Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Mormon influences in “The Living Legend”
Starbuck and Apollo are discussing Cassiopeia’s relationship with Cain:
STARBUCK: Look, I don’t care if Cassiopeia feels something for this Cain. I just don’t understand the, uh, combination. I mean he’s uh, he’s uh
APOLLO: Too old? Starbuck, I think you better read up on your Book of the Word, some of the Elders of Kobol were married to some very young wives
STARBUCK Wives? Aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?
The “Book of the Word” and the elders having young wives (and notice the plural) sounds like those Mormon marriage practices where the elder Mormons had many young wives.
It’s a pretty strange thing for Apollo to burst out saying in this situation, isn’t it? Boxey is the one who truly has a handle on things:
BOXEY: Poor Starbuck. Oh well. He still has Athena…
Damn right he does! Starbuck is an idiot for not pursuing a relationship Athena, who offers the following advantages over Cassiopeia:
- Way prettier
- Smarter (she can pilot a Viper and operate the computers on the bridge)
- The Commander’s daughter
- Not a prostitute
* * *
Old Testament reference #1: Cain is named after the Cain from the Book of Genesis who killed his brother.
In this version of the story, Adama, who represents the good brother, survives, and Cain, the bad brother, dies (presumably) in battle against the Cylons, thus redeeming himself at the end.
* * *
Old Testament reference #2: The Cylon “outer capital” Gamoray sounds suspiciously like the city of Gomorrah that God destroyed in the Book of Genesis.