I was really impressed with tonight’s episode where Starbuck and other Viper pilots are trying to nail the ace Cylon raider. Nothing like a good war episode. I just thought the whole thing was well done, the acting, the mood etc.
Dave
I concur. The acting is first rate, and the grittiness of the personal conflicts is what makes a great series. I just wish it would get some kind of award that would push it to for-front of pop culture.
Good call!
It almost reminded me of an episode of Space:Above and Beyond where fighters were being picked off by “Chiggy Von Richtoven”. But still another great episode.
Space: Above and Beyond – haven’t heard a reference to that show for awhile. [:)]
I have to say that Battlestar Galactica isn’t your feel good sci-fi series. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but in that it’s definitely gritty and does a great job in making the characters realistic. These characters really have some personal issues they’re dealing with. Not something to watch if you’re depressed and looking for a pick me up. [;)]
the original was a more pick you up with lorne greene
I have to say I was a little disappointed in the latest episode of Galactica-didn’t expand the storyline at all for me and the personal struggle between starbuck and the other pilot wasn’t interesting to me at all.
You guys were right about the Space Above and Beyond episode resemblance-makes you wonder if they’re using writers from that show. That SAB episode was resolved much better as well. Loved when the disabled Colonel took out the alien “Red Baron” to keep any more of his rookie pilots from getting killed. Galactica solved it with a lucky shot…
I’m a big fan of the original Galactica series in the 70’s. (Yeah, I’m old, so what ? [:D]) It took me quite awhile to get used to the new Galactica. It was hard to accept Starbuck as a woman and the characters losing that “swashbuckling” attitude. And I really don’t care for the Cylons taking on human form. I guess I just enjoy definitive lines between the good guys and the bad guys. I also would have enjoyed it more if they made the new series a continuation of the original series instead of it being the same situation, but different. (Did the original series ever find Earth ? I can’t remember.)
That being said, the new Galactica series is really an interesting show if judged on it’s own merit. The acting is very good and you can enjoy the stories of you don’t try and draw lines to the original series. Much like fans of the original Star Trek series had to do when Star Trek: The Next Generation came out. Fans had to switch gears between the swashbuckling Kirk to the cerebral Picard. In short, if you were not a fan of the original series, or too young to remember it, you are more apt to really like the new series. Old die hards like myself need time to adjust. [;)]
Ted
Yeah, that little disaster was a follow-up series called Galactica: 1980. They found earth and all the magic left the show.
Didn’t work for me…
I am kind of on the so-so side of for it or against it. I like the old BG for it was a great sci-fi to watch growing up. The new one is very good also. There is a lot new age thinking here where the cylons evolved quicker than the humans did. The only thing that gets me is that they sticking pretty close to the original story except with Dr. Baltar. There is only one person that seems to know that he is hiding something from them. All the shows I have sen have been pretty good. The show where Starbuck off disobeyed orders and went back to Caprica and she is still flying well war or no war, the was a court-martial offense. Also, I feel if they are running for their life, there would be martial law until the danger is gone. Overall the show is awesome. You just need to forget that there was an original version.
I highly recommend going here: http://www.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page hundreds of pages of discussion, revelation, and reference photos from both series.
Just remember to set a timer-- hours may vanish if you don’t! 
I was a big fan of the old BSG, but back in the 70’s the enemy in reality was more cut and dry, and that show reflected on the cold war era. The new BSG takes us to todays world, where the enemy could be among us, as for Starbuck, I was skeptical at first, but now I enjoy the charecter very much. They’ve made the charecters more"human", and less mythical. I’m just waiting for the big companies like ertl, monogram ect… to bring us a new line of products to build.[:)]
I missed the Feb 10, 2006 episode. I heard Billy died! Wasn’t expecting that. Might have to make a quick visit to iTunes.
BTW, did you all hear about Lucy Lawless joining the cast? I’m definitely looking forward to the episode “Downloaded”. And I have to be honest, but I didn’t recognize that it was Lucy Lawless playing the role of the reporter. I thought she looked familiar but couldn’t put a name to her. I keep thinking of Xena when I think of the name.
Sci Fi Wire – Lawless Joins Galactica Cast (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=2&id=34526)
Up to the referenced episode i noticed the story lines were very nearly the original series. Things just sort of jumped out at me here and there. I still prefer the original. But I won’t get into that here. I would like to see some new kits thats for sure.
Lucy Lawless was in an episode last season, she plays a cylon (who hasn’t yet been discovered as a cylon by the humans)
Between that and the final epidode of S: AAB it was definitley one of the best and most memorable.
We need more series like S:AAB, they are gritty, believable and do not necessarily spawn decades of follow-ons, allowing all of the focus and depth to go to the current moment…
Oh, I donno, Im an old crusty 80’s Sci Fi guy myself and I adapted quite well.
Friday night my butt is firmly welded to the couch. But, that is my preference to TV now: Darker, grittier and more developed with a long-term approach to a resolution, instead of the 80’s format in three acts and move to the next episode. Same thing with the A-team, I LOVEDthe show, still do, but it had the same format with no connection from one episode to the next. Guess that is what appeals tome about Anime, there is no standard “three acts to a resolution and move on” format, and it can take a LOT of episodes to explain certain plot devices.
Just the way I like it!
Yep, true, they sure have. Some of the old ships appear now and then, especially the old shuttle on the Cloud 9 and the big stock van freighter has been recreated almost panel for panel.
I do like the loss of certain catchy phrases, find that a relief!
I watched the show tonight, 3/3/06. This show just gets better and better.
Dave
I’m the same way. I grew up watching the original series and as much as I’ve tried I just can’t get into the new series. It just seems to me they ignored all the strongpoints that the original series offered that made it such a legacy. Its like they wanted to generate something totally new that shared some base elements from the old show. I would have rather seem them call the show something else and rename the characters completely. To me it would have made more sense and I’d probably enjoy the show more than I do. Space above and beyond was a great series too.