In the latest episode of Sci-Fi's Battlestar Galactica, President Laura Roslin's aide, Billy Keikeya (played by Paul Campbell), is shot protecting the love of his life, petty Officer Dualla (Kandyse McClure). This was one of the most moving episodes of Galactica's second season, especially when Billy dies in the arms of Dualla who had just rejected his marriage proposal.
Billy was one of the secondary characters in this sci-fi drama who was introduced in the miniseries and had a recurring role throughout the first two seasons of Galactica's run. But was it necessary to kill off Billy in Episode 216, appropriately entitled "Sacrifice"?
This reviewer thinks it was. Billy had an innocence about him that shone through in the limited appearances he made. In fact, he was so squeaky clean that at times it did not look like he was aware of what was going on around him. According to actor Paul Campbell who plays Billy, "He [Billy] is incredibly insecure and has no history of relationships with females, and that makes it more difficult for them [Dee & Billy]" (in David Bassom's Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion, p. 129).
In keeping with Campbell's statements, take his proposing to Dualla (Dee) in this episode. She is taken aback because she cannot believe Billy wants to move this relationship to a whole new level. Not only is Billy unaware of Dee's true feelings, but he also does not see that she has set her sights on a new man, Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama. It is this obliviousness that really makes Billy a liability to the show. And, as Galactica is a very dark series with good always intermixing with evil, Billy just does not fit into the show's basic premise. Even Adama's son was recently shown having a relationship with, of all people, a prostitute! That certainly surprised fans, but only for a moment or two.
Article comments
1 - Joanie
Just letting you know that your review has been placed on Advance.net. Good job!
2 - Orion
According to Ron Moore's podcast for "Sacrifice", Paul Campbell was getting a lot of offers for decent roles and it was starting to conflict with his appearances on BSG. They tried to work around it but it wasn't fair to either side so by mutual agreement they terminated the character.
They couldn't think of any reasonable way for Billy to just go off on another ship and work for somebody else (after working for the President of the colonies anything else would be a demotion) so killing him off seemed the right thing to do and it resolved the Billy-Duella-Apollo triangle nicely, too.
3 - Jim Iaccino
Heard the podcast too.
It just seemed that given the storyline, Billy's character was becoming less than incidental.
And I think this was the best way for Billy to make an exit.
Jim
4 - JELIEL³ Pissed Off
Just letting you know that you shouldn't post SPOILERS in the freaking sub-title for all to see. Just out of freaking courtesy.
Now I'm pissed off, thx a lot
5 - Jim Iaccino
Sorry, but the news has been on every Galactica board (including the SCI FI one) for the past few months.
But thanks for your kind words. :)
Jim
6 - Rufus
I'm a Canadian that is episodes behind the American broadcast. I bought season 2.0 and got to see the first 10 eps that way but are now eagerly awaiting catching up with all of you.
I feel that Billy was a character that seemed out of place in the overall story. Listening to the podcast I understand more why that happened. I wish the actor the best luck in future projects.
7 - JELIEL³
I don't read the boards to avoid spoilers. Despite all your possible justifications, it's common courtesy (see netiquette, see consideration) to not SPOIL story lines for others. Us folks up north are only at episode 5 or 6.
8 - Ty
Here is what is crazy:
Look at how Apollo and Billy are shot. Apollo's is a 100 times worse, he loses gallons of blood, but Billy takes a quick shot to what appears to be an area of his body where he will survive a bullet wound, and he dies lickity-split.
I know it's fiction, but that was too unrealistic. Don't show Apollo near death, but Billy takes a more innocent looking shot and dies QUICK.
9 - Jeff
I think some good advice is never propose unless you're already sure of the answer.
10 - khaleroooo
Actually Billy got shot right in the heart.
11 - Stephen
If we are discussing the character versus the actor, I respectfully disagree. I feel that Billy represented a part of humanity that made the series feel even darker. Billy's innocence and naiveté played a wonderful contrast to the more jaded and bitter characters. His hope for a brighter future made the struggle actually seem important. Since the actor needed to leave the show, it seemed like the best way to end his story. However, without occasional moments of brightness I fear the show will wallow in the muck so often that perhaps we’ll stop caring about the survival of these people. I hope they find a way to replace this part of what he brought to the overall story.
12 - Jester
If I were Billy, I would have the sense to move on to greener pastures. Heck, maybe even some sweet Ceylong girl :)
I mean in the intermixing of good/evil possibilities, he died a needless death.
13 - James La
I find it intriguing that Billy died. He represented a death to innocence. We see what the cylons are talking about all along in that in all the characters they do evil things with good intentions. But, Nevertheless they are evil and wrong things against humanity seems to become easier as the series progresses.