Commander Xavier
Encyclopedia
Xavier was a recurring character in the TV series Galactica 1980
. In the pilot episode, "Galactica Discovers Earth
" he's played by actor Richard Lynch. In his next and final appearance in "Spaceball", he is played by actor Jeremy Brett
.
Xavier was a member of the Colonial Fleet's Quorum of Twelve
, and was accorded the rank of "commander". He wore a Colonial uniform at the beginning of the pilot, so he may have been master of one of the ships in the Fleet (like Commander Kronus of the Celestra in the original series episode "Take the Celestra").
Xavier may also have been a Ph.D. While in Nazi Germany
in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part 2", he's addressed as "Dr. Xavier".
However, throughout Galactica 1980, there was no consistency to the pronunciation of Xavier's name. One way was with a silent "x" pronounced as a "z" and a short "a" ("ZA-vee-er"); another was with the "x" pronounced before the "z" and a long "a" ("ex-ZAY-vier"); and a third was with a silent "x" pronounced as a "z", a short "a", and the third syllable was pronounced "ar" ("ZA-vee-ar").
Xavier appears to have been a highly discontented member of the Colonial Fleet. When the Quorum learns that Earth is not technologically advanced enough to resist the Cylons
, Xavier immediately advocates time travel to Earth's past to accelerate present-day Earth's technology.
Commander Adama
, Doctor Zee and the Quorum say "no", so Xavier steals a time-travel-capable Colonial Viper
and goes back to Nazi Germany in June 1944, just before the V-2 rocket is tested. He tinkers with it to increase its accuracy and explosive yield, but Lieutenant Dillon foils his plan by shooting it down. The Nazi
are just about to execute Xavier, but he escapes back in time to Earth in 1980.
Next, he attempts to coerce physicist Dr. Mortinson (Robert Reed
) into dealing with him, not the friendly Dillon and Captain Troy. Xavier begins citing various points in Earth history where he can try again to accelerate the technology, but Mortinson is alerted to Xavier's scheme and (somehow) escapes with his life.
Xavier must now leave Earth, but first he has to "re-energize" his stolen Viper at a United States Air Force base. With Troy and Dillon at his heels, Xavier once again time-travels away, destination unknown.
When he appears again in "Spaceball", he's altered his appearance to match that of Colonial warrior Lieutenant Nash. He tricks Troy and Dillon into leaving the Galactican children in his care while the two warriors depart Earth in his Viper. However, Xavier has rigged the fighter ship to break down in space, strand Troy and Dillon and, eventually, suffocate them.
On Earth, Xavier takes the children and Jamie Hamilton hostage, hoping to bargain with Adama for their lives. However, Adama refuses to cooperate. Troy and Dillon race back to Earth, after repairing the damage to the Viper, and engage Xavier in a brief chase/shootout. Once again, however, Xavier escapes ...
... and with that, his story ends as Galactica 1980 is cancelled.
Galactica 1980
Galactica 1980 is a science fiction television series, and a spin-off from the 1978–1979 series Battlestar Galactica. It was first broadcast on the ABC network in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980.-Development:...
. In the pilot episode, "Galactica Discovers Earth
Galactica Discovers Earth
Galactica Discovers Earth is a triple episode, consisting of the first, second and third episodes of the television series Galactica 1980, a spin-off of the earlier ABC science fiction series Battlestar Galactica....
" he's played by actor Richard Lynch. In his next and final appearance in "Spaceball", he is played by actor Jeremy Brett
Jeremy Brett
Jeremy Brett , born Peter Jeremy William Huggins, was an English actor, most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in four Granada TV series.-Early life:...
.
Xavier was a member of the Colonial Fleet's Quorum of Twelve
Quorum of Twelve
The Quorum of Twelve is a fictional governing body of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol on the two Battlestar Galactica television series. In both series, it was composed of one representative from each colony.Series creator Glen A...
, and was accorded the rank of "commander". He wore a Colonial uniform at the beginning of the pilot, so he may have been master of one of the ships in the Fleet (like Commander Kronus of the Celestra in the original series episode "Take the Celestra").
Xavier may also have been a Ph.D. While in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part 2", he's addressed as "Dr. Xavier".
However, throughout Galactica 1980, there was no consistency to the pronunciation of Xavier's name. One way was with a silent "x" pronounced as a "z" and a short "a" ("ZA-vee-er"); another was with the "x" pronounced before the "z" and a long "a" ("ex-ZAY-vier"); and a third was with a silent "x" pronounced as a "z", a short "a", and the third syllable was pronounced "ar" ("ZA-vee-ar").
Xavier appears to have been a highly discontented member of the Colonial Fleet. When the Quorum learns that Earth is not technologically advanced enough to resist the Cylons
Cylon (1978)
Cylons are a fictional race of robots in the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. They are the primary antagonists of the series and are at war with the Twelve Colonies of humanity. The Cylons also appeared in the short-lived 1980 spin-off series Galactica 1980.The Cylons were created by a...
, Xavier immediately advocates time travel to Earth's past to accelerate present-day Earth's technology.
Commander Adama
Commander Adama
Commander Adama is a fictional character in the 1978 movie and subsequent ABC television series Battlestar Galactica and its continuation series, Galactica 1980. Adama is the commander of the great military vessel Battlestar Galactica, commander of the refugee fleet and military commander of the...
, Doctor Zee and the Quorum say "no", so Xavier steals a time-travel-capable Colonial Viper
Colonial Viper
The Colonial Viper is the primary fighter spacecraft type used by the human protagonists in the Battlestar Galactica fictional universe. Appearing in both the 1978 original series and the 2003 reimagined series, as well as various derivative works, the single-pilot spacecraft are carried aboard...
and goes back to Nazi Germany in June 1944, just before the V-2 rocket is tested. He tinkers with it to increase its accuracy and explosive yield, but Lieutenant Dillon foils his plan by shooting it down. The Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
are just about to execute Xavier, but he escapes back in time to Earth in 1980.
Next, he attempts to coerce physicist Dr. Mortinson (Robert Reed
Robert Reed
Robert Reed was a prolific American character actor of stage, film and television. In his first big break, he played Kenneth Preston on the popular 1960s TV legal drama, The Defenders, alongside E. G. Marshall. But he was best remembered for portraying the father, Mike Brady, on the popular...
) into dealing with him, not the friendly Dillon and Captain Troy. Xavier begins citing various points in Earth history where he can try again to accelerate the technology, but Mortinson is alerted to Xavier's scheme and (somehow) escapes with his life.
Xavier must now leave Earth, but first he has to "re-energize" his stolen Viper at a United States Air Force base. With Troy and Dillon at his heels, Xavier once again time-travels away, destination unknown.
When he appears again in "Spaceball", he's altered his appearance to match that of Colonial warrior Lieutenant Nash. He tricks Troy and Dillon into leaving the Galactican children in his care while the two warriors depart Earth in his Viper. However, Xavier has rigged the fighter ship to break down in space, strand Troy and Dillon and, eventually, suffocate them.
On Earth, Xavier takes the children and Jamie Hamilton hostage, hoping to bargain with Adama for their lives. However, Adama refuses to cooperate. Troy and Dillon race back to Earth, after repairing the damage to the Viper, and engage Xavier in a brief chase/shootout. Once again, however, Xavier escapes ...
... and with that, his story ends as Galactica 1980 is cancelled.