Clips we have seen of season four have the crew wondering if Starbuck is a Cylon for that very reason. Of course, did she actually die in that explosion? It’s possible she did not, based on the powers of the people who grabbed her and took her to Earth.

Now there are many explanations for this. She could be a Cylon. I think it’s probable that in fact they are all Cylons of a sort, all capable of getting visions from the powers, and all capable of downloading. And there have been many hints from the producers that we will see this, that the lines between Cylons and “humans” will be blurred.

That, however, is different from her being the #1 Cylon. She has a special destiny, but I think it’s very different from the #1 Cylon’s. (Or #12 if you prefer, but I think this Cylon is #1, in the sense of being very special.)

She could be ordinary and just taken bodily by the bright light that surrounded her before the explosion. This was the plot of the 1978 BSG, where Apollo was surrounded by the bright light and taken to meet the Seraphs (gods).