[Cylon-Knight]

Classic 1978 Battlestar Galactica... the Cylon Empire is bent on the destruction of mankind lead by the cold and cruel Imperious Leader.

The Imperious Leader was around in The Saga of Star World... had a few "here and there" mentions in the show, another appearance after the pilot... why not work him in the show more?
(I know that Glen Larson didn't care for the costume to much, but the character is what I'm talking about here.)

If you needed some space alien evil drama why not go to the source (the I.L. himself)



What are your thoughts as to why the character so overlooked? Mostly the Cylon threat was headed up by Baltar, a human!?

[obsolete toaster]

Cylon-Knight, on 15 December 2010 - 11:29 PM, said:

Classic 1978 Battlestar Galactica... the Cylon Empire is bent on the destruction of mankind lead by the cold and cruel Imperious Leader.

The Imperious Leader was around in The Saga of Star World... had a few "here and there" mentions in the show, another appearance after the pilot... why not work him in the show more?
(I know that Glen Larson didn't care for the costume to much, but the character is what I'm talking about here.)

If you needed some space alien evil drama why not go to the source (the I.L. himself)



What are your thoughts as to why the character so overlooked? Mostly the Cylon threat was headed up by Baltar, a human!?

I agree; it always seemed a bit weird to me that a human (Baltar) was so adamantly seeking his own race's destruction. It's illogical (not to mention stupid).
I mean, what about human women? Didn't Baltar have ANY kind of a sex drive?? Did he want all women killed, too? And for what, Cylon gratitude?
You'd think an evil, smug bastard like Baltar would seek power (even Cylon power) to impress a woman or something like that. As he is, I find him without any rationale for his actions whatsoever; men in the real world tend to seek power and wealth to appeal to the opposite sex. So, what's Baltar's "thing" (as Big Bang Theory's Penny would say!)? Are he and Lucifer... uh, closer than we want to imagine?? What's the motivation here?
I just never found TOS Baltar to have any sort of plausible motivation (even for a maniacal villain).
And you'd think his repeated failure would've had him beheaded (again; if you'd seen the theatrical-release/Canadian version of "Saga of a Star World").
If I were IL, I'd think that Baltar were deliberately frakking up as to give his species a fighting chance...

But back to the IL.
The reasons I think he was relegated to limited guest star role (he's only seen in "Saga..." "Lost Planet of the Gods part 1" and "Living Legend part 2" if I'm not mistaken) is because Glen Larson probably thought (wisely or not) that a human villain (Baltar) would give the Cylons a human face for the audience to boo and hiss to (ala the Borg Queen of "Star Trek First Contact"). John Colicos did chew up the series; and no one is more hated than a genocidal traitor, right?
This is one (of many) areas where NuBSG wisely rewrote the BSG book and made Baltar a more 'real' person (more a victim of his own ego and vice, rather than a evil-for-evil's sake bad guy who is totally devoid of motive or rationale).

Also, it could've been that they were unable to secure Patrick MacNee for the full run of the series (for the voice; PMcN did triple duty on the show; he was the opening "there are those who believe...." narrator, he was the voice of the IL, and he was Count Iblis in "War of the Gods", one of TOS' best). Another actor did the IL voice in the G1980 episode, "Space Croppers" but it was horrible; sounded like a constipated Ray Milland imitation. I also noticed you never saw the IL in full lighting or in high detail; maybe they felt that the costume was not good enough to shoot in close up and in full lighting? Just a thought....


Good topic, CK.

[Cylon-Knight]

I agree on all that - but TOS Baltar did say that he wanted his Colony subjugated under him.

I think he thought the Cylons would leave some humans alive for him to rule as part of his “payment.” Truly just misguided and blinded by evil. He was after power, power over the humans he wanted to subjugate and also just to hold power in the Cylon Empire too… he was above others, issuing commands he was a sadistic Vice Roy of a freak!

I think the "human face" on the villain is a good point. What expression could the mask of the I.L. give to evoke the same drama and feeling that John could give with his performance. Also it is easier to relate/hate a human villain than some lizard (but really a robot!) with glowing eyes.

[obsolete toaster]

Cylon-Knight, on 16 December 2010 - 12:21 AM, said:

I agree on all that - but TOS Baltar did say that he wanted his Colony subjugated under him.

I think he thought the Cylons would leave some humans alive for him to rule as part of his “payment.” Truly just misguided and blinded by evil. He was after power, power over the humans he wanted to subjugate and also just to hold power in the Cylon Empire too… he was above others, issuing commands he was a sadistic Vice Roy of a freak!

I think the "human face" on the villain is a good point. What expression could the mask of the I.L. give to evoke the same drama and feeling that John could give with his performance. Also it is easier to relate/hate a human villain than some lizard (but really a robot!) with glowing eyes.

Again, same rationale for the Borg queen.

And you're right; Baltar thought the IL would let him 'keep' his colony. But what was his motive AFTER the IL double-crossed him?
Just saving his own a$$? Doesn't seem like enough, IMO. Maybe his constant bungling was his way of 'helping' the humans after all....

[Cylon-Knight]

It was odd for Baltar to have the spot of "main baddy" too. Even Lucifer would have been more "real" as the one hunting the humans down. I guess a robot in charge was just too much of a stretch for the time, especially with the limited facial "emotions" like I was talking about – even though in the scope of the show that would have been more “correct.”

[Cylon-Knight]

P.S. Just watched the part in Space Croppers with the IL voice - yeah, BAD. The Centurion actor was not that great either - TRYING to hard too walk like a robot... ugh... Even the Centurion voices are a "tad off" now and then?! *SIGH* ........ "G1980"

Thee IL was however trying to be bad! He ordered the food destroyed. Good-um-EVIL move

[obsolete toaster]

Cylon-Knight, on 16 December 2010 - 12:30 AM, said:

It was odd for Baltar to have the spot of "main baddy" too. Even Lucifer would have been more "real" as the one hunting the humans down. I guess a robot in charge was just too much of a stretch for the time, especially with the limited facial "emotions" like I was talking about – even though in the scope of the show that would have been more “correct.”

Agreed!

[obsolete toaster]

Cylon-Knight, on 16 December 2010 - 12:37 AM, said:

P.S. Just watched the part in Space Croppers with the IL voice - yeah, BAD. The Centurion actor was not that great either - TRYING to hard too walk like a robot... ugh... Even the Centurion voices are a "tad off" now and then?! *SIGH* ........ "G1980"

Thee IL was however trying to be bad! He ordered the food destroyed. Good-um-EVIL move

I thought the centurion in that episode had a California "Valley Girl" accent;
"Like, by your command. Destroy humans, whatever.... gag me with a tuning fork...."

[Tom]

Saw the title of the thread and thought you were calling for me..guess not LOL

[Cylon-Knight]

Tom, on 03 February 2011 - 11:56 AM, said:

Saw the title of the thread and thought you were calling for me..guess not LOL

Yes, indeed... ATTENTION. ATTENTION. PRESENTING HIS EMMEMIENCE OUR IMPERIOUS TOM!

[obsolete toaster]

Cylon-Knight, on 06 February 2011 - 06:04 PM, said:

Yes, indeed... ATTENTION. ATTENTION. PRESENTING HIS EMMEMIENCE OUR IMPERIOUS TOM!

Stand up straight, CK.... and put out that fumerello!

[Cylon-Knight]

SALUTE!

[KnightGalactica]

ALL HAIL THE IMPERIOUS LEADER ! BY YOUR COMMAND!