NationStates Jolt Archive

What do you think of the new Battlestar Galactica on Sci-Fi?

I think it's one of the best shows on TV right now. Nevermind sci-fi, the new BSG is fantastic TV in its own right. It beats nearly 99% of the rest of the trash out there right now, and is much better produced than a lot of the crap hollywood is putting out too. It's beautifully directed, looks fantastic, has a great plot, deep and flawed characters, a great sense of tension and hugely fun.

The original was silly kids stuff, and good in its own right. This is serious, largely directed at adult entertainment. It far outstrips the original in terms of production values.

What I find funny is that in 1980, Star Wars was the considered sophisticated, whereas BG wasn't. Now the reverse is true.

But then again, I have seen the Episode 3 preview, and it does have a PG-13 rating. Maybe it will be an apology for Eps 1 & 2...

When is the second series coming?

BSG is one of the best Sci-fi series I have seen and I am awaiting the second series.

My one gripe with the show is the scientist. They're so original in every other fashion, why did they have to fall into the old cliche of "smart = evil = British." If that wasn't bad enough, there are other British actors on the show, but they have to use American accents. He only keeps his accent because he's smart and evil. They don't even make it a regional thing. 12 planets and he's the only one from any of them with a non-american accent? WTF?

My one gripe with the show is the scientist. They're so original in every other fashion, why did they have to fall into the old cliche of "smart = evil = British." If that wasn't bad enough, there are other British actors on the show, but they have to use American accents. He only keeps his accent because he's smart and evil. They don't even make it a regional thing. 12 planets and he's the only one from any of them with a non-american accent? WTF?

I agree. I also dislike that they made him from Caprica, like just about everyone else.
In the original series, he was from Sagitarria (just like Richard Hatch's character on the new series), which was supposed to have been spared by the cylons. Had they left that piece alone, and made Hatch speak in an English accent, it's have been cooler.

I agree. I also dislike that they made him from Caprica, like just about everyone else.
In the original series, he was from Sagitarria (just like Richard Hatch's character on the new series), which was supposed to have been spared by the cylons. Had they left that piece alone, and made Hatch speak in an English accent, it's have been cooler.

It has the potential to make me as happy as Babylon 5 made me.

It has the potential to make me as happy as Babylon 5 made me.

B5, less Crusade, of course....

B5, less Crusade, of course....
You could also drop the last season of B5...

BSG original series wasn't bad, the writing was average-good, and they were constrained by a budget, so they were limited on their special effects.

BSG new series: writing seems to be at least average-good, the special effects of course aren't limited by 1970s-1980s technology. Hopefully they can keep the storyline interesting and moving.

You could also drop the last season of B5...

Nah. It was tolerable, imho. But you could tell it wasn't written with the other four seasons. It was certainly better than the 2nd season of ST:TNG. Or any part of ST:Voyager. :D

I'm hoping that BSG goes into:
* More detail with Helo -- maybe he finds humans? Maybe something on the other 11 planets? (That's be a stretch, given costs...).

* More on the other ships in the fleet. We've barely seen anything of them. What happened to Sire Uri? He was a decent minor character, and it'd be great to have multiple nemesis problems in the show.

* They have the Pegasus episodes (and that it's around for longer!). My picks to play Caine?
First choice? Jerry Orbach from Law & Order. Would have been **AWESOME**. Unfortunately, Mr. Orbach is no longer with us. RIP. :(

So...
a) Jurgen Prochnow - Would lend a foreign tint to the cast.
b) Michael Dorn - In this BSG, blacks are an under-represented ethnicity, and he acts well without the Klingon makeup.
c) Dirk Benedict! - He's old enough (same age as Richard Hatch), and it'd be another "old cast member in the new series" thing. :)

(note: it *has* to be a "non-A list" actor. Let's face it, the show couldn't afford Kiefer Sutherland or somebody like that.)

When is the second series coming?

BSG is one of the best Sci-fi series I have seen and I am awaiting the second series.

Dunno. But the 1st half of the first season finale is this Friday night...

My one gripe with the show is the scientist. They're so original in every other fashion, why did they have to fall into the old cliche of "smart = evil = British." If that wasn't bad enough, there are other British actors on the show, but they have to use American accents. He only keeps his accent because he's smart and evil. They don't even make it a regional thing. 12 planets and he's the only one from any of them with a non-american accent? WTF?
Well, to be fair, they are trying to keep faith with a little of the original series, in which he was an evil genius. What I do enjoy, is watching his transformation from being just greedy to thinking he's a tool of God. I think there is alot of potential here, and frankly, he's pretty good at being eccentric (not to mention dividing his attention between life and his "imagination" simultaneously.)

As to the series, it really is a different beast from the previous iterations, but I find it to be rather well done, and frankly, a fun watch. I hope they keep this up.

As much as I loved the original, the new series is way better and less cheesy.

Fran

BSG original series wasn't bad, the writing was average-good, and they were constrained by a budget, so they were limited on their special effects.

BSG new series: writing seems to be at least average-good, the special effects of course aren't limited by 1970s-1980s technology. Hopefully they can keep the storyline interesting and moving.
I don't know about the first series. They had a nasty tendancy to find yet another earth-like planet far too frequently, the plot was a bit thin as well, and the fleet seemed a bit too much like Adama's personal playpen.
(Then again, it's been awhile since watching it last)
I think the writing in the new series is superbly done in most cases and recommend the series to just about anyone.

I also like the "documentary-esque" camera style they use.

1) Excellent action: explosions, random fights, dogfights and such
2) excellent graphics: explosions, space fights, etc
3) Excellent story: conflict of pantheon and monotheism, good v evil, and other random conflicts
4) excellent acting and characters

End result: bad ass show

Well, to be fair, they are trying to keep faith with a little of the original series, in which he was an evil genius. What I do enjoy, is watching his transformation from being just greedy to thinking he's a tool of God.

I don't think 'greedy' is the right word for it... more like totally and astonishingly self-involved. I mean, he's witnessing the virtual destruction of the entire human race as a result of his actions and the primary thought in his head is "oh crap... the survivors are really gonna mess me up if they find out".

I think the transition to 'Tool of God' is actually a very appropriate transition for him to have eventually made with 6 constantly in his head pushing the concept on him. Once he adopts it, it just gives him one more psychological justification for placing far more importance on any little detail of his own existence over even the survival of the entire remainder of the fleet. After all, God's instrument has to do what God's instrument has to do now doesn't he?

Which brings up another lovely aspect of the show. The Cylons being monotheists is just brilliant. I especialy love the subtle illustration of the absurdity of their constant position that God the ultimate loving and merciful one loves all his creations... so they just had to murder billions of humans you see... they were being naughty and not returning God's love (nevermind that they're unaware of his existence.... which makes returning his love a difficult thing to do). Gosh that story sounds familiar.

I just can't wait until I get back home and see the last few episodes... they're waiting patiently for me on my TiVo...

The show is great for all of the reasons listed and one other one, we got something before the US for once! :D

Don't get me wrong, I think the new show is pretty good. And certainly, in any direct comparison to the old series, it comes out on top in nearly every way...with the possible exception of "exhuberant fun." But is a direct comparison a fair one?

The original BSG was excellent alongside the other shows of the era, and effectively the ONLY science fiction series of the year (1978), unless you count Mork and Mindy. In the previous season, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman ended, and nothing else came out to replace them. BSG was the first decent space-based SF to come out since Star Trek ended almost 10 years earlier.

The new show is merely pretty good in comparison to other current shows, and is neither breaking new ground, nor helping to keep the genre alive, not when we have two Stargates, Star Trek: Enterprise, Andromeda, and an entire network named for Science Fiction! If you use a fair yardstick (or metrestick for those of you on the other side of the pond), then the original is probably the better of the two.

Don't get me wrong, I think the new show is pretty good. And certainly, in any direct comparison to the old series, it comes out on top in nearly every way...with the possible exception of "exhuberant fun." But is a direct comparison a fair one?

The original BSG was excellent alongside the other shows of the era, and effectively the ONLY science fiction series of the year (1978), unless you count Mork and Mindy. In the previous season, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman ended, and nothing else came out to replace them. BSG was the first decent space-based SF to come out since Star Trek ended almost 10 years earlier.

The new show is merely pretty good in comparison to other current shows, and is neither breaking new ground, nor helping to keep the genre alive, not when we have two Stargates, Star Trek: Enterprise, Andromeda, and an entire network named for Science Fiction! If you use a fair yardstick (or metrestick for those of you on the other side of the pond), then the original is probably the better of the two.

Well, if you count only US shows, you're still missing Space:1999.
Otherwise, you're missing Doctor Who (on PBS back then) and Blake's 7.

Enterprise has been cancelled. :(

Don't get me wrong, I think the new show is pretty good. And certainly, in any direct comparison to the old series, it comes out on top in nearly every way...with the possible exception of "exhuberant fun." But is a direct comparison a fair one?

The original BSG was excellent alongside the other shows of the era, and effectively the ONLY science fiction series of the year (1978), unless you count Mork and Mindy. In the previous season, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman ended, and nothing else came out to replace them. BSG was the first decent space-based SF to come out since Star Trek ended almost 10 years earlier.

The new show is merely pretty good in comparison to other current shows, and is neither breaking new ground, nor helping to keep the genre alive, not when we have two Stargates, Star Trek: Enterprise, Andromeda, and an entire network named for Science Fiction! If you use a fair yardstick (or metrestick for those of you on the other side of the pond), then the original is probably the better of the two.
Star Trek:Enterprise is on it's last season, I thought (could be wrong) that Andromeda was done already, and the other two shows are the lead in for Battlestar Gallactica on that Science Fiction channel. I think even given the yardstick, Battlestar comes out leaps and bounds.

Mostly for this reason: Emphasis on character and the problem of a refugee culture. The menace of the Cylons is a foil, a backdrop for the story rather than the story itself. The Doctor's guilt being compensated for by his ego and sense of grandeur, the politics (that Richard Hatch's revolutionary is right to a certain degree is a sign of sophisticated writing). Knowing a character is a cylon without her knowing it-having information the characters don't have plays well for dramatic irony. (something they also played well with Starbuck admiting she passed Adoma's son without him being qualified...gave me chills) If nothing else, it's sci-fi with an emphasis on complex, problematised characters-which is when sci-fi excels.

So, uh, yeah, I like the new show...

Woah. That was cool.

I can't wait until Halo and the Boomer that's with him meet up with Starbuck, go back to Galactica, and the havoc having two Boomers is going to cause...

Woah. That was cool.

I can't wait until Halo and the Boomer that's with him meet up with Starbuck, go back to Galactica, and the havoc having two Boomers is going to cause...
I though they had already met and had had a fight with the Cylons? Wasn't that how the series ended?

I though they had already met and had had a fight with the Cylons? Wasn't that how the series ended?

I'm watching on Sci-Fi in the US. There is still one more new episode left (season finale).