Poll: Do You Like Battlestar Galactica?

[Soviet Heavy]

Battlestar Galactica is remembered for two things. One, the television series that tried to rip off Star Wars, becoming a cult classic after it was cancelled, and Two, a re-imagined series from 2004 that became one of the most watched shows on the Sci-Fi Channel.

But what is your stance on them? I grew up watching the reruns of the original series long after they were aired (90's kid). This was after I was exposed to Star Wars in 1994, so I lapped up anything that had spaceships and big laser filled explosions. I loved every minute of it, even with the goofy robot dog.

The newer series felt different to me. While the first few episodes featuring the massive space battles were awesome, I felt that it had lost some of its charm during the transition from space adventure to "grimdark survival story" in space. I don't know, it just felt more... generic, especially after shows like Babylon 5, Stargate SG1 and Firefly already did the more hard edge science fiction.

The show was alright, but it didn't really feel like Battlestar Galactica to me.

But those are my thoughts: what are yours?

 

[GrandmaFunk]

I don't know, it just felt more... generic, especially after shows like Babylon 5, Stargate SG1 and Firefly already did the more hard edge science fiction.

that made me lol pretty hard. none of those shows are remotely what I would consider "hard edge"(not that it's a bad thing).

that being said, the new BSG was quite awesome and should be remembered as one of the best science fiction series.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I don't know, it just felt more... generic, especially after shows like Babylon 5, Stargate SG1 and Firefly already did the more hard edge science fiction.

that made me lol pretty hard. none of those shows are remotely what I would consider "hard edge"(not that it's a bad thing).

that being said, the new BSG was quite awesome and should be remembered as one of the best science fiction series.

Compared to Star Wars (Which BSG was originally ripping off), those shows are further to the realistic end of the spectrum for science fiction. Yeah, they still had lasers and aliens and shit, but they were within more speculative fiction confines than true space opera.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Meh I only remember watching the first vew episodes of the orignal version so didn't leave much of an impression to me however I do like watching the remake (but not enough for me to finish watching the rest of the seasons).

 

[-Seraph-]

I adored the 2004 series for the most part, and one of my favorite sci fi shows of all time.

It had deep interesting characters, clever and interesting plot threads, and the entire style and mood of the show was just so visceral due to the cinematography and rather human performances. I loved the social, political, and some of the religious themes too. And Dr Baltar is one of my favorite characters ever.

I still enjoy the old BSG for all it's old school glory and cheese, but the newer one was just overall better in my eyes.

That said, the new series did start to pitfall in the last season and left me rather unsatisfied, especially after the very strong first and second seasons (and all the extra tie in stuff). Every series has its good and bad episodes, and this was no different, but the last season got frustrating in some parts.

Show did love to get preachy sometimes, but never to the obnoxious extent as some parts of the last season. There were also some really annoying plot holes or just down right convoluted crap that could have been explained better, or didn't need to exist (I'd site examples but my memory is foggy since it's been so long). Just shit like that "twist" with Starbuck, the "real Earth", and the ending along with other stuff was just kinda...bleh.

I just felt that after the whole "Wait, I'm a Cylon!?" stuff, the show was trying desperately to make sense of itself. Some of it just never really felt it added up...season 4 was just the weakest. Oh it still had some really good episodes that still had all the stuff I liked, but there was still a lot of "WTF?" going on. The ending was very "What the Frak!?", and could have been better.

I could delve a lot deeper than I have, but I just feel like I'm babbling now. I still love the series and it's one of my favorite shows ever for sure. Seasons 1-3 I will always remember fondly.

 

[AD-Stu]

I've tried a couple of times to get into the original series and it's just never done anything for me. It was all just far, far too silly and 70s and I think it dated pretty badly.

The remake, however, I thought was awesome. I thought the effects were particularly well done, the story was well written for the most part, they cast it well and I remember really liking the camera work too.

 

[AD-Stu]

That's the funny thing, actually - there's a lot of stuff I didn't like about the ending, but overall I still remember it very fondly. I guess I've just shut out the bad bits and focussed on all the good heroic stuff and the epic final battle

 

[-Seraph-]

The new series started out tremendously promising. Season 2 also was great. Season three started to lose focus, and season four fell appart. When the producers later admitted they weren't getting along and were seperately writing storylines without consulting each other (and in fact the ending wasn't even discussed until S4 filming was underway) it was pretty obvious why the series fell appart.

Either I simply forgot or never even heard of this, it explains a lot towards my unsettling feeling towards season 4. It did feel like there were opposing ideas and directions for the show at that stage, and it was painful to watch at times. Several people disagreeing with each other and writing their own shit explains a lot of the plot holes, meandering, and rather unsatisfying nature of season 4.

It's a damn shame too, but there were parts in S4 that were great, but not having a very focused writing team is damning to any show.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

Compared to Star Wars (Which BSG was originally ripping off), those shows are further to the realistic end of the spectrum for science fiction. Yeah, they still had lasers and aliens and shit, but they were within more speculative fiction confines than true space opera.

true enough =)

but then star wars is barely sci-fi at all..it's space opera/fantasy adventure.

firefly isn't very sci-fi either..just western/space opera.

having the setting and technology being futuristic and in space doesn't automatically make it a sci-fi story.

to me, sci-fi is stories that are focused on the impact and influences that technology and alternate settings/realities have on lives.



space battles are fun too tho =)