Largely wiped out by a hundred years of warfare with the Cylon Empire, the few surviving humans search for the mythical thirteenth colony, Earth.Battlestar Galactica’s Edward James Olmos wasn’t kidding when he said “the series is even better than the miniseries.” As developed by sci-fi TV veteran Ronald D. Moore, the “reimagined” BG is exactly what it claims to be: a drama for grown-ups in a science-fiction setting. The mature intelligence of the series is its greatest asset, from the tenuous re
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“Top Ten Reasons to Watch the New Season of ‘Battlestar Galactica’” from “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
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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.
This box set includes the miniseries that re-launched this show and returned it to TV for the first time since the 1970′s. It has the 4-hour miniseries and the 13 episodes from the first season. It stars Edward James Olmos as Commander Adama Captain of the Battlestar Galactica, and Mary McDonnell as the newly invested president of the 12 colonies of man. She was formerly the secretary of education.
The Cylon’s had not been heard from in years. Then in one day they attack and destroy nearly all human life in attacks on all planets and most military assets. Now with the war against the Cylon robots lost, the Battlestar Galactica crew speed toward the fabled 13th colony on a long lost planet, called Earth. Galactica Commander Adama and President Laura Roslin face waning supplies, crushed morale, … and the credible threat Cylons aboard the ship. Cylons that look like humans now not just shiny machines.
Humanity’s children have come home and they are trying to destroy their creators.
Some of the amazing cast are:
Edward James Olmos as Commander William Adama
Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin
Katee Sackhoff as Lt. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace
Jamie Bamber as Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama
James Callis as Dr. Gaius Baltar Vice President
Tricia Helfer as Number Six
Grace Park as Lt. Sharon “Boomer” Valerii
Richard Hatch as Tom Zarek (The original Apollo)
Tahmoh Penikett as Lt. Karl C. “Helo” Agathon
Michael Hogan as Col. Saul Tigh
Aaron Douglas as CPO Galen “Chief” Tyrol
Alessandro Juliani as Lt. Felix Gaeta
Kandyse McClure as P02 Anastasia Dualla
Paul Campbell as Billy Keikeya
This cast works so well together, that after the miniseries they rewrote parts of the series to give the “Chief” a much larger role.
This series will draw you in and capture your imagination. It is full of religious symbols and images. There are visions, prophecies, and sacred scrolls. It is a drama of the most intense nature. Check it out, you will watch the DVD’s over and over again.
The best Sci-fi series since Babylon 5.
So Say We All!
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Review by Steven R. McEvoy for Battlestar Galactica – Season One
I posted a very favorable review of the mini-series that launched this new version of Battlestar Galactica. The series has taken all of the things that were so enjoyable and woven them into a great television series.
First and foremost it’s a drama about people. If you want trite, craptacular, formula don’t look to this show. The writers and the cast of actors and actresses have embodied these characters with more detail and emotion than any other television show I can think of in recent years. Entire episodes go buy without spaceships or planets and we don’t mind. We care about the people first, the special effects second. The underpinnings of loyalty, relationships that remain steadfast after 20 years, love and rivalry, purpose and duty, all come to the forefront of this show.
The executive producer of the show, Ron Moore, has been very crafty in his vision. Things so painful about the original series are now far more frightning. The bad guy robots, the Cylons, aren’t slow moving toasters anymore. They look like us and have carried out the obliteration of mankind with darwin like overtones and a zeal fueled by a religion that holds man as the creator. Yikes! Add in that they’ve figured out how to use sex as a weapon…
The hardcore “living in the basement of their parents house” crowd will continue to make savage attacks on this show no matter what. Mercifully the people who live in the real world recognize the product of a tremendous number of talented and gifted people. Ratings have been high for a reason.
If Frasier was a weekly half hour of wonderful broadway farce then the new version of Battlestar Galactica is a taunt hour of psychological insight into the workings of real people in a hellish situation.
I don’t own a single live action television series on DVD or videotape but have pre-ordered this one because I want to watch it again to see what I missed the first time I watched it.
This is a show that may ripple through the industry because it proves what Jay Ward knew with Rocky and Bulwinkle: you don’t dumb down the material. The kids might not get all the jokes but the adults who do will love it all the more. With Battlestar Galactica you can find episodic sci-fi if that’s what you need. If you want something more, human drama that demands emotional investment on a scale rarely seen in the broadcast mediums, it’s a meal of plenty.
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Review by Jim for Battlestar Galactica – Season One
Having watched this gem of a show through to the midpoint of season two (where we all now wait again breathless while Sci-Fi inserts another three month pause), I have not been so jazzed about a science fiction drama since Babylon 5.
Much of BSG’s suspense comes from the inexorable actions of its antagonists, a machine race known as the Cylons. The Cyclons were built by humankind and ultimately turned on their human masters. Many years after a great conflict, the Cylons were not heard of again, until one day they return to destroy their original creators. Having infiltrated humanity with new models of machine that can pass undetected amongst the populace, they strike with shocking speed and malace. Humanity is nearly wiped out. But a small fleet of ships manages to escape, carrying the few remaining survivors in search of a new home: a place of religious legend known only as “Earth”.
But the search for a their new home is frought with peril, both within and without. Where will they get supplies? How will the survivors be governed in this time of crisis? Who can be trusted when the enemy can pass so convincingly for friend? When will the enemy strike next? Can humanity stay together or will everything fall apart?
The first season, much like B5′s first season, lays the groundwork for future story arcs. Many of these don’t pay off completely until the second season and beyond. At the same time the first season illustrates, in both grand and subtle ways, the many different costs that humanity pays on that day of tragedy: the lives lost, the freedom sacrificed, the hope that must be rebuilt. And in the wake of all of this, everyone — everyone — is still expected to do their duty. Because even greater tolls are paid when they don’t.
BSG ultimately does something very important that all good drama should. At the end of every season (and at the end of many episodes), one can _feel_ how much the people and situations have changed. There is a strong undercurrent of cause and effect, and that the effects have long-term consequences that won’t be simply forgotten in the next episode.
BSG is unrelenting in its story progression. There is almost always a sense that something is happening, people are changing, events are unfolding. Never is it necessary to advertise that “something will happen” (unlike a certain plane crash survivor drama). Something is always happening, and those somethings add up to dramatic changes for those living with their effects.
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Review by H. Richard Harkins for Battlestar Galactica – Season One
I am a huge SciFi fan, my wife, not so much. Even so, she loves this show as much as I do. This is the finest TV show ever produced. Battlestar Galatica is one of those shows that will be remembered for decades.
It’s hard to pick a favorite episode from Season One, but if I had to, I say “33″, episode one. Picks up after the events of the mini-series and deals with the Cylons finding and attacking the fleet every 33 minutes. From the opening scene to the final scene you are rivited to your seat, breathless and in awe. This is Scifi done right, this is TV done right.
Some of said that Ron Moore (Exec producer) has gone overboard with respect to the “darkness” of this series, but considering the premise how could it not be dark?
Unlike most SciFi, Battlestar prides itself on deep character development, tight plots, realism, and timing. Listening to a Ron Moore Podcast (podcasts are produced for every episode and available at the scifi.com web site.) you can tell this is a man who loves his show and takes tremendous pride in doing the best job he and his crew can muster. Even the actors work as though they understand that what they are doing is different, honest, and important. Yes, important. Sure, its just “TV”, but its both relevant and vital to the post 9/11 world.
I watch about 12 hours of TV a week, and Friday night at 10PM is set aside for another great episode. I would be crushed if this show was somehow cancelled. Had I the chance of meeting Ron Moore I would thank him personally for providing me, and millions of others, such a great TV show.
Best Buy is selling Season One on DVD (as other reviewers have pointed out) and its worth the $50 to have the first 13 episodes now, to watch whenever you want. But, that said, this Season One box set is a must-have for any fan of the show. It includes not only the 13-episodes, but also the Mini-Series making it a complete “up to date” collection of BSG-2005.
Season One will make a great gift to any Scifi fan, and especially those who have seen the show. Whether its a gift for yourself, someone else, or even a choice collection for that new DVD player Plasma TV combo, pre-order this today, you won’t be sorry.
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Review by John Manzione for Battlestar Galactica – Season One
Okay, so I bought the UK dvd set BEFORE I found out about the mini series not being included. BUMMER.
That said, I watched the show with complete ignorance, having only seen the original series (which I absolutely love by the way). I watched one episode at 8 am on a Monday, and had to call into work for a sick day by the end of the episode. WOW.
First, the writing on this show is spectacular. All of the characters are likeable, but have their troubles laid out before your very eyes. Even the villains are compassionate and sympathetic, and this feels to me what the original series should have been.
For example, the original Baltar was a comic book villain. He was evil because he was greedy and liked being evil. Not so this time around. Baltar here betrays the world without knowing it, and spends much of the series inadvertantly saving the heroes.
Edward James Olmos is out of site as Adama, and also takes the helm directing a few episodes. This experienced character actor adds a great sense of comedic and dramatic timing, and seems to set the bar higher for the actors around him.
Mary McDonnel adds to the talent of this series as the President of the colonial fleet, a character not included in the original series. The addition of a civilian government leads to endless possibilities for the show, as well as a tremendous cameo by the guy who played Apollo in the original series.
Jamie Bamber does a competent job as Apollo, with just the right amount of schoolboy charm and good looks to make you know that he is the main character, but without overdoing it.
There are two break out stars from this series, Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck and the AMAZING Grace Park who plays Boomer.
In the instance of Sackhoff, she is able to play Starbuck as an alcohol drinking, card playing, stogie smoking hotshot who also has a heart of gold, many demons inside and a talent for flying that is unmatched by any other. Having been a really big fan of the original Starbuck, this was the character that most worried me. I am pleased to say that, IMHO, this version of Starbuck is BETTER than the original.
And Grace Park? I am amazed that such a young, unkown and relatively untrained actress can keep up with her demanding character. From the beginning we know that Boomer carries a deep secret, and this actress carefully walks us through the mind of this poor tortured character.
The series itself has some of the best written dialogue of any show out there, and knows how to mix in enough subplots to make for a very addicting storyline.
The tv show uses a similar style of directing its outer space sequences to the one that was made famous by Firefly. There are lots of zoom in shots and really basic beats in the background to allow the viewer to focus on the action.
I highly recommend this tv series for anyone who is a fan of science fiction, good drama, and of course, for those who like to see good looking women smoke cigars.
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Review by Enrique Fernandez Roberts for Battlestar Galactica – Season One