
During my junior year of high school the original Battlestar Galactica debuted on ABC in 1978. I quickly fell in love with the show and was dismayed when it was cancelled after only a year. Over the years I hoped that the original show would be revived and kept up with news of the various attempts of Richard 'Apollo' Hatch to do just that.
In 2003 a 'reimagined' version written by veteran Star Trek writer Ron Moore debuted as a miniseries. It had some radical changes to the basic story. The Thousand Year War between the Cylons and humans was shortened to 40 years. The robot Cylons were now creations of humanity that rebelled and nearly destroyed their masters, not an alien race. To throw another curve ball into the mix the Cylons not only have 12 humanoid models, they don't die. Their consciousnesses are downloaded and they wake up in somewhere else in a resurrection chamber.
The Galactica was about to be decommissioned and serve as a museum. Even some familiar characters like Colonel Tigh, Commander Adama, Starbuck and Boomer changed race and in some cases gender. In Boomer's case, she was revealed to be a Cylon sleeper agent. They also gave all those characters first names.

When the Pegasus appeared in this version of Battlestar it was commanded by Admiral Helena Cain. Even Baltar's character underwent changes. Instead of crassly selling out the human race for his own personal gain and getting double crossed by the Cylons, Gaius Baltar is a scientific genius who couldn't keep his pants on. He lets his girlfriend poke around the Colonial Fleet mainframe and submits a command navigation program she wrote to the fleet. Unfortunately for humanity Baltar's girlfriend (Number 6)is a Cylon. The algorithm program she wrote contains a backdoor that the Cylons use to cripple Colonial defenses for the surprise Cylon nuclear attack on the Colonies and the Fleet.



One of the things I constantly complain about besides my outright hatred and refusal to watch 'reality shows' is the lack of good writing in the non-reality TV shows that are currently being broadcast.
This version of Battlestar delivers the goods. I fell in love with it. The writing is first rate and they always keep you guessing in terms of the plot. The various episodes cover issues that seem as though they were ripped fresh from the headlines. It's fascinating to see a world similar to ours in which they have this space travel technology far in excess of our own, but yet haven't found a cure for cancer. It's interesting that they use projectile weapons and guns instead of lasers to fight battles.
This Battlestar is one of the highest rated show on Sci-Fi and has garnered several awards over the past two seasons. There have been rumors over the years since Richard Hatch joined the cast to play Tom Zarek that other original BSG actors would either be doing the same or come onboard to do guest appearances.

Season 3 picks up where it left off January 21. I'll be tuned in. Until then I'll be watching my collection of Battlestar DVD's trying to figure out what the Cylon Plan is.
1 comment:
Frakking awesome is right! I boycotted early on myself, because it was just too far away from what was, and I was having problems with how they were shooting it, similar casting issues, and a whole bunch more. Skin Jobs? Damn, that was just wrong.
Then I fell, and fell hard. The writing was so amazing! The plots, subplots, there was just so much there. I was hooked.
When we were both in school, one of my closest friends was a Cylon sympathizer, and me I hated them. Now, he laugh's because I'm something of a Toaster lover too. There is so much there, and they (all of them) don't see how much alike they all are.
It's developed so far beyond what the original was. I was, and remain pissed they killed it. Bastards...
So I'm with you. Tighe as a white guy? WTFOver??? So wrong. Starbuck a girl? Felgercarb!
But you know, I've grown past all that, and love the new version more than the old one. The Character development, plots, subplots, lives of everyone involved. Admiral Cain in love with and sleeping with a Six in plain view of the entire crew? Oh god, Gina. By Kobol's light I know why she embraced the bomb, I nearly did the same thing when I was in the same position a bunch of years back when My now late husband destroyed me and threw me away like so much garbage, and then hunted me.
"But I grew strong, I learned how to get along..."
Built myself a whole new life. A better one, brighter one, more color, more light, more life.
Yeah Frakking awesome is right!
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