A month later... News!

Well, not too much has happened in BSG world in the last month, since they're busy MAKING IT!

One cool thing is that the new comic series Battlestar Galactica Season Zero has hit comic shops, which I wasn't expecting until later this fall. I follow some comics nowadays still, but only moderately. The premise and setting of BSG Season Zero does spark my interest though. Set two years before the events of the miniseries, Galactica's crew sets off on it's first mission together. I think I remember Tigh mentioning in season 2 somewhere that Sharon came on to the scene just about then as a nugget.

I don' know how much this will set continuity in motion, especially concerning the possibility of a Caprica series, which supposedly was planned to take place a full generation before the current BSG. I'm still very intrigued about this time frame as it pertains to the characters we know from the show. I might pick up issue #1, or at least flip through it (or wait for TPB). Can't get enough of BSG!

There's a few write ups with sample pages for the first issue in the following links:

www.comicbookresources.com
www.comicscontinuum.com
http://trekweb.com

The same creators of Season Zero are also putting out a one shot issue of Pegasus just in time for the air date of Razor.
...

- In other news, Kevin Smith will be directing an episode of BSG s4. *yawns* You know? I used to be entertained by Kevin Smith, maybe even a bit inspired. But now. Meh. Maybe I'm just jealous, but as the above linked article kind of points out - I don't really wan to see Kevin Smith style mixed with my BSG. I just don't.

- The first season of BSG is going to HD DVD, but not Blu-Ray. Yeah, I don't really care either. I don't have an HD res TV yet anyway, and when I do, I'm not re-buying all 4 seasons (plus Razor?). Upconverting works fine for me :)

- And last but not least... some more promising news - Moore closed a deal with Universal Media which could allow him to continue working with Battlestar (so sez that article), among other projects. Maybe all our Caprica series dreams will come true!

Still no news on the release of season 3 on DVD :(

Mini-sodes: Prelude to Razor

Remember the webisodes from right before season 3? (If you don't or haven't gotten to that point yet, I'll post them here at some point soon). Well, something similar is coming up...

SciFi recently announced:

In anticipation of the premiere of the two-hour event, Battlestar Galactica: Razor, the SCI FI Channel will whet viewers' appetites with an eight-week series of exclusive 2-3 minute "mini-sodes." Premiering in October on SCI FI during primetime, these promotional shorts will lead into the November 24 premiere of "Razor"... ... the mini-sodes will be included in the unrated Universal Home Video release of "Razor." They will also be available on SCIFI.COM after their on-air debuts.

From IGN

An updated report on the mini-sodes from Buddy TV

More BSG News:

4 Emmy nominations (I don't think it's enough either!)

Continuing a conversation with Ron Moore (spoilers!)

Great article (even more spoilers!)

That last article also covers more from the press interview panel I posted about last month.

Razor preview!

THANK YOU Club Jade for bringing this to my attention. As I commented there, I haven't been watching the Sci Fi Channel much of late since BSG hasn't been on the air (well, I haven't been watching much TV at all anyway). What we've all been waiting for, a first glimpse at Razor to be aired this fall:


Apparently this was aired on SciFi last night during the season premiere of Eureka. It's also up to view on the official site (look over on the lower right side of the page for featured video - there's some other cool newer stuff up there too).

And here's an interview with Ron Moore, posted at iF Magazine yesterday, discussing season 4 and Razor (spoilers likely if you haven't seen the series up to the end of season 3).

So say we all!

Season 1: Episodes 5-8

A few quick thoughts on episodes 5-8 of Season One, which my wife and I just completed.

• Episode 5, where Starbuck finds the Cylon ship, was pretty sweet. The Cylon ship had a very Yuuzhan Vong feel to it, as a living ship. Starbuck's mechanical manipulations were interesting to watch. At the end, when Apollo saw "Starbuck" on the bottom of the ship, I exclaimed: "That's awesome". It's cool to see confirmation that Starbuck really is that damn good in a plane.
• Episode 6 was so-so. It felt like an obligatory "McCarthy" episode. It had some good plot movement, particularly involving Galactica's Boomer. But, I thought the tribunal was a little stereotypical and rushed. This one just didn't grab me.
• In Episode 7, things really heated up. It was great to see Baltar really squirm. I am simultaneously cracked up and disgusted by Baltar. "No more Mr. Nice Gaius!" He's quite funny, but he's also heavily responsible for the destruction of human civilization and is almost entirely led by his crotch.
  
• I really liked Episode 8. The showdown between Leoben and Starbuck was great. I found myself more sympathetic with Leoben's professions of faith in God than I did with Starbuck's handling of the situation. I think Starbuck's tough-guy act really demonstrated how insecure she is about these human-like Cylons. She doth protest too much. Her prayer at the end was particularly poignant.

At this point, I'm really fascinated trying to figure out what the Cylon's plan is. Why are they so focused on their monotheistic God? Is Caprica Boomer trying to get pregnant with Helo? Is that even possible? I'm sure I'll learn more on the next disc.

Season 1 Episode 6: Litmus

You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly.

Will Adama to Galen Tyrol

Once again, spoilers are noted below, so easy on the scrolling if you haven't seen this...

What was already getting messy gets downright slovenly in Episode 6 of Season 1: Litmus. However, I think this episode might have been a misnomer, since there's really not a lot of litmus-ing going on. It just barely touches on Gaius's "project", which is actually much more of a topic in the successive episode(s). Although this episode isn't of a lower quality by any means, it's more of a go-between, almost a little break from the action, from previous episodes to the latter part of season 1. It's more like a "business as usual" kind of episode where the crew seems to have settled in to their situation a bit more. I needed this episode to happen now and I think it was good timing in the production of the season. Even us fans can only take so much excitement before our devoted little fan-hearts give out. Don't get me wrong; this episode isn't a total sleeper by any means. There are several shocking moments to be had. I guess it's just that in Litmus, the action isn't as non-stop as it has been in the series thus far. Phew! Finally the crew (and I) can relax for a moment. Not!

This episode touches on a little bit of politics and law, as well as loyalties and humanity. Of course that last subject is the very foundation of this show. One of the highlights of Litmus is that it really gets us (me at least) thinking about this humanity thing, and what it is that really seperates the humans from the Cylons. The differences at this point are starting to look more like the conflicts between nations at war, which of course is a completely human phenomenon. Basically some more story development goes on here, and my oh my - some very UNcomfortable situations are starting to boil over. As if a whole civilization going into exile from it's home world and being constantly chased by an unpredictable and not always identifiable enemy wasn't uncomfortable enough...


*LITMUS AND SEASON 3 SPOILERS*
This episode might be even more interesting to those who have seen the entire series thus far, particularly concerning events that tie in all the way through season 3. For one, it's hard not to wince when we see Boomer and Tyrol consummate in that back room and think about all the different levels their relationship would have been unproductive. Heh heh. I mean really unproductive. Boomer is still a sleeper at this point too, but you would think she must know by now, especially with all the hub-bub around the ship and all the weird things she's been going through. Basically she seems to be in a major state of denial. More like a clinical state of denial, which, along with everything that Sharon becomes later in the series, makes me question just who is more human; the humans or the Cylons, who are the children of the humans?

Jammer! Oh poor, poor Jammer. It is good to see him again, but I get shivers thinking about his fate. *gasps*

Even though Doral was exposed as an agent way back in the miniseries, and Tigh was one of the select few "in the know" about the skin-jobs until this episode... what I know now about Tigh from the end of season 3 makes me a little hyper aware about how quickly Tigh recognized Doral before he done blowed himself up. It's just kind of cool to think about it all again in retrospect to the beginning of the series. I really believe the final 5 are with the humans to somehow help protect them from the other Cylons, and to look back on what Tigh has done in that respect makes him, and the other final 3 we know of now, seem more like super heroes. Man... who the heck IS the fifth of the final 5?

Even though I'm a girl, I got a little thrill out of seeing Number Six beat the crap out of Sharon, although I probably enjoyed it in a different way than most male fans would. It's just pretty cool to see girls kick ass, even if it's each other's, and even though they're not really human. It was a nicely shot scene, as so much is in BSG. Add photography as another strong point in the production value of this show. I'm having a hard time finding weak points. One little spot might be with a few moments where Grace Park is becoming less convincing as "on the ship Boomer". But geeze! I can't even imagine ever doing the acting job she does, and furthermore, I am more convinced that her degrading performance as "on the ship Boomer" is completely intentional. She's really starting to act more distant as she becomes more isolated from everyone else, as everyone is to each other at this point with the witch hunt and all. But Boomer is really just starting to talk like someone who is controlled by a base ship. A little more like "on the roof with the other Cylons Sharon". In the meantime, "on the roof with the other Cylons Sharon" is doing a fantastic double acting job of interacting with Helo on Caprica. As we know from later in the show... "getting into character" has so many more levels of meaning now with Sharon/Boomer/Athena/Mrs. Agathon/#8.

This episode ties in with season 3 on many levels. The whole idea of the litmus test, and that it wasn't really supposed to work anyway (but then again, it did), all the issues of humanity, the wooden ship Adama is playing with becomes a very symbolic prop later on (isn't that shown in the season 3 episode Maelstrom?), the whole thing with Tyrol and Boomer... okay, NOW we know how Cylons make babies!

*END OF SPOILERS* (unless you follow the links below)

Litmus at scifi.com/battlestar

Litmus at battlestarwiki

Season 1 Episode 5: You Can't Go Home Again

This entry will contain some spoilers for Season 1 Episode 5: You Can't Go Home Again, but I'll mark them where they occur, so scroll down slowly...

You'll have to excuse me because I am still a little weepy after watching this episode again for the *counting* 4th or 5th time. I was really choked up in a good way then a bad way, then good again, etc. This is quite possibly my favorite BSG episode of all time (with the exception of season 4 which hasn't come out yet). I guess I can't really pick one favorite, since different episodes have different elements in them. But You Can't Go Home Again has to be the one episode that really *moved* me. Maybe it has to do with the mood I am in now, or possibly having to do with just being engrossed in the story as I rewatch it all in order.

It's just that this episode is where the story *really* starts to evolve. Make that stories, plural. So much was introduced in the miniseries and the consecutive episodes of season 1 (episodes 1 through 4). We really got jolted right into the action with episode 1: 33. I think a lot of people really favor that episode, which I do as well. The next few episodes are also compelling, but mainly introduce some of the scenarios between different characters to us, and build the characters themselves a little more. But episode 5, the one I am speaking about today, this one brings you right inside the very souls of several of our main characters; primarily Will and Lee Adama and Kara Thrace. A second story is still evolving at this point, which is that of...

*SPOILERS BEGIN HERE*
...Helo and Boomer/Sharon (wait... Boomer is back on the Galactica - right? LOL) who are still "stranded" (okay, I use that term loosely, since it is really just Helo who is stranded) down on Caprica, looking for a way out. Some of the really cool things about this side story are first, the visual reference of Helo putting bread in the toaster not seconds before the other toasters, the walking toasters with bullets, bust in. It may be trite and extremely obvious as an omen, but I just got a good chuckle with that. You've got to appreciate that little pun the writers threw in there. Secondly, the ensuing shootout scene is one of the most awesome shootouts I've seen in film or television. Keeping this as a spoiler only within this episode, I won't mention how Karl and Sharon's experience on Caprica now reverberates throughout the rest of the series.
Back to the matter at hand... Kara is also stranded; alone, with little oxygen on an uncharted gas planet. Everything about this part of the story is just gripping, both visually and emotionally. As unbelievable and unlikely as it might be that she would free herself from the parachute about to drag her over a cliff AND moments after praying to the Lords of Kobol for a break, lo and behold a downed Cylon Raider appears around the next corner... I just don't care that this is all too lucky (oh that destiny of Kara's!). My eyes and my emotions ate this whole episode up like Luke Skywalker craves that exotic hot chocolate drink. This series is all about Kara Thrace for me, so I admit I am a little bias as to why I favor this episode. She is just so frakking lucky, but at the same time, she is so real to me. She is me.

Back on the fleet, tempers flare and the true feelings of some of our other main characters are surfacing. Will Adama has to face his own heart. Tigh and Roslyn may be the level headed ones here, but really I was waiting for everyone to admit that aside from the family issues between Lee, Will and Kara, the real reason they should have ALL been so concerned with getting Starbuck back is because she is the best frakking pilot they got. They are extremely low on talented Viper pilots at this point. Losing Starbuck could be even more dangerous than taking a calculated risk at saving her. My opinion of course, but as conveyed by Lee when sent out solo to intervene the lone dradis: "This bastard is good!", this is obviously a known fact among the Galactica crew. Not to mention the fact that she was the only instructor available to teach the groms.

Everything about bringing Starbuck back in was awesome and too cool. Unbelievable, yes. But isn't this one of the things we love about sci-fi? We know this couldn't really happen, but my belief is suspended. My faith leaped. Add the human emotion to that, emotion we can really feel and relate to, and this made for the some of the most stellar moments in moving picture storytelling for me. The two moments at the end, when Kara speaks to Lee about her "new toy" and after when Kara is in the sick bay and Will comes to face her... I cried. I started to choke when in the beginning of the third act of this episode, Lee and his father had a little chat about what Will would have done if it were Lee stuck down there. "We would have never left" or something to that effect. *choke*

*END OF SPOILERS* (unless you click on the links below)

All in all, this episode was so well constructed and so rich in story... it's no wonder people stick around to watch this thing. As cliche as some elements might be, the timing is so right on it makes the cliches more like integral parts of the story, rather than cliches. Almost every episode in BSG has some great quotables, but this one in particular had tons of them. More proof that the writing, directing, and acting are superb.

Here's some links to refreshers and references for this episode:

You Can't Go Home Again at scifi.com/battlestar (official site)

You Can't Go Home Again at battlestarwiki

Catching up with rj...

Over the course of the last month or so, I started re-watching the entire series again. Actually, it was more like this: somewhere around late April or early May, I popped the miniseries in with plans on watching the whole series again, but I really only got around to watching the mini, then episode 1 of season 1, "33" right after. Then life took over, and I got sidetracked.

Until rj's recent entry. It gave me a good point to catch up to, which is basically the first two discs of the season 1 box set: the mini and the first four episodes.

Egad! I'm not sure how many times I've seen these already, maybe 5 or so... but it continues to overwhelm me... in a really good way. The writing is really so rich, and even in the "less intense" episodes, there's always some arc or element that captivates. This show has it's highs and lows as any other show does, but the difference is that it's lows are pretty high in my own humble opinion. And because it's highs are so high, they kind of set a bar for themselves that's hard to live up to, if that makes any sense.

The emotion of it all is what really sticks to me, as well as the character development. Even though I know everything that is going to happen to these characters by watching from the beginning again, I am no less engrossed. In fact, maybe I can look even deeper now, and see the finer details which show me once again just how expertly written this show is. The tie-ins across episodes and seasons are easier for me to catch, and believe me, there are a lot of them and surely more to be seen. There's so many subtle details but our imaginations are still allowed to glue everything together. It's a lot like Star Wars in these ways to me.

Watching Kara tackle flight instruction again, after her and the Adama family's trauma... it's just so frakking human, it tears me apart. The ways I can relate to Starbuck are so vast it scares me a little, yet this one character in particular (as well as the show as a whole) I just can't get enough of. There's something addicting about this show that isn't like any show I've ever watched before. It's the same kind of addiction as Star Wars for me. Maybe I just have a good story abuse problem.

So, I watched the first two discs of the season 1 box set again, and happened to have the chance to visit with my parents this weekend. I finally gave those two discs to my dad to watch. He really loves science fiction, loves Star Wars like me (although he's also really into Star Trek, unlike me), and he's a writer and editor (did I mention I got my screen writing teacher totally into the new BSG?). I've had some pretty lengthy discussions with my dad about the new BSG, and I think we both recognize that one of the only deterrents that he might come across with it is the violence (less so) and the political references (more so) - one major factor being that my mother is a displaced person from the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, so some political references can be a little touchy in my family. A little too much info there...

Basically, I'm really anticipating how my dad will like it. On the one hand, I think that he will absolutely love it (he loves Firefly and Serenity too BTW), but on the other hand I'm a little scared that he will be turned off by some of the references. I know he will love the SFX (remember Boomer and her co-pilot finding the water planet in "Water" - that one shot with the Raptor skimming on the planet surface - incredible), and I hope he will enjoy the writing as much as I do - the pure genius in the story.

The "new sci-fi" + BSG press

Check out this article from The Guardian Unlimited UK: The new sci-fi
- It talks about the state of sci-fi today and a pretty grand influence by the new BSG.

Also, yesterday (June 26th) SciFi sponsored a press interview panel for some of it's top shows in Vancouver. TV Squad's Keith McDuffy reports back with a two part video, and the promise of more to come. WARNING - May be somewhat spoiler-ish for season 4, and therefore season 3 and any other part of the series you haven't seen yet:
Part 1
Part 2

Now I'm off to read rj's thoughts on season (1 *wink*wink*)...

Season 1: First four episode thoughts

My wife and I finished the DVD of the first four episodes of Season 1. The next DVD should be coming our way soon.

The beginning of season 1 was a very strong start. It may be difficult to ever match how blown away I was by the mini-series, but these first four were very, very good. I thought the first episode, 33, was the best.

The water episode was good. I really liked the development of Boomer's split personality. It's also cool seeing the juxtaposition of the two Boomer's. I feel bad for Helo.

My favorite part of the prison riot episode was the last scene, after President Roslyn tells Apollo that she has cancer. I forget the exact exchange, but I believe Roslyn's last line is something like: "Of course you will. You're Captain Apollo." There's just something so great in the way she delivered that line, her smile after she says it and the music. In general, I absolutely love the music and sound in this show. It plays a huge part in setting the awesome tone. I feel similarly about the music and sound in Heroes. So important. And Mary McDonnell is genius in this show. She is just fantastic in that portrayal.

The rookie pilot episode was very interesting. That was our cliffhanger for now as Starbuck plummets away from her Viper.

Oh, and I also have to mention how much I dig Baltar. He is so funny in his own disturbing sneaky way.

I'll report back after we get through the next disc.

Recent BSG News

Just thought I'd post some recent news bits about Battlestar Galactica and it's journey toward the fourth and final season:

The following article contains MAJOR SPOILERS concerning season 3. I know some of you may have not gotten to that point yet, so DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS ARTICLE. It's the equivalent to a "Luke, I am your father" kind of spoiler/surprise. In my opinion at least....

CraveOnline: Battlestar Galactica: Ronald Moore talks about *the E word* (<-edited!)

Next one is spoiler-free. Just a few words from Eick talking about how they plan and write the show (and consolations to actors for the upcoming final season)...

CanMag: David Eick on Closing Out Battlestar Galactica

The next few are accounts of the All Access Battlestar Galactica event in LA last week, where fans and press joined together to screen the season 3 finale on a big screen, view a recap of the whole of BSG seasons 1-3, attend a Q&A with cast members moderated by Lucy Lawless, and top the night off with a special preview of the upcoming fall release of the double episode/movie Razor*. There may be some spoilers in these, since they talk about how season 3 might lead into season 4, and events in season 3 in general (see my above opinion about the level of spoiler this is ;)...

UnderGroundOnline: Battlestar Galactica: Q&A in L.A.

Film.com: They Have a Plan: The Battlestar Galactica All Access Event

IGN: Battlestar Galactica Cast and Creators Discuss Season 4

Photos from the event

* Apparently there has been some recent talk about the possibility that the BSG movie "Razor" would not be allowed to go into production by Gary Larson, the producer of the original Battlestar Galactica series and owner of all rights to any Battlestar movie since that time. Larson is said to not have fully accepted the reimagined series, and some reports mention that he wouldn't give the go ahead unless the "movie" were tied into his original series. The most recent news on the Razor movie have included statements by Ron Moore about the possible content, which include a tie in to events from the original series (Supposedly Admiral Caine has flash-backs to her childhood and escape from the Cylon attack from the 1970's movie). Veeery interestink! The most recent reports also make it seem like the movie is still underway, business as usual. I have some doubts as to the sources for the above mentioned flash-backs, so take this as only rumor. For a more reliable preview and statement about the movie, click here.

Mini-series thoughts

Here are a few of the things that I thought about the mini-series:

• The acting was outstanding. Really great stuff period, but particularly for a sci-fi show based on a 70's TV show.
• The story was exceptionally compelling. Characters and a culture in crisis. How do they react? What do they do?
• The variety of characters are also wonderful. Each one is interesting in their own right. Starbuck; Apollo; Adama; Tigh; Boomer; Baltar(!); the bleached-blonde Cylon; the awesome new President (I love her); even the people on the bridge whose names I forget. Oh and the chief mechanic/engineer guy who is hooked up with Boomer.
• The visuals are awesome. I love that the tech seems 'realistic' in the sense that it's a reasonable outgrowth of things that we are familiar with. It's not spacey. In particular, I like that the voices are garbled when they are communicating over their comms.
• The music is a big player in setting the tone. It sets a very, very cool and effective mood. It reminded me of how the music in Heroes is just perfect for that show.
• I thought it was funny that Boxy (sp?) still had to have the bowl haircut in this series.
• The new Cylons are suitably menacing. The last scene revealing a surprise Cylon model was frak-tastic. I loved seeing the old school Cylon in the museum.
• The story is just superb. In the end, that's what matters. All of the sci-fi aspects of the show kick ass. But, it's the story that got me hooked. It was well written, suspenseful and just plain interesting.

I'll get to season 1 as soon as I can.

I think I just wet my pants from squee

I'm not going to give a detailed review, but I just finished watching the initial BSG mini-series. Oh...my...gawd. That was the best three hours of TV I've watched in a long, long time. I am hooked but good. Maybe later when I have time to process all the greatness I'll give more thoughts. But for now, I'll just leave it at...frak.

Fourth season to be the last

So it's official, almost. A friend of mine sent me this news link stating that the producers of the new Battlestar Galactica will officially announce the finalization of the series after it's upcoming fourth season.

It's a little sad, but as they explained in the article, it really is the kind of story that has a beginning, middle, and an end. As much as I'm addicted to the show, I think making a clean encapsuled story arc is the best way to do it. All good things must come to an end. When I think about how televison series really work, and how they work well, its by keeping a captive audience through a strong story (unless you're a variety show of course). Even though I don't follow the show Lost, I've been hearing the buzz about how it seems to be leaving it's audience "Lost" in it's dragging story lines. Hey, Star Wars has an end, at least as far as the saga in film goes, but because it's such a great story, it lives on in our hearts and imaginations, and the gaps are forever being filled in (I might add, there's a certain point where that gap filling can get old too).

I think they might have been able to push BSG on to a fifth season though. In an interview from about a year ago, Moore or Eick had commented that they wanted to only go as far as five seasons max. However, season four is slated for 22 episodes, which is longer than your average TV drama usually stretches for a season. I'm not sure if they are counting what they are now calling an "extended episode" (formerly known as the straight to DVD movie) Razor, to be aired this November as one or two of those 22 episodes. Heck, 20 episodes it's is rather lofty as well. I'll take it!

Here's the other thing. There was some chatter in the past about another BSG project called Caprica, which would predate the timeline of the current BSG by a generation or so, but the idea was put on the back burners. I always likened this concept to that of iRobot (either the book or the Will Smith movie). I think this is a spinoff that could really work and hope to see it reconsidered as they wrap up the end of BSG.

Lets keep fan chatter and communities like these alive and active to show interest in projects like Caprica!