'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Lost': The similarities are spooky

I think that some of these are a bit of a streatch, but it's an interesting read:

'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Lost': The similarities are spooky

I'm certainly not the first to draw parallels between "Lost" and "Battlestar Galactica," two intense and rewarding dramas chock full of dense mythologies. The hardcore fan bases for these shows aren’t averse to spending hours poring over the similarities the programs share, and the Internet is a handy enabler for these overlapping obsessions.

But there seemed to be more coincidences than usual as both dramas wrapped up their most recent batch of episodes (“Battlestar” has its mid-season finale on Sci Fi June 13 and airs 10 more episodes, probably in 2009, before it ends for good; “Lost” just concluded its fourth season on ABC and resumes in January. Pictured at left; Francois Chau as "Lost's" Dr. Edgar Halliwax; at right, "Battlestar's" Lucy Lawless, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park).

The parallels are uncanny. On both shows, people see visions. Mystery babies appear to hold many answers. The “boxing” and “unboxing” of key characters are crucial plot points.

So am I alone in wondering if Ben Linus might be the final Cylon, or in speculating about the possibility of a polar bear hidden away in the Galactica fleet? Or have I just spent too many late nights watching and rewatching these delightfully convoluted dramas? Hmmm…..

In any case, the parallels below are mostly drawn from the most recent seasons of each show. As always, weigh in with your own thoughts in the comment area.

Box brouhaha

• “Battlestar’s” D’Anna: Her "unboxing," or revival from a form of Cylon death, was a key plot twist.
• “Lost’s” John Locke/Jeremy Bentham: The appearance of this apparently dead character in “Locke box” was a key plot twist.

Miracle baby

• “Lost’s” Aaron: This indestructible baby seems to be part of some divine plan.
• “Battlestar’s” Hera: This human-Cylon baby seems to be part of some divine plan.

Wounded leader

• “Lost’s” Jack: In recent episodes, this headstrong, controversial leader survived dangerous situations despite a Christ-like wound in his side.
• “Battlestar’s” Baltar: In a recent episode, this headstrong, controversial leader survived dangerous situations despite a Christ-like wound in his side.

Murderous, remorseless schemer

• “Lost’s” Ben: This enigmatic island resident killed without remorse and always has a self-serving plan.
• “Battlestar’s” Tory: This enigmatic Cylon killed without remorse and always has a self-serving plan.

Group with a big secret

• “Lost’s” Oceanic 6: They do all they can to prevent the world from knowing the truth about them.
• “Battlestar’s” Final Four Cylons: They do all they can to prevent the fleet from knowing the truth about them.

Shadowy figure

• “Lost’s” Jacob: Who is this guy and what is he really up to?
• “Battlestar’s” fifth Cylon: Who is this individual and what is he or she is really up to?

Person seeing visions

• “Battlestar’s” Laura Roslin: She sees people who aren’t there, or are they? (Yep, I know, other people on the show have visions too.)
• “Lost’s” Hurley: He sees people who aren’t there, or are they? (Yep, I know, other people on the show have visions too.)

Mysterious pregnancy

• “Battlestar’s” Caprica Six: Allegedly Cylons can’t get each other pregnant. Or can they? Saul Tigh seems to have done just that, because his secret lover, Caprica Six, has a toaster in the oven.
• “Lost’s” Sun: Supposedly women can’t stay pregnant on the mysterious “Lost” island. Or can they? Sun gave birth to a healthy baby after her island rescue.

Powerful father-son duo

• “Lost”: A key story line involves the mysterious, possibly island-ruling Christian and his stubborn son, Jack, the leader of the Oceanic Six.
• “Battlestar”: A key story line involves the commanding, fleet-ruling William Adama and his stubborn son, Lee, the new president of the 12 colonies’ Quorum.

Big kaboom

• “Battlestar”: A human/Cylon team blew up the Cylons’ crucial, life-regenerating Hub.
• “Lost”: A vengeful Keamy blew up the ill-fated, possibly life-saving freighter.

Unhappy pet

• “Lost”: Bunnies.
• “Battlestar”: Centurions.

Scary/freaky servant

• “Lost”: Richard Alpert
• “Battlestar”: The base ship’s hybrid controller.

Disappearance

• “Lost”: The island disappears.
• “Battlestar”: Gaeta’s leg disappears.

Disappointing revelation

• “Lost”: A frozen donkey wheel controls the island’s powers. Um. Huh?
• “Battlestar”: Romo Lampkin has a dead cat in his gym bag. Um. Huh?

Majorly awesome fight

• “Battlestar”: Tigh vs. Adama.
• “Lost”: Keamy vs. Sayid.

Angry spouse left behind

• “Battlestar’s” Chief Tyrol: The death of his spouse left him bitter and angry, plus he’s got a big secret to hide.
• “Lost’s” Sun: The death of her spouse left her bitter and angry, plus she’s got a big secret to hide.

Epic romance

• “Lost”: When Desmond and Penny reconnected and acknowledged their deep love, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
• “Battlestar”: When Adama and Roslin reconnected and acknowledged their deep love, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. (At left, "Lost's" Henry Ian Cusick and Sonya Walger as Desmond and Penny; at right, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell as "Battlestar's" Adama and Roslin.)
  

Directional catch phrase

• “Lost’s” Jack: “We have to go back!”
• “Battlestar’s” Starbuck: “We’re going the wrong way!”

This week’s unifying theory

• “Battlestar”: Whoever knows God is close to knowing the secrets of the universe.
• “Lost”: Whoever knows the island’s secrets is close to being a god.

Source

Want a Lifesize Cylon?

This is so cool:

Let's sell some cylons!

They have a plan: NBC is selling life-size replicas of the cylon centurion robots from "Battlestar Galactica" for a mere $7,900 each. There's both Ron Moore-era CGI-style cylons and Lorne Greene-era man-in-suit versions. Sound effects and menacing red swivel lights? Of course!

Now if only they could somehow be programmed to watch "ER"...

Here's the press release and photo:

BURBANK, CA - May 28, 2008 - Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group today announced that "Battlestar Galactica's" infamous Cylon Centurion Robots have arrived... as full-size masterpiece replicas from Fred Barton Productions. The announcement was made by Bill Kispert, Vice President and General Manager, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group. This high-end replica was created by Fred Barton Productions through a licensing agreement with Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group.

These amazing reproductions stand seven feet tall, feature advanced electronics and the trademark sinister red LED scanning eye movements that fans of the series have come to know. There are two life-size versions of the Cylon Centurions available for purchase, one is from the original classic series and the other is from the current Emmy Award-winning "Battlestar Galactica" series, which airs on SCI FI Channel (Fridays 10-11 p.m. ET/PT). Both are made in the USA and retail for $7,900.00. They are now available at specialty retailers and online through www.the-robotman.com and NBCstore.com.

"'Battlestar Galactica' is one of the most exciting and visually intense series on television, with the Cylons being one of its most intriguing character sets," said Kispert. "We are pleased to partner with Fred Barton Productions to create this museum-quality replica. Barton is a master craftsman, and his attention to detail on this project authentically captures the essence of one of the show's signature characters."

"I have always wanted to make the Battlestar Galactica robots," said Fred Barton, "so I was delighted when NBC Universal approached me about bringing the Cylons to life. I loved having the chance to create the re-imagined Cylon, based only on a computer generated design and I know that fans of the show will be as impressed as I am with how these Cylons appear in person."

The Cylon Centurion replicas were both molded and hand-sculpted to perfection in Barton's Los Angeles studios using an original costume from the 1970s and a computer generated, automated foam-cut Cylon, which was scaled to the imposing height of seven feet. The body is made of 100% fiberglass. The classic Cylon Centurion boasts a "reflective showroom finish," while the Cylon from the current series bears a "distressed multi-tone finish." Both incorporate synchronized stereo sound and lighting effects, advanced electronics and red LED light effects.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/05/lets-sell-some.html

A Storm is Coming...

Top Ten Reasons to Watch Season 4

Whedon almost did Galactica - Some Spoilers

Man, that would have absolutely rocked - Joss Whedon on Battlestar?

According to the Watcher:

'Battlestar Galactica' stars visit Letterman; Joss Whedon bows out of directing the show

Patience, “Battlestar Galactica” fans. It’s not too long until the fourth season of the Sci Fi show begins April 4.

Battlestarwomen And if you’re really dying to see the “Battlestar” cast, they’ll be reading the Top 10 list on “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Wednesday. Galatica Sitrep has more on who'll be doing the countdown.

I garnered some tidbits about the new season from Ron Moore, the executive producer of “Battlestar Galactica” in an interview last week. I’ll post a full transcript of our hourlong talk in early April, but until then, here are few nuggets of news:

* Moore is directing Episode 12 of the fourth and final season; his first-ever directing gig begins March 25. Because Episode 11 had been filmed before the writers' strike began last fall, Moore’s episode is the first episode that the “Battlestar” staff will shoot when the show resumes production in Vancouver. As it happened, the post-strike shooting schedule “worked out for the best,” Moore said. “I’m up here prepping the episode and no one has anything to do but help me. I’m spending a lot of time with the director of photography walking through the sets and talking about things. If we were in the normal production mode, he wouldn’t have the luxury of spending so much time with me.”
* I asked Moore about the rumor that Joss Whedon had been tentatively lined up to direct one of the final episodes of “Battlestar.” Moore confirmed that “Buffy” creator Whedon, a big fan of “Battlestar,” very much wanted to direct a “Battlestar” episode, but it looks as though he probably will not be able to do so, thanks to his commitment to a new Fox series, “Dollhouse.” “He really wanted to do it, but I’m dubious that it will work out,” Moore said.
* Filmmaker John Dahl, who had been lined up to helm an episode before the strike, is still directing an episode of “Battlestar”: He’ll work on Episode 13.
* Fan favorite Romo Lampkin, a wily lawyer played by Mark Sheppard, will be back for one episode before the first 10 episodes of Season 4 finish airing in June. Lampkin should be back once more before the series wraps up for good, Moore said.
* Moore has no idea when the final 10 episodes of the 20-episode fourth season will be shown. The show’s cast and crew will be shooting episodes until June, and it’ll take until at least fall to finish post-production on the last batch of “Battlestar” outings.
* There is renewed interested from Sci Fi in the proposed spinoff series “Caprica,” but Moore has no idea when or even if that pilot will be greenlit.
* By the way, before the strike, he and fellow “Battlestar” writer Jane Espenson had been working on “Warehouse 13,” a series in development at Sci Fi, but both have exited the project.
* Along with several other film and TV projects, Moore and fellow “Battlestar” writer Michael Taylor have a sci-fi flavored pilot in development at NBC.
* Finally, Moore, who worked as a writer for many years on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” recently wangled a visit to the Los Angeles set of the new “Star Trek” film, which is being directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Damon Lindelof (both of whom are also executive producers of “Lost”).

Here’s the part of our conversation that touched on that experience:

MR: I saw a trailer for the new “Star Trek” film over the holidays and I got excited, just because it was a little glimpse of “Trek” and I realized we hadn’t had anything from that realm in so long. Do you have any feelings about the new feature film? Will you go see it?

Ronald D. Moore: “Oh, I’ll see it. I actually got to go down to visit the set. I actually wangled a set visit that I can say nothing about, other than that I was very excited. It was really a treat for me personally. I was very grateful to J.J. and Damon for making that happen. I saw the sets and thought the production design was just great. I just really liked the visual of it. And the vibe on the set was incredibly positive and very up. People were feeling good and confident and happy. It was really great for me. It was great to be back at Paramount and to walk into a stage where there was a Federation starship.”

MR: Did you think Paramount did the right thing by going outside the “Trek” family, so to speak, for this film?

RDM: “Absolutely. I think that was a very smart decision. God love all of us that did all the series and the movies during those years, but that’s a long time. There were a lot of tired people. A lot of tired blood. And it’s time to bring in fresh eyes to it all.

“I think it’s akin to when they brought in Harve Bennett to [write the second ‘Star Trek’ movie,] ‘The Wrath of Khan.’ [Creator] Gene [Roddenberry] had lived and breathed ‘Trek’ for a long time. He did [‘Star Trek:] The Motion Picture,’ and ‘The Motion Picture’ is what it is – I certainly went to see it and loved it at the moment, but it was bloated and [had] overruns and there a sense of it not really finding its feet yet.

“Then they brought in [writer] Harve Bennett, who had no connection to the show, and [director Nicholas] Meyer, who had never seen the show, and they reinvented it. They started over. They went at the costumes differently, the storytelling, the vibe of it, the style of story that they were going to do. They rescued the whole franchise. ‘Wrath of Khan’ makes all the subsequent ‘Star Trek’ projects possible.

“And I think that’s where they are with the franchise now. They’ve brought in someone new, someone with no connection to the what’s come before, who cares about it and says, ‘Wipe the slate, let’s make this version.’”

MR: Have you seen the script?

RDM: “No, I didn’t even ask. I didn’t ask anything about the plot. I just wanted to take a look and be nostalgic.”

Random News

A couple of things this afternoon. Things are going to start heating up with Season 4 finally within sight...

Vote for Galactica - Vote for Galactica on E!, Battlestar is currently at .8%

Remote Access has a look at the Season 3 DVDs

SyFyPortal has a look at the new Terminator series's music as Bear McCreary is the composer.

Ecplise Magazine has a contest for Razor.

And, best for last, Cinema Blend is reporting that the start date for Season 4 will be... April 4, which makes sense, because the Season 3 DVDs are coming out just before that. And, as the SyFyPortal also reports, Galactica's back to Friday nights.

Life Size Cylon?

Say that five times fast. Looks like slideshow collectibles is going to release a life sized Cylon figure. I don't want to know how much that costs...

This is Cool.

Completely off topic, and for the old Galactica, but this is a cool, Ralph McQuarrie poster concept:

Galactica wins Nebula!

This in from the SciFi Wire:

Superman Sweeps Saturns

Superman Returns led the Saturn Awards on May 10, taking home five awards, including best fantasy film and best director (Bryan Singer). On the TV side, NBC's hit superhero drama HeroesChildren of Men received the award for best science fiction film.

Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series: Battlestar Galactica
won three awards, including best network television series.

Congrats to the cast and crew!

Battlestar Named #2 on EW List

This in from the SciFi Wire:

Matrix, Battlestar Top EW List
Entertainment Weekly named The Matrix as number one on its list of the top 25 science fiction movies or TV shows of the past 25 years, followed closely by SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica. The issue hits newsstands on May 7.

Other titles on the list include 1982's Blade Runner, Fox's The X-Files and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Rounding out the top 10: Brazil, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Aliens and John Carpenter's remake of The Thing.
The magazine will feature covers with images of cast members from NBC's hit series Heroes, which ranked number 18. (NBC is owned by NBC Universal, which also owns SCIFI.COM and SCI FI Channel.)

Helo to visit Smallville

This in from the TV Addict:

Galactica’s Helo Lands in SMALLVILLE

Turns out BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’S Captain Karl “Helo” Agathon will be landing on earth a little sooner then expected. On Thursday May 10, Helo, also known as real-life actor Tahmoh Penikett will be guest starring on SMALLVILLE as [surprise!] a military man turned super soldier thanks to some meteor freak DNA.

While we could take this opportunity to complain about the fact that SMALLVILLE’S still utilizing the lame ‘freak-of-the-weak’ story after six seasons on the air, we’d rather focus on the positive and give the show kudos for employing a member of the Galactica fleet. Here’s hoping that Helo took notes on his journey to earth, as we have a feeling Adama’s going to need them come next season.

Vote for Battlestar Galactica!

Slashdot has a poll with the age old question, what is your favorite Spaceship? Possibilities are: Serenity, Millenium Falcon, NCC-1701, TARDIS, Battlestar Galactica, Moya, NCC-1701-D, H.M.S. CowboyNeal.

Vote Here

Galactica Avoids SciFi Label

This in from Wired Magazine:

Writers, Directors Fear 'Sci-Fi' Label Like an Attack From Mars
Jason Silverman

Cormac McCarthy's The Road is set during a nuclear winter. Two survivors walk south, breathing toxic air, seeking out the continent's last canned food while ducking bands of flesh-eaters.

Describe it as "post-apocalyptic," as most critics did, or as a masterpiece of dystopian literature. Just don't call McCarthy's novel "science fiction."

Even when clearly appropriate, film studios and publishers avoid the phrase "science fiction." So do the novelists, film directors and editors in their employ. McCarthy's book, which is about to become a blockbuster -- Oprah Winfrey will tout it on an upcoming TV show as part of her book club -- is just another example of how the powers that be dodge the term, especially when it applies to "serious" fiction or cinema.

You won't find the words "science fiction" in Random House's bio of Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author China Miéville. Instead, he's called the "edgiest mythmaker of the day." Michel Gondry's The Science of Sleep? It's classified as comedy, drama, romance and fantasy, but not sci-fi, at Amazon.com.

Even Battlestar Galactica, the flagship show of (hello!) the Sci Fi Channel, keeps a distance. "It's fleshed-out reality," explains executive producer Ronald D. Moore in the sci-fi mag SFX. "It's not in the science-fiction genre."

The nose-thumbing is nothing new. In the '50s, Robert Heinlein dismissed the term, opting for "speculative fiction." (What fiction isn't?)

But today, one might imagine that the term could gain traction. Our lives are entangled with everyday gadgetry Heinlein could only have dreamed of. The impact of science on culture -- climate change, stem-cell research, the internet -- is the subject of continuous debate. Writers including McCarthy and Margaret Atwood (another despiser of the term "sci-fi") and filmmakers like Gondry, Richard Linklater and Darren Aronofsky have explored the terrain of traditional sci-fi.

Plus, the term itself -- isolated from its pulpy origins, the fanboy confabs and the endless sniping over its definition -- remains an evocative one. Science fiction: stories that engage with science.

Chris Barsanti, a critic who dared to reference The Road in terms of sci-fi literature, said the phrase "science fiction" summons images of "space battles, aliens, mad scientists, time travel and the like ... fantasy with testosterone." So publishers, wary of putting their book into an "artistic ghetto," twist themselves into knots to avoid using the label.

In the face of its shrinking reputation, some institutions are attempting to legitimize science fiction. In 2004, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen opened Seattle's Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, and The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation gives grants to those who incorporate scientific subject matter into their fictional works.

The University of Kansas and the University of California at Riverside have substantial sci-fi collections. And the University of Liverpool offers a master's degree in science-fiction studies and publishes the scholarly journal Foundation.

"There's been a vast increase in the popularity of science fiction: big special effects movies, TV, games," says Andy Sawyer, head of Liverpool's sci-fi department. "But you rarely see it in the best-seller charts, unless it's dropped the name 'science fiction.'"

Tahmoh Penikett in Film

From the SciFiWire:

Galactica's Penikett Tricks In Treat

Tahmoh Penikett, who co-stars in the upcoming Halloween-themed horror film Trick 'r Treat, told SCI FI Wire that writer/director Michael Dougherty cast him in part because Dougherty is a big fan of SCI FI Channel's Battlestar Galactica, in which Penikett plays Lt. Karl C. "Helo" Agathon. "Before I went into the audition, my agent told me that the director was a huge fan of the show," Penikett said in an interview earlier this year on the Vancouver, Canada, set of the supernatural thriller movie, which interweaves several narratives on a Halloween night in a small town.

But Penikett wasn't prepared for how big a fan Dougherty, co-writer of Superman Returns, really was. "When I went in, I see this really young-looking guy," he said. "Mike looks like he's in college or something. ... And as soon as I come in, this guy comes up to me, he's like, 'Wow, I'm a huge fan of the show.' [He] introduced himself, and we sat there for, like, five to 10 minutes just talking about the show. I'm like,'OK, are we even going to do this audition?' It was great. It was nice. You could tell he was a genuine fan. So we had a great conversation, and then, of course, I found out that I got the gig, and Mike didn't hesitate once we talked again to say, 'Look, I'm a huge geek. ... I'm a huge [fan] of the show, and I would love to come to the set and check it out.' So we actually had a closed set to the press for [the] last couple of months because of all the leaks that have happened, and I talked to the producers and, of course, Michael Rymer, the key director, and said, 'Would you mind if Mike came in?' ... They're like, 'Fine, no problem.' So we brought him in, gave him the royal tour, showed him everything. It was cool." Battlestar Galactica also shoots in Vancouver, and Penikett lives there.

In Trick 'r Treat, Penikett plays an earthbound young husband. "I play Henry," he said. "I'm the loving husband to Leslie Bibb's character. There's one key scene that we're involved in where I think a lot of the characters are all brought together. That's this big parade scene that's downtown." As for the rest of the stories, Penikett said: "It's really sort of cleverly interwoven, the whole storyline." Trick 'r Treat is in post-production with an eye to an Oct. 5 release. —Patrick Lee, News Editor

New Role for Keith Rennie

This in from the SciFiWire:

Callum Keith Rennie (Leoben Conoy on Sci Fi Channel's Battlestar Galactica) has joined the cast of SCI FI's upcoming miniseries Tin Man, a new take on L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in which he will play Zero, the lead henchman for the wicked sorceress Azkadellia (Kathleen Robertson).

Recap Galactica in 5 Minutes

The entire series in 5 minutes, with a couple episodes missing.

Amid Civilization's Ashes, A Venti Mochaccino

I just came across this highly amusing article from The Television City Chronicle:

By D'ANNA BIERS

Published: April 1, 2007

CAPRICA CITY, Caprica, 31 Ares — The skies were cloudy, the radiation levels moderate, and the cream of Cylon civilization was present in droves for the opening of the first Caprica City Starbucks.

“I always used to joke: How many planets do we have to destroy to get a decent cup of coffee around here?” said a Brother Cavil model while waiting. “Turns out it’s twelve. Who knew?”

The new location occupies a former elementary school opposite Command Line Park in Caprica City, still irradiated and partly devastated from the Cylons’ initial attack on the Twelve Colonies four years ago. Caprica City has hosted other coffee shops since the Cylons arrived, but many of them closed after becoming targets for frequent bombings by human resistance fighters.

“We already had art, and religion, and faster-than-light travel,” said a Number Five model before cutting the ribbon to open the store, “but today, we can truly call ourselves a civilization.”

“The Cylons are a ruthless species, determined to spread to every corner of the galaxy and crush all inferior competitors through robotic precision and technological superiority,” said a nervous-looking Starbucks President and CEO Jim Donald, as the Five model officiating the ceremony held a gun to his head. “Clearly, we have a lot in common.”

The new location, staffed around the clock by specially programmed Cylon Centurions, offers Starbucks’ full complement of hot and cold beverages, prepared “by your command” in deference to the native culture. For morally conscious Cylons, the store will also offer a “genocide free” line of blends, grown on planets where no preexisting human population has been eradicated.

Business was brisk during the store’s first day of fully operational status. Customers chatted in line while B0b Dylon’s “All Along the Watchtower,” a traditional Cylon favorite, played on the in-store HEAR Music system.

“Strange,” mused a Number Six model while waiting for her order. “We seek to destroy the humans, yet in replacing them, we strive to emulate their behavior, down to their addiction to caffeine. Perhaps we are not so — hey! Hey! What the frak is this? I ordered hazelnut!”

Full Article here

Be sure to poke around the site a bit. Hilarious articles regarding Stargate, Studio 60, Veronica Mars, American Idol, Prison Break and a whole lot more...

Starbuck: The best character on Television

The Chicago Tribune has been running a contest on who has been the best character on television. It's recently come down to Jack Bauer and Kara Thrace. And the winner? Kara Thrace!

REDEYE'S CHARACTER WARS

UPDATE: Come back later for a personal thank you from Katee Sackhoff, aka Capt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace.
In the end, it wasn’t even close.
Capt. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace of “Battlestar Galactica” routed Jack Bauer of “24” to win the title match of RedEye’s “Best Character on TV” tournament.
The final tally: Starbuck finished with 3061 votes while Bauer brought in 777 votes.
To everybody who spent part of their days and nights here over the past three weeks, everybody at RedEye thanks you.
But the biggest thanks go to all the wonderful actors and actresses who have created such tremendous characters and who have brought so many people so much entertainment.
Until next year’s tournament…
Cheers,
RedEye

Season Finale Reactions

I'm going to open the floor up to everyone who reads this - what did you think of Crossroads Part 2, as the season finale for Season 3?

My own reaction is a little mixed. I really enjoyed the episode, although I felt that it probably could have been split into two parts. There was a lot in there. I don't think that there would have been any tears shed if one of the more standalonish episodes was cut and replaced with one of these arch-y ones.
That being said, there was a lot of buildup here, with the trial, and I felt that they've really carried it on well with the season, ever since they first captured Baltar, and the entire mystery with the final five Cylons. I guess we now have the Final One, who will hopefully be revealed next season at some point.
I was completely geeking out about the use of All Along the Watchtower. It's one of my favorite songs, and this cover of it has better be on the Season 3 soundtrack. The lyrics being used as the dialog was also paticularly well done.
And we finally see Earth. And apparently Starbuck's wracked up a number of frequent flyer miles to get there and back. Man, I can't believe that we have a nine month wait for the next season.
So, what did you think?

Tricia Helfer on Them

TV Guide is reporting that Galactica star Tricia Helfer (Six), has been cast in another David Eick show, Them, a fox show about a group of alien sleeper cell agents. Here's the article:

TVGuide.com Exclusive! BSG's Six Is One of Them

TVGuide.com has learned exclusively that Tricia Helfer has joined the cast of Them, the Fox pilot being shepherded by her Battlestar Galactica boss, David Eick, and concerning sleeper cells of extraterrestrial terrorists. Previously announced to the cast are James D'Arcy, Rachel Nichols, Ben Feldman and Reg Rogers. Before you start speccing on what this means for BSG's Six, TVGuide.com has it on good authority that if Them gets picked up in May, it's entirely possible that Helfer — who will go dark (meaning brunette) for this new gig, which she starts shooting Monday — could do double duty, seeing as how, you know, Eick is a big cheese at both shows. Out-of-this-world hottie Helfer on two TV series? That I'm not sure the human race could handle.