"Battlestar Galactica" (2004) TV series 2004-2009

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The fight to save humanity rages on.

Plot:

After losing the war against the Cylon robots, the Battlestar Galactica crew speed toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth. Galactica Commander Adama and President Laura Roslin face waning supplies, crushed morale, ... and the credible threat Cylons aboard the ship.

Plot Keywords:

Cylon | Refugee | Robot | Guilt | Space

Awards:

Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 18 wins & 41 nominations

Cast

Edward James Olmos	...	Admiral William Adama / ... (73 episodes, 2004-2009)
Mary McDonnell	...	President Laura Roslin / ... (73 episodes, 2004-2009)
Jamie Bamber	...	Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama / ... (73 episodes, 2004-2009)
James Callis	...	Dr. Gaius Baltar / ... (73 episodes, 2004-2009)
Tricia Helfer	...	Number Six / ... (73 episodes, 2004-2009)
Grace Park	...	Lt. Sharon 'Boomer' Valerii / ... (73 episodes, 2004-2009)
Katee Sackhoff	...	Captain Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace / ... (71 episodes, 2004-2009)
Michael Hogan	...	Colonel Saul Tigh (69 episodes, 2004-2009)
Aaron Douglas	...	Chief Galen Tyrol (66 episodes, 2004-2009)
Tahmoh Penikett	...	Captain Karl 'Helo' Agathon / ... (64 episodes, 2004-2009)
Alessandro Juliani	...	Lt. Felix Gaeta (59 episodes, 2004-2009)
Kandyse McClure	...	Officer Anastasia Dualla / ... (54 episodes, 2004-2009)
Donnelly Rhodes	...	Dr. Cottle / ... (36 episodes, 2004-2009)
Nicki Clyne	...	Crewman Specialist Cally Henderson / ... (36 episodes, 2004-2008)
Bodie Olmos	...	Brendan 'Hot Dog' Costanza / ... (36 episodes, 2004-2009)
Michael Trucco	...	Samuel Anders / ... (35 episodes, 2005-2009)
Leah Cairns	...	Lt. Margaret 'Racetrack' Edmonson (33 episodes, 2005-2009)
Rekha Sharma	...	Tory Foster (31 episodes, 2006-2009)

Also Known As:

BSG (USA) (promotional abbreviation)

Runtime:

USA:50 min (73 episodes)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | UK:12 (Season 1) | UK:15 (Season 2) | Singapore:PG (Season 2.0 boxset) | USA:TV-PG (Some Episodes) | Canada:14+ (TV re-rating) | Canada:PG (TV rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Germany:12 | Malaysia:18PL | Singapore:NC-16 (Season 1) (season 2.5 boxset) (season 3) (season 4.0 boxset) (season 4.5 boxset) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M (season 4 - part 1) | Australia:MA (some episodes) | USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

British Columbia Railway, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB)

Trivia:

Susan Hogan, who plays Captain Doyle Franks (captain of Prometheus, one of the civilian fleet vessels), is the real-life wife of Michael Hogan (Col. Saul Tigh). The Franks character has appeared several times, most notably as the lead judge in Baltar's trial.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In "The Farm," Starbuck;s hospital room has windows along the wall. When she is running down the hall to the room, the door is in the middle of the hallway. There are rooms on either side, thus there could be no windows.

Quotes:

Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama: So... um... that bum knee of yours is looking pretty good. And the other one's not too bad either.
Lt. Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace: Lee, if you want to ask me to dance, just ask.
Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama: You want to dance?
Lt. Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace: Me in a dress is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "30 Rock: Stone Mountain (#4.3)" (2009)

Sci-fi for Grown-Ups

Before I proceed, I'll just add a quick comment for those slating the series without seeing it: please, stop it. Instead, wait and see what the new show is about and give it a chance. Unless of course, you want to miss one of the best dramas currently airing...

BSG is a very human story. Yet unlike Star Trek, they're not resolved by the end of the episode. Here the characters are real people who make mistakes, grow and learn from their errors. Or maybe they don't...

The point is that in the new BSG, the impact of the loss of the Colonies is something everybody must deal with, be it on a resource-management level to dealing with the loss of their families. The impact of the Cylon attack - never explored in the original series - is a major emphasis in the show and the viewer genuinely does get the feeling of the "rag tag fleet."

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the original series as much as anybody, but it was a product of its time and audience-slot. The new BSG is a much more adult production, both in terms of the writing and performances and the intended audience.

Additionally, the show is very non-sci-fi, but in a good way. Whenever any "science" turns up, it's integrated in such a way as to have minimal impact on the plot and, unlike Star Trek, it isn't used as a Deus Ex Machina to simply resolve the "crisis of the week." In fact, I'd go as far as to say the show is closer to 24 or The West Wing than it is Star Trek or Babylon 5, with the focus being much more on the people and their individual actions, rather than a wide-scale "space opera."

Performances are all strong, with James Callis being the real star. His tortured performance as the guilt-stricken Baltar are a joy to watch as he flips from near-hysterical lunatic to scheming toad to smooth womaniser. Olmos has the presence to give Adama the air of authority required. Sackhoff's performance as Starbuck is "subtly obvious" - she plays the brash, cocky pilot a little too well, something that's explained in later episodes. And Bamber's Apollo is a mix of heroic action and self-doubt which balances well. Mention must also go to McDonnell's President Roslin who, over the course of the series, has grown in stature and presence in a very subtle manner.

Quite simply, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most consistently strong shows I've ever seen. Considering this is only the first of (hopefully) many seasons, it's amazing to see how the show has "hit the ground running," with each episode being an improvement on the last. And considering the high standard of the first one, that's quite the achievement.

Watch it. You won't be disappointed.