Battlestar Galactica

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost twenty years since the Battlestar Galactica reimagining began airing.

My first experience with BSG was not the mini-series that came before the series, but the first episode 33. I was online when I heard about this new show, and I downloaded the episode is some archaic form of piracy. If I remember correctly, the show was airing in the UK before it aired here in the US, so episodes were floating around the web. That first episode blew my mind, and I immediately began hunting for the rest.

BSG presented me with a form of science fiction I’d never seen before. Rooted more in reality than say Star Trek or Star Wars, BSG was part military drama, part exploration of religion, and a study on humanity. The show was influenced by the 9/11 attacks as well as the political aftermath. Chaos, fear, and power struggles are all explored against the backdrop of humanity being hunted while on the run.

Battlestar Galactica is one of those shows with a unique look, sound, and atmosphere. It’s dark and brtual, yet beautiful at the same time. It’s aged incredibly well, unlike many of the shows from the same time frame that utilized the documentary style cinematography.

Last weekend, I was struggling to find something to play on my Playstation when I ran across BSG Deadlocked on sale. I’ve glanced at this game dozens of times, but it’s a turned based strategy game and well… I’ve gotten in over my head several times with sci fi games. I love the idea of space exploration and all that, but I lack the patience to learn all the various controls and complex procedures that many of those games require.

After a couple of days of thinking, I decided to spend the $15 and see if BSG: Deadlocked was worth my time. Luckily for me, it was. The game is definitely not for everyone, but between the excellent use of the BSG aesthetic and an addicting turn-based gameplay it really works for me. I have time to plot and think out my attacks and it reminds me of the days I spent playing Command and Conquer and Red Alert as a teenager.

The music, sound effects, and presentation are close enough to the show that it created and itch inside me to watch BSG. So, on Monday afternoon, I began the mini-series with the idea that I may watch it for an hour. Three hours later, the miniseries was over and it caught my wife’s attention and she was hooked. Since then, we’ve watched an episode a night and I’m in awe of how great this show still is. The casting is so spot on and despite remembering the overall storyline of the show, I’m anxious in anticipation for what comes next. At one point, I considered BSG my favorite show of all-time and on this rewatch I’m quickly reminded why.

I think more than anything, there is a sense of comfort in watching a show where the leaders are compassionate and competent. Despite their differing opinions, they work together to do what’s best for the survival of humanity. Oh, how I wish real life would mirror fiction in this case.

This has all happened before, and it will all happen again.

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