Introduction Boomer Athena Et Cetera Fanlisting Site
Cylon
At the end of the miniseries, we learn that Boomer is a Cylon, something of which she is completely unaware. That doesn't last, though, because later in the series Boomer starts to feel like something's wrong with her, like something's different about her, and as the show goes on she begins to suspect what is real - that she is indeed a Cylon.
As a sleeper agent, she was programmed to not only act human, but to believe she is human as well. She has a past, and although she's an orphan, she has memories of parents on Troy.
Along with memories of a past, Boomer feels very human emotions: happiness, worry, pain, sadness, and most important to her, love. She feels human and thinks she's human, and that's why it's so hard for her to cope with the changes around her, her instincts as a Cylon, and clues that lead to destruction she has done.
In the second episode of the first season, Boomer wakes up dripping wet and finds a G-4 explosive in her bag, conveniently stocked with a towel and a change of clothes. She returns it to the Small Arms locker and finds that six other G-4s are missing, and later in the episode the water tanks on Galactica explode. This leads me to suspect that her body subconsciously performs tasks programmed into her as a Cylon.
The clues remain though, and Boomer puts two and two together. It brings her down, and she begins to hate herself. Even after she asks Gaius to detect if she's a Cylon and he lies about the results of her test, her happiness is only momentary, as I believe deep down she knows what she is. She even said it to Tyrol, and while he rubbed it off as a snide remark, I believe she was making a serious self-revelation.
It can be argued that Boomer's hatred for herself comes from her instinctual loathing of Cylons, something she developed as a Lieutenant on Battlestar Galactica. She sees Cylons as evil, and why shouldn't she? They wiped out most of the human race, and she is an officer in a battle against them. She grew up thinking they are evil, and realizing she is one was understandably tough for her. Hatred is a logical feeling to possess.
I don't think that's it, though. I think Boomer's hatred for herself comes from her longing to be human, and wanting so much to be loved. This is drawn from two simple and separate events.
First is Tyrol's breakup with her. It crushes her, as evidenced from the tear build-up in her eyes, and because she feels the need to be strong, anger is her defense. He took away her love, and even after her attempted suicide, she is bitter toward him, and probably because it's easier. It's easier to be bitter than hurt.
Second is Boomer's appreciation of the Cylon Raider brought on board by Starbuck. She tells Tyrol to treat it like a pet, and she pets it like something special to her. To almost everyone else (Starbuck aside, but hey, she's weird.), it's something gross and despicable. Boomer treats it with an almost fondness and respect. Because of this, I just can't see her loathing Cylons.
And so goes on her inner struggle. I think Boomer begins to accept that she's not and will never be human, and I think that's what brought her to her lowest low, when she attempted suicide. She doesn't attempt to get Tyrol back, even when he reaches out to help her, and that makes me believe she's given up on being human. I think all that remains in her mind is wanting to know who and what she really is.
Silent Lucidity was created and is maintained by me, Todd, and is part of Dragonzord,net. This shrine was made for fun and is entirely non-profit. It is made up of my own personal opinions and perception. Sadly, I don't own the Eights or Battlestar Galactica. They are property of SciFi. Please don't sue me.