So I checked out the original...

Bug-Eyed Earl · June 9th, 2003, 01:23 AM

Well, the hubbub over the MSgot me to check out the original. The passion you guys have for it had me hoping that I had ignored a classic and had made a huge mistake in doing so.

Alas, I did not enjoy it all. Well, the blinking Cylon light and the woo-woo sound was pretty nifty.

I truly am sad. I enjoy scifi in general, and this held a lot of promise.

but on the other hand, that's the last you'l hear from me on the matter. I didn't come here to say "BSG sucks!"

I need a pat on the back. Can you recommend me some scifi that I might like, be it in visual or printed form?

Micheleh · June 9th, 2003, 03:24 PM

Yes- the original Battlestar Galactica.

If not, thanks for coming, but the poporn.....

Dawg · June 9th, 2003, 03:38 PM

Do I read correctly, that Bug-Eyed Earl did not like the original BSG? Do I read some snideliness in his request for sci-fi he might like?

If that is correct, I do know a science fiction series that is currently running, in fact, that he might enjoy.

It's on the Disney Channel.

It's called Rolly-Polly-Olly.

My six-month-old grandson thinks it's great.

(Of course, if that post was tongue was in cheek, he needs to work on his humor, and/or I need to find a better mood.)

I am
Dawg

BST · June 9th, 2003, 03:53 PM

Dawg,

I think your reading and comprehension skills are in perfect working order. I came to the same conclusion. At least he was honest enough to admit it and will move on.

What galls the h*ll out of me is that people are so ready to bash the Original by saying that it was no good, it was cliched, it was not realistic, or complain about "that 70's hair". Even though Bug Eyed Earl didn't specifically state those items, I'd like to see some examples as to what is considered "good science fiction" and then, compare and contrast that with what appeared on BSG-TOS.

I respect everyone's right to an opinion but, if someone is going to critique something, at least provide a bit of detail.

BST

Bug-Eyed Earl · June 17th, 2003, 12:54 AM

This just in:

It's growing on me.

The writing is poor in many places, but you really appreciate the actors when they make it work. Hatch, Benedict, Greene- well done!

And no, I'm not kidding. I am sincere. I think the show could have been really something if it had a chance. Of course, that will be debated, but I think my opinion is slowly swaying. It makes me long for the days when effects were done practically.

One odd nitpick: I wish there were more variety in the Cylons. That's probably dumb, but it would be cool if they had classes and ranks. But I think I might need to watch more episodes to be sure about that.

thomas7g · June 17th, 2003, 01:27 AM

BugEye- The show did have its rough spots. But there is a warm charismatic center to the show. It comes from the actors themselves who are wonderful people and characters that when you pass the "oh gosh golly gee wiz" naivte of the 70's are very engaging.

It helps to see the whole series to understand why people love it. You really have to at the very least see The Legendary Commander Cain Episodes (The Living Legend) and the final episode, Hand of God.

There one thing I like about this show that the new one lacks, is that you have a very charismatic extended "family", a tight group that cares deeply for each other like family. But the Universe is a place gone horribly wrong. The era of Mankind is at an end. Man himself is in danger of extinction. The enemy though clumbsy and not a danger one on one, is a cold unending flood of machiines. But we have fightiing against all odds, a small lonly tightnit group. They are brave, never petty, gallant, couragous and warm and caring.

I would love to have known these characters.

thomas7g · June 17th, 2003, 01:41 AM

regarding your nitpick- I think they were meant to all be alike. They are like a cold mechanical flood that drowns you out. To individualize them would be to give them more personality. I think the point was that the cylons were the antithesis of individuality. They abhorred the individual. To lose to the cylon would be to lose not only your way of life, but to lose the right to BE yourself.

They were the Borg decades before Star Trek the Next Generation aired.

LadyImmortal · June 17th, 2003, 08:31 AM

Thank you, Warrior.

I thought *I* was going to have to point that out.

Can't have that, oh no, lol! =)

Glad the show is growing on you Bug-Eyed!

Truly a classic.

I love my show.

--Rhonda

LucianG · June 17th, 2003, 09:43 AM

There were a variety of Cylon designs, but very little individuality that we saw in the limited number of episodes produced. Lucifer and Spectre (both IL series), along with the Imperious Leader (to a degree), were the major exceptions, but that may have been because they had the second, or in the case of the I-Leader, third, brains. At the base level, they were basically drones doing their job and little more, at least as far as we could tell. In this way, Thomas is correct in pointing out that they were similar to the Borg.

cobrastrikelead · June 17th, 2003, 11:43 AM

Do any two cmptrs or cars behave exactly alike? Seems like one can work real great, and an identical model can be a lemon or have its idiosynchosies. Perhaps somehow they would be linked to the IL-controller, but on some basic level be able to process information from their past experience.

repcisg · June 17th, 2003, 01:08 PM

The IL's demonstrated a degree of individuality, they seemed to have trouble telling each other the truth.

LucianG · June 17th, 2003, 04:16 PM

Competition between intelligent "equals" could lead to that when a prize like the position of Imperious Leader is a stake.

repcisg · June 17th, 2003, 04:38 PM

Is that story material I see?

LucianG · June 18th, 2003, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Is that story material I see?

I think there is ample opportunity for it in a continuation (no reimagining!) of BG. Look at Spectre's comments and misleading statements when relaying the actions on the planet. He sure didn't want to look bad. Also, if I recall correctly, the new Imperious Leader's comment about his predecessor after Carillon showed a great deal of contempt for the former's unsuccessful reign.

We've used something similar in our Battlestar Callisto storyline. An IL series robot in charge of one of the Baseships pursing the Callisto, which has been acting as rear guard for the fleet, has repeatedly schemed to gain advantage over other IL robots in the rite of succession. When he made a major mistake and knew that he would face removal and possible recyling (a major concern among Cylons, I'm sure), events were manipulated so that another Baseship and its IL commander were sacrificed, allowing blame to be shifted, after, of course, the data was tweaked appropriately in the correct places.

cobrastrikelead · June 19th, 2003, 11:00 AM

I wish that they would let some of you guys write a continuation. You seem to have some good ideas on the Cylons.

repcisg · June 19th, 2003, 11:25 AM

In deed, the best stories are told by those with a real passion for the matirial.

LucianG · June 20th, 2003, 10:27 AM

Unfortunately, in the case of the reimagined "Ron Moore's Battlestar Galactica," the only "passion" among the folks at SciFi and those in control of the production is for the money.

repcisg · June 20th, 2003, 03:23 PM