Battlestar Galactica...

[Neon_Chaos]

...how come I never watched this show before?

My friend sat me down last weekend and brought his Galactica mini-series DVD. I was hooked since then.

I finished Season 1 through this week, and am just through the first 3 episodes of Season 2. The Season 3 DVD is also waiting for me.

I mean, wow, just wow. It's frakking excellent. It's up there with the best TV series I've seen so far.

[samifan24]

I think too many people immediately discredit BSG because they know it is a sci-fi series and they, probably, "don't watch sci-fi." What they find, though, is that the show is an outstanding drama which just happens to be set in space.

[KWhit]

Yes, great show.

[RendeR]

Welcome to the fan club =) I've loved this show since day 1. You will find a bit of a let down in season 3, its not on par with 1 and 2, but just wait for season 4, holy shit, it blows the rest out of the water.

Awesome awesome show.

[Neon_Chaos]

I think too many people immediately discredit BSG because they know it is a sci-fi series and they, probably, "don't watch sci-fi." What they find, though, is that the show is an outstanding drama which just happens to be set in space.

I have to chalk myself in as one of those people. I do watch Sci-Fi shows, and they usually end up being too sci-fi.

BSG's plot has been amazing so far. I actually teared up when Starbuck returned on board a Cylon raider and used a STAR BUCK sign to tell Apollo that it was her.

[DanGarion]

I just started watching this, this week since I've been home sick with strep throat... WOW. I'm through the mini series and Ep5 of the 1st season.

[Barkeep49]

Just wait. The best moments are yet to come.

[chinaski]

so say we all!

[RendeR]

SO SAY WE ALL!

[Neon_Chaos]

SO... SAY... WE ALL!

SO... SAY... WE ALL!
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

[Kodos]

Frakkin' toasters. Kill 'em all and let the Gods sort them out.

[Greyroofoo]

I liked the first season, however trying to get through the 2nd season was painful for me.

[RendeR]

The second season was the weakest of the 4, season 3 brought back much needed depth and excitement, season 4 will blow yer mind.

[Barkeep49]

Season 4 did not blow my mind, but otherwise I pretty much agree with what RendeR said.

[Neon_Chaos]

I actually thought the weakest part of the entire series would be the middle 8 episodes of Season 3, full of stand-alone episodes.
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Just saw this series is coming out on Blu-ray. Tons of extras. Probably have to pick this up.

[DanGarion]

I'm 1/2 way through season 2 now. I'm still a bit cloudy on the agents, but I think I sort of have them made out.

[DanGarion]

In to season 4, 3 eppys in, the Chief's wife just got killed.

[Glengoyne]

I couldn't take season two. I tried the next season, but completely lost interest when Starbuck ....I apparently don't know how to spoiler something...

[Coffee Warlord]

Speaking of, did anyone catch "The Plan" over the weekend?

Was not too shabby.

[Thomkal]

I just wasn't interested in "The Plan" or the upcoming Caprica. Knowing how Battlestar Galactica ended, just don't have any desire to watch more stories from that universe.

[Galaril]

Speaking of, did anyone catch "The Plan" over the weekend?

Was not too shabby.

Yes, I liked the additional info.

[DanGarion]

Well I finished. The end was sort of a letdown. It's like they just kind of copped out at the end.

[DaddyTorgo]

Yes, I liked the additional info.

agreed. even as someone who never really got into the show - the plan was cool

[Neon_Chaos]

Well I finished. The end was sort of a letdown. It's like they just kind of copped out at the end.

I would like to remember the show ending right after the final jump. That would've been just perfect for me.

[DanGarion]

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ovg42Sxsx-c&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ovg42Sxsx-c&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

[saldana]

picture no-worky there Dan.

[DanGarion]

It's a youtube video. I just tested it, seems to work.

[saldana]

gah...probably because i am at work then. my bad

[RainMaker]

I just finished season 2 of this show on Netflix and it's incredible. One of the greatest shows I've ever seen. Never seen this kind of writing for a sci-fi show ever.

[Groundhog]

You know what, I watched and loved season 1 back when it was first on TV, but I still haven't seen season 2 or beyond.

I still say that the best sci-fi TV I've seen was peak-Tennant Doctor Who though.

[RainMaker]

The end of season 2 was incredible. It's all on Netflix Instant too.

[Groundhog]

The end of season 2 was incredible. It's all on Netflix Instant too.

Ahhh Netflix, if only they serviced Australia.... :(

[tarcone]

A friend from work suggested I watch this. Now that im on Summer break, and after reading this thread. I will start a marathon tonight.

[Groundhog]

A friend from work suggested I watch this. Now that im on Summer break, and after reading this thread. I will start a marathon tonight.

Make sure you get your hands on the first "episode", which was IIRC actually a TV movie.

[tarcone]

Is the "first" episode the movie from 2004 and then the series starts in 1978?

[Groundhog]

Is the "first" episode the movie from 2004 and then the series starts in 1978?

Nope, the movie from 2004 is the first episode, and the series from 1978 is the original series, not the one being discussed in this thread.

[tarcone]

Cool. Thanks for the response. I see that now on netflix. No sleep tonight I guess. :)

[Kodos]

Great show. Enjoy!

[tarcone]

Stayed up until 4 am watching the 1st couple episodes. Great stuff so far. I even watched it through the earthquake we had last night.

[JediKooter]

There can be only one BSG and that's the original.

[Honolulu_Blue]

As much as I love sci-fi and really enjoyed certain episodes of this show, I never really liked it enough to finish it. There were some brilliant moments and no TV show or movie has ever done a good a job with spaceship tactics and combat as BSG. I loved it whenever they got involved in that stuff.

Sadly, I just didn't really get into any of the characters that much and found too many aspects of the show to be irritating and/or annoying to finish. I think I stopped watching somewhere in Season 3.

[JediKooter]

The first few episodes of the new version weren't bad and then it just jumped off a cliff into absurdness.

[tarcone]

Both franchises are on netflix instant streaming. I will have to do a comparison.

[Kodos]

There can be only one BSG and that's the original.

The first few episodes of the new version weren't bad and then it just jumped off a cliff into absurdness.

Because the original was such a paragon of non-absurdness?

[Glengoyne]

Because the original was such a paragon of non-absurdness?

The original was absurd in a whole different manner. Campy and cute are different than the bizarre plot turns and ventures into social commentary that the second indulged in.

[JediKooter]

Because the original was such a paragon of non-absurdness?

The original was a bit campy, but, it didn't turn everyone into a Cylon. I still enjoy the original series. Yes, there's some youthful sentimentality to it, but, I still think it's better than the new version.

Didn't really enjoy that the Cylons were basically just Terminators in the new series. I just liked how in the original series, all the Cylons were machines and machines only, no human ambiguity about them at all. The hallucinating Baltar was irritating as well.

I loved how the new version started, very well done. Unfortunately, it just limped along the rest of the way after the first few episodes.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Unfortunately, it just limped along the rest of the way after the first few episodes.

How long did you watch?

[JediKooter]

I made it through the first season and then lost interest after, I think, the first two or three episodes of the second season. It was along time ago, so, my numbers may be off a bit.

I would tune in now and then to see if it got any better and it didn't appear to, so I completely gave up on it.

EDIT: Oh and another thing that irritated me about the series was the MTV camera angles they would use and the completely over use of zooming during space battles.

[tarcone]

A couple issues I have.

Why didnt the Cylons mass produce their cyborgs and make millions of them that looked different? Why just 5 different types? Wouldnt that have been a better way to destroy humanity?

And why arent the Cylons light years ahead of the humans technologically? 40 years is a long time. Wouldnt the cylons have better weapons then nukes?

And I wish I had a blonde implanted in my brain. ;)

[Bad-example]

The hallucinating Baltar was irritating as well.

Had you stuck with it, you would've realized...
...he wasn't hallucinating. God sent an angel to guide him.

[ISiddiqui]

I just liked how in the original series, all the Cylons were machines and machines only, no human ambiguity about them at all.

Of course that makes it less intriguing and more black and white. I guess some people like that sort of thing..

[JediKooter]

Had you stuck with it, you would've realized...
...he wasn't hallucinating. God sent an angel to guide him.

Not sure what season that was revealed, but, I think (for me at least) it would have worked better if they had shown that much sooner.

I liked the updated SFX. I loved Edward James Olmos' version of Adama. I liked the new Starbuck.

[Neon_Chaos]

A couple issues I have.

Why didnt the Cylons mass produce their cyborgs and make millions of them that looked different? Why just 5 different types? Wouldnt that have been a better way to destroy humanity?

And why arent the Cylons light years ahead of the humans technologically? 40 years is a long time. Wouldnt the cylons have better weapons then nukes?

And I wish I had a blonde implanted in my brain. ;)

For your first question, it was answered in the series. And the answer is a wee bit complicated. Did you finish the entire thing?

[Neon_Chaos]

Not sure what season that was revealed, but, I think (for me at least) it would have worked better if they had shown that much sooner.

I liked the updated SFX. I loved Edward James Olmos' version of Adama. I liked the new Starbuck.

It was the series finale, in fact, one of the very last scenes.

[JediKooter]

Of course that makes it less intriguing and more black and white. I guess some people like that sort of thing..

That's just it. It was all about the humans struggle to get to Earth. There was some moral stories thrown into the original; racism, hope, betrayal, etc.., but, it never got away from good guys vs bad guys and didn't blur it to where you couldn't figure out who was who or what. That got old after a while in the new version.

One of the best episodes of the new series was the one where they were trying to find fuel and had to time their jumps. That was a good episode. I think it was the first season.

[JediKooter]

It was the series finale, in fact, one of the very last scenes.

That to me, screams, "We need to figure out a way to tie up all these loose ends and can't think of anything else".

Kind of like Bobby Ewing waking up from a dream in Dallas.

[scooter]

That's just it. It was all about the humans struggle to get to Earth. There was some moral stories thrown into the original; racism, hope, betrayal, etc.., but, it never got away from good guys vs bad guys and didn't blur it to where you couldn't figure out who was who or what. That got old after a while in the new version.

But that is the whole point - nobody is purely good or evil. We all live in a grey area between those two extremes. Yes, a lot of television and movies present characters that are purely good or evil, but that just isn't how life is. I thought BSG felt more "human" because things were grey and ambiguous. But I can also respect those that don't enjoy their entertainment to be too "real" as well.

That being said, I enjoyed the earlier episodes more than the later ones. The later ones seemed to become much darker-themed. My wife and I just finished watching Caprica 1.0 and 1.5 and you could tell that they were made after BSG because they continued that darkness right on through to the end.

[DanGarion]

The first 2 seasons of BSG were amazing, the rest were ok. I loved the series as a whole, and look forward to watching it again in a couple years.

[JediKooter]

But that is the whole point - nobody is purely good or evil. We all live in a grey area between those two extremes. Yes, a lot of television and movies present characters that are purely good or evil, but that just isn't how life is. I thought BSG felt more "human" because things were grey and ambiguous. But I can also respect those that don't enjoy their entertainment to be too "real" as well.

Totally with you on this and definitely understand it. I just don't think it worked all that well with this series is all. I think maybe if it wasn't a reboot, it would have worked better. Just me though. :)

That being said, I enjoyed the earlier episodes more than the later ones. The later ones seemed to become much darker-themed. My wife and I just finished watching Caprica 1.0 and 1.5 and you could tell that they were made after BSG because they continued that darkness right on through to the end.

Aye yi yi. Caprica... :D

[tarcone]

For your first question, it was answered in the series. And the answer is a wee bit complicated. Did you finish the entire thing?

Yes I will finish the whole thing. After I posted, I figured the questions would be answered.

Im about to start episode 3. Another late night ahead.

[RainMaker]

I just finished Exodus 1 & 2 in the 3rd season. Two incredible episodes. This show has scenes that are just magnicient and like mentioned earlier, there is no black and white.

The scene that got me was when they were all being reunited. Adama is happy to see Colonel Tigh back on board. Tigh is just numb, he tells him they weren't able to save them all. The crowd lifts up Adama as the music kicks in. Everyone is celebrating as you see Starbuck can't come to terms with life and is overwhelmed, Tigh walks away like a man who is just broken, and Gaeta is there just unsure where he fits in anymore. It's an incredible scene that takes a joyous moment and puts a dark spin on it. The music is perfect, the camerawork is perfect. You just don't see that from TV shows.

[Neon_Chaos]

I just finished Exodus 1 & 2 in the 3rd season. Two incredible episodes. This show has scenes that are just magnicient and like mentioned earlier, there is no black and white.

The scene that got me was when they were all being reunited. Adama is happy to see Colonel Tigh back on board. Tigh is just numb, he tells him they weren't able to save them all. The crowd lifts up Adama as the music kicks in. Everyone is celebrating as you see Starbuck can't come to terms with life and is overwhelmed, Tigh walks away like a man who is just broken, and Gaeta is there just unsure where he fits in anymore. It's an incredible scene that takes a joyous moment and puts a dark spin on it. The music is perfect, the camerawork is perfect. You just don't see that from TV shows.


The scene where Galactica jumps into New Caprica's atmosphere in order to launch Vipers and then jump back out into space was awesome.

On the other hand, fat Apollo was NOT awesome.

[RainMaker]

I just finished this after a marathon session. What an incredible show. I agree that Season 3 got a little off, but it had some of the best episodes mixed into the bunch.

The Finale was OK. I thought it was a little lazy to just say "God must have done all this". Having more in-depth on who the God is, where he came from, etc would have been a bigger payoff to me. I just hate when shows build up all these mysteries and have a shitty way of explaining them in the end.

In any event, one of the best shows I've ever seen.

[RendeR]

I admit it. I still tear up bigtime as the old theme song plays and the old broken girl heads off with the fleet into the sun at the end.

[tarcone]

Im half way thorough season 2. It has lost my interest in this section. But I will admit, the egasus run was very good. I kept saying "I have to watch one more." It was 3 in the morning when I went to bed.

Get them off New Caprica and lets find Earth for goodness sakes.

[Edward64]

I liked the series but don't think I can watch it all over again.

Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (Blu-ray) $95 + Free Shipping - Amazon.com Deals, Coupons and Promos (http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/64230/amazon.com-battlestar-galactica-the-complete-series-bluray?#comments)
Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (Blu-ray) $95 + Free Shipping

I guess I lied. I bought the Blu-ray from Amazon UK at a great price. I found and re-read the BSG storyline and started with the last season first ... which I just finished. Planning on watching the entire series again.

[RainMaker]

$80 for the non-blue ray. Not a bad deal at all.

[RendeR]

I want this SOOO bad

[Alan T]

Not sure if anyone had been interested, but the first six webisodes of Battlestar Galactica Blood & Chrome are up. First one is here:

"Episode 1" - Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT79x4qM4FE)

For those that don't want to watch the weekly webisodes, the full 2 hours I believe is supposed to be aired by Syfy some time next February

[Alan T]

Have been re-watching through the entire Battlestar Galactica (2005) tv series again in spare time the last few weeks. Just got through watching the episode Exodus again...

The ending of this episode is probably one of my top 10 all time favorite moments in tv ever. The feelings of emotion that I get while watching the contrast between everyone's excitement at being saved compared to Saul's overwhelming sadness of his loss and what he had to do to make sure they all survived is just potent.