The Long Road

09/26/2005 Archived Entry: "Some thoughts on Galactica"

Here there be spoiles. Albeit, minor ones.

I feel absolutely compelled to write about Galactica after the mid-season finale. Best show on TV! (after Lost). One of the things that impressed me the most about this series is that between season 1 and 2, they were able to pinpoint a lot of the things that I thought weren’t working and jettisoned them. Stuff like Dr. Baltar’s sexual fantasies, or the crew’s constant paranoia of every new character turning out to be a Cylon. These two points were very repetitive in the first season and distracted greatly from the overall plot and themes of the series. The changes that came with season two were most welcomed.

The most unique aspect of BSG is the way it handles space flight and combat. The ships really manage to convey a sense of weightlessness and frictionlessness in the way they move. Star Trek/Wars dogfights have always looked like modern aerial combat but with black backgrounds and laser weapons. BSG transcends that legacy and gives such a unique look and feel that it’s hard to imagine why no one has done it like this before.

For all its spectacular effects, the true strength in Galactica is its human drama. It’s so good that I didn’t realize we went something like 10 episodes without seeing a big fight until I realized it.

The only thing that irritates me about BSG is that certain issues tend to get forgotten all too quickly. Two major ones being, first, that Dr. Baltar is supposed to be testing for Cylons and pretty much knows who is and isn’t one. He was given the parts for one of the only nuclear warheads left on Galactica to run his tests, yet somehow the commander has conveniently forgotten this really important work that was suppose to be happening? Secondly, insubordination and downright mutiny just gets forgiven without so much as a slap on the wrist! The President undermines the military and instigates all kinds of damage for some insane religious quest yet never has to face the consequences of her actions. She needs to get it!

Between BSG, Lost, and the removal of Enterprise’s desecration to the Star Trek name, it’s a great time to be a fan of science-fiction.

Replies: 2 comments

No one seems to care enough about Galactica...they didn't market it well enough perhaps?

Time for a new post...;)

Posted by dAN @ 10/01/2005 08:53 PM EST

too lazy to post this week =(

Posted by Rayne @ 10/02/2005 03:20 PM EST