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.

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.

GETTING THE 'STARLOG' SPECIAL TREATMENT!

The mysterious 'Ship of Lights', so important to Galactica's later episodes, graces the cover of Starlog magazine's then hugely detailed 1979 coverage of the classic series, featuring some fine articles and photography covering the show's effects and its overall making, plus an episode guide which was a genuine god send, especially to UK TV viewers who were then starting to see the series and eagerly awaited the ongoing adventures beyond the pilot.

CLASSIC IMAGE: AN ENEMY DELIVERED...

He thinks he's come to the Colonial Fleet of his own free will, hoping to join forces with them against a mysterious and powerful new threat, but Count Baltar hasn't reckoned on the enigma that is the suave Count Iblis, and his plans to incarcerate the hated human traitor, during the memorable start to Part Two of War of the Gods.

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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 ART: A LIGHTSHIP SHOWCASE!

With their three-episode appearance in the latter half of the series, notably in the memorable opening to the epic two-parter War of the Gods, those mysterious enigmatic 'gods' in their striking, ethereal 'Lightship' would certainly make an eerie impression on viewers and especially the series long-term fan base, as seen in this terrific art.

If anyone knows the name of the artist, please get in touch...

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.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2020!

Having survived the manipulations of the demonic Count Iblis, our Galactican family celebrate a toast to a new phase of their future, during the finale to War of the Gods.

Saga of a Star World wishes all its worldwide readers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, and a safe, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE MYSTERIOUS ARRIVAL!

Their search for the Galactica's missing Viper patrol has led Apollo, Sheba and Starbuck to a strange world and the wreck of a mysterious space ship. But before they can go down to investigate a debris-strewn crash-landing site, they are stopped by a mysterious voice, emanating from the enigmatic Count Iblis, in this memorable US TV commercial cliff-hanger to War of the Gods, Part One.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS...

Silver Spar squadron's ordinary recon patrol takes a mysterious and sinister turn as they encounter mysterious swarming lights beyond anything ever encountered before, during the memorable opening to War of the Gods Part One.

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: SOON TO BE SPELLBOUND...

A concerned but nonetheless beautiful Sheba listens to the story of the mysterious presence that is Count Iblis, in an early scene from War of the Gods Part One.


Look out for Anne Lockhart's noteworthy appearance in another legendary sci-fi franchise: the excellent fan film series that is STAR TREK CONTINUES, and their newly released online ninth episode, What Ships Are Made For.

See it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VEZH8bqytA

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.

CLASSIC IMAGE: UNDER DARK INFLUENCES...

Sheba finds herself once more beguiled and under the control of the charming but manipulative Count Iblis, on the eve of Apollo and Starbuck's discovering his real identity, in the second part of War of the Gods.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "GOOD LORD, THEY'RE FAST!"

Bojay and his deep space Viper patrol are stunned by the speed of the mysterious energy auras following their ships, in an eerie beginning to the epic two-parter, War of the Gods.

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: CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF GODS!

Having been unable to pursue the alien lights swarming across the Colonial Fleet, Boomer's Viper is quickly caught in the sights of the mysterious Lightship and vanishes, in a scene from Part Two of War of the Gods.

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"