Batllestar Galactica

[Kinokohatake]

Okay I am incredibly late on this but when it came out I was going through a heavy anime phase. So I started watching the newer series on Netflix. Despite getting off to an INCREDIBLY slow start, I made it through the first hour and a half long episode. I think I made it halfway through the second episode before I turned it off.

The turning point for me was when the president seemed like she was about to leave the little girl behind on the ship without ftl.

Now at this point I got up and turned it off and made up my own story and ending. So I ask, will this series get any less sad? I like my sci fi a bit more light hearted and lighter on the baby and child murder. Should I continue?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

The (modern relaunch) of BSG deals with some pretty heavy themes. The first two seasons in particular. If that story line made you uncomfortable, just wait until the Pegasus shows up.

However, the whole series goes completely off the rails in the 3rd and 4th season, so the grimdark nature of the narrative is really the least of your concerns.

 

[Raika]

It doesn't get any less sad. It also doesn't get any less good. It's pretty much the best sci-fi television show of all time. You really should watch it. Everyone should.

 

[Raven's Nest]

You went through a heavy anime stage but something like battlestar is too heavy/sad for you?

What were you watching, Pokemon??

 

[Raven's Nest]

The (modern relaunch) of BSG deals with some pretty heavy themes. The first two seasons in particular. If that story line made you uncomfortable, just wait until the Pegasus shows up.

However, the whole series goes completely off the rails in the 3rd and 4th season, so the grimdark nature of the narrative is really the least of your concerns.

I've really yet to hear precisely why people dislike the last two seasons, care to enlighten me? In a spoiler box naturally..

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I've really yet to hear precisely why people dislike the last two seasons, care to enlighten me? In a spoiler box naturally..

Spoiler: Here be spoilers...fairly warned, be thee

The show abandons the political/ideological thematic content of seasons 1 and 2, which was very strong, and heads off in a quasi-mystical direction, with much discussion of fate, faith, and the implication of divine interference in events.

Additionally, there's the issue of almost half the core cast turning out to be Cylons, taking an interesting plot twist from seasons 1 and 2 and stretching it to an almost ridiculous degree.

It's not a terrible show in seasons 3 and 4 (although the finale is arguably objectively awful), but it's a very different show than the one you start out watching.

 

[Kinokohatake]

You went through a heavy anime stage but something like battlestar is too heavy/sad for you?

What were you watching, Pokemon??

Yes. I love Pokemon. Also everything from Gantz to Escaflowne to Elfen Lied, and Power Puff Girls Z. Animated death isn't that big an issue for me. Also, I have a thing about kids dying.

 

[Raven's Nest]

I've really yet to hear precisely why people dislike the last two seasons, care to enlighten me? In a spoiler box naturally..

Spoiler: Here be spoilers...fairly warned, be thee

The show abandons the political/ideological thematic content of seasons 1 and 2, which was very strong, and heads off in a quasi-mystical direction, with much discussion of fate, faith, and the implication of divine interference in events.

Additionally, there's the issue of almost half the core cast turning out to be Cylons, taking an interesting plot twist from seasons 1 and 2 and stretching it to an almost ridiculous degree.

It's not a terrible show in seasons 3 and 4 (although the finale is arguably objectively awful), but it's a very different show than the one you start out watching.

Spoiler: Spoilers continued, yarrr...

The political edge is lost for sure but then look at the situation they are in. If the first two seasons were about survival and clinging on to their old identities then the second act was about the group coming to terms with what has happened. After the events of new caprica I think the show became more personal, looking into how each character was dealing with their existence and how those characters affected their followers/friends.

If anything the religion card was sronger in the first act with the whole scrolls of pythia stuff. When you watch the series back as a whole (something i've done at least 4 times now), you'll notice that the shifts in tone aren't actually as abrupt as you might think. Roslin was always spouting nonsense but the religion itself was as true in the first episode as it was in the last. It, like the cylon's beliefs were just an interpretation of supernatural and historical events which had been present throughout the series. The two most important characters to watch in this series regarding that is Baltar's imaginary six and vice versa. They are the embodiment of God who has existed in the series since day one.

Although it was a bit much to have 5 of the main characters suddenly become cylons, but then, the story isn't really about man vs machine. For a start the humanoid cyclons aren't even machines. They are just genetically engineered offspring from the surviving members of the cylon race. Regarding why having those 5 show up as cylons is very well explained by Anders and is certainly known by the Cavill's (ones).

I really can't agree that the series took flush downwards in terms of writing. The story was always headed in that direction, as that was always the plan (as well as being manipulated by God's will).

It is a very different show after the 2nd season but I never for a moment found it unwelcome. More of the same cylons vs humans endless war would have been incredibly boring. There aren't many good good vs evil stories that actually take the time to tell us why good and evil are really fighting each other...

 

[Raven's Nest]

You went through a heavy anime stage but something like battlestar is too heavy/sad for you?

What were you watching, Pokemon??

Yes. I love Pokemon. Also everything from Gantz to Escaflowne to Elfen Lied, and Power Puff Girls Z. Animated death isn't that big an issue for me. Also, I have a thing about kids dying.

Weird that you love Elfen Lied and can't seemingly handle the depressing and harsh realities of a post-apocolyptical scenario lol.

Anime should have desensitised you to heavy themes now lol. It certainly has me...

 

[Raven's Nest]

In addition to the above, the story just wandered around. From statements released after the final episode, it is clear that for the last two years there were actually two sets of writing being done where the people didn't get along and didn't speak to each other. The only got together before the 2nd half of the final season to figure out how they could possibly create an end to the beast (and it was a WEAK and nonsensical ending at that)

I wasn't aware of that actually. I know the writers strike took it's toll on the creative process however...

The only part that dragged it's heels too much in the second half was probably

Spoiler

Kara's return and attempts to find Earth. Everything from the mutiny onwards was groovy in my book.

I still haven't heard what was so bad about the ending, I've watched it several times and still think it's an epic and satisfactory ending... Something lacking in many sci-fi space operas *wink*

*Triple post ftw

 

[Da Orky Man]

It doesn't. Really. The 2003 Battlestar Galactica goes for the darker and edgier route, you aint finding any happiness here.
Or, to put it another way, later in the series, a prisoner is first implied to have then shown outright to have undergone rape as a form of torture. Yeah, happy stuff.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I still haven't heard what was so bad about the ending, I've watched it several times and still think it's an epic and satisfactory ending... Something lacking in many sci-fi space operas *wink*

I find it amusing that Mass Effect 3 has become a kind of gaming version of Godwin's Law. The longer a discussion goes on, the probability of someone making a sarcastic or caustic comment regarding Mass Effect 3's ending approaches 1.

 

[Raven's Nest]

I still haven't heard what was so bad about the ending, I've watched it several times and still think it's an epic and satisfactory ending... Something lacking in many sci-fi space operas *wink*

I find it amusing that Mass Effect 3 has become a kind of gaming version of Godwin's Law. The longer a discussion goes on, the probability of someone making a sarcastic or caustic comment regarding Mass Effect 3's ending approaches 1.

I was also referring to Return of the Jedi but yeah it's true haha.

 

[Kinokohatake]

You went through a heavy anime stage but something like battlestar is too heavy/sad for you?

What were you watching, Pokemon??

Yes. I love Pokemon. Also everything from Gantz to Escaflowne to Elfen Lied, and Power Puff Girls Z. Animated death isn't that big an issue for me. Also, I have a thing about kids dying.

Weird that you love Elfen Lied and can't seemingly handle the depressing and harsh realities of a post-apocolyptical scenario lol.

Anime should have desensitised you to heavy themes now lol. It certainly has me...

Real people are real. Also there was absolutely no levity in the first two episodes at ALL. Good god it was just sad after sad after sad. Also, was I supposed to be rooting for any of the characters because I sort of hated everyone except the little girl who totally didn't die (in my head).

 

[Raven's Nest]

Real people are real. Also there was absolutely no levity in the first two episodes at ALL. Good god it was just sad after sad after sad. Also, was I supposed to be rooting for any of the characters because I sort of hated everyone except the little girl who totally didn't die (in my head).

Just for clarity's sake, did you watch the mini-series first or start with the 1st season?

 

[Kinokohatake]

Real people are real. Also there was absolutely no levity in the first two episodes at ALL. Good god it was just sad after sad after sad. Also, was I supposed to be rooting for any of the characters because I sort of hated everyone except the little girl who totally didn't die (in my head).

Just for clarity's sake, did you watch the mini-series first or start with the 1st season?

On Netflix it is listed as episode 1 and 2 but was like an hour and a half so to answer your question.....iunno.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Real people are real. Also there was absolutely no levity in the first two episodes at ALL. Good god it was just sad after sad after sad. Also, was I supposed to be rooting for any of the characters because I sort of hated everyone except the little girl who totally didn't die (in my head).

There is precious little levity in BSG as a whole, although there are a few nice moments. The show maintains an extremely melancholic air throughout, as befits the apocalyptic scenario the protagonists are mired in.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Real people are real. Also there was absolutely no levity in the first two episodes at ALL. Good god it was just sad after sad after sad. Also, was I supposed to be rooting for any of the characters because I sort of hated everyone except the little girl who totally didn't die (in my head).

Just for clarity's sake, did you watch the mini-series first or start with the 1st season?

On Netflix it is listed as episode 1 and 2 but was like an hour and a half so to answer your question.....iunno.

Well the miniseries is around 3 hours and ends with a battle surrounding a space station hidden in a nebula. (which is how the show is supposed to kick off) Coincidently on my first viewing I did not realise this and had an interesting time of the first season wondering if I was missing something...

No TV series has a chance to properly introduce characters and story in what amounts to 3 episodes. Keep watching because it is a very character driven story and takes it's time establishing itself. There's a reason it's considered one of the best TV shows of the last decade so If you are somewhat interested in the premise, you can do a lot worse by continuing with it.

The characters aren't particularly likeable at the start but there is a reason for that. Give them until the end of the first season to decide on anything dramatic.

 

[Kinokohatake]

Real people are real. Also there was absolutely no levity in the first two episodes at ALL. Good god it was just sad after sad after sad. Also, was I supposed to be rooting for any of the characters because I sort of hated everyone except the little girl who totally didn't die (in my head).

Just for clarity's sake, did you watch the mini-series first or start with the 1st season?

On Netflix it is listed as episode 1 and 2 but was like an hour and a half so to answer your question.....iunno.

Well the miniseries is around 3 hours and ends with a battle surrounding a space station hidden in a nebula.

No TV series has a chance to properly introduce characters and story in what amounts to 3 episodes. Keep watching because it is a very character driven story and takes it's time establishing itself. There's a reason it's considered one of the best TV shows of the last decade so If you are somewhat interested in the premise, you can do a lot worse by continuing with it.

The characters aren't particularly likeable at the start but there is a reason for that. Give them until the end of the first season to decide on anything dramatic.

I am such a fan of TNG and Firefly, this is just sooooo sad compared to that. Perhaps I'll skip to episode 3 and anytime anything really sad start to happen I'll end the episode and make up my own ending for that character.

 

[Raven's Nest]

I am such a fan of TNG and Firefly, this is just sooooo sad compared to that. Perhaps I'll skip to episode 3 and anytime anything really sad start to happen I'll end the episode and make up my own ending for that character.

To be honest there isn't that many actual sad parts in the whole thing. Sure a couple of character moments made me shed man tears but so did TNG. I can't recommend watching it in it's entirety enough however. Even those that dislike the ending or the latter seasons usually recommend it pretty easily.