Getting 22 Episodes Could Mean Cancellation For 'Battlestar Galactica'

A source close to the network tells SyFy Portal that if an additional nine episodes are ordered, it will be SciFi Channel's way of telling executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick to use those additional episodes to wrap it up.

"If you're a fan, you don't want to see any more than 13 episodes," the source said. "Questions are going back and forth on whether or not [SciFi Channel] will pick the show up again. It's not a decision you make at the last minute because obviously [the network] will want to allow the show to wrap up."

SciFi Channel gave the green light for another season earlier this month, ordering "at least" 13 episodes. There was some speculation that this was only a partial order, with producer David Weddle telling SyFy Portal soon after the announcement that the network was still trying to decide whether it would order 13 episodes or 22.

Networks typically order partial seasons of shows they are not sure will survive through an entire season, and don't want to pay for episodes it doesn't plan to air. Normally, if a show performs strong enough, the network will pick up the remaining episodes to fill out the season. Apparently, however, these nine episodes are not meant to be held as a reward for a full season, but meant to be used in case SciFi Channel decides it's time for the story to come to an end.

While it might seem to be a slap in the face for fans of "Battlestar Galactica," which has received critical acclaim yet has struggled to find a basic cable audience, the source said this is the highest form of respect a network could give an underperforming series.

"Not every show gets an opportunity like this," the source said. "The 'Battlestar' story could have ended right then and there at the end of the fourth [season], but having these episodes in their hip pocket, [SciFi Channel] can let the show end on the producers' terms."

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