Creating a science fiction project can be surprisingly challenging. Even the most beloved series, like Star Wars and Star Trek, faced near-disasters during production before ultimately succeeding. The reimagined Battlestar Galactica was no different. Ronald D. Moore’s reboot constantly faced hurdles, whether it was due to its gritty, military-focused tone or the controversial shift in Season 3, where the show tackled some of the most daring and complex themes ever seen on television.
Despite everything else, one episode of Battlestar Galactica really rattled the cast, making them question what the future held. That episode, called “Sometimes a Great Notion,” aired on January 16, 2009, and it was a turning point in the series, arriving at a particularly difficult moment.
Battlestar Galactica Was Almost A Casualty of the Writer’s Strike
January 2009 marked the climax of Battlestar Galactica. The show was in its fourth and final season on SyFy (then known as the Sci-Fi Channel), and that season was divided into two parts – “4” and “4.5”. The first half aired through June 2008, and after a six-month break, the remaining episodes began airing in January 2009. This final story arc revealed long-awaited answers to major questions, including the history and ultimate fate of Earth, and the identity of the last of the “Final Five” Cylons, who had been secretly living among the fleet since the very beginning.
As a big fan of Battlestar Galactica, I always found it fascinating learning about the making of the show. Apparently, “Sometimes a Great Notion” and the episode before it, “Revelations,” were filmed right after each other. It was a really lucky break for the production team, because the script for “Sometimes a Great Notion” was finished just before the Writer’s Guild strike in 2007-2008 started. That strike basically put shows like BSG on hold, but they were able to start filming this episode with a promise they’d be allowed to finish it – and they actually got that final okay just the night before they started shooting! It’s amazing how close we came to not seeing it at all.
Battlestar Galactica’s Cast & Crew Thought It Really Was The End
People working on the show were said to be very upset while filming. The main concern was that a lengthy work stoppage would likely lead the network to cancel the show—even if it was already completed—because it would be cheaper than continuing to pay everyone involved, including the actors, crew, and maintaining the set.
After the episode finished filming, co-writer David Weddle shared that lead actor Edward James Olmos had created a very emotional atmosphere on set. Olmos reportedly told the cast and crew he believed the show was ending, saying it wouldn’t be renewed and they’d be dismantling the sets. He even gave Weddle a heartfelt goodbye, shaking his hand and saying he didn’t know if they would work together again, but that it had been a privilege.
Everyone Weddle interviewed agreed on one thing: filming “Sometimes a Great Notion” was incredibly difficult for the crew of Battlestar Galactica, particularly when shooting scenes with major characters leaving the show. The episode features two shocking departures: Lucy Lawless’s character, the Cylon leader “Three,” is left stranded on Earth, and Galactica crew member Anastasia Dualla (Kandyse McClure) unexpectedly takes her own life, leaving viewers stunned with a mysterious smile.
Over the years, those involved with the show have talked about the holes in the script caused by the writers’ strike, forcing actors and crew to improvise scenes and make creative choices – some of which, like Dualla’s humming of her final lullaby, became iconic. Considering the genuine emotional stress everyone was under during filming, the fact that “Sometimes a Great Notion” turned out so well is truly remarkable. Even though some viewers stopped watching, Battlestar Galactica managed to finish its last season successfully and has become recognized as one of the best science fiction TV shows of the 21st century.
Battlestar Galactica can be purchased on digital platforms like Prime Video and YouTube.
https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/list/7-great-sci-fi-tv-reboots-that-surpassed-the-originals/embed/#
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2026-01-17 02:10