Battlestar Galactica is a unique show in the world of science fiction, in part because its characters don't swear in the traditional sense. Since the premiere of the original TV series back in 1978, the word "frak" has been used in place of another four-letter word. Used as both an expletive and a verb, "frak" became a part of the common vernacular in the franchise. So why did Battlestar Galactica start using — and continue to use — the word "frak"?
The word "frak" was first used in season 1, episode 1 of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica series starring Richard Hatch. It was originally spelled "frack," but the "c" was ultimately dropped in order to better resemble the expletive it was meant to replace. The creation of the word was neither intentional nor scripted; it was created on the spot by that first episode's director, Richard A. Colla, to help the cast channel their frustrations at not being able to swear.
When the series originally premiered, "frak" was used as a way to circumvent the censors. The rules regarding expletives on the air were much stricter during the original series run than in the 2000s reboot, and using the fake expletive allowed the series to "swear" without repercussions. However, what started as a way to beat the censors quickly grew into something much larger. While the 2000s series could have moved on to stronger language or avoided cursing entirely, the word "frak" became an iconic part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The use of the word certainly ramped up in the 2000s Battlestar Galactica, likely because executive producer Ron Moore had a great love for the word. "There was something elegantly lovely about 'frak,'" Moore wrote in a now-archived 2005 blog post. "There's nothing like being able to say my favorite four-letter word on TV over and over again."
How Frak Helped Battlestar Galactica In The 2000s
The 2000s Battlestar Galactica was smart not to abandon "frak." Characters were free to use the word as often as they wanted because it wasn't a real swear, but it also gave Battlestar Galactica fans something to identify with. The word was used on merchandise and was said between fans. It even bled into other series, including the popular geek-centric sitcom The Big Bang Theory, another master of coining iconic words. Giving fans a rallying cry helps to create a sense of identity in a fandom. Along with quotes like "so say we all," Battlestar Galactica fans eagerly adopted the use of the word "frak" — a phenomenon that wouldn't have occurred if the 2000s series abandoned the word for the typical expletives.
The choice to use the word "frak" may have started as a simple maneuver to avoid backlash from the FCC, but it soon grew to hold a greater purpose. Now, the "swear" word serves as both a buzzword for the fandom and a piece of lore that connects multiple entries in the franchise. Another Battlestar Galactica reboot is currently in the works on Peacock, and while a modern series would have a little more room to drop a few expletives, the series would be missing a certain little something without a few "frak" bombs.