The new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

[Cmdr Powers]

Originally posted by Ezri's Toy
(As for me, with the new Starbuck, I have a new, sexy, kinda butch sci-fi heroine to ogle. "Starbuck's Toy" has a ring to it, dontcha think ?. )

Well, at least Commander Powers doesn't smoke cigars. (I think I mentioned above how scary the likeness is to my usual RPG PC!)

[aelius]

Well Capt. Anderson what weapon would you suggest the Cylons use to destroy the Colonies. Nuclear weapons are ideal civilization destroying weapons. Even as a teenager watching the origional I thought that wiping out a planetary civilization with nothing more than lasers was a bit excessive. If you don't like nuclear weapons, and who does, then don't watch shows where they might be used. However the use of nuclear weapons in this instance made a fine point. The Cylons, a creation of man, used nukes, another creation of man, to wipe out humanity.
And Phantom, I also read the books and thought the sequence with the Imperious Leader was amusing. Especially when it called up the simulacrum of Starbuck to interrogate it about the Fleet. But if you think people went ballistic about the new show as is, think about what they would have said about using cyborg Cylons. Most people haven't read the books and would have said the "new" Cylons were a rip off of the Borg. It's to bad, I really liked the way Cylons got another brain when they got a promotion, one for Centurians, two for the gold Centurians, and three for the Imperious Leader.

[REG]

Originally posted by Ezri's Toy

I physically cringed and squirmed at the scene. . . which is extraordinary because I'm a horror film buff who has seen a lot worse on-screen. I reacted the way the film makers wanted me to react -- emotionally -- which is a very hard thing to achieve.

So, if the scene disturbed you, you've got to realize that was what it was supposed to do.

If anything, it makes the villains more vile than what your presumption of archetypal villain was before you watch it.

[AslanC]

Originally posted by aelius
Even as a teenager watching the origional I thought that wiping out a planetary civilization with nothing more than lasers was a bit excessive.

Actually they also used Pluton bombs, which was why they were looking for Pluton poisoned food "Pulton breaks down food at the molecular level" or some such quote.

Don't have my DVDs with me here at my parents, so I can't get the quote.

Also Serina (originally called Lyra) was supposed to be Pluton poisoned and dying, which is why she attached herself to Apollo so fast, to secure a good father for Boxey, since she knew she was going to die very very soon.

They shot the sequences, but for reasons I can't remember, the took them out. Thankfully they are on the DVD (along with a great Athena and Adama scene).

[Capt. Anderson]

Originally posted by aelius
Well Capt. Anderson what weapon would you suggest the Cylons use to destroy the Colonies. Nuclear weapons are ideal civilization destroying weapons.

I suggest you watch the orginal show again and the statement in reference to why nuclear weapons would be useless against a Battlestar.

Episode is called "Greetings from Earth"

[Jem'hadar]

I saw Episode 2 of the BSG mini-series & liked it even better than Episode 1. The action scenes were great, esp. that last space battle. The original Basestars were cool, but the new ones are gigantic! The space battles also felt more like real battles than the original depictions.

It was interesting that many of the ships of "the ragtag fleet" looked similar to the original ships.

The new Boltar is an interesting character. The original Boltar exhuded evil & was your classic villain. The new Boltar isn't inherently evil or power-hungry, but he is selfish, egotistic, cowardly, & manipulative. I think he said it best when he said that he's not on anyone's side. The new Boltar is only on his side & doesn't care ultimately who he has to hurt to keep himself alive & well.

Also, I think the new Starbuck is even more reckless & insubordinate than the original.

It was also interesting how they mentioned Earth at the end, which I thought wasn't part of the new mini-series. Later Adama admitted that he "knew" Earth was only a myth but said it to keep hope alive. As we all know, sometimes great leaders do shade the truth in order to achieve a larger objective.

I did not understand the reference to only 12 models of Cylons at the end. How did Adama get that info. & what does it mean?

I was shocked & surprised to learn that there's a Boomer android model. Does that mean Boomer is a Cylon or only that the Cylons intend to replace her w/ a duplicate?

All in all, I liked the new BSG. It seems the majority of viewers (fans & non-fans) also liked the show. I hope they decide to make a series.

[Balok]

SPOILERS!

Originally posted by Jem'hadar
I did not understand the reference to only 12 models of Cylons at the end. How did Adama get that info. & what does it mean?

Number Six told Gaius Baltar, in Part 1, that there were 12 "humaniform" Cylon models (she did not use that term; I've co-opted it from the writings of Isaac Asimov). Of course, she could have been lying, and even if there are only twelve models now, the success of them is likely to inspire more.

We have seen Centurions, humaniforms, and fighter ships. I wonder what else there is? Presumably, something like Imperious Leader -- I was hoping for a scene with him/them at the end.

My question is: did Baltar get lucky when he "fingered" the civilian as a Cylon, or did his analysis actually work? Or is he connected in some way to Number Six? Is there a chip in his brain? It seems unlikely, because she "spoke" with him after they jumped "beyond the red line", and therefore when they were at quite a range.

Originally posted by Jem'hadar I was shocked & surprised to learn that there's a Boomer android model. Does that mean Boomer is a Cylon or only that the Cylons intend to replace her w/ a duplicate?

Boomer is probably a Cylon, programmed to believe it is human. Significant testing of the one humaniform Cylon they had revealed that they're very close to human, and hard to detect. Not machines in the conventional sense at all. Some trigger will activate its real programming -- either a transmission from a Cylon, or an event (for example, if the survivors find and settle on a planet).

Overall, the second part lived up to the promise of the first part, I thought.

Yes, the notion that Cylons were created by humans rather than being another alien species is a departure from the original concept. However, the original Cylons had so much cybernetics that many of the same motivations are present. They're different, but not irreconcilably so.

Kara Thrace (Starbuck) was different from the original chiefly in that she was far less subtle than the original (and therefore, presumably not as bright). But her personality was interesting, and her interactions with Colonel Tigh and others offer some promise.

Moore knocked the polish off some of these people, and in the process made them seem more like us. And I don't think that's a bad thing.

Chances are, if you're looking for exactly what Larsen envisioned, you'll be disappointed. If you step back and ask yourself what you might get if another writer played in the same sandbox, you're likely to be happier. And, I think, to enjoy the story.

[Ronin84]

After watching part 2.

Oh yea spoiler alert!!

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Thought the second part was as good as the first!! I like the cigar smoking a$$ kicking Starbuck. Ok she is not the smooth operator that the male copy was but hey, change can be good.

Col. Tigh, I liked the confrontation between Thrace and him at the end. I thought she nailed it perfectly and it gives Tigh room to grow.

Lee Adama....ok let's see.

The President. Sorry no vote of confidence here, didn't like the job she did and don't care for the character all together.

Baltar..yea he was good. Heads and shoulders above the original.

Adama...'nuff said. Just awesome, and where do they get those awesome flashlights that double as clubs. Without smashing to bits.

The only thing I didn't care for was the whole Boomer thing at the end. So is the Boomer on Galactica real or is she a Cylon. The line that got me ready for it was, "I lost my parents when I was young too." " I live with a bunch of people." I told my wife that there was something up with that.

I liked it and hope that it blossoms into a series. Also I liked the original series and it is a fond memory, but so is my 77 Firebird.

[Capt. Anderson]

Overall I give the show thumbs up. There are parts that did not hold up to logic but hey it's Science Fiction and that's all that needs to be said.

My hope was the 12 colonies would have embraced Egyptian culture more. It was a part of orginal that should carried over to this newer version.

Did anyone catch the term "centurion warrior" being used? If so, when?

[Sea Tyger]

I remember seeing the original cylon design in the officer's dossier on Armistice Station. I don't actually remember the cylon warrior reference if it was voiced.

[Cmdr Powers]

There was an actual (dummy?) Cylon centurion in the museum, as well as a model of a Basestar. The implication of Number Six's comment seems to be that these old Centurions are still around even if we don't see one in the show (other than the museum).

[Phantom]

Ok, I flipped thru the official mag for the show today, I have to say I liked alot of what I saw. Particularly the explanation of Lt. "Starbuck" Thrace, I can live with a female character being given the callsign "Starbuck", meaning it is a different character...In my mind anyway. Don't ruin it for me by saying different.

I'm still iffy on the human looking Cylons...They are no longer "alien."

One thing...The only pic I could find of the Galactica was something that looked like a wood louse on steroids, tell me (PLEASE!!!) they still kept the old girl looking like a battle wagon, and not some fanboy-computer-game-insectoid-garbage can. Because if they use what I saw, then they have lost me right now.

[Cmdr Powers]

Reply for Phantom's anguished plea about the Galactica's appearance.

Spoilers Below:
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The Galactica's layout is essentially the same as the original, but they got rid of all those model tank parts and gave it a sort of ribbed outer structure. Guns and Vipers come out through the ribs. Oh yeah, and the hangar bay nacelles now retract to the main hull of the ship before making an FTL jump. This becomes a big deal when Starbuck rescues Apollo and pushes his ship through the narrowing gap. This reminds me of a Korean War incident where one F-86 Saber pushed its nose up the tail another, flamed out, Saber to get it out of enemy territory. It's also reminicent of the incident where a KC-135 tanker aircraft 'dragged' an F-105 with a damaged fuel tank, back to Thailand during the Vietnam War.

[T'lara]

I came into this miniseries with the knowledge this was a reimagination of the original series that the two would be seperate. I watched both parts wanting to formulate my own opinion. One of the reasons I avoided this thread until now.

I just want to say I love this new gritty version. I want more this miniseries is not enough. The twists and characters were very good. Apollo needs work. This miniseries has too many questions left unanswered and I would be so there if they turn this into a TV series. I loved it. All the Naval termonolgy they used was great. The look was nice. The changes were more modern. Female Starbuck I was skeptical until I saw her and think that the character is pretty good.

This needs more a TV show or more miniseries. This was brilliant.

[Phantom]

Originally posted by Cmdr Powers
The Galactica's layout is essentially the same as the original, but they got rid of all those model tank parts and gave it a sort of ribbed outer structure. Guns and Vipers come out through the ribs. Oh yeah, and the hangar bay nacelles now retract to the main hull of the ship before making an FTL jump. This becomes a big deal when Starbuck rescues Apollo and pushes his ship through the narrowing gap.

The design I saw reminded me of a Jem'Hader fighter. The exterior of the Galactica has to look like an old battleship, IMO. Does it still have a sembalance of that type of look, or does it look like a bug?