Starborn SocietySci-fi isn't just for nerds(Battlestar Galactica Ping)

NRO ^ | January 20, 2006 | Peter Suderman

[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.

[antiRepublicrat]

Okay, remember that "Red Sonjia" girl? She was believeable. And remember in on of the Conan movies-- when they had Grace Jones? She could kick ANY of our butts.

In my time in the Army, I did meet a few female soldiers who you do NOT want to mess with. One was our best deuce-and-a-half driver (those who've driven know the upper arm strength it takes), and another was an excellent humper (no, no, no, you dirty minds, as in hauling packs and gear and running long distances).

Steve Martin moment now. :^)

[Little Ray]

The President ain't too bright, either.
The war is lost, yes, but it ain't over until the Cylons decide its over and stop chasin' the Galactica; or the Galactica and her fleet manages to completely elude 'em (which requires elminatin' all the Cyclons in crew and any Cylon tracking devices stashed on board).

[discostu]

I think BSG is very good sci-fi. It does what sci-fi is supposed to do, asks a lot of interesting moral and social questions of the audience and doesn't provide answers.

DS9 was lame to start with but it got good in the final few seasons, they started really working the characters and building interesting plots. Of course it suffered from the samer problem all recent Star Strek suffered from, having to put every character in every episode for at least one scene and just plain having too much technology.

I think the roles in BSG are very believable. Every character has flaws, nobody is really psychotically able.

[warpcorebreach]

You know, maybe I am. When I grew up, we were going into space for the first time, and everyone wanted to be an astronaut. One of my friend's dad was a engineer for an aeronautic company and got me and my brother a chance to walk through a shuttle hangar where they were building parts . Exciting time to be alive. We were goign to use the shuttle to go to a space station, and then to the moon base, and then on to the planets and stars.

Look at us now. It all fell apart. Sci fi back then was jyst a reflection of our hopes. The hope in real life for getting out into space are gone now. So scifi is mostly porn, or they want to preach something. Instead of a psace program we have to worry about feeding illegals. The dream is officially dead. We won't be going into space.

[discostu]

That was one of the interesting changes to the character that I like. While they kept the idea that Starbuck is great at everything they decided to limit the scope to things done primarily alone. Kara is not a good organizer, not a good leader, and her judgement is easily clouded.

[catbertz]

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.

Hey warpcorebreach,
I think this contrast between the old school grizzled vets, possibly like yourself, and the younger set was intentional.

Apollo was very resistant to his father's views in the beginning, to the point of mutiny, along side the equally resistant/liberal President. They have since fallen in line with Adama's vision and wartime leadership, after they learned some hard lessons.

There are many contrasts questions built into the story.

• Military vs civilian agendas
• male vs female
• man vs machine of his creation
• religious faith vs cold realism
• youthful liberalism vs hard-earned wisdom of age
• fight vs flee strategy

You get the idea. These contrasts, in addition to the other moral question raised, add real depth to the story, and often reflect our nations War on Terror.

These are some of the reasons I totally enjoy this version, having been a fan of the original series. I was nervous when BG was announced, but I'm rocking it every Friday. Even got the wife hooked, and she's anti Sci-Fi.

[discostu]

No Cassiopia (Starbuck's girlfriend and a prostitute in the pilot episode but they changed her to a med tech in short order) was Kane's former lover, the pilot was his daughter, and the pilot was flying with the vipers when Kane decided to take Pegasus between the base stars to get them to shoot each other, thus she lived to stay with the Galactica crew and develop into Apollo's 2nd love interest, just watched that episode a month or two ago.

[warpcorebreach]

I watched the pilot episode, where the Cylons attacked every 30 minutes or so, and I thought this was the best show I've ever seen in my life. But it was just too much. Remember the old Baltar? John COlicos. He was so cool and evil. The new guy is a little fem 5'o" tall GQ model. Believe me, I'd like to be able to watch this show. I just can't do it.

[discostu]

Which brings up something I thought about at lunch while falling behind on this thread. If Ron Moore really wanted to make BSG PC there'd be at least one gay love interest already. Really all the things that made people think before the show started that it was going PC were either done for clean plot reasons or for rather non-PC reasons (I think the President is a woman as part of establishing how not presidential she was at the beginning of the show).

[Alkhin]

Yep that's it exactly - couldnt put it into words. I like that Starbuck is able to survive alone, but when in the mix so to speak, she suddenly seems like she is a bit adrift...and not because she is anti-social.

Plus, she likes me. That comes across. There are a couple she can't stand (Tye) but that's personality differences, not a butch attitude.

[discostu]

In real life in something like that you need to re-establish a sense of normalcy and continuity. Which means you follow the laws, and the law said she was the next president to do succession. And Adama threw his support behind her because in a free and good society the military answers to civilian government.

[warpcorebreach]

Well, imagine you're in a foxhole, and you've got your weapon in your hand, and you turn around to the guy next to you, and it's a 4 1/2 foot tall 19 year old girl. Next, you find out she's your superior. Believe me- the first thing going through your mind would be-- "I am a dead man". "How do I get out of here".

[Alkhin]

That should have read "she likes meN" !!! was distracted by a telephone call

[Alkhin]

Didnt know they had foxholes in airplanes.

[Blzbba]

"I think a lot of people long for Captain Kirk and John Wayne. "


Maybe Wayne, but Kirk? Please. William Shatner over-acted in every scene. He was a scene-stealing hack.

And God, the effects were so bad that it was impossible to take the show seriously.

[catbertz]

I watched the pilot episode, where the Cylons attacked every 30 minutes or so, and I thought this was the best show I've ever seen in my life. But it was just too much. Remember the old Baltar? John COlicos. He was so cool and evil. The new guy is a little fem 5'o" tall GQ model. Believe me, I'd like to be able to watch this show. I just can't do it.

I loooved the old Baltar. You're right, he was the sleaziest, creepy guy ever..awesome. I miss some of the old characters still, but I've accepted the new Baltar as more "PhD gone mad" type. It works for me. Most eggheads are frail and worryworts anyway *puts on flamesuit*

Glad you liked the 30 min show too. I'll grant that the first half of the second season totally sucked, but this new second half has returned to form. Glad you gave it a shot, personal taste is in effect.

God bless!

[Blzbba]

"you're eyes are too covered with the "the liberals are trying to take over our brainwaves" tinfoil."



That, and the "everyone's gay!!" paranoia.

[discostu]

The put it in for one episode. The plot of the episode was that the press was doing a thing on life in the Galactica, and for the end of the special when they're talking about how these troops have no relievers, no opportunity for leave, and are under the incredible pressure of protecting the last of humanity against overwhelming odds yet no one has quit they played the original theme. It was a good nod. They've got pretty good music on their own. Really it's a good show. I had doubts too, missed the original run of the mini-series and half of season 1, before I finally decided to trust my instinct on Olmos (IMHO a brilliant actor) and try it out, I was hooked before the first commercial break.

The good news for anyone thinking of trying out the show is they do a VERY good job with the "previously on" section of the show, you get a quick rundown of the mini-series and then scenes from previous episodes that are important for the plot of this episode. So if you jump in now you won't be horribly confused, some stuff hooking to the B plot of character arcs might throw you a little but they make sure you're up to speed for the A plot.

[Terabitten]

In before the zot?

[Blzbba]

"Okay, remember that "Red Sonjia" girl? She was believeable. And remember in on of the Conan movies-- when they had Grace Jones? She could kick ANY of our butts. But they pulled it off."


What?! "Conan the Destroyer" was a pale comparison of the original flick! Grace Jones can't kick your or my ass. Just because she was butt-ugly and looked like a man doesn't mean she was tough. The blond in the first "Conan" was more believable.

"Destroyer" completely ruined any chance of further "Conan" movies. It was horribly reviewed by everyone who wasted time watching it.

And I could kick Red Sonya's a$$!!