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| Battlestar Galactica 2003
An updated version of the late seventies, early eighties television series. It stays prodominantly faithful to the original series, in the number of characters and story line. The new Battlestar looks similar to the original series. Two characters Starbuck and Boomer have changed sex, that is the biggest disappointment about the series so far. What they should have done is kept Starbuck as a man and brought Lt. Athena ( Grace Park ) and Sheba ( Katee Sackhoff ) to more prominence. It starts off with the destruction of the twelves colonies of man, all of which are based on Zodiac star signs ( Aries, Aquarius, Cancer, Caprica, Gemon, Leonis, Libra, Picon, Sagitta, Scorpia, Taura and Virgon ). The only planet we get to see is Caprica and its main city, aptly named Caprica City. , I can speculate the reason why Caprica was chosen was because the creator is a Capricorn. A new thirteen part series has been commissioned in the States for the Sci-fi channel and will air in America in January 2005 with the rest of the following. Unlike the original series, it won't centre around a different planet every week. The Cylon will not appear in every episode, every third or forth episode has been mentioned that they will appear.
At a recent convention, I spoke to one of the cast members and asked him if there were going to be any alien races. His reply was that it was going to be soley Human and Cylon. In the original series, the first episodes featured bug-eyed creatures (the Carillon) so it they wouldn't be out of place...
They have been updating some of the old episodes, lets hope they do a good job to the 'Gun on Ice Planet' properly. I mean they actually go out on location and go to town on it rather than a feeble cardboard set. |
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| | Mike | April 25, 2007, 8:18 pm | Have you noticed the themes so far in the series:
- human civilisation pursued by a seemingly human civilisation.
- pantheistic religion versus monotheistic.
- an identifiable culture being demolished by a more alien culture.
- are the cylons human?
- if human, are the cylons an evolution of us?
- are the cylons our descendants?
Look at the stories of the Aztecs meeting the Spanish. The Spanish appeared human to them but everything else about them was different. They were eventually destroyed.
All in all, if you can accept the cylons as a branch of humanity then it becomes a matter of one group fighting another - not the extermination of humanity. The humanity of the cylons is probably the biggest question of the series.
Look at it from the cylon perspective. An early, small group persecuted by their masters and fleeing somewhere they won't be found. Belief in a single God known only to them. Almost sounds like Exodus! Using that perspective we've (Western civilisation at least) got more in common with that part of cylon culture than the human culture. After that each character will have their own storyline to consider.
Not dead sure what the thematic point of having cylons hidden among
the humans is? By that I mean is there a symbolic reason for them being hidden? Obviously the plot idea of seeding hidden cylons to spy or remain unnoticed till needed makes sense.
Also, did you notice that the humans came from 12 planets? Each loosely named after the constellations of the zodiac. And that there are 12 humanoid cylons? What's the significance of the number 12? Does
each new cylon form have a thematic point? Christianity has 12 disciples, Islam 12 Imams. Have the writers concluded something about that and decided to make a point based on that? Should we consider how things change when a new cylon appears? What does the new cylon type represent? Did you ask yourself why they developed 12 types of humanoid cylon? The creators of the humanoid cylons are utterly logical, they didn't choose the number 12 by accident. Just as the writers didn't choose 12 cylon types by accident.
We also notice there's a lot of talk of prophecy in these shows. The human prophecies seem to be panning out. However, they're just predictions of the future. Most of the driving forces of the show are coming from the cylons (i.e. they're instigating everything). Sounds like if anyone's God is winning out it's the cylons and, in Western history, monotheism drove out pantheism.
In all, I think the humans are on a journey, spiritually as well as literally. It started by being rooted purely in survival and has developed into the search for earth. The cylons forced them into this journey by destroying their home. Along the way they're being tested by the cylons. You could almost argue the cylon types represent the 12 disciples and each has a role to play in guiding the humans in their evolution. The implication there is that earth should be found.
Almost sounds like ... the twelve, that's TWELVE, tasks of Hercules! Those tasks were a penance for Hercules to redeem himself. Hercules had, in a fit of madness induced by Hera, killed his children and was paying for that crime. Hmmm, wonder if the humans in BSG killed their children or something ;)
An example to consider - what has been the point of Lucy Lawless's character? She appeared in the last series briefly as a reporter. Someone broadcasting news on the ship and, it turned out, to the cylon
empire. This series she's getting information / prophecies on the cylon / human child and has set about doing something about it. Seems like she's an investigator of sorts, disseminating information to her superiors. This series she's been responsible for grilling Baltar about earths location. A reporter and a torturer :) Once that information has been broadcast ... the next cylons appear and her role is complete?
Are the cylons on a journey too? I'd say yes, but I'm not sure what? Reconciliation with humanity? I suspect they'll unite with humanity in some way. Something to do with the child of Halo and your favourite.
So, why are they now going to find earth? I don't know? But I'd also ask why have 4 of the remaining 5 cylons chosen to reveal themselves now they've found earth? The writers have chosen this moment deliberately.
What is Baltars role in all of this? He's the only character to remain auspiciously neutral. And he's done more to move events along for both sides. He's by far the most interesting character!
Remember ... the cylons have a plan! As we're told at the start of each episode. And I'm betting it's not the extermination of humanity.
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