Is the Fifth switched on?

[Aurora]

So...did the fifth cylon get switched on like the other four, or is he/she still a sleeper? If so, why didnt the Watchtower signal activate them?

[EverlastingGaze]

I've been wondering about that too. I think the Final Cylon has always been "switched on" and they are aware of both their own and the other four's true nature.
I also think that they are orchestrating things somehow.

I could be completely wrong but I don't know how else they would explain not being turned on in the nebula. Unless of course it isn't a core character, which I don't think is likely.

[buerger23]

I think the fifth is dead! It would explain why D'anna was sorry. And why they haven't been revealed yet!

Although they could just be hiding and D'anna did something to him/her that was near unforgivable?

But the question is why isn't D'anna telling anyone about it?

[genji2000]

Originally Posted by Aurora

So...did the fifth cylon get switched on like the other four, or is he/she still a sleeper? If so, why didnt the Watchtower signal activate them?

Maybe she didn't reach the Ionian Nebula until right at the end of Crossroads Part 2; maybe she was already activated. The Watchtower Four have only been activated as Cylons, like Boomer was in Season One. They don't yet appear to understand their nature or destiny as the Final Five.

I read an interesting note on Saul, the first king of Israel, how he led the resistance against the Ammonites, the occupying force in his city, Jabesh-Gilead, and how when they conquered his city the surrendering citizens had their right eyes removed as a mark of their enslavement.

[Aurora]

Originally Posted by genji2000

I read an interesting note on Saul, the first king of Israel, how he led the resistance against the Ammonites, the occupying force in his city, Jabesh-Gilead, and how when they conquered his city the surrendering citizens had their right eyes removed as a mark of their enslavement.

Wow..that is very interesting. Can't be a coincidence.

So, even though the 4 are now aware they are cylons, it is interesting that they don't also know their destiny/purpose/history/true natures. Will this come when they are finally joined with the fifth, or will there be another signal? It seems like they would be the ones in control at that point. D'Anna would have to submit to their leadership. I wonder why she doesn't already? It aggravated me how she just took over as leader once she was returned.

[barnmaddo]

Originally Posted by buerger23

I think the fifth is dead! It would explain why D'anna was sorry. And why they haven't been revealed yet!

I assumed D'anna was saying sorry for being an ass and trying to kill Sam back on Caprica (S2E18 Downloaded). Hmm but if you're right and D'anna/Cylons mostly permanently killed the fifth, oh that would be good.

If the fifth is with the fleet and is not Starbuck, then they're almost certainly turned on. Dead fifth/Other, I'd guess that their also turned on.

[genji2000]

Originally Posted by Aurora

So, even though the 4 are now aware they are cylons, it is interesting that they don't also know their destiny/purpose/history/true natures. Will this come when they are finally joined with the fifth, or will there be another signal? It seems like they would be the ones in control at that point. D'Anna would have to submit to their leadership. I wonder why she doesn't already? It aggravated me how she just took over as leader once she was returned.

I'm only assuming they don't understand their purpose, but they didn't know what to look for on Kara's Viper so I think it's a reasonable assumption. I don't know if this issue will even be tackled - maybe their destiny will only be apparent to them after it's been fulfilled. For the sake of speculation though, I might guess that once all five are reunited they may have an epiphany. I think it's interesting that Col. Tigh's forename in early drafts was Paul, not Saul, in that Saul of Tarsus had an epiphany on the road to Damascus. An epiphany being the moment of clarification when you 'see the light' could relate to "the five lights of the apocalypse rising, struggling towards the light." It's only conjecture.

As for them leading the Cylons - I'm not sure the Cylons see them as leaders as much as gifted children to be loved and nurtured. They don't seem to know their ultimate purpose. Whether D'Anna knows they don't know I don't know, but it may be important that she didn't push Tory into a leadership role. It wasn't Tory who talked D'Anna down from the precipice, but Gaius, possibly in his role as the Chosen One. The Final Five may be agents, catalysts, not leaders. But it's only conjecture.

[LSOP]

I think the 5th is Boomer, and she is activated, and although she knows she's a cylon, she thinks she is just another 8, and not one of the final 5. I don't know the exact moment she was activated, but it seemed to take hold of her over time, like a gradual awakening, and was definitely in place before "Water".

[genji2000]

Originally Posted by LSOP

I think the 5th is Boomer, and she is activated, and although she knows she's a cylon, she thinks she is just another 8, and not one of the final 5. I don't know the exact moment she was activated, but it seemed to take hold of her over time, like a gradual awakening, and was definitely in place before "Water".

I'm not sure I agree with that. I think everything prior to Kobol's Last Gleaming part 2 was depression caused by a doubt over her true nature (i.e. as a Cylon). In a similar way we saw Tyrol beat the crap out of Cally and go through equally depressing dreams and doubts, culminating in his session with psychologist Cavil, yet he was clearly not activated until later at the Ionian Nebula.

Of course it's debatable because some of Boomer's actions prior to KLG2 were in accordance with her Cylon programming.

[LSOP]

Originally Posted by genji2000

I'm not sure I agree with that. I think everything prior to Kobol's Last Gleaming part 2 was depression caused by a doubt over her true nature (i.e. as a Cylon). In a similar way we saw Tyrol beat the crap out of Cally and go through equally depressing dreams and doubts, culminating in his session with psychologist Cavil, yet he was clearly not activated until later at the Ionian Nebula.

Of course it's debatable because some of Boomer's actions prior to KLG2 were in accordance with her Cylon programming.

What I'm calling her activation is when the first real uncontrollable cylon programming or abilities kicked in. I differentiate that with her conscious realization that she's a cylon, and also with her conscious realization that she is one of the final five. The latter I believe she has not had yet.

Actually maybe there is no actual "activation". Maybe there are just things that start happening, like hearing music, or shooting commanders, or giving red-eye signals to raiders, that make them finally realize that have always been cylons. Then with a little more deduction, and identification by D'Anna, they realize they are F5.

[genji2000]

Originally Posted by LSOP

What I'm calling her activation is when the first real uncontrollable cylon programming or abilities kicked in. I differentiate that with her conscious realization that she's a cylon, and also with her conscious realization that she is one of the final five. The latter I believe she has not had yet.

Actually maybe there is no actual "activation". Maybe there are just things that start happening, like hearing music, or shooting commanders, or giving red-eye signals to raiders, that make them finally realize that have always been cylons. Then with a little more deduction, and identification by D'Anna, they realize they are F5.

Like, they always felt different, a little bit odd, but then so do a lot of humans. Gradually it dawns on them that it might be something more than being a bit odd. Then suddenly something happens that can't be explained any other way (like meeting fifteen of yourself) and you eventually admit what you already know.

That sounds reasonable.

[Wouter]

If Boomer is the 5th, then she is almost certainly unaware of that, IMO. She may be "activated" in the sense that she is getting commands from her subconscious/deep programming though, just like happened in S1 with the sleeper programming from the normal Cylons. If she is the 5th, the sleeper programming would actually be of the 5 all along I suppose, but with 2 layers, one of which the 7 think was theirs.

[Captin Jenkins]

Whoever the fifth is, If he or she is in the fleet then I don't think that he/she is a sleeper like the Watchtower-Four were. Whoever it is knows what they are and is working undercover possibly orchestrating things from behind the scenes.

[Aurora]

Is the fifth even in the fleet? D'Anna said he/she was not. Maybe they have never been part of events in person, but telepathically or omnipresent, and perhaps he/she is waiting on Earth. The writers said they've known since S1 who the FF would be...that doesn't mean it has to be a character from that Season, per se. Or am I wrong about this? It is an important distinction.

[genji2000]

Originally Posted by Aurora

Is the fifth even in the fleet? D'Anna said he/she was not. Maybe they have never been part of events in person, but telepathically or omnipresent, and perhaps he/she is waiting on Earth. The writers said they've known since S1 who the FF would be...that doesn't mean it has to be a character from that Season, per se. Or am I wrong about this? It is an important distinction.

It depends on whether the Fifth was on the rebel Basestar or back in the Cylon fleet when D'Anna said only four were in the colonial fleet. If the Fifth was on the Basestar (which has now joined the colonial fleet) then he/she must now be in the fleet, possibly even on Earth (e.g. Roslin, Helo or Baltar).

The Writers said they've known from the end of Season One who the Final Cylon is. The Watchtower Four weren't identified until part way through Season Three. Is the indication that the Fifth has been in the show since the beginning a different quote or is it inferred from the Final Cylon being known since Season One? If the former then (misdirection notwithstanding) we have to assume that he/she appeared (or was at least mentioned) in Season One.

It is an important distinction, and I think you're right to point it out.

I think it unlikely that the Fifth is on Earth waiting for them. How could D'Anna recognise him/her if that is the case? I think she does know who all five are because she was quite clear that only four of them were in the colonial fleet.