Battlestar Galactica TV Show - Battlestar Galactica Television Show - Yahoo! TV

I talk to a lot of people and try to turn them on to this show, and many of them are resistant because it is a "science fiction" show. What I tell everyone is that the "science fiction" aspect of the show is nothing more than window dressing. This show is about politics, betrayal, human drama, relationships, philosophical conflict, etc...and it just happens to take place against the setting of a space fleet. The writing on this program is unreal (as in incredibly good), and I want to know why it is that we can't see this level of quality in the storytelling that goes on with most of the network programming. Whatever brilliant minds at ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX passed on this one should be sweeping floors in a warehouse somewhere. If you are not a science fiction fan, give this show a shot. It is not about the spaceships and the futuristic robots...all of that stuff is just backdrop. You will be hooked. Better yet, download it all from iTunes, start from the beginning, and you will be an instant fan!!! Kudos to Richard Hatch for never giving up on his idea for this show and turning it into what will undoubtedly be considered one of the greatest science fiction shows in the history of television.

Outstanding. The original BSG remixed to "make it real".

Of course, you would have had to seen the original, and the consistently starched flightsuits, the spit-polished ships and landing bays, the "walking chrome toasters", and the sexual issues/graphic violence, kept to a minimum, to make a comparison

If you’re new to the BSG world, just jump in - each episode has a mini-history intro that will get you at least up to speed on what happened at the start of it all, and where things are now.

It’s not quite for children, anymore - nor is it just a “guy thing” (more on that later).

It is far more realistic in the gritty-yet-hope-filled reality of it all.... from the actual dirt and grime on people and equipment, to the dirt and grime of human nature.

The new BSG is spectacular in showing the full spectrum of humanity’s nature – it’s almost as if the Cylons, the battles, and that whole side of the equation are exclusively there to reveal more of humanity to themselves.

From the dark side - Col. Tigh’s alcoholism, his trollopy wife’s betrayal(s), and her resulting murder, Starbuck’s secret(s) - even the morbid simultaneously planned assassination of Adama and Caine... a short list of one side of the coin.

The bright side of the coin is played equally well – hope, courage, love, faith. Tyrol’s creation of the Blackbird, Apollo’s awakening from a utopian sense of duty and honor to the harsh realities of politics and command - and his ensuing period of pseudo-apathy, to a wholly new character - again, just a short list..

This is one of the few Sci-Fi shows that has a “middle” side of the coin as well - the drama of monotony, dullness, boredom, apathy... It’s one of the things that makes BSG special in TV land - you get a full spectrum universe, not a binary one (right/wrong, good guy/bad guy, win/lose).

Only a few things throw off my suspension of disbelief from time to time...

Space travel is common in the Galactica universe, even faster than light travel. Pretty advanced!

Ok, I can get absorbed in that possibility - then cut to a scene where they're driving regular diesel type trucks, or smoking cigars that look like they're boxed in Havana, circa 1970... or using canvas tents and wooden storage crates - it yanks my mind around a bit.

There is also some occasional episode-to-episode discontinuity, where the Battlestar Galactica prelude does not match the previous BSG episode.... “Kobols Last Gleaming” is an example of that (e.g., “… a certain Captain Apollo”). Also, why do some regular-bullet-type weapons blow holes clean thru Centurions, while Colonial Marines had to resort to explosive rounds when the ship was boarded by Centurions?

These are minor issues on the pro-con list.

BSG is a 99.5% Pro - 0.5% Con show. It rocks.

The muted space travel/battle sound effects add greatly to the realism compared to the original (reflecting the reality of almost null sound in space) - they paid attention to a lot of detail items for the special effects - they are spectacular.

As for the characters, and drama – it’s right up there too.

BSG covers all the darker and brighter (even duller) moments of humanity in an entrancing manner. Every episode shows a new piece of the human puzzle in the characters, and it covers a lot of ground.

The complexity of character development and interaction mostly absent in the original series is overwhelmingly present in this one - and well played - right down to bit parts. It is the complexity of the characters that make the show “Rock”.

I got a kick out of Playboy’s recent cover – “Tricia Helfer Sheds her Cylon Suit” (#6, Caprica 6, whatever 6)...

That is something she does anyhow, in almost every episode - just not to the same degree. I found some irony in the near-redundancy there - “Run to the shelves - get to see the last 4 square inches not revealed in Galactica!”

As attractive as she is dolled up, it really added to the show when she modded out to plain Jane for the “There is no chip in your head Baltar - wake up and smell the insanity” scene in Season 2 (Home - Part II). It was just a bit scene - but an example of many that adds to the complexity of the character development in BSG.

Some of the adult nature of BSG may be why it’s being moved to 10 pm on a school night, eh? I don't think this show is appropriate for pre-teens, but parenting should be left up to the parents.

Sexual themes aside, the complex interactions, frailties, strengths, and weaknesses are all well played - probably the best sci-fi drama I’ve seen - some episodes involve no guns, battles, or violence at all - and are still entrancing.

Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck) has done an incredible job of acting - given Starbuck’s very deep persona that is slowly revealed from the Mini-series, to the revelation of her childhood abuse in “The Farm” to her wildly unbalanced mental state at times, to falling in love and falling from grace, and climbing out again

I’d nominate her for first place as an actress in the series, given the huge spectrum of mental, physical, and emotional turf she has to cover.

Starbuck as a cigar-chomping, feisty, female fighter jockey has been criticized by some of the Original BSG fanclub - but given the roles played, issues and spectrum of personality covered - I see why a “she” was a perfect match for the new 'Buck.

I hate soaps. Yet, in some ways BSG is one, far more maxed out than your noon-till-five stuff.... it’s more than that though, mixing the best of all genres (including some not even defined yet) and laying it out almost flawlessly. I have read raves from all walks of life, and think it's a show everyone would enjoy.

To the whole crew of BSG, keep it coming – and thanks. Oh, and tell the studios, now that you’re a frackkin’ total worldwide success, to give you a raise.

----
Review Disclaimer:
You should see the way my mind... sometimes works

A spectacular drama that uses space, and is not driven by it. Characters and stories evolve, engage themselves and the viewer. Not the same old singularity, shallow reasoning, or redundant storylines and acts of most TV shows. It should retain its SCi-fi flair but market itself differently.

...and this is not your fathers' Battlestar Galactica. As a fan of the original I was apprehensive about what Ron Moore would do with his "re-imagining" and after seeing and interview with him about the show at it's inception I was ready to throw in the towel.

Now I'm hooked. It was smart to go with a producer that had no ties or emotional investment in the original show. If Bryan Singer and his crew had done their version, I probably wouldn't be writing this. I don't think a continuance of the old series would have held my attention at thirty-something, the same way Ron Moore's vision wouldn't have captivated me as an eight year old.

The show is sexy, sophisticated, and yes, has a dark streak a mile wide. The characters have depth. Some you like, some you don't, but they pull you in. Edward James Olmos's Adama and Mary McDonnell's President Roslyn are the prime example. Two people with wisdom, experience, and demons that we have watched grow in the last two and a half seasons to share a touching relationship I can't begin to explain.

In the first season Baltar and Number Six showed us that it's all in your head, and made us question the dynamics of our own romantic relationships...at least it should have.

Now in the third season even the insipid female Starbuck and her relationship with Apollo offer something you won't find in any other show on television. The ending of the season three episode "Unfinished Business" left me slack-jawed and broken hearted about two characters that certainly aren't my favorites.

Battlestar Galactica uses none of the Sci-Fi devices many people might expect. There isn't an alien to be found on the show, very little technology that doesn’t serve the greater story. It's that title that has held the show back from mainstream acceptance. When I tried to turn a friend on to it with an impassioned plea to give it's richness a chance, she responded with "I don't know...sounds kind of hokey." Yet she liked "Heroes" a show that is not fit to kiss BSG's fracking keyster.

If it had any other title, this show would be on Universal's flagship network, NBC in a heartbeat. To their credit, NBC did air the miniseries over a weekend back in 2004. This show is such a hit it's going on after "Desperate Housewives" starting January 21st 2007. After you check out the hot and scandalous ladies of Wisteria Lane, flip over to Sci-Fi.

I sincerely hope Sci-Fi allows this show to continue unfettered. Ron Moore is saying something with this show and I hope that vision is seen through. Battlestar Galactica mirrors our current culture and says a lot about our present state of being. No where is this more apparent than the New Caprica story arc. If the show is considered dark, what does that say about us? People of depth will love this show...the rest...well...who cares about them!

Must see episodes include the miniseries so you know what's going on, any of the first season focusing on Six and Baltar especially "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down." The season two Pegasus/Resurrection Ship story arc, and the New Caprica season two cliffhanger and season three resolution including "Unfinished Business." But really you should see it all from the beginning!

Another incredible thing about this show is the soundtrack. Bear McCreary's scoring has elements of Middle Eastern music, classical composition, Celtic Music ("Wander My Friends") and I absolutely love his use of Taiko Drums to drive home a dramatic story point or battle scene. His talent will be in mainstream movies and he will be up there with John Williams someday, I have no doubt.

Battlestar Galactica is the BEST show on television, and I don't like much on television these days. If you're a fan of the original and closed minded, don't bother. If you're concerned about what people will think if you tell them your favorite show is Battlestar Galactica, again, don't bother. If however you're not a fan of Sci-FI and have your reservations, give it a chance. Everyone really should give it a shot, you won't be disappointed, it will be back on January 21st 2007 10ET. Kiss Bree and the girls, then flip over and help make BSG #1...in spite of the title.

So Say We All.