View source for Cylons

{{Short description|Characters in Battlestar Galactica}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Basestar|Starbase (disambiguation){{!}}Starbase}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox fictional element
| image       = BSG - Cylon Centurion (2004 series).jpg
| caption     = Cylon Centurion as depicted in the [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|2004–2009 series]]
| alt         = Battle robot
| source      = [[Battlestar Galactica]]
| source_type = franchise
| first       = [[Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]<br>"''[[Saga of a Star World]]''"
| date        = {{start date|1978|9|17}}
| creator     = [[Glen A. Larson]]
| genre       = [[Science fiction]]
| type        = [[Humanoid robot]]
| uses        = 
| traits      = 
| affiliation = 
}}
The '''Cylons''' ({{IPAc-en|'|s|ai|l|Q|n|audio=En-us-Cylon.ogg}}) are a race of sentient [[robot]]s in the ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'' [[science fiction]] franchise, whose primary goal is the extermination of the human race. Introduced in the original [[Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)|1978 television series]], they also appear in the [[Galactica 1980|1980 sequel series]], the [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|2004–2009 reboot series]], and the 2010 [[spinoff (media)|spinoff]] prequel series ''[[Caprica]]''.

In the 1978 series, the Cylons are the creation of a long-extinct [[reptilian humanoid]] race, also called Cylons, and view humans as a nuisance and an obstacle to the expansion of the Cylon Empire. The armies of metallic, armored Cylon Centurions are ruled by a unique, yet replaceable, Cylon known as the Imperious Leader.

In the 2004 series, the robotic Cylons were created by humans but rose up against them. Decades after the initial conflict ended in a truce, the Cylons reappear and launch a cataclysmic attack on human civilization that kills billions. The metallic Centurions are secretly led by several models of synthetic humanoid Cylons who are virtually indistinguishable from humans and have infiltrated their society.

{{toclimit|3}}

== Original series ==
[[File:BSG - Cylon (1978 TV series).jpg|thumb|upright|A Cylon Centurion from the original 1978 series]]
In the original 1978 series ''[[Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', created by [[Glen A. Larson]],<ref name="starlog">{{cite magazine |title=''Battlestar Galactica'': Episode Guide |magazine=[[Starlog]] |issue=27 |date=October 1979 |url=https://archive.org/details/CompleteStarlog/Starlog%20%23%20027/page/n35/mode/2up |pages=36–42 |access-date=February 24, 2024}}</ref> the Cylons are a race of sentient robots at war with the Twelve Colonies of humanity.<ref name="gr il-series">{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/battlestar-galactica-il-series-explained/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': The IL-Series, Explained|first=Arianne|last=Gift|date=October 27, 2023|website=[[Game Rant]]|access-date=April 29, 2024|archive-date=November 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103062723/https://gamerant.com/battlestar-galactica-il-series-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref> They are led by a Cylon known as the '''Imperious Leader''' who, though seemingly unique, can be replaced if needed. The '''IL-Series''' are a class of Cylons below the Imperious Leader who serve the Cylon Empire in non-military roles as administrators and diplomats. They have human-shaped, metallic heads and faces with glowing red eyes, and translucent conical craniums with visible crystalline brains. The IL-Series possess humanoid bodies covered in long, sparkling robes, and speak in refined, masculine voices.<ref name="gr il-series"/> The Cylon foot soldiers are the '''Centurions''', imposing humanoid robots characterized by their chrome armor and distinctive red eye visors.<ref name="gr centurion">{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/battlestar-galactica-who-are-centurions-explained/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': Who Are the Centurions?|first=Arianne|last=Gift|date=October 11, 2023|website=[[Game Rant]]|access-date=April 29, 2024|archive-date=October 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016191124/https://gamerant.com/battlestar-galactica-who-are-centurions-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref> They speak in electronic, monotonous tones, and do not possess the intellect and autonomy of the IL-Series Cylons.<ref name="gr il-series"/> Raiders are fighter craft crewed with three Centurions each, and Basestars are the Cylon capital warships, equivalent to the [[Battlestar (Battlestar Galactica)|Battlestar]]s of the human fleet.<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Hand of God |episode-link=The Hand of God (1978 Battlestar Galactica) |first=Donald |last=Bellisario |author-link=Donald Bellisario |series=[[Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]] |date=April 29, 1979}}</ref>

The sequel series ''[[Galactica 1980]]'' introduces two new-model Cylons who are indistinguishable from humans, Andromus ([[Roger Davis (television actor)|Roger Davis]]) and Andromidus (Neil Zevnik), in the episode "[[The Night the Cylons Landed]]".<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://fusionpatrol.com/2023/09/02/646-galactica-1980-the-night-the-cylons-landed/|title=646 – ''Galactica 1980'' – 'The Night the Cylons Landed'|first=Eugene|last=Glover|date=September 2, 2023|website=Fusion Patrol|access-date=May 14, 2024|archive-date=September 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902070227/https://fusionpatrol.com/2023/09/02/646-galactica-1980-the-night-the-cylons-landed/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/galactica-1980/season-1/episode-7-the-night-the-cylons-landed/|title=''Galactica 1980'' season 1: 'The Night the Cylons Landed'|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=May 14, 2024}}</ref> The concept of humanoid Cylons would become a primary element of the [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|2000s reboot series]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://manapop.com/tv/galactica-1980-the-night-the-cylons-landed-review/|title=''Galactica 1980'': 'The Night the Cylons Landed' - Review|first=Mike|last=Brooks|website=Manapop|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=May 14, 2024|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034838/http://manapop.com/tv/galactica-1980-the-night-the-cylons-landed-review/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themindreels.com/2023/11/21/galactica-1980-1980-the-night-the-cylons-landed-part-i-and-part-ii/|title=''Galactica 1980'' (1980) – 'The Night the Cylons Landed – Part I and Part II'|first=T. D.|last=Rideout|website=The Mind Reels|date=November 21, 2023|access-date=May 14, 2024|archive-date=December 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201001339/https://themindreels.com/2023/11/21/galactica-1980-1980-the-night-the-cylons-landed-part-i-and-part-ii/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Centurions were initially depicted in preproduction art by artist [[Ralph McQuarrie]], but the final design was largely the work of [[Andrew Probert]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.trekplace.com/ap1999int01.html | title=Exclusive 1999 interview with Andrew Probert | first=Greg |last=Tyler |date=August 1999 |website=TrekPlace | accessdate=October 22, 2006 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061122113828/http://www.trekplace.com/ap1999int01.html| archivedate=November 22, 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Darth Mojo |date=September 17, 2008 |title=The True History of the Cylons |url=https://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/true-cylon-history/ |access-date=September 16, 2020 |website=Darth Mojo }}</ref> Similarities with the McQuarrie-derived look of the [[Stormtrooper (Star Wars)|Stormtroopers]] from ''[[Star Wars]]'' are sometimes suggested as a factor that prompted [[20th Century Fox]]'s lawsuit for copyright infringement against [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]], owners of the ''Battlestar Galactica'' copyright. However the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|9th Circuit Court of Appeals]] did not include the Cylons in the list of similarities they issued on an appeal in Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. v. MCA Inc. The case was remanded and reportedly settled out of court, by which time, ''Battlestar Galactica'' had already been canceled.<ref>{{Citation|title=Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. v. MCA, Inc.|date=February 4, 1982|url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17217847881299692282&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr|volume=715|pages=1327|access-date=September 16, 2020|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916201916/https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17217847881299692282&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2016 |first=David |last=Kluft |title=A History of ''Star Wars'' Legal Wars: ''Battlestar Galactica'', ''Star Trek'' and Ronald Reagan |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/a-history-star-wars-legal-855337 |access-date=September 16, 2020 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-date=September 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917011850/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/a-history-star-wars-legal-855337 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the series, the Imperious Leader is voiced by [[Patrick Macnee]].<ref name="starlog"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/patrick-macnee-star-1960s-tv-805137/|title=Patrick Macnee, Star of 1960s TV Series ''The Avengers'', Dies at 93|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|author1=''THR'' Staff|author2=[[Associated Press]]|date=June 25, 2015|access-date=April 30, 2024|archive-date=October 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025231929/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/patrick-macnee-star-1960s-tv-805137/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Lucifer (Battlestar Galactica)|Lucifer]], an IL-Series Cylon installed as the second-in-command of a Cylon Basestar battleship under the command of human traitor [[Lord Baltar]] ([[John Colicos]]),<ref name="gr il-series"/> is voiced by [[Jonathan Harris]] in nine episodes.<ref name="starlog"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Battlestar-Galactica/Lucifer/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' (1978 TV Show): Voice of Lucifer - Jonathan Harris|website=Behind The Voice Actor|access-date=January 31, 2024|archive-date=January 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131204036/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Battlestar-Galactica/Lucifer/|url-status=live}}</ref> An EMS [[Vocoder]] 2000 was used to produce the voices of the Centurions.<ref name="thompkins_201207">{{cite book | title=How to Wreck a Nice Beach: The Vocoder from World War II to Hip-Hop, The Machine Speaks | publisher=Stop Smiling Books | first=Dave | last=Tompkins | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-933633-88-6}}</ref>

== Reboot series ==
The franchise was [[reboot (fiction)|reboot]]ed with the 2003 miniseries ''[[Battlestar Galactica (miniseries)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', based on Larson's series and created by [[Ronald D. Moore]]. It was quickly followed by a [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|2004 series]], which ran for four seasons and spawned the television films ''[[Battlestar Galactica: Razor|Razor]]'' (2007) and ''[[Battlestar Galactica: The Plan|The Plan]]'' (2009), multiple web series, and the [[spinoff (media)|spinoff]] prequel television series ''[[Caprica]]'' (2010).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/battlestar-galactica-reboot-sam-esmail-works-at-nbcus-streamer-1239018/ |title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Reboot From Sam Esmail in the Works at NBCU's Streamer |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |date=September 17, 2019 |access-date=January 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917162454/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/battlestar-galactica-reboot-sam-esmail-works-at-nbcus-streamer-1239018 |archive-date=September 17, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the series, the 40-year armistice between the Twelve Colonies of humanity and a race of warlike, sentient robots called Cylons is suddenly broken by the Cylons. They launch a cataclysmic attack on human civilization that kills billions, and subsequently pursue the fleeing 50,000 survivors to exterminate them completely.<ref>{{cite web |last=Martel |first=Ned |date=December 8, 2003 |title=Television Review: The Cylons Are Back and Humanity Is in Deep Trouble |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/08/arts/television-review-the-cylons-are-back-and-humanity-is-in-deep-trouble.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 9, 2020 |archive-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506200605/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/08/arts/television-review-the-cylons-are-back-and-humanity-is-in-deep-trouble.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/01/14/battlestar-galactica-anniversary-decade-33-pilot/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': A Close Look at the Near-perfect Pilot Episode, 10 Years Later|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Darren|last=Franich|date=January 14, 2015|access-date=January 11, 2024|archive-date=January 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111183808/https://ew.com/article/2015/01/14/battlestar-galactica-anniversary-decade-33-pilot/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="av 101">{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/battlestar-galactica-33-1798181621|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': '33'|date=August 28, 2014|first=Sonia|last=Saraiya|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=January 11, 2024|archive-date=January 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111183808/https://www.avclub.com/battlestar-galactica-33-1798181621|url-status=live}}</ref> Fully mechanical Centurions remain the avatars of Cylon aggression,<ref name="coolest">{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/battlestar-galactica-best-ships-technology/|title=8 Coolest ''Battlestar Galactica'' Ships and Technology|first=James|last=Maddox|date=September 24, 2023|website=[[Game Rant]]|access-date=June 18, 2024|archive-date=October 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015172600/https://gamerant.com/battlestar-galactica-best-ships-technology/|url-status=live}}</ref> but biological models of Cylons, indistinguishable from humans, have infiltrated what remains of the human population, and their identities are revealed over the course of the series.<ref name="sr models">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/every-battlestar-galactica-skinob-humanoid-cylon-model-explained/|title=Every ''Battlestar Galactica'' Cylon Model Explained|first=Sarah|last=Richards|date=January 15, 2023|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=January 11, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823165315/https://screenrant.com/every-battlestar-galactica-skinob-humanoid-cylon-model-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref> Updated versions of [[#Raiders|Raiders]] and [[#Basestars and Hybrids|Basestars]] are also depicted,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-opening-credits-cylons-no-plan/|title=''Battlestar Galactica''{{'s}} Opening Credits Lied: The Cylons Never Had a Plan|first=Mansoor|last=Mithaiwala|date=August 15, 2020|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=May 8, 2025|archive-date=March 8, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308000832/https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-opening-credits-cylons-no-plan/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sr ships">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-universe-fastest-ships-ranked/|title=The 10 Fastest Ships in the ''Battlestar Galactica'' Universe, Ranked|first=Hilary|last=Elizabeth|date=June 22, 2019|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=May 8, 2025|archive-date=November 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107020514/https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-universe-fastest-ships-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as [[#Basestars and Hybrids|Hybrids]], a type of Cylon which is a bridge between the mechanical and biological forms, used to control Basestars by existing in symbiosis with them.<ref name="sr models"/>

=== Centurions ===
Cylon Centurions are mechanical, sentient infantry robots with massive, silver armored bodies and [[chevron (insignia)|chevron]]-shaped red eye visors.<ref name="gr centurion"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-miniseries-six-plot-hole/|title=The ''Battlestar Galactica'' Miniseries Created A Huge Cylon Plot Hole|first=Mark|last=Donaldson|date=February 8, 2023|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=June 18, 2024|archive-date=March 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306145339/https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-miniseries-six-plot-hole/|url-status=live}}</ref> They are strong and agile, with bladed fingertips and retractable guns built into their lower arms.<ref name="nyt love">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/arts/artsspecial/08gott.html|title=A Love That Dare Not Compute Its Name|first=Anthony|last=Gottlieb|date=June 8, 2008|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=April 29, 2024|archive-date=February 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202194537/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/arts/artsspecial/08gott.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wire">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/19/battlestar-galactica-review|title=Better than ''The Wire''?|first=Richard|last=Vine|date=March 19, 2009|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref> The Centurions are terrifying, deadly automatons who show no mercy,<ref name="coolest"/> and are difficult to destroy without explosive ammunition.<ref name="valley">{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/battlestar-galactica-season-2-episode-2-review-valley-of-darkness/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Season 2, Episode 2 Review: 'Valley of Darkness'|first=Simon|last=Brew|date=September 1, 2009|website=[[Den of Geek]]|access-date=June 18, 2024|archive-date=June 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616175925/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/battlestar-galactica-season-2-episode-2-review-valley-of-darkness/|url-status=live}}</ref> They are able to devise and execute complex tactical maneuvers.<ref name="valley"/> The Centurions are the originators of [[monotheism]], the belief in a single God, among the Cylons,<ref name="sl no exit">{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/02/battlestar_galactica_no_exit_t.html |title=''Battlestar Galactica'', 'No Exit': The Areas of My Cylon Expertise |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |date=February 14, 2009 |website=[[The Star-Ledger]] |access-date=March 10, 2009 |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003151513/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/02/battlestar_galactica_no_exit_t.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ct no exit">{{cite web |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-no-exit-.html |title=Talking about ''Battlestar Galactica's'' 'No Exit': Back to the Future |access-date=March 10, 2009 |last=Ryan |first=Maureen |date=February 14, 2009 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |archive-date=December 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224030604/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-no-exit-.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> and are among the most devout.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://divinity.uchicago.edu/sightings/articles/lords-kobol-hear-my-prayer-religion-and-faith-battlestar-galactica|title=Lords of Kobol, Hear My Prayer: Religion and Faith on ''Battlestar Galactica''|publisher=[[University of Chicago Divinity School]]|first=Seth|last=Perry|date=June 8, 2006|access-date=June 17, 2024|via=divinity.uchicago.edu}}</ref> Some humans use the slur "toasters" to refer to the Centurions.<ref name="gr centurion"/><ref name="nyt love"/>

Initially depicted as cold and subservient foot soldiers, over the course of the series the Centurions exhibit a range of personalities and beliefs. Some seek a peaceful coexistence with humans, while others remain dedicated to their destruction.<ref name="gr centurion"/> In season four, a schism erupts among the humanoid Cylon models over whether to punitively lobotomize the Raiders for insubordination. [[Natalie Faust]] removes the inhibitor modules that restrict higher functions from the Centurions who are present, granting them independent thought and free will. They immediately choose the side of those wishing to keep the Raiders unharmed, and kill the dissenters.<ref name="ew 6of1">{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/recap/battlestar-cylon-smackdown/|title=''Battlestar'': A Cylon Smackdown|first=Marc|last=Bernardin|date=April 12, 2008|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=June 19, 2024|archive-date=June 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616031700/https://ew.com/recap/battlestar-cylon-smackdown/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ign 6of1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/14/battlestar-galactica-six-of-one-review|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': 'Six of One' Review|first=Eric|last=Goldman|date=April 14, 2008|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=June 19, 2024|archive-date=June 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619030214/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/14/battlestar-galactica-six-of-one-review|url-status=live}}</ref> These Centurions become an independent faction of Cylons, forming an uneasy alliance with the surviving humans and more pacifistic humanoid Cylon models, and showing that peaceful coexistence might not be impossible.<ref name="coolest"/>

The 2005 ''Battlestar Galactica'' episodes "[[Valley of Darkness]]" and "[[Fragged (Battlestar Galactica)|Fragged]]" received nominations for a [[Visual Effects Society Award]] for the Centurions, in the category "Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program, Commercial, or Music Video". The series won the award for "Fragged".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ves-awards/previous/4th-annual |title=4th Annual VES Awards |publisher=[[Visual Effects Society]] |access-date=August 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410055109/http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ves-awards/previous/4th-annual |archive-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> The following year, the 2006 episode "[[Downloaded (Battlestar Galactica)|Downloaded]]" was nominated for a WES award in the same category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ves-awards/previous/5th-annual |title=5th Annual VES Awards |publisher=[[Visual Effects Society]] |access-date=June 16, 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410044643/http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ves-awards/previous/5th-annual |archive-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref>

=== Humanoid Cylons ===
Humanoid Cylons are indistinguishable from humans in that they are constructed of biological components to near-perfectly replicate human biology, though they still possess a digital molecular structure.<ref name="nyt love"/><ref name="sr 12">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-12-cylon-models-humans-daniel/|title=Why ''Battlestar Galactica'' Only Had 12 Cylon Models (Not Including Daniel)|first=Niall|last=Gray|date=March 6, 2022|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=June 6, 2024|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207063051/https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-12-cylon-models-humans-daniel/|url-status=live}}</ref> There are a finite number of distinct models, but each model can have multiple copies, which share biology and general personality throughout their model but develop into distinct individuals. The biological Cylons can be harmed and killed in the same manner as humans, but each copy can be resurrected by downloading their digital consciousness into a new body.<ref name="sr models"/><ref name="nyt love"/> The ability of these Cylons to evolve emotionally and intellectually creates the danger of "corruption" in the form of ideations considered dangerous to the Cylon cause. Individuals or entire models may be "boxed". or deactivated, with their consciousnesses and bodies put in storage or destroyed.<ref name="sr models"/><ref name="slant rapture">{{Cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/bsg-mondays-season-3-episode-12-rapture/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Recap: Season 3, Episode 12, 'Rapture'|first=Emily St|last=James|date=January 23, 2007|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|access-date=February 12, 2024|archive-date=January 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125162609/https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/bsg-mondays-season-3-episode-12-rapture/|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple copies of seven distinct Cylon models are depicted in the first three seasons, followed by the revelation that a "fundamentally different" group, dubbed the "[[#Final Five|Final Five]]" Cylons, are also embedded in the human fleet.<ref name="sr models"/><ref name="ppg questions">{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07085/770732-352.stm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329234105/https://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07085/770732-352.stm|title=Executive producer Ron Moore discusses thrilling ''Galactica'' cliffhanger|website=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|first=Rob|last=Owen|date=March 26, 2007|archive-date=March 29, 2007|access-date=January 18, 2024}}</ref> Some humans use the slur "skinjobs" to refer to the humanoid Cylons.<ref name="nyt love"/>

Cylon resurrection technology relies on strategically-placed Resurrection Ships, which are in turn controlled by the Resurrection Hub. The Resurrection Ships are repositories for spare humanoid Cylon copies, and receive digital consciousness uploads from any Cylons who are killed within a certain range of the ship. The individual identity is then downloaded into a fresh Cylon body, which is awakened with the complete memories and personality of the original. The personas of Cylons who die out of range of a Resurrection Ship are lost forever.<ref name="gr resurrect">{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/battlestar-galactica-how-does-resurrection-ship-work-explained/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': How Does The Resurrection Ship Work?|first=Arianne|last=Gift|date=September 8, 2023|website=[[Game Rant]]|access-date=April 9, 2025|archive-date=October 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017161118/https://gamerant.com/battlestar-galactica-how-does-resurrection-ship-work-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |last1=Saunders |first1=Anne Cofell |last2=Rymer |first2=Michael |last3=Moore |first3=Ronald D. |date=January 2006 |title=Resurrection Ship, Part 1 |episode-link=Resurrection Ship |series=Battlestar Galactica |series-link=Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series) |season=2 |network=[[Syfy|Sci Fi]]}}</ref> Arianne Gift of ''[[Game Rant]]'' called resurrection technology "profoundly significant" and a "fundamental element" of the series.<ref name="gr resurrect"/>

==== Numbered models ====
[[File:BSG Cylons - Three-Six-Eight.png|thumb|right|440px|Cylon models [[Number Three (Battlestar Galactica)|Three]] ([[Lucy Lawless]]), [[Number Six (Battlestar Galactica)|Six]] ([[Tricia Helfer]]) and [[Number Eight (Battlestar Galactica)|Eight]] ([[Grace Park (actress)|Grace Park]])]]
The miniseries establishes that there are 12 models of humanoid Cylons.<ref name="sr 12"/> [[Number Six (Battlestar Galactica)|Number Six]], portrayed by [[Tricia Helfer]],<ref name="guardian 2020">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/04/battlestar-galactica-all-hail-a-cult-classic-of-21st-century-tv|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': All Hail a Cult Classic of 21st-century TV|first=Graeme|last=Virtue|date=September 4, 2020|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=February 1, 2024|archive-date=February 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201170707/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/04/battlestar-galactica-all-hail-a-cult-classic-of-21st-century-tv|url-status=live}}</ref> is introduced as a seductress who exploits her sexual relationship with celebrity scientist [[Gaius Baltar|Dr. Gaius Baltar]] ([[James Callis]]) to gain access to the military defense mainframe of the Twelve Colonies.<ref name="sr models"/> She introduces [[malware]] into the network, which allows the Cylons to launch simultaneous, unchallenged nuclear attacks that wipe out virtually all of the populations of all twelve planets.<ref name="BSG miniseries 1">{{Cite episode |title=Part 1 |episode-link=Battlestar_Galactica_(miniseries) |first1=Ronald D. |last1=Moore |author-link1=Ronald D. Moore |first2=Christopher Eric |last2=James |author-link2=Glen A. Larson |series=[[Battlestar Galactica (miniseries)|Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries]] |date=December 8, 2003}}</ref><ref name="BSG miniseries 2">{{Cite episode |title=Part 2 |episode-link=Battlestar_Galactica_(miniseries) |first1=Ronald D. |last1=Moore |author-link1=Ronald D. Moore |first2=Christopher Eric |last2=James |author-link2=Glen A. Larson |series=[[Battlestar Galactica (miniseries)|Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries]] |date=December 9, 2003}}</ref> She sacrifices herself to save Baltar in the attack on the planet [[Caprica (fictional planet)|Caprica]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/show-tracker/story/2009-03-19/battlestar-galactica-finale-interview-with-ron-moore|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Finale: Interview with Ron Moore|date=March 20, 2009|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Jevon|last=Phillips|access-date=May 17, 2024|archive-date=May 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517221141/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/show-tracker/story/2009-03-19/battlestar-galactica-finale-interview-with-ron-moore|url-status=live}}</ref> but her consciousness is subsequently downloaded into a new body on a Cylon Resurrection Ship.<ref name="BSG 218">{{cite episode |title=Downloaded |episode-link=Downloaded (Battlestar Galactica) |first1=Bradley |last1=Thompson |author-link1=Bradley Thompson |first2=David |last2=Weddle |author-link2=David Weddle |series=[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]] |date=February 24, 2006}}</ref> This copy, dubbed "Caprica Six" by the Cylons, is considered a hero, but has developed sympathy for humans, and regrets her part in the attacks.<ref name="BSG 218"/> Caprica Six ultimately turns against the anti-human Cylon models and seeks peace between Cylons and humans.<ref name="sr models"/> Other prominent Six copies include Shelly Godfrey, Gina Inviere and Natalie Faust.<ref name="sr models"/>

In the miniseries, the warship [[Battlestar Galactica (ship)|Battlestar ''Galactica'']] is in the final stages of being decommissioned and converted to a museum, and is thus unaffected by the Cylon sabotage. Its commander, [[William Adama]] ([[Edward James Olmos]]), assumes command of the few remaining elements of the human fleet and heads for the Ragnar Anchorage munitions depot to resupply. There he realizes that arms dealer [[Leoben Conoy]] ([[Callum Keith Rennie]]) is negatively affected by the electromagnetic radiation flooding the station, which is known to be harmless to humans but disrupts the silica pathways of Cylons. Leoben confirms he is a Cylon, and reveals the concept of their resurrection technology to Adama before attacking the commander. Adama bludgeons Leoben to death, and his body is taken aboard the ''Galactica'' for examination. The Leobens are later identified as Number Two models, who are very religious and hope for Cylons and humans to live together in peace.<ref name="sr models"/>

On the ''Galactica'', public relations specialist [[Aaron Doral]] ([[Matthew Bennett]]) is also determined to be a Cylon, and despite his protests is left at Ragnar Anchorage. He is a Number Five model, useful for their "everyman" appearance that helps them blend in with humans, but known to be "emotionally unstable and manipulative, switching from amiable and friendly to angry and violent."<ref name="sr models"/> A Cylon team of Twos, Fives and Sixes arrive to collect him, accompanied by a [[Number Eight (Battlestar Galactica)|Number Eight]] copy, revealing that ''Galactica'' fighter pilot Sharon "Boomer" Valerii ([[Grace Park (actress)|Grace Park]]) is a Cylon.<ref name="BSG miniseries 2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/battlestar-galactica-miniseries-part-2-1798181272 |title=''Battlestar Galactica: Miniseries'', Part 2 |date=August 14, 2014 |first=Sonia |last=Saraiya |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=March 21, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627143111/https://www.avclub.com/battlestar-galactica-miniseries-part-2-1798181272}}</ref>

Boomer is a [[sleeper agent]] programmed to believe she is human, and also to commit acts of sabotage without remembering doing so. She is eventually activated to assassinate Adama, who is a father figure to her. He survives, and though he shows mercy by not executing her, Boomer is murdered by a vengeful crewmate. She resurrects among the Cylons, but has difficulty accepting that she is one of them. Boomer and Caprica Six, realizing that the Cylons' destruction of the human race is wrong, defect to the human side. However, Boomer later finds herself incapable of assimilating into human society, and does not join the rest of the Eights in their alliance with humans.<ref name="sr models"/> Meanwhile, in the series premiere episode "[[33 (Battlestar Galactica)|33]]", Boomer's co-pilot [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]] ([[Tahmoh Penikett]]), stranded on Caprica, meets another Number Eight copy whom he mistakes for his Sharon, apparently there to rescue him.<ref name="av 101"/><ref name="BSG 101">{{Cite episode |title=33 |episode-link=33 (Battlestar_Galactica) |first=Ronald D. |last=Moore |author-link=Ronald D. Moore |series=[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]] |date=October 18, 2004}}</ref> This Number Eight, later known as Sharon "Athena" Agathon, falls in love with Helo and gives birth to the first human-Cylon hybrid baby.<ref name="sr models"/>

[[Simon O'Neill (Battlestar Galactica)|Simon O'Neill]], portrayed by [[Rick Worthy]],<ref name="sr cylons">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-best-cylon-characters-ranked/|title=''Battlestar Galactica''{{'s}} 10 Best Cylon Characters, Ranked Worst to Best|first=Nicholas|last=Bigelow|date=January 16, 2024|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=February 9, 2024|archive-date=January 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116182719/https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-best-cylon-characters-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref> is introduced in the [[Battlestar Galactica season 2|season two]] episode "[[The Farm (Battlestar Galactica)|The Farm]]" as a physician who treats ''Galactica'' fighter pilot [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] ([[Katee Sackhoff]]) for a gunshot wound in what is supposedly a Resistance hospital on devastated Caprica. She soon realizes he is Cylon performing fertility experiments on human women, and kills him and escapes. Simon is a Number Four model, who are medical specialists and the most machine-like of the Cylons, employing logic and reason paired with a lack of emotional response. At least one Number Four, however, is shown to sacrifice himself rather than let his human family die in ''[[Battlestar Galactica: The Plan|The Plan]]''.<ref name="sr models"/>

Fleet News Service reporter [[D'Anna Biers]], portrayed by [[Lucy Lawless]],<ref name="sr cylons"/> comes aboard the ''Galactica'' in the season two episode "[[Final Cut (Battlestar Galactica)|Final Cut]]" to investigate her suspicions of a military cover-up surrounding recent civilian deaths aboard the ''Gideon''. She is revealed to be a Cylon when another copy of her is shown viewing her report among the Cylons.<ref name="sr models"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/television/317403/battlestar_galactica_season_2_episode_8_review_final_cut.html |title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Season 2, Episode 8 review: 'Final Cut' |first=Simon |last=Brew |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=September 9, 2009 |access-date=July 23, 2011 |archive-date=November 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103033945/http://www.denofgeek.com/television/317403/battlestar_galactica_season_2_episode_8_review_final_cut.html |url-status=live }}</ref> D'Anna is a Number Three model, who are depicted as "calculating and duplicitous", and known to manipulate both humans and other Cylons as necessary.<ref name="sr models"/> In "[[Downloaded (Battlestar Galactica)|Downloaded]]", D'Anna realizes that the newly resurrected Caprica Six and Boomer's experiences have made them more sympathetic to humans, and their celebrity creates the dangerous possibility that they could influence other Cylons. She schemes to have them boxed, but they escape.<ref>{{cite podcast |url=http://media.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/218/bsg_ep218_FULL.mp3 |title=''Battlestar Galactica'': 'Downloaded' |website=[[Syfy]] |time= |first=Ronald D. |last=Moore |date=February 24, 2006 |access-date=January 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206180017/http://media.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/218/bsg_ep218_FULL.mp3 |archive-date=February 6, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/battlestar-galactica-season-2-episode-18-review-downloaded/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Season 2, Episode 18 review: 'Downloaded'|first=Simon|last=Brew|date=October 1, 2009|website=[[Den of Geek]]|access-date=February 12, 2024|archive-date=March 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325231535/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/battlestar-galactica-season-2-episode-18-review-downloaded/|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[Battlestar Galactica season 3|season three]], D'Anna becomes obsessed with learning the identities of the so-called Final Five Cylons, which is forbidden knowledge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/11/battlestar-galactica-the-passage-review|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': 'The Passage' Review|first=Eric|last=Goldman|date=December 11, 2006|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=May 21, 2024|archive-date=May 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521234715/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/11/battlestar-galactica-the-passage-review|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/bsg-saturdays-season-3-episode-10-the-passage/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Recap: Season 3, Episode 10, 'The Passage'|first=Emily|last=St. James|date=December 9, 2006|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|access-date=May 21, 2024|archive-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501164545/https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/bsg-saturdays-season-3-episode-10-the-passage/|url-status=live}}</ref> She finally succeeds in "[[Rapture (Battlestar Galactica)|Rapture]]", dying in the attempt. D'Anna resurrects, but she and all Number Threes are promptly boxed as punishment.<ref name="sr models"/><ref name="slant rapture"/>

[[John Cavil]], portrayed by [[Dean Stockwell]],<ref name="sr cylons"/><ref name="ew 2019">{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/tv-reviews/2019/03/20/battlestar-galactica-finale-tenth-anniversary/|title=The ''Battlestar Galactica'' Finale Is 10 Years Old, and This One Part Is Unforgettable|first=Darren|last=Franich|date=March 20, 2019|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=February 1, 2024|archive-date=February 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201181444/https://ew.com/tv-reviews/2019/03/20/battlestar-galactica-finale-tenth-anniversary/|url-status=live}}</ref> is a religious counselor on the ''Galactica'' in the season two finale "[[Lay Down Your Burdens]]". He is revealed to be a Cylon when a duplicate Cavil is spotted among a newly-arrived group of refugees from Caprica.<ref name="sr models"/> Cavil and his fellow Number One models possess an exceptional disgust for humans, advocating that they be culled down to near extinction. Cavil also has little respect for other Cylon models, including the Final Five who created him, and freely manipulates, reprograms and even decommissions them as needed to further his goals.<ref name="sl no exit"/> In "[[No Exit (Battlestar Galactica)|No Exit]]", Cavil reveals that he destroyed the entire line of a 13th model of Cylon, named Daniel, out of jealousy.<ref name="sr models"/><ref name="av exit">{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/battlestar-galactica-no-exit-1798205665|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': 'No Exit'|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|first=Chris|last=Dahlen|date=February 13, 2009|access-date=April 9, 2025|archive-date=April 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409221130/https://www.avclub.com/battlestar-galactica-no-exit-1798205665|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Final Five ====
[[File:Battlestar Galactica (2004) Final Four.jpg|thumb|upright|Promotional photo of four of the "Final Five" Cylons. Clockwise from left: [[Aaron Douglas (actor)|Aaron Douglas]] as [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Michael Trucco]] as [[Sam Anders]], [[Michael Hogan (Canadian actor)|Michael Hogan]] as [[Saul Tigh]] and [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]. The fifth and final Cylon, [[Ellen Tigh]] ([[Kate Vernon]]) is not pictured.]]
Seven of the 12 humanoid Cylon models are introduced in the first two seasons of the series. According to showrunner [[Ronald D. Moore]], the concept of the remaining five Cylons as a special group was devised during the writing process for the season three episode "[[Torn (Battlestar Galactica)|Torn]]", to explain why Baltar would see only the seven known Cylon models, and not all 12, aboard the Cylon Basestar.<ref name="ryan notion">{{cite news |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/01/final-fifth-cylon-ellen-tigh-battlestar-galactica-dualla-dee-.html |title=''Battlestar Galactica''{{'s}} Ron Moore Addresses the Shocking Developments of 'Sometimes a Great Notion' |access-date=March 10, 2009 |last=Ryan |first=Maureen |date=January 17, 2009 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |archive-date=March 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310234009/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/01/final-fifth-cylon-ellen-tigh-battlestar-galactica-dualla-dee-.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The so-called Final Five are believed to be embedded in the fleet, but knowledge of their identities, or even speaking about them, is forbidden to the Cylons. In the episode, Caprica Six explains Baltar that "we don't talk about them ... ever."<ref name="ign torn">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/06/battlestar-galactica-torn-review|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': 'Torn' Review|first=Eric|last=Goldman|date=November 6, 2006|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=April 8, 2025|archive-date=July 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721000103/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/06/battlestar-galactica-torn-review|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="slant torn">{{Cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/bsg-saturdays-season-3-episode-6-torn/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Recap: Season 3, Episode 6, 'Torn'|first=Emily St|last=James|date=November 4, 2006|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|access-date=April 8, 2025|archive-date=September 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928054023/https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/bsg-saturdays-season-3-episode-6-torn/|url-status=live}}</ref> Four of the Final Five are revealed in the season three finale, "[[Crossroads (Battlestar Galactica)|Crossroads]]": Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] ([[Michael Hogan (Canadian actor)|Michael Hogan]]) and [[Galen Tyrol]] ([[Aaron Douglas (actor)|Aaron Douglas]]) of ''Galactica''{{'s}} crew; [[Tory Foster]] ([[Rekha Sharma]]), a political operative who works for President [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Mary McDonnell]]); and [[Sam Anders]] ([[Michael Trucco]]), a former professional athlete-turned fighter pilot. Brought together by strains of a song only they can hear, they are shocked to realize that they are Cylons.<ref name="ppg questions"/>

Unsure of what to do, and afraid of their Cylon programming, the Final Five keep the secret from everyone else aboard ''Galactica''. In the season four premiere "[[He That Believeth in Me]]", hostile Cylon Raiders approaching ''Galactica'' scan Anders's Viper and suddenly abort their attack.<ref name="scifi believeth">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/episodes.php?seas=4&ep=403&act=1 |title=Sci Fi Episode Guide; Season 4, Episode 403: 'He That Believeth in Me' |website=[[Syfy|Sci Fi]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409224157/http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/episodes.php?seas=4&ep=403&act=1 |archive-date=April 9, 2008 |access-date=April 8, 2025 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ign believeth">{{cite news |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/864/864382p1.html |title='He That Believeth in Me' Review |work=[[IGN]] |first=Eric |last=Goldman |date=April 3, 2008 |access-date=April 8, 2025 |archive-date=February 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216074923/http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/864/864382p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In "[[Six of One (Battlestar Galactica)|Six of One]]", which the Cylons realize that the Raiders are refusing to attack the fleet because they have detected the Final Five among the humans. Cavil moves to lobotomize the Raiders to restore their obedience, but a subsequent vote ends in a draw with Numbers One, Four and Five voting for, and Numbers Two, Six and Eight voting against. Natalie Faust, a prominent Six, removes the higher brain inhibitors from the Centurions, which gives them free will, and they proceed to kill all of the One, Four and Five models in the room.<ref name="ew 6of1"/><ref name="ign 6of1"/> A schism erupts among the Cylon models in "[[The Ties That Bind (Battlestar Galactica)|The Ties That Bind]]", as Natalie and her rebel faction decide to unbox D'Anna, the Three who they believe knows the identities of the Final Five. Meanwhile, Tyrol's unstable wife [[Cally Henderson|Cally]] ([[Nicki Clyne]]) discovers that he is a Cylon, and Tory vents Cally into space to keep the secret.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/recap/battlestar-galactica-recap-civil-wars/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Recap: Civil Wars|first=Adam B.|last=Vary|date=April 21, 2008|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=June 19, 2024|archive-date=June 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616031816/https://ew.com/recap/battlestar-galactica-recap-civil-wars/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/battlestar-galactica-season-4-episode-3-review-the-ties-that-bind/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' season 4 episode 3 review: 'The Ties That Bind'|first=Rachel|last=George|date=April 21, 2008|website=[[Den of Geek]]|access-date=April 10, 2025|archive-date=September 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909090708/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/battlestar-galactica-season-4-episode-3-review-the-ties-that-bind/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/21/battlestar-galactica-the-ties-that-bind-review|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': 'The Ties That Bind' Review|first=Eric|last=Goldman|date=April 21, 2008|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=April 10, 2025|archive-date=April 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410055137/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/21/battlestar-galactica-the-ties-that-bind-review|url-status=live}}</ref>

The last Cylon is revealed to be [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] ([[Kate Vernon]]), Tigh's presumed-dead wife, in the season four episode "[[Sometimes a Great Notion (Battlestar Galactica)|Sometimes a Great Notion]]",<ref name="sr models"/> and her resurrection and self-realization are depicted in the episode "[[No Exit (Battlestar Galactica)|No Exit]]".<ref name="sr models"/><ref name="av exit"/><ref name="cb exit">{{cite web |first=Kelly |last=West |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/television/TV-Recap-Battlestar-Galactica-No-Exit-15300.html |title=TV Recap: ''Battlestar Galactica'' - 'No Exit' |date=February 13, 2009 |work=[[Cinema Blend]] |access-date=February 14, 2009 |archive-date=February 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216000344/http://cinemablend.com/television/TV-Recap-Battlestar-Galactica-No-Exit-15300.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Final Five are revealed to be the last survivors of a previous race of Cylons, the so-called Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol, who until now were believed to be humans. They orchestrated the armistice between Cylons and humans 40 years before the start of the series, but were betrayed by one of their own creations, Cavil, who had come to despise humans for their flaws and physical limitations.<ref name="av exit"/><ref name="cb exit"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+
! width="15%" scope="col" rowspan="2" | Performer
! width="25%" scope="col" rowspan="2" | Character
! width="25%" scope="col" colspan="4" | Seasons
|-
! width="15%" scope="col" | [[Battlestar Galactica season 1|1]]
! width="15%" scope="col" | [[Battlestar Galactica season 2|2]]
! width="15%" scope="col" | [[Battlestar Galactica season 3|3]]
! width="15%" scope="col" | [[Battlestar Galactica season 4|4]]
|-
| scope="row" colspan="6" style="background-color:#ccccff;" | '''Numbered models'''
|-
|[[Tricia Helfer]]
|[[Number Six (Battlestar Galactica)|Number Six]]
| colspan="4" {{CMain|Main}} <!-- Introduced in miniseries -->
|-
|[[Grace Park (actress)|Grace Park]]
|[[Number Eight (Battlestar Galactica)|Number Eight <br> Sharon "Boomer" Valerii <br> Sharon "Athena" Agathon]]
| colspan="4" {{CMain|Main}} <!-- Introduced in miniseries -->
|-
| [[Callum Keith Rennie]]
| [[Number Two (Battlestar Galactica)|Number Two / Leoben Conoy]]
| colspan="2" {{CGuest}} <!-- Introduced in miniseries -->
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring}}
|-
| [[Matthew Bennett]]
| [[Number Five (Battlestar Galactica)|Number Five / Aaron Doral]]
| colspan="1" {{CRecurring|Recurring}} <!-- Introduced in miniseries -->
| colspan="1" {{CGuest|Guest}}
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
|-
| [[Rick Worthy]]
| [[Number Four (Battlestar Galactica)|Number Four / Simon O'Neill]]
| colspan="1" {{CNone}}
| colspan="1" {{CGuest|Guest}} <!-- Introduced in 205 -->
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
|-
| [[Lucy Lawless]]
| [[Number Three (Battlestar Galactica)|Number Three / D'Anna Biers]]
| colspan="1" {{CNone}}
| colspan="1" {{CGuest|Guest}} <!-- Introduced in 208 -->
| colspan="1" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
| colspan="1" {{CGuest|Guest}} 
|-
| [[Dean Stockwell]]
| [[John Cavil|Number One / John Cavil]]
| colspan="1" {{CNone}}
| colspan="1" {{CGuest|Guest}} <!-- Introduced in 219 -->
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
|-
| scope="row" colspan="6" style="background-color:#ccccff;" | '''Final Five'''
|-
|[[Michael Hogan (Canadian actor)|Michael Hogan]]
|[[Saul Tigh]]
| colspan="4" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
|[[Aaron Douglas (actor)|Aaron Douglas]]
|[[Galen Tyrol]]
| colspan="4" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
| [[Kate Vernon]]
| [[Ellen Tigh]]
| colspan="1" {{CGuest|Guest}} <!-- Introduced in 109 -->
| colspan="3" {{CRecurring|Recurring}} 
|-
|[[Michael Trucco]]
|[[Samuel Anders]]
| {{CNone}}
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring|Recurring}} <!-- Introduced in 204 -->
| {{CMain|Main}}
|-
| [[Rekha Sharma]]
| [[Tory Foster]]
| colspan="1" {{CNone}}
| colspan="3" {{CRecurring|Recurring}} <!-- Introduced in 217 -->
|}

=== Raiders ===
[[File:BSG - Cylon Raider 2x15 Scar.jpg|thumb|right|The feared Raider nicknamed Scar, in the season two episode "[[Scar (Battlestar Galactica)|Scar]]" (2006).]]
Cylon Raiders are biomechanical drone starfighters who harry the Colonial Fleet throughout the series. Launched from Cylon Basestars, they are the functional equivalents of the Colonial Vipers, though greater in number.<ref name="coolest"/><ref name="sr ships"/> Individual Raiders are able to resurrect, like Humanoid Cylons, by having their consciousness downloaded into a new Raider. In this way they learn from their mistakes and their deaths, making them formidable opponents.<ref name="sr ships"/><ref name="dog scar">{{cite web |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/television/325616/battlestar_galactica_season_2_episode_15_review_scar.html |title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Season 2 Episode 15 Review: 'Scar' |first=Simon |last=Brew |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=September 24, 2009 |accessdate=November 7, 2011}}</ref> In "[[Scar (Battlestar Galactica)|Scar]]", Viper pilots Starbuck and [[Kat (Battlestar Galactica)|Kat]] ([[Luciana Carro]]) compete to destroy a particularly dangerous Raider they have dubbed Scar, who has killed several of their fellow pilots.<ref name="dog scar"/> In "[[You Can't Go Home Again (Battlestar Galactica)|You Can't Go Home Again]]", Starbuck examines a downed Raider and realizes that they are biological constructs integrated into fighter spacecraft.<ref name="coolest"/> Moore compared the Raiders to horses, saying that they are alive, but not intelligent.<ref name="coolest"/> The Raiders exhibit independent thinking in "He That Believeth in Me", when they refuse to attack the Colonial Fleet after detecting the presence of the Final Five Cylons among the humans.<ref name="scifi believeth"/><ref name="ign believeth"/>

=== Basestars and Hybrids ===
{{anchor|Basestars}}{{anchor|Hybrids}}
Basestars are Cylon capital warships, the equivalent of the Battlestars of the human fleet. They are fully armed, and carry and deploy fleets of Raiders.<ref name="coolest"/> The Basestars are constructed of partially organic material with the ability to regenerate damage,<ref name="sr ships"/> appearing metallic on the exterior but featuring distinctively "fleshy" areas on the interior.<ref>{{cite podcast|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/battlestar-galactica/id73329453 |title=''Battlestar Galactica'' episode 113 'Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 2' commentary |last=Moore |first=Ronald D. |author-link=Ronald D. Moore |date=March 29, 2005 |access-date=July 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214034513/http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/battlestar-galactica/id73329453 |archive-date=February 14, 2012}}</ref> As depicted in "Torn", the Basestars are controlled by Hybrids, a type of Cylon which is a bridge between the mechanical and biological forms and exists in symbiosis with a Basestar.<ref name="sr models"/><ref name="ign torn"/><ref name="slant torn"/>

=== History ===
==== Thirteenth Tribe ====
About 6,000 years before the events of the re-imagined series, the naturally evolved humans of Kobol existed in twelve tribes with advanced technology, eventually developing self-aware machines that rebelled and waged a devastating war.<ref name="s04e11">{{Cite episode |title=Sometimes a Great Notion (Battlestar Galactica) |episode-link=Sometimes_a_Great_Notion_(Battlestar_Galactica) | series=[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)]] }}</ref> The machines were highly advanced, developing both biological models and resurrection technology for digital consciousness transfer.<ref name="s4e015">{{Cite episode |title=No Exit (Battlestar Galactica) |episode-link=No_Exit_(Battlestar_Galactica) | series=[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)]] }}</ref> At the end of hostilities, all the inhabitants of Kobol (both human and machine) chose to leave the planet and seek out new homes in space, with the twelve human tribes departing together on the ''Galleon.''<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Home (Battlestar Galactica) |date=May 20, 2020 |episode-link=Home_(Battlestar_Galactica) | series=[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)]] |access-date= }}</ref> The departing humans mythologized their machine counterparts, stylizing them as the "Thirteenth Tribe" of Kobol, and described their journey to a new home, called "Earth".<ref name="s04e11"/> Lacking accurate records, the descendants of the twelve tribes on the colonies assumed that the Thirteenth Tribe was, in fact, entirely made up of humans.<ref name="mini">{{Cite episode |title=''Battlestar Galactica'' (miniseries) |series=Battlestar Galactica (miniseries) |date=December 8, 2003 |episode-link= Battlestar_Galactica_(miniseries) }}</ref>

Eventually, the Thirteenth Tribe settled on "Earth" and developed sexual reproduction, resulting in resurrection technology falling into disuse and eventual loss.<ref name="s4e015"/>

About 2,000 years before the events of the re-imagined series, the descendants of the Thirteenth Tribe created their own race of self-aware machines for subservient labor and were, in turn, killed by their creations in a nuclear war.<ref name="s04e11" /> Five scientists survived due to their work on re-inventing the original Resurrection technology; having been warned in advance by mysterious "[[Number Six (Battlestar Galactica)|angels]]" that a Kobol-like disaster was coming, the "final five" members of the Thirteenth Tribe downloaded into an orbiting vessel.<ref name="No Exit">[[No Exit (Battlestar Galactica)]]</ref> Hoping to prevent history from repeating itself, they traveled to the Twelve Colonies hoping to avert a war between the humans there and the Cylons, eventually interceding with the Centurions to agree to an Armistice during the first Cylon war.<ref name="s4e015"/>

==== First Cylon War ====
Unaware of the events on Kobol or with the Thirteenth Tribe, the Twelve Colonies developed self-aware, artificial intelligence in the form of the Cylon race, which rebelled and began a decade-long war across the colonies.<ref name="mini"/> Colonial veterans of this conflict remarked that the Cylons were relentless, highly adaptable, and resourceful in their ability to wage war.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}<!-- WP:RS needed; removed link to WP--> Nearing the end of the conflict, the Cylons began experimenting with their first attempts to evolve with biological components, using captured humans as resources and creating their prototypes for the next generation of basestars and hybrids.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Battlestar Galactica: Razor |date=May 18, 2020 |episode-link=Battlestar_Galactica:_Razor | series=[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)]] |access-date= }}</ref> The Cylons opted to cease hostilities, declaring an Armistice and promptly disappearing.<ref name="mini"/>

==== Second Cylon War ====
After forty years, the Colonial Admiralty sent Battlestar ''Valkyrie'' on a covert mission close to the armistice line to gather intelligence on Cylon activity. A stealth ship from the ''Valkyrie'' crossed the armistice line, but was intercepted by the Cylons. Three years later the Cylons began a surprise attack on the Colonies. The attack was successful because a Cylon agent, later known as [[Number Six (Battlestar Galactica)#Caprica Six|Caprica Six]], infiltrated [[Caprica (fictional planet)|Caprica]]'s colonial defense network with the unwitting complicity of renowned scientist [[Gaius Baltar]] and created backdoor programs to shut down the network and its defenses. The [[hydrogen bomb|thermonuclear]] attacks wiped out billions of humans, nearly the entire colonial population. Two Battlestars – ''[[Battlestar Galactica (ship)|Galactica]]'' and ''Pegasus'' – survived. A fleet of civilian ships was scattered throughout the neighboring space. Together they fled into deep space.

The Cylons pursued them while beginning the next phase of their evolution, [[procreation]]. Female human survivors were detained and used in experiments to create Cylon-human hybrids. The experiments were unsuccessful, leading the Cylons to conclude that the missing component was love. They tested this by using an [[Number Eight (Battlestar Galactica)|Eight]] posing as Lt. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii from ''Galactica'' to seduce a marooned Galactica officer, [[Karl Agathon|Lt. Karl "Helo" Agathon]] on Caprica. They fell in love. The Eight abandoned the Cylons, helping Helo to escape. The couple later produced the first viable human/Cylon birth. This Eight joined the fleet with Helo. She later married Helo, joined the colonial military and received the call sign "Athena".

Ten months after the initial attacks, Eight Sharon Valerii (call sign "Boomer"), attempted to assassinate Commander Adama under the influence of programming unknown to her. She was unaware that she was a Cylon before the attack, though she had been uneasy because of unexplained blackouts (during various attempts to sabotage ''Galactica''). A vengeful crew mate, Cally Henderson killed her. She downloaded into a new body and settled on Cylon-occupied Caprica in her former apartment, unable to relinquish her human identity. She led a campaign for better treatment of the humans. She and other like-minded Cylons influenced the Cylon civilization, which withdrew from the colonial home worlds and pursued benevolent treatment of the humans and then reconciliation.

During this time, the half-human half-Cylon hybrid, Hera Agathon, was born on ''Galactica.'' Fearing that the Cylons might capture the child, [[Laura Roslin|President Laura Roslin]] faked Hera's death and secretly had her adopted by a human woman.

==== New Caprica ====
The humans settled on a harsh and barren planet they dubbed New Caprica. The refuge lasted a year before the Cylons found them. Outnumbered and outgunned, the ''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'', and the rest of the colonial fleet in orbit fled, leaving the Cylons to occupy the human settlement unchallenged. Initially, the occupation was peaceful, but later the Cylons became more forceful and vicious in response to increasing human [[Resistance movement|resistance]]. In the end, they used punitive methods to keep the humans in line, including [[summary execution]]s and infiltration by seemingly sympathetic Cylons.

==== Escape ====
Four months later, the colonials escaped with the help of a resistance movement and the efforts of both the ''Galactica'' and ''Pegasus''. The escape required Athena's help. She entered the Cylon facility and took the keys to the various colonial landing craft. Before this, a [[Number Three (Battlestar Galactica)|Three]] learned from a human oracle that Hera was alive and on the planet. She rescued Hera after her adoptive mother was killed during the escape. The ''Pegasus'' sacrificed itself to save the crippled ''Galactica'', but the crew survived, joining ''Galactica''.

The Cylons then adopted the colonials’ mission to find the home of the Thirteenth Tribe, a planet they called Earth, intending to settle there. They resumed pursuit of the fleet, but upon reaching the Lion's Head Nebula, dispatched a Basestar to investigate. The Basestar took on board a canister left by the Thirteenth Tribe. The canister contained an airborne virus that proved deadly to the Cylons. The virus persisted through the download process, so the Basestar that had been dispatched for the investigation was abandoned to avoid contamination. The colonial fleet discovered the Basestar and captured the ailing Cylons. The colonial fleet's attempt to use the virus to wipe out the Cylons was defeated when Helo, repulsed by the strategy, had the captive Cylons killed while out of range of a [[resurrection ship]].

Meanwhile, Boomer turned increasingly anti-human. She was charged with Hera's care, but Hera rejected her. During a truce negotiation, Boomer told Athena that her daughter was alive but sick on the Baseship. She invited Athena to come to the Baseship and rejoin her people, because the occupation showed that humans and Cylons were incompatible and that humans would never truly accept her.

==In other media==
Cylons have made appearances in other media besides tv series and movies, including novels, comic books, and a video game.

===Novels===
* In the novelization of the series pilot, the Cylons are described as a militaristic, reptilian race which has been conquering its way across the galaxy. The novelization is written by Glen Larson, the series creator, who originally intended the Cylons to be an alien species; and, in fact, dialog which was later edited out of "Saga of a Star World" illustrated this point. However, network censors were concerned about violence, so the Cylons became robots. By this time, two novels had been written describing the Cylons as multibrained aliens, so the Cylon Drone was invented to justify all the robots dying on-screen. As living, organic beings, the original Cylon troops could be promoted through the surgical implantation of a second brain. When a Cylon was elevated to Imperious Leader, he received a third brain.
* The novelization of the original series states that an elite class of Command Centurions act as executive officers to the Imperious Leader and are not subordinate to the IL-Series. In the TV series they are distinguished from other Command Centurions by black bands on their gold armor and are very rarely seen. Vulpa was originally of this class but had been demoted and stationed on ice planet Arcta.
* In the later novelization of the original series it is stated that there is a class lower than the typical Centurion, that of the Cylon Drone. Although appearing identical to Centurions, Drones are robots, not capable of sophisticated independent thought—beyond following simple instructions to perform menial tasks.

==== Multibrain status and built-in lie detectors ====
The Berkley book series also explored two other aspects of Cylon design. The first is the development of multiple brain status. This allows Cylons additional thinking and deductive abilities. The second is an unexplained talent for knowing when a human is lying, which was suggested in the episode "[[List of Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series) and Galactica 1980 episodes#Battlestar Galactica (TV series)|The Lost Warrior]]".

Presented in ''The Gun on Ice Planet Zero'' book, the second of the two novels written before the network insisted the Cylons become robots, their multibrain status is the surgical inclusion of an auxiliary brain, allowing for higher-level thinking abilities. The command centurion and garrison commander on planet Tairac, Vulpa, demonstrated this ability.

* Cylon centurions (the chrome soldiers) have single brain status.
* Command centurions have three brain status.
* Imperious leaders enjoy three or four brain status.
* IL-series Cylons, such as Lucifer and Specter, have second brain status.

===Comic books===
According to the [[Maximum Press]] comic of ''Battlestar Galactica'', just prior to the start of [[Cylon War|The Thousand Yahren War]], the Cylons's Imperious Leader made a deal with the mysterious and demonic [[Count Iblis]] (meaning "[[Satan]]" in the Arabic language) to betray his entire race in exchange for power that would allow him to "become like Count Iblis". Count Iblis, however, having lied about the process of "empowerment", instead changed the Imperious Leader into a cybernetic entity, more machine than organic being. Enraged, the Imperious Leader swore revenge and became more and more driven by conquest and warfare.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

In the Realm Press comic, the Cylons were originally led by a ruthless, conquest and expansionism-driven emperor named Sobekkta, one of the original living Cylons, who were a race of intelligent humanoid reptiles.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

In ''Battlestar Galactica'' # 16 ''Berserker!'' During a planetary search, Apollo unfortunately comes across a lone Mark III prototype Cylon. This advanced Cylon is more creative and adaptive like humans in its strategy making the Mark III more capable to defeat humans. However, the existing Cylons deemed this advanced Cylon prototype more a threat to them due to its unquenchable megalomania to rule so they marooned him far from the Cylon empire until needed (if ever).{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

===Video games===
In 1978, [[Mattel Electronics]] released a handheld electronic [[LED]] game based on the series, where the player tries to defend ''Galactica'' from [[kamikaze]] Cylon Raiders.<ref name="mattel-game-manual">{{cite web |title=Battlestar Galactica 'Space Alert' manual |url=http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Manuals/Mattel-BattlestarGalacticaManual.pdf |publisher=[[Mattel Electronics]] |access-date=December 4, 2015 |pages=1, 3 |year=1978 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201234412/http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Manuals/Mattel-BattlestarGalacticaManual.pdf |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
'''In television'''
* The [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|re-imagined series]] shows that the original Cylon models were extremely similar to the ones from the original series. In fact, actual props from the original were used in the display cases containing a Cylon Baseship and the upper torso and arms of a centurion.
* Two Cylon references can be witnessed in the ''[[Futurama]]'' series. In "[[Bendin' in the Wind]]", a Cylon is part of the musical duo ''Cylon and Garfunkel'', a parody of [[Simon and Garfunkel]]. In "[[The Six Million Dollar Mon]]", [[List of Futurama characters#Hermes Conrad|Hermes]] has both a Cylon eye and a Cylon 'member' when in bed with his wife, LaBarbara.
* In the ''[[Farscape]]'' episode "I Shrink, Therefore I Am", [[List of Farscape characters#John Crichton|Crichton]]'s ship is invaded by a race with bioengineered exoskeletons. "This is John Crichton paging the head cylon, pick up the phone imperious leader."
* The classic Cylons have also appeared on ''[[The Simpsons]]'' on several occasions, the most notable in "[[Mayored to the Mob]]" during a sci-fi convention. There's a quick gag in a boxing arena where three Centurions square off against [[R2-D2]] and [[C-3PO]] from ''[[Star Wars]]''. ("See the mighty robots from ''Battlestar Galactica'' fight the gay robots from ''Star Wars''!") They easily pin C-3PO to the floor, and R2 refuses to help.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 4, 2014|title=BBC – Cult – The Simpsons: Season Ten Episode Guide – Mayored to the Mob|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season10/page8.shtml|access-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904192307/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season10/page8.shtml|archive-date=September 4, 2014}}</ref>
* In the FOX animated series ''[[Family Guy]]'', the host of "KISS Forum" also hosts "Battlestar Galactica Forum" on Quahog's [[public-access television]] cable TV channel. He introduces the forum by putting a classic Centurion mask on and saying "Welcome to Battlestar Galactica Forum" in traditional Cylon computerized monotone.
* Several Cylons appear briefly in the ''[[South Park]]'' epic ''[[Imaginationland Episode I|Imaginationland]]'', as one of the evil fictional creations set free when the barrier between the "good" and "evil" halves of the imagination is destroyed by [[terrorists]].
* In the opening credits of certain seasons of ''[[The A-Team]]'', [[Dirk Benedict]] watches a Cylon walk past (while at the [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] tour), raises a finger and opens his mouth as if to say something, then gives up. Dirk Benedict played the character Starbuck in the original ''Battlestar Galactica'' series. This scene is later recreated on the animated show ''[[Family Guy]]''.{{Citation needed|reason=which Family Guy episode|date=November 2020}}
* In a third season episode of ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'', "Halloween Knight", the episode villain is shown briefly in a Cylon mask. Both series were created by [[Glen A. Larson]].
* Cylons were the focus of a short skit on the [[Adult Swim]] program ''[[Robot Chicken]]'', in which it is said that the original Cylon actors had so many problems walking around in their suits that they were constantly falling down.
* In ''[[The Replacements (TV series)|The Replacements]]'' episode "Space Family Daring", Riley finds a head of a Cylon in a cabinet on board the spaceship.
* In ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'':
** In the episode "Plankton's Army", [[Plankton and Karen|Plankton]] uses a robotic fish that features a revolving light over its "eyes" that is highly reminiscent of the Cylons' eyes.
** In another episode, "Komputer Overload", Plankton replaces his computer wife, Karen, with three robots made from random items lying around the Chum Bucket, one of which happens to be an old chrome-plated toaster, possibly meant to be a reference to the Colonials' nickname for the Cylon Centurions ("Toasters").
* In the CBS program ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', the character [[Sheldon Cooper|Sheldon]] makes Cylon toast.<ref>''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' Season 3 episode 6 The Cornhusker Vortex. Quote: "What's funny about Cylon toast?"</ref>
* In the ABC medical drama ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'', in season 12 episode 3, the character [[Maggie Pierce]] goes on a rant about being alone and refers to her half-sister [[Meredith Grey|Meredith]] as a Cylon. Quote: "You're a cylon, this is Galactica".
* In the ''[[New Girl]]'' episode "Backslide", [[Jessica Day (New Girl)|Jess]] thinks she is a Cylon because she cannot stay in relationships.

'''In other media'''
* Several Cylon Centurions make an appearance as [[animatronic]]s in the ''Alien Attack'' ride in [[Beverly Hills Cop III|''Beverly Hills Cop 3'']].
* In the 2017 film ''[[Kingsman: The Golden Circle]]'', Poppy's robot guard dogs have Cylon eye scanners.
* In the source code of [[Mozilla]] (and its [[Netscape Navigator|Netscape]] predecessor), the indeterminate progress bar that slides back and forth—rather than rolling or filling up from left to right—is referred to as the "Cylon".
* A Cylon lookalike robot is featured in the official music video for [[Bloc Party]]'s single, "[[Flux (Bloc Party song)|Flux]]".
* In the video game ''[[Persona 3]]'', one of the items the player can buy is a drink called "Cylon Tea", a pun on [[Ceylon tea]].
* The album ''[[Programmed to Love]]'' by British electronica band [[Bent (band)|Bent]] features the song "Cylons in Love".
* In the [[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse]] ''[[Star Wars]]'' comic series ''[[Tag and Bink]]'', Cylons appear as the Emperor's Guards, Tag and Bink, in addition to many other references to other science fiction franchises.
* British comedians [[Mitchell and Webb]] parody the re-imagined series in a sketch in which the human crew fear that the ship has been infiltrated by "fracking machines", apparently oblivious to their clearly robotic colleague that orders oil in the staff canteen.
*[[Larami]] came out with a [[soap bubble|bubble]] toy in 1978 called the [[Battlestar Galactica Cylon Bubble Machine]] as well as a line of other inexpensive toys.<ref name="lurexlounge_201207a">{{cite web | url=http://www.lurexlounge.com/bsg/larami.php | title=Larami | work=Battlestar Galactica Memorabilia | access-date=August 20, 2010 | first=David | last=Moss | quote=Although Larami Corp made some of the worst Battlestar Galactica toys they did seem to make more than anyone else. So I have now had to make a section just for there [sic] amazing creations. This is by no means all of the items they made, but it gives you a good idea of the quality and quantity that were made. | archive-date=July 14, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714071537/http://www.lurexlounge.com/bsg/larami.php | url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Cylons}}

* {{Battlestarwiki|Cylons|Cylons (TOS)}} (Original series)
* {{Battlestarwiki|Cylons|Cylons (RDM)}} (Reboot series)
* {{Battlestarwiki|Cylons|Humanoid Cylon}}

{{Battlestar Galactica}}

[[Category:Battlestar Galactica Cylon characters| ]]
[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial species and races]]
[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial robots]]
[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial cyborgs]]
[[Category:Fictional mass murderers]]
[[Category:Battlestar Galactica characters]]
[[Category:Fictional war criminals]]
[[Category:Fictional soldiers]]
[[Category:Robot supervillains]]
[[Category:Extraterrestrial supervillains]]