Cylon influence on Colonial design?

[dru]

Hi, it just recently came to mind that the Cylons robots were originally intended to be creations of a reptilian species known as Cylons.

I've always thought Galactica herself resembled a crocodile. The shuttle also had a reptilian shape as if it were a lizard's head. The warrior's ships were known as Vipers, again a reference to a reptile species.

Oddly, except for something of a hooded cobra call-out (the Raiders) I don't see much reptilian about Cylon vessels certainly the name "Raider" (if that was the Cylon name for the ships rather than a colonial one) or the design of the base ship.

What does this mean for the history of the Cylon and human peoples that reptilian design cues were so strong in the military?

Galactica herself was suggested to be 1,000 yahren old, what was the history with these two species? Is there a book, perhaps a 'lost' script, that explores this curiousity or even fan fiction?

What are your thoughts?

[Senmut]

The Galactica is only 500 yahren old, as Apollo tells Starbuck, Sheba, and Cassie in HOG. In the pilot film, he says that tyhe original Cylons copied Humans, because they were more practical. Perhaps, this went further, and they conciously shifted away from reptillian designs in most other things. Under Iblis' guidance? As to Colonial cues...still mulling that.

[Charybdis]

Does anyone actually refer to the Cylon ship as a "Raider" in the tv show or do they call them something else??

[jewels]

I thought the Cylon ships were always called Raiders. Anyone have anything definate on that?

[Senmut]

CENTURION: The Warriors continue to advance. At least six squadrons.

IMPERIOUS LEADER: Recall all Raiders to defend BaseShip.

CENTURION: Our Raiders are all destroyed.

IMPERIOUS LEADER: All destroyed? How? We took them by surprise?

CENTURION: Apparently it was not as big a surprise as we had hoped for.

-Pilot movie.

[LucianG]

Based on what we saw, the Colonials and the Cylons appear to have spoken a common language, so the use of the same name by both groups makes sense. However, let's take it a step further. Let's say for case of argument, the intent of Mr. Larson was for the Cylons to typically speak a binary or machine language among themselves. Then, continuing this supposition, due to production costs, he couldn't afford to do it. If he had been able to do so, we would have heard the squeaks, whistles, chirps (R2, anyone?), or whatever, but we would have needed subtitles to understand what was being said. In that case, chances are, when they spoke the name of their fighter craft, for purposes of the audience's understanding, that name would have still most likely been translated as "Raider."

[shiningstar]

I think they were called "Raiders"

[dru]

Originally posted by Senmut
The Galactica is only 500 yahren old, as Apollo tells Starbuck, Sheba, and Cassie in HOG. In the pilot film, he says that tyhe original Cylons copied Humans, because they were more practical. Perhaps, this went further, and they conciously shifted away from reptillian designs in most other things. Under Iblis' guidance? As to Colonial cues...still mulling that.

Thanks for correcting my faulty memory on the ship's age.

I just recently saw that clip online. He tells Boxy the Cylons copied humans in making the robots and they flesh-and-blood Cylons died off. I think Apollo meant in the basic sense of bipedal beings with five fingers, including opposable thumbs.

I'm guessing Iblis' corrupted the Cylon organics and lead to the creation of the robot Cylons. I find it fascinating that even with no organics left the Cylons still had a civilian population and the Imperious Leaders, each an IL series, took on the forms of their organic originators. It's an intriguing culture that would've made "the enemy" much more than just walking toasters. Unfortunately, it's clear the network censors wouldn't allow that to avoid problems.

If I can speculate further, maybe that's the final "result" of accepting Iblis' leadership: loss of flesh-and-blood life for a species, a civilization. It would be a gritty affirmation of the "lost soul" concept. The robot Cylons would have no souls while certainly the IL series have ambitions, an ability to deceive and other often considered "corrupt" characteristics once they're deactivated they're "lives" are ended. The Ship of Lights suggested there's "more" beyond for virtuous organics.

Wild speculation: Maybe the subtle reptile design cues suggests a danger or temptation of a Colonial military fascism as a pathway to Iblis' domination. Battlestars represent both vast hope for the Colonies as well as a fear of freedom lost to a dictator. Maybe the Battlestar technology is a two-edged sword, a forbidden fruit, extended to the Colony's by the organic Cylons (not unlike the snake in the Garden of Eden). The Earthward bound colony could've been escaping the threat they saw brewing while the others continued on until the organics were destroyed and the robots warred against the remaining Colonials.

Ok, thinking about all this, I'm even more aggravated with the myth there was no depth to the original show. Ugh.