BSG

[escritoireazul]

Okay, so, if you have someone who knows nothing about BSG or anything it might or might not be related to, show-wise, I mean absolutely nothing known at all, what would you tell them to interest them in the show? And, once their interest was caught, what advice would you give them about it? Is there background this person should know? Something beyond the episodes themselves the person should watch? How many seasons exist?

Theoretically, this person could be going to check and see if BSG is available from Netflix right about now. Theoretically.

Comments

[unanon.livejournal.com]

*blinks*

Okay...theoretically. :p

Well, first I'd ask if that person has ever seen the original Battlestar Galactica (from the late seventies/early eighties) and whether or not that person has any attachment to the delicious piece of sci-fi cheeze that it was. For the purposes of the remainder of this comment, I'm assuming they have NOT. :p

Start with what is called the "miniseries." You might not have to get it separately from the beginning of season one as the US edition DVD release included the miniseries. But make sure when you check out the DVD description. The title of the first episode is something like "33" so make sure the miniseries is seen before that.

A lot of what personally attracted me to the show is the interesting balance between military and civilian control of the government. You have a v.small band of survivors and it's interesting to watch how the power structure plays.

A lot of the characters are military, so some of the dynamics work as such.

There is also a lot of religious stuff going on. The humans are polytheistic and their Cylon aggressors believe themselves to be monotheistic. Some of that is good and mind-bendy.

Having cylons in human form creates a TON of unease and distrust. You never know who is a human model enemy. Cylon sleeper agents are often not self-aware as cylons. In season 2 especially it's become rather interesting (for me) in terms of what constitutes identity.

And of course, the recent season 2 finale made me fall in love with the show all over again. The season had some stinkers, but the finale made up for it like woah.

Thus far there is one miniseries (to launch the show) and two complete seasons. The third season will begin in October.

Also, *clears throat* I'd be willing to send someone er...copies of S1 episodes that are viewable on certain DVD players and/or on computer if someone doesn't want to wait for Netflix. :D They were sent to me by a friend and I'm hoping to get the legitimate first season for my birthday here shortly so I probably wouldn't need them back.

Ask questions! Please!

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

Bahahahaha. Yes, my theoretically was so subtle, I know.

However, no more subtle now.

Yeah, I never saw the original either, though I am getting more and more tempted by all of it. I have both the miniseries and the first disk of season one coming from Netflix for this weekend, and I'm really excited about it.

Thank you for all this information, it really helped and has made me even more eager to watch the show. I'm not sure what questions to ask, because part of me thinks I should wait and see it for myself when I get the discs.

Did you ever see Cleopatra 2525? The description of the Cylon and human interaction reminds me A LOT of it.

Though I do have them coming from Netflix, I would still be happy to have the computer versions until I can buy the actual seasons, because I already have the idea I will love it.

[unanon.livejournal.com]

I have to confess, I've never seen Cleopatra 2525, thought I know it has Gina Torres, right?

If you send your address to unanon@ yahoo.com I can send you those discs. As far as I suspect I won't need them back...unless my very heavy-handed birthday hints come to naught. *sigh*

[scribbulus-ink.livejournal.com]

To interest them in the show on a purely shallow level, I might point at my icon. ;)

Seriously, though - the 2003 miniseries, all of season 1 and the first half of season 2 are out on DVD and available on Netflix; season 2 just finished airing a couple of weeks ago, so it isn't out on DVD yet, and we won't be seeing season 3 until October, so there's plenty of time to catch up. I'd advise starting with the miniseries to test the waters. I'd say anyone who likes complexity on the subjects of war, religion, politics, etc would enjoy it. It tackles some tough issues, it's good science fiction, and the character dynamics are intriguing, plus Captain Apollo is hot and buff and frequently bares his gorgeous arms, which is a Good Thing. It's not an easy show to watch; it's very suspenseful and angsty, and it really doesn't pull any punches, but it's good.

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

Well, on a purely shallow level, that is a good argument. I have also heard there are beautiful women, which means the shallow is fully covered here.

Oooh, I like that I can catch up before season three starts.

It sounds like it will be a difficult show to multitask to, because I normally try to do other work while I watch, but interesting enough I probably won't mind. Thank you for all your information, I'm excited about it. I have the miniseries and the first disc coming for this weekend.

[scribbulus-ink.livejournal.com]

There are indeed gorgeous (http://www.gateworld.net/galactica/characters/six.shtml) women (http://www.gateworld.net/galactica/characters/roslin.shtml), and they're wonderfully strong. I'd say it's definitely not a show to multi-task to, but nah, I doubt you'll mind. There will be too much going on for you to want to look away. *G* I hope you enjoy it!

[fox1013.livejournal.com]

...I would write BSC/BSG fic.


*coughs*

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, and theoretically this could be all your fault. If this was a blame thing, which it isn't, because it has become exciting.

Though you could write more of the fic to keep the temptation there, which would be very, very good.

Look at that subtle. Hee.

[jennyo.livejournal.com]

This is what I would say:

The show is, um, a lot more interesting when you go on the theory that the woman from Dances With Wolves/Donnie Darko/Independence Day is playing everyone for her own purposes, and that Baltar gets more interesting as it goes along, hand to God.

But really, that the woman from Donnie Darko is playing them all for fools, both Cylon and Colonial, and that in the second half of S2, all of the girls gay up like whoa.

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

I already look forward to the gaying up of season two. Plus I love it when women play other people for fools, so that will probably be my favorite theory. Thank you.

[motoredxheart.livejournal.com]

what would you tell them to interest them in the show?
what would happen if the world was destroyed by the robots humans created? and um, i would say how it's like firefly/star trek/and all other cool scifi shows put together.
what advice would you give them about it?
give it a chance. there is a lot of character development in the first few episodes that's kinda boring, but it's really worth it in the end.
Is there background this person should know?
watch the mini series before anything else. it will explain everything.
How many seasons exist?
2 and the miniseries. but only the first half of season 2 is out right now.

netflix has it. that's how i started watching. though what sucks is the last disc of season one only has one episode, so it's kind of a hassle to rent just one episode you know?
anyway, i hope you this person likes it. it's a terrific show.

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

This description of it, and things other people have said, reminds me a lot of Cleopatra 2525, which I loved despite the cheesiness of it, so I get more and more excited about BSG.

Thanks for the warning, I'll go ahead and push through the first few episodes even if I think they're a little slow. I have the miniseries and the first disc coming for this weekend, so that should be wonderful.

Yeah, I saw that in Netflix, and for some reason my queue has them number disc 1, disc 2, disc 3 and then disc 5, which makes no sense to me because I couldn't seem to find a disc 4--weird.