Seraphs (Battlestar Galactica)
Encyclopedia
The Seraphs were an alien race in the original Battlestar Galactica
series from 1978/79 and its spinoff series, Galactica 1980
. They were never expressly referred to by name in the series, and were called "Seraphs" in the scripts for the episodes in which they appear, as well as in the mid-90's Galactica comic books.
race of sentients who first appear in "War of the Gods
". They show up again at the conclusion of the "Terra" story arc and in the Galactica 1980 episode "The Return of Starbuck
" which explained the origins of the mysterious Doctor Zee. They were to figure heavily in the episode "Wheel of Fire", which was in preproduction when the series was cancelled.
attempts to touch one, his hand goes through its body. It is later revealed in "Experiment in Terra" that they can take on a normal human form when called upon to do so. In this particular instance a Seraph appeared as a normal human and called himself John (played by Edward Mulhare
) and acted as Apollo's liaison during the Terra crisis.
When asked about their origins, the Seraphs claimed to have evolved to their present state: "As you now are, we once were; as we now are you may yet become." This is derived from the concept of deification
in Mormon cosmology
, explained by Latter-Day Saints leader Lorenzo Snow
with the phrase "As Man is, God once was; as God is, Man may become."
Commander Adama
realizes the Seraphs are the same angelic "Beings of Light" mentioned in "The Book of the Word", the dominant Colonial Scripture, and that these beings have played a part in human society. In "War of the Gods", the crew of the ship indicate they are the natural enemies of Count Iblis
. Because it is implied that Count Iblis is the original basis for Satan
or "evil", this could imply the Ship Of Lights and its inhabitants are meant to represent angel
s or "good", though this is not directly stated. This is indicative of the absolutist, even Manichean world-view of the original Battlestar Galactica.
In Galactica 1980s last episode. "The Return of Starbuck", the character of Dr. Zee is revealed to have been born to one of the Seraphs known as "Angela". While the series was cancelled before it could be shot, a script was written where it is revealed that Starbuck had in fact joined the Seraphs.
) to life, and in both series Starbuck
is part of a resurrection-related plot that leads the characters toward Earth
.
The model for the Ship of Lights was made out of neon and plastic by Universal Hartland Visual Effects
.
Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson. It starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict and ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer and...
series from 1978/79 and its spinoff series, Galactica 1980
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:...
. They were never expressly referred to by name in the series, and were called "Seraphs" in the scripts for the episodes in which they appear, as well as in the mid-90's Galactica comic books.
Appearances
The Seraphs were a noncorporealCorporeal
Corporeal may refer to:*Corporeal undead, See also: :Category:Corporeal undead*Matter *Body, of or relating to the body*Corporeal...
race of sentients who first appear in "War of the Gods
War of the Gods (Battlestar Galactica)
"War of the Gods" is a two-part episode of the original Battlestar Galactica television series.-Part I:Four Vipers on patrol encounter mysterious orbs of light and are soon overtaken by a larger ship, which disables the Viper's instruments and emits a deafening sound. Aboard the Galactica, other...
". They show up again at the conclusion of the "Terra" story arc and in the Galactica 1980 episode "The Return of Starbuck
The Return of Starbuck
"The Return of Starbuck" is the tenth and final episode of the television series Galactica 1980, a spin-off of the earlier ABC science fiction series Battlestar Galactica....
" which explained the origins of the mysterious Doctor Zee. They were to figure heavily in the episode "Wheel of Fire", which was in preproduction when the series was cancelled.
Depiction
Seraphs are wingless angels, traveling in a large spacecraft most commonly referred to as the Ship of Lights. They appear roughly humanoid, though their faces are always veiled. When Lieutenant StarbuckLieutenant Starbuck
Lieutenant Starbuck of the Colonial Service, played by Dirk Benedict, is a fictional character in the 1978 science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. Starbuck is a Viper starfighter pilot, gambler, womanizer and smoker of "fumerellos," or cigars. He is involved with Lieutenant Athena...
attempts to touch one, his hand goes through its body. It is later revealed in "Experiment in Terra" that they can take on a normal human form when called upon to do so. In this particular instance a Seraph appeared as a normal human and called himself John (played by Edward Mulhare
Edward Mulhare
Edward Mulhare was a popular television actor whose career spanned four decades.Born at 22 Quaker Road, Cork City, County Cork, Ireland, and educated by the Irish Christian Brothers, Mulhare intended to study medicine, but was sidetracked by a growing interest in acting...
) and acted as Apollo's liaison during the Terra crisis.
When asked about their origins, the Seraphs claimed to have evolved to their present state: "As you now are, we once were; as we now are you may yet become." This is derived from the concept of deification
Theosis
In Christian theology, divinization, deification, making divine or theosis is the transforming effect of divine grace. This concept of salvation is historical and fundamental for Christian understanding that is prominent in the Eastern Orthodox Church and also in the Catholic Church, and is a...
in Mormon cosmology
Mormon cosmology
Mormon cosmology is the description of the history, evolution, and destiny of the physical and metaphysical universe according to Mormonism, which includes the doctrines taught by leaders and theologians of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , Mormon fundamentalism, the Restoration...
, explained by Latter-Day Saints leader Lorenzo Snow
Lorenzo Snow
Lorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:...
with the phrase "As Man is, God once was; as God is, Man may become."
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...
realizes the Seraphs are the same angelic "Beings of Light" mentioned in "The Book of the Word", the dominant Colonial Scripture, and that these beings have played a part in human society. In "War of the Gods", the crew of the ship indicate they are the natural enemies of Count Iblis
Count Iblis
Count Iblis is an alien on the TV series Battlestar Galactica. He was part of the original 1978 series, and was central to the plot of the two-part episode War of the Gods. In that episode, he was played by Patrick Macnee. He did not appear in the re-imagined series.- 1978 continuity :When a...
. Because it is implied that Count Iblis is the original basis for Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
or "evil", this could imply the Ship Of Lights and its inhabitants are meant to represent angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s or "good", though this is not directly stated. This is indicative of the absolutist, even Manichean world-view of the original Battlestar Galactica.
In Galactica 1980s last episode. "The Return of Starbuck", the character of Dr. Zee is revealed to have been born to one of the Seraphs known as "Angela". While the series was cancelled before it could be shot, a script was written where it is revealed that Starbuck had in fact joined the Seraphs.
Ship of Lights
The Ship of Lights is a Seraph spacecraft from the original Battlestar Galactica television series. It emits an extremely loud sound that can be heard by people in nearby spaceships and is sufficient to render humans unconscious. The Ship of Lights also carries smaller craft. In the re-imagined series, this vessel appears in a painting created by Starbuck. In addition, that series' Resurrection Ship restores characters (CylonsCylon (reimagining)
Cylons are a race which appear in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series and its prequel Caprica. They have several forms, some of which resemble and even mimic the behavior of humans, while others are mechanical in appearance and function.In the first DVD, one of the show's creators...
) to life, and in both series Starbuck
Starbuck
-People:*Chez Starbuck, American actor*George Starbuck, American poet*JoJo Starbuck, American figure skater*Michael Majalahti , Finnish professional wrestler and rock singer*William H...
is part of a resurrection-related plot that leads the characters toward Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.
The model for the Ship of Lights was made out of neon and plastic by Universal Hartland Visual Effects
Universal Hartland Visual Effects
Universal Hartland was the visual effects house of Universal Studios Hollywood. The effects studio was in operation from 1978 to 1981. The studio was created as a means for Universal to enter the visual effects field that was growing larger as well as provide in-house effects creation for...
.
External links
- Ship of Lights at the Battlestar Wiki.
- Images of the ship and model by Ken Larson