"New" Battlestar Info Gathering

[Gold Rush]

Okay, this is a simple question with (hopefully) complicated answers...from YOU.

Here is the question for those that this applies to; Why do you like the new Battlestar Galactica? Please be as detailed and precise as possible. Think how long my posts are for some idea. Give me what YOU think makes the show great. I just want to hear from fans of the current show; no peanut gallery antics yet until it is clear no one will give more answers. Give me as many "wow factors" as you can and please explain as detailed as you can about it.

Hope to read some input and thanks. :)

[Masked Revenger]

Wow... where to start.

Well, first off, it's a character driven story, as opposed to a special effects driven story. The show is about the characters, and their all too human reactions to the situations they are thrown in.

Also, there really aren't any "evil" characters in the show. I mean, sure, there are bad guys, but some of the bad guys end up switching sides, and even the ones that don't have real motivations behind their actions. They don't see themselves as bad guys.

There's the fact that these characters feel like someone you would know, as opposed to someone that lives in a Utopian future. Beyond the overall theme of being the last of the human race, all these characters suffer with real problems. Love issues, drinking and drugs, children, cancer, etc. Sure, some of it is kind of soap operaish, but I think that's true in most dramas.

Then there's the more visual parts of the show. The fact that the Galactica looks like an old, used warship that was on the verge of retirement is apparent in the sets. Things are rusty, or falling apart, or constantly being repaired. Also, the ships in general just look cool. The Galactica, the Vipers and Raptors, the Basestars and the Cylon fighters all have a very cool apparence to them.

There are the themes the show covers, everything from politics and religion to war and peace. Family life and swinging singles. Even interracial romance is covered form the point of view of a human/Cylon couple, though that may be stretching it.

There's the facts that the characters don't remain static through the show. They grow and change. Some aren't even doing what they were doing at the begining of the show.

And then, finally, the special effects used in the space battle are just kick ass. :)

And that's all I've got to say about that.

:mr: Chris

[TheImperial]

Just got into it this season. It's the first sci-fi show I've watched seriously since Babylon 5 back in juniro high / high school. It's cool. I like. The end.

[Nerfed]

I still can't get into it, so... I've got nothin'.

[Vendel]

The P.O.A. Cylons.

[Gold Rush]

Just got into it this season. It's the first sci-fi show I've watched seriously since Babylon 5 back in juniro high / high school. It's cool. I like. The end.

Details, man, details. :p

M.R.'s statement is pretty much what I am looking for.

What turned you onto it? Compare the differences between this new Galactica and Babylon 5. Need more input.

[Chain Lightning]

Well where to start, I may be repeating what someone else mentions, just deal with it. :chuckle:

1) The characterization. Every principal character on there has had powerful episodes dealing with them and showing us a glimpse into their life. Battlestar has shown us more character depth in it's first three seasons than most shows do in their entire run.

2) The battle of good versus evil isn't cut and dried. Any good drama should make you question the motives and actions of the players, even the ones on the 'side' of good. Battlestar does this wonderfully. Like any classic drama, we're shown who we're supposed to root for, but quickly discover that the the bad guys are just as confused and conflicted as the 'heroes'

3) The stories are thought provoking. This show is so well written that it's nothing for me and my friends to discuss the lastest episode for a couple days. As I told someone else I managed to get hooked on Battlestar. "Yes it's a science fiction show, but a large part of the shows and what they deal with could be done in any drama setting." I have friends that aren't into sci-fi, superheroes, etc. that have asked me if I watch 'the new BG' and tell me they love the show when I express surprise at them watching it.
Put it this way, Time and Newsweek magazine have called BG the best show on television, and they DON'T give that accolade lightly.

4) The special effects. One thing I love about the show is that they use old hand held models for their ships and move the camera around them. It's old technology, CGI has made this method even more expensive than it used to be, but IMO, it still looks worlds better.

5) Battelstar is 'now' science fiction. What do I mean? Simply, when does BG take place? One of the recurring themes in Sci-fi is that the story is 'in the future'. BG looks like it could be taking place TODAy. The vipers and cylon raiders fire bullets, not lasers. The technology isn't light years ahead of what we know. The people wear normal, modern clothing and not stuff that was designed to 'look futuristic' Granted, the show history implies that their civilization is hundreds, maybe thousands of years older than ours, but you easily get the feeling that their struggle is taking place in our current time frame.

I could go on, but I think I've made my point, but a quick sidebar.
I've gone toDragoncon (http://www.dragoncon.org) the last three years and my first year the presence of BG actors and fans was small at first. It's gotten bigger every year. I am really looking forward to Dragoncon this year as they have confirmed this list for BG actors.

Jamie Bamber
James Callis
Tamoh Penikett
Aaron Douglas
Katee Sackoff
Leah Cairns (she plays Racetrack)
Richard Hatch ( No, NOT the Survivor guy :) )

Anyone that's a fan of BG should go.

[Gold Rush]

Okay, a bit old, but I have been a bit busy iRL and off RL.

And yes, the first thing I think of when I hear the name "Richard Hatch" is NOT Survivor, if that tells you anything. :p

Narrowing this down a bit:

1) Name your favorite character on the new Battlestar Galactica show. Explain why you like them in particular.

2) Name your least favorite (or hated) character on the show. Explain why.

[Nerfed]

2) Name your least favorite (or hated) character on the show. Explain why.
Starbuck... because he's a cigar smokin', smooth-talkin' man, baby!! ...not some cute chick that acts tough. Poor casting decision and it makes me hate the character.


Honestly, the same thing goes for Boomer... but she's a cuter asian chick, so I have a harder time holding it against her. Not much, but its what separates my hate for the two characters.

:rolleyes:

[Grae Knight]

Chicks are hotter.

Other than that, I have only watched 2 episodes.

[Jazz]

Cause I like Grace Park!

http://www.pacificcitizen.org/content/2007/entertainment/photos/nov16-gracepark-500.jpg

[Nerfed]

Chicks are hotter.

Other than that, I have only watched 2 episodes.

I agree. That doesn't make them the right casting choice for male characters. Give them roles that are made for hot chicks. :p

[Poison]

Helo, he's the most constant, rational one. I like the first seasons Starbuck, but then they made her go completely off boat. And Balthar is great in his role as antagonist.

[Masked Revenger]

Hmmm... that's a tough one... my favorite character...

I've been really liking Tigh lately, and in this last episode he was back to being First Season Tigh, wich was really great to see.

I've also enjoyed Lee (Apolo), and his development into the leader we all knew he could be back in season 1.

And, of course, Poison is right on with Baltar. He's the man you love to hate. Or hate to love. Or both at the same times sometime. :)

As far as least favorite character? I'm not sure I could pick one... I was going to say Boomer, but that's not true... Athena (another 8 model, or another Boomer) is actually a cool character, especially in her speach to the other 8 models in a past episodes. However, other than Athena, all the other 8's have just bugged me as unnecessarily whiny.

:mr: Chris

[Dr Jack Wolfe]

MMM Boomer MMM European version of BSG with nudity mmm.

Sorry, BSG if by far the most complex and engaging Sci Fi on TV today. It has been very hit and miss the last two seasons, but when it's on it's really on, but when it's off it is almost unwatchable. It can also seem unwatchable and really bad when they deep dive the backgrounds and do .....odd? episodes that do advance the plot but make almost no linear or tradtional TV sense. Some of the episodes you just have to really plugged into BSG to get and enjoy.

If I had tuned in the last two seasons and saw some of the crap or weird stuff they produced I'd be huh, you guys are nuts this sucks too.

Complex, weird plot, good acting, and screwed up anologies

Production wise, superior, the damn ships feel like they'd work. Best effects work for movies or TV since Firefly. Yeah I know the stark docudrama feel isn't overwhlmeing impressive, but really it is. Those effects shots feel real.

Favorite character.

Saul Tigh has had the best arc I think. I like Terrell (sp) too but man he's gotten dark.

Halo should be the CaG, he's the most stable.

Baltar is a blast to watch, so is superblond Six when she is on.

I like Starbuck, doesn't both me a bit she's a woman, the insane thing though, that's bothersome. Doesn't bother me Apollo is supposed to be a pilot, not a president either.

Sexiest, well lots of hot women, but Boomer/Athena/eight Oi. Not super blond Six that they just killed looked really good too.

And remember we aren't the cylons, we're the children of Adam and Eve we just need to figure out what model they are (Halo and Boomer anyone?)
:P