Why Battlestar Galactica's Revolutionary Overhaul Astounded Viewers After Only 3 Episodes!

After the third episode of season 1, Battlestar Galactica abandoned its original, more complex plan for the Colonial Fleet. Ronald D. Moore's reboot of Glenn A. Larson's 1970s sci-fi series was a reflection of the post-9/11 world in the early 2000s. Despite its focus on sci-fi action and adventure, the standout episodes of Moore's Battlestar Galactica often revolved around the political maneuvering and power struggles within the Colonial Fleet. As the TV drama broke away from conventional notions of "good" and "evil," BSG consistently demonstrated that humanity's biggest threat was itself.

Initially, Ronald D. Moore had intended to center the story around the various ships within the Colonial Fleet as they searched for their fabled new home on Earth. In a 2016 interview with Empire, Moore explained that the original plan was to utilize "a variety of ships in the fleet, including vessels acting as hospitals, prisons, schools, and even malls" to present different narratives throughout the first season of BSG. However, this ambitious concept was quickly abandoned after the third episode of season 1, titled "Bastille Day," which introduced Richard Hatch as Tom Zarek, the original Apollo in Battlestar Galactica.

Why Battlestar Galactica Didn't Explore More Of The Colonial Fleet

Commander William Adama (played by Edward James Olmos) proposes utilizing the imprisoned convicts from the Astral Queen, a prison ship, in the mining operations of a newly discovered ice moon. Captain Lee Adama (played by Jamie Bamber) is assigned to lead this mission and finds himself at odds with Zarek. Eventually, a fragile alliance is formed between the prisoners and the mission. "Bastille Day" is a significant early episode that establishes the challenging moral decisions the Fleet must face for survival.

Ronald D. Moore's intentions to use other ships within the Fleet to explore complex stories about medicine, education, and more can be seen. The confrontation between the original Apollo actor and his rebooted counterpart highlights the differences in the Battlestar Galactica characters. However, during the production of "Bastille Day," it becomes apparent that the Astral Queen sets present budgetary limitations, hindering further exploration of the rest of the Colonial Fleet.

Colonial Fleet Ships Battlestar Galactica Actually Showed

At the beginning of Battlestar Galactica, there is a fleet of just over 50 ships, including the Galactica. However, as the war with the Cylons progresses, the number of ships decreases. Although the initial plan to visit other ships in the fleet is abandoned, the show still manages to showcase the interiors of several important ships. Notably, Colonial One, Cloud 9, and Battlestar Pegasus play significant roles in the ongoing story of BSG. Cloud 9 serves as an entertainment hub and a meeting place for the Quorum of the Twelve. Colonial One, on the other hand, serves as the presidential transport and the office of President Gaius Baltar after settling on New Caprica.

Additionally, Battlestar Pegasus, under the command of Admiral Helena Cain, plays a major role between seasons 2 and 3. Other ships briefly seen in Battlestar Galactica include the Prometheus, a shady black market civilian cargo ship, and the Gemenon Traveler, where Kara Thrace interrogates a Cylon infiltrator. There are also brief scenes set inside the Greenleaf, the Rising Star, the Hitei Kan, and the Pyxis, all of which provide a glimpse into the vastness of the fleet and the broader world beyond the Galactica.