Battlestar Galactica (the new series)

[akira3d]

I just realized that no one on Prime has started a thread for the show that has become my favorite sci-fi show of all-time. I know I've mentioned it on other threads, but I think this new BSG deserves one of its own.

If you haven't watched the show, it starts with a premise not dissimilar to the original 1979 series, but it goes in a very fresh and bold direction as a serial drama with challenging storylines grounded in contemporary themes. It doesn't hurt that it features quality acting from a stellar cast (standouts include Edward James Olmos as Adama, Mary McDonnell as Roslin, James Callis as Baltar, and Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck) and sports some truly intense sequences with some of the most impressive visual effects ever created for TV. I also dig the soundtrack.

Season 3 just started last Friday, but to discuss anything from it would be a spoiler for anyone who hasn't started watching it from the beginning. I strongly recommend stating within the DVDs from Season 1. The miniseries that opens the series on disc 1 starts slow, but stick with it...after roughly the first hour-and-a-half of setup, you won't be disappointed! The miniseries is good, but the series is even better!

I was a fan of the original series, so I didn't give this a chance when the miniseries initially aired in 2003. I caught the miniseries when it reran on NBC in 2004 shortly before the series premiered on the SciFi channel. It didn't take long for it to win me over.

 

[Klayton]

Beeing a SciFi fan too I watched the first couple of shows but that show just doesn't do it for me. The ideas are pretty good but the actors are awful and they clearly tried to make every episode as long as possible to squeeze as much commercials in at as they can so it's boooooring.

Tricia Helfer is hot tho..

 

[NetViper]

I thought season 1 was awesome. I thought Season 2 was OK at best. Most episodes were not very good.

This season has started out well. I love the show.

 

[WingZ]

I think this show awesome ,very low on scifi and very high on drama. I still can't believe they killed that little girl the way they did.:frown:

 

[Da Hapa]

As a very young kid, I loved the original. But honestly, when I watch the original show in re-runs now it seems very cheesy and extremely dated.

I was extremely psyched when the new show came out but was very let down when I found out that it was a mini-series. I was led to believe it was going to be a new show.

Thankfully, they did make a series out of it and I've really enjoyed the show.

Let's hope it keeps getting better.

BTW - Am I the only one who suspects that Col. Tigh didn't really lose his eye and that there's maybe something else going on there (I know about his wife, I'm talking about him).

 

[akira3d]

The first season is definitely superior to the second (and, for me, it's unusual that a series' first season, first episode remains one of my favorites), but there were a couple of standout episodes in the second. Unfortunately, the second also included the worst episode of the series...but they can't all be winners. I'm hoping that season 3 injects some of the excitement and surprises that made the first season so strong...it is certainly off to a good start.

Awful acting? For the most part, the acting has been stellar...the only cast member I'm not terribly crazy about is Jamie Bamber as Apollo (actually, his character is one of the weaker ones as well...upsetting in that I was a fan of the original Apollo...and Richard Hatch has been great as Zarek in the new BSG). As for commercials, they're a non-issue if you watch the DVD...and, for the most part, I haven't found the episodes to feel long. Many are packed with action or, at the very least, follow multiple story arcs to keep the story moving forward at a good pace.

Yes, the original series seems extremely dated now (hadn't seen reruns in many years, so I hadn't noticed the "cheese factor" of the original series until I saw clips on the bonus features of the new BSG DVDs). That said, I still prefer the models of the original Colonial Vipers, Battlestar Galactica, Cylon Raiders, and Cylon Basestars to their reimagined CG counterparts in the new series.

I'm pretty sure Col. Tigh lost an eye...don't see the dramatic value if it is revealed that he didn't.

 

[flaminio]

I'm pretty sure Col. Tigh lost an eye...don't see the dramatic value if it is revealed that he didn't.

I'm sure he did too, and that gives him a chance to wear an eyepatch, which automatically increases his bad-ass quotient.

I got into the show on DVD around the beginning of the year. I got seasons 1 and 2.0 on DVD, and pretty much watched them straight through. It's riveting; easily some of the best sci-fi ever produced for television. It's clear that Ron Moore is "fixing" the many problems he saw during his brief stint on Star Trek: Voyager, including the biggest one: the infernal "reset button". On Voyager, you could practically take apart the entire ship and next week it'd be good as new (despite being 70,000 light years from the nearest starbase). When things happen on BSG, there are consequences, and that's both refreshing and troubling. The Tigh eye thing, for example -- you can't just pluck out someone's eye and have everything be just fine the next week.

After grinding through the DVDs, I do find it hard to wait an entire week to see what happens next. TiVo helps with the commercials, tho'...

 

[akira3d]

I actually watched through the series three times:

1. I watched it as it aired...well, usually taped it to watch after my wife went to bed. She wouldn't give BSG a chance (not a big sci-fi fan)

2. After the second season ended, I watched season 1 and 2.0 DVD box sets all-the-way through in a successful attempt to get my wife hooked. Due to the serial-nature of the story, she ended up demanding that we watch episodes in marathon-sessions...since the 2.5 DVDs hadn't come out by the time we finished 2.0, she even convinced me to download the remaining episodes

3. Watched it once through with my mom in a very compressed amount of time to get her up to speed in time for this season's premiere...partly because I planned to watch the new episodes at my mom's house until our remodeling is finished. We needed to watch all of the season 2.5 box set last weekend, so we didn't get to watch the season 3 premiere until Sunday night (I also needed to watch the USC game, so we probably could have gotten through it quicker). I forgot my mom loves science fiction...she complained that I should have recommended it to her from the getgo. Incidentally, my wife rewatched a number of the episodes with us.

Yeah, it's amazing what Ron Moore was able to do once free from the constraints of the Star Trek formula. And I should add that I was a huge Star Trek fan, especially of TNG and DS9!

 

[FuryNSX]

... That said, I still prefer the models of the original Colonial Vipers, Battlestar Galactica, Cylon Raiders, and Cylon Basestars to their reimagined CG counterparts in the new series.

My sentiments EXACTLY!!!! Star Wars "inspiration" aside, the O.G. BSG hardwareis still better looking than the new BSG hardware!

 

[BD]

CG is fine, it it probably cheaper route to go. It is on a small cable net work with only 2.5 million views average. Therefore, more they saved by using CG, more then can allocate the budget to other parts of the show.

I love it. For old Anime fan, this is like watching live Z Gundam.

 

[akira3d]

Actually, the quality of the CG effects is top notch and the battles feature the best damn explosions, flak bursts, missile trails (very anime), and ship motion (just gotta love those control thrusters on the Vipers and Raptors). I think they're doing the best work ever seen on TV.

I just prefer the design of the original Ralph McQuarrie inspired hardware to the new. Kinda like comparing his designs from the original Star Wars Trilogy to the prequels. Hey Randy, you did know McQuarrie worked on both classic Star Wars and classic Battlestar Galactica, right?

 

[FuryNSX]

I just prefer the design of the original Ralph McQuarrie inspired hardware to the new. Kinda like comparing his designs from the original Star Wars Trilogy to the prequels. Hey Randy, you did know McQuarrie worked on both classic Star Wars and classic Battlestar Galactica, right?

Heck yeah I knew. Ralph McQuarrie designed stuff is so much better than that Doug Chiang stuff of the prequels. (I did like more of the designs seen in EP3, however.)

And to also further the SW/BGS link, John Dykstra peaked with those two projects. It was pretty much downhill from there. (Starflight? Good gawd!!! ) Maybe he's making a comeback with the Spiderman series.

(Geek alert: I think I have that pre-production painting of the Galactica as a poster stored somewhere in my house. D'oh!!!)

 

[robr]

I was a kid when the original BG aired and I thought it was the greatest show ever back then. I was VERY skeptical when the miniseries aired, especially after they changed so many of the characters.

I'm a convert now. This is my favorite show on TV today (Lost is a close second) and I'm not sure which show I enjoyed more, this or Babylon 5 (seasons 2 and 3 especially). My wife hasn't really gotten hooked unfortunately but she has a vague idea of what's going on.

Ron Moore is doing phenominal work, I just hope he is directly involved with the spinoff that's in the works for SciFi (Caprica centered pre-cylon attack).

 

[akira3d]

I totally fear that the Caprica spin-off will dilute BSG...wasn't too happy when there were multiple Star Treks on the air either. Ron Moore should focus his attention entirely on this series and forget Caprica until a later date.

 

[robr]

I totally fear that the Caprica spin-off will dilute BSG...wasn't too happy when there were multiple Star Treks on the air either. Ron Moore should focus his attention entirely on this series and forget Caprica until a later date.

Ron has no say. Sci-Fi apparently said they are making this with or without him which is why I hope he has some involvement, otherwise it could be incredibly crappy.

 

[akira3d]

Sci-Fi apparently said they are making this with or without him

Woah...I hadn't heard that. This sounds like it could be a losing proposition all the way around. Of course, I should reserve judgment for the premiere.

 

[akira3d]

Damn! Last night's episode was amazing! Once again, I don't want to say much since pretty much everything would be a spoiler...but, at one point during the episode, my wife turned to me and asked "How can they afford to do special effects like this?"

 

[robr]

my wife isn't into it, i watched it by myself, but you're right, the special effects associated with the low atmospheric activities were phenominal. i'm so blown away by this program and i'm so glad it's nothing like the original (which was what i was originally hoping for when i heard about this show, duh!)

 

[martin]

Hi

I have tried to keep away from BSG. I know I would probably like it a lot. But I am hooked on some many things now.

I was a big fan of Babylon 5 and I know BSG would be my new Sci-fi "fix". But I have too much series to download and see at the moment.

My new favorite is Heroes on NBC. What do you guys think of it?

Regards

 

[robr]

heroes?!? what do i think?!? you say you dont want to get hooked on another series, yet heroes is a NEW SERIES!!!! get hooked on BSG instead, ESPECIALLY since you were a big JMS/B5 fan. there is nothing better on TV.

ps, i've tivoed all the eps of heroes but haven't watched any of it yet. been busy playing catchup with The Nine

 

[flaminio]

I was a big fan of Babylon 5 and I know BSG would be my new Sci-fi "fix".

If you want a sci-fi "fix" that's not too dear, get into Firefly. There are only 14 episodes and a movie, but it's spectacular.

BSG just keeps getting better. I had no idea ***** would die . And the bit about ***** not being ******'s ****** -- that caught me by surprise, too. My only wish is that I already had Season 3 on DVD -- it's just too painful to wait for next week for an episode.

 

[robr]

If you want a sci-fi "fix" that's not too dear, get into Firefly. There are only 14 episodes and a movie, but it's spectacular.

BSG just keeps getting better. I had no idea ***** would die . And the bit about ***** not being ******'s ****** -- that caught me by surprise, too. My only wish is that I already had Season 3 on DVD -- it's just too painful to wait for next week for an episode.

***** not being ******'s ******

that was pretty messed up, though i thought it was coming back when that started, but by last night i had forgotten about it. ***** is going to be a big mess over that for a while.

 

[robr]

If you want a sci-fi "fix" that's not too dear, get into Firefly. There are only 14 episodes and a movie, but it's spectacular.

ive only seen the movie and it was god awful.

 

[akira3d]

***** not being ******'s ******

That was an extremely satisfying twist...and it totally makes sense.

As for *****'s death...yeah, that was messed up.

Tigh is going to be a VERY interesting character this season.

I just fear they blew the effects budget this episode. The idea of that atmospheric drop was fantastic...but the execution was un-frakkin-believable.

My only wish is that I already had Season 3 on DVD -- it's just too painful to wait for next week for an episode.

Tell me about it...and I also miss the 5.1 sound. This one is going to be amazing on DVD...and I can't wait to see this on HD.

 

[Shaun Ray]

ive only seen the movie and it was god awful.

To each his own, but Firefly rules. One should see the series before the movie IMO. The camera work on the special effects of BSG remind me of Firefly. That camera method was groundbreaking for TV.