TV: The new Battlestar Galactica series

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:17 pm

I recently (finally) saw this series, and I have to give it a thumbs-up.

There's a smidge more "relationship" stuff than I like in my space operas, but it is still worth giving a shot.

There are a few changes, but they remained faithful enough to the original series to say it is a faithfull retelling of the story. I have to admit that I was skeptical at first, but I can accept Starbuck as a woman.

I bet the art directors loved the PC game "Homeworld." There is A LOT of the same art style in the tv show, from looong camera angles of the fleet to the weird-ish eastern sounding music during space battle scenes. These are two defining characteristics of Homeworld, and they give BG a unique feel and style.

In the pilot episode, which had the most space battles of the entire first season, I was impressed how they filled the "skies" with missiles, and generally made the battlefields a mess. This seems realisitic to me, how it would really be with swarms upon swarms of opposing forces meeting in space. I also loved the fact that there is finally a space series that addresses the idea that a ship in space can reorient itself 180 degrees, yet still be on its original flight path. I gave a "hurah!" first time I saw them do that.

I really like Edward James Olmos as Adama. He has some excellent command presence... though I must say that in the season finale, his actions seemed... unrealistic. I'm not sure if I buy it. It almost seems that the writers had to take Adama out of character in order to set up some very tense situations... I'll have to wait to see where they go with the cliffhanger.

All in all, thumbs-up. Glad I finally had a chance to get into the series. There's gonna be a season 2, right?

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:39 pm

I have to admit that I was skeptical at first, but I can accept Starbuck as a woman.

They have dishonoured the memory of Dirk Benedict. What the hell?

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:40 pm

Because she's so disrespectful of authority, up to and including decking the XO over a card game.

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:42 pm

All in all, thumbs-up. Glad I finally had a chance to get into the series. There's gonna be a season 2, right?

Um, you've already missed the first two episdoes of season 2, GORDON.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:44 pm

Because she's so disrespectful of authority, up to and including decking the XO over a card game.

Maybe I'll check this shit out when the seasons hit Netflix.

But, still, my doubts remain solid.

Edited By Malcolm on 1126802669

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:49 pm

All in all, thumbs-up. Glad I finally had a chance to get into the series. There's gonna be a season 2, right?
Um, you've already missed the first two episdoes of season 2, GORDON.

Crapolla.

Anyone have a torrent of the first 2 episodes of season 2? Then I can be all caught up.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:50 pm

Because she's so disrespectful of authority, up to and including decking the XO over a card game.
Maybe I'll check this shit out when the seasons hit Netflix.

But, still, my doubts remain solid.

Understandable.

Like I said, there's some "Dawson's Creek" type lovey dovey bullshit, but all in all I'm glad I took the time.

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:58 pm

Before it ever aired, I swore I'd never watch it for the same reasons. Sounded like a bunch of crap to me.

But after a couple of episodes, I was hooked. I know consider the new BSG to be one of the two best series ever made for television.

It's so very different from the original series that it's not fair to group it in the same genre. The original was more campy, more like a sit-com in space. This one is straight up dramatic, and is a great example of why using "sci-fi" as a catch-all genre for futuristic shows is no longer really appropriate. The sci-fi genre has grown up, and it's time to let them out of their subdivision and let them just be dramas and comedies and whatnot that happen to be set in the future.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:00 pm

I haven't seen it.
I do see a lot of commercials for it during Stargate: SG1 though. (I miss MacGyver!)

DoctorChaos · Post by **DoctorChaos** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:03 pm

I really like Edward James Olmos as Adama. He has some excellent command presence... though I must say that in the season finale, his actions seemed... unrealistic. I'm not sure if I buy it. It almost seems that the writers had to take Adama out of character in order to set up some very tense situations... I'll have to wait to see where they go with the cliffhanger.

I love the series. They've developed a plot line that I'm dying to see how it turns out and thrown a lot of curves so far.

The writers almost did an about face with Adama this season. I'll let you see what I'm talking about. I wondering if they're building up to some sort of break down. Here's a guy who has the weight of keeping an entire race alive and maintains complete composure. That's a receipe for a total breakdown, and since the characters are very human it doesn't seem totally out of the question.

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:05 pm

Anyone have a torrent of the first 2 episodes of season 2? Then I can be all caught up.

I hope you can get hold of them. The first one was okay, but the second one is my favorite in the series so far. If you want a quick summary before tomorrow night, let me know.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:12 pm

Anyone have a torrent of the first 2 episodes of season 2? Then I can be all caught up.
I hope you can get hold of them. The first one was okay, but the second one is my favorite in the series so far. If you want a quick summary before tomorrow night, let me know.

Let's see if I can find them today... so the new one airs tonight?

DC: No more spoilers. Adama's health status was unknown at the end of last season. Fucker.

Post by **Leisher** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:22 pm

PC game "Homeworld."

Every single time someone brings it up, I want to play it again.

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:51 pm

...If you want a quick summary before tomorrow night, let me know.
Let's see if I can find them today... so the new one airs tonight?

...If you want a quick summary before tomorrow night, let me know.

:p

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:54 pm

Wise-acre.

mbilderback · Post by **mbilderback** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:11 pm

I also loved the fact that there is finally a space series that addresses the idea that a ship in space can reorient itself 180 degrees, yet still be on its original flight path. I gave a "hurah!" first time I saw them do that.

Lets see, Babylon5 and Firefly to name 2.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:16 pm

Never seen either, but I've got season 1 of Firefly waiting in the wings.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:30 pm

Never seen either, but I've got season 1 of Firefly waiting in the wings.

I have yet to forgive Joss Wheedon for Buffy. May his foulness rot in hell.

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:51 pm

But after a couple of episodes, I was hooked. I know consider the new BSG to be one of the two best series ever made for television.

Never seen either, but I've got season 1 of Firefly waiting in the wings.

Just FYI, the other one of those "two best series ever made" is Firefly.

After watching the last episode, I wept, just becasue there would never be anymore ... or so I thought at the time.

Be sure to be careful not to start watching them until you will have time to watch the whole thing all the way through. It's very hard not to keep going immediately to the next one instead of, like, going to bed, or going to the bathroom.

mbilderback · Post by **mbilderback** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:54 pm

Malcom, seriously, I hate Buffy. Firefly, however rocks. And G, you have ALL of Firefly, there was only part of the first season before they got cancelled.

As of now, Serenity will be the first of what is hoped to be a series of Firefly movies.