Galactica.

palmers · Forum Member Joined: Jun 07, 2002 Posts: 379

Anyone else here seen the "reimagined" Battlestar Galactica? I didn't bother because I wasn't impressed with the source material, but then I rented the first season - and was blown away. Sombre tone and performances (Adama's stillness and Roslin's warmth are outstanding), and intelligent variations on the original storylines. There's a cartoon Englishman, but you take that for granted, and the anachronism of costumes and political and military structures are dealt with by ignoring it. I've now watched the miniseries and the first two seasons, so I'm up to date. Got to wait now...

IMP.
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GhostofMacbeth · Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2001 Posts: 619

I was of the same mind when I first saw the idea of it. I had a sort of fond nostalgia for the original but they were doing weird things to it. I had deadlines and missed the mini series but then I rented it and watched everything since and I find it is quite good and I am waiting for the return with much aniticipation.

palmers · Forum Member Joined: Jun 07, 2002 Posts: 379

One of the many things I like is the series' willingness to confront issues which tend to have pat solutions on TV: race, prejudice, judicial violence, truth. We have characters forced by circumstances to do things they know are wrong, making mistakes, acting for the wrong reasons...

IMP.
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GhostofMacbeth · Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2001 Posts: 619

Yep, I like that and the fact that status quo doesn't exist on the show. That is one thing that perpetually turned me off of the later Star Trek's ... No matter what you end up with everything back to normal at the end of the episode.

Ironbear · Forum Member Joined: Nov 06, 2001 Posts: 1038

Galactica is probably the best series currently on TV.

I have had and still have some problems with thier "re-imagining" of some of the character concepts... but the writing, acting, and scripting is consistently excellent. Casting was great - especially their casting of Olmos as Adama.

Only flaw I can see really is that there aren't enough starfighter battles. ;]
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GhostofMacbeth · Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2001 Posts: 619

I actually agree that there could be a bit more in the battle area. Also, sometimes the political thing gets a bit too strong for someone who doesn't really have any political leanings.

Ironbear · Forum Member Joined: Nov 06, 2001 Posts: 1038

I have to say that I wasn't expecting much when I sat down to watch the initial premier mini-series. I was happy to be pleasantly surprised.

Heh. Did anyone else happen to catch that they stole the design for the new Cylon raider craft from Wing Commander?

That's an almost line-for-line pattern off of the Kilrathi Dralthi fighter. I should know - I've killed enough Dralthi over *years* of playing WC. I'd recognise that silhouette anywhere.
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palmers · Forum Member Joined: Jun 07, 2002 Posts: 379

It's not perfect. Some characters are shallowly portrayed, and the resolution of the Cain storyline lets our heroes off the hook when the series hasn't been inclined to let them off it. Still...

IMP.
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Ironbear · Forum Member Joined: Nov 06, 2001 Posts: 1038

No, not perfect. But I gave up on "perfect" from TV a looonnngg time ago. I'll settle for "good enough" these days in sci-fi, and Galactica more than hits good enough.

I'm going to be real interested in seeing how they wrap up the current storyline.

Some of the characterizations are annoying. Starbuck for one. I didn't have the major problem with the "Starbuck as a Chick" thing that a lot of viewers did... but I find the actress in that role to be irritating. One of my favorite episodes was in the Arrow of the Gods storyline when the blonde cylon beat the crap out of her on Caprica. ;]

Apollo is another one. The actor doesn't seem suited to the role, although he is growing into it. He's just not... heroic enough.

On the other hand, Richard Hatch was a surprisingly brilliant bit of casting as the terrorist/revolutionary character. He makes an impressively dangerous looking bad guy.
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GhostofMacbeth · Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2001 Posts: 619

I actually like Starbuck, though she can get a bit one dimensional at times, but I agree on the Apollo lacking a bit of heroics.

I think they are trying to setup Starbuck for a big change in character but I am not sure. Rash pilot and to a bit of a drunk to somethign a bit more ...

After the season two end I am really not sure what kinds of things are going to happen though.

palmers · Forum Member Joined: Jun 07, 2002 Posts: 379

Apollo's a shallow role. I like Starbuck, and that they're not afraid to portray her as an utter cow (as in her completely-realistic drunken/besotted scene in the penultimate episode). The way we're starting to understand the Cylons more is intriguing, and the Adama and Roslin roles are substantial.

Even the way the leads go straight to seed in the Season 2 climax is typically honest.

I have read hints of the plans for Season 3, and I wish I hadn't really: I'd rather be surprised.

I keep forgetting to mention that from the start of Season 2, Mark Verheiden is on the production team, and co-wrote the end of the season. He wrote The American, an excellent early Dark Horse series, and a Phantom series at DC.

IMP.
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GhostofMacbeth · Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2001 Posts: 619

I knew I knew his name from something but I couldn't figure out what.

I am making sure I don't read the plans for season 3. Or trying to at least.

Apollo could be so much more but it is developed as fairly shallow. I am hoping that changes somewhat with season 3 as well.

palmers · Forum Member Joined: Jun 07, 2002 Posts: 379

I think Apollo was conceived - or re-conceived - as the requisite generic action/romantic hero, which had to be dull. It might be that with the confidence of their critical success, they'll flesh him out more. On the other hand, even in Season 2, there's the cliched spacewalk-and-ennui story.

IMP.
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GhostofMacbeth · Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2001 Posts: 619

Yeah ... really hoping they flesh him out more.

Ironbear · Forum Member Joined: Nov 06, 2001 Posts: 1038

We'll see. I don't detest either character, I just think the actors seem miscast in those two roles. It makes for a slightly jarring note in an otherwise extraordinarily well done job of casting.

The re-envisioning of Baltar for example, couldn't be better. I'm *really* glad they didn't make him a one-dimensional cardboard cutout bad guy like the original.

Adama, Tigh, and the other roles all seem to have people who fit them nicely.

Oh well. As I said, I've given up on "perfect". I'll settle for "good enough", and Galactica is mostly excellent so far.
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