Battlestar Galactica, Season One (2004)

Our rating: 2 out of 5

Rated: TVMA

Reviewer: Charity Bishop

Fans of such shows universally agree that this is the finest sci-fi series ever aired. I was doubtful, considering there are many classics out there -- including the X-Files. But about two hours into this series I had to conclude that they are right.

Humanity has been responsible for some major mess-ups over the years, but has outdone themselves this time in creating a computer race known as the Cylons. Civil war, with the creations attempting to wipe out their creators, is the result, but for several generations a tempestuous peace has existed. Until now. On the eve of decommissioning the "ancient" military star ship Galactica, the Cylons assault the human population with a massive nuclear strike, wiping out billions of people and causing the handful of surviving ships to turn tail and run. Left to contend with the crisis and attempt to round up and protect the survivors is Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), a low-ranking government official who is forced to undertake the office of President in wartime. Her determination to aid the survival of the human race is matched by and often pitted against the military prowess of Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos), who is reluctant to admit defeat.

The assault was brought on through the manipulative wrangling of Number Six (Tricia Helfer), a Cylon in human form who managed to gain access to important security codes by becoming the lover of an important scientist, Dr. Gaius Baltar (James Callis). But in her absence, he cannot cease thinking about her... or is she actually among them? Then too are the intrigues and small battles of the sterling band of fighters on board Galactica: the admiral's courageous son, who is known as Apollo (Jamie Bamber) by his friends, the hard-hitting, temperamental tomboy Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff), and the smart, decisive Boomer (Grace Park), who is unaware of her true purpose. Numerous secondary characters fill in the gaps and compel a very intelligent story forward. The premise is different from anything the sci-fi community has seen before and a terrific cast makes it stellar. There is a level of maturity in both the storytelling and execution and it provides a host of memorable figures for the audience to rapidly become fond of. No one is perfect and everyone has a hint of a back story, some of it becoming better known as the season unfolds.

Many sci-fi shows suffer from being corny but this one isn't... it's very believable and dramatic in its undertones, that an entire civilization minus 50,000 people has been completely obliterated. None of the episodes are dull. The special effects and computer animation where needed is top notch and the cast, made up of international actors, is strong, with even the lesser roles bearing significance. I think in one respect what makes it so good is that it isn't afraid to explore tough issues. It asks questions about humanity and what makes us human while forcing its characters into impossibly difficult decisions. On several occasions choices must be made that may wind up killing innocent people for the good of the masses. The controversial decisions may shock you, so much so that it heavily imparts a message that freedom and survival never comes without a tremendous cost. This is not a world in which everyone survives and viewers should know that going in. Sometimes, transports blow up. People die. That is unfortunately what happens in wartime.

I wish I could say this show was appropriate for all ages but it's not. While the violence is not as graphic as one might expect, there is still a fair amount of it: explosions and air ship battles, with casualties; some fist fights end in broken limbs and bloodied faces. Anything majorly explicit happens off-screen, although it's implied that an implied attempted rape takes place in "Bastille Day." Several people are shot multiple times at close range; there is a reasonable amount of blood. In "Flesh and Bone," Starbuck is given the task of torturing a captured Cylon for information. Viewers are treated to scenes of him being brutally beaten about the face and nearly-drowned multiple times in a bucket of water. Language is mild and flairs up every once in awhile; the term "oh my gods" is used many times by most of the characters, religious and otherwise. "Frak" is commonly thrown around as a cable-television alternative to the other f-word, sometimes as an exclamation and at other times as a description of sex. The most problematic area is the sexual content, which is infrequent but when it does appear, explicit. Gaius and Number Six engage in intercourse in the first ten minutes of the series and several times in subsequent episodes (with moaning, partial nudity, and movement). Even more disconcerting is that no one can see her except him, meaning that at times he gets himself into compromising situations that bystanders find... curious (at one point, she puts her hand down his pants while he is having a conversation with the president; in another, Starbuck walks into his office and interrupts them). Other instances have them undressing and/or passionately kissing. Several times, we see Number Six's nude back and part of her breasts from behind or the side. These shenanigans are not limited to them -- Boomer and an associate make love in the woods; Starbuck is shown in a fairly graphic encounter with a man; in one episode, she also remembers a love affair (lots of kissing and implied nudity). One episode has an older, married woman making advances on a younger man; during a dinner party, under the table she causes him some discomfort by playing footie; she wraps her legs around her husband's neck. Six is often shown wearing skimpy outfits.

It's a shame, because it kind of taints the experience.. and lessens the overall impact. Those unfamiliar with the LDS church may not notice it, but much of the religion of these humans and the Cylons is straight out of Mormonism: from the concept of men being future gods, to having different gods, and one god to oversee them all. This god is never identified, just referenced through different characters. Some are believers, some are not. Six constantly attempts to convince Gaius to accept faith and fulfill his destiny. Roslin, meanwhile, becomes convinced that she is a leader spoken of in an ancient religious prophecy; she experiences dreams and visions of future events and symbolic things that will transpire in later years (or this could be the byproduct of her pain medication... we are never told). Characters pray, sometimes to graven images. There is a fair amount of smoking and drinking.

It's an interesting and mature premise with a lot going for it, but the sexual content and implications, particularly early on, make it rough going for more conservative viewers. If you do decide to indulge your sci-fi obsession, keep the remote control handy.