Captain Apollo

BSG Character


bgcolor=#f40
fgcolor=#000
name=Apollo
race=Human
gender=Male
callsign=
rank=Captain
colony=Caprica
affiliation=Colonials
portrayed=Richard Hatch

Captain Apollo is the name of a fictitious character in the original "Battlestar Galactica" television series. He was played by Richard Hatch, who would also later appear as the character of Tom Zarek in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series in 2005.

Apollo was a Viper spacefighter pilot of the Battlestar Galactica, and the son of Commander Adama. (A diary entry from Adama in one of the novelizations based on the original television series says that he was named for one of Adama's squadron mates from his time aboard the battlestar "Cerberus".) His sister is Lieutenant Athena, and his mother was Ila.

Apollo's history has been marred by tragedy. The loss of the Twelve Colonies deprived him of not only his home, but many of his personal relationships. His brother Zac was shot down by a Cylon ambush. Zac's viper was damaged, and Apollo left him behind in order to warn the "Galactica" of the ambush. His mother Ila was killed in the subsequent Cylon sneak attack. Later on, Apollo married Serina, a reporter-turned-shuttle-pilot who became a reserve Viper pilot. Shortly after their wedding, she was killed by Cylons on Kobol. Apollo then adopted Serina's son, Boxey and became a single father to him.

In the final episode of the series, Apollo becomes romantically involved with Lieutenant Sheba. His best friend is Lieutenant Starbuck.

Apollo is arguably the central character of "Battlestar Galactica", as most of the storylines and character relationships revolve around him.

Military career

Captain Apollo is the leader of Blue Squadron, an accomplished group of Viper pilots. Among his accomplishments in the series are leading the mission to destroy the Madagon minefield, leading the assault on the pulsar cannon on Arkta, removing the renegade Cylon known as Red Eye, leading the paratroop assault on the Cylon city on Gamoray, leading the resistance against Count Iblis, helping to save Terra from the Eastern Alliance, and sneaking aboard a Cylon baseship to knock out its sensors so the Galactica could destroy it.

Apollo is notable for having died and then been revived. In the episode War of the Gods, a mysterious being called Count Iblis appears before the Fleet, demonstrates unusual powers, and begins to charm the Fleet into demanding him as their leader. Despite the 'miracles' that Iblis produces, Apollo is suspicious of him and refuses to believe in his good intentions. This disbelief persists even in the face of opposition from most of the Fleet. Apollo seeks Adama's permission to examine the planet where Iblis was found, which Adama reluctantly grants. Apollo intends to go alone, but despite not sharing his disbelief, Starbuck insists on accompanying him. After a violent confrontation on the planet where Sheba's life is threatened, Iblis kills Apollo instead. As Sheba and Starbuck head back to the Galactica, they are intercepted by the Beings of Light, who not only revive Apollo, they provide the trio with coordinates to Earth.

Apollo always flies with Starbuck as his wingman. The exception is in the episode Lost Planet of the Gods, where he flies with Serina in her second and last mission as a Viper pilot. Starbuck and Apollo frequently fly with Lieutenant Boomer as a third wingman.

Galactica 1980

Like many of the stars of the original series, Richard Hatch was not available to work on the short lived sequel series Galactica 1980. As a result, the series was set many years in the future of the original show, and featured a grown Boxey now known as Captain Troy. Troy comments early in the first episode of Galactica 1980 that he missed both of his parents, and displayed a picture of Sheba and Apollo, suggested Apollo had died years before.

Notes

In early drafts of the Galactica scripts the Apollo character was named Skyler.

ee also

*Lee "Apollo" Adama, Captain Apollo's analog in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.

External links

* at the Battlestar Wiki