The opening moments of theBattlestar Galacticaminiseries introduce viewers toTricia Helfer’s iconic character Number Six, wherein her seemingly innocuous encounter with a human infant quickly twists into something chilling. One ofBattlestar Galactica’s best villains, Caprica Six is the first humanoid Cylon viewers encounter in theBattlestar Galacticaminiseries, so her initial depiction serves to establish these Cylon models as complex antagonists.
Before theCylon attack on the Colonies,Six’s act of infanticide in a Caprican marketplace can be interpreted either as an accident or a calculated act of mercy.This single, brutal act before the execution ofBattlestar Galactica’s Cylon Planraises questions about mercy, the nature of creation, and the blurred lines between human and machine, themes that resonate throughout the series. It also foreshadows Six’s own heartbreaking pregnancystoryline in season 4.
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In the context of this scene, Six has been on Caprica for two years seducing Gaius Baltar (James Callis) and working on the CNP Defense mainframe, so the attack on the Twelve Colonies is imminent. Walking along the riverwalk market, Six encounters a mother with her baby in a stroller and stops to look at the baby with curiosity. What happens next provokes fear and disgust, but has a deeper meaning.
As the Cylons are about to attack Caprica, Six has given the baby a quick death compared to the suffering of radiation poisoning.
Six expresses her amazement at “how small they are” and that they are “so fragile” and asks to hold the baby. After the mother is distracted by a conversation with her partner a few feet away,Six inspects the baby in the stroller and there is a horrifying crack.Six seems shocked at how easily the baby’s neck snaps, and she slips into the crowd. After a few seconds, the mother screams, realizing what has happened. As the Cylons are about to attack Caprica, Six has given the baby a quick death compared to the suffering of radiation poisoning.
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Six’s act shows that even though she shows a creepy curiosity in the scene, she is capable of compassion. Tricia Helfer has even spoken about this scene and confirms it was a mercy killing (viaATX TV). The baby scene foreshadows the complex character viewers come to know throughout the show and the morality debate on the topic of Cylons and their human creators.It also alludes to the overarching theme of creation, with Six’s fascination with the baby reflecting her own desire to conceive,seeing a child as the ultimate act of God.
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Later in the series,Battlestar Galactica’s Saul Tigh(Michael Hogan) and Caprica Six’s pregnancy is hugely significant to the overall plot. This is because it was the first successful Cylon-Cylon conception. However, Six suffers a miscarriage following the distress of Ellen’s (Kate Vernon) return. The miscarriage scene is difficult to watch thanks to a fantastic performance by Helfer, with Six begging Cottle (Donnelly Rhodes) to cut out the baby, even if it kills her. After the loss of Six’s pregnancy, Hera is the only hope of Cylon continuity.
Battlestar Galactica
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Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction television series that premiered in 2004. The plot follows the crew of the aging Battlestar Galactica as they protect a small fleet of human survivors from the renewed threat of the Cylons, in a quest to find the mythical 13th colony, Earth.
