Battlestar Galactica is the highest rated original series on the Sci-Fi channel and once of the most acclaimed shows on TV. The show has also become one of the most bootlegged shows on cable and has seen its ratings skewed due to late viewing from DVR and TiVO owners.
Galactica follows the new TV model (which may have been started by The Sopranos) of splitting a season up in to two parts instead of using reruns as filler. The second half of the season however will be airing on a new time, Sunday nights. With ten more episodes left in the season, BSG moves to a night where it will see less competition with other Sci-Fi shows.
The gritty science fiction show is known for its realism and it sometimes controversial subject matter. The show has put its characters in situations that often mirror real life. This season has seen a guerilla insurgency against the Cylons on New Caprica and suicide bombings as well as secret military tribunals of run by Captain Tigh. Never scared to tackle a tough subject or issue BSG is routinely hailed as one of the best shows on Television.
BSG also has managed to remain faithful to the original series in regards to the theme while deviating greatly with its darker tone. The show takes the best elements of the original series, such as the characters, much of the design aesthetics and the basic premise of humanity on its last stand. Where the new Galactica deviates is in the “soap opera in space” style of storytelling of the original. The new Cylons are significantly more developed in the current series and the character of Baltar is now much more believable. Many of the new characters have a generic similarity to their predecessors, but have had their race or gender altered. One nice piece of nostalgia from the original series is the inclusion of actor Richard Hatch as Tom Zarek. Hatch originally played the character Apollo (now played by Jamie Bamber)
The first half of the season runs from October 6th to December 15. The second half of the season will run from January to March of 2007.
Battlestar Galactica airs on Friday nights at 9pm on the Sci-Fi network.
