Hopefully, most of our readers have had a chance to catch up on last Friday’s “Battlestar Galactica.” If you haven’t and don’t want to know what happens, please turn back now. There are big time SPOILERS ahead.
Ron Moore promised the final episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” would bring about the death of several characters.  And he didn’t wait long to make good on that promise, starting with this week’s mid-season premiere.
In the episode, long-time supporting character and ex-wife of Lee Adama, Dualla took her own life. The scene was among one of several dramatic revelations in the episode and one that actress Kandyse McClure spoke to SciFi Wire about earlier this week.
“For me, personally, it was sort of bittersweet. At the time I was just very focused on what I wanted to put into that particular episode, and I wanted to give her a really strong farewell and bring her to a fitting close,” McClure said of the scene where Dualla ended her life. “I was sad to be leaving, certainly, but I came to an understanding why they chose this particular ending for Dualla. And I felt very full emotionally about it.”
McClure said she was “floored” when she first read the scene that ended her character’s life.
“It’s such a personal and violent and shocking way to go, not only for her, but for the implications for the people around her,” she said. “Suicide is a difficult topic at the best of times. People see it as being an ultimate act of selfishness on one end, but certainly from the research that I did and the people that I spoke to, there are so many different reasons that people get to that point. But I think for Dee it was just the ultimate act of surrender and the final act of control over her own life. She really wanted to find some kind of peace.”
McClure said she had an inkling her character might not survive the series finale last year during contract talks.
“I got a first inkling when there were contract renegotiations, and there were only 13 [episodes] on the table. So I got kind of a clue then, because I was sure there’d be more than 13 episodes in the last season,” she said.
The actress went on to say that she was sad Dee didn’t make it to the series finale.
“That was kind of the most heartbreaking part, that I wouldn’t be there until the very end,” she said. “It makes me sad, still, that I wouldn’t be there for the final episodes, that I wouldn’t get to complete the journey with everyone that I’d started it with. I ended up missing the wrap party as well, which was kind of the last nail in the coffin for me. But it was a really great ride, and I’m still in contact with all these people. We’re still very much connected, and I believe we will be for years to come. So that’s certainly a long-lasting blessing of being on the show. But it was hard that she wouldn’t be there to say goodbye, and that I wouldn’t be there to say goodbye.”
“Battlestar Galactica” continues its final episodes this Friday on SciFi.
Serious dedication to the role. I was sorry to see her go, too.
There need to be some Emmys handed out to BSG this year, darnit. That scene and its aftermath were so well done that it was hard to watch. I’m so glad the writers decided to avoid the usual “well, our characters just got their world view frakked, but now let’s move on like nothing happened”. Seeing the emotional and mental breakdown that comes from realizing the futility of your mission isn’t something you just move past. Kudos to the writers for going there, and BIG kudos to the cast for bringing those emotions to life.
Call me selfish, but….Why’d they have to get rid of the Sistah?!!!
Oh, man! I was so not expecting that. But looking back on her reaction on “Earth”, and in the ship back to Galactica.
Kudos to McLure. She nailed that final scene between her and Apollo…and then the…*sigh*.
When she was smiling as she was removing her jewelry and the ring…and she was even kind of humming a little song to herself.
I screamed. Yes. That was me you heard yelling: “Hey…No!! No-no-no!!!! Damn you, Ron Moore!!!”