Stepping Over the Line

The Syfy Portal reviews the episode Pegasus in this essay:

Stepping Over The Line
Author: Alan Stanley Blair Date: 09-28-2005
Since the second season started, I have constantly been in a state of awe with the level of storytelling each episode of BSG has shown by creating an intricately woven tapestry of action, drama, political and religious intrigue and suspense. But never did I think that bringing all of it together in a single episode would be such an overwhelming success.
“Pegasus” was that success.
With the Galactica uncovering another Battlestar, the door opens to possibilities that were previously unavailable. And the best part is, it was done without stepping on the toes of the 1970’s series by brandishing the usual adult themes that permeate the series.
It’s exactly that darkness that keeps the series one step ahead of its competition, but as Boomer was forced over her bunk and Thorne unzipped his trousers, I couldn’t help but cringe.
Is this too far for sci-fi? Is this too far for television? If not, it’s certainly walking a fine line. Before Boomer could cry out, I almost cried out for her. I was on the edge of my seat, and for a moment I don’t think I was even breathing, just hoping that Helo and Tyrol would reach her in time. And when they did, everything else faded away. Nothing around me seemed to exist because I was so transfixed by what I was seeing that nothing else mattered. Each blow delivered to the Pegasus soldiers by Galactica’s Cylon-loving crew was like a breath of fresh air.
But “Battlestar Galactica” is not the first genre show to tackle such a controversial incident –- during its sixth season, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” included a rape scene, and much like the super-strength Cylon Boomer, Buffy Summers was reduced to a powerless girl. I think that’s why the drama that unfolded in “Pegasus” was so potent: it was all about power. Power gained, power lost and power relinquished. So why then was the effect of this rape sequence so profound when compared to that of Buffy?
Well, as I see it, there are two answers. Perhaps the most logical was numerical. In Buffy, the attack was one-on-one. But in BSG, Thorne had a gang assisting him, pinning Sharon to her bunk. However, the most fundamental and thought provoking concept is exactly who was involved. Or rather, what was involved.
Now I’m not going to delve into the debate as to whether or not a Cylon is Human (I’ll save that for another day), but instead take a look at the assailants – they weren’t demons. These were human soldiers, Defenders of the twelve colonies…and the same kind of characters we have come to love over the last two years. The most shocking thing about it is that this could have been Galactica’s crew under different circumstances. Regardless, it is destined to become one of television’s most shocking scenes of 2005.
The mirror effect that followed only helped to elevate the entire situation, with Six (Tricia Helfer) breaking apart at the sight of her abused alter-ego. Since the mini-series, Baltar (James Callis) has been a sort of anti-villain. A victim of circumstance rather than a malevolent presence within the series. But as he connected with the catatonic Gina, it was the first time I felt genuine sympathy towards his situation…and towards the Cylons.
When I learned Michelle Forbes had been cast as Admiral Cain, I thought it was a mis-step. This was a genuine “The Next Generation” actress. Someone who embodied Gene Roddenberry’s noble vision of the future. Now granted, Ro Laren was far from perfect, but she wasn’t evil. Far from it. She was a freedom fighter who believed in helping those who could not help themselves. Forbes was not welcome on BSG.
Even when she stepped on board the Galactica I maintained that opinion. But when she stood there with gritted teeth and ordered action stations within the Pegasus I realised that the casting was spot on and no one else could do a better job playing the Hard-assed bitch! I love it! Putting Roslin (Mary McDonnall) in her place as the Secretary of Education was a brilliant maneuver and reminded everyone who wears the brass and who has control of the fleet. But I knew where it was going, and I certainly couldn’t wait for it to happen.
The second Adama (Edward James Olmos) ordered Tigh (Michael Hogan) to assemble a strike team and the drumming started, I knew this was going to be good. I knew that what I was about to see was nothing short of breathtaking. Especially after what happened to Boomer. Cain pushed Adama too far and finally crossing the uncrossable line. It was about damn time Adama pushed back!
The only problem is that we now need to wait until January to see the resolution. But it will be worth the wait.
Battlestar Galactica: Pegasus
A+

Source: www.syfyportal.com

Tour the CIC

The Official Site has a new feature:

The virtual tour of the Galactica's CIC (Combat Information Center), previously part of the miniseries site, is now part of the Ships section on the main BSG show site.

New Episode Details: Sacrifice

Gateworld.net has posted new details for an upcoming episode entitled Sacrifice.

Hostage taker demands a 'Sacrifice'
TUESDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2005
The first plot info has arrived for "Sacrifice," an upcoming episode of Battlestar Galactica's second season.
Beware of spoilers in the report below! (Highlight to read)
Lee, Ellen Tigh, and Petty Officer Dualla find themselves in the middle of a hostage situation when four gunmen seize control of the lounge on Cloud Nine. Three men are led by a woman, Sesha Abinell -- once a cook on the Greenleaf who only wanted to lead a normal life. Now, following the death of her husband at the hands of the Cylons, she is demanding justice: a life for a life. Her only demand is that Galactica hand over the Cylon Sharon to her.
Sesha is infuriated that Adama and Roslin continue to allow one of their greatest enemies to live in their midst, even caged. She believes that every breath Sharon draws is an insult to those who have died. Lee escapes their notice at first, but eventually turns himself over to the gunmen, hoping to connect emotionally with Sesha and what she is going through.
The situation prompts Adama to once again consider the value of the Cylon Sharon to him, and whether or not a Cylon has any real rights. Despite the fact that she has "proven" her loyalty time and time again, he will not give her the smallest measure of trust or acceptance. Finally Sharon tells him to just hand her over, if that's what it will take to convince him of her loyalty.
The Marines make an incursion to try and regain control of the situation by force, but it does not go well. Two are killed, along with one of the hostage-takers. Lee is wounded badly, and the event only exacerbates the already tense situation.
Guest characters include Sesha Abinell, Chu, Vinson, Page (the three gunmen in Sesha's employ), and serveral Marines and medics.
"Sacrifice" will air early in the second half of Galactica's second season, which premieres this January on The SCI FI Channel!

Looks like a great episode!

Source

Battlestar Galactica finishes First in SciFi Summer Ratings

Good news from Gateworld! Battlestar Galactica finished #1 in the ratings for the summer. Here's the article:

Battlestar finishes summer at the top
TUESDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2005
Battlestar Galactica finished its summer season as The SCI FI Channel's highest-rated series. The mid-season cliffhanger finale, "Pegasus," won the night with a 2.0 average household rating on Friday, September 23.The first 10 episodes of Galactica's second season averaged a 2.1 rating, with the high-point coming with the highly advertised season premiere, "Scattered" (2.6). The season low to date was shared by "Resistance" and "Flight of the Phoenix" (1.9).
Here's the complete ratings run-down so far:

"Scattered" - 2.6
"Valley of Darkness" - 2.0
"Fragged" - 2.0
"Resistance" - 1.9
"The Farm" - 2.0
"Home, Part 1" - 2.1
"Home, Part 2" - 2.1
"Final Cut" - 2.0
"Flight of the Phoenix" - 1.9
"Pegasus" - 2.0

Source

Galactica and Real Life

Interesting article from the Metro News about the Battlestar Galactica DVD set and comparing it to Enterprise:

New Galactica echoes current events
Battlestar Galactica:Season OneUniversal DVD box set***** (out of five)
Star Trek Enterprise:Season ThreeParamount DVD box set***
Just as the latest incarnation of the long-lived Star Trek franchise was limping to an early end on TV — putting the future of Trek in doubt for the first time in 20 years — another sci-fi TV series debuted and showed just where Trek could, and probably should, have gone.
The original Battlestar Galactica ran on TV in the decade between the original Trek series and the debut of The Next Generation.
It wasn't Star Trek but Star Wars that inspired this kitschy space opera, with its vision of a future full of shag haircuts and disco balls, like an endless 1978.
Unbelievably, it has a hard core of fans who noisily objected to former Trek writer Ronald D. Moore's radical re-imagining of the show, especially when you see the result.
The new series cast Edward James Olmos as Adama, the role played by Canadian-born Lorne Greene in the original series. Whereas Greene's Adama had an operetta quality with his booming voice and epaulets, Olmos is craggy-faced and grim, delivering his lines with hoarse exhaustion. His Galactica is recognizably military — an aircraft carrier in space — and the conflict between him and Mary McDonnell as President of the human survivors is utterly recognizable.
Galactica is the most adamantly post-9/11 TV series yet, standing head and shoulders, in its handling of current events and anxieties, above its competition — shows like 24, The Wire, E-Ring, and the third season of the now-cancelled Star Trek Enterprise, just released on disc this week.
The new, and perhaps last, Trek tried manfully to update and renew the franchise, but it never managed to shake loose from the flat-footed humanist dramatics and addiction to novelty that went from virtue to vice in the course of Trek's history.
The third season of Enterprise sent its captain and crew out to avenge an attack on earth by an alien race, and when you put it side by side with Galactica, the greatest Trek flaw is obvious — aliens.
A Trek episode rarely goes by without some colourful new race of alien, kitted out in exotic costumes, face paint and prosthetics.
Technology has improved over the decades, but the humanoid aliens of Trek have never been able to transcend corniness, the spectacle of a guy or girl wearing rubber masks.
Eschewing aliens has been, so far, the new Galactica's smartest decision. The Cylons that pursue the humans into space aren't aliens but robots, and in Moore's re-imagining of the show, they've evolved themselves into human form.
Like any historical epic, sci-fi is really about the present, not the past or future, and this simple move redeems the possibility of sci-fi on TV. Both box sets come with generous bonus features, including commentary tracks and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Source

Notice from SciFi.com

This made my night:

The CIC
One fan's faithful blog devoted to the new Battlestar Galactica. With personal episode reviews, news, articles from around the Web, and even a few pictures (Hey Andrew, we want more pictures!). (Visits: 451)
galacticacic.blogspot.com

Someone let me know about this a little while ago, and I didn't realize that it had been added on the SciFi Channel's official weblinks section (Which is being discontinued the 29th of September.)

I'll try and find more images.

New Season 2 Rumors

Two reports in from Gateworld on a couple episodes after the midseason break. Caution, spoilers are contained.

First:

First spoilers from season's second half
FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 23, 2005
The first details have arrived at GateWorld for the second half of Battlestar Galactica's second season! While no title for the episode is yet known, it is expected to air as the twelfth episode of the season, following the episode that will wrap up this week's mid-season cliffhanger (rumored to be titled "Resurrection Ship").
Beware of spoilers in the report below! (Highlight to read)
Newly promoted Admiral William Adama welcomes a visitor to the Galactica, alongside Colonel Tigh. He is Royan Jahee, a tall and dignified man who speaks for a newly emerging pacifist movement within the fleet. They wish to seek peace with the Cylons, and believe that the Colonials' current plan of fleeing, always losing people and supplies in unending conflicts, can't possibly lead to the survival of the human race, let alone any kind of "victory."
Soon after he is brought on board the Galactica, Adama and Tigh have him tossed in the brig -- though Jahee insists that he is not a part of the movement.
Meanwhile, President Laura Roslin is lying in sickbay. She is apparently near death, as Vice President Gaius Baltar and Billy, the President's aide, are preparing for him to succeed her. But there is a plan to treat her condition, which appears to involve the Cylon Sharon's unborn child. The powers that be are still considering whether or not to allow the baby to come to term.
Back in the brig, Adama and Tigh speak with Royan Jahee. A suicide bomber from the dissident movement has attacked the fleet's Tylium refining ship, damaging its FTL (faster-than-light) drive. Since the fleet cannot leave its invaluable fuel supply behind, they are stuck until the ship can make the proper repairs.
Her condition beginning to improve, Roslin insists on being taken to the brig to speak to Jahee directly. She opens up a dialogue with him, much to his surprise, and reaches an agreement ...
Again, the title for this episode is not yet known. But according to the Internet Movie Database, episode twelve is titled "Epiphanies." It is expected to air in January on The SCI FI Channel in the U.S., following the episode that wraps up this week's mid-season finale, "Pegasus."

The second is for an episode called Black Market:

First details on Season Two's 'Black Market'
SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 24, 2005
GateWorld has received brand new info on "Black Market," an upcoming episode in the back half of Season Two.
Beware of spoilers in the report below! (highlight to read)
Lee Adama invesitages the murder of a Colonial command officer, Fisk, and is entangled with a mafia-like group of criminals on board the Prometheus. They believe that their existence is necessary and invaluable to the fleet. When the government and the military fails to take care of its people, they are there with food, medicine, or whatever else is needed.
Meanwhile, Lee visits a woman from his past on Caprica, Shevon. It is not entirely clear what their relationship is, but in the past it was romantic. Phelan, leader of the criminal group, suggests that she is a prostitute.
Lee hopes to get Shevon and a young girl in her care, Paya -- who may be Lee's daughter, whose mother was a woman named Gianne -- safely to the Galactica. But Phelan and his men bomb their way into Shevon's quarters and abduct them all.
Guest characters include Shevon, Paya, Phelan, Weller, and Beach (two of Phelan's cronies).
"Black Market" will air in early 2006 on The SCI FI Channel, after Season Two returns with new episodes in January! Stick with GateWorld for the very latest on Battlestar Galactica.

Source: Gateworld

Cinescape's Review for Pegasus

Cinescape has reviewed the midseason finale, Pegasus:

Television ReviewBATTLESTAR GALACTICA - Pegasus Context
Matters Dateline: Saturday, September 24, 2005
By: JASON DAVIS By: Columnist

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - Pegasus
GRADE: A+ Reviewed Format: TV Show
Network: Sci-Fi Channel
Original Airdate: 23 September 2005
Cast: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park
Creator: Glen A. Larson
Developer: Ronald D. Moore
Writers: Anne Cofell Saunders
Director: Michael Rymer

Twenty-seven years ago, Commander Caine was a Colonial war hero with enough medals for his brash behavior to charm a fleet into following him into hell. As Bill Adama says, "Context matters." Taking the original series two-parter "The Living Legend" as a starting point, the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA has created a completely new meal from the same basic ingredients.
Michelle Forbes, always an excellent choice for roles of this nature, makes a menacing turn as the now Admiral Caine. Aided by a skillfully crafted script that places restrained, but narratively loaded, interactions between the Admiral and Commander Adama in sharp contrast to more outwardly disturbing commentaries on the Admiral's character, Forbes attains a depth of character that acting, writing, and directing would be unable to capture on their own. Her XO's revelation that she executed his predecessor in front of the entire crew allows Michael Hogan to employ the horror he so ably brought to bare when Tigh assumed command and the Pegasus XO's sudden downplaying of his "joke" had just the right ring of someone who realizes that he's inadvertently crossed a line in a conversation. These elements of disparity between the two Battlestar crews are only the tip of the philosophical iceberg as far as the episode's concerned.
On the whole, the Pegasus harbors a meaner kind of human, as much removed from the Galactica's crew as they are from the Cylons. The rape and torture of Number Six serves as a benchmark for the savagery of Caine's crew and Tricia Helfer's pitiable performance would have been disturbing enough to warrant the warning that preceded the act concerning Boomer's near rape. From a directorial standpoint, Baltar's discovery of the battered Six contains a number elegant subtleties that do a good job of tying him into the scene. As he and his Number Six approach, their steps become synchronized, almost dance-like in their precision. There is no doubt that the Number Six we've seen all series is fully a part of Baltar and she voices his disgust for him as he views her counterpart's bruised form. Congratulations to the make-up department who economically tells the audience the story of this incarcerated Number Six with a single shot and foretells the likely future of Boomer under Caine's command.
Thematically, the episode could not be stronger. Every moment hinges on its context and President Roslin's revelation that Caine outranks Adama is wonderfully delivered by Mary McDonnell. In this new context, the ally she's earned through so much strife has been militarily castrated, a notion driven home be the reassignment of Apollo from the Galactica. Tigh, as ever incapable of grasping the big picture, believes Caine to be insane, but Adama cautions him not to consider a single action without all the facts. Edward James Olmos turns in one of his strongest performances carrying the weight of military protocol squarely on his shoulders until the context of the story brings him to the same decision his son undertook in the previous season finale. The subtle air of self-loathing that permeates his order to attack the Pegasus is a tribute to the actor and a tip of the hat to the episode's theme. The Lords of Kobol willing, the score for this episode will feature prominently on the next soundtrack compilation--in both defying expectation and counterpointing emotion, it is without equal

Flight of the Phoenix Review

A week late, but it's a good one from the SyFy Portal:

The Human Cost Of Life On The Run Author: Alan Stanley Blair Date: 09-23-2005 Source: SyFy Portal


“Flight of the Phoenix” is very much about the emotional and psychological ramifications of constantly being on the run and living in the F.T.L. equivalent of jetlag. In all honesty, the episode couldn’t have been better timed – last week we had but a preview into the hearts and minds of Galactica’s crew as Kat (PUSSY) began taking stimms to keep up the pace. Well, if “Final Cut” was a glimpse, then “Flight of the Phoenix” was nothing less than the main show.
On the surface everything seems so hunky-dory with the characters have a laugh here and there, playing poker, heading to work for a few hours … not unlike that of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” But the truth of the matter is, everyone is tired of running and just plain sick of not having a life anymore. Throw a Cylon designed computer virus into the mix and what you’ve got is a combination for disaster. Or in our case, damn good TV!
At the same time, this would have to be classed as a “stand-alone” episode. But would someone who hasn’t seen the series before be able to sit down and understand what’s going on? Not chance! The term “stand-alone” pretty much defines the overall plot of the episode, however the character dynamics are nothing less than serialized viewing. And with the series being one that depends so heavily on the character relationships it is a very tricky place to be.
Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) and Helo’s (Tahmoh Penikett) little clash was destined to happen, but I must admit, I was caught a little off guard by the sheer impact Boomer’s (Grace Park) death would have on the Chief. And you know what? I really don’t know why. Ronald D. Moore has a knack for putting a very human touch to the series. It is remarkable to think that he learned his craft from working on “The Next Generation” because this series operates in a totally different level. But he was able to do it.
The symmetry between Starbuck’s (Katee Sackhoff) beating the living crap out of Kat and Tyrol and Helo’s scuffle was gracefully done and made for fascinating viewing. It’s amazing that even with all the spaceships and CGI’s on hand, a good old fista-cuff’s is still good enough to entertain. Even the blatant disregard for the chain of command in the Command Deck was a work of brilliance. Can you imagine if Wesley Crusher told Ricker to get stuffed in the middle of a red alert? Of course not! This is just another example of how far ahead of “Trek” this show really is.
Ever since Starbuck returned from Caprica with Helo and Boomer, I’ve been waiting for the show to take a page out of “Alias’” book, with Boomer being held in a cell and Helo acting as a go-between. Until now, this hasn’t happened but in my mind there has always been the question of whether or not Grace Park would be up to the challenge. After all, Lena Olin has essentially set the benchmark for a role of that nature. Thankfully for all concerned, the series adds its own “umph” to the agenda and Park proves she is more than ready for the opportunity.
However, the most involving performance of the episode by far was that of Mary McDonnell (President Roslin). The religious overtures of the last few episodes made it more than clear that she will die before setting foot on Earth with the rest of the fleet and it’s only now that her time grows short that the ramifications of her illness are becoming apparent. The scene in which the name of Tyrol’s Stealth ship is unveiled is a particularly gripping one, and is one of the few television moments that has caused such an emotional response in me. It’s so hard to find small screen entertainment that has this effect, but “Galactica” does it, and it does it with style.
Battlestar Galactica: Flight of the Phoenix
B

I'll get my review of Pegasus up in a bit, kinda tired tonight to finish it up.

Nowplaying Mag's Review of Pegasus

Nowplaying Magazine has posted up their review for the Summer Finale, which airs tonight at 10 EST. Caution, spoilers:


Battlestar Galactica - “Pegasus”

Written by Scott Collura
Friday, 23 September 2005
When the Galactica’s draedus picks up an incoming ship – a big incoming ship – the crew immediately prepares for a jump, assuming it’s the Cylons. But the signal turns out to not be Cylon at all, but rather the Battlestar Pegasus, previously believed destroyed in the Holocaust along with the rest of the fleet. Commanded by Admiral Cain, the Pegasus’ surprise arrival – indeed, it’s very existence – gives the people of the Galactica fleet a reason to rejoice. But when Cain assumes military control over the fleet, and the methodology of the Pegasus crew proves questionable, Commander Adama must decide whether this new arrival is actually friend or foe.
Of course, it makes absolute sense that Admiral Cain (promoted – and sex-changed – from her previous incarnation in the original series) and her crew would turn hyper-militaristic, even semi-barbaric, in the aftermath of the war. It’s amazing, in fact, that Adama’s crew haven’t become equally violent as a result of their desperation in the face of such overwhelming odds. With nowhere to go, little or no supplies, and a devastating enemy lurking everywhere, wouldn’t there be no choice but to turn into, essentially, space-Nazis in order to survive?
So no fun and games for this battlestar reunion then. Aside from the V-E Day-esque moments when the Pegasus shows up and the crews first meet, the new chain of command that results from Cain’s (an excellently cold Michelle Forbes) outranking Adama almost immediately causes mayhem for the Galactica crew. Though the admiral claims to have no wish to interfere with Adama’s command, that’s exactly what she does: Starbuck and Apollo are transferred to the Pegasus, where Starbuck is grounded and Apollo is kicked down to the “humiliation” of co-piloting a Raptor; the Pegasus XO confides in Tigh – and then recants on his story – that Cain executed her previous second-in-command when he refused to engage in a near-suicidal attack on the Cylons; President Roslin very quickly finds herself out of the loop once Cain takes over, with the admiral “not even taking” Roslin’s phone calls; and Baltar, on the Pegasus to study that ship’s Cylon prisoner, finds a disturbing scene indeed.
It seems that torture, and rape, are a common methodology for Pegasus’ chief interrogator, and the result is that their prisoner – a Number Six model – is now a shell of a woman, traumatized physically and emotionally. And Sharon, the Galactica’s Cylon prisoner? She’s next to receive the same treatment, leading to a shocking scene that truly drives home how different these two crews are. It also leads to a particularly unfortunate situation for Helo and Tyrol, the unlikely team who will defend Sharon to their dying breath – a notion which very well may come to pass soon enough.
The most interesting aspect of this episode, beyond the geek-thrill of seeing two battlestars side by side, one new, the other old, is the respective crews’ attitude towards the Cylons. Cain clearly sees them as the enemy and as sub-human, but the Galactica crew, despite themselves, have slowly come to a different take on their enemy. And when Helo and Tyrol actually side with a Cylon here against their fellow humans, the line is clearly drawn between the two Colonial ships. The result of that inevitable battle between battlestars? Check back right here in January. A-

Lawless Returns to Galactica

This in from SyFyPortal:

Lawless Returns To 'Galactica' Author: Eric Giordmaina Date: 09-22-2005 Source: Creation Entertainment
Lucy Lawless, the actress best known for her portrayal of "Xena, Warrior Princess," will be returning to "Battlestar Galactica" for another two episodes during the show's second season, according to a release from Creation Entertainment.
Lawless guest starred as D'Anna Biers, the tough Colonial Fleet reporter in the episode titled, "Final Cut."
The airing dates for the two episodes have yet to be announced.
The summer finale for "Battlestar Galactica" will be shown Friday, September 30, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on the SciFi Channel

Now Playing Magazine Review: Flight of the Phoenix

From Nowplayingmag.com:



Battlestar Galactica - “Flight of the Phoenix”

Written by Scott Collura
Monday, 19 September 2005
Colonel Tigh’s stint as fleet commander continues to haunt the Galactica, though this time around the blame can only be aimed at the Cylons. The Galactica’s systems, it seems, have been overrun by a debilitating Cylon computer virus that has been lurking, and building, since the events of the season premiere when the Galactica was separated from the fleet. And while that virus snowballs to a potentially cataclysmic conclusion, Helo and Chief Tyrol continue to attempt to come to grips with their situation now that the original Sharon – the Chief’s Sharon – is dead, and the new Sharon – Helo’s Sharon – is onboard the Galactica, very much alive.
After the misstep of last week’s episode, Galactica returns to fine form with Flight of the Phoenix, an episode that’s plot synopsis might sound like a rehash of any number of lame sci-fi show episodes (“A computer virus takes over the ship!”), but is in fact yet another richly realized character piece that just happens to have a cool take on that age-old genre plot as well.
When the episode begins, we see that Helo isn’t exactly being warmly accepted by the other members of the crew since his return to the ship, the result of his association with Sharon. And Tyrol is a man stricken since the original Sharon’s death, able only to focus on his work it seems – which eventually leads to his taking on the unlikely task of constructing a brand new viper from the ground up. But first, a knock down, drag out fight between him and Helo resolves nothing for either man aside from the release of some long built-up tension – and Tyrol’s admission that he and his Sharon had planned on leaving the service and having children of their own. And now it’s Helo who is the father-to-be of Sharon’s (or, a Sharon’s) child.
As for Sharon, she’s of course the key to shutting down the virus that has almost crippled the ship. Once the program completes its takeover of the Galactica, it will be able to turn the vessel’s weapons against the rest of the fleet, while also suffocating the ship’s complement. Starbuck and Apollo get a taste of this firsthand, though luckily the pilots are in the firing range when their air supply is shut down – and a trusty sidearm comes in handy when blowing a hole through a bulkhead window. But as an armada of Cylon raiders approaches the Galactica, following the signal that the computer virus is broadcasting, Sharon – either by force at the barrel of Adama’s gun, or by sheer force of will, or both – must turn the virus against her former comrades.
It all makes for a great episode, one which amps up the tension of the virus subplot throughout (which seems to evolve over a period of days or even weeks) while also filling in a lot of the character questions that have lingered in our minds this season. And Tyrol’s viper project, his little viper that could, winds up being a truly important motivating force for the burned out crew. As Adama points out, it’s been months since the Cylon attack, and it’s finally setting in among the group that their current bleak existence could possibly be all their future has to offer them. After all, when Lieutenant Gaeta curses out his XO in the command center, you know tensions are running high. But Tyrol’s new viper, dubbed “Laura” by the crew, proves to be more than just a new class of ship, especially for President Roslin, who has learned that she now has only weeks to live.
But first, next week: the long-awaited return of the Battlestar Pegasus in the mid-season finale. Think that’ll go smoothly for the gang? A-

Season 1 Out on DVD Today

Just a reminder: Season 1 of Battlestar Galactica, the US version, is out in stores today.

Here's what it's got:

DVD Features:
-Available subtitles: Spanish
-Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX)
-Feature Commentary with Director Michael Rymer and Executive Producers David Eick and Ron Moore
-Pilot Commentary with Director Michael Rymer and Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore
-"Bastille Day" Episode Commentary with Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore
-"Act of Contrition" Episode Commentary with Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore
-"You Can't Go Home Again" Episode Commentary with Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore
-"Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
-"The Hand of God" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
-"Colonial Day" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
-"Kobol's Last Gleaming: Part 1" Episode Commentary with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
-From Miniseries to Series
-Change is Good
-Now They're Babes
-The Cyclon Centurion
-The Doctor Is Out (Of His Mind)
-Future/Past Technology
-Production
-Visual Effects
-Epilogue
-Deleted Scenes
-Battlestar Galactica Series Lowdown
-Sketches and Art
-Number of discs: 5

Currently holding at #7 on DVD sales for Amazon.com. I wonder if it's worth it to sell my UK version and buy this one...

Longer Seasons = Longer Story Arcs

IGN Filmforce just posted up this article on Battlestar Galactica:


Longer Galactica Means Larger Story Arcs
Season two and beyond...
by Paul Davidson
September 20, 2005 - The impressive success of Battlestar Galactica might have caught series co-creator Ronald D. Moore by surprise, but having a full-length second season has given him room to explore the show's story many arcs in more detail. And with Galactica consistently tying or beating Stargate SG-1 as the Sci Fi Channel's most-watched television series, a third season seems likely.
"Well, we can't quite say that yet. One hopes," Moore said in an interview with Now Playing Magazine. "We're sort of looking into larger story arcs as to where the series is ultimately going, and we are talking about what season three would be. We've had preliminary discussions about conceptually what we want the third season to reflect and how we would approach it."In the meantime, Moore has been taking key characters from the show, like Starbuck and Captain Adama, and developing them through their adversities and extraordinary circumstances."It was interesting taking somebody whose life was defined by that role – that [Starbuck is] a fighter pilot – and then to take that away from her and see what happens," said Moore in reference to Starbuck's injuries that left her off the pilot rotation for several episodes. "There was a definite decision, that we were going to live with our wounds, live with damage, that we were going to play the aftermath of what happens. You know, Adama was shot in the last episode of the [first] season and he [wasn't] back for a few episodes this year. And even when he is, he's a changed man. It has repercussions. He took a very heavy hit and it was touch and go. It changes who the man is. Not in the philosophical way, but in how he experiences life and how he will go through it. It shook him."Season two comes to its midway point this Friday in the episode "Pegasus", in which the Galactica encounters another Battlestar – commanded by Admiral Cain, who assumes control of the entire fleet. The ending should be something of a cliffhanger, and it'll be left unresolved until the second season resumes in January.

http://www.filmforce.net

Religion in Galactica and a Giveaway

Two new things from Nowplayingmag.com:

First, a fairly good article on the religion in Battlestar Galactica:


The Religion of Galactica
Written by Scott Collura
Friday, 16 September 2005
If there’s one thing that keeps audiences interested in the Sci Fi Channel’s hit series Battlestar Galactica, it’s the show’s ties to our own world. Yes, Galactica has spaceships. And yes, Galactica has evil robots. And yes, Galactica has galactic holocausts. But Galactica also has realistic characters who actually have problems. Galactica has fathers who don’t get along with their sons. Galactica has female “heroes” who sleep around. Galactica has bad guys who might not be as bad as they are misunderstood. Sure, we like the space battles and gee-whiz effects of the series, but we watch it for the realism of the show, a rare thing indeed for a genre program.
So that’s why it’s not surprising that the show’s executive producer Ron Moore (read the first part of our chat with him by clicking here) doesn’t blink when he’s asked about the obvious parallels between our real world president (Bush) and his fictional president (Roslin) on the show.
“Don’t tell Mary that,” laughs Moore when the comparison is raised. Apparently series star Mary McDonnell, who plays President Laura Roslin, objects to the link. “It’s certainly in the air [when we’re writing] and it’s in my head and it’s in our discussions. The show is written in this era, so it’s hard for it not to influence us in one way or another. But I think we don’t really try to [do] a ripped from the headlines kind of format where you go, ‘O.K., let’s do this because Bush just did it, or this is hot,’ or something. This president in the show, she starts to have visions and a religious experience, and she believes there’s some validity to it. And yeah, there’s a parallel to Bush in that sense, but then we don’t want it to be a direct parallel, playing her as Bush. So really she’s having this experience and she reads these scriptures and goes, ‘You know what? This makes sense. These pieces seem to light up. This is like a big jigsaw puzzle and if you start to put these elements together they start to form a pattern. And I can see that.’”
Read the full article here: The Religion of Galactica








And on top of that, registered members at Now Playing Magazine will now have the chance to win a copy of Season 1 on DVD. Further details here: Battlestar Galactica: Season One DVD Giveaway!

Battlestar Galactica: Flight of the Phoenix

Finally getting back into the swing of things and watching new episodes. Tonight's episode was Flight of the Phoenix, refering to the movies in which a crew crashed their airplane and was forced to rebuild it. That was one of a couple storylines going through tonight's episode.
The storyline in which the title gains it's name is similar. The Chief decides to build a new Viper, after we see in the opening scenes where he's forced to scrap an older viper. At first, the crew scoffs at his attempts, but one by one begin their own work on the ship.
The second and more alarming plot line is that a Cylon computer virus, from the first episode when they linked up the computers. It's an AI, and it begins learning the ship systems and finding ways to destroy the crew, by suffocating or electrocuting them. No one's killed, but it's generally being a pain in the ass. The other, overall plotline is the general mood of the crew. Everyone's frustrated by their situation, which ties in with the viper's construction. But as Adama said, everything is beginning to sink in, that they're on the run and that their situation is quite frankly hopeless.
This was a great episode to watch. The multiple storylines worked extremely well together, and the production team did a good job splicing everything together.
The main thing I think is the frustrations- it's finally starting to surface, and I'm pretty surprised that it hasn't come to a head until now. We see the crew members getting pissed off at each other, fighting, arguing and yelling, even crew members that have thus far been pretty level headed, like Lt. Gaeta. It's something that has been a long time in coming, in my opinion. The new viper storyline was also pretty cool, because I and a couple others in my viewing group have been wondering what they're going to do about the number of vipers that they have left. The result is pretty cool, the Blackbird. Kara's playing around was pretty funny, as well as Roslin's pretending to smash a bottle of alcohol on it, prompting the entire crew to jump. The computer virus storyline was also interesting, but not terribly surprising, considering that Stargate Atlantis ran an identical storyline during the opening of the second season. The Cylon fighter fleet being destroyed was an awesome scene as well. Overall, outstanding episode. Can't wait for next week's, Pegasus.

Phoenix and Pegasus Images Online

Gateworld.net's Galactica section has new images from the final two episodes of the first summer half of the season.

See them here:

FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX

PEGASUS

Final Cut Review

From Cinescape.com:


BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: Final Cut
On the record
Dateline: Tuesday, September 13, 2005
By: JASON DAVIS
By: Columnist

"Final Cut" takes the seasoned concept of a documentary being produced inside a drama and serves up an excellent hour of TV drama. Skillful handling of the military/journalist relationship coupled with Lucy Lawless guesting as journalist D'anna Biers and more of the show's trademark philosophy combine to produce a satisfying hour that contextualizes the preceding season two episodes in terms of folks outside the show's regular cast.
M*A*S*H and BABYLON 5 have both employed documentary episodes to change the narrative perspective on their characters. The latter series even devoted an installment to journalistic corruption in the form of ISN's propaganda campaign against the titular space station's crew. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA continues the legacy with Biers investigating Galactica in the wake of the Gideon Massacre. With Adama and Roslin's blessing, the reporter is allowed full access to the vessel which leads to some remarkably subtle interactions between journalist and crew. The heart of the episode plays on the essential conservativism of the military contrasted with the naturally liberal notions of the media. While the former is concerned with maintaining the status quo, the latter desperately wants to overthrow the establishment in the pursuit of truth. As ever, the Galactica's crew is wary of anyone who might undermine the security of the fleet and some soldiers are more comfortable in front of the camera than others. Pilot shouting matches and Colonel Tigh's obvious distress at being taped provide "behind the scenes" highlights while interviews with Lt. Gaeta and CPO Dualla not only give the characters first names, but offer them a moment in the spotlight without the full weight of their duty limiting their lines.
Where GALACTICA succeeds far and away over B5's similar outings is in the casting of Lucy Lawless as Biers. Similar journalists portrayed on B5 were often unlikable and obviously biased, a criticism that can't be leveled at GALACTICA's stunt casting. Lawless conveys a journalistic intensity that assures viewers that she'll get what she wants, but doesn't exude the arrogant self-righteousness that too easily creeps into the portrayal of such characters. The revelation in the final scene is doubly successful as a result of Lawless's performance and puts another interesting spin on Cylon agendas.
It wouldn't be a proper episode of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA without a nod to the ongoing debate of human and Cylon philosophy. This time, the lecture comes from a Viper pilot who explains to the documentary crew the necessity for "deactivating" the human part of a pilot during combat. "The human part will get you killed," she says offering another insight into creator Ron Moore's subtle argument that the differences between human and Cylon may not be as vast as viewers imagine. The Caprican Valleri's realization that she's still alive aboard Galactica carries a disturbing quality of excitement that suggests depths hitherto unplumbed by the episodes thus far. The opening of every episode promises that "they have a plan," but how this episode fits into that plan remains to be seen.

More Pegaus News

Nowplaying Mag has had the oppertunity to speak with the cast of Galactica, and they have a little bit of news about the anticipated episodes Pegasus:


Galactica Cast Talks “Pegasus”

Written by Scott Collura
Friday, 09 September 2005
The Sci Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica is heading for its mid-season hiatus in a few weeks, and the final episode before the break will also be one of the most beloved – and anticipated – stories in the entire history of the Galactica mythos. Yep, the Battlestar Pegasus is coming to the new Galactica, and Now Playing magazine has nabbed an exclusive series of interviews with the cast about the episode (click here to see the video now).
“When the Pegasus arrives on the scene, it is greeted – as it were – like we’ve just been liberated,” says James Callis, who plays Baltar on the show. “It’s like we were an occupied country in the war and when we see the Pegasus it’s like the American or Allied troops rolling in. It was just so exciting to realize that there is another battlestar and other people. And that is so overwhelming.”
But things do not go as well as one might expect when the two battlestars join forces. In the episode, which airs September 23, it doesn’t take long before a conflict breaks out between the crews of the two ships.
“Apollo and Starbuck get into it with the pilots on the other ship, a power struggle,” says Katee “Starbuck” Sackhoff. “And they realize they’re like the new freshman. They get transferred over to the Pegasus and they [have] like zero kills on the board and everyone just thinks they’re idiots.”

Source

Galactica and Atlantis to get 3rd Season

The SyFy Portal just posted this little bit of news up. It appears that we will be seeing a third season of Battlestar Galactica. Keep in mind that this is still rumor, not 100% confirmed.

'Battlestar Galactica,' 'Atlantis' To See Third Seasons Author: Wayne Hall Date: 09-11-2005 Source: SyFy Portal

How much confidence does SciFi Channel have in two of its three top shows? Enough to pretty much give them a go-ahead for a third season.
Sources at SciFi Channel are reporting that SciFi has unofficially decided to award both "Battlestar Galactica" and "Stargate: Atlantis" third-season pickups. The news was shared by SyFy Portal's Michael Hinman during a guest appearance on Sci-Fi Saturday Night on New Hampshire's 610 WGIR.
During the show, Hinman -- who appeared by telephone in the show's final hour -- said he had received unconfirmed reports that the third-season pickups have been decided. SciFi normally does not announce fate of shows during the first half of the seasons, which end this month. No word has been received on the fate of "Stargate: SG-1," but many industry insiders feel that the SciFi stalwart will see an unprecedented 10th season next summer.
"Battlestar Galactica" aired for the first time on SciFi in January for an extended half-season run, quickly earning a second season after strong ratings that beat out even new episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise" on UPN. The show is in the middle of its second season, still enjoying strong ratings despite some audience erosion seen across the board. It stars Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, and has been critically-acclaimed in the mainstream media.
"Atlantis" is a spinoff of "SG-1," and also has enjoyed strong ratings since its debut in Summer 2004. It airs at 9 p.m. ET, just before "Galactica," on SciFi.
Both series will end their first-half season run this month, and will return for new episodes in January.

I wonder if they'll be upping Stargate SG-1 for Season 10.

Season 3?

Nowplaying Magazing (www.nowplayingmag.com) has posted up an article about Ron Moore and the possibility of a Galactica Season 3.

“Well, we can’t quite say that yet. One hopes,” responds Moore who doesn’t
seem willing at the moment to fess up to the fact that Galactica is Sci Fi’s new
golden boy series, and that a year three is almost a foregone conclusion. Still,
he does acknowledge that the success of the show so far has at least affected
how he and his writing staff have approached the year two episodes – as well as
those of a possible year three.
“We’re sort of looking into larger story
arcs as to where the series is ultimately going,” he says. “And we are talking
about what season three would be. We’ve had preliminary discussions about
conceptually what we want the third season to reflect and how we would approach
it.”

Read the full article here.

Commander Cain Photos, Aliens and spoilers oh my!

Three articles out of the Hollywood North Report. Careful, there are spoilers.

First, some new images of Commander Cain surfaced. Cain, as some of you might know, is the commander of the Battlestar Pegasus, which survived the initial Cylon Attack, and has now linked up with the Galactica. See them here.

Second, there's a little word about the possibility of Aliens surfacing on the show. The Co-Producer David Weddle told the HNR that aliens are certainly not out of the picture for the show. Leading actor Edward James Olmos has said that if they turn to rubber headed humanoids, he's out of the show, but given the show's trend of breaking the trend, new things could happen. Read the full article here.

Finally, some major spoilers for a couple upcoming episodes regarding President Roslin's cancer, Boomer's Baby and a little prophetic stuff, can be found here.

Helfer hints at things to come

In the Aftermath of Dragon*Con, looks like some new details about Galactica have come up in interviews. Here's something from #6:

Helfer hints at things to come
Posted by Matt Schafer on September 06, 2005 07:48 PM


Wickedly hot Tricia Helfer, who plays wickedly evil Six on Battlestar Galactica, reviled a few spoilers and dropped several hints while at Dragon*Con this week.
“We kind of got Six into a box somehow and we’ve been trying to figure out how to get out of it inside the limitations of an ensemble show,” she said. “When your character is in some one else’s head all you find yourself doing is reacting to what goes on in their head. You don’t really have an arc, or a story of your own.”
The planned fix is coming in the form of Geena, a “new version of Six with a different look and a different agenda.” Although Helfer didn’t say what this different version was up to, she mentioned several shows upcoming will feature both her characters heavily.
Helfer said she doesn’t really know why running about in Gaius Balter’s head.
“During the first season I thought I had put a chip in his head,” she said. “The during the second season I thought he was going crazy. Now I just don’t know. She’s been right a few too many times to just be his conscious or something.”
Six makes references to God’s plan, but Tricia admitted to having no idea what God’s plan actually is.
“I’ve asked Ron (More, executive producer and co-creator) a number of times what is the plan is, because it’s very hard to get the tone right if you don’t know where the whole thing is going,” she said. “He hasn’t told me… so I just have to have faith in Ron that it will all work out in the end.
She also hinted about the Cylons that still could be hiding among the fleet.
“I know who one is, and I don’t think you’ve seen them on screen yet,” she said. (Note: I don’t know if meant the designation or the quantity.) “But yes, everyone you’ve seen on screen so far could be a Cylon.”
Sadly, Helfer also confirmed the rumored plans for the show.
“The Sci-Fi Channel has ordered 20 episodes, and we’re on number 12 now,” she said when asked about a possible season three. “I think the plan is to air 10 this summer and then 10 more starting in January, and that would be a third season.”
So what that means is despite being Sci-Fi’s highest rated show ever Galactica still can’t get a full season ordered. In fact the second and third seasons would be 10 episodes each, shorter the first season’s 13 episodes.
Source

Review for Home Part Two

No new episode this week, due to a Stargate Watcher's Choice thingy. New episode next week though!

From Cinescape.com:

Opening with a beautifully scored montage of Adama and Roslin consulting the documents in which they place their faith, part two of "Home" gets off to an elegant start for an episode that will skillfully continue the show's examination of religion from the human and Cylon perspective. For Adama, opinions on Kobol are the result of the detailed maps and surveys collected by his crew. For Roslin, the ancient Book of Pythia, couched in figurative language and mystery, provides the lens through which she explores the long abandoned landscape. Without words, the opening moments establish where the two opposing leaders' faiths lie, but the actions of one will heal the breach that has split the fleet since the end of season one.
Bill Adama, despite his prejudices, is a very intelligent man. He believes that Roslin is wrong about Kobol and the legends she pursues. He also knows that humanity cannot survive in two warring halves, so he takes the first step in healing the schism and brings the olive branch to the President. He goes so far as to offer Roslin his forgiveness, a brilliantly realized scene in which the President illustrates the depths of her self-importance by throwing that forgiveness back in his face. The subtle shadings left on characters by moments like these are wonderful for the intricate way in which they erode audience sympathies one way or the other. Depending on the allegiances a viewer has already developed, they may now alter their feelings toward characters in slight ways that build across the season until the opposing character suddenly seems to be in the right.
If opinions on Adama and Roslin can be slowly honed by subtle character moments like a Japanese stone garden, the audience's feelings for Boomer must, by now, resemble a swiftly swinging pendulum. Her scheme to prove her loyalties to Adama was one of the best executed pieces of writing seen on television in years. The fact that it's so easy to buy into her actions at every step and still be astonished when her plan clicks together like a finely crafted watch is a joy. Her relationship to Adama now established, it will be intriguing to observe the triangle now completed by Tyrol on one level and Baltar on another.
Speaking of the Vice President, James Callis turns in another fine performance as Baltar obsesses over the nature of his Number Six hallucinations. Pleasant though the visions are, courtesy of Tricia Helfer, Baltar's increasing foreknowledge of events related to the Cylon plans along with Dr. Coddle's confirmation that he's free of implants, would suggest that Baltar may be one of the Cylon's the deceased Boomer revealed to be among the fleet ships. Having not yet seen the whole of season one, I'm loathe to hypothesize beyond the facts at hand, but I'm sure the talkbacks will set me strait on the details. As to Helfer, her lust-inducing nude Number Six does an unexpected one-eighty to become a "girl next door" model while attempting to assist Baltar with his self-analysis. This persona really shows of Helfer's range within the confines of her character and provides another color she can play with in Baltar's head.

Article on the Cylons

Because news is a little slow at the moment, here's an article about the Cylons and the recent Home Part II:

Cylons: Can't live with them, can't live without themAugust 27, 2005
(SPOILER ALERT) I love how Battlestar Galactica continues to tease us with the mystery of the Cylons' origin, purpose and abilities.
In Friday night's episode "Home, Part II," we saw the Cylon-occupied Caprica version of Lt. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii tensely reunited with both Commander William Adama -- who was shot and nearly killed by her Galactica version -- and Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol -- who had been the Galactica version's lover.
The Caprica Sharon apparently shared all of the Galactica Sharon's memories up until the Galactica's departure from Colonial space, but how and why the individual Cylons are created, get their memories or are linked to some sort of Cylon "collective" remain unclear. The current Sharon says she doesn't have any of the hidden protocols of the first Sharon, but if the first Sharon could have been programmed not to know she was a Cylon, couldn't this one be deceived, too? (Evidently some Cylons don't have free will -- or don't know that they don't. Then again, who does?)
Lingering behind all this is the entire issue of how the "toaster" Cylons went away for 40 years and returned with their humanoid masters. Who -- or what -- is in charge? Did the Cylons truly evolve or just encounter something which gave them human form. Why are there only 12 master types of humanoid Cylon? (One for each colony? Or one for each of the 12 entities buried in Athena's tomb?)
We learned in the episode "The Farm" that the Cylons are trying to breed human-Cylon hybrids of some sort (we know they've succeeded with Caprica Sharon and Lt. Karl "Helo" Agathon), but as Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace points out in Friday's episode the Cylons have removed all the bodies from Caprica's ruins and appear to be rebuilding the planet's infrastructure. For a humanoid Cylon civilization -- or a hybrid Cylon civilization?
"Home, Part II" also addressed the is-she-a-chip-or-isn't-she issue, the question about the seductive No. 6 that executive producer Ron Moore had said in his podcasts he wanted to remain ambiguous as long as possible. While the No. 6 apparition originally told Gaius Baltar she was from a chip in his head -- like the mental clone of Scorpius that accompanies John Crichton for much of Farscape -- we've always been given cause to suspect he may have gone crazy. That's even though No. 6 gives him real-world information he might not have known for himself, such as the presence of the original Cylon tracking device aboard Galactica and Sharon's pregnancy.
So after Baltar had his brain scan, we face the same question he does: If he doesn't have a chip in his brain, where's she coming from? Is she a spiritual entity? Is there another explanation for her ability to communicate with him, such as a widespread nanotech network in his body?
The problem with a lot of these questions is that if the answer is that the Cylons have advanced biotech or nanotech capability, why can't they just wipe out the remaining humans with a plague -- or build better Raiders or better Raider pilots? Unless, of course, it's all a big conspiracy, and the Cylons are just herding the ragtag fleet around for their still-mysterious purposes...

Good stuff. Can't wait to catch up on the latest episodes. Unfortunently, the guy who was recording them just had his computer fry on him, although I've got another friend who has tapes...

Review for the Home One

Okay, I'm home and back into the swing of things: Here's a review from Cinescape:

This is prologue. The audience should take a breathe before the inevitable other shoe drops. Though not the tour de force of the last few weeks, "Home, Part One" begins laying the groundwork for what must be a very interesting second half to the season. At long last, Starbuck, and more notably, Helo and the Caprican Boomer have rejoined the main action, while Adama, with a hand on Tigh's shoulder, is back in command of the bulk of the fleet.
This episode is about loss and it makes its theme clear in the attempt to replace Apollo as commander of Galactica's air group with George Burch, a decision even Colonel Tigh wouldn't take in a drunken stupor. With Roslin, the fleet has lost its direction and its faith. Adama too, spends the hour unsure of his actions. Philosophy aside, the story succeeds in reminding the audience that even at the most chaotic times, these characters are truly something special. Apollo's reflexive attack on Boomer, Roslin's backstabbing order to space Boomer, and Adama's final solution to the schism within the fleet all add shadings of color to an already multi-faceted ensemble.
Of course, relatively quiet episodes like this one, offer a moment to dwell on the details. There's nothing like specificity to create verisimilitude and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is incredible at dealing with the minutiae in a way that enhances the narrative without detracting attention from it. Starbuck's kindergarten flirtations with Apollo are an excellent example. The inherent emotional immaturity of these two characters goes straight back to their damaged social development and their interaction rings true on a subconscious level with what the viewer has seen of similarly stunted adolescents in real life. Number Six's assertion that that human's are "masters of self-destruction" is a wonderful observation made all the more pertinent by the fact that she utters it to Baltar as he smokes. Moments like this reinforce the philosophy of the dialogue in ways that barely even register, but build to something more substantial in the back of the viewer's mind.
The devil is in the details, and, speaking of the devil, he's been known to quote scripture to suit his ends. No doubt this was on Roslin's mind as she followed Boomer into the forests of Kobol to find the tomb of Athena. That Boomer refutes her Cylon heritage on behalf of her human compatriots is at once expected and disconcerting. We know from Baltar's interrogation that the Boomer aboard Galactica honestly loved Tyrol and Roslin believes, despite programming, that the Caprican Boomer loves Helo and cherishes their unborn child. Though the full shape and scale of the Cylon plan remains a mystery, there can be little doubt that it will eventually arrive in the same territory explored by STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, but with infinitely more satisfying results. The Cylons seek an audience with their gods, but the outcome of such a meeting…well, that'll be the day…as they say.

New SciFi Wire Article

This just in from the SciFi Wire:

Lawless Invades Galactica
Lucy Lawless, who will guest star in an upcoming episode of SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica, told SCI FI Wire that footage she shot while playing a broadcast reporter actually makes it into the final cut, which airs Sept. 9.
"We were shooting video, and they are using footage that I and my crew actually shot," Lawless said in an Aug. 16 telephone interview from the set of the TV movie Vampire Bats, which she is currently shooting in New Orleans. "It was really exciting, worrying about the camera angle you are getting, and you were truly being your character and fully concerned about shooting the footage. It was like shooting a movie within a movie." Lawless guest stars "Final Cut," the eighth episode of Galactica's current second season, written by Mark Verheiden and directed by Robert Young. In the episode, Lawless plays reporter D'Anna Friel, who gets unlimited access to film aboard Galactica and documents the stress of military life during wartime. The marines, led by Lt. Palladino (Jeremy Guilbaut), get widely criticized when his crew opens fire on civilian protesters, killing four and wounding 12. Then there's a death threat against Col. Tigh (Michael Hogan). Meanwhile, President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Cmdr. Adama (Edward James Olmos) offer Fleet News Service full access to the pilots and crew. Along the way, the reporter uncovers some major secrets and faces an ethical dilemma.
Lawless admitted that she wasn't familiar with the Galactica series before she landed the role, but said that she was impressed with the show's universe. "The sets weren't all shiny, like the previous Battlestar Galactica," she said. "They were grungy and all beaten up. It has that post-apocalyptic rawness. It's genius."
The episode also marks the first time in nearly two decades of acting that Lawless was allowed to use her native New Zealand accent. "I've never wanted to use my real voice before," she said. "It never seemed appropriate, and I was resistant to it. But for this role as a reporter, it seemed appropriate."

33 Wins a Hugo Award!

The first episode of Season 1, 33, has just won a Hugo award, beating out other television episodes from LOST, SG-1 and Alias. The award was handed out at the World Science Fiction Convention in Scotland earlier this Month. Congradulations to all the winners!

Clarke, Galactica, SCI FI Win Hugos
Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell won the Hugo Award for best novel in ceremonies at the 2005 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in Glasgow, Scotland, on Aug. 7. The Incredibles won the award for best dramatic presentation, long form, and the special interaction committee award went to David Pringle. SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica, meanwhile, won the award for best dramatic presentation, short form, for its first-season premiere, "33."
SCIFI.COM's SCI Fiction won for best Web site, and its editor, Ellen Datlow, won the award for best professional editor. Named for legendary magazine editor Hugo Gernsback, the Hugo Awards are the leading fan-selected awards for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy and are awarded each year by the World Science Fiction Society at the World Science Fiction Convention. About 2,000 people attended the event. A full list of winners follows.
Best Novel: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Best Novella: "The Concrete Jungle" by Charles Stross
Best Novelette: "The Faery Handbag" by Kelly Link
Best Short Story: "Travels With My Cats" by Mike Resnick
Best Related Book: The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction, Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn, eds.
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: The Incredibles
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: "33," Battlestar Galactica
Best Professional Editor: Ellen Datlow
Best Professional Artist: Jim Burns
Best Semiprozine: Ansible Best Fanzine: Plokta
Best Fan Writer: David Langford Best Fan Artist: Sue Mason
Best Web Site: SCI Fiction, Ellen Datlow, ed.; Craig Engler, general manager
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer: Elizabeth Bear
Special Interaction Committee Award: David Pringle

Season 1 Now Out in the US

Sort of. If you positively can't wait for the American Season 1 in stores, go to Best Buy and take a look around: The UK version is now out, formatted for US players. It's lacking in special features, but it's got a number of deleted scenes. At $50 US, it's well worth picking up!

Episode 203

I finally watched my first episode of Season 2, 203. Man, I'm impressed once again at the storytelling and acting this time around. I'm a little too tired to write out a full review, but once I get to watch the episodes in order, I'll type them up.

In other news, Amazon.com has the first season ready to pre-order on DVD. It's to be released September 30th, the same day that Serenity comes out in theaters. I know I'm not going to class that day.

New SciFi Wire Article

Sorry about the lack of updates once again. Hopefully the new episodes are going well, I can't wait to see them. The SciFi Wire has just posted up a new article on Starbuck and a potential love interest:


Galactica's Starbuck Finds Love
Katee Sackhoff, who plays Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace on the SCI FI Channel original series Battlestar Galactica, told SCI FI Wire that she asked the producers to expand a storyline in which her character finds romance. "I have a love interest that comes in in episode four and five, and he left," Sackhoff said in an interview. "He was gone. And I thought to bring him back, and it's a big deal to have to bring him back, because basically you have to go back to Caprica again. ... It's a huge thing. It's a couple of episodes, if not more than that, to bring his character back, and I fought for that because we have great chemistry and I enjoy him."
Sackhoff said that the producers took her suggestion and are writing the character, played by Michael Trucco, back into the show. His return may end a streak of brief trysts for Starbuck, which Sackhoff believes are a product of her character's insecurities. "She is extremely vulnerable, and extremely fragile," she said. "And she wants so badly to be loved. And she doesn't know how to do that. She's been hurt so many times in her life. The easiest way for her to feel loved is to have sex with somebody, to feel that immediate connection. And I think that when she [did] do that and realized that wasn't what [she] wanted, again, she leaves them. So that's why it's a string of men and it's only one time or two times. But I think with the man that she met on Caprica, she finally gave her heart to someone. And it's a big thing for her, and we've been seeing the emotional toll it has taken for her, because she misses him a lot." In a separate interview, producer David Eick (whom Sackhoff calls an "actors' producer"), told SCI FI Wire that it was Sackhoff's performance that inspired a more three-dimensional take on the character. "You really find yourself writing Kara Thrace as the most vulnerable character, because Katee has that vulnerability, and she has that sort of tough exterior," Eick said. "And that balance, that sort of contradiction, really, is what's so interesting about the character. If she was just Han Solo with a haircut, you'd say, 'Okay, nice.' But it starts to feel a little bit cute; it starts to feel a little bit contrived. And the truth is, she's the most emotional. And yet she's the one who's the best shot, and she's probably the one that will pull the trigger first. And that's an interesting contradiction to us, and that contradiction was really provided by Katee."
Battlestar Galactica airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 201

Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of updates. I'm currently in a place without good internet and no cable, so I'm unable to watch the first part of this season. So, I have a question for you all. Can you post up some links or reviews of the episodes as they come out? I'm dying to find out what happened in the last episodes.

SciFi Site Updates

Sorry for the spotty updates, work is work... The official SciFi Battlestar page has updated recently with a bit of things from Season 2, with some trailers and a video blog. Just 8 more days to go! Any news rumors and other assorted things, feel free to e-mail them to me or to post them up.

In addition, Gateworld's Galactica site has posted this up:

Michelle Forbes is Admiral CainWEDNESDAY - JULY 6, 2005
Actress Michelle Forbes has been cast in the pivotal role of Admiral Nelena Cain, radio program Subject2discussion has reported. Forbes is best known to science fiction fans as Ensign Ro Laren on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Forbes takes on the role made famous by Lloyd Bridges in the original Battlestar Galactica, first appearing in the mid-season finale "Pegasus." When the crew encounters a second battlestar that survived the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies, Commander Adama must defer to Cain as his superior officer (story).In addition to her years in a recurring role on The Next Generation, 38-year-old Forbes has appeared in such series as 24, Homicide: Life On the Street, Alias, The District, and Seinfeld.

"Pegasus" is expected to air in September on The SCI FI Channel in the U.S.

And, some new episode Details:

HOME, PART 1
Lee joins President Roslin and Tom Zarek in a separatist fleet determined to explore Kobol, forcing Commander Adama to find a new flight leader for the Galactica.
HOME, PART 2
FINAL CUT
FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX
Chief Tyrol throws himself into the impossible task of building a Viper from scratch, while Helo faces distain from his shipmates because of his relationship with a Cylon.
PEGASUS
The crew is stunned to learn that the Battlestar Pegasus also survived the attack on the Colonies, but tensions run high when the Pegasus's Admiral Cain assumes command of the fleet.

Scifi to Video Blog & Olmos on Season 2

Two new articles to read up on, now that we have just fifteen days until Galactica returns to TV land:

First up:
Sci fi Channel in the US goes the video blog route

Indiantelevision.com Team
(29 June 2005 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Scifi.com which is the web site of American broadcaster Sci Fi Channel, continues to pioneer innovative viewing experiences on the Internet.

Just five months after it became the first television network to offer original content via podcasting technology, Sci Fi now becomes the first television network to launch an exclusive video blog for one of its original series.

Battlestar Galactica executive producer David Eick will offer viewers an exclusive look behind-the-scenes of one of television's hottest new shows. Fresh three-five minute video blogs will be posted every few weeks. They will give fans never before seen insights into the production of the hit show including candid moments with the series' stars. Visitors will be able to sit in on script meetings with writers and producers and meet other members of the crew and special effects team.
In anticipation of Battlestar Galactica's second season premiere, the broadcaster's site will also begin streaming season one's action filled final episode, Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II. Battlestar's series premiere episode 33 has been viewed more than 100,000 times on the site.
Scifi.com states that it will continue to deliver exclusive online content throughout the production of the second season, which premieres on air on 15 July.

And,

Olmos: 'Galactica's' Second Season More Complex
Author: Wayne Hall
Date: 06-27-2005
Source: Chicago Tribune


According to Edward James Olmos, who plays Commander Adama in the SciFi Channel hit series, "Battlestar Galactica," the show's second season will be "better than the first one -- it's more complex."
That's the word from Chicago Tribune reporter Maureen Ryan in her recent "News you can use ..." column in which she discusses an interview with Olmos.
The actor does express concerns about those who haven't seen previous episodes of the show.
"I'd hate to be a person who saw Season 2 without having seen Season 1," he told Ryan, indicating that keeping up with the show's continuity will be very important.
SciFi Channel is apparently already on the problem. The cable channel will be airing a marathon of the first season of "Battlestar Galactica" on Wednesday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
New episodes begin airing on the SciFi Channel on Friday, July 15, at 10 p.m., following the new season premieres of "Stargate SG-1" at 8 and "Stargate Atlantis" at 9.

Two New Articles

The SciFi Portal has posted up two articles on Season Two of Battlestar Galactica, with some major spoilers:

'Galactica's' Olmos Juggles Acting, Directing
Author: Wayne Hall Date: 06-21-2005 Source: DailyNews.Com
Edward James Olmos, who plays Commander Adama in "Battlestar Galactica," is preparing to direct a film for HBO while continuing his acting role on the successful SciFi Channel series, according to DailyNews.Com.
Olmos has signed to helm "Walkout," an HBO movie about the 1968 East L.A. event in which 10,000 students protested educational conditions and complained of anti-Mexican educational bias.
Working on two projects at the same time can be difficult, especially since the actor is working on only the eighth episode of 20 of "Galactica's" second season. In fact, Olmos insists there are no plans to write out or reduce the role of his character while he's shooting the film.
Even for someone as talented as Olmos, how can he be two places at once?
It takes "a lot of cooperation between Universal and HBO," said Olmos, who is flying to Los Angeles for a day of preproduction and location scouting, then jetting back at night to Vancouver to the "Galactica" set for work the next day.
"Walkout" features Alexa Vega from "Spy Kids" as student activist Paula Crisostomo. An important role yet to be case is that of Moctezuma Esparza, who has been the producer of such noted projects as "Gettysburg," "Selena" and "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge." Now one of the film's producers, he was among the student protesters in 1968.
Friday, July 15, will be an important day for both projects. Production begins on "Walkout" during the day, then "Galactica" airs its first episode of the second season on the SciFi Channel at 10 p.m. that evening.

And,

Apollo To Step Out From His Father's Shadow
Author: Alan Stanley Blair Date: 06-23-2005 Source: Chicago Tribune


The following contains MAJOR spoilers for the second season of "Battlestar Galactica."
The first season of "Battlestar Galactica" ended on a bittersweet note -- the survivors of the Cylon onslaught discovered the mythical planet of Kobol only to have the Cylons claim it for themselves, a senior officer is revealed as a Cylon operative, martial law is declared and Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) is mortally wounded.
The main question now is, what will season two have to offer? According to actor Jamie Bamber, his character of Apollo is having an interesting time.
"It's defined Apollo in a new way," said Bamber, talking about the events of the season finale.
"He isn't the son of the commanding officer anymore. He's completely alone in the fleet. His dad has been shot, he's an orphan, he's not defined by being the heir to a military tradition," he said. "He doesn't regret his decision for a second. For the first time, he can truly be an individual, rather than someone trapped in this military world."
With the revered Commander Adama out for the count at the opening of the second season, Bamber also mentioned that Apollo gets the chance to stand up and be his own person. In essence, he steps out of his fathers shadow and is recognized for the person he is.
Speaking of shooting the second season, Bamber added that the main challenge for him now is working in Vancouver as he lives in London. With the extension of seven episodes to this season (bringing the series to a total of 20 episodes compared to season one’s 13) it means Bamber now has to spend nine months a year stateside. But for the moment, the actor is very happy to be part of the BSG story.
Bamber also hinted that along with Caprican soldiers resisting the occupation, we will also be seeing Cylons fighting other Cylons.
"There is, in the second season, further confusion about the Cylons. Some fight other Cylons along with humans," said the actor. "It's not just a simple analogy for Al Qaeda. There are all sort of religious themes in the whole relationship."
And as for the complicated dynamic that exists between Adama, Apollo and Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff), Bamber remained coy as to what fans can expect.
"It's like lots of relationships, you can't simplify it," he said. "They are indisputably attracted to each other. But it's latent. There's so much guilt for the dead brother and dead fiancee between them. Then arguably, she's more responsible for his death than anybody else, yet he blames his dad for it"
"Can they get together knowing there's the dead brother between them? That's really awkward," Bamber said. "And Commander Adama really really relies on her, she's like a daughter to him, he's close to her and Lee resents that."

Latest News

Reports are going to be a bit spotty from here on out, because I'm going to be working at a summer camp for the next 10 or so weeks. However, I'm leaving you with these two reports:

First up, from TV Guide:

Question: Got any intel on the next season of Battlestar Galactica? — John

Ausiello: Lucy Lawless is gonna do a few episodes playing a Christiane Amanpour-type character. And I hear Sci Fi censors are freaking out about a really disturbing (yet visually stunning) scene in Episode 5. An upcoming issue of TV Guide magazine will have more on that little controversy.
Source

AND:

Once again specific information was provided on Battlestar Galactica's Season 2 on Shaun's Subject 2 Discussion show at lvrocks this past Wednesday night, June 8, 2005. Spoilers were revealed on upcoming episodes, including some interesting cast additions. Read on if you have an inquiring, Colonial mind.
First up, they are looking for a female to play the commander of the other battlestar in Episode 210. Questions naturally arise as to whether this will be the reimaged Commander Cain? And who will the actress be to play this pivotal role?
Next, the Sneak Peek of BSG's Season 2 showed Adama holding a baby on the planet Kobol. This is actually a vision that Baltar is experiencing. Adama is still recovering from his wounds aboard the Galactica and will not be on his feet until the fifth or sixth episode. Moreover, Baltar's and Six's baby is described as being a "mystical" child. In an interview with James Callis and Tricia Helfer in this month's issue of SCI-FI magazine (August 2005), Callis had this to say about the baby: "At the moment, it's a spectral projection. It will materialize into reality when the entities that bring that about kind of get together...It's a bit like...it's there, and it isn't at the moment, for it will be...It is the shape of things to come."
A very satisfying spoiler that was announced had to do with the theme song for Season 2. Because US fans on several new series boards preferred the UK theme over the US one, SCI FI will be using a variation of the UK theme. The mystical chanting will be there, but not the drum beats at the end.
Finally, TVGuide just announced that Lucy Lawless (of Xena: Warrior Princess fame) will be in several episodes of Battlestar Galactica, playing a female reporter similar to CNN's Christiane Amanpour. Speculation arose as to whether Lawless will be one of the two new Cylon models to be introduced this season.
To recap, a female Cain(?), a spectral Cylon-human hybrid, the UK theme for Season 2, and Lawless as a Colonial reporter are promised for the new Battlestar Galactica series.
From the Hollywood North Report.

Because I'm going to be out, if anyone feels inclined, post up a comment with a news article, rumor or spoiler that you'd like to pass on. Don't be shy, news is always welcome! Less than 40 days to go!

Galactica News in SciFi Mag

The next issue of SciFi Magazine will feature the following article on Battlestar Galactica:

POWER COUPLE
Battlestar Galactica's partners in crime James Callis and Tricia Helfer share their Cylon sex and child-rearing secrets. By Patrick Lee

In stores soon!

GalacticaStation.net has a transcript: Here

New Promos on the Air

I've had several people mention that there are now new promos for the Second season now on the SciFi channel. I haven't found it online yet, so if anyone knows of a place where it can be found, send in a link!

Some of the quotes:

Lee: (being dragged away by troops) "He was my father!" To Boomer
Tigh declaring matrial law
Roslin: "Events have been set into motion."
Six: "One of you will turn against the others."
And, Starbuck and others on Capria.

Production Update from SciFi

The SciFi channel's SciFiWire has updated with some new information regarding Season 2. From what they say, there's going to be some exciting stuff happening. Caution, there are Spoilers:

More Galactica Deaths Coming?
Will more characters die in the upcoming second season of SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica? That's what series creator and executive producer Ronald D. Moore told SCI FI Wire in an interview at EnigmaCon at the University of California, Los Angeles, on May 28.
"Yes, there are a couple of familiar faces that will go down for the count," Moore said cryptically, without identifying the doomed characters. He added: "I would say the events of the end of last season [mark] the beginning of this season."
Among other things, Moore said: "Adama's [Edward James Olmos] shot. There's people stranded on Kobol. Kara's [Katee Sackhoff] back on Caprica. Those storylines continue; all those continue. I would say we don't wrap up season one until episode seven. Adama is not back on his feet anytime soon. Commander Tigh [Michael Hogan] is in charge of Galactica. Laura [Roslyn, played by Mary McDonnell,] is in jail. There's a meteor crisis that follows the cliffhanger, and Tigh kind of steers them through that crisis successfully. But, you know, Tigh, he's probably the guy you don't want in charge."
Moore said that cast and crew are in the process of shooting the sixth episode of the second season in Vancouver, B.C. "We have scripts for the first 10 episodes," he added. "The 11th should be in this week, and we have the stories for the first 14."
Moore offered additional spoilers for the second season's arc. "Things begin to unravel when [Tigh's] in charge of the fleet. He declares martial law at a certain point. There is an incident where he sends the troops to get supplies, because the ships are withholding supplies from Galactica. He says enough is enough and sends out the troops, and an incident happens, and people get killed. They shoot a bunch of civilians. It's a whole nightmare, and Laura starts an insurrection and the fleet divides. There's a lot of fallout from the events of the last season." Battlestar Galactica returns July 15 and will air Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Looks good!