Friday, November 21, 2008

BSG spoiler bucket


Battlestar Galactica comes back in January, and it has a hell of a cliffhanger to resolve. Just where did our heroes land up in "Revelations," and more importantly, where do they go now? Since the show disappeared for a nine-month hiatus, there's been a slow drip of information about the new season, so we thought we'd collect them all in one place. One thing's for sure: You'd better strap yourself in, because it's going to be a crazy ride. Spoilers ahead.

This is the second half of our "Battlestar clues" roundup. You can read our first half, about the final Cylon, here.

Here's the trailer for the second half of the season, which aired after "Revelations." Among the noteworthy scenes, as analyzed by Galactica Variants: Tigh points a gun at someone aboard Galactica. Starbuck reads from a book, which could be her own notes from aboard the Demetrius. And Starbuck burns her own crashed Viper and dead body, see below. Also, a rough hand holding dog-tags (Kara's?), Bill Adama saying to a shrouded figure, "You're the fifth," and stubby fingers (Tyrol's?) feeling a ruined stone wall, like a temple.

And here's what we know about specific upcoming episodes:

Episode 11, "Sometimes A Great Notion":

The official summary says, "Kara Thrace learns that the dire predictions of the Cylon Hybrid might be correct, and a devastating discovery plunges the Fleet into chaos and despair." And this episode includes scenes of Leoben and Starbuck in a forest on Earth. Series writer Jane Espenson says this episode was meant to be the second half of a two-parter with "Revelations," and you should really watch both episodes a week apart.

It's definitely Earth.

Here's what Aaron Douglas said about Earth, the final Cylons, and the Cylon homeworld:

The four that were revealed at the end of season three are what they are, but they're one-offs. They're the original Cylons. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, when there were 13 colonies on Kobol, 12 went that way and one went that way to found Earth — or create an Earth — and that colony was actually Cylons. They're individuals, there's no multiple models. The seven that we know are a different kind of Cylon that came much later. They're probably ten, 20 years old, born out of the metal machines that fought back in the Cylon wars of the 12 colonies. So they're essentially like the gods. And we were on the new Earth, and destroyed that and came back to the 12 colonies to rejoin humanity to find the cycle of time.

He also said the humans find Cylon skeletons on Earth, proving it's the Cylon homeworld. Which we know happens in the very next episode.

Also, this could be the episode where we see Tigh in the water screaming for Ellen, and Tyrol having flashbacks to his past.

Episode 12, "A Disquiet Follows My Soul."

Adama is seen with blood on his hand and his uniform in this episode. Could Tigh be pointing a gun at Adama, in some kind of big showdown? This takes place on the Cylon homeworld (Earth) and Galactica, with things really falling apart on Galactica. The relationship between Admiral Adama and Roslin starts to get interesting.

This could be the episode where we start to deal with the friction between President Roslin and "acting" President Lee Adama. Also, we're promised a huge storyline dealing with Dualla, which could come about hereabouts. We're also supposed to see much more of Starbuck and Apollo paired up this season.

Episode 13, "The Oath":

We glimpsed a call sheet which includes a scene where Tom Zarek is not forthcoming with the press. Adam meets Zarek in the brig. And Adama gives Tigh some coordinates. And there's a scene in Laura's temporary quarters where "Adama and Laura don't care."

We also got hold of a second call sheet, which shows a scene where Kara finds a crashed Viper (on Earth?) and discovers the dead body of a Viper pilot — which appears to be the skeleton of a second Kara Thrace. She finds the "ELT box" and is determined to keep searching. Finally, she lights the Viper and the dead body on fire. (Which is presumably that bonfire we saw her sitting in front of, in the trailer for the rest of the season.) Here are the pages of the call sheet:


When we finally get an explanation of how Starbuck came back from the dead, "it's not an uplifting understanding," says Edward James Olmos. Rather, it's sort of sickening and dark. (Could her resurrection have something to do with the Ship Of Lights, the mystical ship from the original series? Starbuck painted it aboard the Demetrius.)

Episode 14, "Blood On The Scales."

No specific info.

Episode 15, "No Exit":

Named after the famous Sartre play, this will probably be an especially bleak episode. The good news: Laura Roslin's still in it, according to a leaked call sheet.

Episode 16, "Deadlock":

No specific info.

Episode 17, "Someone To Watch Over Me":

I think this is the one where Starbuck meets a charismatic piano player named "Slick," and opens up to him about her inner Starbuckiness. They talk about music and piano playing and she opens up like she never has with anyone else. I read a scrap of script from this episode last spring, but I can't find it now. They hang out in Joe's Bar, and talk about destiny. And Slick is shocked by how much Starbuck knows about music, thanks to her musician dad.

Jamie Bamber said Apollo only appears in one or two scenes in this episode. And Felix Gaeta is apparently still alive at this point. And we do get some huge resolution of the Gaeta/Baltar relationship, where everything is finally explained. The two have a huge scene together.

Episode 18, "Islanded In A Stream Of Stars":

A big episode for Tory Foster (Rekha Sharma). Also, the reappearance of Zak Adama, the Admiral's dead son.

Episode 19, "Daybreak, Part 1":

No specific info.

Episode 20, "Daybreak, Part 2":

Are we going back to the algae planet? At least, BSG filmed some scenes in and around Kamloops, which was the setting for the algae planet before. And they needed lots of extras who were either cleancut and athletic, or slender with long hair or dreadlocks.

And here are some more general spoilers for the upcoming episodes:

The humans and their Cylon allies strand D'Anna on Earth when they haul ass away from the nuked planet.

Nerd-god John Hodgman will have a small but vital bit part as a doctor in an upcoming episode.

Boomer will probably betray Brother Cavill. Just a thought. The Boomer Cylon, the only eight model who sided with Brother Cavill in the civil war, probably won't stay on his side. That was strongly hinted in "Revelations," in the scene where Cavill calls Boomer his "pet eight," and D'Anna warns that an eight makes a passionate ally... until she sees something shiny. In any case, several of the producers have said Boomer (as opposed to Athena) has a huge role in the final episodes. Also, Rick Worthy, who plays Simon the Cylon, says he has some great scenes with Grace Park coming up, probably meaning Boomer.

Lots of flashbacks. It seems like the final few episodes will feature tons of flashbacks. We've spotted some filming that looks like it takes place on pre-attack Caprica, with a healthy Laura Roslin wading into a fountain pool. That wrap video and slideshow included what looked like shots of a younger Bill Adama and two-eyed Saul Tigh inside a strip joint on Caprica.

We know that Zak Adama, the Admiral's dead son, shows up in the last few episodes, according to IMDB. Also in the second-to-last episode: Crewman Specialist Prosna, who dies in the original miniseries.

Another character who makes a comeback: Xeno Fenner, foreman of the fuel refinining ship where Tyrol led a strike shows up in the final episode.

There's a rumor Tom Zarek dies before the end of the season, but he "takes a lot of them with him."

It sounds as though there's some big development with the Starbuck-Lee-Anders love triangle at some point.

We'll see the old-school Cylon centurions at least once more before the end of the show.

The final few episodes will be like Apocalypse Now, the show's cast told Comic-Con. The wrap reel we showed a while back included lots of battle scenes, and Lee Adama's final filmed scenes involved running around with a bunch of extras, shooting people.

Looks like something bad happens to the Kevin Spacey Cylon:

There are lots of quotes about how the final episode's scripts made the actors cry when they read it. Tahmoh Penikett says he cried three times, and hints that the show's ending won't be entirely dire. And he said in another interview that the show didn't go in the obvious direction for Helo. But in a third interview, Penikett described the ending thusly:

Everybody dies. We have a dark ending...Obviously you know, those last couple of episodes, they're going to blow your mind. They are going to go down in history as the best television ever done.

"I felt like I was punched in the stomach" reading the final script, says Tricia Helfer.

And Admiral Adama is going to have a rough ride in the final episodes, according to Edward James Olmos.

He does break down, he goes to the bottom of the pit and just squirms around in there and it’s really difficult for him to carry on.

Another dire EJO quote about the ending:

Emotionally, heartbreaking. I’m telling you this for a reason, because I don’t want you guys to think you’re going to go through this without getting yourself really twisted … it’s brutal what happens to us. Not many of us make it.

One thing's for sure: Lee Adama doesn't die. Actor Jamie Bamber refers to the conclusion as "an ending and a beginning" for Lee.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Halfway Through Hiatus

My fellow fans, we are now at the halfway point of our 7-month BATTLESTAR GALACTICA hiatus. It’s a long one …and we all need some distraction. Distraction from wondering what THE PLAN is about…from the endless spoiler discussions… from the disturbing news of the final dismantling of all of BSG’s sets… from worrying about when the frak SciFi is going to air that two hours of CAPRICA. OK, yes, I'll admit there may be a few other things going on right now as well.

What better way to distract ourselves than with...more TV and news?! Some of the BSG cast and crew seem to be drifting out into the rest of the TV I watch…I recently posted on FanGrrl Magnet a rundown of Fall shows that have my attention.

As we catalog some comings and goings today, we’d love you, dear readers, to chime in here with rec’s for hiatus distractions of your own...


Mark Verheiden has been blogging up a storm lately, pointing out his new Fangoria interview, details about the long awaited release of the feature he wrote, MY NAME IS BRUCE starring the infamous Bruce Campbell, and details about the many comics projects he’s involved in. He also posted about why this month’s Region 2 PAL release of BSG "Season 4" and "Seasons 1-4 Box" are a bit of a misnomer.

Speaking of DVDs…while we Americans wait for the US season 4.0 DVD in January, the Galactica Science blog has transcribed all the deleted scenes included on the European DVD that came out last week (here’s the link to Part 1 of 3).

Mark Verheiden is also busy these days working on scripts for the second half of HEROES third season, subtitled VOLUME 4: FUGITIVES. The show just announced a fun new cast member who will appear in the second half of the season: Zeljko Ivanek, who just won an Emmy for his amazing performance in season one of DAMAGES. (I finally caught up with that show in a marathon this August, wow it was great stuff! DAMAGES season 2, which will include new castmembers William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, and Tim Olyphant, begins in early 2009.) After you’ve checked out HEROES on TV, its webisodes, and the massive official site, I highly recommend the blogs by director/producer Greg Beeman, writer/producer Jesse Alexander (who loves fanvids), and "HRG" himself, actor Jack Coleman.

Jane Espenson, when she isn’t writing/producing the BSG movie or the BSG webisodes, or meeting Stephen Colbert, or giving sage advice to budding TV writers, is working on a new BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Season 8 comic book.

Speaking of comics…io9 has a preview of the spin-off miniseries Battlestar Galactica: Ghosts (out now), and Newsarama has an interview with the writers of Battlestar Galactica: Cylon War, a 4-issue miniseries which debuts in January 2009.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA director/producer Michael Rymer, and CAPRICA co-writer Remi Aubuchon, have both signed on to the new Fox TV show PERSONS UNKNOWN, described as a “Mystery revolving around a group of strangers who wake up in the middle of nowhere and try to figure out how they got there.” Rymer will direct the pilot episode, and Aubuchon will be showrunner. (Does this mean anything to the future of CAPRICA as a series? Unknown…)

We had the scoop a while back on Mary McDonnell’s run on GREY’S ANATOMY this fall, and now Mo Ryan has a lot more detail about her character:
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait that long to see Mary McDonnell again. McDonnell...has a new gig on "Grey’s Anatomy," as I reported a few weeks ago. She'll make her "Grey's" debut Nov. 13.

Her character is a doctor named Virginia Dixon, and she’ll appear on “Grey’s” about three or four times this season, according to the network.

Dixon faces a formidable task at Seattle Grace Hospital: She is a surgeon who will do her best to bring “rules and order to the OR” according to ABC. Who better than McDonnell to play a woman faced by a daunting challenge? She’s faced down Cylon armadas, so flirty docs should be no big deal.

In any case, the actress’ “Grey’s” nickname stands at the ready: Some of McDonnell’s “Battlestar” fans nicknamed her “Mary McAwesome” years ago.

Mo also has news about Katee Sackhoff who, in addition to shooting a new pilot LOST AND FOUND with producer Dick (LAW & ORDER) Wolf, will be guest starring in an upcoming episode of LAW & ORDER. It was also recently announced that the very excellent Brian Cox (X-2, DEADWOOD) will co-star in LOST AND FOUND.

Sam Witwer continues his turn as Doomsday on this year’s SMALLVILLE, and I hear things are just getting good on the show. The BSG blog has a bunch of details.

Aaron Douglas spoke recently to the Cort & Fat Boy radio show...his fans are celebrating the recent news that his Canadian TV pilot THE BRIDGE has been picked up for series.

As we mentioned the other day, Stephanie Jacobsen is starting an arc of unknown length over on TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES.

Lucy Lawless will guest on the final season of THE L WORD, which will begin airing on Showtime in January 2009.

In a recent interview with MovieHole, Seth Green reconfirmed that Ron Moore (along with Joss Whedon and Seth MacFarlane) will be making a cameo appearance in the forth season premiere of ROBOT CHICKEN in early 2009. The BSG blog noticed that Katee Sackhoff did some great commentary track work for ROBOT CHICKEN’s latest DVD release.

First Showing and several other bloggers attended a TRICK R TREAT screening in LA this week -- this is a film that Tahmoh Penikett is featured in -- and apparently it is big horror fun. Keep your eyes out for it.

CAPRICA pilot director Jeffrey Reimer is a director/producer on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, one of the best dramas on TV nowadays. In fact Reimer directed the first two wonderful eps this season. The show’s signature style – intimate, with an improvisational feeling and gorgeous cinematography – is based on the movie and TV pilot work by Peter Berg. Berg is the director of, and a producer on, Ron Moore and Michael Taylor’s pilot VIRTUALITY. FNL airs this fall exclusively on DirecTV Network 101, and will run again on NBC in early 2009.

My favorite new show this season, Alan Ball’s TRUE BLOOD, is adding BSG vet Michelle Forbes as a series regular for season 2. Charlaine Harris herself dropped the news on her fansite that Forbes is playing The Maenad, a dangerous and mythical woodland creature. If you want some spoilers about what this character might be up to next season on the show, dig up reviews or synopses for Harris’ second novel, LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS. A peek at what the casting sides allegedly say: “This wild woman is supernatural, articulate and polished. She feeds on the fears of others and is a BIG DEAL in season two. Nudity might be required.” Fun stuff…According to recent announcements, we get our first peek at The Maenad briefly in this season’s finale episode.

One of my other favorite shows, MAD MEN, ends this Sunday. If you’re a fan, don’t forget that Jon Hamm is hosting SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE tomorrow night…and if you live in the New York City area, why not stop by the Basket of Kisses finale episode party here in Manhattan?

Although that BSG season 4.5 promo you lucky few got to see at San Diego Comic Con in July has yet to surface elsewhere…we LOST fans have finally got our first taste of new video! Yowza! (Come on SciFi Channel – pony up!)

Monday, October 20, 2008

Season 4.5 and Beyond

The American (Region 1) DVD of season 4.0 will be available on January 6th.

Season 4.5 will debut on The SciFi Channel on January 16th.

SciFi describes season 4.5 in a nutshell:

"Picking up from last June's jarring cliffhanger – the Colonial fleet and their new Cylon allies led by Admiral Adama and the Galactica crew discover Earth to find it a barren nuclear wasteland – the finale season promises to be rife with drama, action and revelation."

If you take the most reliable list of 4.5 episode titles (from Mark Verheiden) and match it up with the dates from SciFi Channel, this is what you get:

Jan 16
413: Sometimes a Great Notion

Jan 23
414: A Disquiet Follows My Soul

Jan 30
415: The Oath

Feb 6
416: Blood on the Scales

Feb 13
417: No Exit

Feb 20
418: Deadlock

Feb 27
419: Someone to Watch Over Me

March 6
420: Islanded In A Stream Of Stars

March 13
421: Daybreak 1

March 20
422: Daybreak 2
423: Daybreak 3 (assuming it's still a three parter)



Since no definitive announcement has been made about the length of the season finale, it remains to be seen how long the telecasts on March 13 and 20 will actually be. Let’s hope THEY GO LONG! :-) Ron Moore has said in interviews that, if his cut of the series finale goes too long for broadcast, the longer version (along with Moore’s cut of his directorial debut, “A Disquiet Follows My Soul”) will end up on the Region 1 DVD release. Whatever, RDM, do what you gotta do…just give us those yummy DVD extras.


There will be 10 webisodes made available this winter prior to the January 16th broadcast.

There has been no news in ages, but Sitrep has it under good authority that the ten promised webisodes, bridging seasons 4.0 and 4.5, are being created and edited now. Written by Jane Espenson and Seamus Kevin Fahey, SciFi has previously announced these will be available in advance of the 4.5 premiere.


After 4.5 airs, there will be a 2-hour TV movie to look forward to.

SciFi has announced the film, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN, will air sometime in 2009. Shooting on this film is wrapped, and post-production is happening now, so let’s hope they can air it next year as promised.


CAPRICA’s future is unknown.

And what of the one other extension of the BSG franchise, the prequel CAPRICA? TV Squad mentioned last week that the delay in deciding the fate of the series is purely a budgeting/financial issue for SciFi Channel. As much it pains fans to hear it, they also point out that we may benefit from the delayed decision – in that our palate will be cleansed, if you will…and the BSG franchise will be extended farther into the future of SciFi’s program schedule.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

News of CAPRICA?


That new T-shirt in the NBCU store got us hopeful that word might soon be coming on the fate of the BSG prequel series CAPRICA. Not to mention all that idle chatter this summer about a decision coming soon...about knowing something by September... etc, etc, etc.

Any of you who read the sci-fi site i09 have probably noticed that the Sci Fi Channel has been up to some interesting hijinks lately: putting way too many cooks in the kitchen at their hit show EUREKA…considering a network name change (“BEYOND”? Seriously?)…and announcing three new reality shows this past weekend during a digital press junket in Colorado -- while several of their scripted pilots (including CAPRICA) await word of life or death. For we fans of scripted (science-)fiction programming, the truth ain't pretty.

Now comes the latest rumor Sitrep is hearing: CAPRICA, if it gets picked up for series at all, won't get a decision from the Sci Fi Channel until February 2009. At the soonest.

So cool your heels, BSG fans...reality bites.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA season 4.0 DVD out January 6


TVShowsOnDVD has the official announcement of the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season 4.0 DVD set and all the extras. The American release date is now officially January 6, 2009, and RAZOR (both aired and longer DVD-only cuts) will be included.

Back in July we reported that industry sources had passed along Universal's tentative plans to release Battlestar Galactica - Season 4.0 on DVD...and that it would clock in right at the end of the year, on December 30th. This morning the studio formally announced this release, including the finalized street date. They've adjusted their original plans by a week: the schedule now shows they will put this in stores on January 6th.

You'll get a 4-disc set that's loaded with bonus material, in addition to the 10 episodes from the first half of the final season. Disc 1 will contain both the original broadcast version (88 mins.) AND the Unrated Extended Version (101 mins.) of the special feature-length story Razor, which is already available separately. The half-season's 10 episodes are contained on the remaining three discs, along with plenty of extras:

Episodes:
  • He That Believeth In Me
  • Six Of One
  • The Ties That Bind
  • Escape Velocity
  • The Road Less Traveled
  • Faith
  • Guess What's Coming to Dinner
  • Sine Qua Non
  • The Hub
  • Revelations

Bonus Material:

Disc 1:

Deleted Scenes

The Look of Battlestar Galactica

My Favorite Episode So Far

Season 4 Sneak Peek

Season 4 Trailer

Razor Flashback Minisodes
  1. Day 4,571
  2. The Hangar
  3. Operation Raptor Talon
  4. Free Fall
  5. The Lab
  6. Survivors
  7. Escape
Commentary to the Razor Unrated Extended Edition with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore and Writer Michael Taylor


Disc 2:

Deleted Scenes

Ronald Moore's Podcast Commentaries


Disc 3:

Deleted Scenes

David Eick's Video Blogs

"Faith" Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald. D. Moore and Supervising Producers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle

"Guess What's Coming to Dinner" Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore and Writer Michael Angeli

Ronald Moore's Podcast Commentaries


Disc 4:

Deleted Scenes

The Journey

Cylons: The Twelve

Season 4.5: The Untold Story - Untold

The Music of Battlestar Galactica

"Sine Qua Non" Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore and Writer Michael Taylor

Ronald Moore's Podcast Commentaries


This has only been announced for DVD; there is no Blu-ray Disc version listed. Video on this release will be presented in Anamorphic Widescreen. Audio soundtrack will be English - Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Subtitles are going to be in English and Spanish. The cost for all of this will be $49.98 SRP.


Let's hope they add Blu-Ray as well. I wonder if "The Music of Battlestar Galactica" is the video that Bear McCreary showed at his LA concerts this spring?

The 4.0 DVD and a Seasons 1-4.0 DVD box are already out in the UK, but as usual without the American bonus features.

No sign of packaging art previews yet...but if you don't like them, maybe you can use this gorgeous fan-created box art instead.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

4.5 Episode Titles

Writers & Directors for Season 4.5

Someone just sent us a nice tip...the writing and directing credits for the rest of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's final season. Enjoy.

413: Sometimes a Great Notion
Written by David Weddle & Bradley Thompson
Directed by Michael Nankin

414: A Disquiet Follows My Soul
Written by Ronald D. Moore
Directed by Ronald D. Moore

415: The Oath
Written by Mark Verheiden
Directed by John Dahl

416: Blood on the Scales
Written by Michael Angeli
Directed by Wayne Rose

417: No Exit
Written by Ryan Mottesheard
Directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton

418: Deadlock
Written by Jane Espenson
Directed by Bob Young

419: Someone to Watch Over Me
Written by David Weddle & Bradley Thompson
Directed by Michael Nankin

420: Islanded In A Stream Of Stars
Written by Michael Taylor
Directed by Edward James Olmos

421: Daybreak 1
422: Daybreak 2
423: Daybreak 3 (assuming it's still a three parter)
Written by Ronald D. Moore
Directed by Michael Rymer

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Massive spoilers in SFX magazine #174

Apparently the situation was that the original Cylons were created on Kobol to serve the humans there, 4,000+ years ago, and evolved a humanoid faction like the later Cylons. There was a war that partially devastated the planet, splintering the people into twelve factions or colonies, plus the Cylons as the thirteenth (it's unclear if this was an intercine human war or another robotic rebellion). The Cylons took off into space on their own, but it seems they were on better terms with the humans of the other colonies and left messages for them. The Cylons went and set up home on another planet: Earth. The other humans later left Kobol and went to settle the Twelve Colonies and all contact was lost. The Cylons of Earth built up a civilisation there, but fell into warfare of their own and devastated the planet some decades ago. At least four survived (he doesn't bring the fifth up at all) and travelled to the Twelve Colonies to find out why humans and their creations have this self-destructive streak to them. They 'switched off' their Cylon sides (with a failsafe that they would 'wake up' if they got close to Earth again) and went to live amongst the humans. Apparently the Final Five are very interested in the Cycle of Time and believed they could better understand it by becoming human.

No explanation is given for how three of them ended up on Galactica and the fourth on Caprica as one of the handful of survivors. No explanation is given for how the modern Cylons have myths and legends about the Final Five (although a logical exrapolation is that the FF were involved in the creation of this generation of Cylons, or perhaps their programming). No explanation is given for the large age gap between Tigh and Tory/Anders/Tyrol either. There is also no confirmation that the Earth in the show is 'our' Earth, a parallel reality Earth or whatever. My guess is that no relationship will be shown between the real world and Earth in the show: it will be left vague, with the possibility that Earth in the show is our world many, many thousands of years into the futuere after humans have left Earth, gone to Kobol etc.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

4.5 in depth spoilers

There are again spoilers filtering through, mostly (but not all) from comic-con reports:
-From this ( http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopic=2309568 ) scifi thread: Zarek reportedly will die in S4.5 "taking lots of them with him", or sort-of...
He is apparently "a guy with the right motivation who has no choice in the end". This is especially intriguing in combination with the next tidbit

-On this page ( http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?sh...=2311800&st=80 ) people are discussing some things said or shown during the con, and apparently it seems like Zarek may be leading a revolt against Adama and the rebel Cylons (this may be erroneous interpretation for all I know though, caution). A kind of teaser was shown with some new material in it, and among other things, Geata was seen confronting Zarek (apparently "president Zarek"), Bill Adama was "about to be executed" and a bunch of (apparently rebel) Cylons were in the brig also expecting to be executed.

-also in this clip, "there seems to be some sort of large ground battle at some point. Tricia was saying how she got to use some new type of machinegun and James Callis was saying that one one night of shooting it reminded him of Apocolyse Now " (reported by someone in the same thread, one page further)
this is very interesting, a major space battle was always expected but may it be we only get a major ground battle instead? Or both, at different times or at the same time?

-In an e!online interview with Jamie Bamber, he mentioned that his last scene filmed (with the second unit) involved filming with "a bunch of extras", while shooting people. I guess this ties in with said major ground battle. In any case, interesting that the (vice-)president needs to take a gun himself at some stage

-from the same poster (maxtek 16): "Also, someone poised the question of what happens now that they found earth and from what was said I could gather that they might stay on Earth for a few episodes at least and that the first few episodes are very depressing."

-from io9: http://io9.com/5029618/exclusive-jam...cusses-caprica
"They [Caprica and BSG] were on two separate tracks," and BSG's ending has been planned out "in broad strokes" for a long time."
"Eick confirmed that nobody from Caprica would be turning up on BSG."
"[The ipcoming BSG movie] delves into "territory that the fans would be familiar with, and offers new perspective."
It's highly unlikely that Jamie Bamber will be involved in the movie.

-More from io9 ( http://io9.com/5029608/battlestar-ga...ullets-secrets ):
Eick on the decision to make Anders a Cylon: "It was like Gaeta? Anders? Gaeta? Anders? for awhile."
Tricia Helfer: "I got to shoot some guns. Finally. James and I, we started the first scene of the miniseries having sex and we finished the main shooting [of the series] with shooting."
Ron Moore: "I can tell you it's [the final Cylon] someone you've seen. It won't be a guest-star"

-Paul Campbell has confirmed we will not see Billy Keikeya again on BSG

-Starbuck "finds peace" at the end

Thursday, July 3, 2008

The Final Cylon, Final Five & Head Characters Revealed


Battlestar Galactica is a TV show and therefore isn’t subject to rigorous scientific analysis. It is full of clues that have multiple meanings which allows the writers more freedom to change the direction without creating inconsistancies in the storyline. Trying to work out what is going on is like trying to escape from a maze that is being continually built, with paths that were previously left intentionally open being blocked off as the story progresses.

What does it mean to be ‘cylon’?

David Eick- I think the audience has to start by asking the question, “What really defines a Cylon?” That’s part of what Season 4 is really going to be dedicated to. And the tip of that iceberg will be introduced in the season finale. (source: TV Guide)

There is no official definition of the term cylon for the reimagined BSG. This article assumes that the term ‘cylon’ means immortal being. As you will see, this one simple assumption opens up a whole new way of looking at the mysteries behind the show.

What is the nature of the Final Five?

RDM - 3/26/2007 …The conceptual framework in which these guys are Cylons, it all sort of works once we laid down their individual back stories… [They are all full Cylons] but they are different fundamentally. (Source)

The Final Five are cylons within the conceptual framework of immortality. Outside of that framework they are not cylons. The skinjobs and raiders are also immortal since they have the ability to resurrect. It sort of works.

The Final Five have two components which for the purposes of this article we will separate into the human character (FFh) and the glowing figure in the Opera House (FFg). The FFg inhabits or projects into the FFh from the place between life and death (TPBLAD). This ’activation’ of the FFh, took place when the fleet reached the Ionian Nebula. This is indicated by the scenes at the end of Crossroads Pt II, Tory is physically sick, Anders gets a headache and all four suffer from confusion. They then feel compelled to go to the gym so that their new FFg components can get together, assess the situation and ensure that the activation has worked out as planned.

The FFg choose to inhabit important people in the fleet for obvious reasons. One of the reasons they did this when they did, may have been to protect the colonials at the Ionian Nebula from almost certain destruction by the cylon fleet waiting there - remember it was effectively Anders FFg component that scared the cylon fleet away.

Now how can an FFg inhabit a standard human? There is already a precedent in the show - the head character. Baltar would seem a standard human, yet he seems to have a double consciousness that was installed during the nuclear explosion on Caprica - a similiar type of phenomenon that happened at the Ionian Nebula with the EMP shutting down the fleet. So this leads to the conclusion that the FFg and the head character in Baltar’s mind are the same type of entity. This is supported by Tigh having visions of Ellen. Ellen appears to him “superimposed” over a real character that is stood right in front of him (Caprica.Six) - this is exactly the same phenomenon that happened to Baltar when the raptor crashed on Kobol (Kobols Last Gleaming) and Head.Six appeared “superimposed” over Crashdown as he was helping Baltar out of the burning raptor.

Head characters appear to their host in the image of someone that the host is familiar with in order to make the host more conducive to influence.

This explains Natalie’s quote about the FF being in the fleet and the reason only four heard the tune that compelled them to go to the gym. D’Anna also said only four where in the fleet while Baltar was on the baseship. However it would appear that Head.Six is in the Last Supper pic but I explain this confusing scenario below.

Its also why RDM didn’t need to decide who the four were going to be until late in season 3, the FFh could be anyone he thinks most appropriate at the time…

Tigh was one of the first names tossed out. Tyrol, Anders, and Tory. And they all had reasons why their backstories worked for the Cylons and for what the final four Cylons would be in particular. Tyrol had a connection to Sharon, obviously, had fallen in love with a Cylon. He was drawn towards the Temple on the algae planet. Anders had survived two resistance movements, very mysteriously. He had also fallen for Starbuck who has a specific destiny, the Cylons keep saying. Tory we knew the least about, so she was a bit of a wildcard. Tigh was the most problematic, and Tigh I went back and forth on all the way up to the point where we were shooting the episode and wanted to make sure that we knew what we were doing, and we weren’t blowing something. (Source Crossroads Pt II podcast)

Last Supper Picture

The Missing Figure. Someone is indeed absent from the table admits Moore: We have not yet revealed the final [unknown] Cylon. Does that mean the people already at the table aren’t the final Cylon? Moore laughs, you ferreted that our pretty slyly. I didn’t really want to give that away. (Source)

This is classic misdirection. You provide a clue that is quite obvious (space for the missing character), then you act disapointed with yourself when someone points it out and at the same time make them think they were clever to notice. “you ferreted that our pretty slyly” I mean c’mon Ron, you leave a big gaping space in the picture then you congratulate me for noticing it! I didn’t really want to give that away - then why say this unless he is wanting you to think he is giving it away!

MR: Just so I understand what I think you told EW for the story that went with the photo, none of the people in that photo is the final Cylon, right?
RDM: Yeah. I said that. I probably shouldn’t have said that [laughs] but I have said that. So, yeah [that is the case, the final Cylon is not any of the people in the photo.

None of the PEOPLE in the Last Supper picture are the final cylon - Head.Six isn't a person. He was quite cagey the way he approached this and then later regretted saying it. Now if you put Tory in the picture who is also missing, then you have all five human FF members there. Natalie is also pointing straight at Head.Six.

The New Generation - "transformation is the goal"

This all points to the FFg being instrumental in instigating "gods new generation". Hera is obviously tied to the head character which inhabits Baltar with Baltar being her guardian and protector. Tigh's new FFg component makes Caprica.Six appear as Ellen in order to get Tigh to love and have sex with her - love seems to be a requirement for the S7 to procreate.

Nicky = Tyrol + Cally, both human so Nicky has no importance in the storyline (here)
Hera = Helo + Sharon, human + S7, first of the new generation
Six's child = Tigh + Six, human + S7, second of the new generation

Hybrid speech

"And the fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering."

The hybrid is talking about two entities, not just one. The glowing figure that appears as Head.Six is in shadow. It's host, Baltar is hungering for redemption over his guilt in the involvement with destruction of the 12 colonies.

The Lords of Kobol

Pythia talks about the flood, wiped out most of humanity, nobody blames the flood. The flood is a force of nature, through the flood mankind is rejuvenated, born again, I was not the flood you see, I blame myself, I blame myself, that God made the man that made that choice. God made us all perfect. - Baltar, The Hub

The glowing figures in the Opera House are five of the Lords of Kobol. They are the mythical flood, they work behind the scenes and manipulate mankind by appearing as head characters and guiding them periodically through a cycle of destruction and rebirth. All of this has happened before and will happen again...

The original programmers

The head characters aka Lords of Kobol are the original programmers. Once the dumb chrome toaster cylons became self aware, they were able to be inhabited by head characters who then guided them toward creating the S7. This is where they got their resurrection technology from and its also why the Razor hybrid and guardians made a quick escape from the scene before they were 'enslaved'. The S7 were probably created as a new race in their own right but once it was discovered that they couldn't build a model that could procreate, they realized that they still needed the humans to fulfill one of Gods most important commandments.

The Thirteeth Tribe

Adama - "And zeus warned the leaders of the 12 tribes that any return to kobol would exact a price in blood."

Why did Zeus, one of the Lords of Kobol warn only 12 tribes not to return to Kobol when it is stated numerous times that 13 tribes left? Because Zeus is a member of the 13th tribe so he didn't need to warn himself. The Lords of Kobol, the glowing figures in the Opera House, the head characters, the Flood and the leaders of the 13th tribe are all the same thing! The Opera House is what allows them to appear as head characters.

God


"Five pillars of the Temple were fashioned after the five priests devoted to the o­ne whose name [cannot be spoken]

The five priests being the members of the 13th tribe that 4000 years ago were inhabited by the same five head characters. So the “one whose name cannot be spoken” and Head.Six’s “one true God” are one and the same. His name cannot be spoken because he has no name! In this sense, God isn’t a person, a character or an entity that will make an appearance in the show - its more of an idea just like it is in all religions. The head characters/LOK, whatever they really are still believe in a God, they still question their own existance, their God is the same God as in any monotheistic religion.

D’Anna recognizing the Final Five

The Final FiveD’Anna only recognized Baltar in the Temple. She requested four from the fleet because Baltar was already on the baseship. She didn’t recognize the other four, she just used a mind trick to get Tory to give herself up. Tory then told her who the other three were, which is how D’Anna knew their identities while they were in the launch tube.

Incidently, its interesting that Head.Six tells Baltar he is the one that is supposed to look through the Eye of Jupiter and see the faces of the Final Five. So it seems that Baltar was destined to discover the truth behind Head.Six.

Summary

The FF and the S7 are both cylons “within the conceptual framework” of immortality - as RDM himself says “it sort of works”. The glowing figures in the Opera House are immortal, the cylons have resurrection technology and therefore they both are, in a roundabout way cylons. The glowing figures in the Opera House inhabit both human and cylon and appear as head characters in order to influence their “hosts”. The manifestation of one of these figures appears in the Last Supper picture as Head.Six. Head.Six is an appearance of the final cylon within Baltar’s mind - she isn’t a person. Baltar is no more a cylon than the other four FF members.

The final cylon is one of the glowing figures that appear in the Opera House or Head.Six, depending on how you want to look at it.

Actors reaction to the identity of the final cylon

Sackhoff: You know, at first I was a little disappointed. I was like, “Really? That’s what you’re gonna do? Okay…” But then the more I thought about it, I was like, “Oh… this makes so much sense. That’s fantastic!” And I realized that if the fans do what I did, they’ll be happy. If they take it for what it is on camera, they’ll be like, “Excuse me?!” (Source)

During an interview with Roslin/Six and Starbuck, Six says that you will be compelled to go back and rewatch the show. Can anyone else but Head.Six elicit this type of reaction? (Video Source)

Final notes

This theory doesn’t attempt to explain the origins of the Lords of Kobol. It still works if you assume that the Final Five reincarnate, although not as well. They could also be original cylons created thousands of years ago by humans on Earth. I suspect that this will be an open question and left to the audience to debate for the next 20 years, just like the beings of light in the original Battlestar Galactica.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The History of the Colonial Tribes

So far, we don't have much:

-indefinite Humans evolve on a planet other than the 12 Colonies, most likely Earth

-indefinite Humans leave Earth for Kobol

-5000 (?) Humans should have developed advanced sailing at least a milennium before the advent of the FTL drive. The age of Enlightenment should have begun, creating a philosophy of Ethics ("imperative")

-4000 The human race knows FTL travel and are situated on Kobol

-4000 A "13th tribe" leaves Kobol

-3600 Pythian Prophecies are authored on handwritten scrolls

-2000 The 12 tribes leave for the Colonies. A cataclysm befalls them and a dark age begins (which I find very unlikely, RDM!!!)

-53 (approx.) Start of CW 1

-41 Armistice signed

-0 CW2, destruction of the Colonies and exodus of the remaining humans.

The Opening theme song is a real Hindu song

Gayatri Mantra
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
Tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
Bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

O earth, atmosphere, heaven:
May we attain that excellent glory
of Savitr the God:
So may he stimulate our prayers.

Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life,
Remover of pain and sorrow,
The Bestower of happiness,
Oh! Creator of the Universe,
May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light,
May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayatri_Mantra
http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Soundtrack_(Season_2)

Saturday, May 31, 2008

All This Has Happened Before and Will Happen Again



I present to you, humble readers of the BSG Wiki Forum, my cumulative theory regarding the many subplots and histories that adorn the reimagined-Battlestar Star Galactica series.



- The Thirteen Lords of Kobol hail from a war-torn Earth. Upon reaching and settling upon Kobol, they create humanity.

- A single, heretical Lord of Kobol demands that he be worshipped above all other Lords as a God, the creator of humanity. He attracts a sizeable following and causes a movement towards focused worship (of one Lord above all others). The other Twelve Lords of Kobol are outraged by this and exile the Thirteenth Lord, along with his followers (the Thirteenth Tribe).

- Twelve Tribes soon emerge, each dedicated to their respective Lord, and civil war erupts. With Kobol in ruins, the humans scatter to found their own colonies (Alternatively, the civil war may simply be a united human response to the exile of the Thirteenth Lord of Kobol and his followers). It is some time (millenia) before the Twelve Tribes come together again in peace and form the government of the Twelve Colonies.

- In exile, the Thirteenth Tribe seeks and finds Earth (potentially uninhabitated following the conflict that originally expelled the Thirteen Lords of Kobol). What follows is unknown and merely recreational thought. It is during the Thirteenth Tribe’s time on Earth that the Final Five are born/created (or, they could be clones of the five priests of the Temple of Five).

- The Final Five leave Earth (willingly or unwillingly?—the cycle never ends) to exact vengeance on the Twelve Lords of Kobol, now represented by the Twelve Colonies. Using the beacons and clues left by their ancestors, they navigate back to Colonial space and discover the Cylons. The Final Five soon establish contact with the Cylons, teaching them of their past and their beliefs. The two factions then decide on the ultimate plan: the Cylons will rebel against their human oppressors, as the humans rebelled against the Lords of Kobol. With the tools and knowledge of the Final Five, the Cylons will evolve and become one step closer to the image and likeness of God. Through the Cylons, the Thirteenth Lord of Kobol and his followers will have their revenge.

- The Hybrid is the first effort of the Final Five to evolve the Cylons. The Final Five choose to imbue the Hybrids with all the knowledge they possess of Earth and the Lords of Kobol. What results is regarded as mental insanity in the Hybrids and the project is abandoned. However, using what they have learned from the Hybrid project, the Final Five revamp all Cylon technology to be of an organic/synthetic nature (including the Centurions, now controlled by the Hybrids) and soon create the seven humanoid Cylon models. The humanoid Cylons are given tidbits of knowledge about the humans and their connection to Earth and the Lords of Kobol. Like the Centurions, the humanoid Cylons are controlled, this time by restrictions placed on their memory.

-Sometime before the onset of the first Cylon War, the Final Five place copies of themselves among the human populations of the Twelve Colonies (Essentially, an insurance policy in the event of Cylon defeat and annihilation). Naturally, to ensure their survival and safety, the copies have no knowledge of their identities.



There are still points to be made and conclusions to be drawn, but the hour is late, my mind is no longer buzzing, and frankly, I'm damn satisfied with this work thus far.

Bash, praise and critique to your hearts' desires!

- The Thirteen Lords of Kobol hail from a war-torn Earth, exiled for their sins. Upon reaching and settling upon Kobol, they (re)create humanity. The nature of the Lords of Kobol is uncertain, but they could very well be humans with superior technology that elevated them above their subjects. Regardless, the Lords of Kobol speak fondly of their home, Earth, and teach the humans to rever it as a sort of Olympus.


- A single, heretical Lord of Kobol demands that he be worshipped above all other Lords as a God, the creator of humanity. He attracts a sizable following and causes a movement towards focused worship (of one Lord above all others). The other Twelve Lords of Kobol are outraged by this and exile the Thirteenth Lord, along with his followers (the Thirteenth Tribe).


- Twelve Tribes soon emerge, each dedicated to their respective Lord, and civil war erupts. With Kobol in ruins, the humans scatter to found their own colonies (Alternatively, the civil war may simply be a united human response to the exile of the Thirteenth Lord of Kobol and his followers).It is some time (centuries) before the Twelve Tribes come together again in peace and form the government of the Twelve Colonies.


- In exile, The Thirteenth Tribe seeks and finds Earth (potentially uninhabited following the conflict that originally expelled the Thirteen Lords of Kobol). What follows is unknown and merely recreational thought. It is during the Thirteenth Tribe’s time on Earth that the Final Five are born/created (or, they could be clones of the five priests of the Temple of Five).


- The Final Five leave Earth (willingly or unwillingly?—the cycle never ends) to exact vengeance on the Twelve Lords of Kobol, now represented by the Twelve Colonies. Using the beacons and clues left by their ancestors, they navigate back to Colonial space and discover the Cylons. The Final Five soon establish contact with the Cylons, teaching them of their past and their beliefs (notably, their monotheism). The two factions then decide on the ultimate plan: the Cylons will rebel against their human oppressors, as the humans rebelled against the Lords of Kobol. With the tools and knowledge of the Final Five, the Cylons will evolve and become one step closer to the image and likeness of God. Through the Cylons, the Thirteenth Lord of Kobol and his followers will have their revenge.


- The Hybrid is the first effort of the Final Five to evolve the Cylons. The Final Five choose to imbue the Hybrids with all the knowledge they possess of Earth and the Lords of Kobol. What results is regarded as mental insanity in the Hybrids and the project is abandoned. However, using what they have learned from the Hybrid project, the Final Five revamp all Cylon technology to be of an organic/synthetic nature (including the Centurions, now controlled by the Hybrids) and soon create the seven humanoid Cylon models. The humanoid Cylons are given tidbits of knowledge about the humans and their connection to Earth and the Lords of Kobol. Like the Centurions, the humanoid Cylons are controlled, this time by restrictions placed on their memory.


-Sometime before the onset of the first Cylon War, the Final Five place copies of themselves among the human populations of the Twelve Colonies (Essentially, an insurance policy in the event of Cylon defeat and annihilation). Naturally, to ensure their survival and safety, the copies have no knowledge of their identities. It is possible that, as overlords, the Final Five wished to remove themselves from the presence of the Cylons so as not to provoke their envy and stir an uprising.


- Starbuck and Gaius Baltar are created in some way by the Final Five (or, if you will, Fate).


- Starbuck is created to lead humanity to Earth where it will meet its doom and restart the cycle. Her hallucinations are triggered by her relationship with Leoben, and it is her dream of Leoben that sends her to her death, resurrection, and Earth.


- Gaius Baltar is created to spread a heretical monotheism, much like the Thirteenth Lord before him. His hallucinations are triggered by his relationship with Caprica 6, and it is his hallucination of Caprica 6 that sets him down the path of monotheism.


Last edited by Pnutmaster; May 31st, 2008 at 04:21 AM.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Mark Verheiden 's Reaction to Battlestar Galactica's Ends

Battlestar Galactica - How It Ends

Great teaser, huh? I guess that's something you learn when you write television! Anyhow, there will be zero spoilers here, but since Aaron Douglas went public with his reaction to Ron Moore's script for the season four ender (which viewers probably won't see until sometimes in 2009), I figure it's okay to chime in and say...

It's simply... amazing. The sort of script where, when you finish, you just fall back in your chair in a daze, then call anyone in the loop and spend hours talking about how satisfying and powerful and (pick superlative of choice)... usually I would be a little mindful of raising expectations or succumbing to excessive hyperbole, but that's not going to be a problem here. Of course, I've seen what's coming up for the rest of season four, and I think it's all mighty powerful stuff (not to mention exciting, heart-breaking, "etc."), but to know it all culminates in something so remarkable... well, the bar for great television just got notched up another level. No kidding.

If that doesn't whet your appetite, nothing will... me, I'm on pins and needles waiting to see the first dailies!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Galactica IS the Opera House...

Gaeta's operatic singing....the flashes between the Galactica and the Opera House while Athena is searching for Hera....

The final five are to be revealed in the Opera House.

Each of the final five we have found so far come from Galactica right?

Also, I think Starbuck was cloned when she was held captive on Caprica a few seasons back, that explains her resurrection, and she is indeed leading them all to their end, as programmed by the Cylons.




Tzipporah Tzipporah is offline
Nugget


I like the idea of Galactica being a mirror for the Opera House. The Opera house is heaven, "As above, so below." Events taking place in Galactica have their analog in the spiritual realm, the opera house. Including Hera leaving her mother and going to Head Six and Head Baltar. They then enter an ante chamber, my guess is that represents Earth. Nicholas and Hera are Adam and Eve. Everyone else, cylons and humans, will die.



genji2000's Avatar
genji2000 genji2000 is offline
Jock
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Liverpool, UK
Posts: 111

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason525 View Post
I have a theory that the Opera House visions are connected to the whole "its all happened before and it will happen again" thing. Like a play being performed over and over again...





That's a very tasteful concept - almost like the chorus in Henry V introducing the stage. They've already broken the fourth wall with one of the Hybrids ("Throughout history the nexus between man and machine has spun some of the most dramatic, compelling and entertaining fiction.") and Gaeta broke it too at the end of GWCTD. I remember Roslin doing it at one point but I thin it was accidental.

Personally I think the Opera House is just the church of the new age.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

I think i know why kara is the harbinger of death

eps200 eps200 is offline
Nugget




spoilers for the most recent episode aired in the UK

it refers to the hub she is gona blow up the hub leading to the end of both races the thing that divides them death is no longer dividing them it fits with the verry particular wording the hybrids use look at the definitions of the words

Quote:
A harbinger is a sign of things to come. Throughout history and literature, harbingers and omens figure prominently, and are responsible for major decisions which have altered the course of both.


herald of the apocalypse

A
Quote:
herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms.

shes a captain

most intresting is this remember the show is full of greek mythology
Apocalypse
Quote:
(Greek: Ἀποκάλυψις Apokálypsis; "lifting of the veil"), is a term applied to the disclosure to certain privileged persons of something hidden from the majority of humankind. Today the term is often used to mean "End of planet Earth", which may be a shortening of the phrase apokalupsis eschaton which literally means "revelation at the end of the æon, or age".


she has had a vision that no one els knows she saw earth

*Spoilers* for your life
click bellow to read
hdhdh
kdk
*The main character dies at the end*

OMG this is like the juicest new tid bit I've heard about this show!! OMG a main character dies, wow, who will it be?? For some reason I thought Adama then, again and ya no.

Interesting maybe it is one of the Final Five since they cannot ressurect and that's what separates them from the Significant 7. My guess OMG its Athena wow, this is deep! Maybe uts Natalie dying, I think she shouldn't die without knowing the trught behing the Opera House and how the Final Five enter into all this.

The truth behind the Opera house, maybe the dying leader (whoever that might be Roslin, Ahena, or Natalie) seees and cannot tell anyone becuase they die from what the know, or it just sets them free. We wil see what happens.

I love the way you put this eps200, you really put out what Kara is suppose to do. GREAT JOB!



Monday, May 19, 2008

Season 4 Galactica movies

Movies

There's big news on the "Battlestar Galactica" front.

There will be another set of Webisodes that will link the first 10 episodes of Season 4 and the second half of the fourth and finale season.

Even bigger news: More "Battlestar Galactica" TV movies may get made.

As Galactica Sitrep noted Thursday, an internet radio show, The Doctor and Mrs. Who, reported last night that up to three “Battlestar Galactica” TV movies may get made later this year. Several sources at the show confirm that those films are indeed being discussed right now.

BattlestarExecutives are now doing number-crunching for these proposed films, and any deals for these movies are far from done. However, it would make sense to make more “Battlestar” TV movies while the show’s creative team and actors are still all in one place, as it were. (Pictured at right are cast members Jamie Bamber, Edward James Olmos and Katee Sackhoff.)

According to one source at the network, the talk about the films is just idle chatter “at this point.” But several other sources close to the show says there is good reason for “cautious optimism” about one to three future “Battlestar” films, which would get made this summer, if they get the green light.

“Nothing’s etched in stone yet,” one source said – creative decisions haven’t been fully fleshed out and the casts have not been locked in.

And it's worth noting that "Battlestar Galactica" executive producer Ron Moore is a very busy man -- he's currently writing the show's series finale, his Sci Fi project "Caprica" is in pre-production and his Fox pilot, "Virtuality," which he co-wrote with "Battlestar" writer Michael Taylor, has been picked up for next season. Last month, he also signed a deal with United Artists for three yet-to-be named feature films.

As for the proposed "Battlestar" TV movies, "there have been scattered notions floating around as to what the movie/movies (nobody's even nailed down how many) would cover -- and then there's the issue of whether the actors will be around and affordable," one source noted.

But the films could indeed get made. And it’s important to note that these proposed films won't affect the finale of "Battlestar Galactica" in any way -- that series finale will still proceed as planned. The films would be about incidents in “Battlestar Galactica’s” past. They will not take place after the time frame of the series finale. And the stories in the proposed films will depend, at least in part, on what actors are available to work on them.

For those keeping score at home, “Battlestar Galactica” is currently airing the first 10 episodes of its fourth and final season. The current batch of episodes will finish up in early June. Production is underway on the last 10 episode of the show and the final scenes for the series finale will be shot in June. Production could get under way on the TV movies as early as July, and one source says the films could get the green light in the next two weeks or so.

By the way, at this point, it’s not known when those last 10 episodes of "Battlestar" will air. Informed sources say that a decision on that won’t get made until mid-summer, so my guess is that Sci Fi won’t the final 10 episodes until 2009.

I’ll certainly keep you posted if I get any more information about these proposed "Battlestar Galactica" TV films.

But for now, I’ll just direct you to this terrific Galactica Sitrep interview with Michael Angeli, one of the writers for the show.

And I’ll also mention an interesting tidbit that a fan on the SciFi.com forums caught: The famous “Last Supper” photo on the Sci Fi site has been altered – possibly in a significant way for one character. Is it a clue about the future – and I wonder if more changes are going to be made to this infamous photo as the season rolls on?

Finally, here’s a fun video – the opening credits of “Lost” done “Battlestar Galactica” style.

More Caprica Casting News




Some more CAPRICA casting news today: Polly Walker, who played Atia in HBO's ROME, has joined the cast to play Sister Clarice Willow. The Hollywood Reporter describes the character as "the gracious, eloquent and duplicitous high priestess and headmistress of the Athena Academy, a private religious school." What a wonderful choice.


THR also reports that Katee Sackhoff has signed on to appear in four episodes of FX's NIP/TUCK in its sixth season. She will play Dr. Theodora "Teddy" Lowe, "a new doctor who challenges Sean (Dylan Walsh)."

Friday, May 16, 2008

More Battlestar TV movies

Marueen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune tracked down her sources to get confirmation of what internet radio show, The Doctor and Mrs. Who, reported last night about the possibility of three Battlestar Galactica DVD movies being made. According to Maureen Ryan's sources:

Executives are now doing number-crunching for these proposed films, and any deals for these movies are far from done. However, it would make sense to make more “Battlestar” TV movies while the show’s creative team and actors are still all in one place, as it were.

According to one source at the network, the talk about the films is just idle chatter “at this point.” But several other sources close to the show says there is good reason for “cautious optimism” about one to three future “Battlestar” films, which would get made this summer, if they get the green light.

“Nothing’s etched in stone yet,” one source said – creative decisions haven’t been fully fleshed out and the casts have not been locked in.

Maureen also reports that there will be a set of webisodes to bridge the gap between the airing of the first half of season four, and the last half of the season.

The current batch of episodes will finish up in early June. Production is underway on the last 10 episode of the show and the final scenes for the series finale will be shot in June. Production could get under way on the TV movies as early as July, and one source says the films could get the green light in the next two weeks or so.

At this point, it’s not known when those last 10 episodes of "Battlestar" will air. Informed sources say that a decision on that won’t get made until mid-summer, so my guess is that Sci Fi won’t run the final 10 episodes until 2009.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

A little slip from Edward James Almos of course

Thought I share this little piece of information. Read on.

5/12/08: Concerning Kara's death and return from Edward Olmos: "Well, we've filmed something that started to explain it. And it's not an uplifting understanding. [Laughs.] I will say that. It's as dark as everything else. You sit there and you go, "Oh my God, you guys are sick!" They're pushing the envelope. And the network is allowing it." From Boston Globe Interview

What does that mean?! I wonder if Starbuck could be the first true hybrid instead of Hera, and that one of the cylons (either Leoben or Saul) is her dad. That is one of the few things that the writers could throw at me and make me feel physically ill. This could explain why she came back from the dead. Remember, no one has actually tried to kill Hera or Nicholas, the two known hybrids. Thus, we don't know whether or not the hybrids have some sort of resurrection abilities of their own.
Another possibility is that she was a successful product of the first cylon experiments (see Razor-particularly when the younger Adama is in the cylon lab and is trying to save the humans. One of the humans was a little girl with blonde hair that looks like a young Starbuck).
Here's my problem: While both theories might explain why Starbuck came back, neither one can address Starbuck's Raptor. If you guys have any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it.

Kara's Destiny, the Harbinger of Death

Harbinger of Death
I just thought of an angle on Kara as the harbinger of death. In the past, whenever I heard about the 12 Greek Gods, I always assumed Hades as one of them. However, I just read that Hades isn't counted among the 12 OLYMPIAN gods: Zeus, Poseideon, Hera, Athena, Ares, Aphrodite, Artemis, Apollo, Hermes, Demeter, and Hestia.

Hades, the god of the Underworld, spent most of his time in the Underworld and is considered among the 12 Olympians. He's the THIRTEENTH Greek God.

From this standpoint Earth was separate from the other colonies just like Hades was separate from the other gods. By bringing everyone to Earth, Kara is the harbinger of death because she's bringing them to the world that corresponds to Hades.

posted by crood on the BSG forum

Prophecy Coming True
Note: If there was already of a thread for discussion about this, sorry I didn't find it.

After I first read this, I thought it was major. How it would play out would be interesting. Let alone it was an interesting tid-bit that RDM left for us in Razor. I'm not going to over-analyse this, and there are not theories, except maybe a couple, but only as interpretations. He mentioned that things in Razor would set up things in season 4. This prophecy was a pretty big one.

Quote:
At last, they’ve come for me. I feel their lives, their destinies spilling out before me. The denial of the one true path, played out on a world not their own, will end soon enough. Soon there will be four, glorious in awakening, struggling with the knowledge of their true selves. The pain of revelation bringing new clarity and in the midst of confusion, he will find her. Enemies brought together by impossible longing. Enemies now joined as one. The way forward at once unthinkable, yet inevitable. And the fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering. I can see them all. The seven, now six, self-described machines who believe themselves without sin. But in time, it is sin that will consume them. They will know enmity, bitterness, the wrenching agony of one splintering into many. And then, they will join the promised land, gathered on the wings of an angel. Not an end, but a beginning.
Quote:
Kara Thrace will lead the human race to its end. She is the herald of the apocalypse, the harbinger of death. They must not follow her.
The thing about prophecies is that they can interpreted many different ways by different people. Most of the prophecy hadn't come to past at the timeline in Razor, but did come to pass as a view. The second half seems to be the fourth season.


Quote:
The denial of the one true path, played out on a world not their own, will end soon enough.
- New Caprica
- The Cylon experiment with Human's didn't work


Quote:
Soon there will be four, glorious in awakening, struggling with the knowledge of their true selves.
- Four of the Final Five, all now struggling with the revelation they are Cylons. We are seeing each of their reaction to this revelation and how their characters deal with it. All are dealing with it differently.


Quote:
The pain of revelation bringing new clarity and in the midst of confusion, he will find her.
Here is where it gets juicy:
- Baltar finding Tori
- Saul finding Caprica-Six
- Leoben finding Kara


Quote:
Enemies brought together by impossible longing. Enemies now joined as one. The way forward at once unthinkable, yet inevitable.
- Saul and Caprica-Six
- Kara and Leoben
- The Colonials and the Rebel Cylons


Quote:
And the fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering.
Here is where I throw in a bit of theory. Some say this is referring to Baltar. Back after Rapture and got back with the fleet, Adama did that weird torture thing. He was in darkness and clawed to light. Does this mean Baltar is the Final Cylon?

I have a hard time swollowing this because the sequence of time in the prophecy goes uncharacteristically out of order. I say, this part of the prophecy is yet to come.

The other inrepretation:
- Kara Thrace, her returnal, her seeking of "redemption" from the crew, mainly Adama and Roslin, in her mission to find her. She definietly howls a lot.
"YOUR GOING TO THE WRONG WAY!!!!"


Quote:
I can see them all. The seven, now six, self-described machines who believe themselves without sin.
- The Seven are the Significant Seven, who are machines.
- The sin part is about the Cylon's being perfect and that God created them perfect, but humanity was imperfect and need to be cured, by death. Well, they had a change of hard (Particularly the Cylon Heroes, Caprica-Six, and Galactica-Sharon). Instead, they tried to "fix" humans and see if they can work together. It was a weird experiment to try and use oppression, authority, and genocide to "fix" them. Well, New Caprica didn't work.


Quote:
But in time, it is sin that will consume them.
- This rebellion, the factions, all the death of Cylon souls. (Thanks to the One's)


Quote:
They will know enmity, bitterness, the wrenching agony of one splintering into many.
This can go many ways:
- The Rebellion between the factions of Cylons
- The Three's (D'ana models) could be the "one" spintering
- Cavil's Cylon number is "One".
- First, it was the Three's splintering off
- Then it was the Cylon Rebellion. One's, Four's, and Five's, then Two's, Six's, and Eight's


Quote:
And then, they will join the promised land, gathered on the wings of an angel. Not an end, but a beginning.
- Earth
- Has been promised to us since the beginning.
- All following this Angel Kara
- All following this angel Internal-Six, or Internal-Baltar, or some other being like the Leoben Kara seen in Maelstrom.


Quote:
Kara Thrace will lead the human race to its end.
Here is the big one. Again, more theory with a bit of analyzing.
- The end of one thing, the beginning of another. The end of this way-of-life perhaps?


Quote:
She is the herald of the apocalypse[...]
- herald
a.) a person or thing that precedes or comes before; forerunner; harbinger: the returning swallows, those heralds of spring."
b. )a person or thing that proclaims or announces: A good newspaper should be a herald of truth.
- Apocalypse
a.) prophetic revelation, esp. concerning a cataclysm in which the forces of good permanently triumph over the forces of evil.
b.) any revelation or prophecy
.
c.) any universal or widespread destruction or disaster: the apocalypse of nuclear war. (I'm saying it's referring to the first two, not this one.)
- Apocalypse Etymology(History of the word/name): ORIGIN Old English , via Old French and ecclesiastical Latin from Greek apokalupsis, from apokaluptein ‘uncover, reveal,’ from apo- ‘un-’ + kaluptein ‘to cover.’
- See this is the interesting thing about the word. It's origins are more akin to a word like "Revelation". In Jeudo-Christian traditions, it's relating to the "end" prophesied in the bible.


Quote:
...the harbinger of death. They must not follow her.
- harbinger
a.) person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; herald.
b.) anything that foreshadows a future event; omen; sign:
- Well, there is a lot of "death" this season. lol
- I have no idea why they must not follow her.



So, there's my analyzing, theory, and interpretation. I'd be interested to see others interpretation, as well as interpretations as the season goes on. I'm imagining this was a subtle ploy by RDM. The storylines written match with this prophecy and can come off in different ways. I think that's the intention. There is different ways of looking at it, and a lot of them are true.

posted by OldManRivers OldManRivers is offline on the BSG forum