Battlestar Galactica - Season One Reviews

• Soap Opera Galactica

  
  By A3OGFKAFLLWK4R on 2005-12-27
  This plays like a cross between Melrose Place and the original Galactica. The supposed military aboard the ship spend most of their time being insubordinate, whining tediously about their problems, and basically carrying on like actors having an endless series of hissy fits. Most of the characters are absurd as written and acted. The big series innovation, Cylons in human form, is just as stupid as it sounds, and is made worse by the attempt to parallel them with religious extremists--a poor idea executed badly. In fact the motivation of the Cylons--who had withdrawn from human contact for 40 years--is left a total mystery, which directly undermines the drama as it empties the conflicts of any meaning.
  
  In a desperate (and successful) bid for the short attention spans of geek fans, sexual themes are kept front and center which is what lends an awful soap opera quality to most episodes. Number six, a vamping Cylon sexpot, is particularly out of place in this or any other version of Galactica, although most of the time she is relegated to being a brain chip-produced hallucination in Baltar's head. (Why, when the Cylons are already infiltrated aboard the Galactica, is this ridiculous plot device even necessary?)
  
  The worst flaw is the self-seriousness of the series as a whole. Obnoxious moral grandstanding and adolescent bickering take up most of the stories, and stupefyingly telegraphed plot twists make watching them a long wait to get absolutely nowhere. Presumably this was done to stretch out the budget dollar, as constant talking and bickering is cheaper to film than a faster-moving and more eventful plot series arc would be.
  
  In the original series space combat engagements were reused over and over to save money. This time around the CGI provides a little less need to rely on canned battle footage, however cost-cutting is evident elsewhere in the overall look of the sets and costuming (disconcertingly, this advanced society seems to shop for most of its civilian clothing at JCPenney).
  
  "Show don't tell" is not a concept familiar to the writing team. The miniseries itself is stuffed with long (and boring) character exposition where, instead of showing character through action, the actors just read their backstories to each other. Strangely, although the miniseries is much longer than the original pilot and although it talks and talks and talks about the characters, by the end the viewer still has no conception of them except as walking, talking story devices. You can almost see future episode plots and subplots flash on the screen as details are related that have no bearing on the current story but are certain to come up in "a very special episode" later.
  
  In the end, Battlestar Galactica settles for being a humorless, derivative, and mind numbingly earnest imitation of every other sci-fi TV show out there in the past few years. One ends up rooting vigorously for the Cylons.
  
  

• One of the best shows on television regardles of genre...

  
  By A2YYHEOOMW95FA on 2005-07-25
  I posted a very favorable review of the mini-series that launched this new version of Battlestar Galactica. The series has taken all of the things that were so enjoyable and woven them into a great television series.
  
  First and foremost it's a drama about people. If you want trite, craptacular, formula don't look to this show. The writers and the cast of actors and actresses have embodied these characters with more detail and emotion than any other television show I can think of in recent years. Entire episodes go buy without spaceships or planets and we don't mind. We care about the people first, the special effects second. The underpinnings of loyalty, relationships that remain steadfast after 20 years, love and rivalry, purpose and duty, all come to the forefront of this show.
  
  The executive producer of the show, Ron Moore, has been very crafty in his vision. Things so painful about the original series are now far more frightning. The bad guy robots, the Cylons, aren't slow moving toasters anymore. They look like us and have carried out the obliteration of mankind with darwin like overtones and a zeal fueled by a religion that holds man as the creator. Yikes! Add in that they've figured out how to use sex as a weapon...
  
  The hardcore "living in the basement of their parents house" crowd will continue to make savage attacks on this show no matter what. Mercifully the people who live in the real world recognize the product of a tremendous number of talented and gifted people. Ratings have been high for a reason.
  
  If Frasier was a weekly half hour of wonderful broadway farce then the new version of Battlestar Galactica is a taunt hour of psychological insight into the workings of real people in a hellish situation.
  
  I don't own a single live action television series on DVD or videotape but have pre-ordered this one because I want to watch it again to see what I missed the first time I watched it.
  
  This is a show that may ripple through the industry because it proves what Jay Ward knew with Rocky and Bulwinkle: you don't dumb down the material. The kids might not get all the jokes but the adults who do will love it all the more. With Battlestar Galactica you can find episodic sci-fi if that's what you need. If you want something more, human drama that demands emotional investment on a scale rarely seen in the broadcast mediums, it's a meal of plenty.
  
  

• Amazing!!!

  
  By A2KBF2OYR359AJ on 2006-05-29
  This is one of the best shows on TV right now, according to many media outlets. "A Breakaway Hit!" -TV Guide and "The Best Show on Television." -Newsday are but two examples of the rave reviews it has received. If you are a sci-fi fan, this is a must-see show. If you aren't a sci-fi fan, you should still consider checking this out. Even though it's in space and has killer robots, it is more human than most other drama shows on TV today. So say we all.
  
  This box set includes the miniseries that re-launched this show and returned it to TV for the first time since the 1970's. It has the 4-hour miniseries and the 13 episodes from the first season. It stars Edward James Olmos as Commander Adama Captain of the Battlestar Galactica, and Mary McDonnell as the newly invested president of the 12 colonies of man. She was formerly the secretary of education.
  
  The Cylon's had not been heard from in years. Then in one day they attack and destroy nearly all human life in attacks on all planets and most military assets. Now with the war against the Cylon robots lost, the Battlestar Galactica crew speed toward the fabled 13th colony on a long lost planet, called Earth. Galactica Commander Adama and President Laura Roslin face waning supplies, crushed morale, ... and the credible threat Cylons aboard the ship. Cylons that look like humans now not just shiny machines.
  
  Humanity's children have come home and they are trying to destroy their creators.
  
  Some of the amazing cast are:
  Edward James Olmos as Commander William Adama
  Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin
  Katee Sackhoff as Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace
  Jamie Bamber as Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama
  James Callis as Dr. Gaius Baltar Vice President
  Tricia Helfer as Number Six
  Grace Park as Lt. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii
  Richard Hatch as Tom Zarek (The original Apollo)
  Tahmoh Penikett as Lt. Karl C. "Helo" Agathon
  Michael Hogan as Col. Saul Tigh
  Aaron Douglas as CPO Galen "Chief" Tyrol
  Alessandro Juliani as Lt. Felix Gaeta
  Kandyse McClure as P02 Anastasia Dualla
  Paul Campbell as Billy Keikeya
  
  This cast works so well together, that after the miniseries they rewrote parts of the series to give the "Chief" a much larger role.
  
  This series will draw you in and capture your imagination. It is full of religious symbols and images. There are visions, prophecies, and sacred scrolls. It is a drama of the most intense nature. Check it out, you will watch the DVD's over and over again.
  
  The best Sci-fi series since Babylon 5.
  
  So Say We All!
  
  

• This is what great sci-fi looks like on TV

  
  By A1TK6R2JSC97HL on 2005-07-29
  How I missed this show until this year, I will never know. But I've made up for lost time. Unoriginal, and with not the greatest of production values or the most epic characters, the new BSG is still an epic surprise.
  
  The new show returns to the basics - human and cylon exist in an uncomfortable peace. With the help of Baltar, the robotic cylons betray mankind and virtually annihilate all but about 45,000 humans. The survivors miss the genocide by being in space at the time. The remaining ships form a ragtag fleet headed to the only conceivable destination - the lost planet of earth.
  
  There it ends. I'll put aside the obvious changes (Boomer and Starbuck are women? Col. Tigh looks to have been changed as well) for the deeper ones. The Cylons ARE smart. The walking toasters of the old show are history (literally - in an early scene, we see s few behind glass in a museum). Instead, we have armies of fast moving (CGI) soldiers, and a higher level of autonomous machines that look, sound and feel human. There are no specifics, but these cylons are manmade - at some point they rebelled and, by the advent of this story, they've evolved. Unaware of the humanoid Cylons, the garden variety are infamous for being able to infect computers. As a result, ships like Galactica are deliberately un-tech. (If you've been to one of those old warships turned into a museum, you know what I mean.) Baltar is still a traitor, but a different kind - the aknowledged master genius of humanity, his treason is unwitting. He's fallen victim to Six, a humanoid Cylon who only resembles a beautiful woman. By the time he's realized his mistake, the Cylons have nuked all human worlds. Brought to the fleet by human beings unaware of Baltar's treachery, Baltar is manipulated by the Cylons who implant Six directly into his brain. The humans have less dimension than the Cylons, but that's the appeal of the show - they aren't weakly drawn characters, but strongly drawn characters of weak people. Most of the appeal of the show is trying to guess how these unheroic human beings will out think the race of cylon super thinkers without destroying each other in the process. Among the human beings, the factions split between the military, led by Col. Adama (Olmos) and the surviving politicians led by Laura Roslin (McDonnel) - constantly at odds, but able to join up against threats from the Cylons and from within. Trying not to get caught by either side, but also trying not to fall for Cylon manipulation, Baltar navigates an uneasy path. the shows are serial - following the crew as they evade massive Cylon attacks and more subtle and insidious strategies. (An example of this would be in ":33" - in which the fleet finds itself beset by a devestating Cylon attack every 33 minutes.
  
  This is a great show. The menace of the Cylons manages to flesh out a tight story of humans under pressure. Set design seems less plausible now then the dirty-old-ship look of 1978, but the camera movements, the forever tense humans who look ill-placed for their roles, and the enigma of the Cylons keep the story rising above sets. Space battles are fantastic - CGI finally done right for a TV show. The dialog sounds natural - people actually speak like people, rather than the clinically inhuman action-figures of the latter Trek shows. The dangers of space travel, the insidious genius of the Cylons, and the inadequacy of the protagonists combine to keep this show on the edge. Forget "Enterprise" - this is what a science-fiction show should look like.
  
  

• Best Science Fiction Space Opera Since Babylon 5

  
  By AKT8TGIT6VVZ5 on 2005-07-24
  Much to my amazement, the complete first season of the new Sci Fi Channel television series "Battlestar Galactica" will soon be available in a 5 CD set which also includes the original 2003 miniseries. This newly reconceived, darker, grittier version of the late 1970s space opera has received ample critical praise, including a favorable critical look at its developer and producer, former "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" writer Ronald D. Moore, which was published in the July 17, 2005 issue of The New York Times magazine. Moore has written a science fiction epic which resonates completely with the cultural and political atmosphere of our times, drawing upon the ongoing war against Islamofascist terror and religious fundamentalism to describe the conflict between the human Colonial survivors led by Commander William "Husker" Adama (Edward James Olmos) and President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) against the synthetic humanoid Cylons who have become God-worshipping fundamentalist religious fanatics dedicated to eradicating humanity.
  
  Gone are the ancient Greek and Egyptian-styled ceremonial robes and fighter pilot helmets seen in Glen Larson's original series, replaced by far more professional military officers and sailors who could find themselves at home on a real-life US Navy aircraft carrier or aboard one of EarthForce's ("Babylon 5") destroyers and heavy cruisers, with a gritty realism that comes straight out of "Black Hawk Down" and ample doses of suspense worthy of "Run Silent, Run Deep" or the two best episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" ("Best of Both Worlds", Parts I and II, which has the 24th Century USS Enterprise and its crew pitted against the Borg led by a Borg-assimilated Captain Jean-Luc Picard.). The Combat Information Center of Battlestar Galactica more closely resembles the Combat Information Center of a modern American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier or an American Ticonderoga-class Aegis guided missile cruiser than the bridge of any of the starships U. S. S. Enterprise from all of the "Star Trek" television series and movies. Our strong sense of the tensions aboard Galactica and other Colonial ships is emphasized by the show's fine cinematography, featuring widespread usage of hand-held video cameras which merely reinforce the realistic aspects of Moore's brilliantly reimagined version of this space opera.
  
  Veteran actor Edward James Olmos leads this splendid cast as Commander William "Husker" Adama, the commander of the sole surviving Colonial Battlestar Galactica, who is frequently matching wits with Colonial President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), the surviving senior figure in the Colonial government (43rd in the line of succession); together they must lead the human survivors from the deadly Cylon fleet. Jamie Bamber plays Adama's surviving son, Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama, one of the battlestar's senior Viper fighter pilots. Katee Sackhoff is Lieutenant Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (a controversial casting move, but one that really works quite well thanks to Sackhoff's fine acting), a rowdy, fun-loving ace Viper pilot who strongly dislikes those in authority. James Callis is Dr. Gaius Baltar, the brilliant Colonial scientist who inadvertently gives the Cylons the keys to the Colonial defense grid, ensuring the success of their devestating attack on Colonial space, virtually wiping out its colonies and military fleet, through his synthetic human Cylon lover Number Six (Tricia Helfer). And then, Grace Park as Lieutenant Sharon "Boomer" Valerii is absolutely fascinating since she doesn't realize that she may not be human.
  
  Forty years after they flee Colonial space (which is comprised of twelve human colonies) for parts unknown, the Cylons return unexpectedly, launching a surprise genocidal attack against the twelve worlds (In Moore's new adaptation, the Cylons are former synthetic servants of Colonial humanity who staged a successful rebellion, not the cyborg descendants of an extinct alien reptilian race in original series creator Glen Larson's late 1970s version. Elsewhere, Moore has admitted that he was inspired by the 9/11 terrrorist attacks in creating his new twist on the Cylon genocidal attack on the twelve worlds.). Only a ragtag fleet of ships bearing 50,000 human survivors escape the attack, protected by the aging Battlestar Galactica, searching for a mythical thirteen colony which may or may not exist: Earth. Meanwhile Commander Adama must contend with ample political intrigue from President Roslin, substantial crew discontentment, and the presence of Cylon saboteurs aboard the battlestar masquerading as members of her crew, as well as the Cylon basestar fleets lying in ambush for the Colonial fleet. Moore and his fellow writers have wrought a harrowing, mesmerizing saga of survival against impossible odds, with some of the most realistic scenes set aboard a military warship that I have seen since "Babylon 5". All of the characters have numerous flaws, ranging from a drunken Colonel Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan) as the Galactica's less than competent Executive Officer, to a frequently rebellious Starbuck, a seriously ill President Roslin, and last but not least, Gaius Baltar, the Colonial scientific genius turned Colonial Vice President, who remains mentally enslaved to his beautiful Cylon tormentor Number Six. In short, this is a superb space opera that is character-driven, not beholden to special effects and technical babble talk, focusing on the complicated relationships of each of the main characters; this certainly makes a very exciting, riveting television drama for viewers to watch. Without a doubt, "Battlestar Galactica" has become overnight one of the most popular current American television series, and a worthy successor to both "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", and especially, "Babylon 5".
  
  
• dont buy
  By A27RMHQSESQ4NV on 2005-09-09
  The Season 1 box set INCLUDES the Mini-series. Do not select Amazon's 'Great Buy' option to get them both or you'll end up with two copies of the mini-series.

  There was a UK release of Season 1 without the Miniseries (also sold in North America by Best Buy only) which is why a separate mini-series only disk exists. You do not need to buy it though with the North American Season 1 Box set.

  Save youself and dont buy it.
  
  

• One of the best TV shows ever!
  By AJ0I8H7U2R8YQ on 2005-08-06
  You'll read in in many magazines and message boards:
  "*waa* Starbucks a girl *boo hoo* the Cylons look like humans *waa waa*, it doesn't have cheesy John William's-esque music...." Get over it! This is NOT the '70's BSG and thank god for that. I too was a fan of the original when it was on, I was 10 in 1978 though, what is everyone else's excuse?
  
  Yeah that's derogatory but if everyone took an honest (not nostalgic) look at the original I think you'd all admit that it was pretty terrible (a few months before the remake began Sci-Fi channel ran the original, I looked forward to watching it and I was shocked that I ever thought it was good). "Cheesy" is being too kind when referencing the orginal Battlestar.
  
  This new show is NOT cheesy, it is anything but. It is intense drama and the BEST show on television today. Notice I did not call it the best "sci-fi" show. It contains all the things that are missing in bad sci-fi; real human interaction, powerful drama, political intrique, religious and philosophical arguments, great acting and so much more.
  
  The technology is realistic, no transporter beams or replicators. There are even bathrooms, the ships need fuel to run and one of the fleet's priorities is maintaining a supply of food and water.
  
  One of the best things about this show is that unlike ever other sci-fi show except Babylon 5 (another favorite of mine) is that every episode doesn't reset at the ending. In any of the Star Trek shows that have been on for the most part no matter what happened in an episode things were "back to normal" at the end (minus the occasional 2 parter). You could miss ten eps and it didn't matter. This is true of most television but sci-fi especially (again, B5 was the exception, the fact that it was the only ongoing series that I know of that was MEANT to end after five years allowed the show to change radically as it went on). Not so in BSG, things happen that have REAL consequences for the characters.
  
  It is a dark show, the story involves the extermination of the human race minus 40,000 some survivors, not a lot light there. It is adult, the characters are "real" people not cardboard cutours, they drink, swear (the explictive "frack" is one of the holdovers from the original) and have sex. This isn't for kids, there are no bug-eyed monsters.
  
  If you normally disdain sci-fi because you mistakingly think of it as a "kid's genre" take a look at this show anyway, you may be surprised. It has many of the elements you'd see in episodes of NYPD Blue, West Wing, 24, Alias and Lost but is so much better than all of them (I speak as a fan of most of those shows too, I can't stomach the liberal whining of West Wing though). Don't think that because it isn't on a major network or HBO that it has low-end production values either. The ships and environments look real, not the white-washed sterility of Star Trek or Star Wars, more the practical, lived-in look of ALIEN.
  
  Whether you loved, hated or never saw the original it doesn't matter, give this show a viewing.
  
  Battlestar Galactica is the best sci-fi since Babylon 5 and one of the best shows made, period.
  
  
• The best sci-fi show on TV now, hands down
  By A3A06ZU6QI9KIL on 2005-08-30
  Once upon a time, I heard of a TV show called Battlestar Galactica, but had no idea what it was about. I was only 2 years old when the original was on TV, and I had never seen it at all. Eventually, I saw the first season of the old version in the bargain DVD bin at WalMart, and decided to check it out. I couldn't watch it. I started to watch it, I tried to watch it, but it was just too corny, too dated, too..."eighties", for want of a better word. I decided to leave it for fanboys/fangirls, and I moved on with life.
  
  Later on, I heard of the SciFi channel's plan for a re-interpretation of the original show. This did not make me want to see it at all. The only good Sci-Fi productions I had ever seen were Dune and Children of Dune, and everything else was pretty much cheesy crap, a la "Mansquito" or "Chupacabra." So I didn't even know when the miniseries had premiered, nor did I care.
  
  Then one fateful weekend in January 2005, I found myself at home on a Saturday night with nothing on TV to watch. I was flipping through the channels when I saw the intro to the miniseries pilot pop up on NBC of all places. Now I hate NBC (see my review of "Boomtown" to see why), but the intro was pretty interesting and not as corny as I expected a Sci-Fi production to be, so I decided to give it a couple minutes. Nothing else was on anyways, and it was a SciFi show, not an NBC show.
  
  Two hours later, I was looking up the calendar and marking the premiere date therein. No way in perdition I was going to miss an episode of this TV show if I had anything to do with it.
  
  First off, this show is not escapist TV. It is not intended to be an optimistic view of the goodness of humanity a la "Star Trek everything but DS9", and it is not intended to be a rollicking space western with a clearcut good guy to cheer and an obvious bad guy to boo and hiss at. If you are looking for such a show, then this isn't your kind of show and it never claimed to be. This show filled a void that was missing from TV since the demise of Star Trek Deep Space Nine; the void of gripping character-driven science fiction. It has been stated that this isn't a science fiction drama, this is a drama that happens to be set in a sci-fi environment and the strangest thing is that the science fiction takes a huge cut in importance to character interactions and philosophical enquiries. What does it mean to be alive? Can a machine love? Are the human-looking Cylons really just "machines"? Who is hotter, Grace Park or Tricia Helfer? (that's a really tough one...my preference for Asian ladies vs. my desire for ladies that are as tall as I am...Starbuck is more cute than hot, like the girl next door...the jury's still out :D)
  
  Anyways, the acting on the show is excellent, as other reviews have stated. Edward James Olmos owns the role of Bill Adama, Mary McDonnell brings a steely yet feminine resolve to the presidency, James Callis is deliciously sneaky as the slightly...no, the totally demented and totally self-centered Gaius Baltar (and why does he so resemble Alexander Siddig?) and everyone else is really great in their roles. The stories and characters are all interwoven with each other and even now, watching season 2 on Scifi I am not yet sure of what will happen...
  
  I don't know why anyone would want to bring back the original when it was so cheesy and cannot compare at all to the excellent re-imagining of Ron Moore. There is no comparison between the two at all, so you shouldn't come to it expecting the original's vibe. I hope that they keep running it for a long time! This is the best show that SciFi has ever produced, and to my mind is in the top 5 TV dramas produced in this decade that I've seen, along with The Wire, The Sopranos, Lost and Boomtown.
  
  Forget everything you may have thought you knew about Scifi and a star wars knocko called Galactica, and go check this show out. Just watch the pilot miniseries episodes, and then see if you can avoid watching the rest of season one. I dares ya :D
  
  
• best darn show on television
  By A1SB9ERHKAUTH3 on 2005-09-10
  Simply the best thing on tv right now. I was a big fan of the original, though as enjoyable as it was, the re-imagining of it is much better. It isn't meant to be a remake. It is an entirely different take on it based upon the original storyline of the 12 colonies being destroyed by the Cylons. The characters are 3-dimensional, complicated, complex people with problems we can all relate to. Special Efx are super for tv and each episode pulls you in and makes you want to see what is going to happen next. The twist is even great---cylons that look like humans, which keeps you guessing each week who is, and who isn't. Even the mechanical ones are great if not creepy. As a former navyman, the comparisons of the battlestar to an aircraft carrier is uncanny. the look, jargon, everything is dead on.
  
  As for the 9/11 similarities, the basic premise of the show was created in the 70's, way before 9/11. Moore just made it a much darker, bleaker version of that. Personally, I look at the show for what it is and not what real tragedy it might mirror. Also, it really isn't that slow like people are saying. There are some slow episodes that focus more on the people, or one person, but they are generally sandwiched in between ones with action.
  
  For the reviewer who is asking about Season 2 on DVD, Season 2 doesn't even end airing here in the U.S. until Spring of 2006. Season 2 Episode 8 is on tonight, 9/9/05 and the season ends 9/23/05. The last 10 episodes of Season 2 will air in Janurary 2006, which means the DVD probably won't come out until summer 06. Season 3 I don't think has even begun filming.
  
  There are 2 versions of Season 1 here in the states--the Best buy one, and the one being released everywhere on 9/20. that one has alot more extra's then the BB version.
  
  Again, this is a wonderful show and just keeps getting better and better! Not anything like the original, and it is great that there is now the new one that concentrates on the drama, and the old one which is more sci-fi campy. Both are great on there own.
  
  
• The UK Version Rocks, can't wait for the US Release
  By AL639TTVGWE9M on 2005-08-25
  Okay, so I bought the UK dvd set BEFORE I found out about the mini series not being included. BUMMER.
  
  That said, I watched the show with complete ignorance, having only seen the original series (which I absolutely love by the way). I watched one episode at 8 am on a Monday, and had to call into work for a sick day by the end of the episode. WOW.
  
  First, the writing on this show is spectacular. All of the characters are likeable, but have their troubles laid out before your very eyes. Even the villains are compassionate and sympathetic, and this feels to me what the original series should have been.
  
  For example, the original Baltar was a comic book villain. He was evil because he was greedy and liked being evil. Not so this time around. Baltar here betrays the world without knowing it, and spends much of the series inadvertantly saving the heroes.
  
  Edward James Olmos is out of site as Adama, and also takes the helm directing a few episodes. This experienced character actor adds a great sense of comedic and dramatic timing, and seems to set the bar higher for the actors around him.
  
  Mary McDonnel adds to the talent of this series as the President of the colonial fleet, a character not included in the original series. The addition of a civilian government leads to endless possibilities for the show, as well as a tremendous cameo by the guy who played Apollo in the original series.
  
  Jamie Bamber does a competent job as Apollo, with just the right amount of schoolboy charm and good looks to make you know that he is the main character, but without overdoing it.
  
  There are two break out stars from this series, Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck and the AMAZING Grace Park who plays Boomer.
  
  In the instance of Sackhoff, she is able to play Starbuck as an alcohol drinking, card playing, stogie smoking hotshot who also has a heart of gold, many demons inside and a talent for flying that is unmatched by any other. Having been a really big fan of the original Starbuck, this was the character that most worried me. I am pleased to say that, IMHO, this version of Starbuck is BETTER than the original.
  
  And Grace Park? I am amazed that such a young, unkown and relatively untrained actress can keep up with her demanding character. From the beginning we know that Boomer carries a deep secret, and this actress carefully walks us through the mind of this poor tortured character.
  
  The series itself has some of the best written dialogue of any show out there, and knows how to mix in enough subplots to make for a very addicting storyline.
  
  The tv show uses a similar style of directing its outer space sequences to the one that was made famous by Firefly. There are lots of zoom in shots and really basic beats in the background to allow the viewer to focus on the action.
  
  I highly recommend this tv series for anyone who is a fan of science fiction, good drama, and of course, for those who like to see good looking women smoke cigars.
  
  
• Easily the best Sci-Fi on TV
  By A2XI999AOYE6D0 on 2005-08-26
  Without question the best science fiction show on the air and probably the best show on TV period. This series has some of the best production value and cinematography ever seen for a space opera. The story line and acting is pretty impressive as well.
  
  Now before I go into what I thought of season one I would like to state that many hard core fans of the original series do not like this new re-imagining of the Battlestar Galactica concept. That's fine we are all entitled to our own opinions I would just ask everyone to remember that just because something is different from the way you want it, that doesn't make it bad. I was a casual fine of the late 70's version of this show and have found the new series far more enjoyable.
  
  Now onto Season one. I'm not going to say too much but I will give you a couple highlights. The first couple episodes are slow without question (you will see a number of people who found the show "boring" because of this) and there is a little to much emphasis on the character Dr. Baltar. However the show quickly picks up and we start getting deeper into other characters such as Starbuck, Hilo (who in my opinion steals the show), Apollo and others.
  
  Make no mistake however this is a THINKING man/womans show. If you like mindless entertainment (IE: reality TV) then you will probably get "bored" or lost because you actually have to watch the show and think about what is happening (heaven forbid that things not be handed to us on a silver platter).
  
  The season ends with an excellent cliff hanger that has you chomping at the bit for season two, which to date is even better then season one.
  
  In conclusion if you are looking for an intelligent, sci-fi cinematic experience in the form of a TV show then this is it. Far superior to shows like the Star Gate series or the latest Star Trek incarnation this show takes an excellent concept and makes it great.
  
  
• Best new show of last season
  By A1C6RRJB77NKZ2 on 2005-08-26
  This show is about humanity's desperate struggle to avoid extinction after the robots they created turn on them. Billions have been killed already. The 'bots chase after 50,000 survivors.
  
  In my opinion, this was the best new series of last season, even better than Lost. It was overlooked by many only because it was on an obscure cable channel. However, the staff of TV Without Pity, a prominent website for critique and analysis of TV shows, recently named it the best drama of 2004-2005, along with one other show (Deadwood).
  
  Scifi usually leaves me cold but I love Battlestar Galactica. BG has a lot of emotion and personal drama. The relationships are refreshing, well-developed, and interesting. They give a wonderful emotional underpinning to all the events that unfold.
  
  This series is a little bit Alias (intrigue, suspense, strong female characters, importance of family and love, overarching plot), a little bit West Wing (the politics), Star Wars (dogfights in space), and in the beginning of the second season even Band of Brothers.
  
  I love that there are almost as many female characters as male on this show, they have a variety of roles, and none of them are pushovers. The two that stand out most are President Roslin who is strong and decisive but also warm and compassionate; and Starbuck who is the best pilot in the fleet.
  
  Anyone looking for a show with a lot of action, suspense, and emotion supported by excellent writing and acting should check out Battlestar Galactica.
  
  
• Excellent series for sci-fi fans and non-sci-fi fans alike
  By A3TW2TSB8RS1OQ on 2005-08-31
  The one- and two-star ratings are ludicrous. The new Battlestar Galactica is one of the best dramas on TV, if not the best. There are few shows that can match it in quality.
  
  The writing is top-notch; it is intelligent, insightful, and the development of the plot shows that the writers are NOT making things up as they go along which is a common flaw of serialized shows.
  
  The characters are like real people. They're flawed, complex individuals who fall in love; have friendships, fears and different values; and grow and change with new experiences.
  
  The acting is very strong, led by two Oscar nominated actors.
  
  The series is about humans who are being pursued by killer robots, and the plot is very gripping and provides many edge-of-your seat moments.
  
  There is a lot of emotion, suspense, and action.
  
  In short, this series will appeal to all people, not just sci-fi fans.
  
  
• Not the BG of your childhood, thank heavens!
  By A35R6YF02ZEDSH on 2005-08-30
  When I heard there would be a new Battlestar Galactica, I was not sure this would be a great idea.

  But Ron Moore was to be at the helm and that convinced me to give the series a chance. Who's Moore? He started out writing the best Star Trek "The Next Generation" episodes of the early years before getting on board the "Deep Space Nine" team. He left the Star Trek family during "Voyager" where he worked as a creative consultant getting frustrated by the direction Paramount adopted for that series. So I knew this series would be well written and intelligent... And it is.

  It's not the BG of your childhood. The new series' Adama is not the wise and charismatic patriarch Lorne Green was. Adama is now a troubled commanding officer, a true soldier that believes he must fight. His relationship with Lee Adama, his son (Codename "Apollo") is very strained. "Starbuck" and "Boomer" are both played by women in the new series. Colonel Tai, a forgettable character in the original series, is now more believeable as Adama's executive officer... He is not appreciated by junior officers and has a drinking problem... He is an angry man who can get the job done... The government, almost absent from the original series, is very much present in the new series and the President - an idealistic woman who did not choose this position - is at odds with Adama... Their conflicting views make good drama...

  I'm quite certain Moore wanted the characters to be complex. No character is more complex than Baltar... Ridiculous in the original series, Baltar has become a facinating character in the new series. Manipulated by a Cylon to whom he is sexually addicted, or maybe even in love with, the guy is not evil... No good guys and bad guys here... Shades of gray and nuances everywhere. Not your childhood's Battlestar Galactica... Life, sex, problems... Even sprituality - which was ever present in the original series that was piloted by Mormons...

  The music is interesting. Powerful and subdued at the same time...

  The SFX are excellent once you accept that the tactics they use are close to dogfighting in WW2! Then again, in BG technology is not trusted for obvious reasons... The military look and feel of the series is not that different from that of «Space Above and Beyond», a sc-fi series of the early 90s created by people who would later join Chris Carter's «X-Files»...

  Again, this is not your childhood's BG: if the main story remains the same, in its execution, the new series is more compelling and intelligent. This is no longer a "shoot'em up" space opera series... This time, survival is important. Logistics are important. Morale is important... There is the fear of sabotage, fear of dying, fear of losing a loved one... Apparently it took robots to create characters that would really be Human...

  You missed it on TV? At this price, the 4 hour pilot and 13 episodes are a steal... And since the original series lasted only a year or so, there is a lot of room to create something entirely new in the coming seasons... Bring them on!
  
  

• I was wrong...
  By A1GQ7AFCN7OZMK on 2005-07-27
  When I watched the original mini-series a year or so ago, I gave it a pretty harsh review (...not you father's battlestar galactica...). I was annoyed that they had made so many radical changes to the show I grew up with (like making Starbuck a woman). Well, I decided to give it another chance and watch the first season. Now that I see where the series is going, all I can say is, I was wrong.
  
  This show is not your father's Battlestar Galactica. Its superior in almost every way. The Cylons are infinately more evil and cunning than in the original series. Take for instance the not so subtle references to religious fanaticism in their portrayal. Brilliant. Its what sci-fi is supposed to be; a commentary on the modern world that we live in.
  
  In my opinion, its the best drama on television.
  
  
• Fracking Brilliant, But Why?
  By A3W1RLL461CMCT on 2005-09-20
  Alright, it's late, it's raining and thunder/lightning is flashing on occasion out the window here in L.A.
  
  So, for the first time I can remember, I've joined this forum to comment on something. And I've been reading these things for awhile.
  
  I'm a filmmaker, working occasionally, at home trying to write these past days, and for some reason, tonight as the thunder and lighting crash outside my window, I feel like talking about Battlestar Galactica.
  
  I'm 33 years old and almost embarrased to admit it. Not because i'm old, but because as a kid, I was hopelessly addicted to the original BSG when it first came out. I had the plastic viper that shot the little red thing and the cylon ship that did the same but in tandem.
  
  I was a fan of the show then, because it was cool. I knew it wasn't perfect, (Boxy?) but a viper is just too cool, and what's better for a kid to think about than humanity's desperate trek toward a shining, distant orb known only as Earth?
  
  But then I grew up and moved on. I started to like more complex things, even though i never truly lost my love for all things cool. But, Ron D. Moore and company recognized that the fans of that show had grown up, and it was the smartest realization they could have made.
  
  BSG is for grown up kids that want something deeper than they've been getting on t.v., especially genre t.v.
  
  To me, Battlestar Galactica has become what Star Wars Ep I, II, and III should have been, oh if only could have been! It's become something real, that makes it's audience think, and feel even as it's characters do, it is about real things and issues whether you care about these things or not, and it still kicks arse at the same time.
  
  It is not about gadgets and CGI and only cool things although it excels at them without trying.
  
  It's about humanity, about the great journey we all undertake, like it or not, as we discover what it means to be human, in all our flawed, pathetic glory.
  
  It is a show about persevering through the impossible, about stumbling at our moments of triumph, about laughing in the face of our own destruction.
  
  This show speaks more to me about religion, politics and the human spirit than I ever found in Sunday school or CNN.
  
  It gets down and dirty when other shows in it's genre get high and mighty.
  
  In episodes like "Flesh and Blood" it talks of humanity's ablility to marginalize and idolize and demonize, and fear, and overcome fear with faith and hard work, without preaching or even appearing to teach. When Adama says, "No" to Leoben's corpse, whilst looking as if he may just brain the corpse for fun, you know this is a man with such fire, he will never give in and he is too human to give up even though everything says he probably should.
  
  There is true wisdom at the heart of this show, it's tapped in to some universal sense of honesty and truth I only can hint at. In "33", perhaps the finest bit of t.v. I've seen yet, (not that I've seen it all) we can see ourselves in the decisions these characters must make at a moment's notice, decisions that can save 49,000 lives even as they may destoy a 1,000, but at what cost? At what cost do we lose our souls and become the cylon menace we fear?
  
  BSG tells us more than Fox or CNN about why we are in Iraq and Afganistan and why we find it so easy to shut off our emotions at some times or to be overcome by them at others.
  
  One man's terrorist is another man's hero, just ask Richard Hatch's amazing character. Indeed, every character is a gem,large or small, and in fact some of my favorites, like Chief Tyrol, were only meant as minor parts. A drunken XO? A sexually liberated viper pilot that smokes cigars and flips her superiors off? Cylons with souls that envy and love?
  
  It is more like Alphaville than Stargate. It is a testament to truly the best writing on the most consistant level since the original Twilight Zone that every character succeeds so well and is so... fracking human.
  
  I often think in watching this show, back to how ridiculed Rod Serling was after leaving his Emmy Winning Playhouse 90 for a 'cheesy little' sci-fi show called "The Twilight Zone". Well, I mistakenly thought badly of Edward James Olmos when i first heard he was joining this show, before i knew anything about it. Honestly, at first i stayed away, afraid my beloved childhood memories may be sullied in the same way Star Wars had been for me.
  
  But I was proven wrong even just as critics were in the time of Rod Serling. Olmos is a smart, talented man, and so is Ron Moore and David Eick and the others responsible for BSG.
  
  They knew that one great way to reach the human heart, was through sci-fi, through flights of fantasy which allow us to look back on ourselves in a new, fresh way.
  
  On a weekly basis this show has more heart and soul than probably ninety percent of what Hollywood puts into theaters in a year.
  
  Shame on the rest of us in Hollywood for not being brilliant enough to put such reality in our own work. And shame on the Emmys for overlooking such creativity this year.
  
  But then, as I sit here at almost two a.m. now suffering from writers block, writing instead about this show I love, I have to admit, to do such things as BSG is not easy, as no good writing or execution of writing to film ever is. I know this to be true.
  
  This show should be supported in every way and I only hope that someday I get to visit the set, because really... the chicks are hot, and I just want to sit in a viper, just once for old times sake.
  
  Cause afterall, when you get past the deeper elements and want something to simply to kick ass, well this show does it and how, and a viper is just too damn cool, ain't it?
  
  Edited by Lancelotcq2 (09/20/05 06:31 AM)
  
  
• Simply the best TV show ever produced
  By ADB2T5ANPFXLI on 2005-08-17
  I am a huge SciFi fan, my wife, not so much. Even so, she loves this show as much as I do. This is the finest TV show ever produced. Battlestar Galatica is one of those shows that will be remembered for decades.
  
  It's hard to pick a favorite episode from Season One, but if I had to, I say "33", episode one. Picks up after the events of the mini-series and deals with the Cylons finding and attacking the fleet every 33 minutes. From the opening scene to the final scene you are rivited to your seat, breathless and in awe. This is Scifi done right, this is TV done right.
  
  Some of said that Ron Moore (Exec producer) has gone overboard with respect to the "darkness" of this series, but considering the premise how could it not be dark?
  
  Unlike most SciFi, Battlestar prides itself on deep character development, tight plots, realism, and timing. Listening to a Ron Moore Podcast (podcasts are produced for every episode and available at the scifi.com web site.) you can tell this is a man who loves his show and takes tremendous pride in doing the best job he and his crew can muster. Even the actors work as though they understand that what they are doing is different, honest, and important. Yes, important. Sure, its just "TV", but its both relevant and vital to the post 9/11 world.
  
  I watch about 12 hours of TV a week, and Friday night at 10PM is set aside for another great episode. I would be crushed if this show was somehow cancelled. Had I the chance of meeting Ron Moore I would thank him personally for providing me, and millions of others, such a great TV show.
  
  Best Buy is selling Season One on DVD (as other reviewers have pointed out) and its worth the $50 to have the first 13 episodes now, to watch whenever you want. But, that said, this Season One box set is a must-have for any fan of the show. It includes not only the 13-episodes, but also the Mini-Series making it a complete "up to date" collection of BSG-2005.
  
  Season One will make a great gift to any Scifi fan, and especially those who have seen the show. Whether its a gift for yourself, someone else, or even a choice collection for that new DVD player Plasma TV combo, pre-order this today, you won't be sorry.
  
  [...]
  
  
• Critically acclaimed show
  By A2EQM0P51VXDKY on 2005-08-20
  Please ignore the individuals who keep bashing the show. They're either fans of the original Battlestar Galactica series, fans of other sci-fi shows who are jealous of all the critical love this show receives, or people who are just unable to recognize quality.
  
  The simple fact is, this show would not have been named
  "THE BEST SHOW ON TV" by Newsday,
  "ONE OF THE TOP SIX DRAMAS ON TV" by Time Magazine,
  "THE BEST SHOW ON TV" by The Christian Science Monitor, and
  "THE BEST DRAMA OF THE 2004-2005 SEASON" by the staff of Television Without Pity
  if it's as bad as the bashers on Amazon claim.
  
  This new version of Battlestar Galactica is one of the most intelligent shows in years. It has outstanding character development, gripping action, and careful plotting. Even people who are not fans of sci-fi will love this show because it is very character driven.
  
  
  In response to Sharonda B. above:
  
  You're right that TV Without Pity sometimes gives individual episodes of the O.C. higher ratings than Battlestar Galactica episodes. That's because it is ONE reviewer deciding on the rating and he/she or she is not directly comparing the two shows.
  
  When the staff of TV Without Pity decide the winners of their annual awards, that is the opinion of MANY TV critics who are DIRECTLY COMPARING all the shows on TV. They determined that Battlestar Galactica was the best (tied with Deadwood).
  
  TV Without Pity also allows visitors to give their ratings. Sometimes visitors give higher rating to The O.C. eps than Battlestar Galactica eps. If you prefer to rely on their ratings, that's your prerogative but I'd bet that most of these people don't watch both shows so the relative ratings are unlikely to be an accurate comparison.
  
  
• THIS is how remakes should be done!
  By A11SDJQFJJTW0Z on 2005-08-08
  Anyone who views the new Battlestar Galactica with objective eyes would have to agree with the idea that this show far surpasses the original. This is how remakes should be made: Not slavishly copying the original, or smugly commenting on it from time and distance, but discarding the chaff and retaining the aspects that of the property that remain relevant.
  
  Admittedly, I was never a big fan of the original show. I missed the first episode way back when (it aired the weekend I went away to college), and I never really caught back up. That, plus I harbored a grudge for what Glenn Larceny (as I remember author Harlan Ellison calling him) did to Buck Rogers. But Ronald Moore and Co. have taken the concepts of the original and done an incredible job of thinking them through.
  
  The most obvious alteration is the human-appearing Cylons. While this could be considered to be done out of budgetary concerns, it serves the purpose of increasing the dramatic tension as members of the Galactica's fleet serve as Cylon moles, sometimes against their wills. Additionally, the political and spiritual connotations have been played up this time, at no expense to the action. And I would even go so far to suggest that the conflicts among the humans here, especially toward the end of the first season, are nearly as hard-fought as the battles with the Cylons.
  
  One complaint about the series that possibly has some credence is that the show is relentlessly bleak. This is arguably true. I, for one, always watch the subtitle at the beginning of each episode that counts the number of human lives remaining on Galactica and the other ships from the initial 50,000 (on the 8/5/05 episode, the count was down to 47,000 and change). While things could lighten up a little for the fleet, we need to consider that the fate of the human race is at stake here at all times. Also, I have heard complaints that, among the racial/gender switch-ups done among the characters (i.e., Starbuck/that guy from the A-Team to Starbuck/attitudinal blonde chick)that African-Americans actors have taken a hit since Boomer and Tigh are now played as an Asian woman and a drunken Caucasian man, respectively. But the greater spectrum of races and sexes on display is encouraging. Just give us a good Black regular character soon!
  
  Finally, if great effects, powerful writing, and good acting aren't good enough for the diehard Galactica fanboys, there's this: the beloved Original Apollo, Richard Hatch, has a recurring role. So the new guys respect the old school, after all.
  
  
• An Amazing & Critically-Acclaimed Sci-Fi TV Series
  By A18RQ2URRGIIEA on 2005-08-20
  When the Sci-Fi Channel first announced back in 2003 that it was producing a miniseries version of the original 1978 TV series "Battlestar Galactica", I had a lot of doubts about how successful it would be because two of the former main characters were being turned from men into women and because the some of the Cylons were going to appear human. When I first watched the miniseries back in 2003, my doubts were quickly washed away as the miniseries proved to be compelling, engaging, extremely realistic, emotional, well-acted and had superb special effects. Due to the huge success of the miniseries, the Sci-Fi Channel decided to produce a TV series based upon its 2003 miniseries. The first season of the new "Battlestar Galactica" TV series aired in 2004 and showed itself to be just as exciting and well made as the miniseries.
  
  The primary characters in the new "Battlestar Galactica" are Commander William "Husker" Adama (Edward James Olmos), President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), Lt. Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace (Katee Sackhoff), Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama (Jamie Bamber), Doctor Gaius Baltar (James Callis), Lt. Sharon 'Boomer' Valerii (Grace Park), the Cylon known as Number Six (Tricia Helfer), Col. Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan) and Lt. Karl 'Helo' Agathon (Tahmoh Penikett). Other characters include Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch, who played Apollo in the original 1978 "Battlestar Galactica" TV series), Chief Petty Officer Tyrol, Crashdown (Sam Witwer) and Crewman Specialist Cally (Nicki Clyne).
  
  The 13 episodes of the first season are as follows:
  
  1. "33". Once every 33 minutes, the fleeing human fleet is repeatedly attacked by Cylons, forcing it to repeatedly jump to new locations to avoid the attacks; but how are the Cylons always finding them? In the meantime, Helo is still alive on Caprica, and so is a Boomer.
  
  2. "Water". Sabotage on Galactica causes it to lose a large amount of its water supply and Boomer suspects that she might have committed the act.
  
  3. "Bastille Day". Richard Hatch makes his first appearance as the prisoner Tom Zarek, who takes members of Galactica's crew hostage.
  
  4. "Act of Contrition". An accident aboard Galactica forces inexperienced pilots into learning to fly Vipers while Starbuck confronts her memories surrounding the death of Apollo's brother Zak. Starbuck later crashes on a planet after fighting a Cylon fighter.
  
  5. "You Can't Go Home Again". Having survived the crash (in the previous episode), Starbuck finds the crashed Cylon fighter and decides to use it as a means to escape the uninhabited planet. Neither Adama nor Apollo want to give up their search for Starbuck.
  
  6. "Litmus". An attack upon Galactica by a human-looking Cylon prompts a tribunal with Boomer & Tyrol at the center of the controversy until Adama is forced to testify.
  
  7. "Six Degrees of Separation". Number Six appears on Galactica as someone else and accuses Baltar of being a traitor.
  
  8. "Flesh and Bone". Starbuck interrogates a discovered human-looking Cylon at great psychological cost to herself and President Roslin. The Boomer on Caprica receives uncomfortable orders for being with Helo.
  
  9. "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down". Adama has prepared a surprise for Col. Tigh: his wife, Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon), has been discovered among the refugees in the fleet.
  
  10. "The Hand of God". While Galactica launches a daring attack on a Cylon base for fuel, President Roslin begins to have hallucinations that are perceived as prophetic.
  
  11. "Colonial Day". Tom Zarek makes his grab for political power upon the desires of the Quorum to elect a Vice President.
  
  12. "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 1". When Galactica discovers Kobol (thanks to Boomer), President Roslin asks Starbuck to retrieve the Arrow of Apollo from Caprica while Boomer attempts suicide. On Caprica, Helo doesn't know what to do with Boomer, who is pregnant with his child. A Galactica shuttle crash-lands on Kobol with Tyrol, Baltar and Crashdown.
  
  13. "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 2". Adama arrests President Roslin as a traitor for having convinced Starbuck to fly to Caprica, but after Boomer returns triumphant after destroying a Cylon Basestar over Kobol, a frightening and unexpected event will leave the audience in suspense until the start of the second season. Also, Number Six reveals a secret to Baltar on Kobol and Starbuck has a fight with another Number Six on Caprica, where she also meets Helo and the other Boomer.
  
  Overall, for being one of the best sci-fi TV programs produced in a long time, I rate the first season of the new "Battlestar Galactica" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to everyone.
  
  
• Battlestar Galactica..."all growed up"!
  By A2L4XGVPR42KHL on 2005-07-24
  For those of you old enough to remember, Battlestar Galactica was ABC's primetime answer to 'Star Wars' in 1978. Boasting a booming orchestrated theme, a seasoned actor (the late Lorne Greene), and even fighters that managed to resemble X Wing fighters from Star Wars at a glance, the show opened to fantastic ratings. Though it may have been inspired from Star Wars, the story was all it's own, and incorporated many themes that you really didn't see on TV back in the 70's. Unfortunately, also true of the 70's was the show's campiness. It lasted one season, and then a second "Sequel" season (Galactica 1980) but that one was so horrid, even I remember it was cheesy and I was 7 years old at the time.
  
  Flash forward to 2003. It's a different world we now live in. Harsher, darker, edgier, and more dangerous. And so began the re-imagined version of Battlestar Galactica, with a special 2 part mini series on the Sci-Fi channel. Radically different in many respects, yet true to the show's original premise, it did well enough that Sci-Fi announced a full season of 13 episodes. And these are the episodes that made TV worth watching again. Picking up a few days after the end of the mini series, the show thrusts you into a roller coaster ride of tension and drama which ends in an amazing 2 part ending plus a cliffhanger that had people who saw it begging for more.
  
  This set will contain the entire first season plus the original mini series as well (a nice touch). While Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction show (and airs on Sci-Fi primarily to boot), it more closely resembles a drama. All the sci-fi techno babble is kept to a minimum. There are no rubber headed monsters, no alien races that look like halloween costume rejects. This show is about the characters pure and simple. The acting is top notch. Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell spearhead the first rate cast as the Commander of the Galactica and the President of the 12 Colonies respectively. A special mention to Katee Sackhoff for her amazingly believable performance as Kara Thrace, call sign: "Starbuck". She truly is an amazing character to watch on screen, complex and faulted. In fact, that's what's so believable about the show...every one is human. I don't mean homo sapien...I mean normal. They make mistakes, they do stupid things, they mess up just like people do in real life. No cardboard cut out heroes here, everyone is real. They have faults (Col. Tigh the ship's XO has a drinking problem). Lee Adama (Apollo) has issues with his father. Dr Gaius Baltar, genius but may be going complete whacko since he may or may not be talking to Six (Tricia Helfer), the sexy blonde humanoid Cylon in his head. And then there's Boomer...oh man.
  
  Bottom line here....if you like drama, a little bit of action, amazingly detailed CGI, a first class cast with equally good scripts and dialogue, and a story that will leave you waiting for more, give this show a chance. Many people who didn't even consider a science fiction show have become converts. Firefly fans, take note too...CGI by Zoic, similar shooting style, and a story that focuses on the people, and not the spaceships make this a winner.
  
  
• an incredible, challenging show
  By A24IYR83TFFWDK on 2005-08-19
  One of the best programs on television in many years, Battlestar Galactica is visually stunning, dramatically gripping, and psychologically challenging. Please do not compare the show to the original series. They are completely different, and they will satisfy different interests. Personally, I liked the original series, and I'm crazy about the new one. Trying to decide which one is better is an exercise in futility. Just enjoy them both for what they are.
  
  
• An outstanding drama
  By A1FNCHRTYGMSW0 on 2005-08-20
  No show has to deal with the level of hatred that the new re-imagined version of Battlestar Galactica does. There is a rabid group of original series fans who simply can't accept changes like having Starbuck be a woman and will come up with ridiculous reasons to trash the new series. For example, they may claim that the plot moves too slowly. On the contrary, Battlestar Galactica moves faster than comparable shows with a long over-arching storyline like Lost, Alias, X-Files, etc.
  
  If you're open-minded about the alterations and a fan of smart, character-driven dramas, Battlestar Galactica will certainly appeal to you.
  
  The show is about what happens when humans creates very intelligent machines and the machines turn on them. It is not typical sci-fi. It's not about technology (besides the intelligent 'bots), discovering new worlds or aliens.
  
  It's about humans and how they deal in a time of intense crisis when everything they know is destroyed and they have to run, fight for their lives, make difficult choices, reestablish a society and find hope.
  
  This show is actually not as bleak as it sounds. The writers manage to inject some levity into the show (which does not destroy the dark overall tone.)
  
  Battlestar Galactica is very character driven. All the characters seem like real, breathing people and they grow, change and have relationships. As other reviewers have already mentioned, the show is critically acclaimed and for good reason. The re-imagined Battlestar Galactica is one of the most intelligent dramas in years.
  
  
• The best show on TV
  By A2M9VT8YCYLI8W on 2005-09-07
  The new Battlestar Galactica is, in my opinion, the best show on TV. It has
  - great acting
  - very intelligent writing
  - complex, well-developed characters
  - lots of suspense
  - very interesting man vs. machine conflict
  - strong continuity
  
  Don't take my word for it. The Christian Science Monitor recently named Battlestar Galactica "The best show on TV" and wrote: "The 1970s series Battlestar Galactica was so dinky that it played like "Bonanza" in space. The Sci-Fi Channel's radically reinvented version shares the same premise: A fleet of refugees traverses the galaxy in search of a far-off promised land, Earth. This time, though, it uses the story line as an allegory for the post-9/11 zeitgeist. The characters and plotting are so complex that you'll find other shows like "Lost" comparatively dull."
  
  
  
• Amazing series
  By A2VE83MZF98ITY on 2005-09-20
  Having grown up on the old Battlestar Galactica and similar science fiction, I wasn't sure how I would react to this new series.
  
  In this series, with a few nods to the original ideas, there are still humans on twelve planets who have an advanced civilisation, but an aging military fleet. They've been at peace for twenty years, since the Cylons (here the humans' own creation) departed, having never signed a formal peace treaty. There is no peace conference here - rather, the aging battlestar Galactica is about to be decommissioned, when an unexpected attack by dramatically more advanced Cylons takes place, incorporating not only direct military strikes but also computer internet/network hijacking, facilitated by the mentally unbalanced but ingenious Dr. Baltar. Adama takes the Galactica to a safe location while the rest of the colonies fall quickly to the Cylons; various ships in the interstellar routes survive, including one with a cabinet minister elevated to the presidency due to the emergency, Laura Roslin. The ragtag fleet assembles at a forgotten supply depot, and does a sort of light-speed jump to safety after fighting (and essentially losing) against a new Cylon death star.
  
  There are small nods to the old series - on the Galactica preparing for decommissioning, a museum has been set up, which has models of old Cylon death stars (these are models from the original series). The specifications for Cylons show the old metallic storm-trooper, but we are also informed that no one has seen a Cylon in twenty years (they've outgrown their shiny metal armour). In one scene, the museum chatter about the history of the Galactica mentions a Commander Hatch as its first commander, an obvious nod to Richard Hatch, the star of the original series.
  
  The character of Laura Roslin is new, and the figure of Adama is a very different one from the original. Perhaps the most shocking change is that Starbuck here, while still a cigar-chomping, swaggering, swearing, card-playing rogue of an ace pilot, is also a woman.
  
  The pilot shows people to be very human - whereas in the original series, they were almost playing archetypes of hero, villain, father-figure, etc., in this new show the roles are nowhere as distinct. The characters have flaws, and not Persian-carpet flaws, but real, honest-to-goodness problems and personality quirks. Adama is adamant about keeping the Galactica safe but also in engaging the enemy; his clashes with the authority of Laura Roslin, a president essentially without a nation, promises to be an interesting one. Apollo is still the solid captain of the fighter squad, and Starbuck and Boomer his able lieutenants, but there are secrets lurking here, too. And then there is Dr. Baltar, in whom the line between genius and insanity is constantly being redrawn.
  
  The fleet is assembled, and heading off toward Earth. Here, however, Earth is not the ancient migratory memory of Adama as in the original series as much as it a mythical invention to give people hope in the fleet - this could set up a very different character to their run from the Cylons. Also, the fact that the Cylons are ultimately the creation of the humans, and now look like the humans, will factor heavily into a revised story line.
  
  The storylines across the different episodes lead from a desperate attempt to outrun the Cylons into a growing community with its own culture similar to but distinct from that they left behind. The deepening mystery about the Cylons continues enigmatically, and the quest for Earth eventually takes a dramatic turn as the fleet discovers the ancient home world of Kobol. This was the perfect set-up for a new season; the 1970s series never really had the chance, but the characters here will continue to develop across several more seasons.
  
  
  
  
• The best sci-fi series in a decade
  By A31QMLT5V5WADU on 2005-09-09
  I was extremely skeptical about the prospect of an updated "Battlestar Galactica." Although I was a huge fan of the original when I was a child, as an adult I find the 1970s version of BSG cheesily produced, poorly written, unbelievably acted (despite all the "name" actors involved)... in short, all but unwatchable.
  
  So after letting the 2003 miniseries and entire first season of the new BSG pass by without a thought, I stumbled upon a re-run marathon on the SciFi channel, and decided to give it a shot. I wasn't sure I actually liked the show at first, but right off the bat I was intrigued by the complex interaction of its characters, the unique production design (such as the handheld camera look of the space scenes), and the truly bizarre Baltar storyline. And the show is INTENSE. After five or six episodes, I knew I was hooked for good.
  
  The only other science fiction series of the past ten years that's held my attention was "Babylon 5," which was a very different show but had the same qualities I admire in the new BSG: a willingness to take risks, to put characters first, and to let a large story evolve slowly; and the ability to do so without getting dull or repetitive.
  
  No, it's not exactly "fun" most of the time; it's dark, sometimes depressing, sometimes frightening. But it's also pretty darn compelling. You will care about what's happening, and you'll want desperately to know what happens next.
  
  
• Drama foremost.
  By A2NG8XPY9RK1AG on 2005-07-25
  The title, Battlestar Galactica, may sound nerdy to some, nostalgic to others, and intruiguing to few. But that is just not the case. I'm not going to address any of the fans of the original show who hate this new re-imagining with a vengeance. They can go sulk someplace else.
  
  The point is, Battlestar Galactica is a very well-written drama with sci-fi undertones. Very rarely will sci-fi be used as the main genre of an episode. Never is it purely technobabble and confusing plots and crazy names. Continuing what the 2003 miniseries began, the series is cutting loose from its sci-fi roots and is emerging as one of the better shows on TV. No cardboard cut-out characters. No cheesy lines or cheap props. Some may complain that the pacing is too slow, but that's just it. These people are used to the "problem of the week" sci-fi shows where something is addressed in one week and then the huge reset button in the sky is pressed and the characters are ready for next week. BSG is just not that. The characters have to face the consequences of their actions and their problems are not things that can be solved an a few minutes time. The characters do not magically heal, conflicts are not easily forgotten, and flaws are not solved simply through a nice pep talk.
  
  The characters in BSG are dynamic. They all have certain flaws which make their characters all the more enticing and interesting to follow. When you live within a ragtag fleet constantly running from the Cylons and with less than 50,000 other people, problems arise. Never before has political drama ever been done so well in a sci-fi series. The characters are human. They are not larger-than-life heroes who are stoic and ever-ready for battle. They are human. If you ever wanted to watch something provocative and stimulating, make it Battlestar Galactica.
  
  
• BG is an excellent gift for anybody
  By A2QFESIQOGPABS on 2005-08-16
  So all the reviews say the same 2 things: this is a great show (much better than the old one) and old fans are the only ones complaining. And you are wondering when is someone going to say something different? Well nobody is because it's the truth.
  
  No need to go on reading reviews, trust me everyone says the same thing.
  
  I strongly recommend this dvd set to any wife or girlfriend as an excellent gift for a typical guy who likes dramas or scifi. Why? Because most people haven't seen the whole season because of it's horrible time slot. (Friday nights? Newsflash: People go out!)
  
  p.s. I can't understand how anybody can say that the old we-are-all-happy-nobody-is-bad-(except the "crazy" evil baltar)-CARTOON-SHOW of the 70's is better than this one. I don't get it!
  
  
• A riveting drama
  By A2M5554S64WYOT on 2005-08-24
  Battlestar Galactica is a dark, smart, sexy, and terrifying (and occasionally humorous) drama. The story in a nutshell is as follows: Humans created intelligent robots called Cylons who turned on them and wiped almost all of them out. About 50,000 humans survive and are under constant attack by the Cylons. In addition to battling (but mostly fleeing) the Cylons, there are power struggles and intrigue among the survivors.
  
  The strong cast is led by Oscar nominees Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell who give terrific performances as a Commander and President respectively. The other actors (with the exception of one...) are also great.
  
  Battlestar Galactica's characters are complex and dynamic. Their behaviour is not always predictable but always makes sense in light of what we know about their values, and the experiences and traumas they've been through. Family, friendship, romantic love and loyalty play a key role throughout the series.
  
  The overarching plot builds in a satisfying and steady manner. Plot details that may appear insignificant often turn out to be very important later on in the season. There are a lot of surprises but the writers lay the proper groundwork; so although surprising, the developments don't come out of absolutely nowhere. The writers have obviously done some solid planning.
  
  This series is worthy of your time and money. It is challenging, thrilling, intriguing, and emotionally riveting. If it maintains its quality in season 2, it will go down as one of the finest shows ever produced.
  
  
• Storytelling at its best!
  By A15IQNTQX7QYQA on 2005-09-21
  As I reflect on the sheer depth of the story that BSG has told thus far, I cannot help but be awed by the simplicity, yet complex nature of it.
  
  I remember reading of the abject hate that was being hurled at Ronald D. Moore when Sci-Fi announced that he was to "reimagine" the beloved, yet short-lived series. Moore was quoted as saying there was great potential in the story. Critics came through the woodwork demanding that he leave well-enough alone.
  
  "Starbuck a woman?" Damn right. Moore has taken several liberties, yet kept a few standards. Gone are the lasers and sword-wielding Cylon drones. They have been replaced by CGI drones with sexy and all-too-human Cylon models that understand humanity all too well. The lasers have been replaced by bullets that only enhance the story in their brutal realism.
  
  Yes, it's about the STORY. Moore has created a story that is rich with religion and history, but most importantly, a revelation of humanity, warts and all. The dialogue is real, the awkwardness is genuine, and the stress of the day-to-day operations of the rag-tag fleet is through the roof.
  
  Season 1, while entirely too short, was a story that deeped the relationships of our beloved characters. Oh, and that "woman Starbuck?" She's easily the best character of the show; a gifted pilot, yet flawed. No one can hold a candle to her. And her deepest wound is on her heart. Her confession to Adama was one of the most profound scenes Season 1 offered.
  
  Yes, there are great special effects. The battle scenes are eye-popping in their realism and brutality. But in the end, it's about the story. Good writing and good storytelling will create a mythos that transcends time and space, and when it's rich in character development and a revelation of the human condition, it becomes something even more. It's deeper than "morality shows." It's far more rich than any political message of current events.
  
  Its heart is centered around faith; faith that humanity will eventually get its collective head out of its ass. But the reality is that deep in the core of the story, there's the understanding that true enlightenment isn't very likely. But the hope is there.
  
  Stories like BSG draw the viewer deep into its heart, and for an hour each week, we feel like we're a part of it. It becomes OUR story. There's a little of Starbuck, Apollo, and yes, even a little bit of Baltar, and God help us, Boomer, in each of us.
  
  Thank you, Mr. Moore. You've enriched my Friday nights. Keep it up!
  
  "So say we all."
  
  
  
  

• Battlestar Galactica: Season 2.5 (Episodes 11-20)
• Battlestar Galactica - Season 2.0 (Episodes 1-10)
• Battlestar Galactica - Season Three
• Battlestar Galactica - Razor (Unrated Extended Edition)
• Battlestar Galactica: Seasons 2.0 and 2.5