Why Battlestar Galactica Only Had 12 Cylon Models (Not Including Daniel) (2024)

Battlestar Galactica'sCylons are a Cybernetic race made up of 12 distinct models, and fans have wondered for years about the reason why they were limited to such a specific (and relatively low) number of variations.Battlestar Galactica predominantly takes place on the titular battleship and spacecraft carrier after human civilization on the Twelve Colonies is decimated by a Cylon attack. The Cylons' origins differ greatly between the differentBattlestar Galacticacontinuities, but the 12 Cylon models have become an integral part ofBattlestar Galactica's story.

An artificially-intelligent race of machines, the Cylons evolved from mechanical devices into sentient beings, with later models incorporating biological components to near-perfectly replicate human biology.In addition toBattlestar Galactica's obvious technology warning, it's also filled with symbolism and minor details that make it cerebral sci-fi. This led to its continued popularity even after it ended its original (rebooted) run and has also prompted another Battlestar Galacticareboot series.

Despite the somewhat complicated nature ofBattlestar Galactica's story, the reason behind the 12 distinct Cylon models (not including the Number Sevens, who were corrupted and wiped out) is relatively straightforward. Not only is there an obvious religious reference in the number, but there's also the parallel it draws between the Cylons and the Twelve Colonies and various other references to the numbers 12 and 13. The number of Cylon models linking to other aspects ofBattlestar Galacticais perhaps a coincidence, but the nature of the Cylons and their general history is especially interesting when considered alongside the apparent biblical reference.

Why Battlestar Galactica Only Had 12 Cylon Models (Not Including Daniel) (1)

DespiteBattlestar Galactica's Cylons never having a plan, their creation itself was certainly no coincidence. The "Final Five" Cylons - evolved descendants of the Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol - developed eight more biological Cylon Models (making for a total of 13). The Sevens were corrupted and wiped out, making thefinal number of models 12 - drawing a parallel with the tribes/colonies of Kobol, with the Final Five (and by extension, all Cylons) being descended from the Thirteenth Tribe.

There's also the obvious religious significance of the numbers 12 and 13, which is made more relevant by most humanoid Cylons' monotheistic religious ideology.When considered alongsideStarbuck's Battlestar Galacticaending twist- which feeds into the show'srecurringtheme of polytheism - the use of the numbers 12 and 13 (and their biblical connotations) helps to further define the contrast betweenBattlestar Galactica's Cylon and human characters. With the Cylons largely depicted as monotheistic religious zealots, the 12 Cylon models (with a forgotten Thirteenth) act as a link between their origins on Kobol and their creation, which itself draws on deeper religious themes outside of the show's continuity.

Battlestar Galacticais a franchise that's never shied away from addressing deep philosophical themes, and this is especially evident in the origins of the Cylons. By the timeBattlestar Galacticaended after season 4,it had covered a number of existential and theological themes and issues with both its human characters and its Cylons. While 12 Cylon models might seem to be an arbitrary number, it's actually yet another layer to the deeper themes ofBattlestar Galactica.