Battlestar GalacticaMini-Series
DVD Season 1
Brittany – TwoCents Reviewer
Brittany@thetwocents.com
The Cylons were created by man. These are the first words that appear on the television screen, and that ladies and gentlemen, is a hook. When the show first premiered; this re-imagined series, people eagerly awaited the answers to questions sparked by the advertisements. How have the Cylons adapted and evolved? What is this secret behind such an enemy? Why declare war against humanity?
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Battlestar Galactica
ReplyDeleteMini-Series
DVD Season 1
Brittany – TwoCents Reviewer
Brittany@thetwocents.com
The Cylons were created by man. These are the first words that appear on the television screen, and that ladies and gentlemen, is a hook. When the show first premiered; this re-imagined series, people eagerly awaited the answers to questions sparked by the advertisements. How have the Cylons adapted and evolved? What is this secret behind such an enemy? Why declare war against humanity?
Are you alive? The first line, spoken by what we now know to be Cylon model number Six, hand sealed and delivered the show’s entire package: the yearning to be more than a slave, more than something created then taken for granted. A machine’s want to be as alive as a human being and to know God. That is what this show is about, and at its heart, that is what this show will always be: The story between machine and human, humans and religion, Cylon and God. The formula doesn’t change from the mini-series to the final season. It only evolves into something bigger.
As we learn in the mini-series, the Cylons were created by man. They were toys for the rich, then started doing the menial jobs that humans believed they were too good for. When the Colonies went to war, instead of human soldiers, the Cylons were thrown into battle. The Cylons evolved and became fast and agile, gaining their own thought process. And then the day came when the Cylons revolted against their human creators. When the war was over and a peace treaty declared, the Cylons left for their own world. They weren’t heard from for over 40 years. That changes in the mini-series. The Cylons come back, far more advanced than before. Not only have the metal models evolved into sleek, stream-lined killing machines, there are 12 models who look and feel like humans, down to the blood. Some are sleeper agents and don’t know they’re Cylons yet, and some are well aware, like the Six model who is introduced first into the series, that their job is to eliminate the human race to make way for God’s chosen people – the perfectly created Cylons.
This is the first time in the show we’re introduced to characters that continue to drive the story forward through the series. William Adama, who at the start of the show is planning on retiring, now has to lead a fleet into, and out of war. He’s plagued by the loss of his youngest son, and the strained relationship between him and his oldest, Lee. When the Cylons attack he takes over command of the fleet when it is determined that his Battlestar, Galactica, is the only one remaining. Humanity, in fact, has been wiped out to just over 50,000 remaining humans after the Cylons nuke the 12 planets. Enter Laura Roslin, the Secretary of Education-cum-President. She urges Adama to retreat so that humanity might have a fighting chance at surviving such a Holocaust. Laura, at the start of the series has just found out that she has terminal breast cancer, and after the Cylons attack and kill the President and all of the Cabinet, she is sworn in as President. Her first call of duty is to make the difficult decision to leave behind those who cannot fend for themselves in order to protect a larger number. She aligns herself with Commander Adama and while there is an intense dislike between them, it’s clear that they realize the only way to guide humanity to safety is to work cohesively. Together, they search for their one and only possible refuge: Earth.
On the fighting side, we have Kara ‘Starbuck’ Thrace (a woman!) who is the best Colonial Viper pilot in the fleet. She’s dangerous, courageous, and doesn’t give a damn about authority. Lee ‘Apollo’ Adama, the son of the Commander, is a hot shot himself in the pilot’s seat but takes issue with his father for being a Commander first and a parental figure second. Saul Tigh, the Galactica’s XO is a drunken mess of a man, and Bill Adama’s oldest friend and confidant. Gaius Baltar, a brilliant scientist, was unwittingly carrying on a relationship with a Cylon agent and gave her access codes to the military defense system, which helped the Cylons start the war.
All of these characters and more come together to tell a story of hope, devastation, loss, betrayal and at times, love. Humanity has been annihilated, and yet Adama and Roslin inspire hope in their quest for the mythical planet Earth. But the Cylons, as best said in the final line of the series opener, are not going to stop in their quest to rule the Universe supreme.
“Don’t worry. We’ll find them.”
Let the show begin.
What were your initial responses to this show? Did the mini-series leave you wanting more, or leave you so confused you had to tune in again? Next week, I’ll be reviewing the episode ‘33’. Not only is it next chronologically, but it’s quite possibly the best episode of the season. Do you have an episode you’d like to see reviewed? What about one that should be avoided at all costs? Leave me your Two Cents in the comments, or send me an email!
"Don’t worry. We’ll find them." Best ending, loved it.
ReplyDeleteThe mini-series really left me wanting more, honestly. It was great and I thought it really explained things well.
I'm excited for you to review more! It will give me something to look forward to during the down time between episodes!
Good review!
ReplyDeleteWhen I watched the mini, I was SHOCKED to discover that Sharon was a Cylon. This was not long after the second season aired, and I knew a lot of what happened, but, somehow, I didn't know that.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! You should pass it along to anyone you're trying to convince to watch the show. :)