Battlestar Galactica

[altariel]

I watched the season 2 finale over lunch: It's a mark of how far my enthusiasm for the show has declined that when I realized it was a 90 minute episode, I groaned and nearly deleted it unwatched. But I didn't get where I am today by not frustrating myself with immensely disappointing television, so I stuck with it.

My big problem with this season is that it's been dull (there's hardly been an episode I haven't fastforwarded through at some point) and that the storylines have been well below par (flashy SFX don't prop a show up, particularly once I'm fastforwarding through them). And the less said about the truly appalling abortion plotline the better.

So when the narrative, well, fast-forwarded a year, and my interest suddenly soared, I realized what the problem with BSG is: it should have stuck to the miniseries format. It's trying to be a fast and punchy show in a way that lumbers and grinds the story down. The characters and the performances are terrific, and yet the whole thing somehow manages to stink. But not last night's episode, which made me dimly remember why I'd started watching in the first place.

Will I watch next season? I honestly can't say. I won't stick to the end of another season like the one we've just had.

Comments

[iainjcoleman.livejournal.com]

I've only caught the odd little snippet of BSG, never a full episode. I happened to watch the last ten minutes or so of last night's episode - hey, I started watching B7 with "Star One", this is not unusual practice for me. I was most impressed by the very real look of the production. All the clothes and tents and furniture were genuine, practical items. The baby was in a wolly hat, not some kind of silver foil thingy. And the Cylon ship flying overhead really looked like part of the environment. Doing CGI spacecraft that look credible flying through an atmosphere is something that seems to have been cracked quite recently - I first saw it in Firefly - and it gives a sense of solidity and reality that flying around in the blank and sterile space environment just doesn't afford. The muted, naturalistic colours and the verite-style camerawork enhance the tangibility and believability of the fictional world.

Boy, those US viewers really did get a shock when DW took over the BSG timeslot, didn't they?

[terri-osborne.livejournal.com]

You aren't alone. Oddly, I agree with you. I'm of the firm opinion that BSG worked best in the 13-episode season format. When they stretched it out to 20 this season, it seemed like there were a lot of things that just never needed to be there. Season 1 was amazing. The first 2 episodes of Season 2? Didn't need to be there. Didn't really DO anything. There was a lot of wheel-spinning scattered throughout the second season, and about 13 episodes of overall plot.

Although, I'm not quite as sanguine about the one-year-later jump as you are. I'm not convinced the show's going to survive that. Only time will tell, though.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

If you ever decide to watch BSG, watch the miniseries and then skip straight to this final episode. You really won't miss anything.


those US viewers really did get a shock when DW took over the BSG timeslot, didn't they?

It has been bizarre watching the two programmes together. Edgy, bitter cynical drama from the US; hopeful, life-affirming, even sentimental drama from the UK. What's the world coming to?

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Looking back, I think there were literally two moments when my interest was genuinely piqued during the whole season: when they went to what I can only call the celestial temple (magical), and during the episode from the Cylon POV when it was revealed Six had an internal Baltar. Otherwise it felt like a whole season of filler!

[iainjcoleman.livejournal.com]

BSG is easier to explain: The US has entered its post-imperial phase. DW is somewhat harder: is this what post-post-imperialism feels like?

[bill-leisner.livejournal.com]

I didn't get where I am today by not frustrating myself with immensely disappointing television

I just have to say, that is a *great* line! :)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It took a bit of polishing, glad you appreciated the effort ;-D

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It's the end of the world and we know it.

[mikekellner.livejournal.com]

I never made it through the pilot. Too PC predictable. Not epic enough.

I was a big fan of the original series, which was presented as a set of 2 & 3 hour mega-event TV shows. That lasted for about the first 20 episodes, and then it went downhill fast. What started as Epic Space Opera quickly changed to standard issue Hollywood crapola. They should have ended it all by killing everyone by episode 25 or 30, back in 1979.

mk

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed the pilot. The show itself is quite military-focused, a lot of battles (space and hand-to-hand stuff). But, as terri_osborne says up-thread, not enough plot to carry whole seasons.

[gaspode.livejournal.com]

I think BSG is being different things for different people - Myself and several people i know have adored this season - yet others who liked the first season didn't.

I am in fact of the opinion that this season is head and shoulders over season one - mainly beacause of the depth of character progression and the dark side of the season - Thats not to say I haven't had issues but overall i've found it a refreshing series.

But thats always been the beauty of the genre - different people find different things in the shows ...

the pegasus two parter for me was a high point while i know some people had a lot of issues with the story line ...


I guess i'm posting to counterpoint your comeents - for me the ONLY must see show this season has been BSG ...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

We are definitely seeing different things in BSG! But I'm glad you're enjoying it :-) The Pegasus mini-arc was probably the low point for me (apart from the one about abortion politics). The must-see show for me has been Doctor Who.

[gaspode.livejournal.com]

Yeah - OK - I forgot about DW .... But I stand by what I said about Galactic S2 - Just watched the whole second season again in the last 4 days - I still love it ... Maybe it works in bigger chunks ? I did the season originally in 4 or 5 episode chunks too ...

[gaspode.livejournal.com]

Mind you I also really enjoyed Space Above and Beyond too ...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Hmm, possibly... although I did find myself struggling to sit all the way through even the single episodes I was recording each week. (Sorry to be such an old grump!)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

*holds up fingers as cross* Back! Back!

[sugoll.livejournal.com]

Indeed. The reversal of viewpoints, and following the original 6 and Sharon were inspired; first time I'd *enjoyed* watching it, in a long time. High point of the season, for me.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Have you ever seen the original series? It might be a little outdated by today's CGI standards, but I'm still as much in love with it as on day one. Which is the reason why I refused to watch the "re-imegined" series or what they are calling it. Ever.

Childish, I know. But I took great offence on the gender-bending part and several other changes I've read about on several forums. Gender-bending never works for me. I imagined what I'd say to a female Spock, but then I remembered that they did *that* in the new "Enterprise" series (only she was called T'Pol and a horrible caricature) and realized again why I hated "Enterprise" (among other things).

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I watched the original series as a child, but don't remember much about it (I remember the bits when they got to Earth most clearly). So I didn't have any particular fondness for the old series that would have stopped me enjoying this version. And I did enjoy this version at first, particularly the miniseries, which I thought was excellent - but now the storylines just aren't holding up.