Battlestar Galactica

I watched regularly the original Battlestar Galactica and I liked it when I was a teen, but it was not one of my favorites. Nevertheless I didn't like the idea of a remake, in general I don't like the idea of remake at all, it's typical of Hollywood to be willing to film something again, to adapt it to current taste, or moral. But why do you have to do it? Would be like re-writing Moby Dick every 20 years to adapt it to changes of the readers. It's ridiculous, be imaginative and film something new.

So, I watched the first episode of this new Battlestar Galattica with more than prejudice, I was pretty sure I would have not liked it. I actually watched the making of, before to watch the very first episode, and I listen to the producer Ronald Moore and I didn't like him either, I thought he was phony.

That's why while I was watching the first two episodes (the pilot), I found myself with mouth open thinking... Gawd... He just know how to write. He really does.

It's not without flaws, of course, as life is... But Ronald Moore just really know his job; this new Battlestar Galactica is terrific. The stories are so well written, few of the actors are unbelievable. Edward James Olmos is gorgeous. And all the cast is extremely good.

Let me just spend a word for Starbuck, maybe Katee Sackhoff is a kid, but she's obviously talented, and she just fit the role like a glove.

The casting is terrific, the stories are... The acting is...

You will just forgive what you will not like, because, overall, this is a terrific show.

I came across this show in lockdown and assumed it was the old one from the 70s. When I saw 73 episodes I laughed, and thought I'd watch just one or two. Turns out 73 was not enough...

This series is comprised of all the things I love. Sci fi, social policy, politics, action, adventure, great characters.

Take a bunch of people and strand them in space. They will need over time to create a society. That society will need to be governed. By whom? What rules will they put in place and why? Will it be democratic? Which of the historic structures will they choose to keep and which will they discard? What about workers rights and unions? Prisons? These are all topics carefully considered, but against a backdrop of exciting space action. I can't recommend it highly enough.

What a brilliant reboot, I must say I totally enjoyed the new series, the whole series has been given a revamp , and everything has been written well to tie in with the cylons from the original series, you will see later on ,which for me works very well , Starbuck is now a women , but if you can get your head round that then don't let that deter you from watching the updated series , I felt the series itself had really well thought out story lines and plots worked well and kept you wondering and guessing and thinking through out the whole series and seasons, for me. I found it to be better than the original 1970s version but that just my view anyway.

Battlestar Galactica is so beautifully written and acted that it takes you into their world in such a great way. I never saw the original version from the 70's because it was before I was born but I can't imagine it being as good as this. The special effects aren't very good but it doesn't matter because that's not what makes a good show anyway. It's the writing and acting and that's as good as these reviews here have said. Just look at these reviews, 90% of them are positive. It has 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 8.7 here, making it one of the highest rated sci-fi shows on IMDB. The story is consistently moving forward and never feels like there's any filler episodes. This show contains real social, political and religious issues and does it in such an entertaining way. I binged through this series as fast as I could and when it was over I wanted more.

Before I proceed, I'll just add a quick comment for those slating the series without seeing it: please, stop it. Instead, wait and see what the new show is about and give it a chance. Unless of course, you want to miss one of the best dramas currently airing...

BSG is a very human story. Yet unlike Star Trek, they're not resolved by the end of the episode. Here the characters are real people who make mistakes, grow and learn from their errors. Or maybe they don't...

The point is that in the new BSG, the impact of the loss of the Colonies is something everybody must deal with, be it on a resource-management level to dealing with the loss of their families. The impact of the Cylon attack - never explored in the original series - is a major emphasis in the show and the viewer genuinely does get the feeling of the "rag tag fleet."

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the original series as much as anybody, but it was a product of its time and audience-slot. The new BSG is a much more adult production, both in terms of the writing and performances and the intended audience.

Additionally, the show is very non-sci-fi, but in a good way. Whenever any "science" turns up, it's integrated in such a way as to have minimal impact on the plot and, unlike Star Trek, it isn't used as a Deus Ex Machina to simply resolve the "crisis of the week." In fact, I'd go as far as to say the show is closer to 24 or The West Wing than it is Star Trek or Babylon 5, with the focus being much more on the people and their individual actions, rather than a wide-scale "space opera."

Performances are all strong, with James Callis being the real star. His tortured performance as the guilt-stricken Baltar are a joy to watch as he flips from near-hysterical lunatic to scheming toad to smooth womaniser. Olmos has the presence to give Adama the air of authority required. Sackhoff's performance as Starbuck is "subtly obvious" - she plays the brash, cocky pilot a little too well, something that's explained in later episodes. And Bamber's Apollo is a mix of heroic action and self-doubt which balances well. Mention must also go to McDonnell's President Roslin who, over the course of the series, has grown in stature and presence in a very subtle manner.

Quite simply, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most consistently strong shows I've ever seen. Considering this is only the first of (hopefully) many seasons, it's amazing to see how the show has "hit the ground running," with each episode being an improvement on the last. And considering the high standard of the first one, that's quite the achievement.

Watch it. You won't be disappointed.