econ21
01-14-2005, 12:01
For once the UK has had an American TV series broadcast before the US, so this is a heads-up for any sci-fi fans over the pond. I understand the US tonight (14th Jan) is premiering the remake of the old sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica. In the UK, we've seen around half a dozen episodes (and the older mini-series that starts it off) and I can recommend it. It's not Babylon 5 (which I adored), but it is still a fairy characterful and original attempt at a "Star Trek" style series.
The strengths are in the atmosphere and characters. The dark and interesting premise - 50,000 humans in a fleet fleeing a holocaust instigated by a robotic race (the Cylons) - is sustained reasonably well. In some ways, the show reminds me of those US crime shows like NYPD Blue or CSI - half the fun of it is watching interesting characters interact.
The lead, Edward James Olmos (sp?) does his "gravelly voiced authority figure of few words" thing as well as usual - it's not really different from his Miami Vice persona, but still watchable as ever.
Apparently a lot of viewers hate the new "Starbuck" character - Dirk Benedict has been replaced by a woman in the role, shock horror - but I think she's the best thing in the series. She's given an flashy, aggressive, cigar-chomping, trouble-making role that women actors seldom get but the actress pulls it off well.
The other stand out is the traitor in the fleet, Dr Baltaar. In the original, I remember him as a rather bland pitiful villain reminiscent of some in 1960s Star Trek, but in this reincarnation they have done a great job. Think a young Tony Blair mixed with Bill Clinton fallen to the Dark Side and you pretty much have it. I don't have much time for the super-model Cylon in his mind, but at least she has her moments (don't ask her to baby-sit).
Anyone who remembers the original series may also appreciate what they have done to the character Boomer. It's not giving away much to recall that some Cylons think they are human and that there are many copies. There's a great end sequence in one episode, where Boomer breaks down, crying, with a boyfriend and then a few seconds later starts to march off down the corridor - the power walk seen on the credits - it's a jaw-dropping transformation, more low-key but reminiscent of Kevin Spacey's exit in the Usual Suspects. I've really come to like the short sequences on Cylon-occupied Caprica, as a lone surviving pilot and a (!) Boomer try to escape. They are building up to something potentially very promising.
The stories are merely so-so and in terms of action, it promises more than it delivers - so unless you like the characters and setting, it may not do much for you. However, it does not have the "reset the story at the start of each episode" property of most sci-fi series and that makes it interesting to follow. I'd rate it as better than Voyager and Enterprise, but falling short of DS9 or Babylon 5.
The strengths are in the atmosphere and characters. The dark and interesting premise - 50,000 humans in a fleet fleeing a holocaust instigated by a robotic race (the Cylons) - is sustained reasonably well. In some ways, the show reminds me of those US crime shows like NYPD Blue or CSI - half the fun of it is watching interesting characters interact.
The lead, Edward James Olmos (sp?) does his "gravelly voiced authority figure of few words" thing as well as usual - it's not really different from his Miami Vice persona, but still watchable as ever.
Apparently a lot of viewers hate the new "Starbuck" character - Dirk Benedict has been replaced by a woman in the role, shock horror - but I think she's the best thing in the series. She's given an flashy, aggressive, cigar-chomping, trouble-making role that women actors seldom get but the actress pulls it off well.
The other stand out is the traitor in the fleet, Dr Baltaar. In the original, I remember him as a rather bland pitiful villain reminiscent of some in 1960s Star Trek, but in this reincarnation they have done a great job. Think a young Tony Blair mixed with Bill Clinton fallen to the Dark Side and you pretty much have it. I don't have much time for the super-model Cylon in his mind, but at least she has her moments (don't ask her to baby-sit).
Anyone who remembers the original series may also appreciate what they have done to the character Boomer. It's not giving away much to recall that some Cylons think they are human and that there are many copies. There's a great end sequence in one episode, where Boomer breaks down, crying, with a boyfriend and then a few seconds later starts to march off down the corridor - the power walk seen on the credits - it's a jaw-dropping transformation, more low-key but reminiscent of Kevin Spacey's exit in the Usual Suspects. I've really come to like the short sequences on Cylon-occupied Caprica, as a lone surviving pilot and a (!) Boomer try to escape. They are building up to something potentially very promising.
The stories are merely so-so and in terms of action, it promises more than it delivers - so unless you like the characters and setting, it may not do much for you. However, it does not have the "reset the story at the start of each episode" property of most sci-fi series and that makes it interesting to follow. I'd rate it as better than Voyager and Enterprise, but falling short of DS9 or Babylon 5.