I Have Seen Friday's 'Battlestar Galactica' Finale

Tonight, the LA Times teamed with Sci Fi to host a screening of Battlestar Galactica's midseason finale and -- holy frak  -- I can, without hesitation, tell you that this is the finest episode of the season so far. Maybe even the finest episode of the series. Of course, I cannot spoil the hour for you. I, along with a theater full of others, raised my right hand and solemnly swore to executive producer Ron Moore that I wouldn't. But I will tell you that this is, in many ways, the episode you've been waiting for for a very long time. I mean, really. 

Speaking of a long time, I'm sure you're all aware that after this Friday, the show will go on hiatus and an air date for the final 11 hours has not yet been announced by Sci Fi. But according to a reliable source, the network does hope to roll them out before the end of the year [Update: According to the Sci Fi network, a decision regarding the second half of the season has not yet been finalized. Early 2009 is a possibility]. The cast is currently shooting the series finale and tonight Tricia Helfer told us that when Edward James Olmos (pictured above left with co-stars Jamie Bamber and Katee Sackhoff) and Aaron Douglas finished reading that last script, they both cried. She, on the other hand, felt as if someone had punched her in the gut. Mary McDonnell (pictured below left), however, had a different experience. She said it felt like a shot of adrenaline: "I got so very excited, and I'll tell you why, because it started to resonate for me. I went backwards and began to see all of the episodes through the lens of knowing [how it all ends] and -- look, I have goosebumps now -- I was blown away by knowing what was said at the beginning and where you will all find yourselves [at the end]. I just think it's phenomenal."

After the screening, I got to spend some quality one-on-one time with Mary, so stay tuned for much more from her after you see Friday's finale! We shall discuss.