Season 2 News

And other things. I'm back from my vacation, and I'll be doing some work on getting a bit of back information up.

First, some major spoilers for season 2. Gateworld.net has released the titles and plots for the first two episodes:

SCATTERED
Chaos is rampant as paramedics try to save Commander Adama's life after he is shot, and the Galactica is separated from the fleet. Suspicion is cast on even the closest of allies.

VALLEY OF DARKNESS
Cylon Centurions board the Galactica and wreak havoc, and Lee leads a team of Marines to try and stop them.

I must say, these two episodes look outstanding, expecially episode 202.

Also, TV Guide has an interesting article on Season 2, and the March 15th Edition has Battlestar Galatica on the front cover:

TV Guide Spoilers for Season Two
SPOILER WARNING
Can't Wait for the New Season?
Take an Exclusive Peek into Galactica's FutureCome July, when Battlestar Galactica returns with 10 new episodes, the destinies of crew members and their spacecraft will be up in the air (and, seemingly, down for the count). Till then, here's six tantalizing tidbits:
1. After a shocker next week, someone not cut out for the job will be thrust into a commanding position.
2. "An epiphany strikes our heroes," says executive producer David Eick. They begin to understand that "It's not in their best interest to continue running," he says. Expect a major battle on the planet Kobol.
3. President Roslin's cancer-induced visions will lead her to become something of a prohet to her supporters. Like Moses, she wants to lead her flock to the promised land--in this case, Earth.
4. We'll learn why the Cylons wanted one of their own--the Sharon clone--to make a baby with a human.
5. No longer the confused wimp under the intoxicating control of Number Six, a newly energized Baltar will start gaining power and driving his own agenda.
6. Stranded on Caprica, top gun Starbuck will undergo profound changes in her kill-'em-on-sight attitude about the Cylons. For now, at least.

In other news, Cinescape has reviewed the last episode, Colonial Day:


BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: Colonial Day
Something old, something new, someone elected…someone quite unexpected...
Dateline: Saturday, March 19, 2005
By: JASON DAVIS
By: Columnist


BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: Colonial Day
GRADE: A
Reviewed Format: TV Show
Network: Sci-Fi Channel
Original Airdate: 18 March 2005
Cast: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace ParkCreator: Glen A. Larson
Developer: Ronald D. Moore
Writers: Carla Robinson
Director: Jonas Pate

THE WEST WING is no longer the exclusive home of quality dramatic politics on TV. With "Colonial Day", Ronald D. Moore and his writers have taken the political underpinnings that Joe Straczynski made the purview of science-fiction storytelling in BABYLON 5 and created an SF political thriller for the Twenty-first century.
Taking a page from the original BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, a Quorum of Twelve has been established to represent the twelve colonies and function as a senate to balance the power of President Laura Roslin's executive branch. As steadfast fans of the original series will remember, the Quorum of the Twelve was the ruling body of which the original Baltar was a member before betraying the colonies to the Cylons. Here, Moore and his writers have appropriated a concept from the original series to employ in a fascinating dramatic fashion that creates an episode filled with political maneuvering, under-the-table deal-making, and the ever popular question of "freedom fighter vs. terrorist." Opening the episode with three pundits analyzing the president's aims allows the story to draw parallels between Roslin and her principal political advisor, Wallace Gray, and the Bush administration. Roslin is called a puppet of her right-hand man, who allegedly runs her administration with behind-the-scenes deals and the aim of getting his cronies into the Quorum. With the audience's personal political feelings engaged in this fashion, the script manages to suggest a number of scenarios that parallel real-world politics in order to mislead the viewers into false assumptions. Kudos to writer Carla Robinson for her manipulative storytelling skills.
Along with the appropriation of the Quorum concept, original GALACTICA veteran Richard Hatch returns as terrorist-cum-revolutionary Tom Zarek, whose political machinations form the primary conflict of the story. The one-time GALACTICA good guy turns in a fantastic performance that wonderfully walks the line between sinister villain and charismatic nice guy. The even-handed, three-dimensional characterizations of this series are on full display as Zarek and Roslin duel with words and actions in a political battle that culminates in a plot twist that will fuel some very interesting storylines down the line.
With such strong performances from the guest cast including Hatch and Roberts Wisden as Gray, it's almost too easy to overlook the excellent work of Jamie Bamber as Apollo and Katee Sackoff as Starbuck. The two take a backseat for most of the episode, but the scenes featuring them sparkle with their unquestionable chemistry. The political views of the fighter jocks play an important role in the story as their duty to the security of the Quorum's deliberations and their desire to remain even-handed in their treatment of the volatile Zarek situation collide. Meanwhile, Number Six's manipulation of the arrogant and amorous Dr. Gaius Baltar continues apace with more Cylon-influenced decisions leading the doctor into rather interesting narrative territory. Speaking of Cylon influence, things get complicated for Helo on Cylon-occupied Caprica as he and Boomer prepare to steal a ship and make their escape. An excellent episode has set the stage for the two-part season finale airing next week, and now it's only a matter of time before Moore and his writers start tripping the numerous traps they've set for their audience.

Finally, last little bit of information, Ron Moore has posted up a new weblog on the official site and there's a new video feature on the Special Effects.