Author Topic: Battlestar Galactica: Soap Opera? (Read 6362 times)

RayB · « **on:** February 27, 2006, 05:17:11 pm »

So what do you think? Is BSG really that great of a sci-fi show? Cuz after the last couple episodes I'm thinking it's a little too touchy-feely.

Buddabing · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2006, 05:40:00 pm »

I think it's a great show. Don't know about "The Best" since I don't watch any others.

You can't have epic space battles every episode, it busts the budget.

My main problem with the show is that they they keep saying on the credits that the Cylons "have a plan". They don't like they are doing much planning to me.

And why are they not unveiling what the other models of Cylons are? Do they not want to pay the actors, or do they want to save the unveiling for cliffhangers/season ending shows a la Boomer?

Let's see, we've got Sharon (#8), Baltar's blonde (#6), the white guy, the black guy, and the reporter. That leaves seven models. Do the producers think the show will run that long?

And the yin-yang with the "crazy" #6 having an invisible Baltar talk to her just like Baltar's #6 talks to him was kind of ridiculous.

menace · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2006, 05:50:23 pm »

I'm digging it--i hesitate to say best but i'm liking the show--Although yes it does have very soap opera elements but then again so did babylon 5 and i thought that show was brilliant. I see the #6/baltar symetry as them being a personification of their conscience/ego. Blatar is inheritantly a weak or bad person so his alter ego is always telling him how to connive, whereas #6 has somewhat of a conscience and so baltar represents her "better" half. What they are doing with starbuck is a mystery to me--she started strong and is now just a self destructive hosebag--we'll see how that plays out I guess. My number 1 hope for this show ios that they have thought it through so the storylines eventually go somewhere and not just have a show where stuff happens randomly for no rhyme or reason...

nostrebor · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2006, 05:55:44 pm »

This season is definitely weaker than the last. It is still our favorite TV experience of the week, but we need to blow up more stuff and get starbuck back in the saddle.

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2006, 06:58:45 pm »

Its definately the best Scifi show currently airing new episodes, but it doesn't have a lot of competition. Also, first season was better then the current season (2nd season).

Heres my rankings of current scifi shows:
1. Battlestar Galactica
2. Surface (although the season just ended)
3. Stargate
4. Stargate Atlantis
5. Invasion

I don't think think there are any other scifi shows airing new episodes, well there were 1 or 2 more at the begining of the season, but they sucked so bad they only aired a couple episodes.

jbox · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2006, 09:38:13 pm »

Quote from: Buddabing on February 27, 2006, 05:40:00 pm

You can't have epic space battles every episode, it busts the budget.

Actually, the main problem is that the show becomes too one-dimensional. Big shoot-em-ups must surely be approaching the point where they are cheaper to render than all that hiring actors and set crap sooner or later. After all, they've already built all the CAD models already, so they just have to do the choreography.

Quote

My main problem with the show is that they they keep saying on the credits that the Cylons "have a plan". They don't like they are doing much planning to me.

Yep, sorry to disappoint you as well then.

GreenKnight37 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2006, 11:36:22 pm »

Can I Get a HELL YEAH for Farscape!

Sci-Fi breaks the 5 year contract, frells over the show, then has the audacity to bring Ben Browder and Claudia Black to Stargate. Ugh...the network is very very annoying.

And Invisible Man also rocked.

Daniel270 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2006, 11:43:34 pm »

I pretty much voted "I don't watch it"

because.... I don't watch it

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2006, 11:55:35 pm »

Quote from: GreenKnight37 on February 27, 2006, 11:36:22 pm

Can I Get a HELL YEAH for Farscape!

HELL YEAH! ya, farscape is probably the best scifi show ever, IMO at least. It did suck when they cancelled the 5th season, but at least they tied pretty much everything up with the miniseries.

Dermbrian · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2006, 01:26:12 am »

OK, I voted "Best Sci-Fi Show Ever".

Compare the acting and drama on BSG to "Lost", which won the 'Best Drama' Emmy. Compare the soundtrack and sound in general to anything series on TV. There's definitely a soap opera going on, but the visuals and the morality story aspect of the individual episodes all contribute to a pretty gripping drama. To me, the space scenes are groundbreaking in the way those of 2001 A Space Odyssey were groundbreaking....a real leap forward from the norm.

Runners up:
Time Tunnel (before the typical Irwin Allen production self-disintegration)
The Questor Tapes - A Gene Roddenberry pilot that wasn't picked up
Genesis II - Another pilot not picked up

Brian

CCM · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2006, 11:21:18 am »

Quote from: Buddabing on February 27, 2006, 05:40:00 pm

Let's see, we've got Sharon (#8), Baltar's blonde (#6), the white guy, the black guy, and the reporter. That leaves seven models. Do the producers think the show will run that long?

There are actually 2 'white guy' cylons... Aaron Doral, he was the public relations guy and Leobon Conoy, he was the one they found at the munitions depot. Also, we don't know yet if they are counting the toasters as a model, and also the cylon raiders are cylons themselves, so they may be another model.

I think the superb storylines, acting, editing, sound, etc.. make Battlestar not only one of the best sci-fi shows of all time, but also one of, if not the best, show on tv today.

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2006, 11:25:17 am »

I reckon Billy was a cylon too. It wouldn't surprise me if he makes an appearance during the finale.

jbox · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2006, 12:25:35 pm »

The acting is good, the writing is good, but the arc is really starting to smell as though it is just being made up from week to week.

Having said that, I will happily give it another vote if we get a scene where two blonde models are downloaded concurrently into a super-size jello vat...

Dartful Dodger · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2006, 01:08:14 pm »

The female cylon is pregnant. That's a real original idea. I wonder if the baby is going to be born with a computer virus that'll kill off the cylons. I'm at the edge of my seat...

Farscape is just a modern Blake's 7, in fact they are more similar than Battle Star Galactica and Battle Star Galactica.

Havok · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2006, 02:07:53 pm »

I like Battlestar Galactica. They don't seem to have a plan, though.

Farscape was good in the beginning, but got more whack the further it ran. I finally stopped watching after the third season.

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2006, 02:09:43 pm »

Quote from: Dartful Dodger on February 28, 2006, 01:08:14 pm

The female cylon is pregnant. That's a real original idea. I wonder if the baby is going to be born with a computer virus that'll kill off the cylons. I'm at the edge of my seat...

I guess you didn't see last weeks episode then?

Dartful Dodger · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2006, 02:18:36 pm »

Quote from: JoyMonkey on February 28, 2006, 02:09:43 pm

Quote from: Dartful Dodger on February 28, 2006, 01:08:14 pm
The female cylon is pregnant. That's a real original idea. I wonder if the baby is going to be born with a computer virus that'll kill off the cylons. I'm at the edge of my seat...

I guess you didn't see last weeks episode then?

I saw the starter mini series. That's all I needed to see.

A woman I work with is a big fan of the new series and loves to talk about it.

It's better for me to listening to her 4 minute version of the show than waist an hour.

Grasshopper · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2006, 02:44:45 pm »

Quote from: Dartful Dodger on February 28, 2006, 01:08:14 pm

The female cylon is pregnant. That's a real original idea. I wonder if the baby is going to be born with a computer virus that'll kill off the cylons. I'm at the edge of my seat...

Farscape is just a modern Blake's 7, in fact they are more similar than Battle Star Galactica and Battle Star Galactica.

Really? I don't see any similarity at all between Blakes 7 and Farscape.

I've always been a big Blakes 7 fan but I find Farscape utterly baffling.

Stingray · « **Reply #18 on:** March 01, 2006, 04:17:24 pm »

Best sci-fi show currently on TV. One of the top five or so ever. You can't have good sci-fi without a lot of character development. Call that soap opera if you like. This show kicks ass. It's the very first Sci-Fi Channel original production that I consider to be worth watching.I just could not get into Farscape or Stargate, despite the rave reviews they get.

-S

fredster · « **Reply #19 on:** March 02, 2006, 12:42:46 pm »

I agree, it's really good. They really screwed that in the 70's. That second season shouldn't have been made.

But this one is great. Hot chicks in droves. Blasters ready. Combat action. Robots (really cool robots), Gratuitous sex sequences, etc.

It has action from all sides.It's fraging great.

rackoon · « **Reply #20 on:** March 02, 2006, 09:46:31 pm »

Let me state first that folks that don't like sci-fi stuff lack imagination and therefor are downgraded as in worth to society. Aristotle and Copernicus would have watched star trek so go ahead and call me a dork.

Battle star is a bit like a soap opera yet stargate and stargate Atlantis ant bad. Butt let me remind you that you could be watching lost, or savvier..... or don't get me started.

Its time for the Star Trek franchise to put out the next big title.

RayB · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2006, 04:28:02 pm »

Quote from: rackoon on March 02, 2006, 09:46:31 pm

Its time for the Star Trek franchise to put out the next big title.

How about Star Trek: Borg the Reality Show.
Every episode is nothing but death, destruction and assimilation, but you get to see behind the scenes, up close and personal with the Borg. It would be Star Trek for the lowest common denominator (exclusively on Fox of course!)

Dartful Dodger · « **Reply #22 on:** March 03, 2006, 05:09:55 pm »

Quote from: rackoon on March 02, 2006, 09:46:31 pm

Aristotle and Copernicus would have watched star trek so go ahead and call me a dork.

Aristotle and Copernicus would not have watched Star Trek, because they weren't dorks.

Dork.

Dartful Dodger · « **Reply #23 on:** March 08, 2006, 04:24:08 pm »

I knew I wasn't going crazy(er).

MYX · « **Reply #24 on:** March 08, 2006, 05:11:59 pm »

Frak yeah, it is the best sci fi show on tv right now. I like the older SG1 stuff, but I am not as fond of the Atlantis, but it is growing slowing on me. BSG reminds me of a gritty Deep Space 9 and Babylon 5 combined. Bab 5 was great untill they killed the shadow, then it went down hill. I still have a set of bab 5 colectors cards somewhere. Can't believe I spent that much money on em'. Stupidity of youth I guess.

Video producer side of me speaking...
On BSG, it is shot well. The effects are done well, it is edited well. I also like the fact that the shooting looks like man on the street a lot of the time. Even in space, none of the video is ever steady. It adds for tension. Yes it does have a heck of a lot of soap drama, but then again, every Star Trek, Star Wars, Bab 5, and even SG1 & Atlantis have soapy drama so this is almost a non issue. Sci fi folk are saps, but are too cool to admit it. That soap is what gets Johny Thickglasses to go to every Star Trek convention. He wants to buy into that world.

SithMaster · « **Reply #25 on:** March 08, 2006, 06:42:45 pm »

Quote

Frak yeah

people should say frak more often but in puiblic.

they are making 2 star wars tv series-one animated another live action.
the animated is during the clone wars and the live action between 3 and 4.

bsg is good very good.

Dartful Dodger · « **Reply #26 on:** March 08, 2006, 07:08:57 pm »

A woman I work with uses the word frell all the time.

I don't know what move/tv show it's from, and I don't care.

people should say frell less often.

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #27 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:24:53 pm »

Quote from: Dartful Dodger on March 08, 2006, 07:08:57 pm

A woman I work with uses the word frell all the time.

I don't know what move/tv show it's from, and I don't care.

people should say frell less often.

lol. Its a farscape term. I generally try not to expose my geekiness in public and never use frak or frell

RayB · « **Reply #28 on:** March 09, 2006, 01:01:01 pm »

Man, that womps!

Stingray · « **Reply #29 on:** March 09, 2006, 03:31:36 pm »

Quote from: RayB on March 09, 2006, 01:01:01 pm

Man, that womps!

Go C.J.!

-S

MYX · « **Reply #30 on:** March 10, 2006, 10:56:51 pm »

anyone grok grok?

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #31 on:** March 11, 2006, 12:18:08 am »

Holy crap. I just watched the season finale and holy crap. They definately know how to do a finale, I never would of guessed they would go the direction they did with the story.

nostrebor · « **Reply #32 on:** March 11, 2006, 05:30:55 pm »

Everybody looked so fat and happy

I was starting to get pissed at the outcome until the Cylons jumped in... I guess they didn't turn over that new leaf after all.

markrvp · « **Reply #33 on:** March 12, 2006, 12:11:34 pm »

What did I miss. The last I saw the Cylon was having a baby, and then I tune in Friday and Baltar is president and they are all on a planet somewhere living in shanties.

I've only seen a couple of episodes, but it doesn't add up.

Oh, and WTF is up with no new episodes until August?

JODY · « **Reply #34 on:** March 12, 2006, 12:44:24 pm »

Quote from: markrvp on March 12, 2006, 12:11:34 pm

What did I miss. The last I saw the Cylon was having a baby, and then I tune in Friday and Baltar is president and they are all on a planet somewhere living in shanties.

I've only seen a couple of episodes, but it doesn't add up.

Oh, and WTF is up with no new episodes until August?

You've missed so much packed into the last few episodes...

The Cylon baby was born...it's death was staged...it is being raised by humans in the fleet...mother and father think it is dead.

Yes, Baltar is President...he overcame a rigged election...humans settled a newly found planet hidden in a nebula...a Cylon #6 agent set off a nuke obtained from Baltar which the Cylon's picked up to find the hidden planet...human's remaining on ships fled as they were in no shape to fight after sitting around for 2 years...humans on planet surrendered...

No new shows for awhile as the last one was the season finale...

grumble · « **Reply #35 on:** March 13, 2006, 01:24:18 am »

I love the suggestion that the war hero instances of Sharon and Caprica-6 did influence the cylons and show them the error of their ways. Now instead of destroying humanity they want to conquer it. Plus I've really enjoyed Dean Stockwell and Lucy Lawless's performances this season.

I'm a big fan of Ronald Moore's work on Star Trek as well. He wrote most of my favorite DS9 episodes!

jbox · « **Reply #36 on:** March 13, 2006, 04:56:14 am »

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to give this one the thumbs down I'm afraid. Jumping huge sections of time is a crutch. To only give twenty minutes to the task of showing us all the things that have happened in that year was lame. Personally I would have preferred it if they ended the first episode with the explosion, and then dedicated all of the final episode to showing us life on New Caprica.

RayB · « **Reply #37 on:** March 13, 2006, 10:01:22 am »

I missed it again!

I frakkin' missed it!

Stingray · « **Reply #38 on:** March 13, 2006, 01:51:44 pm »

Quote from: RayB on March 13, 2006, 10:01:22 am

I missed it again! I frakkin' missed it!

Ray, it will be rebroadcast tonight at 10 central.

-S

CCM · « **Reply #39 on:** March 14, 2006, 09:41:12 am »

Quote from: jbox on March 13, 2006, 04:56:14 am

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to give this one the thumbs down I'm afraid. Jumping huge sections of time is a crutch. To only give twenty minutes to the task of showing us all the things that have happened in that year was lame. Personally I would have preferred it if they ended the first episode with the explosion, and then dedicated all of the final episode to showing us life on New Caprica.

I like the way they ended it. It leaves so many unanswered questions as to what happened in that year on 'New Caprica'. It gives you a lot to think about until season 3 starts.

I bet they start off next season with flashbacks that will fill in the gaps. IT basiclally give the writers more freedoom for next season, they can move on with the cylon occupation, or they can fill in the gaps.


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Author Topic: Battlestar Galactica: Soap Opera? (Read 6362 times)