Show Review - Battlestar Galactica

[Fau Teixeira]

The original Battlestar was pretty campy and even though it made the nerd top 10 lists, it had very little mainstream support and it went off the air after 2 years. So I've waited until the end of season two of the new re-made Battlestar to give it a review. I didn’t do this in order to compare and contrast the two, but just as a significant mile-marker in the series.

Wikipedia has a pretty good synopsys of the series that I’m quoting:

The concept of the show, as described by the opening text in each episode[1]:

The Cylons were created by Man.
They Rebelled.
They Evolved.
They Look and Feel Human.
Some are programmed to think they are Human.
There are many copies.
And they have a Plan.
47,875 survivors [2]
In search of a home
Called Earth

Battlestar Galactica follows on from the 2003 mini-series to chronicle the journey of the last surviving humans from the Twelve Colonies of Man after their annihilation by the Cylons. The survivors are led by President Laura Roslin and Admiral William Adama (previously a Commander) in a ragtag fleet of ships with the Battlestar Galactica, a massive warship, at its lead. Pursued by the Cylons who are intent on wiping out the remnants of the human race, the survivors travel across the galaxy looking for the fabled and long-lost Thirteenth colony — Earth.

This is a sci-fi channel original series (NBC owned) and the production values are through the roof. The sets are dark and cold, the general appearance of 46000 people on the run from killer robots is consistent and the special effects are up to today’s standards. The amount of cheese in this series is incredibly low and they’ve come up with a couple of methods to keep the show edgy without angering the FCC. For example, every time anyone uses the word “fuck” in actuality they say “frak” and use all the variations you’ve come to expect. So even though the word is different, they can still use it to convey the meaning.

The acting is generally excellent, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell anchor the cast with some guest starring appearances from some recognizable actors. The demeanor is dark and tired. And the storylines are excellent. This is the best original programming on TV today.

My grade - excellent

[Househead]

Agree, the show rocks.  After the Shield, my number 2 favorite show on tv.

[GUATARICCAN]

I only watched the 3 hour mini series, but this show didn't do it for me. Some parts were cool but I had a hard time liking any of the characters.

[fyo]

I miss Firefly.

[Spider-Dan]

3 weeks ago, I would have rated the show an A-.  The only thing I didn't like about it was their tendency to rewrite history; in the "Previously on Battlestar Galactica..." blurb that starts every episode, they would randomly insert scenes that never even made it into the final cut of a show.  One example is the angle with Apollo and Dualla... that romance was completely invented in a "Previously" blurb.  The first time something like that happens, you're like, "Hmmm... I don't remember that."  The second, third, fourth, and fifth time it happens, you notice a pattern.

However, that was prior to the finale of season 2.  I hate the direction they went with the show... I spent the last 30 minutes waiting for Baltar to wake up from his dream.

Grade: B-

[alk3hol]

I've only seen the first season of this show (waiting on what will hopefully be a COMPLETE second season dvd set and not this 2.0 and 2.5 bullshit) and I LOVE it.  I, too, miss Firefly, but this show, along with the Stargates, fill my sci-fi craze for now. The company that did the CGI for Firefly also works on BSG and uses many of the same techniques used in Firefly. In the miniseries you can even see a Firefly class ship fly above the building when Roslin finds out she has cancer.

screenshot of the Firefly in BSG


Edit: underlined link

[Phishfan]

I was a huge fan of the original. I could not even make it through the mini-series debut though. Starbuck should have never been turned into a woman.