The ridiculous names used in the original series have been reduced to what appear to be nicknames or handles for the pilots, although the names are used prominently in each episode. The characters of Starbuck and Boomer have been replaced by ballsy women, strongly portrayed by Katee Sackhoff and Grace Park.
Canadian übermodel (and fellow Albertan!) Tricia Helfer is Number Six, one of twelve Cylon human models, some of which apparently don't even know they are Cylons. Six (not too far from Seven-of...never mind) spends two years seducing James Callis's Dr Baltar into revealing everything about the defense system of humanity while planting a chip in his brain, so that she appears in the flesh to him, and no one else, constantly teasing and annoying him whenever it moves her to do so. The seduction leads to the near total destruction of humanity, as the Cyclons lay waste to the twelve colonies in a swiftly executed nuclear holocaust. (I can only imagine how tough it must be for Callis, having to play a character that is constantly being smothered and suffocated by Tricia Helfer. Such a cross to bear...)
In 2005, it is expected that special effects in a show like this would be state-of-the-art, and such is the case here. What is unexpected is the darkness and grit of the show. Emphasis is placed on character and story. With survival of humanity hanging by a thread, there is never a moment in the show when you feel any ease or relief. The characters bring enormous baggage. Jamie Bamber is Apollo, Adama's son, estranged from and blaming him for the death two years earlier of his brother Zack, with which neither man has come to terms. The XO, Tigh, portrayed by Michael Hogan, is an alcoholic, and at odds with Starbuck, Zack's fiancé before his death.
Production values on the show have not been ignored. The strong fx are matched by production design and cinematography. Planet-based scenes are shot with colour filters, adding a realistic feel to images of alien territory. The docking bays, housing the fighter ships and maintenance crews, are shot in very bright light, in contrast to the command centre and various housing quarters throughout the Galactica, which are shot in darker, contrasting tones.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
All 13 episodes of the first season have already aired in Europe, and are available on the internet. While the series is slightly uneven, and one episode major plot hole in particular is galling*, I'm very glad they're coming back for another season.
* It has to do with how long it take Doc Baltar to detect a Cylon. Which is it -- a couple of minutes or a few hours? Which fits the plot, I guess!
2 - RJ
I'm interested now. Great review!
3 - Kujo
I've scene all 13 eps (via the Internet), and I have to say that it's easily one of the best sci-fi series in years. Some of the eps were un-even, is specially in the second half, but things picked up at end. Overall, it's a splended series. I love the dark, moody, atmosphere.
4 - Dave Nalle
"Light years beyond the original" is an apt description. Since the original was cringingly awful, those light years put this one in the realm of mediocre, mildly irritating B-grade science fiction. On a par with Andromeda.
Dave
5 - Carpe Bonum
Yes, it's a great series. It's a season pass in my TiVo, and I just watched "Alibi."
Thanks for the review. Nice job.
6 - chris mankey
"Light years beyond the original" is an apt description. Since the original was cringingly awful, those light years put this one in the realm of mediocre, mildly irritating B-grade science fiction. On a par with Andromeda.
Dave
No actually it's very very good. What the hell where you watching?
7 - Dave Nalle
I'm watching a remake of Battlestar Galactica without the campy elements that at least made it amusing and with a whole bunch of bad overacting and incomprehensible plotting.
Dave
8 - Chris mankey
I'm watching a remake of Battlestar Galactica without the campy elements that at least made it amusing and with a whole bunch of bad overacting and incomprehensible plotting.
Most of the acting is understated if anything! As for "incomprehensible plotting" I guess if you're not smart enough to follow along I don't know if it's incomprehensible to anybody but you.
9 - DaveR
Series 3 of BattleStar is very bad and is basically a prisoner/gorillar warfare story, very dark and disapointing. Its like the same people who ruined the Andromeda plot have done the same to Battlestar. Please learn from Andromeda and don't hire the same writers or directors. Andromeda started strong but failed from mid to end and finished in a joke of an ending...
10 - Randy Reichardt
I would disagree. I think Season 3 has advanced the story considerably, and created the opportunity for the writers to change to focus of the show to almost animal-like survival. It's a bold move, and I find the SE3 episodes to date very compelling. It's also interesting to see some chinks in the Cylon armour, so to speak. It's a great series.
11 - SciFiFan
The original BSG series is VERY GOOD. The re-imagined series to too violent. I've tried watching the series and I can't.