Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007)

The television film Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007) is a re-imagining of the popular series and premiered on multiple networks, including Sci Fi in the US, Space in Canada, and Sky One in the UK. It takes place during the first thirty days of Lee Adama’s command on the Pegasus, after ‘The Captain’s Hand’ but before ‘Lay Down Your Burdens’, utilizing flashbacks to showcase Rear Admiral Cain’s orders during and after the Cylon attack. Kendra Shaw, who sees herself as Cain’s legacy, connects her actions during the post-apocalyptic aftermath with the present. Meanwhile, viewers witness Lieutenant William Adama and Helena Cain as children on Tauron during the final day of the first Cylon War. The flashbacks also reveal Adama’s discovery of a lab where humans are being experimented on by Cylons and introduce the first Cylon hybrid. In addition, they show how Helena Cain left her younger sister behind during a Cylon invasion of their planet.

Finally, these events come together as they mark the end of the war against the Cylons. The characters in the show are faced with challenging situations (Adama struggles to rescue prisoners and Cain searches for her sister). These experiences heavily impact their actions throughout the series. Cain, using a pocket knife as an analogy, teaches Shaw to adapt and fight ruthlessly in war. This knife is later inherited by Kendra and eventually passed on to Kara Thrace. On the other hand, Admiral Adama imparts a different lesson to his son Lee – they must not become heartless killers. As the commander of Pegasus, Lee’s main goal is to restore trust and integrity within the troubled command. In doing so, he promotes Kendra Shaw to major despite receiving praise from Cain but backlash from other Pegasus officers regarding her performance.