Is 'Battlestar Galactica' Lost in Space, Again?

TheEditor · 05-01-2008, 07:16 AM

Ambition. It's both the greatest strength and the greatest weakness of Battlestar Galactica. Ronald D. Moore and David Eick aren't just telling a sci-fi space story, they're addressing issues of society, philosophy, politics, religion, and everything else you can think of. As broad in its scope as HBO's The Wire, Battlestar Galactica has a lot going on.

That's not necessarily a good thing. Four episodes into season 4, the show has already splintered into no less than six major subplots: Laura Roslin's slow death, Lee Adama's newfound political life, Tigh, Tyrol and Tory coping with being Cylons, Baltar's spiritual awakening, the Demetrius crew's search for Earth and, oh yeah, there's a Cylon Civil War going on. Even for this show, that's a lot of stuff.

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wijnholdsk · 05-01-2008, 03:23 PM

I agree with the your opinion on the different stories, except the one about Apollo, I think this is an important story because, after Roslin dies, which I think wil take place in 4 to 8 episodes. There will be new elections and I think Apollo will be the next president. It will give the that story a nice completed circle (from Apollo in the first season as an advisor to the president, to becoming the president). It will give that part of the Galactica story a good finish.

TheEditor · 05-01-2008, 03:31 PM

Yeah, I'm torn because I do have faith that everything is going to come together, but it's being done in such a roundabout, haphazard, and scattered manner. But I agree that Lee is the obvious choice from a storytelling perspective to become the next president.

MeggK · 05-01-2008, 03:50 PM

I agree with you. I see the problem being that the more they try and push the religion thing the closer they get to straight up mocking people that do practice religion in their lives. I don't watch BSG to got to school on how the writers see people of religion. I watch BSG to see if Lee and Starbuck are ever going to get their acts together. To see if Adama and Rosline are going to finally tell each other their feelings. And of course to see if the cylons wipe everyone out. Finally, I watch BSG to see the good guys win! Who are the good guys, is very hard to tell right now, I hate that!

hikinggirl70 · 05-01-2008, 05:09 PM

With all the subplots, it is hard to figure out which is gong to be the main focus and what they can come back to. I for one want Starbuck to get her act together and either find earth or come back to the Galactica and forget about her mission. She is going a little crazy and her crew is already hating her. I would think Lee as the next president is a good idea and if that happens I wonder what Lee would do about Baltar and his cult.

Starbuck11 · 05-02-2008, 05:55 AM

I dont really care for apollo in the quorm what in really woreid about is the mutiny on the demetries. thats going to be bad for starbuck. evreyone knows roslin will die sometime soon. I think she has at least till the mid season breakoff. I aslo dont trust tory,anders,tigh or cheif. they will be bad news.

BuddyD · 05-02-2008, 07:50 AM

I'm not worried yet. We still have about 16 episodes to go, which is plenty of time to get everyone back together and give them lots of quality bonding time. And I actually think I am enjoying all the storylines equally, which is rare. Though I will say that my favorite scenes are the Adama/Roslin moments, so if he wants to read a book to her every week I'm all for it.

mikeshanley · 05-02-2008, 08:34 AM

Have any of you ever read Gravity's Rainbow? Ulysses? Tristram Shandy? Focault's Pendulum?

Some books take a thousand pages of build up for the whirlwind of climax to happen... And when you get there, it's always, always worth it. Which is more satisfying: a rollercoaster that takes you higher than the Statue of Liberty before letting you loose or the ones that offer a series of small ups and downs, never to reach the same great heights?

I think it's sad and unproductive for all of ye naysayers to bash Battlestar now, during the buildup. Ron Moore and Co could have chosen to put us all on the kiddie ride, with the tiny up and down every episode without true payoff... However, they didn't. Instead, they chose to give us a truly profound gift and all of you naysayers are spitting on it because you can't see what's under the wrapping.

I watch Battlestar because I watch Battlestar, much like someone who looks at the Mona Lisa looks at the Mona Lisa. Who are you to make demands of the ar

nwfierro · 05-02-2008, 10:18 AM

It's all equally important. I've invested in this show and I want to see how all the aspects get worked out. Every thing that is happening is necessary to tie off the loose ends of the show. If Baltar doesn't get religious than he wont fulfill the purpose Six gave him and that whole story arch is left undone. I'm sure that this movement is pivotal to the out come of the show. And there is no way the show is mocking religious people nor do I think the writers are trying to push their religious thought on to people. There's a bigger picture, and a larger message that they are trying to get across.
Think about how many things need to be adequately addressed within one season. Does anyone really expect the show to just focus on Lee and Starbucks relationship? Are there really good guys and bad guys anymore? I

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05-01-2008, 07:16 AM	#1
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	Ambition. It's both the greatest strength and the greatest weakness of Battlestar Galactica. Ronald D. Moore and David Eick aren't just telling a sci-fi space story, they're addressing issues of society, philosophy, politics, religion, and everything else you can think of. As broad in its scope as HBO's The Wire, Battlestar Galactica has a lot going on. That's not necessarily a good thing. Four episodes into season 4, the show has already splintered into no less than six major subplots: Laura Roslin's slow death, Lee Adama's newfound political life, Tigh, Tyrol and Tory coping with being Cylons, Baltar's spiritual awakening, the Demetrius crew's search for Earth and, oh yeah, there's a Cylon Civil War going on. Even for this show, that's a lot of stuff. To read the rest, click here.

05-01-2008, 03:23 PM	#2
wijnholdsk Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5	I agree with the your opinion on the different stories, except the one about Apollo, I think this is an important story because, after Roslin dies, which I think wil take place in 4 to 8 episodes. There will be new elections and I think Apollo will be the next president. It will give the that story a nice completed circle (from Apollo in the first season as an advisor to the president, to becoming the president). It will give that part of the Galactica story a good finish.

05-01-2008, 03:31 PM	#3
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	Yeah, I'm torn because I do have faith that everything is going to come together, but it's being done in such a roundabout, haphazard, and scattered manner. But I agree that Lee is the obvious choice from a storytelling perspective to become the next president.

05-01-2008, 03:50 PM	#4
MeggK Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 29	I agree with you. I see the problem being that the more they try and push the religion thing the closer they get to straight up mocking people that do practice religion in their lives. I don't watch BSG to got to school on how the writers see people of religion. I watch BSG to see if Lee and Starbuck are ever going to get their acts together. To see if Adama and Rosline are going to finally tell each other their feelings. And of course to see if the cylons wipe everyone out. Finally, I watch BSG to see the good guys win! Who are the good guys, is very hard to tell right now, I hate that!

05-01-2008, 05:09 PM	#5
hikinggirl70 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 546	With all the subplots, it is hard to figure out which is gong to be the main focus and what they can come back to. I for one want Starbuck to get her act together and either find earth or come back to the Galactica and forget about her mission. She is going a little crazy and her crew is already hating her. I would think Lee as the next president is a good idea and if that happens I wonder what Lee would do about Baltar and his cult.

05-02-2008, 05:55 AM	#6
Starbuck11 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 10	I dont really care for apollo in the quorm what in really woreid about is the mutiny on the demetries. thats going to be bad for starbuck. evreyone knows roslin will die sometime soon. I think she has at least till the mid season breakoff. I aslo dont trust tory,anders,tigh or cheif. they will be bad news.

05-02-2008, 07:50 AM	#7
BuddyD Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,005	I'm not worried yet. We still have about 16 episodes to go, which is plenty of time to get everyone back together and give them lots of quality bonding time. And I actually think I am enjoying all the storylines equally, which is rare. Though I will say that my favorite scenes are the Adama/Roslin moments, so if he wants to read a book to her every week I'm all for it.

05-02-2008, 08:34 AM	#8
mikeshanley Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	Have any of you ever read Gravity's Rainbow? Ulysses? Tristram Shandy? Focault's Pendulum? Some books take a thousand pages of build up for the whirlwind of climax to happen... And when you get there, it's always, always worth it. Which is more satisfying: a rollercoaster that takes you higher than the Statue of Liberty before letting you loose or the ones that offer a series of small ups and downs, never to reach the same great heights? I think it's sad and unproductive for all of ye naysayers to bash Battlestar now, during the buildup. Ron Moore and Co could have chosen to put us all on the kiddie ride, with the tiny up and down every episode without true payoff... However, they didn't. Instead, they chose to give us a truly profound gift and all of you naysayers are spitting on it because you can't see what's under the wrapping. I watch Battlestar because I watch Battlestar, much like someone who looks at the Mona Lisa looks at the Mona Lisa. Who are you to make demands of the ar

05-02-2008, 10:18 AM	#9
nwfierro Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4	It's all equally important. I've invested in this show and I want to see how all the aspects get worked out. Every thing that is happening is necessary to tie off the loose ends of the show. If Baltar doesn't get religious than he wont fulfill the purpose Six gave him and that whole story arch is left undone. I'm sure that this movement is pivotal to the out come of the show. And there is no way the show is mocking religious people nor do I think the writers are trying to push their religious thought on to people. There's a bigger picture, and a larger message that they are trying to get across. Think about how many things need to be adequately addressed within one season. Does anyone really expect the show to just focus on Lee and Starbucks relationship? Are there really good guys and bad guys anymore? I