Q&A: Ron Moore on 'Battlestar' series finale

The Live Feed ^ | 03/13/09

[KevinDavis]

Ron Moore is on the verge of joining a rarefied group of showrunners who have successfully pulled off the most ambitious of TV formats: the heavily serialized drama. Part 1 of the series finale of his Peabody Award-winning reimagination of "Battlestar Galactica" on Sci Fi Channel airs tonight.

As with “The Sopranos” and “The Shield,” fans are eagerly anticipating the finale and fretting whether it can live up to their expectations.

Below, Moore talks about the last episode, networks shying away from serials, J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" remake and the one genre he'd like to tackle next.

[Optimus Prime]

Did he ever answer, or explain why he make the his Sci-Fi so negative, so bleak, so dystopian?

What's there to explain? The reason why should be fairly self-evident, given that the series starts with a NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST! What were you expecting after that, sunflowers and rainbows?

As for the lack of aliens, who cares? You want hordes of forehead aliens then tune into Star Trek. This show's about the Colonials and the Cylons. It isn't about the alien of the week. And having a galaxy full of thousands of inhabited worlds with countless alien species takes away from the precariousness of their situation. The destruction of the Colonies becomes vastly more horrific if inhabitable worlds are a rarity in the galaxy. The annihilation of the Colonial Fleet is a bigger deal if there aren't alien armadas that the Colonials can ally with to save them from the Cylons.

But then agains the pop culture has been so unAmerican for a long time now!

What exactly is so unAmerican about this show? Because I've been watching it for nearly six years and I haven't seen anything of the sort.

[kalee]

ping

[Future Snake Eater]

Yeah, it got bleak. You said it was “unamerican.” I’ve seen every episode and movie, and I have yet to see where you’re getting this vibe.

[VermiciousKnid]

I haven’t seen anything of the sort, either, O.P.

I’ve seen betrayal overcome by honor, I’ve seen hate overcome by love, I’ve seen sin overcome with forgiveness, and I’ve seen grim determination in the face of total devastation.

Sounds pretty American to me.

That said...science fiction has many facets. I can’t fault Cargon’s analysis; BSG CAN seem pessimistic and dark. It CAN seem like hope is gone, but IMO, that is what makes it great drama.

I can’t wait for next week’s episode, though I will surely miss my Friday night date. What do I hope for in the final episode? Answers and hope. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the polytheism/monotheism aspect shakes out. I found this a very interesting storyline plot.

Grab your gun and bring in the cat,

[Optimus Prime]

Boom, boom, boom. :D

[VermiciousKnid]

LOL, I’m thinking of making that my tagline. In fact, I think I’ll do it right now!

[VermiciousKnid]

BTW, Kevin, I know I didn’t comment much on the BGS threads, but I just wanted to thank you for keeping the list and setting up the threads each week. I really enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts on this terrific show.

Keep in touch!

[KevinDavis]

No problem...

[Captain Beyond]

Battestar the movie should be interesting to see. I wonder how they will recap what has happen or will they sketch a brief history of what has happen and build a stand alone story around that? Or they could do the Starwars thing and start off in the center somewhere and then do a prequel thing.

Bottom line I just hope it is good SciFi. Here lately some of the movies that have come out have turned out to be just super lame with me going “I actually bought 2 tickets to this?” “What the heck was I thinking?” and then sighs* and heads off to Blockbuster for DVD SciFi fix after having to agree to go see 2 chick flixs because she had to sit through that.

[KevinDavis]

Just as long there is no kid or the daggit I’ll be cool with it...

[SwankyC]

Canada is stealing our Film and nTV industries. So much for allies!

How exactly does a country "steal" away an industry thats likely actively looking to flee high taxation and opressive union rules?

[BenLurkin]

Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worries on the doorstep

[Captain Beyond]

"Just as long there is no kid or the daggit I’ll be cool with it..."

Hmmm..... I forgot about the lunchbox, action-figure, and night-light requirements for these types movies. This could go bad in so many ways.

Hopefully they will go the edgy route and punch up the reptilian alien enemy part by doing some of the back story with that then come full circle. And then hope and pray for no PC love for the animals and environment propaganda in this. Let there just be evil aliens that we have to kick the crap out of to survive with some cool future type science stuff that is fun.

[America_Right]

I will state here and say I think most of the Sci-Fi entertainment of the last 25 years has been very anti-American.

I pick up some of it now and again, but most of it over 25 years??? Nah. Dean Winchester on Supernatural last week did say that Joe the Plumber was a douche, though. That wasn't cool. Seemed totally out of character for him.

[marajade]

It has nothing to do with Canada. It has to do with hollywood labor acting unions. Get it?

[BigCinBigD]

I hope the last words heard on BSG are...”We are the Borg”. :0P