If you ask me (I know you didn’t) Battlestar Galactica is one of the greatest television series of all time. I have watched it in full twice, and enjoyed it at the same level both times. It took me a minute to get past the ‘actor/model’ faces, and the less than steller acting chops of a few of the main characters (Apollo, Starbuck, Boomer, all of which became much better actors). But as the show began to focus more on the seasoned actors and their characters (Adama, Col.Tigh, President Roslin) the show quickly turned into an intelligent study of the human condition, and ended with what is in my opinion, an extremely plausible explanation as to how we arrived on planet Earth. Also, dropping “All Along The Watchtower” in was a stroke of complete brilliance.
Like most strokes of artistic brilliance, the shows producer David Eick, was pulled aside and spoken to by the powerful unseen voices of the universe. When they need to be heard, they find a way to speak. Obviously they got what they wanted to say out and moved on because he hasn’t produced anything remotely clever and smart since.
But, maybe the universe is ready to speak again, and since they used him once, why not go for a second. Battlestar Galactica is making another run at, this time starting off as a web series that looks into colony life pre Galactica’s escape due to Cylons dropping nuclear bombs. From the trailers, the actors are the typical actors studio young models, placed to make men and women tune in to gawk at, a mistake Eick quickly realized in his first version, prompting the move towards Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell as the main character focus. Time will tell if the same sort of move will be needed for this version. In my opinion, it’s a big part as to why the other spin-offs have been far less successful, no real actors to bring relatable depth to the story, just pretty faces.
Of course, I haven’t watched it yet, but I will be doing so this weekend. Sure it’s only twenty minutes long (two ten minute webisodes) but I want to be in the right frame of mind, relaxed and open before viewing something I am already approaching with a bit of trepidation.
If anyone reading this is interested in checking out the latest Battlestar incarnation, have a look here.
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