Cylon (reimagining) - Humanoid Cylons - Number One (John Cavil)

Number One (John Cavil)

The main antagonist of the series, John Cavil first appears on Galactica in the two-part episode "Lay Down Your Burdens", posing as a priest. His true identity is revealed when a second copy boards Galactica and reveals his Cylon nature. Cavil's role in society is one of contradictions and occasionally serves as a devil's advocate, pointing out the absurdity of his fellow Cylons and their religious zealotry. He was revealed to be the first model in the episode "Six of One".

Despite his talk of religion and his alter-ego as a priest, Cavil has a sadistic, cruel and Machiavellian streak in his personality which none of the other Cylon models share (going so far as to torture Saul Tigh by gouging out one of his eyes and showing it to him). He also took exquisite pleasure blackmailing Saul's wife (Ellen Tigh) into providing sexual favours in exchange for releasing her husband Saul from Cylon captivity on New Caprica. Cavil is also an atheist (the only one of the seven models who is one), and will often mockingly make quotation signs with his hands when saying the word "God". His opinions of humans are also driven by contradictions; despite being one of the most violently anti-human Cylon models, and even advocating a policy of culling humanity down to a "controllable number", Cavil claimed to have been against the destruction of the Twelve Colonies and advocates a unique Cylon Society, not one that emulates its creators. After finally arranging Colonel Tigh's release, Cavil manipulated the situation even further by again blackmailing Ellen Tigh to betray the human resistance on New Caprica and threatening to kill her husband if she did not comply.

Cavil is portrayed as being aloof compared to the other models, though it has been implied by Cylon Model 8 "Boomer" that Cavil has begun mentoring her with his philosophy regarding Cylons not emulating humanity. Cavil is aware of aspects of Cylon lore that the others models are not aware of; his knowledge of the "final five" led to him "boxing" Cylon Model Three D'Anna (as well as all other Number Threes) in order to ensure that whatever information about the Final Five she gained were "boxed" with her.

It is revealed in the fourth season that he and the other seven Cylon models were created by Ellen Tigh and the other four final five Cylons, and he was made in her father's image, as well as being given the name "John" by her. He hates this name and shows deep resentment towards Ellen at being 'limited' by having to live in a human-like body.

Cavil (John) was the first Humanoid Cylon created by the Final Five. Cavil with the help of the Final Five created the other six humanoid Cylons. Therefore Cavil knew about the Final Five all along. The Final Five showed the Centurions how to make Humanoid Cylons in attempt to give them human characteristics (love, mercy). The Final Five thought that these characteristics would prevent the same type of war that occurred on the thirteenth colony (the original Earth). For some reason, Cavil rejected the human trait of mercy and turned against the Final Five. Before the war on Caprica started, Cavil killed the Final Five by putting them in a compartment and then cutting off their oxygen. When the Final Five were resurrected and unboxed, John wiped their memories and implanted new memories for their life in the Twelve Colonies. He also altered the original programming of the seven other Humanoid Cylon models so that searching for, talking about, and even thinking about the Final Five became strictly forbidden.

Number Ones are played by Dean Stockwell.