BSG: Newbie Needs Some Help

POSTED BY: Fifinella
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 8, 2005 17:48
VIEWED: 7865
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AURAPTOR

Saturday, February 5, 2005 10:56 PM

I think that the idea of not knowing IF there's a real Boomer and whether she's on Caprica or not is a great twist to the story.

As for Starbuck, i wasn't thrilled at the concept of changing that character to a female. However, she's doing a great job, I can't help but like her now. Good stuff.

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

MICHIZURE

Sunday, February 6, 2005 8:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
A shining planet, known as... Earth.”

Which many years later, would be referred to as 'Earth that was.'

Anyone else notice that the original BSG had the same problems with STL/single system vs. FTL/multiple systems that we go 'round about here? Maybe the Twelve Colonies and the core worlds occupy the same system, just in different alternate universes.

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http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/traveller/fartrader
Far Trader: the handbook for interstellar merchants.

MRGOSH

Monday, February 7, 2005 2:02 AM

I've only seen the first three episodes, and none of the miniseries, so this thread actually cleared up a lot for me. I'm curious though, for those who have seen the original series from the 70s, is this new series just the same story with updated special effects and stuff, or is there a whole new story? From Finn's post up there it sounds like at least one of the episodes might be a copy of one of the old episodes, or am I misunderstanderating the situation...
Anyway, the show looks sweet either way, I'm just curious.

I'm Dancin' like a Monkey!
-Gir, Invader Zim

MICHIZURE

Monday, February 7, 2005 3:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrGosh:
is this new series just the same story with updated special effects and stuff, or is there a whole new story?

Basically the same story, but redone almost from scratch. It appears that the writers are neither afraid to borrow from the original, nor to improve upon it as necessary. Besides the overall premise, not only was the "Starbuck is missing" plot taken and updated, but the prison barge uprising also occurred (albeit differently) in the original.

Think about how many different versions of Robin Hood or Dracula there have been over the years: same thing.

--------
http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/traveller/fartrader
Far Trader: the handbook for interstellar merchants.

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Monday, February 7, 2005 4:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Michizure:
Anyone else notice that the original BSG had the same problems with STL/single system vs. FTL/multiple systems that we go 'round about here? Maybe the Twelve Colonies and the core worlds occupy the same system, just in different alternate universes.

Sort of, but you can’t really over analyze the original too much. They did actually have, at least what they referred to as “light speed.” (Which taken literally may be even more intangible then ‘faster-then-light’ speed.) But the original sort of held to that 70’s science mentality that today makes it seem somewhat oversimple.

BRITCHICK

Monday, February 7, 2005 10:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrGosh:
is this new series just the same story with updated special effects and stuff, or is there a whole new story?

The premise is the same: Humans created cylons to be slaves, the cylons rebelled and wiped out the twelve colonies (each named after one of the signs of the zodiac). The survivors fled in whatever ships they can and are searching for this mythical thirteenth colony called "Earth". Many of the character names are repeated, with broadly the same role (eg Commander Adama, Starbuck, Apollo etc), but actually that's about where the similarity ends.

The 70's show contained individual sel-contained episodes which had a bit to do with running from the cylons but dealt with other subjects, and each episide had the mandatory happy ending. Starbuck was always chasing girls, Apollo was always a good son and the steady one etc. The characters were pretty shallowly drawn, and they behaved true-to-character in each episode with little character development. The show was nice enough, and fulfilled its role as fluffy tea-time family fare (along with the Dukes of Hazzard, The A Team, and countless others).

In the new series, each episode follows on from the other and the stories are all about the flight from the cylons with a few other bits thrown in. We have ups and downs, issues such as water shortages, food shortages, fighter pilots actually dying. The characters are very deep, and the interrelationships are developing as we move on. The dynamic between Adama and Lee, Stabuck, Adama, and Lee... Adama and the President... The whole feel is darker and more interesting; the fact that Cylons look like humans and may not even know they are cylons; the relationship between the human/cylons and the humans is very interesting; the struggle to maintain democracy....

There are some neat touches which are nice nod/homage to the original series, such as the use of "frack" as a swear word. I also liked that the original Apollo joins the series as a bit of a potential "baddie".

Personally, I love the fact that Starbuck is a girl. I was absolutely shocked, and a little outraged, when she came on screen. BUt then I thought it was a really great way to make people realise that this isn't just a rehash. And I love the fact that she is smoking the cigars, playing poker, gets into fights, and is such a tomboy (sorry, I know that doesn't quite bring the righr picture to mind, I just can't find a better descriptive word)

I found each episode of the new series was a "must see", whereas the 70s show was a bit of amusing fluff.

The final episode... well, I don't want to leave any spoilers. There was a real buzz of "What?! Did that just happen? What does that mean? They CAN'T just leave it there..."

Sorry if I am offending any fans of the original. I don't mean to, as I liked it well enough at the time, and I do know that the special effects etc were somewhat groundbreaking for a TV series. It's just that it was a product of its time. I would watch it now for its nostalgia value.

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RAINEY

Monday, February 7, 2005 2:29 PM

I bought the 1979 series DVD boxset in the Christmas sales, and had great fun watching, but found that it really doesn't help much when watching the new series. It was great for nostalgia purposes, but not for trying to understand what's happening in the current incarnation.

In fact I got quite frustrated with it all - there are some similarities that others have pointed out here, but in terms of plot - there are also many differences, and I tried for a while to marry up the two series... it just wasn't possible.

It's good to see Richard Hatch making appearances in the new series though. For those who didn't see the original Richard Hatch played Apollo, and now guest stars as Tom Zarek - one of the prisoners on the prison ship.

Oh, and I must echo Britchick's comments on the last ep of the series. I couldn't believe what I saw... Amazing stuff!

CYBERSNARK

Monday, February 7, 2005 3:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by britchick:
The premise is the same: Humans created cylons to be slaves, the cylons rebelled

Actually, that part was new.

In the original series, the Cylon robots were created by a reptilian race --the "true" Cylons. Eventually, the true Cylons died out and the robots took over.

The "Imperious Leader" in the original series was the last surviving true Cylon. When he died, Baltar took his place, leading to speculation as to just how well the "Cylons" would survive without an organic consciousness at their head.

"By your command." --assorted Cylons.

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

ZOID

Monday, February 7, 2005 5:02 PM

Fifinella and Fellow Browncoats:

A few highly random thoughts that have been nibbling at my consciousness...

Random thought #1: I love the new BSG. It helps that it is so reminiscent of Firefly, from the writing and SFX standpoints (natural enough since it boasts Zoic and a number of ex-Firefly/ME directors and writers). It has a nice 'big picture' story arc, also reminiscent of FF. It is also clearly high-quality entertainment, for a television series (not quite up to the standard of Firefly, but close enough for me).

Random thought #2: The placement of BSG alongside the 2 Stargate series on SciFi Fridays only serves to illustrate the inferiority of the SG franchise. It's like, "Okay, here's Stargate -- twice -- and then we're gonna prove to you what incredible dreck those are by finishing up with actual science-fiction entertainment." I had hoped that SciFi were upgrading SG this season, for this juxtaposition with BSG. Nope. It still lacks any redeeming values in story, dialogue or characterization, and so does the new SG: Atlantis. They're painful to watch.

Random thought #3: When I see how strong, well-acted, well-written and expensively-produced BSG is, it makes me furious that Firefly is not still on the air, somewhere. If not on F*x (may they collectively burn in a special Hell, particularly Gail Berman), then why not on some other thinking network; and why not SciFi? I figure their Friday night lineup should be Farscape, Firefly and Battlestar Galactica, in that order. Flush the SG 'franchise'. It is entirely possible that SciFi could thus do what no other network has been able to accomplish: Monopolize Friday primetime.

There has long been the argument that Friday's are party nights, and that no one is home to watch TV. Okay. As one who once made his living as a lead singer/shaman/party master, I would argue that all the beautiful people don't even show up until the witching hour (midnight), and that Saturdays are the preferred party evenings anyway. Fridays are what I used to call 'Amateur Night'. All the working stiffs TGIF'ing, getting blasted out of their gourds by 7 PM and -- unless they've drunk so much that they've totally lost their wits -- gone home by 9 or 10 at the latest. The problem with Fridays is that some of those 'weekend warriors' will stick around, staggeringly, after the real party has begun, and insist on puking and then bleeding profusely on the furnishings.

Ummm, so I ain't necessarily buying the argument that Friday's are a throwaway, from a ratings and advertising standpoint. It's just that there's nothing good to watch on Fridays, because the nets won't air anything good on Fridays. But once my 'dream lineup' got its legs, you could always uproot it intact and repot it on Sundays or Mondays, if it failed to perform optimally...

Randomly,

zoid

P.S.
I apologize for being so brutal on SG/SG:A fans; but I don't apologize for calling it dreck. Just watch BSG, for poignant evidence for my position. It's obvious: On the one hand 'very good', on the other 'very bad'.

P.P.S.
Does BSG remind anyone else of a sci-fi version of NYPD Blue? (That's a compliment, BTW.) I just hope they don't feel the need to end every season with a 'cliffhanger'. Isn't that device a little overused by this point? A good show doesn't need to 'tease' its audience to get them to come back for the next season; each season should stand alone. (Note to JW: The same is true for movie series. How annoying was that "To be concluded" in the Matrix series? Make one movie, or make three (or 17) movies that stand individually within the same universe.)
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"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity

GREENFAERIE

Monday, February 7, 2005 5:15 PM

Quote:
... How annoying was that "To be concluded" in the Matrix series? Make one movie, or make three (or 17) movies that stand individually within the same universe

I second that. I remember the first real cliffhanger movie I ever saw was The Empire Strikes Back... that made me so pissed off; "What, I have to wait two years to find out what happens... and did Ben lie to Luke? Is Darth really Luke's father?!!!"

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