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BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is simultaneously one of the most celebrated and one of the most reviled shows in the history of television Sci-fi, a distinction that I regard with a sense of bafflement. The original 1978 series has never been enjoyed a high reputation among either serious Sci-fi fans or among television critics of any stripe, yet a surprisingly large number of devotees have reacted with abject hatred to the new version of the series. A smaller number of STAR TREK fans also hate it, since in many ways the revived BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is the anti-STAR TREK. As far as fans of the original show go, I have very little to say. There is simply no way in which the earlier show was in any way truly a good show, while the new one in virtually every way a truly great one. The original would not rank in the top ten (and perhaps not the top 20) of the best Sci-fi shows ever, while the current BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is one of the best shows ever made regardless of genre. The debate between the new versus the old version of the show is ludicrous.
The disaffected STAR TREK fans, however, goes to the heart of how BATTLESTAR GALACTICA differs from most prior Sci-fi series. The truth is that STAR TREK has had far more influence on the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA than the earlier show did, though the influence was entirely in terms of how creator Ron Moore (and STAR TREK alumni) wanted his show to differ from the STAR TREK shows. The differences are manifold. STAR TREK features aliens; BATTLE STAR GALACTICA does not, though it does have robots. The Enterprise and all other space ships on the show have shields; neither Galactica nor any other ship has anything approximating a shield (you never hear a character yelling, "Shields down to 20 %!"). Weapons on STAR TREK emit pulses or rays; weapons on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA throw projectiles. Crew members don't fight on STAR TREK; much of the action on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA surrounds interpersonal conflicts and struggles among crew members. If a crew member gets stranded on a planet's surface on STAR TREK, they are beamed out; if a crew member gets stranded in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA they only survive if someone goes and gets them. On STAR TREK there is a magical reserve of everything, including smaller ships, equipment, fuel, and whatever; on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA they run out of crucial supplies, including fuel, water, food, and aircraft. On STAR TREK if someone is hurt you hold a healing beam over them and in a few minutes they are healed; if someone injures a knee on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, it takes weeks of healing and therapy to get over it. On STAR TREK none of the characters have serious personal problems; on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA characters struggle with depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, anger, sexual promiscuity, and a host of other problems. STAR TREK is famously optimistic about the future; BATTLESTAR GALACTICA struggles with the issue about whether the human race can survive and even whether it has a right to survive. On STAR TREK characters rarely make major mistakes; on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA even the strongest characters are flawed and make both errors of morality and errors of judgment. And none of this begins to get at the enormous difference in the narrative strategies of the two shows. For the most part the STAR TREK shows are episodic in structure (this is certainly true of the original series as well as STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION; both STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE 9 and STAR TREK: VOYAGER mixed some serial elements into the shows, though they still largely adhered to the episodic form). BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, however, is serial in structure, leaving a large amount of conflict unresolved each week and telling a long, involved story that only gradually reveals itself.
There is one more difference between BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and both the original version and the various STAR TREK series: the latter shows appeal to people who are fans of Sci-fi television, while BATTLESTAR GALACTICA appeals more to those who love quality television, regardless of genre. There are people who will love nearly every Sci-fi show, while there are others who will love only Sci-fi shows that would be loved even by non-Sci-fi fans. My own tastes lie somewhere in between. I can go as far as LEXX or ANDROMEDA, but I love a show like STARGATE SG-1. But while I would not rank SG-1 among the best shows on TV, not up there with BUFFY, SIX FEET UNDER, LOST, or VERONICA MARS, I easily rank BATTLESTAR GALACTICA with any show ever made.
Season One ended and Season Two began with almost everything on the show as shattered as it was possible for things to be. Adama had been shot by Sharon when her sleeper programming kicked in. Tigh had taken command and managed to make a string of bad decisions. Starbuck is back on Caprica to recover an object crucial for finding the way to earth. The Sharon on Caprica has gone away to protect her baby when it is obvious to her that Starbuck may kill her. Laura is in jail after Adama imprisoned her and declared martial law. Apollo is in the brig because he sided with Laura and opposed his father. Season Two would end just as messed up, but I kept thinking in early Season Two whether Humpty Dumpy could put everything back together again. The plotlines that are developed in the first ten episodes of Season Two are uniformly superb. Over and over when watching these episodes I kept thinking: TV is just not supposed to be this good. Eventually Adama comes out of his coma and recovers slowly from his wounds. The Sharon on Galactica is shot and killed while the Sharon on Caprica returns and not only rescues Kara and Lelo there but goes with them to Kobol where she proves crucial in finding the path to earth. Adama reconciles with Laura and repledges his support of a civilian-led government. And the half season ends with the unexpected appearance of the Pegasus, a battlestar commanded by Admiral Helena Cain, who is magnificently portrayed by Michelle Forbes. The half season ends with Adama relinquishing command of the fleet to the overbearing and dictatorial Cain.
As great as the show was in Season One, it just kept getting better and better in Season Two as it continually tried to push to the limits what it was possible not merely to do in television Sci-fi but in television in general. There were just so many fascinating and riveting plotlines and conflicts. The character of Sharon got a lot of development in the season. I love the metaphysical and existential complexity of her character. The Galactica Sharon shot Adama without being aware that she was doing so and was fully committed to a conscious level to the humans. The Caprica Sharon was aware that she was a Cylon, yet in a scene that precisely aped the other Sharon's attempt to assassinate Adam, made a fully self-consciousness decision to side with the humans. Her character would later safe Galactica from a Cylon attack fleet and would provide the catalyst for the split between Adama and Laura on the one side and Cain on the other when a Pegasus "interrogator" would attempt to traumatize Sharon by raping her. Because both of the two Sharons who have been involved with Galactica have the capacity for resurrection, I suspect that her character will continue to be one of the most fascinating aspects of the show. Again, many fans of the original show hate this Boomer, but anyone who finds the original in any way a more interesting character really needs to reevaluate.
I have only one complaint about these DVDs and it is one that I'm sure is shared by a host of fans of the show: the cost. This is probably the most expensive DVD set I have ever bought. Even for my very favorite shows if the cost is over $40 for a season I will usually skip buying it and will instead just keep renting from Netflix. But I'll end up paying just under $70 for Season Two. The price is steep indeed and I would very much have preferred having all of Season Two in a single package. At least the set is rich in commentaries and special features. The only reason I bit the bullet and dropped the bucks for this was the fact that this is one of my three favorite shows on TV (along with LOST and VERONICA MARS) and I want to do all I can to support it. I have a gut feeling that Season Three will be the last (though I hope we'll see a Season Four). Because Universal produces the show, makes the DVDs, and owns the Sci-fi Channel, renewal isn't impossible. So, perhaps we will see a Season Four. However much of this show we get, it clearly has established itself as not merely the finest Sci-fi series ever made, but one of the best shows as well.
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Awesome Series Continues - Episode Synopsis
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2011
A brief synopsis of the episodes for those of you who have an electronic catalog of your DVD collection and would like to add this to your database. (So you don't have to do all that typing!)Episode 1: ScatteredOriginal Air Date--15 July 2005As the premiere for the second season unfolds, Adama lay dying leaving Tigh in command. Lee and Roslin have been sent to the brig. An emergency jump goes wrong leaving the Galactica alone in space without the fleet. Episode 2: Valley of DarknessOriginal Air Date--22 July 2005A Cylon virus is interfering with Galactica's power supply, while Cylon centurions are heading for crucial systems. Somehow they must be stopped. Episode 3: FraggedOriginal Air Date--29 July 2005Tigh has problems with the responsibility of being a leader, president Roslin loses control without chamalla. The Kobol team discovers a Cylon battery. Episode 4: ResistanceOriginal Air Date--5 August 2005Tigh's decision to impose martial law is protested in the fleet as well as on Galactica. On Caprica, Helo and Starbuck meet other humans. Episode 5: The FarmOriginal Air Date--12 August 2005Starbuck finds herself wounded in a hospital on Caprica where she is suspicious about her doctor. President Roslin makes an appeal to the fleet to follow her to Kobol. Episode 6: Home: Part 1Original Air Date--19 August 2005Starbuck, Helo and Boomer bring back the Arrow of Apollo, but Boomer doesn't seem welcome. Commander Adama wants to keep the fleet divided and appoints a new CAG. Episode 7: Home: Part 2Original Air Date--26 August 2005While Commander Adama tries to join Roslin's team on Kobol, Dr. Baltar's Number Six tells him he's crazy. Episode 8: Final CutOriginal Air Date--9 September 2005Journalist D'Anna Biers is making an item on the Gideon incident, when she's asked by Adama and Roslin to film daily life on Galactica. Episode 9: Flight of the PhoenixOriginal Air Date--16 September 2005While Tyrol decides to start building a new fighter, the Cylon virus is rearing its ugly head again. Boomer tells it means a large Cylon attack is imminent. Episode 10: PegasusOriginal Air Date--23 September 2005Gallactica meets Pegasus, and Adama's command is threatened when the captain of Pegasus outranks him. A joyous celebration turns sour at some of the secrets emerging out of the differences of the two crews, and Baltar meets a familiar Cylon prisoner aboard Pegasus. Episode 11: Resurrection Ship: Part 1Original Air Date--6 January 2006Adama and Cain find common ground when Starbuck returns with footage of the Cylon ship. Roslin negotiates a temporary truce, while Starbuck plans an attack. Episode 12: Resurrection Ship: Part 2Original Air Date--13 January 2006Starbuck and Fisk are preparing for the murder jobs, while the attack on the Resurrection ship is planned. It goes wrong for Apollo. Dr. Baltar has feelings for Pegasus' Number Six. Episode 13: EpiphaniesOriginal Air Date--20 January 2006President Roslin, who is about to die, believes Sharon's baby is dangerous and orders it must die. Meanwhile, a terrorist group inside the fleet starts to ask for a peace negotiation with the cylons. Episode 14: Black MarketOriginal Air Date--27 January 2006Apollo investigates the murder of one of the crew and falls for a young prostitute, whom he vows to save from the rogue ship dealing with the Black Market. As well as confronting the bad guys, Apollo has to confront some past mistakes. Episode 15: ScarOriginal Air Date--3 February 2006This is an episode about loss. Kat and Starbuck confront each other about their piloting skills and each vow to kill Scar (a Cylon spaceship) before the other. Episode 16: SacrificeOriginal Air Date--10 February 2006A terrorist attacks and holds several key people hostage and threatens to murder them unless she is given the Cylon prisoner. Episode 17: The Captain's HandOriginal Air Date--17 February 2006Two of Pegasus' raptors go missing after a suspicious distress call. President Roslin must make a decision on abortion that could hurt her political career. Episode 18: DownloadedOriginal Air Date--24 February 2006The Cylon baby is finally born, leading to some political decisions being made. Meanwhile, the Cylons on Caprica contemplate life and humans when they meet up with a certain human from a previous episode. This story explores the Cylon world. Episode 19: Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 1Original Air Date--3 March 2006While Dr. Baltar is behind in the polls for the election and tries desperately to turn things around, Starbuck is planning a mission to rescue Anders from Caprica. Episode 20: Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 2Original Air Date--10 March 2006The group on Caprica is under fire by the Cylons, but suddenly they stop. With only one ship's votes to be counted, Roslin is way behind in the elections.
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2011
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