Unfinished Business (Extended Version)

"Unfinished Business" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 3, Episode 9
Writer(s)	Michael Taylor
Story by
Director	Robert Young
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	309
Nielsen Rating	{{{rating}}}
US airdate	{{{US airdate}}}
CAN airdate	{{{CAN airdate}}}
UK airdate	{{{UK airdate}}}
DVD release	25 March 2008 US
Population	41,422 survivors ( 1)
Additional Info	Extended DVD Episode
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Hero	Unfinished Business	The Passage
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition
iTunes: [{{{itunes}}} USA]

Overview

The Season 3 DVD set released in North America includes a version of "Unfinished Business" that contains 25 minutes of new scenes. Moreover, Ron Moore recorded a new audio commentary for the episode.

Summary

Given the massive rearrangement of scenes compared to the aired version, this page summarizes the entire episode - not just the new scenes - but shortens the description of scenes identical or nearly identical to the aired version when appropriate.

Notes

Information from the audio commentary

• Ron Moore calls the episode an "editor's cut". In some ways it was the starting point for cutting down the episode to the standard length of 42 minutes. That is, while it offers a lot more details on the characters, it is a rough cut (unlike the "Pegasus" extended cut). He considers some scenes better and some worse than in the final cut, sometimes preferring story points only being told by implication and not spelled out. He thinks some scenes may be too long, with the ideal cut maybe somewhere between the two.
• Moore likes that it focuses more on the other characters besides Starbuck and Apollo, giving more context to their relatively small scenes that were aired. Moreover, he particularly loves the extended scenes with Adama and Roslin. At the same time, he is glad that they didn't lose much if anything of the actual story in cutting the episode, because it is entirely about the characters.
• The flashbacks are not indicated literally with bright flashes. Moore notes that the network often insists on these visual cues to help viewers. He hates how such elements underestimate the viewers' comprehension and hold them by the hands, but admits that they helped to create a faster pace in the aired version.
• The scene of Adama and Roslin getting high is a bit longer and can thus emphasize the smoking and its effects more. Moore notes that he was very furious at the network for insisting on the cutting, screaming at them to frak themselves. He repeatedly comments how the two are stoned in all their scenes on the planet and how natural the actors are at it.
• Moore and the editor note that the network and some viewers were confused about why Admiral Adama picked on Tyrol so much. They repeatedly point out that he doesn't have a personal problem with Tyrol, but uses him as a symbol for both the unhealthy closeness of the crew and especially the breakup on New Caprica, which started with him and Cally. They think that the extended cut makes this clearer.
• As scripted, the final fight between Apollo and Starbuck was supposed to take place with them completely alone. As shot, there is a smaller, but considerable audience that only dwindles down at the very end.

Other

• The groundbreaking ceremony headed by Baltar on New Caprica is identified as "Founders' Day".
• The square dancing on New Caprica shows a lot more of the background civilians dancing, sometimes with the main characters.
• During the scene with Adama and Roslin lying down at night and looking at the stars, Adama breaks into a small song that he says he learned from a fellow pilot during the war.
• The episode deliberately concentrates a lot more on the "dance" and its boxing matches. There is far less inter-cutting with the flashbacks, allowing more time to be spent on continuous scenes in both time frames.
• Small continuity hiccup: Lee Adama tells Dualla "let's get the hell out of here" and both board a Raptor. However, in his next flashback, Lee talks to his father on New Caprica; a scene that seemingly belongs before the first one, given that the flashbacks are in chronological order. His next one then shows him and Dualla in the Raptor in space.
• In this version Anders and Thrace still live and work on different ships. Anders is noted as living on the Salpica, although the subtitles incorrectly refer to it as "the Caprica.

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Saul Tigh on alcohol:

"I'll tell you the secret to avoid hangovers. Don't stop drinking."

Guest Stars

• Michael Hogan as Saul Tigh
• Aaron Douglas as Chief Galen Tyrol
• Tahmoh Penikett as Captain Karl Agathon
• Nicki Clyne as Cally Tyrol
• Alessandro Juliani as Felix Gaeta
• Kandyse McClure as Anastasia Dualla
• Michael Trucco as Samuel Anders
• Kate Vernon as Ellen Tigh
• Donnelly Rhodes as Doctor Cottle
• Luciana Carro as Capt. Louanne "Kat" Katraine
• Bodie Olmos as Lt. Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza
• Christian Tessier as Tucker "Duck" Clellan
• Don Thompson as Anthony Figurski
• Dominic Zamprogna as James "Jammer" Lyman

Re-imagined Series definition: all-purpose vulgarism; Colonial version of "fuck" (see: frak)