Battlestar Galactica: Razor - Previewing the TV-Movie Series

The Sci-Fi network has made a movie based upon the popular TV series Battlestar Galactica. The movie is called Battlestar Galactica: Razor. For those of you not familiar with the series, this is the new, modern version of the '70s television series Battlestar Galactica. It still has many of the most famous and familiar characters, but with a more modern feel. This modern version is not quite so campy and delivers more on the political and human side of war.

Battlestar Galactica : Razor is not a preview of the upcoming season 4, rather it is a flashback to events during the first 3 seasons and a bit of a glimpse of events that took place prior to season 1. Razor is the story of the Battlestar Pegasus and it's crew. The story is told in two time-lines one from the present and one from flashbacks of the Pegasus's newest XO (Kendra Shaw). The story begins with Lee Adama being named commander of the Pegasus and then naming Lt. Shaw as his XO. We then begin to see the flashbacks, beginning with the attack on the 13 colonies by the Cylons and how the Pegasus survived. This is basically a retelling of what was learned in season 1, though I did find the action scenes very entertaining and in particular I enjoyed seeing a different side to the Pegasus' commander, Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes). We also see Admiral Cain in her very familiar style from season two as a tough commanding officer, but also with a bond among her crew. She is a unique contrast to the Galactica's commanding officer, Bill Adama ( Edward James Olmos) and how she handles decisions under the same circumstances. One event that obviously sets the tone for a young Lt. Shaw is when Admiral Cain gives orders to her then XO who refuses to obey based on his ethical beliefs. Admiral Cain then takes his sidearm and shoots him. You definitely would not see Bill Adama go to such drastic measures to have an order carried out.

After the flashback of the Pegasus' survival we are taken back to the present where a missing scout ship and its crew lead to the discovery that the Cylons are experimenting on humans and the creation of a new kind of Cylon. What is very appealing about this new discovery is the way it comes about. Not to completely spoil the show, I will just say that we are treated to the return of a character from the original 70's show. We are also shown a third time-line in which we go back to Bill Adam's earlier years and how he first learned of the Cylons attempts at creating a new Cylon by experimenting on humans. This is a very short segment and I could not really see the reasons for including something that was irrelevant except to provide us with more involvement of a character that is familiar. While Lt. Shaw is tasked with coming up with a plan for the rescue we begin to see that she is suffering from her own doubts created from her time under the leadership and guidance of Admiral Cain. She continually plays with a knife that was given to her by Admiral Cain and it is usually at these times that she is having to make a tough decision.

The story then progresses to a rescue mission for the humans that is led by Shaw and who is accompanied by Kara Thrace (Starbuck) Throughout the movie Starbuck is a constant protagonist for Shaw. While we are all familiar with the demons that Starbuck suffers from, it is through the interactions between Starbuck and Shaw that we learn of Shaw's demons. One which is shown over several flashbacks is when the Pegasus, still under the command of Cain discovers other survivors in ships from the the attack on the colonies. Cain gives an order for the ships to be stripped of essential materials and personnel that can be used on the Pegasus and the remaining survivors left stranded. Shaw accompanies the Pegasus' new XO on the mission and is immediately confronted with a moral decision, enforce her admirals commands or save the survivors from Caprica. As is expected, she follows her orders and this results in some very drastic consequences. She shoots one of the survivors and the results are disastrous. This one incident haunts her and follows her throughout her career. The final sequence of this flashback is played in the final segments of the movie. It is during the final segment that an ominous warning is given to Shaw which she tries to relay to the Pegasus, but fails before she dies.

The movie is full of revelations and provides some background for Galactica fans. If you are a fan of the series then you will really enjoy this movie. If you are new to the series it will just leave you confused. Mark your calendar for late November to catch the premier.