Serina
Encyclopedia
Serina is the name of a fictional character
in the 1978 Battlestar Galactica
television series. Portrayed by Jane Seymour
, Serina was a famous news reporter in the Twelve Colonies
. She and her son, Boxey
, survived the attack on the colonies. Serina has no direct analog on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.
War. Her report was being filed from the surface of the planet Caprica, and her coverage continued during the first part of the sneak attack by the Cylons on the Colonies.
She managed to escape the attack with her son, Boxey
, but Boxey's pet daggit (dog) Muffit was lost. Serina's former husband (Boxey's father) was never present in the series, and it is not made clear whether he is alive or dead or when this may have happened. Serina subsequently met Captain Apollo
on Caprica when he landed his Viper and brought his father Commander Adama
to the surface. Later, after the human survivors left the Colonies in a ragtag fleet, Serina asked Apollo to help with Boxey, who was refusing to eat. Apollo and Boxey established a bond, as did Serina and Apollo.
Serina was subsequently involved with the mission to Carillon which is depicted, along with the events previously described, in the Galactica film and in the TV episode "Saga of a Star World
."
Serina and Apollo quickly fell in love and were married (sealed) by Commander Adama
in the subsequent two-part episode "Lost Planet of the Gods
". When a strange disease incapacitated most of the fleet’s fighter pilots, Serina volunteered to become a shuttle pilot and later trained to fly a Colonial Viper, despite Apollo's strenuous objections. While accompanying Adama and Apollo during the exploration of Kobol
, Serina was shot by a Cylon centurion in an ambush and later died with Apollo at her side aboard the Galactica.
scripts, the character of Serina was actually named Lyra, and was a member of the Quorum of Twelve, rather than a journalist. She was intended to be an ongoing character. When Jane Seymour was chosen for the part, she wanted to be free to do films. The script was rewritten to have her die of pluton poisoning (the same poisoning that had destroyed a large part of the refugees's food supplies) in the pilot. Scenes to this effect were filmed and included in the first version of the pilot; however, after this was shown to test audiences, it was deemed too depressing. All scenes with Serina being weak, or ill, or her diagnosis, even the original ending scene in which she slipped out during a performance of the Colonial Anthem, presumably to die, were later edited out. Instead, Serina died in the second episode of the series, "Lost Planet of the Gods".
Jane Seymour was asked to play the role of Admiral Cain in the new series in 2005, but declined the part.
An amalgam analogue of Serina and Cassiopeia
appears as Shevon, who has a daughter Paya who functions in a manner similar to Serina and Boxey in relation to Lee Adama
, Captain Apollo's analog.
As the dead lover of Apollo, her analog is Gianne.
A TV reporter named D'Anna Biers is featured in the new Battlestar Galactica.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the 1978 Battlestar Galactica
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...
television series. Portrayed by Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour (actress)
Jane Seymour, OBE is an English actress best known for her performances in the James Bond film Live and Let Die , East of Eden , Onassis: The Richest Man in the World , and the American television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman...
, Serina was a famous news reporter in the Twelve Colonies
Twelve Colonies
The Twelve Colonies of Man are fictional locations that constitute the principal human civilization in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, the "reimagined" series of the same name in 2004, and in the prequel series, Caprica...
. She and her 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...
, survived the attack on the colonies. Serina has no direct analog on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.
Battlestar Galactica
Serina was introduced as she was broadcasting coverage of the Peace Conference that was supposed to end the 1,000 year CylonCylon (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...
War. Her report was being filed from the surface of the planet Caprica, and her coverage continued during the first part of the sneak attack by the Cylons on the Colonies.
She managed to escape the attack with her 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...
, but Boxey's pet daggit (dog) Muffit was lost. Serina's former husband (Boxey's father) was never present in the series, and it is not made clear whether he is alive or dead or when this may have happened. Serina subsequently met Captain Apollo
Captain Apollo
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....
on Caprica when he landed his Viper and brought his father 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...
to the surface. Later, after the human survivors left the Colonies in a ragtag fleet, Serina asked Apollo to help with Boxey, who was refusing to eat. Apollo and Boxey established a bond, as did Serina and Apollo.
Serina was subsequently involved with the mission to Carillon which is depicted, along with the events previously described, in the Galactica film and in the TV episode "Saga of a Star World
Saga of a Star World
"Saga of a Star World" is the pilot for the American science fiction television series of Battlestar Galactica which was produced in 1978 by Glen A. Larson...
."
Serina and Apollo quickly fell in love and were married (sealed) by 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...
in the subsequent two-part episode "Lost Planet of the Gods
Lost Planet of the Gods
"Lost Planet of the Gods" is a two-part episode of the original Battlestar Galactica television series.-Re-Imagining:*This episode was remade into a nine-episode story arc in the new Battlestar Galactica starting with season one's Kobol's Last Gleaming in which Kobol is discovered and ending in...
". When a strange disease incapacitated most of the fleet’s fighter pilots, Serina volunteered to become a shuttle pilot and later trained to fly a Colonial Viper, despite Apollo's strenuous objections. While accompanying Adama and Apollo during the exploration of Kobol
Kobol
Kobol is the name of a planet in the fictional Battlestar Galactica universe.Within the context of both Battlestar Galactica stories, Kobol is the birthplace and original home of humanity, from which the civilization departed and formed the Twelve Colonies on other worlds...
, Serina was shot by a Cylon centurion in an ambush and later died with Apollo at her side aboard the Galactica.
Early concept
In early drafts of Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar 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...
scripts, the character of Serina was actually named Lyra, and was a member of the Quorum of Twelve, rather than a journalist. She was intended to be an ongoing character. When Jane Seymour was chosen for the part, she wanted to be free to do films. The script was rewritten to have her die of pluton poisoning (the same poisoning that had destroyed a large part of the refugees's food supplies) in the pilot. Scenes to this effect were filmed and included in the first version of the pilot; however, after this was shown to test audiences, it was deemed too depressing. All scenes with Serina being weak, or ill, or her diagnosis, even the original ending scene in which she slipped out during a performance of the Colonial Anthem, presumably to die, were later edited out. Instead, Serina died in the second episode of the series, "Lost Planet of the Gods".
Reimagining
Serina is one of the characters from the original Battlestar Galactica series that has no direct analog in the 2003 reimagined Battlestar Galactica, although, interestingly, the character name of Boxey does appear as the son of the human envoy sent to the "meeting" with the Cylons each year (who was the first casualty in the new war).Jane Seymour was asked to play the role of Admiral Cain in the new series in 2005, but declined the part.
An amalgam analogue of Serina and Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia (Battlestar Galactica)
Cassiopeia is a fictional character in the original Battlestar Galactica which ran on ABC from 1978 to 1979. The role was portrayed by Laurette Spang.-History:...
appears as Shevon, who has a daughter Paya who functions in a manner similar to Serina and Boxey in relation to Lee Adama
Lee Adama
Leland 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.
As the dead lover of Apollo, her analog is Gianne.
A TV reporter named D'Anna Biers is featured in the new Battlestar Galactica.
External links
- Serina at the Battlestar Wiki