Growing up, we watched shows like GI Joe where in every episode enough weapons fire would take place that the spent brass alone was twice what exists in the world, yet no one got killed.

Today, rumors abound that a major BSG character will fall by seasons end, and it wouldn't be the first. Billy, Ellen, Kat, the names of the fallen form a small list.

Obviously, in a show like this, some must fall, to maintain the realism aspects. But, how many and how often is too much?

I'm reminded of V the Series, where to boost slumping ratings they too seemed to kill off major characters until they had eliminated half the cast.
Then they were canceled.

Compare that to CSI, where very few characters have died. In fact, I can only think of 1 through the first 5 seasons, though at least 2 were in mortal danger for entire episodes and the viewer wondered if t was really the end.

BSG did the later with the shooting of Adama, played out over several episodes. Supporting cast have died, but no major characters.

One wonders if the rumors are just that, rumors.
Or if BSG has jumped the shark and started down the path to V.

I never watched V, so have no frame of reference there, but I would hope if BSG does kill off a main char (and I hope not) that it is something that is done rarely and sparingly....

True, but hopefully they won't. Supporting characters are like the security detail (RED SHIRTS!) in Star Trek with away teams with Kirk. You knew if you wore one, you were a goner. Hopefully, they'll keep the redshirts falling off when necessary & not screw the cast up too bad or too soon.

The issue is to avoid having "Red Shirts" at one end of the spectrum and GI Joe Cartoon at the other.

If it fits the story, ok.

If a Character is leaving for other work, it sucks but write them out or risk pulling a Darren and see if the peopel will mind.

The best in my mind is to take a sheet from the Soaps on day time.

Have the character seem dead. The Actor can move on. In a year or next season they can bring in someone who had to have reconstructive surgury.

Interestingly enough, the reconstructive surgery angle was planned for the Original Galactica in its never filmed Season 2.

" Athena is markedly different from the character as portrayed in season one. She would have been very badly wounded in the attack that kills Sheba in the opening episode. Badly disfigured, Athena’s beauty would have been restored via surgery, leading to a “different, but equally exquisite beauty”. Though her face is restored however, her body is scarred beyond repair; because of these physical and emotional wounds Athena would have become more aggressive also replacing Apollo in her father’s eyes as heir apparent to the command of the Galactica."
http://www.battlestargalactica.com/outside_docs%5Ccylonorg_doc001.htm

I wouldn't mind if Kara got killed.