A DARK WELCOME TO THE GALACTICA!

Soon given free run access to the Galactica by Sheba, even within its secure areas, it's as if the young beauty/warrior is spellbound with the Colonial discovery of the mysterious and enigmatic Count Iblis, played with dark intensity and charm by the legendary Patrick Macnee, during the opening episode of War of the Gods.

'MISSION' AT 45: WELCOMING THE IMPERIOUS LEADER!

The Imperious Leader addresses his robot minions.

It's an auspicious occasion for the Cylons of Gamoray as the latest version of their Imperious Leader (once more voiced by British icon Patrick Macnee) arrives on that world to officially dedicate and celebrate their newly created base and the planet's vital and significant position in the Cylon powerbase.

The Leader will soon be shocked by the destruction wrought to the city by Colonial Warriors!

Cylon IL civilians discuss the event.

A Gold Command Centurion heralds their leader's arrival at the space dome.

The Imperious Leader walks to his podium, watched by his fellow Cylons.

CLASSIC IMAGE: POWER OF LIGHT, POWER OF DARKNESS!

Two powerful forces for good and evil meet in Commander Adama and Count Iblis, as Lorne Greene and Patrick Macnee share great character scenes together during the storytelling within the fan favourite War of the Gods.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A COMMANDING ENTRANCE!

The search for their missing Viper squadron colleagues has led Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba to an unknown world whose landscape has been blighted by the crash-landing of an immense unknown space ship. Further investigation by the trio however is prevented via the arrival of a mysterious and charismatic humanoid being, the friendly but elusive to questions Count Iblis, played with style and subtle menace by Patrick Macnee. A great location filmed moment from the seminal War of the Gods, Part One.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE MYSTERY OF IBLIS!

He;s enchanted, beguiled and confounded the human Colonial Fleet with his arrival and the subtle unleashing of his mysterious powers. Just how benevolent is Count Iblis, our Galactican heroes wonder, as the War of the Gods begins its epic two-part adventure, Patrick Macnee clearly gives one of his finest performances on States-side television, after his prior international acclaim as the debonair agent John Steed in The Avengers.

'MISSION GALACTICA' AT 41: IMPERIOUS LEADERSHIP!

The Cylon city of Gamoray's special status within the Empire is given an additional worthy boost by the presence of an impressed Imperious Leader. Impressed, that is, until the explosions start!

It was nice to hear Patrick Macnee once more voice the Imperious Leader, and see the important enemy villain in the reptilian flesh (and walking no less!), in both The Living Legend and Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE LIVING NIGHTMARE!

The sinister truth beneath the once seemingly benevolent face - the mysterious and enigmatic Count Iblis, is fully revealed to Apollo and Starbuck during the chilling finale to War of the Gods Part Two. I remember this moment scaring the 'Pogees' out of me as a little kid watching it mid-evening on UK ITV Thames region, back in 1981. It's no surprise to me that this memorable scene and story continues to be recognised as one of the series and sci-fi TV's all-time great episodes.

CLASSIC IMAGE: FOR CONTROL OF SHEBA...

His secret revealed, as soon will be his true identity, the enigmatic and deadly Count Iblis tries to control and make Sheba his own for the last time, in a critical scene from War of the Gods, Part Two.

CLASSIC IMAGE: UP CLOSE TO EVIL!

Caught at a vulnerable moment- his friends missing, others behaving strangely, Apollo slams the enigmatic and dangerous Count Iblis against a bulkhead, watched by a looming Adama, in a memorable moment from the excellent War of the Gods Part Two.

CLASSIC IMAGE: WHO ARE YOU?

In his cell on the Galactica, Baltar confronts the mysterious Count Iblis, recognising both his potential for evil and that commanding voice he possesses. Could Iblis be the Imperious Leader? An intriguing scene between fine actors, from War of the Gods Part Two.

GOODBYE, PATRICK MACNEE...

Patrick Macnee as the beguiling Count Iblis in War of the Gods.

Beloved the world over for his portrayal as the cool English super spy with the witty repartee and the glamorous action heroine at his side, Patrick Macnee is immortalised forever as THE AVENGERS John Steed during the 1960's and 70's. But, away from his iconic inhabiting of the bowler hat wearing hero, he had so many other theatre, film and TV credits to his name, including a Roger Moore James Bond film, and, of course, his excellent contributions to the world of American cult science fiction with BATTLESTAR GALACTICA during its singular season, providing the key opening narration to the series that set the tone of mystery and adventure for the series ahead, and giving his strong and distinctive voice to the calculating evil of the Cylon's reptilian/cyborg Imperious Leader. Creator Glen A. Larson, recognising such fine acting talent now firmly ensconced in Hollywood, would give Macnee a meatier and more distinctive series role to enjoy the following year, a brilliant casting choice as a fresh threat to the Galactican heroes, literally the Devil himself, in the corrupting form of Count Iblis, excellently and memorably played by the actor almost as if it were the darker, flip-side of the Steed character, for what would prove to be one of the series finest two-part tales, War of the Gods.

▶ Battlestar Galactica Opening Theme from 1978 - YouTube
▶ Battlestar Galactica 1978 Episode 13 "War of the Gods Part 1" Preview - YouTube
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SAGA OF A STAR WORLD: CHARMING BUT DEADLY. PATRICK MACNEE TALKS IBLIS.

Stylish, gentlemanly and world travelled to the end, Patrick Macnee will be much missed...

▶ Farewell Patrick Macnee - YouTube
Avengers star Patrick Macnee dies - BBC News

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE CYLON CONNECTION?

The charismatic but subtly malignant Count Iblis, whose voice sounds uncannily like the Cylon's Imperious Leader, tries to provide some reassurance to the captured, for the moment helpless, Count Baltar, stuck in a unique destiny of the Count's making - within a Galactica prison cell - during a classic scene of eerie revelation from War of the Gods Part Two.

Remembering John Colicos: Star Trek John Colicos: "Full Expression"

CLASSIC IMAGE: ORDERS FROM ABOVE

A Cylon Centurion prepares to receive orders from his majesty, the Imperious Leader, to hunt the last remnants of humanity, from Saga of a Star World. As an interesting side note, before Patrick Macnee's commanding voice became the role, Ted Cassidy, best known as Lurch from THE ADDAMS FAMILY, was the original voice-which was allegedly changed because it was considered too scary.

Cassidy's voice can be heard in this early trailer for the pilot's theatrical release, also featuring other intriguing rare footage: ▶ GALACTICA TRAILER - YouTube

CLASSIC ART: OF GODS AND MONSTERS!

Another terrific composite photo/art cover for Volume Four of the limited edition CD releases of Stu Phillip's classic GALACTICA incidental music scores, courtesy of INTRADA, covering the middle to later part of the series.

CHARMING BUT DEADLY. PATRICK MACNEE TALKS IBLIS.

Patrick Macnee brings charm and danger to the role of the mysterious Count Iblis, in the two-part classic episode WAR OF THE GODS. He recalled his playing of the role to the UK magazine SFX in 1997: "Lorne Greene was an old friend from Canada. I thought I was quite good in Battlestar, because the part was very good- I played the devil in that, though you never knew whether he was or not. He built up to be a big character, but turned out to be evil and you couldn't take him any further."