Battlestar Galactica Interview: Jane Espenson on Episode #9, ‘The Hub’
Welcome to the latest installment of Battlestar Galactica Weekly, our recurring Q&A with Mark Verheiden, co-executive producer of the hit Sci-Fi Channel series Battlestar Galactica. Each week, we’ll interview Verheiden about the events of the week’s episode, what those events might mean for both the season and the series, and hopefully unearth some clues about what to expect as the final season of Battlestar Galactica nears its conclusion.
Along with posing our own questions to Verheiden, we’re also taking questions from fans — so be sure to send your questions to me, your official BSG Weekly interviewer, after each episode airs at chris [at] comicmix dot com. New episodes of Battlestar Galactica can be seen every Friday at 10 PM EST on Sci-Fi Channel. You can read previous interviews via our BSG Weekly Archive or the links at the end of this article.
This week we have a special treat for fans of BSG, as well as those of you who love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Answering our questions this time around is the writer of this week’s episode, co-executive producer Jane Espenson.
She’s answering questions about Episode #9 of Season Four, "The Hub," which aired June 6, 2008. Note: These answers may contain spoilers, so read at your own risk.
COMICMIX (from reader Shannon): Was there a kiss between Adama and Roslin in the last scene? If so, why was it edited out? Or, if not, why not? That seemed like a moment when they would kiss.
JANE ESPENSON: It is scripted as a "fierce hug," but with moments like that, the script doesn’t really matter. If you’re lucky enough to have amazing actors like Eddy and Mary, you don’t even want them to rely on the script in a moment like that.
You want them to just do. And personally, I love the choice they made. It played perfectly for me. I want to see their faces on screen — easier in a hug than a kiss.
CMix (from reader Solonia): Do you consider Elosha to be Laura’s subconscious in this episode?
You mean, as opposed to being a Head Being like Baltar’s Six? Yes. I thought of her much more as Laura’s subconscious.
CMix (From reader Tommy): What was the purpose of the scene between Baltar and the Centurion? It seemed it was mostly there to put Baltar in a place where he could become injured so Roslin could save him? Or perhaps the scene is there to serve a larger purpose? Maybe Baltar is planting the seeds of another Cylon revolt?
