Is Starbuck Col. Tigh’s Daughter?
An interesting question was raised Sunday night on The Two Doctors internet radio show, whether Starbuck is the daughter of Col. Saul Tigh. Kara Tigh? A stunning thought, but it would make sense given what we know about the two characters.
From the opening scenes of the miniseries, when Starbuck punches Tigh and ends up in the brig, the two characters have shared a connection that spanned animosity to admiration. Their strong reactions to each other and to the situations they are faced with speak to their similar passions, reactions, and tempraments. Until now those similarities could have been attributed to the fact that they are both alcoholics, both come from abusive backgrounds, both were tortured by the Cylons on New Caprica, both are rebellious and ornery in their loyalty to the fleet … but the thought that Saul Tigh could be Kara Thrace’s father makes one wonder if it could be more than that.
The idea also meshes with what we know about the history of both characters. We know Kara Thrace’s mother was abusive, but we know little about her father … and it is not much of a stretch to see Saul Tigh having a one night stand.
It also makes sense now that we know that Col. Tigh is one of the original Cylons. Starbuck has always shared an inexplicable bond with the Cylons, known certain things by instinct, and been told she has a “destiny” of her own. If she is Tigh’s daughter she would be a Cylon/human hybrid … perhaps the first Cylon/human hybrid, adding further significance to her role on the show given the Cylons’ emphasis on reproduction.
But at the same, Starbuck is in many ways one of the most “human” members of the fleet. Angry, self-destructive, masochistic, surly, petty, vicious, noble, self-sacrificing, funny, contemplative, seductive, serene … Starbuck is all of these things, and more. If Starbuck is part Cylon, doesn’t it add strength to the idea that hatred is the primary thing separating Cylons from their human creators?
Cylon, Starbuck, Kara Thrace, Tigh, destiny, Battlestar Galactica, BSG, daughter, father, alcoholism, Caprica
Thanks to Tubular for the photos.
August 28th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Ohhh, now that’s an intriguing thought!
August 28th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Hmmmmmmm very interesting idea. The alcoholic part is definitely a commonality.
August 28th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Interesting concept…I like it.
September 8th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Hi Margie
I just copied and pasted your “Is Starbuck Col. Tigh’s Daughter” (with a link back here) on the Skiffy website. Several of us have a question. What do you mean by this statement?
*If Starbuck is part Cylon, doesn’t it add strength to the idea that hatred is the primary thing separating Cylons from their human creators?*
Thanks
Chevy
BTW Great report and very plausible. : )
September 10th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for linking the post, Chevy. The statement is in reference to a theory that I have blogged about a few times on watchingbsg.com, the idea that the Cylons and the humans have common desires and destinies. The religious themes and final five obsessions of Season Three leave no doubt that these androids dream of electric sheep, so to speak. If both the humans and the Cylons are to survive, much less thrive, then at some point the more sympathetic members of both sides of the conflict will need to set aside their hatred and join forces towards a larger good. We have seen that happen with individuals and in specific situations or moments, but the potential for larger themes is certainly there.
That is my humble opinion, anyway! If you post a link to the Skiffy thread I will be happy to stop by and chat about this more, if you like.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Not bad. Thanks for this post! That really got me thinking.