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The BSG Diaries: part 1 - SciFiNow

The BSG Diaries: part 1

Don’t miss this first part of SciFiNow’s ongoing blog on the series that changed sci-fi.

downloadAfter being battered, beaten and generally crushed into submission by my SciFiNow colleagues, I have taken it upon myself to do the honourable thing and watch all four seasons of Ronald D Moore’s Battlestar Galactica reboot. In conjunction with this overdue mission of mine, I will use this very website to keep readers posted on my thoughts as I progress through the series.

Before I could sink into season one, however, I had the grand task of watching the miniseries that kick-started BSG’s resurgence. It goes without saying that this is a must-see in order to get acquainted with the show, and from this three-hour epic I see a lot of promise – a frak load, if you will. From the opening shots – and accompanying text – I was immediately drawn into this alternate version of the universe. Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely done the special effects were. After climbing aboard the Battlestar for the first time I loved the way in which a roving camera introduced me to the show’s main cast members.

As the episode continued to utilise this cinema verite style, I did start to encounter a few problems. It is clear that the programme wants to convey its strong messages and themes through a naturalistic shooting style. This is all very well and good, but I found that some of the dialogue was a bit too stilted, on the cuff and badly put across – it just didn’t mesh well. At the moment I am putting this issue down to the fact that the miniseries has a lot of information and back story to impart on viewers. But in three hours I’d like to think the show’s talented creators would have been able to establish an entire series in a sharper manner.

So far, though, I can safely say that I’m hooked. William Adama already strikes me as being a central character with a certain grace about him, and Number Six enjoyed some of the miniseries’ best moments. And in the Cylons we have a villainous race/creation that seem both complex and iconic.

I still kick myself for having let this show pass me by, but at the same time I am really excited about embarking on my latest DVD marathon. I have nothing but high hopes for BSG and the impact it is sure to have.

Roll on season one.