Battlestar Galactica (1978) - 134 mistakes in series 1

Revealing: Several times, close up shots of the Cylons show the shoulders and chest moving slightly as the actor inside breathes. Though originally conceived as a reptiloid species, the Cylons became strictly robotic when BG went to series. So Cylons are robots that don't breathe.

Revealing: Throughout the entire run of the series, special effects shots are repeated over and over, often half a dozen times in the same episode. Budget problems forced the practice, but at times it is so pronounced as to become a distraction. The same Cylon raider banking to the side, hit by laser fire and exploding outward to its sides, is probably seen more often than any other single shot in the show. It is flipped many times so that it can bank left, then be used to bank right, providing two shots for the price of one.

Continuity: In the second shot showing the fleet of Battlestars (from the port side and slightly behind), the closest ship has a blank nameplate on the front of the landing bay where all the ships normally have their names displayed. In the next shot, a close-up shows this plate now says, "Atlantia".

Other: In the second shot showing the fleet of Battlestars (from the port side and slightly behind), the closest ship has an odd reflection which forms a "pillar of light" radiating down from near the rear of the landing bay. It is an effects error, perhaps created while trying to hide the rod that holds the ship up from below.

Revealing: In the second shot showing the fleet of Battlestars (from the port side and slightly behind), two ghostly images fly in formation with the three Battlestars shown. They are just above the closest ship (where the narrow middle meets the larger rear section). It seems that the shot may have originally contained 5 ships and an attempt was made to 'remove' the most distant two, leaving the "ghosts".

Continuity: In the beginning, when the President says "Noble delegates, you're anxious to go back to your ships.", you can see a servant serving a person across the table. When the shot cuts, the servant is serving another person two seats away.

Revealing: When a Viper is launched, it is catapulted forward from a standing start, and the pilot is thrown back forcefully into their seat. But the very first time Apollo's Viper is launched, the background image shows the Viper is already racing forward before Apollo is thrown backward- the actor missed his cue.

Continuity: When Apollo asks Zac, "How many of them can you make out?", Zac looks at his targeting screen and replies, "Four." However, the screen displays five. The ensuing battle proves Zach is correct with four, meaning the film makers inserted an incorrect targeting screen graphic.

Factual error: When Apollo decides he and Zac will attack the Cylons that are following them, he tells Zac to "hit your reverse thrusters and maximum braking flaps", but they aren't in an atmosphere. Brake flaps would have no effect in the vacuum of space.

Continuity: When the Warriors are playing cards, Starbuck places his cards on the table near the gold coins, saying "A perfect pyramid. Unless there's a better hand, the pot is mine". His right fingers tap on the table and his cigar is in the ashtray. When the shot cuts, his hand is suddenly up by his mouth, holding the cigar, and the cards and coins have vanished.

Continuity: When the Galactica goes to battle stations, Starbuck's card game is broken up. He rises out of his chair in a close-up to try to keep the other players from taking back their money and leaving. In the next wide shot, he's still seated and rises again.

Revealing: It appears that just about every Viper that is launched has the exact same dark smudge on the canopy glass (along the forward, sloped edge of the side glass). Apparently the same full-scale mockup was used for most of these scenes.

Continuity: As the two Centurian Cylons report to their leader that all the base ships have been destroyed, we see the leader sitting on a chair on top of a column. As the leader's chair turns around, you can see its shadow being cast right beside the Centurions. When the shot cuts, the shadow is gone.

Continuity: When Adama picks up the picture among the ruins, and says "I'm sorry, Lia", his grip on the picture differs from shot to shot.

Continuity: When Baltar turns to face the two setting suns, we see the lower one at the left has what could be a boat in its reflection on the water. The higher one on the right is over a mountainous area on the horizon. The next shot is of Baltar in close-up, then the next returns to the horizon to show us Baltar's view, which shows just ONE setting sun. The one on the left has vanished though there is room enough for it to have been seen in this shot.

Continuity: When Athena is about to undress, Starbuck surprises her and she conceals herself behind a locker door. The strap around her shoulder changes position between shots.

Continuity: When Apollo and Boomer enter the club, Apollo walks in, placing himself near some curtains while Boomer walks ahead. When the shot cuts, Boomer is suddenly standing right behind Apollo.

Continuity: As they reach Carillon, we see Adama and Tigh shaking hands while standing right next to each other. When the shot cuts, Tigh is standing behind Adama.

Continuity: When Baltar is brought before the Imperious Leader, the wider overhead shots show his arms are straight down along his sides, but closer shots show his hands fiddling together in front of him or somewhere between that and almost back at his sides.

Continuity: While driving the Land Ram, looking for a Tylium deposit, and Apollo says "We can't stay in one place for too long", Boxey's arm goes from leaning on Apollo's shoulder to not leaning on his shoulder between the shots.