Captain Apollo
Encyclopedia
Captain Apollo is the name of a fictional character in the Battlestar Galactica
franchise. He was first 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.
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.
Richard Hatch's relaunch novel series, which continues the story of the Colonials after the tv series end, has Apollo becoming Commander of the Galactica after the death of his father Adama. The Maximum Press Battlestar Galactica comic book series published in the 1990's sees him taking command of the Galactica after his father is forced into cryogenic stasis to hold off a terminal illness. He also marries Sheba and has a son named Cain after Shebas father.
. 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 Serina and Apollo, suggesting Apollo had died years before.
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica TV series in 1978, and was followed by a brief sequel TV series in 1980, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, a board game, and video games...
franchise. He was first played by Richard Hatch
Richard Hatch
Richard Hatch is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, and also as Tom Zarek in the remake of Battlestar Galactica....
, who would also later appear as the character of Tom Zarek
Tom Zarek
Thomas "Tom" Zarek is the name of a fictional character on the Syfy series Battlestar Galactica. He is played by Richard Hatch, who had previously portrayed Captain Apollo, a character on the original Battlestar Galactica series of the late 1970s....
in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series in 2005.
Apollo was a Viper spacefighter pilot of the Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (ship)
The Battlestar Galactica is a space battleship in the original and re-imagined science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica.The Twelve Colonies of Man in the original television series built a number of Battlestars during their thousand-year war with the Cylons, whose battleships are...
, and the son of 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...
. (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
Lieutenant Athena
Lieutenant Athena is a fictional character in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, which ran on ABC from 1978 to 1979. The character was portrayed by Maren Jensen.-Character history:...
, and his mother was Ila
Ila (Battlestar Galactica)
Ila of Caprica was the wife, now deceased, of Commander Adama in Battlestar Galactica. She was an off-screen character who was never actually seen, though she was referred to several times through the course of the series, and a likeness of her was briefly shown in the pilot episode...
.
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
Zac (Battlestar Galactica)
Zac is a fictional character in the original version of the TV series Battlestar Galactica, portrayed by Rick Springfield.He is the brother of Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Athena, and the son of Commander Adama and Ila. On his first flight with his brother, Zac is killed by an unexpected Cylon...
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
Cylon (Battlestar Galactica)
The Cylons are a cybernetic civilization at war with the Twelve Colonies of humanity in the Battlestar Galactica science fiction franchise, in the original 1978 and 1980 series, the 2004 reimagining, as well as the spin-off prequel series, Caprica...
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
Boxey
Boxey is a fictional character from the original Battlestar Galactica television series portrayed by Noah Hathaway. He is the son of Serina and the stepson of Captain Apollo. Boxey grows up to become Captain Troy in Galactica 1980, portrayed by Kent McCord...
and became a single father to him.
In the final episode of the series, Apollo becomes romantically involved with Lieutenant Sheba
Lieutenant Sheba
Lieutenant Sheba, portrayed by Anne Lockhart, is a fictional character and regular cast member of the 1978-1979 ABC television series Battlestar Galactica....
. His best friend is Lieutenant Starbuck
Lieutenant 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...
.
Apollo is arguably the central character of Battlestar Galactica, as most of the storylines and character relationships revolve around him.
Military career
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...
, 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.
Richard Hatch's relaunch novel series, which continues the story of the Colonials after the tv series end, has Apollo becoming Commander of the Galactica after the death of his father Adama. The Maximum Press Battlestar Galactica comic book series published in the 1990's sees him taking command of the Galactica after his father is forced into cryogenic stasis to hold off a terminal illness. He also marries Sheba and has a son named Cain after Shebas father.
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 1980Galactica 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:...
. As a result, the series was set many years in the future of the original show, and featured a grown Boxey
Boxey
Boxey is a fictional character from the original Battlestar Galactica television series portrayed by Noah Hathaway. He is the son of Serina and the stepson of Captain Apollo. Boxey grows up to become Captain Troy in Galactica 1980, portrayed by Kent McCord...
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 Serina and Apollo, suggesting Apollo had died years before.
See also
- Lee "Apollo" AdamaLee AdamaLeland Joseph "Lee" Adama is a fictional character in the television series Battlestar Galactica. He is portrayed by actor Jamie Bamber. He is one of the main characters in the series.-Early life:...
, Captain Apollo's analog in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.
External links
- Apollo at the Battlestar Wiki