Customer Reviews

Battlestar Galactica Season 2 [HD]

5 star:		(244)
4 star:		(63)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(41)

 

 

This is the best show on TV right now. Maybe the best Sci-Fi show ever. If you are a sci-fi fan, this is a must-see show. If not, you should still consider checking this out. Yes, it is in space and yes, it has killer robots, yet even with that, the depth of human drama is comparable to anything on TV today.

Last season, the 12 Colonies of Kobol were nearly blown away by the Cylons, machines that resemble humans and the old warrior mechanical types. The humans almost ran out of water and fuel, yet somehow manage to survive. This ragtag group of human refugees is in search of a 13th lost tribe of humans on a planet called Earth. Things this season start out badly, and they only get worse.

Both of the leaders of the fleet are incapacitated at the beginning of the season. President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) is in Galactica's brig for inciting Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) to mutiny which caused the loss of the Cylon Raider that had been captured, which was a valuable military asset. Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) was shot by "Boomer" (Grace Park), who is a Cylon,

The second season here picks up right where the first season left off. However, unlike most TV shows, the problems presented in the Season 1 finale are not resolved in the first episode. Some will take the whole first part of the second season to be resolved.

As we learned in season 1, there are 12 models of Cylons. The question is: is the Raider (ship) and Warrior, unit 2 of the twelve, or are there 12 models that resemble humans? We do have the introduction of 2 new human-form cylon models (bringing the total to 6/8, leaving 6/4 left to be uncovered), and the reappearance of political activist/terrorist Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch, of the original Battlestar Galactica).

A unique feature this season, and one that is a most interesting addition, is a textual representation of how many people are still alive. Each week in the credits, there is a sentence which lists the exact number of survivors, and it changes every week, depending on how many people died (or appeared) the episode before.

In comparison to Season 1 it is hard to say which is better. The 13 episodes of Season 1 were all great. In the first half of Season 2, there are also no bad episodes. Battlestar Galactica season 2 has such powerful episodes as " Pegasus" and "Scattered". Yet the best episode of the Season 2.0 DVD is " Valley of Darkness", which in my opinion is sheer brilliance, and possibly the best episode of the series.

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.

Anyway, for those who haven't seen this show, but you like a good character drama, be sure to check out this show on DVD. I believe it's even better on DVD. Much like Babylon 5, there is a single story line, with multiple story arcs all tying into that one line. So there is continuity between each episode...and unlike Star Trek, they don't hit the reset button between each episode or movie. What's damaged on a ship in one episode stays damaged in following episodes, as the first season takes place just over a 3 month period.

I recognize that this is a compelling drama that just happens to take place in outer space. It deals with many weighty subjects such as genocide, human flaws, paranoia, depression, and religion. The creators of the original 1970's Battlestar Galactica included many Mormons. On the Internet there are hundreds of articles looking at the religious imagery, the Mormon end-time theology. The religion themes are just as powerful in this new series and this series has practicing religious (clergy - faithful believers), visions, a drug to induce religious visions, and the president believes she is to fulfill prophecy and save humanity.

This is possibly the best Sci-fi series ever!

So say we all.

Like a previous reviewer mentioned, when Sci-Fi Channel announced that they were producing a new BSG show, I was causiously optimistic. I was hoping that it would revive an old classic. To a lot of people's surprise...it did. In fact, the new Battlestar Galactica has been called the "Best Show on TV" by a lot of media organizations. However it's getting some flak by a small but vocal group of die-hard fans of the original show. So much so, that they have banned discussion of the new show on their web site. Yes, I'm talking about you guys at 'CF.com'. "Family show..." Eh? Ahemmm...the new show was never billed as a family show. It is clearly an adult drama set in space. I'm as conservative as you all are, but I know the difference between '70's space cheese and 21st Century sci-fi.

Anyway, for those who haven't seen this show, but you like a good character drama, be sure to check out this show on DVD. I believe it's even better on DVD. For one, you don't have the commercials and second, you don't have to wait between weeks for the the next episode. There's a lot of continuity between episodes...and unlike Star Trek, they don't hit the proverbial "Reset Button" between episodes. What's damaged on a ship in one episode stays damaged in following episodes, as the first season takes place just over a 3 month period.

The second season here picks up right where the first season left off. The major plot thread that was started with the first season's finale 2-part cliff-hanger, is built upon and concluded in the the first 5 or 6 episodes of the second season here. The remaining couple of episodes are more of stand-alone type episodes that are probably building up to what is to occur in the second half of this season which will air from January thru March.

Now then, why is Universal offering just a half season here? Who really knows. Although getting these episodes out before the second half airs is not really a bad thing, just a strange thing. I guess since the show is such a hit, Universal figures that they could boost their ratings for the second half if they get all available episodes out on DVD before the second half airs. This set, however, will include a "90-minute" (60 minute actual) version of the mid-season cliff-hanger episode "Pegasus". So with that, there's at least some incentive to buy this set rather than wait for a possible full season set next year that may or may never come.

UPDATE: I've been informed by a very observant reader that my above post is inaccurate with some out of date false information. I agree. So without further adue, I'll update the info below.

Above I said that a 60+ minute version of "Pegasus" was going to be included on this set. That is incorrect. First of all, that fact was just a rumor spawned by what was said during one of the Podcasts, I believe. However, due to time constraints, Universal Studios was unable to "ready" the extended version of "Pegasus" for this release. Why so? Who knows...

However, it has been reported that the extended version will be on the 2.5 set that will complete the second season. So in essence, fans who have bought both sets will have both versions of this episode. This is similar to the recent problem with the Stargate SG-1 Season 8 set in which the extended 60+ minute version of "Threads" was supposed to be included, but ultimately wasn't. This was remedied by a mail-in offer done by CheckMyRebate.com.

Also, I mention that a full season set, may or may not be offered eventually after the entire season is done airing. After acquiring the 2.0 set, I noticed that there is a half of a image on the spine. The image being one half of the Galactica Seal and President Roslin. I assume the 2.5 set will have the other half of the Galactica Seal and presumably a pic of Commander/Admiral Adama. So with that, I'm beginning to assume that a complete Season 2 set may not in the future. Although I may be proven wrong...but we'll see.

It's hard to believe that things could get any worse for the 50,000 humans left alive in the universe. Last year, the 12 Colonies of Kobol were nearly blown away by the cylons, machines that resemble humans, nearly ran out of water and fuel, and had the two leaders somehow incapacitated. Commander William "Husker" Adama (Edward James Olmos) was shot by Junior Lt. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii (Grace Park), who turned out to be a cylon, while President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) was put in Galactica's brig for convincing Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) to defy Commander Adama. Starbuck is now on Caprica, stranded with Lt. Karl "Helo" Agathon (Tahmoh Penikett) after another copy of the Boomer cylon stole the ship that Starbuck used to get to the planet. Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama (Jamie Bamber), the commander's son, is also under arrest for attempting to stage a mutiny with the president and pointed a gun at the head of the Executive Officer of Galactica, Col. Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan). Finally, Vice President Dr. Gaius Baltar (James Callis), Chief Gallen Tyrol (Aaron Douglas), Lt. "Crashdown" (Sam Witwer), and Specialist Cally (Nicki Clyne) are stranded on Kobol and are surrounded by cylon centurions. As I said, things start out bad, and they only get worse.
With the older Adama unconscious, Tigh is put in charge, and it is clear that he is no leader. He has an alcohol problem, an ambitious wife (Kate Vernon), and a surly attitude towards most people. Furthermore, his relationship with Apollo, who is the head pilot on Galactica, is obviously very strained now that Apollo put his gun to Tigh's head. In the first two episodes, Galactica gets seperated from the rest of the fleet, leaving the civilians defenseless, and a cylon raiding party boards the ship and attempts to take out the ship from within.
On Caprica, Starbuck and Helo try to find a way off the planet, only to run into a human resistance group that has been operating out of an old hospital. But they aren't the only ones that Starbuck finds; a frightening plot is uncovered by her when she encounters a group of cylons. Meanwhile, the people on Kobol are forced to fend for themselves while Galactica is busy trying to find the fleet and deal with Boomer. Number Six (Tricia Helfer) begins to get a firmer grip over Baltar's mind, and gets him to do more and more questionable deeds.
And that's all in the first few episodes. Unlike most shows, the problems presented at the end of Season 1 aren't solved in the first episode. Many of them are so deep that it requires multiple episodes to resolve certain characters' predicaments. I'm going to give a small spoiler by saying that eventually, everyone makes it back to Galactica, meaning that Helo is back on the ship for the first time since the Miniseries pilot. Of course, this creates only more trouble due to the bizarre love triangle that exists between Tyrol, Boomer, and Helo. Each man loved her, and in S1, they each got to know a different copy of the same model. Now, they both have a love/hate relationship with the copy remaining on Galactica. Further troubles come about through the paranoid actions of crew members (my favorite involving Specialist Cally), the introduction of 2 new human-form cylon models (bringing the total to 6, leaving 6 left to be uncovered), and the reappearance of political "activist" Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch, of the original Battlestar Galactica).
These 10 episodes further prove that a science fiction show can not only be good, but be amazing. It is a shame that this show is overlooked by many people as just a "sci-fi" show, but it is so much more. Most critics as well as the relatively large number of fans (for a show on a cable genre network, it sure does get good ratings) recognize that this is a compelling drama that just happens to take place in outer space. It deals with weighty subjects such as genocide, human flaws, paranoia, and religion.
This season retooled the opening theme a little bit. The music is now the chant used in Season 1 in the UK (instead of the march used last year in the US), and while most of the clips are still from the miniseries, there are a few from the previous year. For a while, the second part of the credits, which showed scenes from the episode set to a drum beat, was removed, only to be replaced halfway into the run (fortunately). The most interesting addition is a textual representation of how many people are still alive. Each week in the credits, there is a sentence which lists the exact number of survivors, and it changes every week, depending on how many people died (or appeared) the week before.
It's hard to say which season is better (so far; this is only half of S2, which I'll get to soon). The 13 episodes of S1 were all great. In the first half of S2, there are no "bad" episodes per se, but there are some episodes that don't seem up to the usual quality that we expect from Battlestar Galactica (such as "Valley of Darkness"). However, the best episodes of the season (so far) have been absolutely amazing. "Scattered", "Home, Parts 1 and 2", and "Pegasus", which in my opinion is the best episode of the series so far, are sheer brilliance.
As for the whole "Season 2.0" thing, I am very upset about this. All the respect that I had for Universal for releasing the Miniseries with the S1 set evaporated when I learned that they were pulling this stunt. Due to the schedule of the Sci-Fi channel, they are releasing the first half of S2 before Christmas, and then when the season ends in March, they'll release the second half, thus forcing us to spend more money on these two sets than we would have to if it were one set. I really hope that they eventually release "The Complete Second Season", and I will hold off buying this until I get a definitive answer. If there isn't going to be a Complete S2 set, I will buy both sets (I will be a little ticked off, but I love BSG too much), but if they release a Complete S2 set, I would reccomend buying that one.
This is one of the best show's on TV right now. 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.

The second season of the highly overlooked Battlestar Galactica is definitely shaping itself into a very serious and dark non-escapist TV show. It is not shy about the subject matter it depicts, but the writers and producers still know where to draw the line and leave you reflecting and not cowering. Leaving no event under-analyzed, the show uses Murphy's law at every available instance. The result is wonderfully dramatic TV and a gritty series that surprisingly continues to shock viewers and shed the "after-school special" cheesiness if the sci-fi genre. The characters are still as realistic and true to human nature as they ever were, and the plot is just as enticing as it was in the first season. This is a definite buy, if you can't wait for the full season box set next year.

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 second season of "Battlestar Galactica" that aired in 2005 was even more exciting and emotionally intense than the first.

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 (Aaron Douglas), Crashdown (Sam Witwer) and Crewman Specialist Cally (Nicki Clyne).

The 10 episodes of the second season are as follows:

1. "Scattered". With Adama critically injured from the first season finale, Roslin imprisoned and people trapped on Kobol, the inept Col. Tigh takes command of the fleet, but only to lose the fleet when he orders the fleet to jump and the wrong jump coordinates are sent to the civilian fleet. In the meantime, Boomer, whose Cylon identity is well-known, sits in a jail cell on board Galactica while Starbuck becomes trapped on Caprica with Helo after the other Boomer takes her modified Cylon fighter.

2. "Valley of Darkness". A deadly Cylon virus is trying to take over Galactica's computers. In the meantime, Baltar, Tyrol & the other people on Kobol fight for survival while Starbuck & Helo break into her old apartment on Caprica.

3. "Fragged". The survivors on Kobol discover the Cylons are building an danti-aircraft gun while Adama is undergoing dangerous surgery. Not happy with the Quorum of Twelve, Col. Tigh places the fleet under martial law.

4. "Resistance". Galactica personnel open fire on a group of civilians protesting martial law. Chief is accused of being a Cylon and arrested while Apollo helps Pres. Roslyn to escape confinement on Galactica. Starback & Helo on Caprica find 53 surviving humans.

5. "The Farm". While the recovering Adama retakes command of the fleet from Col. Tigh, Pres. Roslyn leads a third of the fleet back to Kobol with the promise of finding the way to Earth. On Caprica, a wounded Starbuck is taken to a strange hospital and makes an unpleasant discovery.

6. "Home: Part 1". While Pres. Roslyn has a difficult time leading the civilian ships at Kobol, Starbuck, Helo and Boomer return from Caprica and arrive at Kobol to search for the Tomb of Athena.

7. "Home: Part 2". Adama decides to return to Kobol to reunite the fleet and heads to the surface to join Pres. Roslyn and those with her in search of the Tomb of Athena.

8. "Final Cut". A reporter, D'Anna Biers (Lucy Lawless), is given a large amount of access to report activities on Galactica.

9. "Flight of the Phoenix". While the crew helps Chief to build a brand new fighter named "The Black Bird", Adama must put his trust in Boomer to stop a deadly Cylon computer virus that has been infecting Galactica's computers.

10. "Pegasus". The Galactica isn't the only surviving battlestar; the Pegasus also survived under the command of Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes), who takes command of the civilian fleet and begins to make things so difficult for Adama that a very real fight is a distinct possibility. What a season cliffhanger!

Overall, I rate the second season of the new "Battlestar Galactica" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to everyone.

This three-disc set will include the first half of Season 2 (10 episodes). These episodes were shown in July-September 2005 on the SciFi channel.

New fans of the show
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Battlestar Galactica is shown on the SciFi channel. The SciFi channel seasons are different from typical TV seasons. SciFi breaks a season into two pieces: First half is July to September, and second half is January to March. Season 2 will consist of a total of 20 episodes (10 x 2). This DVD set contains the first 10 episodes (episodes 1-10). The 2nd half of Season 2 (episodes 11-20) will begin broadcasting on the SciFi channel in mid-January thru late March 2006.

Bonus Materials?
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* RDM mentioned in his podcast that Universal has agreed to include a special 90-minute version of episode #10 "Pegasus". The episode broadcast on the SciFi channel was 62 minutes long (including commercials). (Not sure if 90 minutes refers to total runtime, or the equivalent of a 90-minute episode as it would be shown on TV). Will it be included on this DVD set or the future (unannounced) complete season 2 dvd set or both? That is not known.

DVD sets
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At this point it is not known how the rest of Season 2 will be released in 2006. Will there be a 2B DVD set or a complete season 2 set? Where will special features be included? At this point it is not known.

But I just had to buy it.


Btw, it looks absolutely UNBELIEVABLE with an HDMI DVD player and an HDTV. It's an entirely different experience watching it that way.

Until SCIFI CHANNEL goes HD broadcast, you really can't see BSG looking this good unless you buy the DVD.

As many have written, this is among the best dramas currently on television, and may even rank in the top ten dramas ever produced. The acting is outstanding; the story lines are compelling and challenge the intellect. The line between good and evil is ambiguous at best, leaving the viewer to wonder who the "bad guys" are. In my opinion, Galactica is as good as the Sopranos and the West Wing (at least the first three seasons) and meant for the same audience. With its plot twists, surprises and excellent character and story development, Galactica reminds me of the halcyon days of Hill Street Blues, when I waited for the next new episode with great anticipation. No, I do not let my children watch this show. It is simply too violent and dark for younger viewers.
However, the DVD set is a disappointment. The makers of Galactica claimed that an expanded version of the episode "Pegasus" would be included in the DVD release. But it is not there. I also suspect that consumers will be forced to purchase the second season in its entirety at an inflated price when it is released, thus rendering season 2.0 a waste of money twice over. You know, I'm not a communist or a radical revolutionary. I like making money and accumulating things probably more than the average person. However, lately everywhere I turn I see one example after another of pure, unbridled corporate greed. This DVD set is one.

Does the comapany releasing this need extra money for Christmas Bonuses? They cant wait a few more months and release the entire 2nd season?
Horrible marketing decision.
Great show, love the updated show and the cast and the writingt is outstanding but this 1/2 Season is just trying to suck people's money out of their wallets.

It's bizarre, really.

I mean, I have checked out quite a few critically acclaimed television shows in my day and, almost uniformly, I've found the high praise to be excessive and unwarranted. So it is with shock and sharp relief that I now find myself all wrapped up in not just a T.V. show, not just a science fiction T.V. show, but a revamp of a T.V. show from the 1970s.

To be fair, I still have a soft spot for the old Battlestar Galactica, even though it has aged poorly with hippie star frocks, alien casinos and white-fro bimbos and the same eight effect shots replayed over and over, sometimes flipped left to right to retrieve an extra angle from previous work. Yeah, it's cheese but it is fun cheese; a childhood guilty pleasure.

The new series however has nothing to do with the fantasies of childhood. Here we have all the foibles and pitfalls of very real human characters (even the robot ones) played out on a fantastic canvas. We have the madness, disease, sex, violence, familial tension and even the humor that real people might experience if we were placed in such times of desperation. There are no moon-eyed children with their robot dogs and the enemies seem to have a more complex reason for their actions beyond just hating those fleshy folks.

In other words, the new Battlestar Galactica has everything you might want in an honest-to-God television drama, and some exciting visual effects too. Things blow up and make "pretty boom-boom", but visceral destruction is not the r'aison d'etre. Is it enough to finally make me forsake free broadcast television and spring for cable? No way. The good "mother-@%^&*&" at HBO and CineMAX have not offered anything that convincing to me yet (Sorry, Tony S., but I'm just not that into you)... But it is the first series in a very long time that I can see myself buying DVD sets for, waiting for the next to surface with baited breath.

I would add that this is a resounding endorsement for you to do the same.

Dw. Dunphy