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Battlestar Galactica

Edward James Olmos as Admiral Adama and Mary McDonell as President Roslin in Battlestar Galactica
  • Posted at 3:02pm
  • 30 January 2009
  • by MarkBraxton-RT
  • 15 comments

It's a very exclusive club: we love a show with the same quality control as The Sopranos, The West Wing and The Wire, yet there are fewer than 200,000 of us in the UK - next to nothing in TV terms.

The club's latest talking point? Nuclear war has turned Earth to toast. A big deal, in anyone's book. But in the final run of science-fiction colossus Battlestar Galactica (Tuesdays Sky1, HD), it's just a plot kink.

At the start of the show in 2004, humans in a distant galaxy fled a holocaust and sought a new home: the fabled planet of Earth. So arriving there was the sunny finale we were probably expecting. Way too obvious. Yes, they've found it, but their promised land is little more than dust and clinker.

Battlestar's strength has always been avoiding cliché, even if that creates drama that's wincingly bleak, as it has been in recent episodes about societal breakdown. But then the show never pulls any punches - it throws a flurry of them, then stretchers away the casualties. These are certainly not the cheesy antics that popular opinion associates with sci-fi, although Battlestar Galactica itself is, ironically, based on a 70s cut-price Star Wars clone in disco pants. But "re-imaginer" Ron Moore knew precisely what he was doing (apart from inheriting the ugliest programme title on TV).

Arthur C Clarke once said, "Science fiction is escape into reality…it's a fiction which does concern itself with real issues." In Battlestar, we've had wars on terror, religious intolerance, presidential elections and dwindling resources. If that all sounds a bit grimly worthy, it's also an affecting love story: between Ma and Pa Galactica, Laura Roslin and Admiral Adama. Their scenes are like an emotional security blanket amid the chaos.

Battlestar Galactica takes a final bow next month. The only reason it's never mentioned in the same breath as The Sopranos, Dexter or Mad Men is that the terrestrial channels never picked it up. Shame on them. Perhaps they just didn't like the title.

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  • Posted on 26 March 2009
  • at 10:09pm
  • by DocHilda

Fewer than 200,000? I never knew it was that low, but the series has been absolutely frakkin fantastic. I sincerely hope its reputation grows, it deserves greater viewership!

It would be great if one of the terrestrial channels did pick it up, but sadly I get the feeling it never will be - SciFi is notoriously badly treated, has been for years (long gone is the 6pm/6.45pm sci-fi slot on BBC2.....) Even the repeats get mangled showings (both Babylon 5 and Farscape were abandoned after season 3).

Doctor Who, Torchwood & Heroes - across five channels that's all that can be mustered? *sigh*

  • Posted on 23 March 2009
  • at 1:23pm
  • by Minerva1961

America grows up. At long last America is starting to produce television that is worth watching, BSG is the standard that others struggle to catch up with, the standard of acting, the story line, plot twists, the gravitas, the complete emotional rollercoaster is just stunning, I for one will be sad to see it go..

  • Posted on 22 March 2009
  • at 11:47am
  • by Pester

Had to pop in an extra. It's Sunday 22nd March 2009 (at the time of writing): the finale of BSG is to be aired in The UK on Tuesday. Is anyone else out there as utterly fraught with excitement as I am? Oh, come on, SO SAY WE ALL.

  • Posted on 24 February 2009
  • at 4:50pm
  • by Pester

BSG handles the kind of intensity of vision that the SF genre was made for, but rarely ends up on TV. Far from being a replacement for Star Trek, let alone the original BSG series back in the late 70s, people are quite right to liken this new and longer lasting version to The Sopranos, The West Wing, Band Of Brothers and other such high quality fare from beyond the genre. Fans have to admit it's not an easy watch: most episodes are deeply painful rather than entertaining, but it's worth allowing yourself to get upset by BSG's contents because it really is the best television series ever made, harrowing, yet intelligent and emotionally precise. However, it's more than a political drama dressed in sci-fi clothing, the genre specific elements are equally enthralling, blending perfectly with the other ingredients that could easily also be found in social realist or historical dramas; this is the only story on screen that has explored an AI culture and their beliefs in such incredible depth, looking at humanity's artificial children with an equal measure of horror and sympathy. At the time of writing we're five episodes away from the conclusion. The final five (ancestor) cylons (from Earth) have been revealed and we know a great deal more since last week's episode about their significance to the story. The human survivors and rebel cylons that have gone over to the human side are having to integrate, but it's far from a comfortable process and the final five might be the only glue that can hold the alliance together. Tragedy is mounting, well, it has been for four seasons, but since these last episodes started airing it's been more distressing than ever, quite a few characters biting the bullet along the way. What the end shall be, bleak or hopeful, is anyone's guess, although I'm betting on a heavy mixture of both. Fellow bloggers are quite right to say this should have been picked up by The BBC (Sky co-funded the 3 hour mini-series pilot) because it's got a bit lost out their on satellite. Friends don't believe me when I tell them what they're missing, assuming it's more SF fluff for the geeks of this world. I'm hopeful that post conclusion Sky might be tempted by a sale onto the BBC or ch4, anyway, this is going to end up a cult show that people will look back on declaring "that made television history" and the momentum of enthusiasm will still be gathering for it long after its last episode has had its first broadcast; it deserves accolades. Meanwhile, for us dedicated few who've been with it from the start and licking our wounds because of it, there is the prequel Caprica to look forward to (and with it the chance to scrutinise human behavior on a planet not so different from our very own Earth - so prepare to feel gratefully wretched all over again).

  • Posted on 23 February 2009
  • at 9:57am
  • by Ellie

Not know for joining in blogs or forums, I feel I have to record my praise for Battlestar. I enjoy and suffer through each episode in equal measure. The enjoyment coming from watching a product which is outstanding in every aspect, the writing, the acting, the sets, how it looks - its overall creativity and quality. The suffering coming from watching an enactment of all aspects of the human condition - heroism, courage, hate, prejudice, dirty politice and inevitably - loss. Anyone who views this on only one level or who doesn't switch on because of the sci-fi label is, frankly, a fool. I shall miss it very much - there is little of this quality on T.V.

  • Posted on 21 February 2009
  • at 9:05pm
  • by James

Please god i hope one of the terrestrial networks picks up this show - i am not a lover of Sci-Fi but saw a few episodes of Battlestar Galactica at a friends house and am totally amazed by it! How can a show like this be so neglected by the BBC, ITV et al considering the some of the dross that is currently on their channels?

This is landmark TV and i am sure that given the right amount of publicity and a proper time slot (Wednesday/Thurs nights around 8/9pm) then this show would be a massive hit!

  • Posted on 08 February 2009
  • at 3:20pm
  • by Timbo

I only saw the first series when it was shown on Freeview.

It seemed a bit repetitive with the crazy doctor guy always dreaming about some beautiful cylon woman.

It became annoying in the end and was probably the reason no more were bought for transmission.

  • Posted on 07 February 2009
  • at 10:43am
  • by Caro, Dad & Em

Our family think BSG is the best thing on TV. It's a shame more people haven't cottoned on to how good it is. Especially, as Radio Times keeps plugging it in the choices section. We hope it will end satisfactorily and not leave us on a cliffhanger. We will miss this piece of excellent television.

  • Posted on 05 February 2009
  • at 11:33am
  • by David

I agree with all of the above - this series has been stunning. As far as I know the only reason BSG has not been shown on terrestrial channels is that Sky - as a co-funders - owns the rights. Perhaps, this will change when the series is finished. BSG could be screened from start to finish on BBC4. After all, BBC4 was intended to be the channel that broadcasts demanding material which raises fundamental questions about politics, life and existence. BSG certainly fits this bill more than 'The Curse of Steptoe' and other such low-rent efforts.

  • Posted on 03 February 2009
  • at 8:45pm
  • by N

BG has been enthralling since I watched the extended pilot and season 1 then 2 and 3. I'm waiting to buy the remaining episodes on DVD later this year.

The programme gives a lot and has also held a lot back at the same time. More than a couple of episodes transcend Sci-Fi in the usual sense and revolve around moral imperatives, tolerance, hate, fear and courage.

Also featured are the greater good, sacrifice, greed, determination (and plenty of realistic things blowing up all over the place)

It all works and I can't recommend highly enough that you give it a go.

  • Posted on 03 February 2009
  • at 8:12pm
  • by M.R.

Just wait, tonights episode is incredible :)

  • Posted on 02 February 2009
  • at 3:14pm
  • by j

love it love it love it - there are no words to describe how far above the level of most tv this programn really is.

We will miss it.

  • Posted on 01 February 2009
  • at 11:46am
  • by Denorios

Best show on TV, bar none. It's the one show I can recall that has never dipped below the standard of excellence. I'm dreading the finale because, knowing this show, it'll all end in blood and tears - and that will just be me watching it!

  • Posted on 31 January 2009
  • at 3:22am
  • by Zeal

I agree, I was a fan of the origional in my youth, but this is much much more...worth watching if you havet...and if you handn't and didnt like it...go watch little briton

  • Posted on 30 January 2009
  • at 5:39pm
  • by Juffer

Battlestar has it's ups and downs but remains the single most enthralling programme on TV.

Last week's opener was a shocker with the death of a major character from out of nowhere.

Consistently great TV.

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