Battlestar Galactica: All Human Cylon Models Ranked From Worst To Best
11. Number 8: Sharon Valerii
The Number 8 models were named Sharon Valerii. There was one very notable exception to this ranking on the list. Apart from that model, they were a severely disappointing Cylon. They were filled with self-doubt and uncertainty, something that the Sharon known as Boomer was able to directly ask her creator (Ellen) about.
Because of this inherent nature, the Sharon models were generally something of an unreliable ally in any situation. While Boomer may have been one of the most infamous (she did manage to shoot the Commander at point blank range), she also fell victim to this nature, eking out her final years as Cavil's personal pet 8.
The exception to the rule is Sharon 'Athena' Agathon. She proved, singlehandedly, that one could rise above their programming. Initially tasked with getting close to Helo, she fell in love with him, leading to their conceiving a baby - the baby who was destined to save both Human and Cylon races. She defected to the Humans, proving invaluable in the fight against her former compatriots.
It took a long time for the Colonial Fleet to trust her, not least of all the Commander. He struggled for a very long time with the fact that she wore the same face as the Sharon who tried to kill him. But with persistence, the two came to an understanding, then later developed trust. Eventually, Adama would give her a commission in the fleet.
Even she recognized the weakness in her model line, chastising several other 8's who approached her, looking to start a mutiny against other Cylon models. Athena knew that she had made the right choice, picking Helo over her own kind.