Battlestar Series Finale

I can't believe that Battlestar Galactica is over . . .sniff, sniff. On one hand, I am very happy that it was able to go out in style and complete it's storyline, but on the other, I really enjoyed watching it and wish it could continue on forever!

After watching the finale last Friday, my first thought, was good, but not great. But then I thought about it for a few more days. I realized that most shows lose my interest LONG before the series is able to complete, or the shows I like get cancelled without fulfilling their purpose. In fact, there are only a handful of shows I've actually watched from beginning to end. And out of those shows, I realized that Battlestar had the best finale by far.

What did I like . . . I loved that most of the ends were tied and that we got to see what the future would hold for most of our favorite characters. I also liked that the series did not end on a depressing note. There is hope for our characters to lead a happy life on the new earth . . . although this has all happened before and will happen again the future. I really liked the action sequences. I also liked the present day NYC Six and Baltar reading about how Hera was all of our Mitocondrial DNA mother. I know others thought it was cheesy and wrong, but I liked it. Especially with the music and Ron Moore appearance!

I didn't like how Cavil just shot himself. After everything, his suicide felt like a cop-out. I didn't like how Starbuck's story line was never resolved. Sure she is an angel,but it didn't explain how she got back to the fleet, her father, why did she know the song from childhood, etc. I want to know! I also didn't like how Adama, Lee, and the Chief are going to live solitary lifes forever on Earth. That just seemed depressing.

Overall though, I thought the finale did an excellent job. Battlestar was a great show and had a good run. I only hope we can get another excellent program like this to watch in the future.

Battlestar Galactica . . . almost the end.

Some quick thoughts on last Friday's episode of Battlestar Galactica. I thought it was an interesting episode . . . but I must admit that I am starting to get worried that all of my questions are not going to be answered. I'm trying to have faith in Ron Moore and crew as I have enjoyed the ride so far. That being said, there is a lot of questions they still need to answer in the last two hours. Such as. . . why does Baltar have a Six in his head? And why is he in her head? What is up with the opera house scene? Why has this all happened before and will happen again? Where will our rag-tag fleet end up? What is Starbuck? I could go on!

I wasn't sure how I felt about the flashbacks on this past episode. On one hand, I liked the look at how carefree and happy our main characters used to be juxtaposed with the people they have become. Even the drunken Lee chasing pigeons while at first seemed like nonsense, but then seemed more like look how far Lee has come . . .from a drunken fly boy estranged from his father to a responsible leader who is close to his father. I guess I liked learning more about our favorite characters, but I could have seen this awhile ago . . . I wanted more action, more answers!!! The flashbacks also seemed like I needed more information, I hope the last episode finishes them out perfectly.

I did like how Galactica is going on one more mission . . . to rescue Hera. I couldn't believe the old man would let Hera go and wouldn't let Helo try to rescue her in the past episode. I liked the line on the deck, but I kept feeling like Baltar was going to cross that line and finally make his selfless act. Speaking of Baltar, I enjoyed his flashbacks and learning about his old man and his initial set-up with Six. Anyone else think that Six might have helped Baltar's father find the "farm" by killing him? "The Last time I saw him, he was smiling" sounded awfully fishy to me.

I am still confused about Starbuck. I was convinced she was a hybrid and Daniel was her father. Now she is an "angel" that has crossed over. What is she? How did her viper crash killing her, yet she was in a different viper and came back to Galactica? I want to know!

My wild and crazy predictions:

1. Baltar will find a way to stay on Galactica and he and Six will rescue Hera as in the Opera House scene.

2. The blackhole they are traveling too will send Galactica and crew back to earth thousands of years before. They will populate the planet and will procreate with the cyclons creating the race that will eventually kill itself. "It has happened before and will happen again."

3. I don't know how the heck to explain Starbuck. I still think she is a hybrid.

4. Baltar and Six have someone mind printed with each other and will have hybrid babies together on earth.

What are your thoughts? The series finale of Battlestar on Friday will be a fantastic, yet bittersweet birthday present.

Quick Thoughts About Lost and Battlestar

I have been enjoying watching my two favorite shows, but have not had much time to blog about them. Here are my quick thoughts after watching this week's episodes.

Lost - Wow. It was great getting to see what happened to John after he left the Island. I guess we know now that Ben really is a bad guy!! I'm still wondering why Ben was all bloody and late for the plane. I am afraid that the promise Ben had made to an old friend is that he went after Penny. I hope Desmond beat the crap out of him and that my favorite couple and child are okay. And I really hope that the show shows me what happened soon! Next week it looks like we get to see everyone reunited on the island. Is anyone else getting tired of the Kate-Jack-Sawyer triangle? I just want Kate to be offed so I don't have to watch it anymore! :-)

Battlestar - It looks like my prediction (that I didn't blog about, but did comment on ew.com about) of Starbuck's Dad being the mysterious Daniel or lost #7 cylon is probably true. Starbuck being the first hybrid would solve some myseries, but certainly not all. Poor Chief was screwed over again by Boomer. The Chief is one of my favorite characters, but he certainly never has an easy path. Only three episodes left . .. I don't want my favorite show to end!!

Battlestar Galactica - Seize the Day

The fantastic episodes of Battlestar Galactica just keep on coming. If I had to describe this week's episode in just a few words, I would say "shades of grey." One of the great things about Battlestar are that there are no cardboard characters, and there is no right or wrong in the world. Gaeta was doing a terrible thing by starting a mutiny, and I certainly didn't want him to win . . . but I could also see his point. The Cylons had destroyed the 12 colonies and had been pursuing them across the galaxy. Now the admiral was asking them to trust a faction of them and allow the cylons on their ships. It would be a tough pill to swallow.

It was interesting to see the conflict across the fleet as "Hotdog" refused to shot down President Roslin's raptor and Aaron decided not to kill Tyrol. I really thought the Chief had hit the end. Divided loyalties, uneasy decisions, what is the correct course to take, it was an action packed episode with many interesting topics of discussion.

My favorite part of the episode though had to be Roslin's speech and that she would fight them with everything she had "down to her eyeteeth." Ben laughed out loud at that. I also loved the "I am coming for you!" It gave me chills. Don't mess with Roslin.

What do you think about the giant crack in Galactica? Think her days are numbered? What will Ellen's return mean? I never liked Ellen that much and am still kind of disappointed she is the final cylon. That said, I'm still very interested to see where this story line will take us!

Do you think it's the right decision to work with the renegade cylons? I think so . . .or maybe I hope so. I can see the mutineers point . . .but also can see how the cylons are not all bad. Shades of grey . . .

Battlestar Galactica - The Rising

All I can say is - Wow. "The Rising" showed once again why Battlestar Galactica is the best show on TV today. (For more on why I love Battlestar and think it is the best show on TV, see this previous blog entry) This episode was a heart pounding mutiny on board Galactica. For the first few episodes of this season, we have seen how the discovery of a destroyed Earth with Cylons amongst the dead has demoralized the remaining humans. Having Cylons as friends at arms has proven too much for some.

I used to like Gaeta, but since his leg injury and amputation, he has been a bitter, bitter man. Using his position on deck, he is able to play the entire commanding crew to the ends he wants and take over the ship and get Tom Zarek off and back to Colonial One. It was riveting to watch it all go down.

But I have to say my favorite moment was when Adama and Tigh take out the guys marching them to the brig. You can't keep an old dog down. These guys were in charge for a reason. I also liked that Starbuck was back. Rescuing Lee and taking charge - in true Starbuck style. I also liked the raised eyebrows Tigh had upon discovering Laura Roslin in her robe in Adama's quarters. I was sad when Laura and Bill had their final parting. It almost seemed like we might never see them together again. The final few minutes with Adama and Tigh together with their last stand was awesome. The "too be continued" . . . heartbreaking! I can't wait until next week!!! What were your thoughts on this episode? Did anything think it was as fantastic as myself?

Battlestar Galactica is back!

Battlestar Galactica was back from it's long hiatus with the first of the final ten episodes. Ben and I were so excited by it's return that we actually watched it the night it aired (doesn't happen that much for us with the two boys and a DVR). The episode overall gave me more questions than answers - but isn't that one of the great points of the series?

SPOILERS AHEAD

The episode was fantastic as usual. Overall it was a rather gloomy episode. They had been searching for earth for so long, but discovered it had been nuked 2000 years before and was still uninhabital. There were so many plot twists - I hope I remember to talk about them all.

First of all, Ellen as the fifth cylon!! I did not see that one coming. I must admit to being let down by this revelation. Tigh, Tyrol, and Anders were all shocking choices to me and primed to people in positions of power. I expected no less from the fifth. Ellen is dead and not a power player. So I guess, good job at surprising me to the writers. I wonder where this one will take us.

Many revelations on earth. It was once inhabited by humanoid cylons and the final five once lived there. How did they get to the colonies and in the fleet 2000 years later? I want to know. This has all happened before and will happen again. . . I am intrigued!

Starbuck found HER OWN DEAD CARCASS on earth and had a darth vador funeral pyre for herself. Very, very, very strange. Why are there two Starbucks? This with the revelation of the cylons on earth 2000 years ago makes me think that perhaps everyone is a cylon. What are your thoughts? How did a second Starbuck end up in a ship like her own back at the fleet? Who did this? I want to know!

DEE! I did not see her suicide coming. It was quite shocking. What is the significance of the jacks and locket on earth and amongst her personal possessions? Was is just sadness about the futility of it all, or did she realize she herself had lived on earth once before?

Overall, I thought it was a fantastic episode and can't wait to watch the final 9. Although I can't stand the thought that it will be over for good!

Battlestar Interview

EW.com has an interview online with Katee Sackoff (Starbuck) and Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh) that is interesting and has a few snippets about Season 4. Also of note is that both actors will be appearing in this fall's new series The Bionic Woman on NBC.

Laura's TV Picks for the Past 2006-07 Season

Now that the 2006-07 television season is starting to fade into the past, I thought it was time to review what shows I liked to watch over the year. I've already done this once, so here is hoping that this time I can get blogger to save it and actually post it! As I started to make a list of them, I realized I watch a lot of TV shows. Back in college I only seemed to watch Star Trek Voyager and Stargate SG-1 and that was only because Dad taped them for me and sent up the tapes (all of this talk of tapes makes me feel old in the land of DVRs and TiVOs). After college I still didn't watch too much TV, but then we got our DVR. The DVR is great for a person like me (and Ben) that doesn't want to be made to watch a show at exactly 8 PM or mess with annoying video cassettes. As you can see by my list below, I know enjoy MANY shows:-)

My favorite shows for 2006-07:

1. Battlestar Galactica. I've waxed on about my love for this show on this blog before. It has fantastic acting and the most intriguing storylines on TV. Sadly, the next season does not start until January 2008 and will be ITS LAST SEASON. WHY!? I can see how it will be a good time to end it plotwise, but there are not too many shows of this quality on TV, and I will be very sad to see it go! For more news about the end of Battlestar, see the following yahoo article and interview with Edward James Olmos.

2. Lost. I was starting to lose my love for Lost during the fall "mini-season." Luckily lost got back on track this spring and ended up a winner of a finale (I'm still crying for Charlie - you didn't have to die "brutha!"). I love the mysteries and the character development in lost. I can't wait to see what happens over the next three years!

3. Desperate Housewives. Season 2 started to lose me, but Desperate Housewives got back in the groove for Season 3. The only flaw was that the Orson mystery was solved before the end of the season so there was a "finale" seemingly 3/4 of the way through the season. With Marcia Cross going on maternity leave, I can see why they had to do it. I love the campy, soap opera storylines crossed with mystery. Season 2 lost Ben, but I'm still devoted!

4. Dr. Who. Ben and I love Dr. Who. I have never seen the older versions of the doctor, but I love the new version. I wasn't sure after they replaced the doctor from "season 1" of the new version, but I like the new doctor. I really liked Rose and am sad that she'll be gone (although I seem to see her all around Masterpiece Theatre these days). We'll see how her replacement is when the new season starts on sci-fi on July 6th.

5. Survivor. Yes, I love Survivor. I remember being dubious of the show when it first started in 2000, but my little sister Katie made me watch season 1 with her and I was hooked. All these years later I still find myself loving every moment of it. I thought this year's seasons were exceptionally good. I loved Yule from the fall season and Earl this season. I love how they are mixing things up more lately and making it more exciting and different. I was once ashamed of my one reality show addiction, but have discovered that many people share my love for Survivor. I'm glad I'm not alone!

6. The Office. I love the office. It's quirky characters are hilarious and Jim and Pam's romance is sweet - I just want them to get together! After working in an "office" I can identify with many of the people/problems on this show. Ben and I started watching this during it's second season after we noticed we always laughed at the first few minutes that recorded after "My Name is Earl" on the DVR. We've since caught up and have enjoyed every show. It's a fun show.

7. My Name is Earl. Ben and I both enjoy this show. It tells the story of Earl, a former crook that won the lotto and got hit by a car losing his winning ticket. While in the hospital, he watches Carson Daley and learns about Karma. He makes a list of all of the bad things he has done and goes on his way to correct his past wrongs. He is helped by his not so bright, but sweet brother Randy, his brash ex-wife Joy, and her husband "Crab-Man." This show makes me and Ben both laugh - especially Ben. It has a sort of old-fashioned sweetness to it and it's fun to see more "normal" (as in not rich!) people being portrayed on TV even though it's not always in the most flattering light.

8. 30 Rock. 30 Rock is one of the two shows that started last fall depicting the back stage happenings on a Saturday Night Life late night variety show. This show is a half an hour comedic take on the business. It focuses on Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) the head writer of the show and her dealings with the other writers, cast, and her boss played by Alec Baldwin. Baldwin is a gem on this show and a lot more funny then I ever would have thought. It's fun seeing all of the crazy that goes on around Lemon. I wasn't sure about this show at first, but it quickly found it's groove. If you only watched the first episode or two, I highly recommend revisiting the series!

9. Robin Hood. I LOVE the new Robin Hood series that was on BBC America this spring. Although the series is more old fashioned in it's set-up (bad guys always caught by the end, ends with a touching moment, then a joke), I enjoy watching a show that harkens back to a simpler time. I like how Lady Marian kicks butt in this new take on the Robin Hood Legend. I also love Sir Guy. Although he is the "bad guy," he sure makes bad look sexy with his tortured love for Lady Marian. He wants to be good for her sake and is torn by his love. It's great!

10. Stargate. I can't believe Stargate has been on for 10 years and it's the end of the series! Ben and I still have to watch the five final shows to see how it ends. I loved the show when it started, but actually missed a couple of seasons in the middle after Daniel Jackson "ascended" and was gone. I was a bit bitter, and also got tired of Ben constantly watching it!! I've been back watching it for the last few years and still enjoy it!

11. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Yes, I also watch the "other" NBC show about a late night sketch show based on Saturday Night Live. I really like this show. I'm really enjoying the new episodes this summer. I can't believe this show was cancelled, it has some of the wittiest dialogue on TV and really presses some red button issues. It's series finale is this Thursday night. I'll be sad to see it go!

12. Ugly Betty. For some silly reason, all networks seem to plan the good shows during the same times on the same night every week. I can only DVR two at at time and I'm sorry Ugly Betty, but Survivor and Office/Earl win. I watched Ugly Betty during the hiatus' of my other shows and found I enjoyed it. I like how it is a comedy with drama. I like how Betty is a good person just trying to make it. I'm not sure about some of the crazy plot twists, but I'm willing to see how this show goes in the future. If only they would show more reruns in the summer so I can catch up!

13. Heroes. Ben and I are behind on our TV viewing of Heroes. We've only watched through last November - but we like what we've seen. We just need to find time to catch up this summer!

Those were my favorite shows. As you can see, I'm not really into hospital/doctor/lawyer/cops shows. I think they are all way overdone and am always looking for something more original like a good show about a young engineer trying to make it in the world . . . :-) What shows have I left out? Am I missing something that I should be taping on my DVR?

BSG - The Finale

Holy Frack! That was quite some finale with a lot of new things thrown at us. I think it was not quite as good of a finale as Season 1 or Season 2, but it was still good.

Spoilers ahead.

Starbuck is back!!! In the very last scene, Apollo goes to check out a bogey and it is Starbuck. She tells him that it is really her and she's been to earth and it back to lead them there. Then while "Along the Watchtower" plays in the background, the it all zooms through galaxy and space to show earth. It really makes me wonder where they are going to take it next year. It make me nervous though - what kind of earth are they going to find?

Another plot development that could be taken as good or bad is that four of the final five cylons have been shown and they are shocking! It was Chief Tyrol, Sam Anders, Colonel Tigh, and some lady that is the president's assistant. The red shirt president's assistant and Sam I could see and had guessed at a few episodes ago. I really didn't want Chief to be! And Colonel Tigh baffles me as he has a back history - Adama has known him for 40 years. How can he be a Cylon? I am really confused!! I keep reading in interviews that these cylons will be different then anything we've known before so I really want to see where this all leading. And there are so many good stories that can lead off of this. Colonel Tigh murdered his wife Ellen for colloborating with the Cylons and now he finds out he is one!!! Chief's wife Callie is a avid Cyclon hater and I guess that makes their son another hybrid. With Starbuck back, how are things going to work out with her and Cylon Sam? And who is the fifth Cylon? Is is the President? Is it Starbuck? Someone else?? What are your thoughts?

The trial of Gaius Balter also ended with a not guilty vote. I liked the trial, but did not like how Lee was up on the witness stand spouting off on his ideals. That should have been in the closing statements.

It was quite the packed finale. My greatest disappointment is that Battlestar is not coming back until January 2008. What were they thinking??? :-( I can't wait until it's back!

BSG - Maelstrom

Ben and I are a week behind on BSG so we just watched Maelstrom yesterday. I must say, even though I had read the internet rumors about Starbuck's death, I didn't believe them. To see Starbuck's ship blow up was devistating! Especially after the build-up of her having a "special destiny" to see her just commit suicide seemed very anti-climatic.

I don't think she is dead. At first I thought, maybe she is a cylon. But then I thought, she had a mother and an entire past so that does not seem feasible. My seond thought was that she is a hydrid and that's why her Mom didn't like her. Her Mom was part of the cylon wars, perhaps she was captured and impregnated. But it seems like that would be way too long ago since they are excited about Hera being the first hybrid. My theory last night was that she has gone on to another plane of existance and will return just like Daniel Jackson in Stargate:-)

I read some online chatter and saw a theory that she ejected and was picked up by a Cylon Raider. Check out the link to a picture showing three ships. That seems like a cool theory to me.

http://www.boringlove.com/threeships.jpg


Does anyone else have a good theory? I really hope she is not really dead - she's my favorite character on the show!

BSG - A Day in the Life

I got a bit behind on my favorite show this week as Ben was out of town for work so I had to wait until he returned to watch it. This episode was another "slow" one that didn't have any Cylons in it, but focused on "a day in the life," or a "normal" day on the ship.

I liked the episode a lot, mostly as I think it apealed to me emotionally as a Mom. Cally and the Chief are having marital woes mostly to do with both of them working too much and not spending enough time with their young son. Chief assigns Cally to work with him on an air lock, which does not make Cally happy. (She'd rather be with their son). While they are at work, a leak is detected in the air lock and the doors are automatically locked. They slowly, and then quickly start losing air and it is up to the BSG crew to save them. SPOILER - I must say, the action sequence where they open the air lock to space and are able to get Cally and the Chief into the ship was pretty exciting. I was also touched when Chief had the baby and they were looking at Cally in the hypothermia chamber. They were a family together and it made the Chief realize what's really important in life. I was ready to cry (I've turned into my mother!), but didn't want Ben to see the tears so I held back!

The other storyline in this episode was that it is Adama's anniversary. He has his ex-wife Caroline in his head as he thinks about the problems with their marriage and goes about his day. I didn't really care for him talking to the Caroline in his head. It reminded me too much of Balter. An interesting development was that we learn from a heated conversation with Lee, that although we had assumed Lee had Daddy issues only in the past, it turns out he had Mommy issues too. Adama left Lee with Caroline and it turns out Caroline was an abusive alcoholic. This made me wonder about Lee's attraction to Starbuck. Maybe a bit of Oedipus syndrome?

Two points annoyed me during this episode even though I try not to be too picky. One was the fact that there was no safety overide on the airlock to allow for the even that people may get trapped in it. I know the airlock was in rough shape - but still - they made it out like this is the way it would always be even if it were working correctly. The other point was, why was Helo in the briefing room with the pilots? I thought last week he was the Mayor of Dog City? And before that he was working on the bridge. I am so confused . . . !

Laura

BSG - The Woman King

Last night's episode of BSG centered on Helo (Karl Agathon) and his management of a cube city of refugees on Battlestar. Why are there so many refugees on Battlestar? Ben and I were not clear on that point and why more just keep on coming. The new round of refugee arrivals were Sagittarons, a group that seems to be generally hated by all other colonists. They do not believe in medicine and have brought a disease on board that can be cured if a shot is injected in time. There are not enough shots for everyone, so it is decided just to inject people with it after they start showing the first symptoms. Dr. Mike Robert is the civilian doctor who is working in cube world, and he has a racist attitude toward the Sagittarons. He also is one of the only people who has nice things to say about Helo.

Helo starts to suspect Dr. Robert may be killing the Sagittarons as different people start to complain to him about suspicious deaths Helo tried to tell Adama and Tigh and the fleet doctor, but no one believed him.

This episode dealt with racial issues and how people get along with different believes. I like the episode, but Ben did not. I think it's because I like Helo, and he does not. Even though Helo is probably not the best officer (since he's constantly disobeying orders), I like him for doing what he believes in. He loves Sharon even though she's a Cylon and sticks with her and their baby, Hera. I like that Helo stuck up for the Sagittarons even though he didn't like them himself, because it was the right thing to do.

Other points of interest in this episode - Caprica Six had a talking Baltar in her head, which was very amusing to watch. I can't wait to see how this plays out. Why does Baltar always see Caprica Six, and vice versa? I can't wait to find out.

Also although there were a few loaded stares between Starbuck and Apolla, the love quadrangle has been put to rest for now. I'm all for a good love story, but their story had been dragging on for too long without resolution. I'll admit, since the show started, I loved the sexual tension between Starbuck and Apollo and wanted them to get together. But then Sam came into the picture. He's a hot loyal husband, who is totally in love with Starbuck. I can't see why she would want to throw that away. The Dee and Apollo romance I'm ready to see thrown away as it just annoys me. Ben and I are both bitter that they killed Billy off just so that they could make the way for Dee and Apollo to get together. Billy and Dee had such a sweet romance. Anyway - enough about the BSG Young and the Restless.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Did others like it? Are others glad to see the romance getting "put to bed" for now? Why do you think Caprica Six has a talking Baltar and vice versa?

Battlestar Galactica

I've seen the look before . . . glazed eyes and a look away, a brief nod, and then a change of subject. This is the usual reaction when someone asks me what my favorite show is and I respond with an enthusiastic "Battlestar Galactica!!!" I can tell from their response that they are thinking "NERD!"

Battlestar Galactica is more than a geek fest - it is quite simply, the best show on television. With fantastic writing, directing, and acting, the show covers today's current troubled times better than any other show I've seen. It is because of it being science fiction - they are able to cover topics that other shows on network television would not be able to touch with a ten foot pole.

For those who don't know, Battlestar Galactica tells the story of a "rag tag" fleet of human survivors fleeing the destruction of their twelve planets or colonies of Kobel by the Cylons. Cylons are robots that were created by the humans at some point in the past, rebelled, and after a war were at a truce with the humans. Unbeknowst to the humans, they evolved during this truce and twelve of the models are now in humanoid form (five of the models are unknown to use at this point). The humans are fleeing from the Cylons and trying to find the thirteenth colony, the "mythical" planet of earth.

Battlestar Galactica is not a "typical" science fiction show, if indeed there is a typical. It does not center on an "alien of the week" plot. It is a character driven show that as Ben says is typified by "shades of grey." If you are looking to say the humans are all good, and the cylons are all bad, you won't find it on this version of Battlestar Galactica. The humans have their many points of evil or troubled times; prisoner torture scandels, rigged elections, suicide bombers, etc., while many of the cylons are sympathetic characters; one has married a human and has a baby; another is trying to find god and the meaning of the life; another was a victim of torture, etc. The show is also a serial with a running plot line. This makes it a bit harder to get involved with, but it is worth the effort!

Ben and I love it, and one great thing about it is it's consistancy at remaining a great show. While other shows that have been on for the same length of time (Lost, Desperate Housewives) have faltered in their storytelling, Battlestar has remained a powerhouse in riviting tales and relevancy to today's world.

As for those skeptics who refuse to watch the show, I had almost the same reaction myself when first learning about Battlestar coming back as a miniseries. Ben kept trying to get me to watch it, and I kept putting it off. Memories of the 1970's cheesy show (I did like it as a kid) did not have me too enthused about a new version. Once I watched the mini-series - I was hooked and really excited about the new series on the sci-fi station that it spawned.

There are two kinds of skeptics I run into. One won't give the show a chance purely based on the title and the fact that it's science fiction. Throw down your snobbery I say! You will never grow in this life if you base everything on what you "think" it's going to be about without actually watching something and forming your own opinion. The second kind of skeptic, that includes my own father, is the skeptic who is a science fiction fan, but loved the 1970's version and can not deal with the fact that certain changes have been made for the new version. "Starbuck is a woman!" they cry. Get over it!! This is a whole new show are really quite good. If you love the 1970's version, there is no reason why you can't love this as its own new separate show.

If you have never seen the show before, I heartily recommend that you give it a chance and check it out this Sunday on the Scifi station (10/9 central). If you don't have cable, you can download episodes to watch at http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/ or for purchase at itunes.

Also of interest, Time Magazine named Battlestar Galactica the best show of 2005. The article and link are below.

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1141640,00.html

"Most of you probably think this entry has got to be a joke. The rest of you have actually watched the show. Adapted from a cheesy '70s Star Wars clone of the same name, Galactica (returning in January) is a ripping sci-fi allegory of the war on terror, complete with religious fundamentalists (here, genocidal robots called Cylons), sleeper cells, civil-liberties crackdowns and even a prisoner-torture scandal. The basic-cable budget sometimes shows in the production, but the writing and performances are first-class, especially Edward James Olmos as the noble but authoritarian commander in charge of saving the last remnants of humanity. Laugh if you want, but this story of enemies within is dead serious, and seriously good."