BSG For Dummies

[UNCLEagent]

Okay. It took me a few years.

But I FINALLY saw the pilot for BSG yesterday and today. And it is FAR superior to the original.

So.... what season are they on and how many episodes do I now need to catch up on to bring myself up to date? Is the current run now on SciFi?

Season 2? Or 3?

[KingVoyeur]

They just finished season 2, season 3 starts in October (I know, loooooong frackin time!).

[Daltons Chin Dimple]

My God man ! Where have you been ????? Get watching ! Buy those DVD box sets and get moving.

Anyway, there was the pilot, 12 episodes in season 1, then wasn't there 12, then a short break, then another 12 in season 2 ???? Season 2 in the UK finished last week.

"Lay Down Your Burdens" seriously rocks.

[tstone]

Welcome, Unc. It does indeed kickass. Better late than never, dude.

:)

[Jakester]

I'm working my way through S2 right now. I was pretty much in the same boat as UNC. There's the pilot, 12 Eps in S1, and 20 (twenty) in S2.
They're available on p2p, but I would, of course, suggest you buy or rent the DVDs. The Sci-Fi channel online has deleted scenes and commentaries, and cool stuff.

[UNCLEagent]

My local video store just got season one - and I was able to pick up disks 1-4 to rent - so I now can get them in order.

The show is frackin' incredible. I have been watching several hours a day for the past several days.

I am really going to hate it when I find myself out of disks to rent after this first run - this video store is extremely sparse and has slim pickings from shows.

I was seriously thinking about getting cable - but then I went out of town this weekend, watched cable in the hotel and saw just how horrendously lame the Sci-Fi channel is beyond this one hour of programming.

Still, I'm glad I finally latched on to this show. I did better here than with Firefly - waiting years after it was cancelled to first watch it.

Now that I have something to go on - I really miss Spider and his BSG rants.

[UNCLEagent]

I mean - now that 24 is finished - there is not one show on television I tune into. Sometimes - if really bored - I'll try "My Name is Earl." That's it.

[neglet]

Uncle, as far as new TV shows, have you tried "The 4400" on USA? Season 3 starts in two weeks, and USA is running a marathon of "essential episodes" on June 4. It's a pretty cool sci-fi show with elements of government conspiracy running through it. It's not as good as BSG, but it's pretty entertaining. (Reminds me to start a thread in the TV lounge.)

And as far as catching up on old TV shows, have you tried your local library? My district library has a fantastic video collection--four walls worth of DVDs and videos, including lots of old and new TV series--and it's all free to rent! Lately I've been checking out four videos per weekend to watch while I work in my sewing room. Rewatched some old Hitchcock favorites and finally saw some of those movies I always meant to see but never did, like "October Sky" and "Before Sunrise/Sunset." If you have a major library branch nearby, you might give it a try.

[tstone]

Well, you could always peek in on IMDB, Unc. He spams the hell out of that place. And I bust his balls on a daily basis, rhetorically speaking. Me and a buncha other folks.

[UNCLEagent]

Sounds like a fun time!

[tstone]

He's really gone off the deep end on his "crusade" against NuBSG. Hell, it was revealed by the eager little spies on IMDB that he spammed the E Networks forums about the show.

Oh, and he has tried gathering an anti SciFi Channel group on his MySpace.

So far, 11 brave crusaders have joined him against this blight on art and civilization.

The draw must be that mohawk of his.

Seriously.

[UNCLEagent]

I just watched a DVD of the original BSG last fall for the first time in 20 years.

It was embarrassingly baaaaaaad - but back then, I loved it.

Now, having seen several hours of the new BSG - I can't even see a correlation between the two. Sure the names are the same, but the identities have been changed to protect the characters.

Just what is Spider's rant all about? Surely he isn't defending the *ahem* respectability of the original??


I admit - when first hearing Starbuck was a woman, I rolled my eyes. Anything to be "original - yawn"

But having seen her pull it off over many episodes now - her character is A LOT more interesting than Dirk's ever was allowed to be.

And .... she's hot.

[tstone]

Oh, just a series of cut and past spams, 'bout how the ratings have generally trended down, about how it's a soap opera, how RDM has "molested" (his word) the work of Glen Larsen, how Skiffy "molests" the work of other creators, how Bonnie Hammer is a clueless twit, how all REAL Battlestar fans don't like the new show, rants about StarDOE (his idiotic spelling), etc etc...

And he does it again. And again. And again. His bannings have gone into the double digits, and he's been at it for three years, ever since the mini premiered.


He predicted there would be no series after the mini. He predicted there would be no season two. He predicted there would be no season three.

Now he's predicting no season four. And that the spinoff, Caprica, won't be greenlighted (it already has been).

Like I said, IMDB has banned him, but apparently he is able to sign back on with a different name and continue spamming until enough people report him again, etc etc.

You know, I still have a soft spot for the original show. And some of the eps are still fun to watch.

But the new show has taken what was good from the original and really explored it's true potential.

You know, I hope the original gets a continuation in one form or another. I really do. In the right hands, it could kick ass.

But the old school die hards need to recognize, it's RDM and the new, improved BSG that has increased the level of currency the name Battlestar Galactica is worth. That has helped cleanse that name in the eyes of the public.

If they wish for a continuation of the original, they are shooting themselves in the foot to wish for the failure of the new show.

[Jakester]

Hell, Richard Hatch jumped aboard the new show, and I really dig his character, too. Polar opposite of his Apollo.

[tstone]

Exactly. Tom Zerek is the meatiest, most challenging role of Mr. Hatch's career. And who'da thought? His acting chops are up to the task.

[UNCLEagent]

SPOILERS!!!!


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.So now I've made it through all of season one.

And I am left hanging with....

Adama shot;

President behind bars;

Landing party stranded;

Starbuck stranded on Caprica;

AND MY VIDEO STORE HAS NO PLANS FOR GETTING SEASON TWO!!!!!!!!

(time to switch video stores)

[Jakester]

I'll clue you in. Some stuff happens.

[tstone]

I'll clue you in. Some stuff happens.

Stuff happens indeed. One of the most intense space battles in science fiction TV/film ever in the next ep, for one thing.

[UNCLEagent]

Thanks for giving it all away!

So tell me, if these people are NOT from Earth - why do they play Sinatra at their Colonial Day ball?

[Mobile Vulgus]

I love this new Battlestar, but I was n my late teens when the original came out and I just HATED that piece of junk. It was a 5 year-old kid's version of Star Wars... a RETARDED 5 year-old at that.

In fact, that was a very bad time for TV sci-fi. Buck Rogers of the 23rd century was on then too, and it was also utter dreck!

However, I always thought that the concept of BSG was a solid one and ached for a good story to be told with it. The new one has bourne that out, I'd say.

[UNCLEagent]

I know you were all stressing.

The wait is over:

I now have Disc One - Season Two in hand.

[tstone]

Thanks for giving it all away!

So tell me, if these people are NOT from Earth - why do they play Sinatra at their Colonial Day ball?


Same reason you see other artifacts that appear "Earthlike". RDM was attempting to create a sense of familiarity with these people. Those little things are sort of a shorthand for that purpose. It's an artistic liscensing choice, and for me, it works.

Of course, the haters think it bespeaks of "cheap production values". I tell them to go back to their robot daggits and disco music at that point.

[Daltons Chin Dimple]

I see your Daggetts and Disco Music and raise you their late 70's mullets !

[UNCLEagent]

Same reason you see other artifacts that appear "Earthlike". RDM was attempting to create a sense of familiarity with these people. Those little things are sort of a shorthand for that purpose. It's an artistic liscensing choice, and for me, it works.


Quite the literalist these days, aren't we? :D

[tstone]

:ohwell:

:D

[UNCLEagent]

So, you got stock in Universal?

[tstone]

I wish.

[UNCLEagent]

This show is so fragged.

I got Season Two - discs 1, 2 & 3.

Disc three only had two episodes - the final episode was Pegasus - and it ended with a TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!


AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I passed on phone sex with Bladelover ...... for THIS????!!!!!!!!!!

I am an idiot.

[UNCLEagent]

I mean - how can anybody get away with selling a boxed set titled Season Two and leave out half the episodes?

[Jakester]

It's season 2.0. Season 2.5 comes out shortly.
The 2.0 boxed set has been out for some time -- they showed 10 episodes of s2 (the .0) and then went on hiatus for a few months and showed the next 10 (the upcoming .5). People didn't like that which is why S3 is airing in October instead of the summer. No hiatus.

[UNCLEagent]

I'll be keeping an eye out for that set - Thanks!

[Strider]

I mean - how can anybody get away with selling a boxed set titled Season Two and leave out half the episodes?
It's called annoying marketing. Somebody got the birght idea to release the first half of season 2 on DVD right after they had aired on TV. Then they can charge the price for a full season on only half a season's worth of episodes.

Like I said, annoying...

I really hope that they release a set with the complete season so I don't have to get two different boxes to get the complete season.

[UNCLEagent]

Bumping for the sake of relevancy.

I had a weird BSG dream last night.

It was Saturday night. I took a walk down a few blocks to a new Middle East restaurant and bar that had opened. I was just curious to check out the nightlife there when a sign caught my eye touting a private and discrete huka bar. I made my way to the back where curtained walls and ceilings where the theme of the day and where lots of happy people were tokin' on these shiny huge .... bongs.

I didn't partake, as the owner explained that their pipes are best suited for groups to share. Still, I could enjoy the ambiance, as well as a plate of pastries made from lamb and almonds, as well as several of Lebanon's finest beer - Almaza.

I think it was their beer, mingled with the 'atmosphere' that led to last night's latest installment of Battlestar Galactica.

Somehow, myself and others were on a recon mission in a newly discovered Cylon outpost. We counted fifty Cylon attack ships. That's right - fifty.

We safely made our way back to BSG to report our findings. That is when things began to get weird.

The halls of BSG were now carpeted. But that's not the weird part.

I had to report our team's findings to the "President'. I was led to a door and ushered in.

It was George Bush - in a suit - and sitting in a bubble bath. I tried not to take too much notice - it sorta seemed natural, although I was expecting to be greeted by Mary McDonnel. I tried reporting our findings, but just then radar monitors showed fifty Cylon attack ships making their way for the fleet.

A battle ensued, but it was a no-brainer. We tanked the entire attack force in mere minutes. It was easy. Too easy. It didn't feel right.

I reported our results back to the 'President' (who was still enjoying his bubble bath). He was all ecstatic. "Meh - those Cylons are nothing! Great job!" etc. I don't recall if he said 'Mission Accomplished' - I was tuning him out as I tried making my case to other senior officials that it was all too easy - that something was wrong.

Nobody was buying it and I was politely escorted out.

Back out in the hallway, I noticed a small electronic device lying on the floor (carpeted!) in the middle of the corridor. It was a tiny gizmo - with a blinking red LED.

I ran to it, convinced it was a Cylon device. I picked it up and examined it, beckoning several nearby officers to help figure out it's purpose. In very short time, we determined it was a homing device that was acting as a tractor beam to bring the planet Pluto into a direct crash course with the fleet. I looked out a window to confirm this: Pluto was heading straight for us.

We managed to disable it sufficiently so that Pluto narrowly missed us and veered off into space.

Still, the crew was upset with me, for the modified settings had steered Pluto into a new heading which would send it directly into - EARTH!!

I tried explaining that Earth was several billion miles away, and that the slightest course variation of a minute fraction of a degree would ultimately send the planet millions of miles away from Earth's path, but they weren't buying it.

And I didn't feel like explaining it to Bush who was still in his bubble bath.

[Nostromo]

Yikes! That's some dream. You sure you didn't have a hit on that huka "before" you went to sleep. :wink: :D N

[ladymurasaki]

Great dream!

I'd give anything for at least a wierd BSG dream to tide me over until the new season starts. I've really suffered from BSG withdrawal.

[Bark]

I had a stargate dream last month. I can't remember the plot, but walking through the gate kicked ass! :D

[Strider]

It sounds like you were combining BSG with a little bit of Douglas Adams thrown in for good measure. The whole bubble bath thing reminded me of the Hitchhiker book with the useless people on the starship. Their captain was always in a bathtub. :D

[UNCLEagent]

It sounds like you were combining BSG with a little bit of Douglas Adams thrown in for good measure. The whole bubble bath thing reminded me of the Hitchhiker book with the useless people on the starship. Their captain was always in a bathtub. :D


I have never read or seen anything of the Hitchiker series, so that is one helluva correlation. Or coincidence. Or supernatural, premonition thingee.

SO what's the latest on the BSG front?

Ya' know, I might consider shelling $50 bucks a month for the Sci-fi Channel, if EVERY weekend I have ever had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of it, it wasn't being dogged by bad, REALLY BAD mutant animal flicks.

Last summer, in Hawaii - the weekend was fueled with a sucky flick about a mutant hammerhead shark.

Last weekend, housesitting, it was mutatnt Rotweillers one night - mutant slugs (no - LEECHES!) the next night. Why, running through the entire animal kingdom, these guys got material to last them throught the end of this century.

Hell, maybe even William Shatner will last it through!

[Bark]

I have never read or seen anything of the Hitchiker series, so that is one helluva correlation. Or coincidence. Or supernatural, premonition thingee.

SO what's the latest on the BSG front?

Ya' know, I might consider shelling $50 bucks a month for the Sci-fi Channel, if EVERY weekend I have ever had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of it, it wasn't being dogged by bad, REALLY BAD mutant animal flicks.

Last summer, in Hawaii - the weekend was fueled with a sucky flick about a mutant hammerhead shark.

Last weekend, housesitting, it was mutatnt Rotweillers one night - mutant slugs (no - LEECHES!) the next night. Why, running through the entire animal kingdom, these guys got material to last them throught the end of this century.

Hell, maybe even William Shatner will last it through!

New episodes are coming in October, if I'm not mistaken. The horrible movies are the dues we pay.

[Jakester]

Yup...BSG in October.

Unc, Hitchhiker's is required geek reading. Get to it, freaky boy!

[UNCLEagent]

And now, in my hand.... I hold three discs from Season 2.5!!!

I watched the first four episodes last night - man oh man oh man!!!!

As good as this season is - the sneak peak at season three just blew me away!

As good as this show is - and as much thinking goes into it - I pray to the gods - please do NOT pull a V on us and have the Star Baby save the Human Race.

Thank You.

[UNCLEagent]

And now I am 8 hours into 2.5 and man, does this show get depressing!

[UNCLEagent]

And now I am officially finished with 2.5.

wow.

So where is the DVD set for 3.0? Huh? Huh?

[tstone]

S'what I wanna know. I've just finished Epiphanies for the first time, myself.

Man, LOVE this show.

Oh, I also just finished Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the series, for the first time.

Wowsers.

[Strider]

And now I am officially finished with 2.5.

wow.

So where is the DVD set for 3.0? Huh? Huh?

LOL! Let's see, it should be out sometime....after it airs on TV. :tongue: :wink:

They definitely took a few left turns and a few drinks of crazy juice with that finale didn't they. It definitely took me by surprised when it aired.

Oh, I also just finished Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the series, for the first time.

Wowsers.

Yeah, BtVS is a great show, and it ends pretty spectacularly. The show had some stumbles along the way, but it is still way above most of the other crap on TV then and now.

Have you watched Angel yet?

[tstone]

I have. Both shows are great, but if pressed, I prefer Angel. But Firefly is my favorite Joss series so far.