Special Exhibit: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

Year: (2003-2009)

Seasons: 4 + Pilot Miniseries

Episodes: 76 + 2 episodes Miniseries

Duration: 45 minutes (The Miniseries is 180 minutes in total)

Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes

 

Ok, Battlestar Galactica is much more popular than the kind of thing I usually promote in this section. On the other hand, certain viewers often dismiss it because at first glance it might be confused with one of those other badly-made Syfy Channel shows.

I’m here to guarantee you this is NOT like that. Battlestar Galactica is Peak TV, and has more in common with Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones than it does with many other shows from its own network.

Yes, it is science-fiction and some of the special effects have aged or were simply never that relevant (this was when TV shows still didn’t have mega-budgets), but the quality of the storytelling is on par with any of the modern “prestige” series. It was, after all, developed by Ronald D. Moore, who quietly revolutionized serialized television in the nineties with his Star Trek contributions, particularly on Deep Space Nine.

But Battlestar is even more thoughtful and mature than DS9, despite being very loosely based on a campy show from the late 70s. Every episode poses political, moral or philosophical questions that are never easy to answer, and whose resolutions will always carry tangible consequences. There’s no straightforward resolution to its conflicts, and in that sense is one of the great realistic pieces of fiction, despite featuring futuristic technology.

The setting is masterfully introduced in the two-part miniseries that acts as a pilot: humans have colonized a distant region of the galaxy and entered in conflict with the Cylons, an intelligent robotic race. Though there’s a peace treaty that has lasted 40 years, the Cylons suddenly betray it by almost completely decimating the population of all human worlds in a simultaneous attack. Their infiltration is well-planned: the latest Cylon model looks virtually identical to a human. This fact plays a large role in the series, bringing tension and distrust among the characters.

Humankind is basically reduced to a handful of survivors aboard the starship Battlestar Galactica, simply because it was on the process of being decommissioned and thus out of the network when the attack happened. The ship is commanded by William Adama (Edward James Olmos in an impressive performance), a weary but experienced military man. The survivors then try to escape the Cylons and make their way to their fabled home planet of old: Earth.

Adama enters in a complicated rivalry with the political leader of humanity: Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell, another treasure). Once a very minor member of the government, she’s instantly bumped into Presidency by being the only staffer left alive. Not surprisingly, she isn’t ready. The interaction between these two very different leaders is a focal point of the series and makes for very satisfying character arches, as both start to integrate each other’s style into their own.

All characters in the ensemble are outstanding, and even the minor ones get a real sense of development and complexity. There’s Dr. Baltar (James Callis), publicly a hero, though we know he betrayed humanity to the Cylons, and you’ll keep guessing how long he can maintain the ruse. There’s Tricia Helfer as many versions of Number Six, the only human-looking Cylon who is revealed as such from the go. Katee Sackhoff plays Kara “Starbuck” Thrace, Adama’s protegee and his best starfighter pilot. Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan), is the ship’s alcoholic but loyal XO. I could keep going. Even the minor fighter pilots are iconic in their way.

The imagery and atmosphere are also magnificent. Borrowing more from terrorist attacks and real warfare than typical science-fiction, the action and danger feel real, unavoidable.

Towards the end season, the Battlestar gives a larger prominence to solving its own mythology, which is honestly less successful than the more character-based portion of the show. The finale was as divisive as Lost’s, and a couple of storylines didn’t live to its full potential. But I only acknowledge these flaws so that you know even considering them, my verdict is unfaltering: this is one of the greatest TV series of all time.

But if I’m unable to convince you, watch this very funny Portlandia ketch, which perfectly captures the feeling of discovering Battlestar Galactica for the first time. Plus, you get to hear a bit of Bear McCreary’s great score from the series.