Plugging the plot hole in 4.16

[TinkTanker]

Plugging the plot hole in "Battlestar Galactica"

Contributed by Mike Murphy - Posted: February 23, 2009 8:38:45 PM

Now here's an interesting tidbit. Apparently a fairly important plot element was cut from last week's "Battlestar Galactica," a development that would have added a whole lot to the confusing and disappointing episode. Writer Jane Espenson mentions it in this interview, and so have online commenters on Television Without Pity.

The whole deal with Baltar and his cult giving out food and getting guns confused me. It lacked context. Turns out, in the episode's original cut, all was explained. But that cut was 11 minutes long, so it had to be trimmed for TV. Here's what I've been able to cobble together of what ended up on the editing room floor:

In the wake of three years of war and a failed mutiny, there are no longer enough Marines on Galactica to maintain order. Sensing a riot over food distribution, the outnumbered Marines retreat from Dogtown and the Sons of Ares swoop in with their guns and take over the abandoned food supply. But the Baltar-less cult manages to secure a stash of food, effectively letting them be self-sufficient.

Meanwhile, Adama and Roslin debate the merits of bringing Cylon centurions on board to provide security and patrol civilian areas. (Wow, huuuuge plot point there.) Adama's staunchly against it, even though his ship is slowly becoming assimilated with the Cylons. Cue back to what aired -- Baltar and his crew try to take over food distribution, but again the Sons of Ares step in -- like any good mob, they maintain an iron grip on their racket. So Baltar approaches Adama and Roslin asking for guns so his group can fend off the Sons of Ares. Effectively, the question for Adama is, allow a criminal gang to control the food supply, or allow Baltar's crazy cultists to control it. And Baltar's group, now armed to the teeth, would also serve as a civilian security force, which Adama figures is better than using centurions. In the end, the Baltar's militia is the lesser of two evils.

That would have been nice to know. Instead, we got repetitive scenes of Adama looking pained as he examined Galactica's structural failures. And that ridiculous "he loves you more" scene with Caprica Six losing her Cy-baby. For the life of me, I don't know why they'd cut such a critical plot development. With so few episodes left, each scene should be moving the series forward, showing the fleet's increasingly desperate situation. I expect a lot from this show because it's consistently delivered at a high level. This was no time to drop the ball.

http://blogs.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2338176

[SerenityValley]

Well that explains alot.  I am getting pretty fed up with BSG.  I'm almost glad there are only 5 eps left!  (I never thought I'd say that!)

[TinkTanker]

Well that explains alot.  I am getting pretty fed up with BSG.  I'm almost glad there are only 5 eps left!  (I never thought I'd say that!)

Four.

[SerenityValley]

Well that explains alot.  I am getting pretty fed up with BSG.  I'm almost glad there are only 5 eps left!  (I never thought I'd say that!)

Four.

Counting tonight's ep?

ETA:  Five, if you include tonight's episode. Okay, now I get it.  The final ep is 2 hours long.  (Technically speaking, 3 hours long split over two nights, March 13 & March 20)

[Pearl@32]

Thanks for the article. I knew our girl Jane wasn't stupid, which was why I was so confused last week.

[Pearl@32]

Well that explains alot.  I am getting pretty fed up with BSG.  I'm almost glad there are only 5 eps left!  (I never thought I'd say that!)

Aaron Douglas was quoted on 101.1 KUFO in Portland, Oregon who interviewed Aaron (Sept. '08) as saying, When the show ends, you will not want it to continue. It's the perfect ending to a show.

Holy frak. I really don't want to think about it, I just want to let the show play out. As annoying as it has been at times, BSG has been a satisfying show. It is the only show for which I have bought TWO soundtracks. (Firefly being the second.)