New Battlestar Galactica Discussion (spoilers!)

[Jan]

Since there's been some thread drift but no real discussion thread for the new BSG recently, I thought I'd start this one.

Love it? Hate it?

I like it a lot. I could wish there was a little more humor to break up the intensity sometimes but I like it and think it just may end up as good as B5. The jury's still out, though, because I'm not terribly emotionally invested in any of the characters so far except Adama. Pretty much all of the performances are really strong, though.

Sometimes I wish Baltar would get a grip, too. I mean is he totally unaware of when he's acting like a lunatic in public??

Just a couple of cents to get things rolling.

Jan

[Ranger1]

I love this show just LOVE IT!!! when i saw the mini series i was going like "please make it to a series" which they did,and its going strong as we are on season two right now.

-Baltar is one of my favorite character,so stupid-genius that you can't not love that guy,there is so much about him that we still don't know SH** about,at times i feel sorry for him.

-Adama Kicks ass,but i always found Edward James Olmosto be one of those "elite" actors out there,so that didn't came as a surprise.

-As i stated on that earlier topic i had some problems with Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff),i didn't like her at all on the mini-series,took me two episodes from the first season to complete change my mind about her,I LOVE HER.

-Apollo rocks,what started to be as a "a casual hero" turned out to be much more complicated.

-Number Six (Tricia Helfer)...well what guy wouldn't love her?..and on top of that,BSG is her first acting job...she is an amazing actress.

-Mary McDonnell who plays the president is also one of those very special "elite" actress out there,can't go wrong with her.

I haven't found anyone on this show that i didn't love his\her acting,its superb!

And no one even need to start on the special effects....they are just amazing.

Season 1 on DVD (the real deal,not that cheap ass DVD that its out right now) will be out on 9/20/2005 which include the mini-series which i found to be very cool:
* Commentary Tracks:
o Feature Commentary on "The Mini-Series" with Director Michael Rymer and Executive Producers David Eick and Ron Moore
o "Pilot" Commentary with Director Michael Rymer and Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore
o "Bastille Day" Episode Commentary with Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore
o "Act of Contrition" Episode Commentary with Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore
o "You Can't Go Home Again" Episode Commentary with Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore
o "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
o "The Hand of God" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
o "Colonial Day" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
o "Kobol's Last Gleaming: Part 1" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
o "Kobol's Last Gleaming: Part 2" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald . Moore
* Behind the Scenes
* Deleted Scenes
* Battlestar Galactica Series Lowdown
* Sketches and Art

[Jan]

-Number Six (Tricia Helfer)...well what guy wouldn't love her?..and on top of that,BSG is her first acting job...she is an amazing actress.

Actually...she was also in the Jeremiah pilot as Sarah James, who did 'newcomer integration and orientation'.

Every time I see #6 being particularly provacative I have to laugh at the MGM executive whom JMS said told the Jeremiah casting director:

Emblematic of some of the studio's notions is a call made by the studio to my
casting director, stating -- of the paucity of babes -- "I don't care if she
can act, I want her cute."

Jan

[Ranger1]

Weird,i remember seeing some behind the scene footage,and they were saying that this series is her first acting job....oh well...

[Jan]

Weird,i remember seeing some behind the scene footage,and they were saying that this series is her first acting job....oh well...

Well it's definitely her first role as a major character. I think a lot of credit should be given BSG for the ensemble they've put together.

One thing I think is interesting is the change that's come over Richard Hatch (original Apollo) regarding the show. I'd seen him at a con just after the reimagining was announced and he was bitter and angry because he'd fought so hard and so long for his 'next generation' idea. When I saw him at Wizard World Philly it was like night and day. He still thinks his idea had merit, of course, but he's learned that this one is a valid approach and he's very complimentary about the writing and the cast and crew. It was a nice change.

Jan

[Hunter]

The latest episode, "Valley of Darkness" was a fine piece of work, but a little jumbled. Watching it from start to finish, it just seems disjointed. However, when examining each scene individually, it excels as BSG does. And the music in that drowning scene... ROCKS

[AaronB]

Kara's Ride

SpooRancher,

I was going to reply in the H8n HP thread but our wonderful moderator (who looks stunning in purple) created this thread.

Ron Moore addresses your issue with Kara's vehicle in his podcast for the episode. Here is a loose transcript that I found on another message board:

>>>>>
At some point we had to decide, do they have cars on Caprica? Well, it is a sister world to ours, but what's a car gonna look like? Is it just gonna be just a Ford or something? There was lots of discussion, but finally we said, "You know what? Whatever." She's got a car, let's give her something tough, and a car I like, so we went for a Humvee kind of vehicle, and just went for it. Because it just became too tedious and annoying to try and come up with the futuristic car. "It's a Caprica car, it's not a recognizable car." Who cares. This feels like something Kara would drive.
<<<<<

From what I hear listening to the podcasts are pretty neat although I have not done so yet. Hopefully I'll do that this week.

[Laiden]

Loving the series myself! As for people questioning Tricias Acting career, she also played Farrah Fawcett in the NBC TV-movie along side of Ben Browder.

I agree there should be more humor, the most recent thing I found funny was the line "bitch took my ride" from Starbuck. I also am now watching these 'arc' TV series and ask, "will there ever be a resolve?" Sure the main problem for the episode is resolved, but what about the main plot . . . I feel strung along so far I'm stopped and asked myself that question. at least with B5 one problem ended and a new one began, but here, there are 5 things going on and I've been waiting for some kind of resolve since last season.

Moore says we wont have ALL the answers till episode 7, but I wonder how much of that is truly resolving plots, or more like answering the questions, bringing everyone together and just cause more of the same plots to expand into more conflicts.

Overall, I love it. The "no resolve" is obviously what keeps me watching it, but I think there could be a bit more something added to make the audience satisfied to come back instead of watching each episode, hoping for a big slice of the cake and instead getting a taste of the frosting, leaving the audience (namely me) cursing at the television . . . which isnt entirely a bad thing mind you

Even if I curse and swear at the television, I still come back next week to watch.

Laiden

[kipron]

It's a fun show.

I love that it's more of a character drama than your typical space-adventure series. The characters are deeply flawed, but that makes them all the more relateable.

I also think BSG is a very psychological show. It explores the depths of humankinds most primal dilemmas, such as paranoia, fear, and self-destruction (sometimes even evoking these feelings in the audience!). Thankfully, this darkness is balanced by equally compelling explorations of hope, friendship and love.

I like that there are no superfluous space battles and no "alien foreheads the week." The writers seem utterly committed to maintaining a high level of realism (at least within the context of the BSG universe), and so it's very easy to get drawn in.

One particularly clever aspect to BSG is that the aesthetics are very similar to our own world. Not only does this save money, but it also means that the writers can show us much more of the BSG universe. Heck, the last episode had a humvee! Not exactly a space-age vehicle, and yet it works perfectly.

But most importantly, it's clear that the writers actually CARE. That's very rare these days. I don't know whether Ronald D. Moore will succeed in fulfilling his vision (whatever it is), but either way, the journey is definately worthwhile.

[Laiden]

What I really love about this series . . . is the Music! it draws me into the episode so well . . . *starts humming*

[SpooRancher]

Just send Roger Moore a couple ten millions to budget for new concept car design and one-time manufacture for a less-than-ten second shot. I'm sure they'll change things so reality never intrudes again on your imaginative bliss.

I mean really. Have the stones to just meet a show halfway, willya? Gimme a freakin' break..

Hey, it has been my ONLY complaint about the new show, and as I said, it was a small one at that.

Otherwise, it frakkin rocks!

[Darth_librarian]

The hummer thing got to me too, but like the clothes and Piano, its all part of the the idea of a paralell civilisation, and also a concious attempt on the part of the producers to create off-world sci-fi that is readily identifiable for a mass audience. I think they just about pulled it off.

I also love this show so much its not even funny. I hope sci-fi does nothing silly like cancel it.

The upcoming Battlestar Pegasus storyline also sounds great!

[Radhil]

I also love this show so much its not even funny. I hope sci-fi does nothing silly like cancel it.

They can't and/or won't. BSG has been passing Stargate in ratings consistently - at least it was the first season - and Stargate has been the bread-and-butter flagship show of Sci Fi for years. Not to mention the best critical press money can buy.

Unless there's a creative catastrophe - judging by the events of the last episode, a lot more action lately overall without killing plot and character in the slightest, that ain't happenin' - expect Season 3 at minimum.

[AaronB]

Episode 203 - Fragged

I was disappointed in last Friday's episode, and I have to say that it was the first time I was disappointed by an episode of BSG? I guess this proves you can't hit a home run every time at bat.

What did everyone else think?

[Radhil]

*** mad spoilers ***

I actually just watched it today (Lords of Tivo, hear my prayer), and was far from disappointed. We are seeing a lot more of the kill-all variety of Cylons. Let's face it - last season they were little more than ships that popped in a couple times to say "Boo", and a couple of sleeper agents. Good drama, but less tension. Now they're turning the screws. In the midst of all that is the personal moments - the ultimate breakdown of the leader of the Kobol survivors, Lauren keeping the appearance of her sanity by a thread and a pill jar, Tigh losing all control even as he thinks he's enforcing control. This is all the good stuff.

Two threads on the backburner to be sure - Sharon MkI, Sharon MkII, Helo, Starbuck. But the concentration on the rest paid off I think.

The only thing I'm really concerned about is how quickly Tigh devolved. Show time, it can't have been much more than 24 hours since the end of last season.