Kara Thrace

Lore & Background

Kara Thrace was born on Picon, but because her mother was in the Colonial Marines, she grew up as a military brat bouncing between bases on different planets. She has no particular attachment to Picon and lived on Caprica for some years before the series begins. As this information is from the series bible but never stated on-screen, it is unknown if Kara is canonically considered a Caprican or a Picon. She intended to be a professional pyramid ballplayer until her knee gave out, then joined the military, finding more acceptance than she had at home as an abused child.

Her mother, Socrata Thrace, served as a corporal in the first Cylon war, but Kara was the first in the family to become a commissioned officer. Her father, Dreilide Thrace, was a pianist who left the family when Kara was a child after Socrata forced him to choose between his piano playing and a steadier job. As a flight instructor, Kara met student Zak Adama and became romantically involved with him. Although Zak told her he did not want special treatment, Kara passed him even though he failed basic flight, unable to crush his dreams.

This leniency cost Zak his life when he died on his first Viper mission. After his death, Starbuck met his father, William Adama, who realized she and Zak had been engaged and brought her under his command as a lieutenant. Zak's death created a wedge between Adama and his other son, Lee "Apollo" Adama, who blamed his father for creating an expectation that made Zak feel he needed to pursue being a Viper pilot. After the funeral, Lee broke off all contact with his father and Starbuck.

Starbuck has a natural talent for flying and is considered Galactica's best pilot, though she is also known as an avid card player and drinker with an eruptive temper. Bill Adama loves Kara despite her flaws and considers her a surrogate daughter. However, Starbuck and Colonel Tigh share a mutual sense of loathing, despite their similarities. At the time of the attack on the Colonies, she was second in command of Galactica's fighter wing.

Reader's Guide

Kara Thrace begins as a Viper pilot second in command of Galactica's fighter wing, known for her exceptional flying skill, gambling, drinking, and eruptive temper. After the Cylon attack, she is released from the brig to join the battle. Her secret about passing Zak Adama despite his failure haunts her; she confesses to Lee and later to Adama, who orders her to reinstate washed-out trainees. She survives a crash on a desert moon, pilots a captured Cylon Raider back to the fleet, and recovers from a broken knee that sidelines her from flying. She interrogates Leoben, a Number Two, and develops a complex respect for him before his execution. She is then tasked by President Roslin to retrieve the Arrow of Apollo from Caprica. Throughout, she struggles with guilt, faith, and relationships with the Adama family, while remaining Galactica's best pilot.

Legacy and Thematic Parallels

Kara Thrace bears some parallels to the original 1978 Starbuck character: both are portrayed as hot-headed and arrogant fighter pilots, considered the best in the fleet, but with a tendency to challenge authorities and get into trouble. Both are avid gamblers and enjoy drinking, smoking cigars, and having sex. Both have crashed and been marooned on a deserted planet, using a downed Cylon ship to make an escape. Both are best friends with Apollo.

Kara had a relationship with Apollo's late brother Zak (mirroring the original Starbuck's on-and-off relationship with Apollo's sister Athena), affecting her relationship with Apollo and Zak's father, William Adama. Whereas the original Starbuck, played by Dirk Benedict, was a slick, well-groomed ladies' man, Kara appears more rugged and grimy. The characters differ not only in respect of their gender – complicating Kara's relationships with other characters – but also in outward appearance.