The Last of the New "Battlestar Galactica"

I'm not one to reminisce and worship television shows or movies, but I will be doing some of it soon. For the second time in my life a series I liked, no, loved, is going off the air before its time. The show, "Battlestar Galactica", is a fan favorite and critical success as far as TV series go. It is sad that the previous decision to run the show four years had to be enforced by the producers and actors in the way it has been managed. No regrets, though, since the show unexpectedly changed the way many of us view science fiction.

I was a young college kid when the original series hit the television screen so many years ago. It was 1978 and all seemed right with the world. I hadn't paid too much attention to politics or the economy, but since the advent of "Star Wars" in the theaters earlier that decade science fiction seemed to be a relevant way to entertain. It had been minimized on television but things were changing. When the show "Battlestar Galactica" was announced many of us on the campus were anticipating it greatly. Many of us got together in the Student Union building and grabbed a seat in front of the TV and waited.

From the first introduction of the ship and characters, we knew we would enjoy a good story. I look back at the copy of the miniseries I have and find it rather dated, especially many of the special effects, but back then it didn't matter. The story was different and creative, and we fell in love with the humor and drama that made the show work. The fact that the original Cylons looked like men dressed in silver suits did not really occur to us. I still remember relating to those characters: Apollo who looked like the reserved stud, Boomer the sort of professional pilot of the group, and of course Starbuck, the hard-playing, hard-fighting gambler of sorts chasing the skirts while teasing Admiral Adama's daughter. Colonel Tigh was also memorable and mostly because he looked the part of the disciplinary drill sergeant.

When the show was canceled after a short life, most of us were very disappointed. Even a later TV movie to tie up loose ends (like the finding of earth) did not satisfy our desires for the show to return. Boy, what a major blow to the Sunday night lineup. Our memories had to relate to the reruns, or later on, the VHS tapes we could purchase to re-watch the episodes. Years would pass and I would eventually own the dvd.

Then came word that Sci Fi Channel was thinking of "reimagining" the series. My goodness, the dreams and wishes were being granted, but what would they do with it? How much of the original theme would be reissued? How would the story lines be reworked? Would all the characters be the same? Who would be added? These and much more were interests of the fans of the old Battlestar. And how would the old actors feel? Some like Lorne Green were gone, passed away and not to return. Others like Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch seemed too old to replay their old roles. Who would play them this time? Would they be similarly cast by appearance or personality? All of these things were pertinent questions, sure to be answered in time.

When finally the show aired in 2003, there was a lot of talk about it, even before it's official broadcast. The controversy was mostly about some of the recasting of the roles, especially Boomer and Starbuck as women. Many did not think the show would succeed because of these changes and that old fans would turn away. On the most part, those critics were wrong. Right from the beginning the show pulled a large number of those fans in and kept them. And the number of new fans who had never seen the original also tuned in. It was a success of the first magnitude, and because of this the show was granted a four season run. Great galaxies!

There is no doubt that the writers and producers thought quite extensively on what they wanted this new series to be. The first rendition had been dependent on special effects and had faulty plots and character flaws. This Battlestar appeared to have none of these. The importance was on the personalities, and the interaction between humans and sometimes Cylons. The twist thrown in that the new Cylons looked and felt like humans was quite a jolt to those familiar with the old, clanking and boot-stepping machines. I must say that Tricia Helfer's casting in the part of Number Six was a stunning success, in more ways than one. The cast seemed well adapted and ready to entertain. And the special effects were superb, to knock us off our chairs!

As the series developed, other fantastic decisions would be made to contribute to the show's success. The mystery of where earth was took a back seat to the question of who was a Cylon. The formation of twelve basic models, with five being incognito, gave the series a sort of "CSI in Space" feeling, where we would question in the first two seasons who was a Cylon and who was not. When they were finally revealed, many fans were probably left scratching their heads. The crises that continued to plague the characters, especially Admiral Adama and President Roslin, gave the show a special life that left viewers on the edge of their seats. Week after week the humans and Cylons played cat and mouse, ran and chased each other, and tried to outlast the other. Questions were answered and more questions were asked, to be answered, we hoped, later. Four seasons were dragged out to last over five years, and suddenly, the end was announced.

One of the major contributions to the popularity of the show was the bringing in of Richard Hatch, the original Apollo Lee Adama. His granting of the role of a politically motivated former terrorist who turns to run for office was a coup of the major kind. His inclusion in the new Battlestar assured many older fans that the first show's run was important to remember and to honor. I wonder if any of the other stars of the original were asked to do the same.

Alas, all good things come to an end eventually. As the show gears up for its final episodes, the fans take a deep breath and sigh some sorrowful sounds. I recall, when watching interviews with the main actors, hearing Mr. Olmos say that he would only do four seasons, and that at the time didn't seem a big deal. He sure stuck to it, and four years turned out to be better than none. It was a great run and I can't wait to watch reruns, or at least watch the dvds for future years. I will sorely miss the Friday nights with that big ship!

One more thought: I often wonder, after watching these several years of this groundbreaking show, how the old show would have fared with the existing writers, particularly Ron Moore and David Eick. Perhaps the budget for the first series would still have sunk it, but it sometimes is a curious thought. I read where the budget, in the perspective of that era, was quite huge and the show could not sustain itself for long. It is a wonder that the present show can avoid the worries of money to have done so well.

I wish the show's actors, writers, and workers in every capacity the best for the future, and thank them for a job well done. The weeks of waiting for the next season or half season to arrive were hellish at the least. I would personally like to thank the writers and producers, especially the visionary creator Mr. Moore, and the great actors of the show, including Edward James Olmos (one of my all time favorites), Mary McDonnell, Katie Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia and Grace, and all the others too numerous to mention, for the enjoyment of the last several years. A show is meant to entertain, and if it does more than that it is a bonus. This show definitely did more than that, and you didn't have to be a sci fi fan to appreciate it. Goodbye, Galactica; we will miss you, except when watching the discs.