BSG Preview: “Daybreak, Part 1” – Series Finale Begins Tonight

The final chapters of "Battlestar Galactica" are at hand. Tonight’s episode, "Daybreak, Part 1", is the first part of the series’ two-week/three-hour series finale. We have previews for that, plus the latest frakkin links and more, including details on a United Nations panel about the show. [UPDATE: new comments from Ron Moore]

 

“Daybreak, Part 1” [Season 4 Ep. 19]
US: Airing March 13th on SciFi at 10 PM (9 Central)
Canada: Airing March 13th on Space at 10 PM (7 Pacific)
UK: Airing March 16th on Sky1 at 9 PM
 

Synopsis: With Galactica on the verge of falling apart, Admiral Adama readies the ship for what could be its final mission, as Baltar’s Six warns that humanity’s final chapter is near.

New images (from the three hour season finale) 


Lee and Gaius


Adama is flanked by Starbuck, Ellen, Tigh and Lee

[more photos]

Preview (SciFi – USA)

Canadian Preview (best available)

Sneak Peek Clip

 

Last Week’s Episode ("Islanded in a Stream of Stars") Roundup

The episode is not yet available for streaming, but here is the recap:

Also check out Ron Moore’s podcast for the episode, it is enlightening.

Ratings analysis
Last week’s episode, "Islanded in a Stream of Stars" drew 1.57M viewers, basically flat from the 1.66M viewers who tuned in for episode 17, "Someone to Watch Over Me". Eight episodes into what will be a second-half season of 11 episodes, season 4.5 is averaging 1.71M viewers (-19% from the season 4.5 premiere).

UPDATE: Moore on Finale, BSG-TOS movie, and more
Shortly after this article went live a new interview with Ron Moore appeared at THR. The interview covers a lot of ground but here are some highlights.

On anticipated fan reaction to the finale

I don’t know. I’m sure there will be a lot of discussion. They have a lot of different expectations for what they think it’s going to be, and a lot of opinions about how it should be. All of us who worked on the finale feel good about it, that this is the ending of the story we wanted to make.

On what he would have done differently

Probably we rushed into the Lee and Duala romance too quickly and didn’t lay the groundwork for that. “Black Market” was an episode I wish I had a second crack at. We probably played around with Lee’s character and his direction a little bit before settling into a good track with him. On the other hand, I don’t know that’s entirely a bad thing, because it added to his quest and trying to figure out his own place on the show.

On possible Glen Larson TOS BSG movie

More power to them. I don’t know anything about it; they didn’t talk to me about it. I’ve always said if somebody wanted to do a continuation of the original, that’s fine by me. It doesn’t have anything to do with what we’ve done.

More Moore at THR.

BSG NEWS

Four Nominations at Saturn Awards
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films awarded the show with four nominations for "The 35th Annual Saturn Awards". The show received nominations for best Syndicated / Cable Television Series, best Actor (Edward James Olmos), best Actress (Mary McDonnell) and best Supporting Actress (Katee Sackhoff).

UN Panel on Battlestar Galactica 
No, you’re not reading that wrong. On March 17th — three days before the show’s two-hour finale airs — the United Nations (together with SCI FI) will be holding a special panel discussion on the show examining "human rights, children and armed conflict, terrorism, human rights and reconciliation and dialogue among civilizations and faith":

The "Battlestar" contingent on the panel will consist of executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, as well as stars Mary McDonnell (who plays president Laura Roslin on the show) and Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama).

UUN representatives on the panel are Radhika Coomaraswamy, special representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; Craig Mokhiber, deputy director of the New York office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Robert Orr, assistant secretary-general for policy planning, executive office of the Secretary-General.

The invitation-only panel, moderated by ‘Battlestar’ fan Whoopi Goldberg, will take place at 7 p.m. in the U.N.’s Economic and Social Council Chamber.

TV Guide Cover

Covers of TV Guide (went on sale March 11th) [behind-the-scenes images at TV Guide Magazine]


Preview of issue at Chicago Tribune

Cover Shoot Video

Battlestar Galactica: The Last Frakking Special (airs Monday, March 16th)

Frakkin links

Even more BSG
If that isn’t enough for you, keep track of all your Frakin needs at our favorite BSG site, Battlestar Sitrep.

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Frakking Great TV!
I’ll miss it.
But I will buy the huge complete DVD Galactica hull steel box in summer!

That article in Slate is interesting, but she’s taking A LOT of liberties with context.

I’ll be watching tonight. They won’t resolve anything, but I’ll be watching…

Can’t wait. I do wonder, was that Jupiter that Boomer passed last week?

I think the Galactica will be reborn just like Starbuck’s viper was.

Without a doubt, best frakkin’ show on TV. It will be missed when it is gone…I hope that Caprica is half as good.

I will miss this show alot.

So say we all……

eh. I am just voicing an opinion here. but i get so disappointed when i do my “10 min trekmovie.com update” and see something about BSG..
Can this not be lumped into the weekly update that is done for all movies, and t.v. shows?
if it is done for BSG why not do it for “DollHouse” on fox, or “Heroes”, and especially have one for “Gossip Girl”.

I just hope there will be no Bear McCreary sitar version of
“Don’t Stop Believing”…

I haven’t seen the show since season 1 (the same with ‘Heroes’).

Do I have some catching up to do! Fortunately, I have it all on DVD,

looking forward to tonight’s episode, thanks for the update Russ

and before anyone asks, we haven’t forgotten the Trek news, a new ‘ST09 Tidbits’ is on deck and being prepared as we speak.

#8:”eh. I am just voicing an opinion here. but i get so disappointed when i do my “10 min trekmovie.com update” and see something about BSG..”

A lot of us here are science fiction fans.

I suppose when and if “Dollhouse” (which I like, being a Whedonite and all) or “Heroes” or “Gossip Girl” does a single episode addressing anything of sufficient importance for them to be taken seriously by the U.N. or *any* organization dedicated to more than building toy spaceships and arguing over Trek canon, that might be worth an update all its own. :-)

steve-o
are not not capable of skipping a story? you konw it isn’t mandatory to read them all don’t you?

i love bsg and love that they do it here as it is a quick reminder with all the info

Love this show, I hope Sci-Fi can come up with something new that is just as good. Maybe a remake of the old Buck Rogers TV show or a remake of Space 1999 (2099)?

Who cares?

The UN.

et tu, Katie?

BSG’s worst episodes are far better than anything they did on TNG, Voyager or Enterprise.

I need me some Trish goodies

The UN head, Ban-Ki Moon just called the U.S. a deadbeat nation due to the fact that we didn’t pony up 1 billion dollars, can’t imagine why (last year we gave them 5 billion). I think Moore needs to give that UN panel a taste of what Zarek gave the quorum.

#8 and #15

Bugger off. As to who cares, ummm…..the frakkin’ U.N., that’s who.

NEWS FLASH: DATELINE Friday 13 2009

Readers of Trekmovie.com are astounded to learn that if there is an article they don’t like to read they can move to a different one. Also coming as news to them is that there are things happening in all of science fiction and that the owner/operator of this site is a Battlestar Galactia fan. As such he does as he pleases.

Now back to your regularly scheduled ranting.

I used to love this show. But since the middle of season three, it’s been a plodding, brooding mess. With plot points not making a whole lot of logical sense.

I’m watching to the end because I have too much time invested in stop watching now.

If you go to the message boards at Sci-Fi.com, you see a lot of the same sentiments. Fans who expressed negative comments used to be vilified. Now, it seems like there are more of them than the hardcore loyalists.

And most of the discussion in those forums are what they call “shipper threads,” where the discussion has nothing to do with the show.

Cant wait to read the new ST: TFB Tidbits

:o)

Gotta agree with #8, I’m afraid. I swear TrekMovie polls showed that more TrekMovie readers watched Stargate than BSG, and yet Atlantis was never given this kind of treatment here, and that always gnawed at me a little.

#15, on the other hand, I don’t agree with – sweeping statements like that aren completely unfounded. I’ve heard great things of BSG but it’s just that I’ve never found the time to watch it…

Apologies. It pains me to criticise this site in any way, but I felt steve-o needed some backup…

#19:”The UN head, Ban-Ki Moon just called the U.S. a deadbeat nation due to the fact that we didn’t pony up 1 billion dollars, can’t imagine why”

For the same reason that if you don’t honor financial commitments *you make* your creditors will rightfully call you a deadbeat.

Why does that confuse some people?

I have been a fan of this show from day one. I hate to see it end, but am glad that the writers have written an actual ending to the series. And thank goodness for the internet because I currently do not have the Sci-Fi Channel and am forced to enjoy their programming online. At least I have a new computer and 19″ widescreen monitor. ;-)

Great article…and I look forward to the behind-the-scenes special as well.

23. karanadon – March 13, 2009
Gotta agree with #8, I’m afraid. I swear TrekMovie polls showed that more TrekMovie readers watched Stargate than BSG, and yet Atlantis was never given this kind of treatment here, and that always gnawed at me a little.
————–

Why thank you :)
I love trekmovie.com, and i meant no malice by making that observation.
just seemed to me that random things NOT trek related should appear in the weekly posting of all things not trek related

#14
“Love this show, I hope Sci-Fi can come up with something new that is just as good. Maybe a remake of the old Buck Rogers TV show or a remake of Space 1999 (2099)?”

They already did Buck Rogers. He was played by the guy who played Whitney in Smallville.

polls have shown that the majority of readers are bsg watchers Like the current poll shows 70%

and RE: Stargate…only 29% said they watched the finale of SGA
* Yes – fan of the Gate (26%)
* Just to see Bob Picardo (3%)
* Not interested (55%)
* Not available (17%)

I will make no more excuses about reporting BSG (and by the way we are goin to cover FRINGE some more as well). You dont like these areticles, skip them. They do not stop other articles from being done, they are ‘extra’ … i really don’t understand why you even bother commenting about them. Nothing is going to stop them and you are not required to read them and they will not reduce the amount of other trek news and that is final

#17
“BSG’s worst episodes are far better than anything they did on TNG, Voyager or Enterprise.”

No, that statement is incorrect.

BSG’s worst episodes are slow, hackneyed, convoluted and filled with psycho mumbo-jumbo, and hold no candle to episodes like “Best of Both Worlds,” “Endgame,” or even “In a Mirror Darkly.”

BSG’s best episodes are pretty good.
I wonder if the CG animator will learn to hold the camera steady in the finale?
:)

You know why BSG gets more play here? I’m thinking it is because Anthony really, really likes it.

So do I. In Ron Moore, BSG has a major Trek connection that is absent from (say) Atlantis, not to mention is arguably the best show on TV and certainly the most critically hailed speculative fiction on TV in recent memory, perhaps ever. It is a landmark series in the genre, and in the tiny subgenre of “ship-based military SF” it is defining what can be delivered in terms of FX, acting, and thematic ambition.

lol anthony geez. as i said there was no beef with the post it was just an observation.

“i really don’t understand why you even bother commenting about them. Nothing is going to stop them and you are not required to read them and they will not reduce the amount of other trek news and that is final”

perhaps coming off as a little heated for someone just voicing their opinion- no?

#23

BSG is made by Ron D Moore, a former Trek alum. Atlantis isn’t. Seems pretty straightforward in terms of Trek-related information. It’s why the site also often covers JJ Abrams-related projects that aren’t Star Trek.

As for Steve-o, he’s registering his complaint in the wrong place. The feedback section of the site is easily accessible to anyone that wishes to express criticism. Putting that aside, it’s a simple matter of using your scroll button. I don’t read every single article on here, either, but I don’t get bent out of shape when they cover something I have no interest in.

Ultimately, this is Anthony’s site and as such he can cover or not cover anything he wants.

32.
sean i understand that but i wasnt voicing a complaint. i was just asking the question of why. and i suppose i got my answer
which is – People get pretty bent out of shape when questions are asked in a non abrasive manner. sooo sorry.

any more comments on site policies to https://trekmovie.com/about/feedback

this thread is for discussing BSG….period

I am awaiting the next 3 hours with anticipation, excitement, and a tinge of sorrow.

This is the last 3 hours of Galactica.

Caprica looks very interesting though.

#33

I didn’t mean to come off as nasty to you, Steve. It’s just that given the fact that we are now 1 week away from the show wrapping up forever, it seems a bit daft to raise the question at all. Even if you somehow convinced Anthony to combine this with another feature, it would only be for a week anyway.

And come on Steve, you aren’t be just a teeny bit disingenuous when you say you were ‘only asking a question’? However passive it might have been, you were making it known that the column’s existence ‘disappointed’ you. I’d argue that’s a complaint.

Getting back on topic, tonight’s episode (and next week’s finale) will really have to cram in some major developments in a short time span. I’m crossing my fingers for the writers that they can do this in a way that won’t disappoint!

BSG is one of the few reasons I check out this site on Fridays. I’m a trek fan, but not near as much as some of you. Maybe Anthony is just a BSG fan and since he runs the site he can post whatever he wants. He could start posting recaps of next month’s playboy if that’s what he wanted… and honestly I wouldn’t have a problem with that either. hehe

Steve-o, I don’t understand how hard of a concept this is for you or anyone else that voices the same voice. If you don’t like what you see, then don’t look at it. It can’t possibly be more simple then that. I don’t know why people find it so hard to do something so basic. I skip headlines all the time that I don’t like because you know what? IT’S A WASTE OF MY TIME TO LOOK AT IT! Sigh… really, it’s just that simple.

I’m both excited and very sad to see the ending of this incredible series. Thank God for DVD’s – already watching Season 1 again.

This time a year ago I was so very certain that either Felix Gaeta or Dualla would be the final Cylon… kinda blew that didn’t I?

Defrakking . . .

I, for one, have always appreciated Anthony running this thread. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stuck around. Also in appresh to Rosario for excellent reporting and info links.

Additionally, I hope this thread continues with “BSG: The Plan” articles followed by “Caprica.”

Given the fan and critical acclaimfor this show, I seriously doubt that this is the last we will see from BSG. Just as Trek did not die in 1969.

Anthony has run threads on Trek links to Heros, SG: Atlantis and other shows. Bottom line is pretty much everything else labelled Sci-Fi these days is lame, juvenile, poorly produced, or just plain dumb.

BSG (and this thread) stand alone as intelligent, brilliantly wrtten and produced, ADULT Science Fiction.

I can only hope that the future of Trek can measure up.

Refrakking. }:-D>

I also have to agree that BSG isn’t far better than the Trek shows mentioned. While it has it’s moments BSG has bored me to tears with all of the religious elements. Baltar hasn’t been relevant to the show in two seasons. He’s become the most annoying component.

Now that things are wrapping up they’ve picked up the pace and it is the must see show it started out as. If it had dragged on another season at the pace it’s been I would have dropped it

UN Panel on Battlestar Galactica?! Amazing!

What am I gonna do when the show is over?!

28. Anthony Pascal

You have to wonder if these people that complain about non-Trek stories on here also l write to magazine editors when they include articles they don’t care for. You wonder if when Time magazine includes a story not actually related to TIME itself if they write a letter such as, “This article about the economy mentioned NOTHING about clocks or watches or time travel. I read time magazine to learn about one thing – TIME!”

If only a Trek series could end with such flair. Okay, DS9 came pretty close….

BSG is turning out to be a much better “novel for television” than Babylon 5, that’s what I like most about it.

And in the finest Asimovian tradition, ONLY humans, NO aliens. Robots, yes, but built first by humans. That is, unless the ending is something like “everyone’s some form of Cylon”, which I decree will be the “Soylent Green” ending….

I’ve never been a big fan of Ron Moore’s BSG but I wish them luck tonight and next week on their series finale. Hopefully it will give BSG fans a satisfying conclusion to the series they love.

44, I respectfully disagree. B5 is the second best sci-fi series ever created (Star Trek being the best) and was an excellent “novel for television” series. Some of the reasons I believe that B5’s better than BSG is because while they had many dark moments, they also never had soap-opera relationships, there was always hope in the end, for once humanity wasn’t the most important people in the universe, and there were bright moments along with the dark and gritty. In BSG there are soap-opera relationships, there is no hope whatsoever, humanity barely exists, and everything is dark and gritty. I don’t thing I’ve ever seen anyone in that show smile unless they’re plotting some revenge mission. They’re always crying, drinking, and hitting things and each other. In short, life as a whole is hell in BSG. It was fine for a short while (i.e. seasons 1 and 2) but I got tired of it. I never got tired of B5. Further I cared about what happened to the characters of B5 and I never cared what happened to the BSG characters. That’s why I’ve got the complete B5 franchise on DVD (right next to the Star Trek franchise).

DS9 had the best series finale of all time.

In any case, let’s hope that the Series Finale answers all the questions and is a satisfying conclusion to the series.

40, for a “dumb, poorly produced show” the Stargate franchise ran for 14 years consecutively and uninterrupted. Why, because Stargate is an excellent sci-fi franchise that doesn’t rely on doom and gloom to tell the stories they want to tell. Just like Star Trek. Both can comment on the human condition without relying on dark story lines like BSG does. That, and many other reasons, is why Stagate is the third best show of all time (after B5 and Star Trek) imo.

I don’t watch Heroes so I can’t comment on that show.

I won’t argue that BSG was well produced. It was indeed.

I hope you enjoy tonight’s Part I of the BSG series finale. From the previews it looks more and more like humanity is doomed. In the BSG universe it would be mercy to kill off humanity. It would put them out of their misery.

Spock’s comment (#17) is… Well, just watch “Black Market”, “Hero”, “Sacrifice”, “The Farm”, “Litmus”, “The Woman King”, and “The Passage” and then try to make logical sense of it.

@45, 46…

I agree, B5 is the second best SciFi show…
I see it there together with Farscape, which ended before it’s time and was then replaced by BSG. I was thrilled when I saw “Babylon Squared”, and understood with Zathras the first time what JMS was doing there…

Stargate was surprisingly successful if you think that it comes from a Roland Emmerich movie. But I really liked O’Neill.

B5 isn’t even in the top *five* all time best sf shows – not on American TV, certainly. It wouldn’t make my personal top ten.

“Babylon Squared” was an excellent episode and a pivotal one to the story.

Col. Jack O’Neil is also my favorite character of Stargate. Whenever Col. Carter got into her technobabble explanations I was always happy whenever O’Neil wanted to hear it “in English.” He also was very good at his job. The Stargate pilot movie wasn’t as good as it could have been but the series was excellent. As was Stargate: Atlantis and I hope for many great things in Stargate Universe.

I never really saw Farscape. I hear that it was a good show.