Ellen Tigh
The manipulative wife who turned out to be the last of the Final Five Cylons.
Ellen Tigh is a fictional character from the 2004 Battlestar Galactica reboot series, portrayed by Kate Vernon from 2004 to 2009. She is introduced as the manipulative wife of series regular Colonel Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan) during the first three seasons. In season four, she is revealed to be the last of the Final Five Cylons, synthetic humanoid machines who are the precursors to the Cylon antagonists. Her character bridges the human and Cylon worlds, with her resurrection and self-realization depicted in the episode "No Exit."
Quick Facts
- Series
- Battlestar Galactica
- First
- "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down" (2004)
- Last
- Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009)
- Portrayed by
- Kate Vernon
- Species
- Humanoid Cylon
- Gender
- Female
- Spouse
- Saul Tigh
- Affiliation
- Final Five Cylons
Lore & Background
Ellen Tigh is the wife of Colonel Saul Tigh, XO of the Battlestar Galactica and second-in-command to Commander William Adama. She is described as "hard-drinking, attention-seeking and promiscuous," but devoted to Tigh despite her selfishness. She unapologetically uses her sexuality to get what she wants for herself and her husband. In season three, she betrays the human Resistance to the Cylon Cavil to protect Tigh's life, leading to her execution by Tigh himself in "Exodus." In season four, she is revealed as the final Cylon, with series creator Ronald D. Moore noting that her relationship with Tigh "really sort of anchored that couple as something that was very special." Her resurrection and self-realization are depicted in "No Exit," where she argues that Cylons should embrace human qualities like love and compassion.
Reader's Guide
Ellen Tigh is introduced as the beautiful but troublesome wife of Colonel Saul Tigh. She is well known to Commander Adama, who notes she was rumored to have "slept with more than half the fleet while Saul was in space." Her manipulation is both conscious and unconscious, and she reacts to her husband's weakness by attacking. In season two, when Tigh is forced to take command of Galactica, Ellen attempts to both guide and push him to action.
In season three, she betrays the human Resistance to protect Tigh, leading to her execution. In season four, she is revealed as the last Final Five Cylon. Vernon said of the character after the reveal, "There is so much more to Ellen than her need for power... There's a depth to Ellen.
Her heart is much bigger than anyone realized." In "No Exit," Ellen argues for the value of human emotions and creativity, and is described as key to breaking the cycle of conflict with the Cylons.
Did You Know?
- Kate Vernon first appeared as Ellen Tigh on December 13, 2004, in the ninth episode of season one, 'Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down'.
- Series creator Ronald D. Moore initially told Vernon there was no way for her character to return after being killed off in season three, but later changed his mind for season four.
- Ellen Tigh is revealed as the last of the Final Five Cylons in the season four episode 'Sometimes a Great Notion'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are her powers or role?
As a Cylon, she possesses the ability to resurrect after death and retains memories from previous lifetimes. Her primary function was to guide Saul Tigh toward his destiny as part of the Final Five plan.
Is she human or a machine?
Ellen is a biological Cylon model capable of aging and dying like humans, yet she retains synthetic consciousness and resurrection capabilities. She maintains her cover identity as Saul Tigh's wife until her true nature is exposed in the fourth season.
More in Characters
Elsewhere in Battlestar Galactica
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