I was totally jazzed about the new Battlestar Galactica when it was first aired, but I didn’t trust my reaction completely. I mean, I didn’t have any complaints about it but it was so new and so full of eye candy that I wasn’t yet sure if I was just caught up in the frenzy. I’m watching the repeats now, though, in preparation of the beginning of the new series, and I stand by my initial reaction. This really pulled off what I was hoping for: a solid update of the original premise and the original art direction, but without all the 70s network-television cheesiness that ruined the first version so completely.
This is a dark gritty future (or past? present?) that’s different but not utterly alien. I love that they really thought about the split between the human society and the Cylon: humans lost their faith in technology, but can’t escape their dependence on it, while the Cylons seem to be looking for some kind of humanity in themselves. The characters are much better written this time, from the major players down to the pretty large supporting cast. (Also, most of them are smokin’ hot, which is a nice perk.) Some of my favorite bits are:
- All the nods to the original set and prop designs by having them shown as museum pieces of an old human/Cylon conflict. that’s just pure candy thrown to the fanboys, and I appreciate it.
- Automated Cylon ships, which make more sense than the old ones with their three-robot crew. Sadly, the old ships still look much better.
- Liberal use of old-fashioned tech. It makes sense in the story, but it’s also cooler looking than goofy, shiny stuff everywhere.
- Fantastic flight choreography. More than any other sci-fi I’ve seen, this really shows space as a three-dimensional void without a clear plane of orientation. Such a simple guiding principle, but one that’s never really considered by most other sci-fi movies or shows.
- Armaments instead of lasers. It’s just a nice change of pace that makes for more interesting visual effects.
Of course, now the nail-biting begins as they head into the murky territory of pulling off similar feats on a weekly basis, and within a the budget of a weekly show. Horrible things may still happen to ruin the effect of strong start like this. Let’s just hope it hangs on long enough for a few shameless scenes of shirtless fighter pilots.
Ok… So… I think Jamie Bamber (at least in that photo you linked) reminds me of Doug Savant (Tom Scavo in Desperate Housewives). Am I wrong?
Hopefully, I’ll be at the in-laws by the time the mini-series re-runs on Friday… So much TV, so little time to watch.
I haven’t seen much of the new show, and I know my adverse reaction is flat-out baseless. But darn it, I miss the old robotty Cylons.
I agree with all your points. The show dost rocketh badly. And I want to pit-dive into Jamie Bamber’s armpits for at least a week, and co-pilot his joystick while he’s piloting the Class I Cobra ship.
The old Cylons were certainly much cooler looking than the new ones (unless you consider the new robot ships to be just another kind of robot — that’s a cool idea), but they’re definitely fleshed out as a race, which adds a lot. Plus, there seems to be no sign yet of any of the thoroughly uncool aspects of the old Cylons: the Imperious Leader, the fey pointy-headed robot guy (Lucifer?), or the threat of killer robots that couldn’t walk faster than someone with a bad limp.
Apollo, is, without a doubt, the finest slab of beef on the flight deck, but I also really like the young Lieutenant on the bridge a lot, and even the crew chief is pretty tasty.
Um… hello… you forgot lack of Muffit… I want Muffit back!
And ya know… Lucifer could so easily be reimagined now. Probably will as the show goes on.
I only hope they delve a bit into the “culture” of this group of colony survivors like they did in the old show. But I’m a sucker for that kinda thing.
I only got to see the broadcast version of the pilot but it made me wanna get cable. mm-mm, that’s good tv! (oh yeah and nice redesign/freshen-up on your site, too!)
There are a few other, more subtle nods to the original series. The spaceship that docks at Armistice Station at the beginning is either identical to or very closely similar to the shuttle from the old show.
But my favorite nod is from Adama’s big speech at the end of the pilot. “‘Life here began out there,'” he says. “Those are the first words of the sacred scrolls.” Some of us may remember that the opening words of the pilot episode of the 70’s-era “Galactica” were, “There are those who believe that life here began out there.”
I loved that little nod.
You’re right, Jeff: there are nods aplenty in the show. I also really liked how they incorporated the original theme music (which I’ve always loved) by making it the music playing in the museum. And I’m still hopping they treat us to a robot daggit at some point, even though it’d be likely to start a whole controversy about the creation of artificial animal intelligence.
You might want to also check out “Space: Above and Beyond” which was a very similar kind of thing with gritty space battles and such. Space didn’t have the budget that apparently Galactica has, and it came along in a time before special effects were what they are now, but it was still a very solid show with great writing. It’s coming out on DVD sometime early this year I heard.
Jamie Bamber/Apollo’s alright. If you’re into that. 🙂
The actor who plays Helo, however… woof.
But why do I keep thinking Baltar would be amazingly kinky?
Helo — hell yes! I was so pleased to that he didn’t bite it after all.
He (Jamie) is downright beautiful, and u should see the rock arms this season!