It is forty years after the first war with the Cylons,
human-created robots who rebelled and tried to destroy humanity. It turns out
the Cylons have learned how to make androids that are almost (but not quite)
indistinguishable from humans. One, identified as number six, has seduced a
computer genius, Gaius Baltar, and gotten all of humanity's military secrets. The
Cylons attack, killing almost all of humanity, but one battlestar (like a
battleship), the Battlestar Galactica survives and goes into hiding with about
50,000 survivors so that it will keep humanity alive and be able to exact
revenge on the Cylon at a later date.
The story shows a lot of interaction and conflict between
the different humans. Father and son fight and reconcile, civilian and military
officials struggle for power and come to agreements, lovers kiss (but generally
little more onscreen) children worry about their parents and the reverse, etc
etc. Some of this ends up sloppy and melodramatic as if the writers are trying
to prove that the story is not a simple human verses evil-robot tale. There is
also some interaction between human and Cylon, which, frankly, I found more
interesting.
The plot flaws are many and pathetic. Missiles in outer
space leave contrails, passengers in outer space receive short wave radio
messages, a woman president is at times addressed as 'sir,' a fighter pilot
speaks of the wireless radio not working (as if there is any other kind in
outer space) and so on. Most ridiculous was number six having sex with Gaius
and her spine glowing red.
The beginning was boring, but it soon turns out that not all
is as it seems. The Cylons created twelve distinct humanoid models. Number six, Gaius' lover, apparently now
wants to help humanity, and appears in Gaius' mind, telling him what to do. But
is she sincere? We are shown another Cylon on the Battlestar, but this one
apparently doesn't know she's a Cylon though she could be activated at any
time. Plus we've seen a third. That leaves nine humanoid models, some of what
are almost certainly on the battlestar and are just waiting for the orders and
opportunity to cause mischief. The mystery is who are they?
The episodes pretty much stand on their own with little
carry-over once the basic premise has been set.
The series is fun and interesting, but, in too many places,
predictable, so I'm giving it only +++.
It will get your pulse up to a job.
No comments:
Post a Comment