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This entry talks about deleted scenes in general. For lists of deleted scenes by series, click here.
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Deleted scenes are scenes from an episode that were already filmed, but removed during post-production of an episode.
Primarily, scenes are removed as:
- the scene may be unnecessary, as it does not
- add anything to the story,
- add anything to character development
- the scene makes an episode too long (a one-hour episode normally cannot exceed approximately 44 minutes to allow for commercials)
- an alternate version was filmed, thus rendering the scene unusable.
There are other reasons, such as contractual disputes, studio orders, or the like that can cause a scene to be deleted from the final cut.
The "official" status of these scenes is debatable. Many were removed from the final version simply because the episode ran long. As Ronald Moore has explained in the podcasts, the shooting scripts are almost always too long because the writers try to cram as much storyline into an episode as possible. These scenes might be thought of as completely valid, and the writers usually consider them to have actually happened. Again, a future writer might generate an episode and might feel free to contradict information in a deleted scene, which would invalidate their content.
Abandoned Subplots
Other scenes contain subplots that were abandoned (i.e. most of Boxey's appearances in the Re-imagined Series) and the writers wouldn't have included them even if they did have the time. The veracity of these scenes is dubious, though it provides insight into the writing process on the show.
Scenes which are completely alternate versions contradicted by the aired version are definitely not canonical, such is the case of the "Sagittaron arc" where scenes exist only a deleted scenes (e.g. "The Woman King" featuring Richard Hatch as Tom Zarek).
Danglers / Untold Connecting Stories
There are some deleted scenes, like Tyrol freeing Socinus from the brig in "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I," which are necessary to fully understand content seen in the final cut.
Further, there are story plots that happen "off camera," and at least one deleted scene involves a major development from a recurring character: a scene cut from "The Road Less Traveled" in which Gaius Baltar's "Messenger Six" says farewell to Baltar and fades away; the character reappears during the Battle of the Colony in "Daybreak, Part II" alongside Messenger Baltar at the end of the final season to both Gaius Baltar and Caprica-Six.
"Extended Version" Exceptions
A special case in regards to deleted scenes began with the episode "Pegasus" from Season 2. Most episodes have 4 acts, while the Season 2 finale "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II" was a 6 act, 90 minute special (including ads). However, "Pegasus" ran so long in production that there was enough material for 5 acts, but this was too short to make a 6 act special.
As a result, an extended version of this mid-season cliffhanger episode was created and released in the Season 2.5 DVD set (RC1) and Season 2 (RC 2,4) sets, which actually has these deleted scenes re-edited into the course of the episode. Because of this, none of the deleted scenes from "Pegasus" were released on the Season 2.0 DVD set, as were deleted scenes from other episodes in that collection. These restored scenes on the extended cut of "Pegasus" are as canonical as if they actually aired.
The same is also for the episode "Unfinished Business," "Islanded in a Stream of Stars," and "Daybreak," which had scenes cut for broadcast time, but re-integrated into extended versions that were made available via digital and home video.