data. So, data flowed between raider and Anders. But what data?
Was Anders “programmmed” or given mission orders to take back to the others? Did the raider learn of the five from Anders, and that’s why the Cylon attack broke off, as senada suggests? Or was the point of the entire attack a ruse to establish contact all along, never intended to destroy the human fleet?
I like Michael’s suggestion that Anders’ wishes may have flowed back through the raider to the Cylons and affected the course of events. After all, he should have equal standing with any of the other Cylon models, shouldn’t he? Could he just say “go away, we’ve got this under control here without you”, and the Cylons would? Intriguing.
I wish I had a theory, but all I can come up with are these disjointed questions. Gods, I love this show.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:36 am
The big dog at the end distracted me from reading the end of the post. He’s too cute.