Cylons and Sociopaths or I Dated a Toaster

Recently I started rewatching the new Battlestar Galactica (BSG) series. I really love(d) this series during the three phases of my life - Before It (BI), During It (DI) and After It (AI). Each phase has brought a new appreciation for the sheer brilliance of the series.

I've always been a huge sci-fi fan ever since I first stepped on the bridge of Kirk's Enterprise, so my becoming a BSG geek was no surprise to anyone. It has all the right stuff, cool technology (in this instance a kind of retro steam-punk variety) great "aliens" and human heroes.

BI I was especially drawn to the treatment of women in the show, which is unprecedented on many levels save the second season feminization of Starbuck debacle. Women in this series do enjoy a kind of equality never before seen in sci-fi television, not even Voyager, which was a true landmark. In any case BSG fit my passion, my personality all of my political sensibilities at that time.

DI BSG became something we did together. It was intelligent and interested in all things geeky (not one of It's bad traits.) Discussing the nuances of the highly charged social, political, moral and metaphysical aspects of the show with It was intriguing. (It was not a fan of Starbuck-shocker huh?)

It has taken me a year to get to a place where watching the series doesn't trigger me. I am grateful that it was something I enjoyed BI making it a bit easier to come back to. I decided to share the series with John (my significant other) who shares my love of science fiction films. Since he hasn't seen any episodes we've started back from the beginning of the series. I'm also grateful I haven't seen the series conclusion and will be able to share that with John. But what's fascinating to me is a new parallel I've discovered in the series that I'm guessing my fellow travelers will also be able to see. Cylons are great metaphors for sociopaths.

Cylon (also spelled Kylon from Κύλων) was an Athenian associated with the first reliably dated event in Athenian history, the Cylonian affair. Cylons—from Cybernetic Lifeform Node—are a fictional race of sentient machines, created by humans. They were originally mechanical, but evolved to a biological form and are almost indistinguishable from humans. Since they were created by humans they consider themselves to be evolved from humans, superior to us and righteously indignant. But what they lack, and aim to acquire through their plan, is a human soul. They want to bond with humans, mate with them and create and advanced species of Human-Cylon DNA.

From that brief description the parallel becomes clear. They lack the capacity to bond, to truly love and feel empathy. This is what they most desire... sound familiar? Watching them struggle with their inadequacy while all the while claiming their superiority is at once pitiable and loathsome. Again... sound familiar?

Another interesting parallel is the reactions of humans who were unwittingly intimate with Cylons. When they find out they feel outraged, angry, hurt, duped...

Watching BSG now is much creepier than it ever was, but in a healthier way. Thinking of sociopaths as Cylons is a useful metaphor for me. It allows me to forgive them in some senses while keeping a sane emotional distance. If you like science fiction and haven't yet checked out this series, do so. It's worth it no matter what stage you're in.

Love and hugs, Laura