From Polygon · Corey Plante · · 1m 30s
Battlestar Galactica's 20-Year-Old Space Battle Still Shakes TV History
Battlestar Galactica's 20-year-old space battle remains TV's most epic sci-fi sequence.
In brief
Battlestar Galactica's 20-year-old space battle remains TV's most epic sci-fi sequence. Battlestar Galactica's 2004 season 3 episode 'Exodus, Part 2' featured the Adama Maneuver, where the Galactica jumps into New Caprica's atmosphere to save humans before escaping, destroying the Pegasus in the process. Originally…
The Adama Maneuver
Admiral William Adama jumps the Battlestar Galactica into New Caprica's atmosphere to rescue humans before escaping.
“The warship plummets toward the settlement and deploys Viper fighter jets amidst the chaos before jumping back into space moments before it would have crashed, likely obliterating the planet on impact.”
20-Year-Old Space Battle
Battlestar Galactica season 3's 'Exodus, Part 2' remains one of sci-fi TV's most unforgettable sequences.
“It's dazzling and horrifying, and still one of the coolest things ever broadcast on science-fiction television.”
Adama Maneuver Risk
The maneuver is one of the riskiest spaceship tactics, possibly the most dangerous ever.
“What if the ship had gotten torn apart from ripping through the atmosphere? What if the FTL drive malfunctioned or didn't activate in time?”
Pegasus Sacrifice
Lee Adama transforms the Pegasus into a battering ram to destroy Cylon basestars.
“Pegasus tears through one Cylon basestar, explodes, and sends a flaming flight pod spinning into another.”
Exodus Story
The episode reunites scattered characters and restores the series' core premise of one battlestar protecting humanity.
“In one extended sequence, 'Exodus, Part 2' ends the most frustrating period in Battlestar Galactica's story, reunites its scattered cast, and restores the series' core premise: one battered battlestar protecting the remnants of humanity as they search for Earth.”
Two-Part Structure
The episode was split into two parts to handle the complex New Caprica storyline.
“It was initially conceived as a single episode, written by Bradley Thompson and David Weddle and directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá. But the rescue of New Caprica eventually became too large for one hour.”
Cost Management
Splitting the episode helped absorb the high production costs of the New Caprica storyline.
“By turning the material into a two-parter, episodes 3 and 4 in the overall season, the producers were able to stretch that expensive infrastructure across another hour of television.”
Pegasus Destruction
The Pegasus was destroyed after its role in the battle to liberate New Caprica.
“Lee orders the crew to abandon ship, sets its weapons to fire automatically, and pauses on the empty bridge to offer his command one final 'Thank you.' Then he and the dwindling crew set it on a direct collision course with the enemy ships.”
Visual Effects Challenge
The visual effects team created 250 to 300 elements per compositing flow for the Pegasus destruction.
“The climactic sequence contained roughly 250 to 300 elements in each compositing flow, spread across approximately 10 shots.”
Emmy Recognition
The episode won the 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series.
“Exodus, Part 2 won the 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series, along with the Visual Effects Society award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series.”
Emotional Climax
The destruction of Pegasus provides the emotional climax for the episode's story.
“The destruction of Pegasus gives 'Exodus' its emotional climax. If the artists couldn't save their favorite ship, they could at least give it a death spectacular enough to ensure nobody would ever forget it.”
The one thing
Battlestar Galactica's 2004 season 3 episode 'Exodus, Part 2' featured the Adama Maneuver, where the Galactica jumps into New Caprica's atmosphere to save humans before escaping, destroying the Pegasus in the process.
