Why is Galactica so much fun to watch over & over??

Apolloisall · September 22nd, 2011, 03:36 PM

I mean, it *should* be depressing, right? Billions die, our heroes on the run, lost loved ones, etc...

Is it that the original BSG stood for triumph over (severe) adversity?
That the characters were ones of honour & strong will?
That they retained their senses of humour, as REAL people do, even after tsunamis & wars like in the real life here & now?
Or is it the amazing Viper design?

Thoughts?

BST · September 22nd, 2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apolloisall

The NEW BSG got it right, didn't they? Dark, depressing, endlessly full of sadness & new fracked-up discoveries of internal threats & a road to a less-than-hoped-for destination?

Our Rules

See Rule #1.

Apolloisall · September 22nd, 2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BST

Our Rules

See Rule #1.

Edited, sorry.

Senmut · September 22nd, 2011, 10:44 PM

It is the mix. BSG is more than the sum of it's parts.

Charybdis · September 23rd, 2011, 06:53 AM

All those things you have in your post...it was just a great show with cool special effects, great story and wonderful characters. Shows today just don't have that depth to them and do not have likeable people.

JLHurley · September 23rd, 2011, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senmut

It is the mix. BSG is more than the sum of it's parts.

Too true (assuming you're speaking of the classic series). You can find flaws throughout any given episode but add it all up and it's an incredible series. And I've commented to friends over the years that considering all BG had against it (ABC tinkering, especially) it's amazing it turned out as well as it did.

BST · September 23rd, 2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apolloisall

Edited, sorry.

Tis ok. You just don't want to have Sheriff Dawg comin' after you. His hangman noose is the stuff of legend.

Apolloisall · September 23rd, 2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charybdis

Shows today just don't have that depth to them and do not have likeable people.

CHUCK is the only show on right now that I really like, and it's mainly because of the c h a r a c t e r s.
Mostly today's TV is all about loss of faith, making mistakes, losing your moral compass, and (hopefully, at least) redemption.
Oh, and 'reality' shows.

Apolloisall · September 23rd, 2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLHurley

considering all BG had against it (ABC tinkering, especially) it's amazing it turned out as well as it did.

It was an anomaly. I like anomalies.

Apolloisall · September 23rd, 2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BST

His hangman noose is the stuff of legend.

BST · September 23rd, 2011, 11:44 AM

Yup, that looks like the one!

Dawg · September 23rd, 2011, 12:59 PM

Grrrr.

I am
Dawg

Benedict · September 23rd, 2011, 03:46 PM

I find the characters/cast make it so great to watch now. The usual collection of stories and effects make it great to see over and over, but the cast...Well, maybe being older then when I first watched the series I can have greater appreciation for the actors and their characters.

Senmut · September 24th, 2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLHurley

Too true (assuming you're speaking of the classic series). You can find flaws throughout any given episode but add it all up and it's an incredible series. And I've commented to friends over the years that considering all BG had against it (ABC tinkering, especially) it's amazing it turned out as well as it did.

Yes, the Classic. The One and Only.

skippercollecto · September 27th, 2011, 04:24 AM

Sometimes I notice something new, that hadn't gotten my attention before, although I can't think of any examples off the top of my head.

Charybdis · September 27th, 2011, 07:43 AM

If you really want to experience the show, watch it slo-mo frame by frame and then look for any kinds of strange stuff or bloopers in the background!! Sometimes you see some interesting stuff back there that you never even noticed...

Apolloisall · September 27th, 2011, 03:40 PM

Only a FEW episodic SF space shows in TV history had that kind of love for the characters & material poured into it, the fights with the networks, and the ever-looming cancellation that made every second interesting, and I can count them on one hand:
Star Trek TOS
Battlestar Galactica TOS
Babylon 5
Firefly

IMHO, of course. Other shows like Space: 1999, UFO, Space: Above & Beyond, the Stargates, Farscape and the other Trek series are all great in their own way, but the above four really stand out to me as top shelf.

Opinions?

Jubal · September 28th, 2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apolloisall

...
Star Trek TOS
Battlestar Galactica TOS
Babylon 5
Firefly
...

Opinions?

Let's see...
Star Trek TOS - characters/moral lessons
Battlestar Galactica TOS - characters/effects/courage
Babylon 5 - good episodic story
Firefly - characters

I like this thread, and though I've been away on missions, I've felt this place gives me a bit of home in my heart when it comes to old BSG. This thread and place kinda helps me realize that yeh, there was a good thing in the ole BSG.

So why do I find the ole BSG to be so much fun? Well, I think they did a lot right and I really think that what what done right would be liked today. Take Firefly as a good example. That show had a similar chemistry of characters that I liked in BSG.

Both could be dark. Original BSG was dark, and did touch on issues in the show (Adama ready to give up as commander early on, Athena asking Apollo in the last episode if he had a deathwish...) but despite the darkness, the characters show courage to stay on top of the darkness.

They chase women, play cards, keep the moral up in a game of ball, and despite it all, keep civilization going.

The characters back each other, and in the end tackle problems in a way that is almost fun (like those times Apollo and Starbuck take on a basestar with a bit of radio deception.)

Why do I like the ole BSG? For the above reasons, a bit of inspiration of how to perserver, and to see the vipers, the warrior outfits, and the cylons. I mean the design people really outdid themselves didn't they?

And speaking of design, the whole Mayan/Egyptian thing really, strangely, made me believe that these really were my distant ancestors in space. Gave it a cool spiritual feel. And I loved the different culture look given to the whole thing because of that.

Apolloisall · September 29th, 2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jubal

and to see the vipers, the warrior outfits, and the cylons. I mean the design people really outdid themselves didn't they?

I feel like a kid in a candy shop (metaphorically/visually speaking) when I watch Galactica.

Benedict · September 29th, 2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jubal

Let's see...
Star Trek TOS - characters/moral lessons
Battlestar Galactica TOS - characters/effects/courage
Babylon 5 - good episodic story
Firefly - characters

I like this thread, and though I've been away on missions, I've felt this place gives me a bit of home in my heart when it comes to old BSG. This thread and place kinda helps me realize that yeh, there was a good thing in the ole BSG.

So why do I find the ole BSG to be so much fun? Well, I think they did a lot right and I really think that what what done right would be liked today. Take Firefly as a good example. That show had a similar chemistry of characters that I liked in BSG.

Both could be dark. Original BSG was dark, and did touch on issues in the show (Adama ready to give up as commander early on, Athena asking Apollo in the last episode if he had a deathwish...) but despite the darkness, the characters show courage to stay on top of the darkness.

They chase women, play cards, keep the moral up in a game of ball, and despite it all, keep civilization going.

The characters back each other, and in the end tackle problems in a way that is almost fun (like those times Apollo and Starbuck take on a basestar with a bit of radio deception.)

Why do I like the ole BSG? For the above reasons, a bit of inspiration of how to perserver, and to see the vipers, the warrior outfits, and the cylons. I mean the design people really outdid themselves didn't they?

And speaking of design, the whole Mayan/Egyptian thing really, strangely, made me believe that these really were my distant ancestors in space. Gave it a cool spiritual feel. And I loved the different culture look given to the whole thing because of that.

The mention of warrior uniforms immediately made me think of Athena and Serina.

It's the mythology that attracts me still to BSG78. Indeed, this 'what if life here began out there' and 'brothers of man fighting to survive...' Almost like the old trailer for Star Wars: "What if all this was happening...right now...?"

I never buy into the camp criticisms of the show or at least turn away from it. The special effects were good, the Galactica the best looking ship that there could be (the whole aircraft carrier nature of the thing too), the Beings of Light (always will love Edward Mulhare for Daniel)...

Everything.

Apolloisall · September 29th, 2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benedict

I never buy into the camp criticisms of the show or at least turn away from it.

What camp criticisms??? Who are these peeps? Why, I'll turbolaser 'em on sight!!

Bottom line: Great characters, great actors, great production design, great concept, great music, great FX (okay, so they, like Trek before them, had a staple of re-used shots into the series, but they were still GREAT).... all made for an unforgettable and peerlessly enjoyable experience.

Space Opera at its' finest.

Jubal · September 29th, 2011, 05:33 PM

About the campy part, again the series talks about a darker, cruel universe, but you have people who have their problems, but they rise above them.

Granted Boomer, Apollo, and Starbuck, (and the rest of the crew) seemed to get along ideally, but it was not without conflict and challenges.