I wasn’t really into science fiction – books or shows, but I did appreciate the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series that aired about a decade ago. The series is about how human survivors looking for a new home after their Earth has been destroyed by robots they themselves created. The show is one of the most profound commentaries on being human. 

The title of the show refers to the lone military ship that has to guide and escort the remaining civilian ships to safety and hope. The ship is actually obsolete and was about to be converted into a museum when the robots launch their attack with a computer virus that cripples the human tech network. The Galactica, led by a commander about to retire, William Adana, is spared because he stubbornly refuse to upgrade his ship’s tech and as a result, the virus doesn’t affect it. 

On the surface, Adana doesn’t appear capable for the task of protecting and leading the survivors. He struggles with his emotions. He gets drunk sometimes. He gets too close to his crew, treating them like family. He is divorced and he blames himself for the death of one of his sons. He is outnumbered, outgunned, and our resourced. 

But counterintuitively, he is the perfect man for the job. He is seasoned, tough, resilient, creative. He knows how to take risks and to stand up to bullies. He loves his crew. 

He is real. 

He leads them to a new home. 

And he has a civilian leader to work with. She’s the Secretary of Education and a former teacher who is elevated to become the President after the other political leaders above her are wiped out. Adama and her butt heads and bicker at first but they learn to work together. She reminds me of you.  They fall in love. At the end of the series, she dies and he buries her on the new Earth they eventually find. He puts his wedding ring on her finger.

Adama’s most well-known saying is to “roll the hard six” – referring to double threes in a game of craps. The probability of this combination is low, less than 10 percent. 

I’ll roll that with you anytime. 

Over and over again.  You are worth it all.