February 26, 2005
BSG Watch
I watched the new Battlestar Galactica last evening. The main plot centered around a Cylon prisoner trying to mess with the heads of his captors.
After it was over, I watched a few minutes of a goofy movie from a few years back called Turbulance. The main plot centered around a serial-killer prisoner....trying to mess with the heads of his captors - and on an aircraft, no less.
Just saying.
Y'know, I almost think I wouldn't mind all the BSG changes if there was just a bit more actual space stuff involved. You SF types scoff at us mere dilettantes who like what you dismiss as "space opera" but it seems to me the most enjoyable examples of the genre are able to combine good human drama with the appreciation that all of this is going on in an environment completely alien to our own experience and that lets our imaginations run wild.
So far, practically every episode of BSG I've seen is dominated by moodily-lit close ups of People In Crisis. But I can see that on any cop drama. I wish the show would pay more attention to the Universe around them.
Posted by Robert at February 26, 2005 09:38 AMMy problem with the new BSG is that it is relentlessly intense. Babylon 5 had some humor/lighter moments to it. Still, I'll keep watching.
Posted by: RobertJ at February 26, 2005 10:04 AMThe DirecTV lineup last night was a wee bit lame, wasn't it? ;) I wound up watching all of Turbulence simply because there was nothing else on.
That and I like Ben Cross' voice. Honestly, that's the only reason I can sit through it. I do think you have to hand it to Ray Liotta though---when he goes nutso, he really goes nutso. He should probably get points for effort.
Posted by: Kathy at February 26, 2005 10:18 AMThat's interesting. I major sci-fi and Tekkie guy I know really likes BSG because of that human element and not so much of the special effects space stuff.
Posted by: Christina at February 26, 2005 11:34 AMI love sci-fi and have followed all the various shows from "Lost in Space" to BSG. I have to agree with the Llamas though, I like space opera style the best. I always thought that shows in the Trek genre could use an up gunning. The episode of DS9 with the Klingons getting there ass kicked by the station was right up my alley. So in conclusion, more space battles, hell yeah!
Posted by: Brass at February 26, 2005 03:06 PMHey, I'm old enough that I was an original Trekker the first time it aired in the late 60's. Their most memorable and fun episodes had to deal with human relationships..just models on strings infront of a black velvet curtain.
I'm thoroughly enjoying this shakedown voyage of BSG. And there is a glimmer of occassional humor ... one that aired when President Roslin was being lectured on health matters by the good doctor with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and another scene that was left on the editing floor (but can be seen at the BSG episodes page at sci-fi channel site) "Billy's first press conference"
Posted by: Darleen at February 26, 2005 05:15 PMouch...typos!
should be Their most memorable and fun episodes had to deal with human relationships..NOT just models on strings infront of a black velvet curtain
I'll add, too, that ST had to be clever in scripts and writing for budget reasons... even if almost all their real "outdoor" shoots were done at close-by Vasquez Rocks/
Posted by: Darleen at February 26, 2005 05:21 PMDar, I can't believe you didn't mention the bathroom scene in "Six Degrees of Separation." That scene had me rolling. It was hilarious.
Yes, "Galactica" is intense. That's because it's not a science-fiction show. Seriously: It's not, not at all. It's a hard drama that just happens to be set in outer space.
Posted by: Jeff Harrell at February 27, 2005 12:43 AM
