Battlestar Galactica - Sci-Fi for the Masses

People generally cringe when they hear the words Battlestar Galactica. I know my friends do. The name has been engraved in the minds of those who have seen the 1970's show as hokey, pointless, and generic. When the Sci-Fi channel decided to attempt a remake most people, at least those with whom I spoke, were either against it completely or mostly hesitant. When the mini-series aired, it left all doubt in the dust: this was Sci-Fi's definitive new series.

The main point that keeps Battlestar Galactica at the top of my personal viewing list is that it never relies to heavily on its science fiction aspect. Sure, it's a television show about a civilization destroyed by robots that evolved after a war, and the survivors have to constantly be on the run in space, but the surprising thing about the show is how they really only use the "sci-fi" story as a backdrop for a much deeper military drama.

Yes, the special effects are great. This has to be, single-handedly, the best animated space show to ever grace television. The dogfights are stunning, and every last bullet fired looks real. The art direction is simply amazing, giving the fights and even routine flights a very gritty, realistic feel that is hard to find in most science fiction.

The characters are what really bring this show to life. You don't feel as though you are watching characters on a "battlestar" space cruiser; you feel as though you are watching a rough-neck military group go about their lives on a carrier. That's the charm of it all, really. It's a sci-fi show that doesn't throw the science fiction in your face so hard that you will feel bad for watching it.

Science fiction shows are really a dime a dozen, and so are military dramas. One can rarely turn on the television without hitting some kind of police or military drama show. The detractor from them all, at least for me, is that they do not have an over-arcing story to hold them together. Battlestar Galactica combines everything that I look for in a show into a nice simple package. There is enough science fiction to satiate that desire, but it stays as a backdrop in front of which a delicately woven tapestry of character unfolds. There is enough drama to keep me watching every week, and enough laughs and action to not bring my mood down.

The truly beautiful thing about Battlestar Galactica is how it draws in the watchers. Even those initiated to science fiction will find this show enthralling. My girlfriend and mother love this show, and both of whom hate other sci-fi offerings. The deep characterization is what does it. Each character is alive and vibrant; one can truly see personality quirks with each one.

There are some I love and some I hate. But every one of them is necessary for the show's believability. And that's what it comes down to in the end. Despite a sci-fi story and atmosphere, the show is believable because it never throws too much "sci-fi" in your face. You don't have to worry about "inertial dampeners" or "tractor beams" or "the shields are at 82% of maximum, sir." You simply watch people do their jobs and try to survive against all odds.

I'm the kind of guy who has watched sci-fi shows since I was young. I'm a Star Trek geek from my childhood. I watch seasons of Star Trek (TNG and Voyager),Babylon 5, and FarScape on DVD. I have seen every episode of Battlestar up to this point, and I have to say that because of how carefully the show is balanced, it is rising to the top of my list.

The sci-fi without too much sci-fi is becoming harder and harder to find, but a character driven military drama that has an ever evolving main-story is not. Friday nights on the Sci-Fi channel holds the key to finally having science fiction unlocked to the masses.