Battlestar Galactica - does it get better?

[Xathos]

Another problem is that a lot of the characters underwent too many weird changes throughout the series. Arbitrary changes. Like they didn't know where else to go with a character when he had one personality, so they changed his personality and tried some other things. Starback and Apollo definitely changed for the worse, but nobody more so than Baltar.

It's like they couldn't decide what the hell to do with him. He was like 12 different people through the course of the show. They created this great character and after the first season it's like he'd served his purpose and now they just needed to find shit for him to do.

Season 4 spoilers in box below

Spoiler

I remember in the last season (probably a bit towards the end), Starbuck's actress was fed up with her. She went to whoever, and complained that she had no idea what her character was doing and felt like she was all over the place and just felt trouble by it all because she couldn't understand her. They said that how she was feeling was exactly how Starbuck is/should be feeling.

I'm probably slightly exaggerating/understating how she explained it to the camera, but she seemed happy with that answer (which I guess technically falls in line to how Starbuck was acting that season, doing things but not exactly knowing why), but also comes across a bit as a cop out.

In any case, I remember feeling that way a bit as I watched the show. Some of those changes were good I guess (can't exactly name any now though), but some were just wierd. It also didn't help that they would change a character for a certain plotline, but then drop the plotline for whatever reason, and thus kind of screw over that character a bit. Then throw in some romances that tried to go somewhere but really nowhere and seem a bit random at best and you get some doubletakes during characterization.

 

[Xathos]

They didn't? That's surprising. I thought James Callis as Baltar was one of the best actors in the whole series. Extraordinary range and control, He dealt with the constantly changing demands of the character very well. Also special mentions due to Dean Stockwell (Brother Cavill), Lucy Lawless (Diana) and I'm a massive Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyroll fan now. The series' music composer Bear McCreary also did a fantastic job and deserves recognition.

Nope. They would get awards for certain episodes and I believe musical scores as well as some CGI, but that's it. Not too sure on the exact list, but I'm sure the internet will provide an answer if you look hard enough. A shame too, because while the acting all around is damn fantastic, I really wanted Adama, Roslin, and Tigh to get something. It seems even worse because a lot of the actors (like Edward James Olmos) really liked the show and had a blast with it. Ronald D. Moore couldn't understand how none of the actors won anything either, because he thought they totally deserved it.

 

[flaviok79]

The show suffered a great deal due to that big writers' strike, especially season 3. It was supposed to be a 5 season flick but they only got 4. In spite of that, the show picks up the slack by mid season 4. The season finale is specially good, with great soundtrack and wraps up most of the plot. I recommend that you watch the movies and web series, as they explain everything even better. If you watch one movie only, make it "The Plan".

 

[Doclector]

Hmm. Looks like I should just stop at season 1 then. I really liked it, it really put a massive load of "non-heroism" on the apocalyptic scenario. In a lot of that kind of fiction, the last of the human race instantly and seamlessly unites and saves the world/galaxy like big damn heroes, and although BSG has heroic moments, the picture of the last of humanity is of a pathetic bunch of oft-squabbling people, scared, angry, crushed with responsibility and struggling to survive on a plan no more complex than "run away and hope they don't find us". It did all this while still making you back the characters, as hopeless as the situation seems.

If the later series don't do as well, then maybe I'm best off keeping to the first series and not tainting my good favour for it.

 

[Sixcess]

Guess maybe just try to plow through it a little more? At least until halfway or something?

I've just done with Ep 6, Home, pt 1. I'm curious enough to see where they're going with this to continue a little while longer. On some level the idea that it'll get worse/different is a reason to keep watching - morbid curiosity.

But if all the characters are really just annoying you this early on and you want them all to die, then you probably shouldn't force yourself to watch it.

Yep, all of them, except Adama. Actually, maybe including Adama, as he seems well on his way to crawling back under the thumb of President Moses Roslin. But I still like him more than the rest, especially Lee and Starbuck, and Six... and Baltar most of the time... and Roslin of course. I find the show's unwillingness to cast any doubt on the spiritual stuff very disconcerting, and can't help feel that if they were saying 'God' instead of 'Gods' they'd all be coming across as Christian Fundamentalists.

 

[Raven's Nest]

I find the show's unwillingness to cast any doubt on the spiritual stuff very disconcerting, and can't help feel that if they were saying 'God' instead of 'Gods' they'd all be coming across as Christian Fundamentalists.

Errm... Yeah I won't spoil anything but the breaking down and uncovering the truth behind the religious elements is a major plot point of the whole series. As is the true history and nature of the inhabitants of the universe. The show definitely takes a different direction after the second series and I would defend its value till the end of time. There simply isn't a better sci-fi TV show out there (that didn't get cancelled).

If you can put up with hating a few characters (and you are supposed to dislike them), you may find the evolution of the show and it's characters well worth the time and expense.

 

[Xathos]

Guess maybe just try to plow through it a little more? At least until halfway or something?

I've just done with Ep 6, Home, pt 1. I'm curious enough to see where they're going with this to continue a little while longer. On some level the idea that it'll get worse/different is a reason to keep watching - morbid curiosity.

But if all the characters are really just annoying you this early on and you want them all to die, then you probably shouldn't force yourself to watch it.

Yep, all of them, except Adama. Actually, maybe including Adama, as he seems well on his way to crawling back under the thumb of President Moses Roslin. But I still like him more than the rest, especially Lee and Starbuck, and Six... and Baltar most of the time... and Roslin of course. I find the show's unwillingness to cast any doubt on the spiritual stuff very disconcerting, and can't help feel that if they were saying 'God' instead of 'Gods' they'd all be coming across as Christian Fundamentalists.

Any doubt? I thought at least a handful of characters think Roslin is being a bit crazy, but then they just sort of go along with it because she is right. Hmm, or maybe that was all just Adama? Lol, sorry, its been awhile since I last watched the show.

And again, you don't have to force yourself! I mean, you might like the later seasons, or you may not. The show is pretty polarizing to different people afterall. If you do watch it all the way through, then at least you can talk to other people about how bad the show is and have legitimate points about why, with "but I didn't really finish the show" not discrediting your whole argument or something. =)

 

[Xathos]

Hmm. Looks like I should just stop at season 1 then. I really liked it, it really put a massive load of "non-heroism" on the apocalyptic scenario. In a lot of that kind of fiction, the last of the human race instantly and seamlessly unites and saves the world/galaxy like big damn heroes, and although BSG has heroic moments, the picture of the last of humanity is of a pathetic bunch of oft-squabbling people, scared, angry, crushed with responsibility and struggling to survive on a plan no more complex than "run away and hope they don't find us". It did all this while still making you back the characters, as hopeless as the situation seems.

If the later series don't do as well, then maybe I'm best off keeping to the first series and not tainting my good favour for it.

I would say keep going. The characters still act as you describe them, with "heroism" played pretty vaguely with a lot of the characters. If the rest of the show just isn't to your liking, then you can easily stop.

The only problem is that the later seasons make some characterizations a bit weird, and the ever looming threat of the Cylons (while still there obviously), isn't given too much focus as in the first season, probably because the cast is actually sort of used to it by now, unlike when they first started out.