If you have seen my Reverse Engineering of Star Trek Characters here on this site, you already know that I have put forth 20 questions that you can ask to dig deep and understand what persuasive functions can be served by television characters. 

 These questions can help you explore Battlestar Galactica characters as well:

1–What (if any) inner feelings, thoughts, or beliefs does the character’s dialogue or actions reveal?

2–What are the reasons behind the ways in the character is behaving?

3–What (if anything) does the character’s dialogue or actions reveal about what he or she considers important or desirable?

4–What particular things (if any) make the character appealing and credible?

5–When you compare a particular character of your choice with any other character, are there differences or similarities which seem important in understanding him or her?

6–What particular things (if any) make the character unique or special as compared to any other character in the episode?

7–What particular changes (if any) does the character undergo in an episode, or, from one episode to another?

8–What particular adjustments (if any) does the character make to new circumstances in an episodes, or, from one episode to another?

9–What (if anything) does the character reveal that proves he or she is able to face facts and be practical about things as they come along in an episode, or, from one episode to another?

10–What particular problems does the character face in the story, and what does he or she do to resolve that problem?

11–Is the character necessary to the story or the series, or could any character just as readily be substituted without really changing things?

12–Can you accept the character in the story as seemingly true and genuine, or is the character more make-believe or playacting?

13–What habits or customs or behaviors (if any) does the character reveal about the society to which he or she belongs?

14–What (if anything) new and different do you know now that you have watched this character in the story?

15–What (if any) feelings or emotions do you now have after you have watched this character in the story?

16–What (if any) changes of heart or mind did the character in the story seem to ask you to make?

17–What (if any) purpose does the character’s physical appearance and/or clothing serve in the story?

18–What (if any) purpose does the character’s name serve in the story?

19–What (if any) purpose does the character’s use of props or objects or hardware or equipment serve in the story?

20–What (if anything) about the character do you believe might be worth trying to equal in your own life?

See a demonstration of how this system of questions can help understand the Battlestar Galactica character, Karl “Helo” Agathon.