It's Been Two Years...
Two years and I still haven't found any TV shows worthy of my interest. Not like BSG (Battlestar Galactica). Maybe my standards have been corrupted! The bar has been set so high that all other shows, even the decent ones, are being left behind!
It could also be due to the fact that I only watch BSG episodes instead of regular TV, though. Obsessive much?
Ha... I'm only joking. Or am I?!
Looking back, there are so many things that I miss about BSG. However, I'm not writing a novel, here, so I'll cut a few corners and get down to the meat.
7: Incredible Writing
There are too many shows nowadays that have the potential to be great, but the writing or directing just doesn't cut it. These two elements, working in unison, are the foundation for the entire show.
When the foundation isn't solid, the house crumbles! In the case of BSG, the foundation was a mixture of steel, diamond, and awesome; the writers had a passion for their story, and they wove legends and mythologies that soared above and beyond common storytelling. With this universe provided for them to work with, the directors and producers added the awe-inspiring visuals, the subtle flavors of ambiance and atmosphere, and impressive character realization. However, the characters couldn't have come into their own unless they were fully absorbed by the actors that took on their personas.
6: Gifted Actors
Incompetence was nowhere to be found on the set of BSG. Every actor dove deep into their role, meshing every fiber of their being with their characters. Their combined talents made the BSG universe real for the viewers, pulling them into the universe and keeping them there until the very last moments. Major kudos to Edward James Olmos (Adama is hands-down my favorite character) for giving 200 percent non-stop.
5: The Atmosphere
Throughout the entire series, the environment felt cold and harsh. There was a gritty, melancholy vibe that permeated every scene. Of course, in space, on a rusted, creaking mammoth of a vessel, this makes perfect sense.
The Battlestar Galactica couldn't have been a better setting for the series; everything, from the political intrigue down to pyramid ball, felt perfectly at home. The only contrast to this gloomy haven was the crew, and Six.
4: Caprica-Six
Here, of course, is the obligatory passage of nerd-lust. That red dress (in all of its forms) was enough to break a man's mind! Poor Baltar... alas; I knew him, Horatio.
It wasn't just Six's va-va-voom that made her attractive, though. Like all of the characters in BSG, Six was incredibly well-developed (no pun intended), and her story was just as intriguing as any of the others'. Her visions of Baltar, and thus the consequential questioning of Cylon beliefs and later romance, is only a fraction of her character's depth.
Everything about the characters in BSG pulled in the viewers, letting them live vicariously through their actions. To the fans, they were real.
3: Cylons
Oh, Cylons, how I fear thee.
I am constantly on the lookout for potential cyborg-people because of this show! When every other character is turning out to be a Cylon, you start to wonder about your neighbors. You know the ones: They talk about the exact same things, but live five houses away from each other. Creepersville.
2: Intense, Unrelenting Action
Piloting a Viper seems like it would be a really enjoyable experience. I'll give it credit for that. However, when you're cruising through space, mid battle, being attacked from all sides, odds are you're not relaxed.
The intense energy of the action in BSG was captured through the frantic camera shots and the dramatic score; it was as well-scripted and executed as the rest of the show, and therefore just as immersive. These scenes made you feel like you were part of the action.
What's more: Every piece of action had some kind of tie to the development of the show, or touched on philosophies that were intrinsic to the BSG universe.
1: The Score That Ties It All Together
Music is the icing on the cake for any production, no matter how small or mind-shatteringly large it is. With Battlestar Galactica's score, everything, from the most subtle character interactions to the most devastating explosions, materialized. Sure, the show would've been equally as impressive without music, but music brought it out of the television.
The score gave the show emotional color. It sealed and colored the void when the only presence was the vast emptiness of space. Thank you, Bear McCreary. I heart you.
I miss this show. I'm sure we all do. Though the show is gone forever, it doesn't have to live on in memory alone. With reruns, and the Battlestar Galactica Online video game,Trails/Movie,DVD.etc. there are least a few ways we can dive back into the Battlestar Galactica universe.So,use this!
By Matthew Kiddman
Two years and I still haven't found any TV shows worthy of my interest. Not like BSG (Battlestar Galactica). Maybe my standards have been corrupted! The bar has been set so high that all other shows, even the decent ones, are being left behind!
It could also be due to the fact that I only watch BSG episodes instead of regular TV, though. Obsessive much?
Ha... I'm only joking. Or am I?!
Looking back, there are so many things that I miss about BSG. However, I'm not writing a novel, here, so I'll cut a few corners and get down to the meat.
7: Incredible Writing
There are too many shows nowadays that have the potential to be great, but the writing or directing just doesn't cut it. These two elements, working in unison, are the foundation for the entire show.
When the foundation isn't solid, the house crumbles! In the case of BSG, the foundation was a mixture of steel, diamond, and awesome; the writers had a passion for their story, and they wove legends and mythologies that soared above and beyond common storytelling. With this universe provided for them to work with, the directors and producers added the awe-inspiring visuals, the subtle flavors of ambiance and atmosphere, and impressive character realization. However, the characters couldn't have come into their own unless they were fully absorbed by the actors that took on their personas.
6: Gifted Actors
Incompetence was nowhere to be found on the set of BSG. Every actor dove deep into their role, meshing every fiber of their being with their characters. Their combined talents made the BSG universe real for the viewers, pulling them into the universe and keeping them there until the very last moments. Major kudos to Edward James Olmos (Adama is hands-down my favorite character) for giving 200 percent non-stop.
5: The Atmosphere
Throughout the entire series, the environment felt cold and harsh. There was a gritty, melancholy vibe that permeated every scene. Of course, in space, on a rusted, creaking mammoth of a vessel, this makes perfect sense.
The Battlestar Galactica couldn't have been a better setting for the series; everything, from the political intrigue down to pyramid ball, felt perfectly at home. The only contrast to this gloomy haven was the crew, and Six.
4: Caprica-Six
Here, of course, is the obligatory passage of nerd-lust. That red dress (in all of its forms) was enough to break a man's mind! Poor Baltar... alas; I knew him, Horatio.
It wasn't just Six's va-va-voom that made her attractive, though. Like all of the characters in BSG, Six was incredibly well-developed (no pun intended), and her story was just as intriguing as any of the others'. Her visions of Baltar, and thus the consequential questioning of Cylon beliefs and later romance, is only a fraction of her character's depth.
Everything about the characters in BSG pulled in the viewers, letting them live vicariously through their actions. To the fans, they were real.
3: Cylons
Oh, Cylons, how I fear thee.
I am constantly on the lookout for potential cyborg-people because of this show! When every other character is turning out to be a Cylon, you start to wonder about your neighbors. You know the ones: They talk about the exact same things, but live five houses away from each other. Creepersville.
2: Intense, Unrelenting Action
Piloting a Viper seems like it would be a really enjoyable experience. I'll give it credit for that. However, when you're cruising through space, mid battle, being attacked from all sides, odds are you're not relaxed.
The intense energy of the action in BSG was captured through the frantic camera shots and the dramatic score; it was as well-scripted and executed as the rest of the show, and therefore just as immersive. These scenes made you feel like you were part of the action.
What's more: Every piece of action had some kind of tie to the development of the show, or touched on philosophies that were intrinsic to the BSG universe.
1: The Score That Ties It All Together
Music is the icing on the cake for any production, no matter how small or mind-shatteringly large it is. With Battlestar Galactica's score, everything, from the most subtle character interactions to the most devastating explosions, materialized. Sure, the show would've been equally as impressive without music, but music brought it out of the television.
The score gave the show emotional color. It sealed and colored the void when the only presence was the vast emptiness of space. Thank you, Bear McCreary. I heart you.
I miss this show. I'm sure we all do. Though the show is gone forever, it doesn't have to live on in memory alone. With reruns, and the Battlestar Galactica Online video game,Trails/Movie,DVD.etc. there are least a few ways we can dive back into the Battlestar Galactica universe.So,use this!
By Matthew Kiddman
