Posted on 01/20/2006 8:29:57 AM PST by isaiah55version11_0
Science fiction has long been stereotyped as a hardware-obsessed, techno-jargon laden refuge for computer nerds and outcasts. Especially on television, which lacks the geek chic afforded by big-screen Hollywood budgets, the genre's reputation for hokey dialog and cardboard-and-wire effects have saturated it with a distinct odor of disrespectability. It is somewhat ironic, then, to see the Sci-Fi Channel, a network which often seems devoted to the pulpy and lowbrow, serve up Battlestar Galactica, a show about spaceships and killer robots that is also arguably the most potent, dramatically vibrant series on television. An unflinching examination of how the military, government, family, and religion interact in the fragile ecosystem of society, it as morally and intellectually serious as it is thrilling.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
Try David Weber's Honor Harrington series or John Ringo's books. Plenty of spirit there.
Ok, there is a good one. Adama changing to Edward Olmos. He is GREAT. He's a crotchety old guy who is gruff, and does his job. Just excellent. Big improvement. And his 2nd in command. A gruff drunk. Very good. They just look like a couple of old army guys. They couldn't have casted those roles any better. But when Apollo comes sashaying in, worrying about his hair, or dykey starbuck comes in chewing a cigar, you just keep waiting for the trangender helmsman you know? In a tutu.
"In real life, they would have announced that she was in charge, and after the laughter had died down, they would have chosen Adama. No one in that situation, would accept a woman as President. Not when your life was on the line. Especially not her. You don't need to "get close to your feelings" in a situation like that, you need to stay alive, fight, kill, etc. Need a man."
A. It's not "real life". It's a sci-fi show.
B. You don't know the social attitudes and mores of the Capricans. You're assuming them to have the exact same close-minded views as you. They've mastered FTL travel. They've moved beyond your scope of thinking.
C. See "A".
D. You obviously do not watch the show, as Admiral Cain (a female! Better hide under your pillow!!) was extremely belligerent and subscribed to your school of "fight, kill, etc".
E. If you dislike this show so much, why participate in a thread about it?
Exactly my thoughts, and why I didn't want to see this new version of BG (until maybe now). I'm so sick of Hollywood's twisted image of masculine and feminine roles. The strong females and sensitive males are there to educate male brutes that women and men are equal in every respect. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH..
Let's face it, war is and has always been masculine business. With women, writers are always trying to put a square peg in that round hole. I will admit it's difficult for women to act and be written so that they strike a balance between being tough yet not in-your-face. It's just so rare that they pull it off.
He had been very active in trying to get the show back on the air, I believe he even made a short film to try and promote it. When the series came back under the direction of a different group, I think they made a role for him out of gratitude (and as a nod to the fans of the original show, which includes me).
Or on Voyager where they had the dykey captain, and her Al Gore like fruity 2nd in command American Indian, who was as Indian as I am. They dropped the whole American Indian thing real quick too.
No, I think she was presented as an example of the path Adama chose not to take. He wanted to return and fight with everything he had. The President convinced him otherwise. Adama knew the war was lost and it then became encumbent upon him to protect the remainder of humanity. Cain just wanted to fight. She was very capable, but could not see the bigger picture of humanity's survival. She took the road that Adama didn't. It also ties into the theme of the three episodes. Can you keep your humanity by doing something wrong in order to save it (i.e. murdering Cain)? She became an example of what Adama would have to have become if he did turn to fight instead of flee. Even the name 'Cain' foreshadows the revelation that she is not her brother's keeper. The net result is that a cylon killed her. Something inhuman did something inhuman. The humans did not sacrifice their humanity to survive. They did not become like the cylons. Another parallel with the Biblical reference to Cain is her death at the hands of a cyclon. Since the cyclons are spouting their pseudo-monotheism, the cyclon could be viewed as a judgement from God on Cain. Look at what cyclon-Boomer told Adama, when he asked why the cylons hate humans so much and why they want them dead. She asked him why do humans deserve to live.
why participate in a thread about it? Because I miss the old days I guess. It's more than just complaining about a show, heck, America's military is starting to look like this. That means we're toast. Lower the requirements so that a 4 1/2 tall woman can become a Marine or a firefighter, or a cop. Come on. Remember that guy that was in court, and pushed the grandma securtity guard down, took her gun and ran? That's what I'm talking about. It's reflected in our tv/movies.
We're becoming a very effeminate culture, and weak. A nation of men, with male rulers could chew us up and spit us out. We'd be worrying about why they hated us, and send them a fruit basket or something.
Imagine what would happen if Hillary were in charge, and RUssia and China attacked. We'd be doomed. Heck, if I were a runssian in that situation-- I'D attack!
Number 6 (tall blonde) is just a Cylon, the priestess had a small ceremonial role, Valerii (cute Asian Cylon) isn't the best at anything, nor are Cally (the deck hand) or Dee (the communications officer). Starbuck (who was junior for most of the show), the president (who has to share power with Adama) and Cain (who lasted two episodes) are the only powerful women.
Being the only admiral left, the only person of official rank enough to command a fleet, she was technically right.
That was great! Thanks. BTW, the music for the original was fantastic. Did they at least keep the original theme?
Wasn't that theme in the Movie "Platoon"
"The only one that can kill Barns is Barns."
I certainly can name them. ha. They had no money for the old series, so they had to put everything into writing. Today they just use Computer Graphics and hookers. And throw in a few queens for some reason. Just not the same. I miss the old days.
Wasn't that theme in the Movie "Platoon"
"The only one that can kill Barns is Barns."
Especially when you follow the series, she really is one tough lady. In her role, pre-cylon attack, she probably never even thought she had it in her to survive the trials she would later endured. She did make mistakes and was naive as President, but she did grow. Her respect has been earned and not issued on a PC ticket. Ordering an assassination? Perservering after a coup? Someone of weaker material would have broken down. Plus she is doing all this while dying from cancer!
The fleet of female soldiers plans its attacks for every 28 days in order to achieve maximum damage.
... runs for cover ...
And the new Superman Returns movie-- anybody get a look at Superman? Give me a break. Just let the Starbuck girl be the new Superman-- I give up...
Nail-on-the-head again, warpcore. Nice post. I think a lot of people long for Captain Kirk and John Wayne. Too bad Hollywood (to their loss and ours) never seems to deliver.
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