Battlestar Galactica (2003 Miniseries) - Part 2 - S1-E2
Continuity mistake: In the last battle scene in the miniseries, above Ragnar, all the civilian ships Jump away and Commander Adama orders all the vipers to land inside Galactica's landing bay. At one point, Dualla reports that two vipers are still out in the fight - Starbuck and Apollo. When Starbuck pushes her viper and Apollo's towards the landing bay, there's a shot of one of the basestars firing a missile, which hits Galactica. In this scene, we can see (and hear) 3 vipers, one of which is firing at a Cylon raider in the distance. They couldn't be Starbuck or Apollo, since Starbuck's viper and Apollo's were joined together and the mystery vipers are not, nor are they any of the other pilots, since only Starbuck and Apollo's vipers were still out, as Dualla has stated.
Continuity mistake: When Chief Tyrol finds Jammer, Socinus and Cally at the still, they are standing in that order with Socinus behind and between the other two. The shot cuts to the chief dumping out the booze. Then it cuts back to the trio. Now their positions have changed. Now Socinus is on the left, Jammer on the right with Cally behind and between the guys. (00:08:20)
Continuity mistake: The Galactica can retract her launch bay pods into the hull. She is shown doing it just before her first FTL jump. The instant before she jumps, the pods are suddenly shown in the extended position again.
Continuity mistake: During the bar fight, when the gun falls out of the assassin's briefcase it has a supressor on it. When he picks it up the supressor is gone. (00:20:50)
Continuity mistake: Helo has been on Cylon-occupied Caprica for 47 days. Why is his haircut exactly the same as when he was stranded?
Downloaded - S2-E18
Continuity mistake: As Sharon shouts at Six, she is holding a photo frame in her right hand, waving it about slightly. But the moment she is about to throw the frame, it's instantly in her left hand and she passes it into her right to throw it. (00:14:40)
Kobol's Last Gleaming (2) - S1-E15
Continuity mistake: Season 1 Episode 13 "Kobol's Last Gleaming Pt 2" Apollo leads a strike force to capture Colonial One and arrest President Roslin. We see his vipers and raptors approaching Colonial One, all alone a little way from the fleet. A few scenes later, (before Apollo's force reaches it) Boomer launches in a raptor and as it leaves the bay, we see Colonial One in it's normal position off Galactica's port bow.
Continuity mistake: At the beginning of the episode it shows a view of the CIC when there is supposed to be 30-40 seconds left until the 33 minutes is up, but as the camera pans out the timer in CIC is blinking "00:00:00". (00:02:30)
Epiphanies - S2-E13
Continuity mistake: Episode 2-13, 'Epiphanies': When Baltar is led by the wrist along a corridor by Number Six, two crewmen pass Baltar on his left, headed the other way. The shot from behind Baltar places the crewmen immediately to Baltar's left when the shot is cut to a shot looking in the opposite direction as Baltar approaches the camera and the crewmen are now far behind Baltar, instantly. He is speaking continuously before and after this shot change, so there is no 'time passage' between the shots.
He That Believeth in Me - S4-E1
Continuity mistake: When Starbuck returns in the season 3 finale, the side of her Viper has no nameplate on it. However, during the season 4 premiere, the nameplate with "Kara Thrace 'Starbuck'" has returned, though only a moment later.
He That Believeth in Me - S4-E1
Continuity mistake: In the season 3 finale, Anders has a very noticeable limp, especially seen when he's following the Chief to the hangar deck, However, in the season 4 premiere, even though the same day, he has no limp at all.
Continuity mistake: After Starbuck's cover as the mechanic is blown, she reaches into her tool box and grabs some guns. She has her hat pulled down over her face, but a second later when she spins around, the hat disappears and is never seen again. (00:26:30)
Continuity mistake: When the President is lying on the couch, she starts coughing and covers her mouth with her right hand, however, as Adama hands over a glass of water she is now covering her mouth with her left hand.
Lay Down Your Burdens (1) - S2-E19
Continuity mistake: When the President is getting ready for her speech there is a pencil lying on the table in front of Adama. When it cuts to the President picking it up it has changed position on the table.
Battlestar Galactica (2003 Miniseries) - Part 2 - S1-E2
Continuity mistake: When Adama orders the landing pods retracted before an FTL jump during the final battle, we are shown a shot of the interior of the landing bay as the entrance quickly narrows due to the retraction (2:44:13-2:44:20). At the rate of closure, the entrance would be fully sealed within the next 10 seconds. But a full minute later (2:45:21), we see the landing pods are fully extended again. Then at 2:46:04 we see from above that the pods have reached their fully-retracted position (and the entrances are now sealed), but at 2:46:12, they are still closing and Starbuck and Apollo safely enter before the entrance is sealed. (02:44:00)
Downloaded - S2-E18
Continuity mistake: When Sharon throws the picture frame at the wall and Six's face is cut, the camera angle quickly changes a few times showing Six alternately from the front and rear. But with each angle change, the location and position of her right hand is wildly different. Palm facing toward her face, then away from it, then closed fist with fingers near her cheek, then immediately arm down at her side, then back to fist at her cheek. (00:15:05)
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Baltar and the President are talking aboard Colonial 1, the tea pot changes from shot to shot. In one shot it points away from the President and in the next it points towards her. Neither of them picks it up to move it. (00:25:00)
Continuity mistake: When Adama is trying to resign the President hands him a copy of the certificate she wants to present to him. The pen that was in the holder a few seconds ago has been removed to allow her to hand it to him without the pen in the way. (00:39:00)
Kobol's Last Gleaming (1) - S1-E14
Continuity mistake: When Starbuck is testing the captured Cylon Raider she is first wearing the orange reflective jumpsuit the mechanics often wear in the hanger bay. A few seconds later she is wearing the OD utilities uniform that she will be seen wearing on Caprica. (00:41:00)
Continuity mistake: In the medical area, the Doctor checks on Samuel while others look on. Sharon has both her arms down by her sides. The angle changes, just as he says "lot of visitors", and Sharon's suddenly clasping her hands together.
Answer: The original BSG has something of a complex version history. Several versions exist, but the rationale behind what you're referring to is as follows. BSG, before anything else, was a TV series - the 'pilot episode' was a three-part tale called "Saga of a Star World". In that three-parter, a last-minute alteration to the script meant that Baltar was ultimately spared execution, because Glen A. Larson, the series producer, decided that he liked the Baltar character enough to keep him around for the rest of the series. The theatrical version, which was edited down from the three-parter and was shown in some countries before the US TV broadcast, lost quite a number of scenes, including the one where Baltar is spared. The real continuity of the series can only be found in the TV version - the movies, all of which were created by editing together existing episodes, miss out scenes leading to such apparent continuity errors.
Tailkinker ★