(S04E08) After two weeks of waiting, and through several other shows having their season finales, we're back for more frakking BSG, baby. And speaking of season finales, after watching Lost last night with all of its flashbacks and flash-forwards, it almost seemed as though we may be seeing a bit of flashbackery next week to explain what happened to Roslin and the others aboard the hijacked Base Star.
In case you're wondering what the title means, it's a latin legal term, of course.
(S04E01) Starbuck is dead. At least the Starbuck as we knew her before the events of 'Maelstrom'.
Now don't go thinking I've revealed some sort of spoiler pre-jump here. What I said is merely an observation of how Starbuck appears in this episode and how others perceive her now. It's also from something Katee Sackhoff was told by Ron Moore (as she mentioned in an interview). And can you really blame all parties involved for behaving quite a bit differently now, since then?
For some time now, at least some members of the press and other media outlets have had an early copy of the fourth season premiere of Battlestar Galactica. This season, however, Sci Fi has made everyone sign and adhere to an embargo agreement, making us keep our traps shut about anything at all to do with the screener until today.
I'm not going to reveal what I consider spoilers here, though I will warn you that I will discuss some key plot points below. Consider yourself warned.
Sci Fi Channel has corrected an error that die hard fans of Battlestar Galactica pointed out in the DVD art for the upcoming movie. Here's the deal: the TV movie is a stand-alone episode that documents what happened to the Battlestar Pegasus after the Cylon war broke out. Sci Fi held a contest for fans to choose the DVD art for the upcoming movie, called Razor. But the seal on the front of the winning DVD art has an error. It had the number "75," which is Galactica's number, rather than Pegasus' number "62." Fans pressed to have the seal changed and it will be correct when the DVD comes out on December 4th.
As great as the previoustwo set visits were, I think to most us us they were just appetizers for the main course. Hold on tight -- it's a doozy.
A tour of the sets of Battlestar Galactica
Back to Vancouver Film Studios, where once again we'd start with a panel discussion with members of the cast before embarking on the set tours (you can see the video of the panels here and here.) Before entering the flight deck where the panel was held, we walked through a huge open set that was mostly surrounded by a black curtain with what seemed like small holes in it meant to make it look like a star field. Behind that and exposed off to each side was an enormous green screen. In the center of this room was a large rotating platform, the floor and platform totally black. I should have asked, but I assume this is where they'd occasionally place a Viper for certain scenes.
(S03E20) First of all I want to thank everyone who attended the chat tonight during the episode. The room's still open for anyone who wants to hop in and discuss what went on (if I'm there, I go by 'TVSKeith'). I'm pretty sure there's plenty to talk about.
As I was watching the show tonight, and having read so many comments on this show here at TV Squad throughout the season, I realized there are going to be two main schools of thought here. One one side we'll have those who felt the trial was the most important piece of the episode, while the other will find it to be the haunting music, those who were driven by it and surprise ending. But of course if you've got any sense about you, you'll realize they're all important pieces to the puzzle.
I wanted to try something a little different tonight during the third season finale of Battlestar Galactica. Rather than do a liveblog, I thought I'd try a live chat during the show.
I'll have tonight's review post up at 10 PM Eastern time, though at first it will only have a link to a chat room where you can discuss the episode as it airs. Later in the night, I'll update the post with my review and possibly a few highlights from the chat (if I can pay attention to both at the same time!)
Hey, if this first chat's a success, we'll consider doing more of them. So make sure you drop on by!
(S03E19) Don't you sort of have a love-hate relationship with the final episodes of your favorite shows? There's the heightened anticipation of what's typically some of the best episodes of the season, while at the same time you get that disappointing feeling in your gut when you realize things are soon coming to an end. Two-part finales are cruel.
No early podcast this week, which is a good thing for purists who want to keep surprised as each episode airs.
(S03E18) Since Ron Moore's podcast came out a few days ago, I'll do a little bit of recap of what he said along with the review.
Something that Battlestar does well that has bothered me with some other shows is how, when we have a primary cast of characters amongst a much larger involved population, I'm not left wondering why more background cast doesn't come forward more often. There's a decent balance here. It makes sense why someone like Kara is so highly mourned and regarded, while some other pilots aren't so much. And when a background character comes forward, it's done at the right time and place where it fits.
(S03E17) There are shows that I watch where I can't stand when they rely too much on flashbacks to keep the story moving. Battlestar did this a bit too much in the previous two seasons, though they seem to be getting much smarter about it. This episode was one small example of that.
Now I'll say a bit of something that's spoilery if you haven't caught this episode. I'm a bit disappointed when the goings on outside the show - like casting and contracts - leads to strong hints to the fate of certain members of the cast. Then again, maybe only we nutcase fans of this show knew this information, while others are blissfully ignorant and surprised. Damn you!
(S03E14) Before I start on this episode, I want to update on something from the previous episode. When Baltar whispers something to Gaeta, Ron Moore says in his podcast that it was part of a sub-plot they had planned but seemingly scrapped, where Baltar was going to pin some killings of Saggitarons on Gaeta. Anyway, that seems to clear up what was going on there, but it still seems confusing if they're not following through with that sub-plot now.
As for the story this week, I have to say it was quite a snoozer. Look, I know not every episode has to advance things along plotwise significantly, but I'm just being honest here. I didn't much care for what was going on, and a big part of that might be that I find Helo to be one of the least interesting characters on the show.
(S03E12) I think I said this the last time I posted about this episode, but it felt very much like a season premiere or finale, even though it technically isn't a premiere. So many plot points are either semi-resolved or introduced, leaving me to thank the gods that this is just the beginning of another whole half-season of goodness.
Let's go over what I think are the main plot points of the episode, based on the quotes I teased you with last week...
Some enterprising World of Warcraft players have recreated the opening to Battlestar Galactica using graphics and scenes from the game in a machinima video that ain't half bad. Gnomes, Cylons ... what's not to love? Although it really makes me jones for the show to return to the airwaves that much faster. When is a network going to finally get the right idea and put on an entire machinima show? When Red vs. Blue comes to television, then I'll stop ranting. Until then, enjoy a little BSG in your WSG.
Apologies to those of you who have never played WoW, as this won't make much sense. Just embrace the Battlestar love and run with it.
(S03E04) Because I saw these first five episodes on DVD, I wasn't subject to spoilers of what was to come in the next episode. I really do feel for everyone who sat and watched the preview for this week, only to be disappointed to learn that Pegasus comes to the rescue. While, really, this was something that seemed pretty inevitable anyway, it was still a bummer to have it told to you ahead of time. And even then, the preview was referring to the decoy. But who the hell is it that decides what's good to show for a preview every week?
Forget everything I said about the flashback trickery of episodes past. This week's show makes up for
any issues I may have had before. An amazingly revealing episode with several twists I never saw coming. The
perspective we get from the Cylon end of the spectrum is one I had never considered, and I'm excited to see how it
plays out in the episodes to come, both in the finale next week and beyond.
For some time now, at least some members of the press and other media outlets have had an early copy of the fourth season premiere of Battlestar Galactica. This season, however, Sci Fi has made everyone sign and adhere to an embargo agreement, making us keep our traps shut about anything at all to do with the screener until today.
Sci Fi Channel has corrected an error that die hard fans of Battlestar Galactica pointed out in the DVD art for the upcoming movie. Here's the deal: the TV movie is a stand-alone episode that documents what happened to the Battlestar Pegasus after the Cylon war broke out. Sci Fi held a contest for fans to choose the DVD art for the upcoming movie, called Razor. But the seal on the front of the winning DVD art has an error. It had the number "75," which is Galactica's number, rather than Pegasus' number "62." Fans pressed to have the seal changed and it will be correct when the DVD comes out on December 4th.
I wanted to try something a little different tonight during the third season finale of Battlestar Galactica. Rather than do a liveblog, I thought I'd try a live chat during the show.
Forget everything I said about the flashback trickery of episodes past. This week's show makes up for
any issues I may have had before. An amazingly revealing episode with several twists I never saw coming. The
perspective we get from the Cylon end of the spectrum is one I had never considered, and I'm excited to see how it
plays out in the episodes to come, both in the finale next week and beyond.
Doctor Who panel - Comic-Con Report
NBC's Kings panel - Comic-Con Report
The Dharma Initiative wants you - VIDEO - Comic-Con Report
