A high profile re-imagining of 1978’s Battlestar Galactica, the new edition quickly established itself as a giant among the rest of the Sci-Fi network’s programming. Brushing shoulders with featured classics like Sharktopus and Dinocroc vs. Supergator, it was surprising to see a show of such calibre emerge. Such was the depth of BSG’s lore that a mini-series was released before the series made its debut, where the ensuing storylines would follow through four seasons.
In a distant star system humanity is at peace after war with the Cylons, a race of cybernetic humans of their own creation. After launching a sudden attack on the human colonies, the Cylons decimate the human population, a race already teetering on the brink of extinction, leaving them to defend themselves with an already decaying military protection. Their only means for survival is to find Earth, the last colony in their empire.
And that’s all the basic sci-fi background needed, for at its core Battlestar Galactica is a drama that is merely set against a science fiction backdrop. Touching upon subjects like political strife, and ranging from topics as distant and ageless as theology to military struggles, Battlestar Galactica lends itself to any desired viewing: as a political drama, a religious debate, or another sci-fi romp. But the truth is that at the heart of the show lies a bastion of humanity, an adventure that is bound by cerebral science fiction and a dark exploration of our culture.
Simply put, the writing is spectacular, far beyond most things attached to the sci-fi label, and matched by the show’s stellar cast, considering the brave and massive scope of the writing’s themes. A personal highlight: James Callis, who plays Dr. Gaius Baltar. His character and the actor’s portrayal as the scientist who unwittingly aids the Cylons in their initial attack, is by far the most engaging aspect of the show.