⚠️ SPOILER ALERT
Battlestar Galactica(2004) might be the most breathtaking series I’ve ever watched. I often describe myself as a “Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek lover.” I really would like to and enjoy watching how humanity can achieve more and live peacefully in science fiction. (especially while bombs are raining in the Middle East nowadays) This perspective loads a mission to science-fiction productions in my preferences.
I never enjoyed a conclusion of “the good ones will win and rule” in any context. I expect a realistic perspective on human nature and its impurity. Battlestar Galactica is one of the displays of these binoculars. But still, it carries the message from negative premises.
According to general opinions, this 2004 reboot of the original Battlestar Galactica (1978) is one of the best reboots in TV history. Ronald D. Moore adds some darker and divine drivers, which became the salt of the meal, to the story. He was one of the Star Trek Next Generation writers and an assistant to Roddenberry. It’s not a surprise how Galactica kept my attention and focus.
Here are some goods and cons of the Galactica series;
Goods
1 — Leadership and Vision
Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos) is a wise commander of the fleet and iluuminates his environment. The Admiral gains more power every day and proves his leadership skills step by step.
I like this quote from the earliest episodes;
There’s a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.
Admiral, William Adama
We also notice the wisdom of Adama when we compare him with Admiral Helena’s appearance. Helena’s ship was missing from the fleet, and nobody assumed they were living. When they appeared, Adama started to work under Helena’s command. At that moment, Adama had the power to reject a new appearing superior, but he preferred to be a role model leader soldier by making the military hierarchy and discipline living.
Two Real Different Ways
Helena criticized Adama’s command and tried to discipline them. Helena’s lieutenants were behaving aggressively in each occurrence. It seems like because they were not in contact with the civil population, they just continued as strictly ruled military personnel. Adama was in contact with civil people and redirecting them in a peaceful way while partially respecting their reality, so Adama vs Helena’s way was shown clearly. I believe this was not a sub-story but another direct story of the series.
Admiral Helena and Adama. After the death of Helena, Adama became the admiral, with the attempt of President Roslin.
2 — Good Backstories and Connections
In the 2nd season, Cylons were successful in finding humankind where there is no clue. In the previous episodes, they detonated a radioactive bomb (transferred from Baltar). Episodes later, the bomb was the clue of the location of humans. Because radioactive signs are easy to find.
Maybe it’s not surprising to guess a radioactive sign will make humans noticeable. But when we’re following the story of the Galactica’s survival, we forget to clean the radioactive signs from the fleet before hiding, as they forget.
3 — Exciting Scenes
It was a breathtaking watch as Adama and the resistance movement on New Caprica organized an escape plan at the beginning of the 3rd season.
In S3 — E6, Admiral Adama challenges the XO and Starbuck; “kill me or be a man”
Military folks are tough and this makes them breathtaking to watch. For instance, there was no similar action and challenge level in Star Trek series for example.
4 — Recognized Cast
Some of the cast from the Galactica series, as a part of Moore’s network, took place in previous or later Star Trek series. So it’s nice to see some recognized faces in another universe. 🖖
Bads / Cons
1 — Nonsense Democracy Messages
The series underlines every sentence of the page for the sake of “justifying and protecting the democracy.” As a result, it doesn’t make sense if everything is underlined, which means particular sentences are not special.
After keeping a formal democracy process, in fact, President Roslin was applying civil martial law. I think they just showed the bias of modern people:
“Democracy is important to keep; it’s not important if it’s a mask of something else like civil authoritarianism”
By the way, I never thought that martial law and keeping the democratic process on hold were bad on their own. Everything is meaningful in the context.
2 — Unclear / Rushed Hero Stories
The story development speed was varying between the seasons. At the end of the story, it seems like they are rushed to complete the last season as soon as possible.
One example: Why Tory was a Cylon? Tory’s appearance and effect were a coincidence in the story’s development, and she didn’t have a meaningful part. You’ll be from the last 5 hidden Cylons who have the resurrection technology secrets, and you’ll have almost zero influence on anything.
The end of the story is clearly rushed. There are weak connections.
A Last Thing
Gaius Baltar is a reason to rewatch the series a few years later. Baltar’s story is difficult to understand. Did he become God, or did he become a storyteller or an imagination? It’s hard to catch.
Baltar and Gaeta were the most interesting profiles. A spinoff themed with Baltar’s and Gaeta’s story can be an interesting production.