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« February 2006 | Main | April 2006 »

Galactica Battlebuddies

Grant Gould gives us some more original and fabulous art for our favorite show!

I give you: Series 1 of the Galactica Battlebuddies!!  (No, they're not real toys.  Yes, I am a geek.)  :)

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I think the Baltar one looks bad ass... Number Six looks a bit too.... happy. Great stuff though!

Adama 2008

Back in September of 2005, there was a post about Adama for president. It looks like some people are taking it a bit more seriously this time around!

Vote Adama for President in 2008

Thanks to Daschel for posting the comment.

Ron Moore recounts GDC experience

Ron Moore has posted a few blog updates. Once of them is a recap of his experience at the Game Developers Convention.

I grew up in the Classic Atari era, when a row of quarters on the Asteroids machine carried a great deal of credibility down at the bowling alley where I and the few video denizens of Chowchilla plied our trade. I had the first home consoles as well, but after college I pretty much dropped out of gaming, with periodic forays into the burgeoning computer game market over the years. My last effort involved buying an XBox a couple of years ago with the determination to get back into the game (pun intended) at last. A week spent in frustration over my inability to master the multi-buttoned controller finally put to rest my dreams of mastering Max Payne and Madden NFL, and as Terry constantly reminds me, the XBox sits beneath the TV table in my office gathering dust.

That may have to change, however, after spending a few days at the GDC getting to know the people in the gaming business. I was impressed, first of all, by the sheer brainpower which permeated the event and second of all with the maturity and seriousness of the business itself. To put it succinctly: these are seriously smart people, doing seriously smart things with a deadly seriousness of purpose. When I walked the convention floor, I was struck by the intensity of the attendees as they browsed through the various booths and displays. I'm told the event itself had discouraged the "babe booth" mentality long ago wherein scantily-clad women beckoned to the hormonally-challenged, and sadly, I saw no such relics from this storied past. Instead, I found a lot of intense concentration and discussion of the latest software applications and character-building tools, upwards of ninety-five percent of which went sailing over my head.

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As someone who is a hard core gamer and follows the GDC developments like a hawk, it is interesting to hear his opinion of the industry as a whole. I often get in to debates with people who simply do not understand gaming... how it is all about the creation of experiences and memories. I find it particularly interesting how people who are die-hard sports nuts playing fantasy leagues and everything can't seem to grasp how what they do is no different than video gaming... just in a different medium.

I'm not a game developer, but I would love to attend a conference like that. A friend of mine is an Xbox 360 MVP and is going to E3 this year... I am so jealous!

There is also another Q&A post on his blog too...

Be a fly on the wall in the writers room!

This is pretty cool! SciFi posted a thirty minute MP3 of a writers meeting about the episode Scar. You can get it here:

Battlestar Galactica Podcasts or direct link

Source: BSG News

When are the season 2 DVDs coming out?

I just wanted to throw a quick post up here and let everyone know the latest rumor on the season two DVD release. It has been linked and reported in many places that the DVDs will hit before season three begins. This is from a TV Guide columnist:

Question: Will the entire second season of Battlestar Galactica be released on DVD before the third season premieres in October? — Marilyn

Ausiello: Yes. I'm not sure of the exact street date, but I hear it'll be in stores by early September.

The original column (you have to scroll to near the bottom)

Until further notice, that is the current rumor...

More info surfaces on BSG comic

The CIC has all the best links lately. If you are following the comic book closely, go check out this article at Comic Book Resources:

Dynamite Entertainment announced today that artist Nigel Raynor will be joining writer Greg Pak (SOLD OUT Planet Hulk AND Phoenix Endsong) on the all-new Battlestar Galactica comic book series, a license of Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, as well as cover artists Steve Mc Niven (Civil War, New Avengers) and Michael Turner (Wolverine: Origin and Civil War cover artist), with more to be announced!

“After an exhaustive search for the right artist to work alongside Greg, we’re please to announce that Nigel Raynor is the newest member of Dynamite’s Galactica Crew,” explained Dynamite Entertainment Spokesperson J. Allen. “Nigel’s a relatively new name to comics, but fans will get a taste of his exceptional art, and Pak’s awesome script, in the introductory priced Battlestar Galactica #0 planned for release in May. And remember fans, this issue will be at the incredible introductory price of twenty-five cents (that’s right, just a slim quarter!) featuring a photo cover of Six and a brand new cover by Steve (Civil War, New Avengers) McNiven!”

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Olmos says third season is underway

I got this from The CIC:

he "Battlestar Galactica" troupe is heading into third-season production feeling spurred on by the fresh wave of acclaim that's been coming to the Sci Fi Channel show, reports Edward James Olmos.

"Normally, the sci-fi genre doesn't get the affirmation dramas get. But since Time magazine named ours the best show of 2005, people have found it and are starting to talk about it," he notes. He's referring to the year-end story in which the series was called "a ripping sci-fi allegory of the war on terror."

Read more, if you want, but there really isn't anything more about BSG in the article...

Maybe this year is the year... some serious award recognition... maybe if the rumors about moving to NBC is correct, it could go down that way. It seems you have to be on network to get the good stuff...

The Battlestar Galactica mission statement

I found this link over at the Tahmoh Penikett blog. It is the mission statement that convinced Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell to sign on to the show:

Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonell both said that Battlestar's "mission statement" written by Ron Moore is what convinced them to do the show. It was inadvertently (or, rather, without Moore's knowledge) stapled to their copies of the miniseries script.

I was wondering what the statement said and luckily was able to find a copy thanks to BattlestarGalactica.com.  It wasn't quite what I expected.

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It is interesting to read through this now that we are two seasons in. Do you think the majority of it has held up? There are a few small things that jumped out... no sound in space for instance... They tend to use muffled sounds, but sound nonetheless. That is a small one though. Any big inconsistencies you see with the mission statement?

BSG picks up a Hugo nomination

Bigdumbobject pointed me to the Hugo noms... it looks like BSG gets on for dramatic presentation short form. They won it last year! Can they go two in a row?

  • Battlestar Galactica: "Pegasus" (NBC Universal/British Sky Broadcasting; Directed by Michael Rymer; Written by Anne Cofell Saunders)
  • Doctor Who: "The Empty Child" & "The Doctor Dances" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by James Hawes; Written by Steven Moffat)
  • Doctor Who: "Dalek" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by Joe Ahearne; Written by Robert Shearman)
  • Doctor Who: "Father's Day" (BBC Wales/BBC1; Directed by Joe Ahearne; Written by Paul Cornell)
  • Jack-Jack Attack (Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation; Written & Directed by Brad Bird)
  • Lucas Back in Anger (Reductio Ad Absurdum Productions; Directed by Phil Raines; Written by Phil Raines and Ian Sorensen)
  • Prix Victor Hugo Awards Ceremony (Opening Speech and Framing Device; Written and performed by Paul McAuley and Kim Newman; Directed by Mike & Debby Moir)

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It is just me or is that one weird category of nominations?

And Pegasus? Honestly that was an OK episode, but I wouldn't call it the best of the season at all. Sometimes awards are just strange. I am really stoked to see Charles Stross nominated for Accelerando though. That is one of the best Scifi books I have ever read.

Ron Moore speaks at GDC

Ron Moore was invited to speak at the Game Developers Conference about adapting and improving existing franchises. Zonk posted his notes to Slashdot. Go check em out:

Ronald Moore may have done a lot for the Trek series of shows, but recently he's been making new fans with his work on the Battlestar Galactica title. He was invited to speak at GDC to relate ways in which intelligent folks can adapt an existing franchise. He focused on not only adapting and improving the original, but maintaining the core goodness of the inspiring work. Read on for notes from his talk.

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Battlestar Galactica icon awards

Paperwirexit has started a LiveJournal community that will accept and vote on the best BSG icons. Head over there if you wish to participate:

Battlestar Galactica Icon Awards

It is just getting started, so join in!

Watch the final minutes of season two

Head over to the official BSG website at Scifi.com and you can watch the final few minutes of Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II as well as a teaser for season three. This is great because I know a few friends who had their Tivos cut off with a few minutes left! Thanks Scifi!

Battlestar Galactica Official Website

The voice-over during the far-too-short teaser clears up the motivations of the Cylons...

BSG resin model kits

Sean Campbell picked up a Viper Mk II resin model kit from the Starship Modeler Store. Head over to his blog and check out the pictures:

Well, I just received a pretty cool resin kit the other day--a 1/72 scale Viper Mk II from the new Batttlestar Galactica Series. The Mk II is a sleek little beast, and this kit is a fairly good representation of it, although as I work on it I discover more and more minor issues.  One thing that's a total PITA though is the nose intake/vent which comes seperate and is a total bitch to attach and fair into the feuselage.

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Not only do they have Vipers, but it looks like some new Raider models are coming out soon!

Season 2 music samples

The site may be in another language, but the sound of music is universal. Here are a few samples of music from season 2:

Bear McCreary - Gina Escapes
Bear McCreary - Baltar's Dream
Bear McCreary - Market
Bear McCreary - Resurrection Ship
Bear McCreary - Adama and Roslin
Bear McCreary - Adama's Choice

Listen to the mp3s

From a quick listen to these, it seems that the season two soundtrack surpasses season one in many ways. Great stuff!

BattlestarMobile site launch

As reported by the CIC, SciFi Channel has launched a site (er.. page) dedicated to the Battlestar Galacitca mobile phone game:

Battlestar Galactica Mobile captures the thrill and suspense of your favorite SCI FI Channel show. Start as a rookie pilot, take over the controls of the Colonial Viper Mark VII high-performance fighter, and plunge right into the ongoing interstellar war!  Fight your way through 11 levels and a variety of missions in this action-packed shooter game, then put your skills to the test as you battle head-to-head with the deadly Cylons.

(Available from Cingular and T-Mobile. Check back for additional U.S. carriers.)

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There is a video demo and screen shots! Woo hoo!

Build your own Viper

Digital Ejecta says you can!

KURV studios has just released a most tasty morsel. An advanced tutorial covering the modeling of a BSG Viper. For $44.95 it's a steal.

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Fantastic Viper

You might have seen this on Flickr, but it deserves a special link:

Viper 67

Awesome work by JeffrySG that has come along way!

The many faces of Number Six

Gateworld posted an article about the challenges that Tricia Helfer faces playing such a complex character:

"I've actually played four versions of Number Six," Helfer said, sitting in her trailer during a break in filming. "As an actor that's fantastic. The Six in Baltar's head can be limiting, in a way, because you can't interact with the other characters. There's a certain relationship that they have that doesn't let you branch out. For me, it's fun to have other Sixes, to be able to have scenes with [other characters]. [But] I love working with James. I don't want to change that!"

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Baltar at DragonCon 2006

James Callis (Baltar) will be making an appearance at Dragon*Con. Mark your calendars!

Dragon*Con
September 1 - 4, 2006
Atlanta, GA

Dragon*Con
is America's largest, multi-media, popular arts convention—focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film.

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Battlestarblog on Subject2Discussion tonight!

I will be appearing on Subject2Discussion tonight to talk about the BSG season two finale Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II.

Tune in via streaming audio at LVRocks.com at 8pm PST (10pm CST, 11pm EST) to catch my segment. Should be fun like last time.

Update 03/16/2006 7:30am CST

Once gain, the interview was fun! You can download and listen to my segment here:

Battlestarblog.com Interview on LVRocks.com 11/29/2005 (mp3)

You can also grab the entire show here. The first half is political, but the second hour starts with me and continues the Battlestar talk with Koenigrules.

 

Is Adama coming back for season three?

I haven't listened to the podcast yet for ep 2.20... Two days in a row I left the headphones for my Treo sitting on my desk, so I was unable to partake during my commute. Supposedly this podcast is the source for rumors about Edward James Olmos not returning for season three.

If you consider casting news about already announced characters a spoiler, look away...

As many of you have emailed, this rumor seems to be addressed on Scifi's website with this news article:

Returning to its Friday night slot with a complete 20-episode order, season three of Battlestar Galactica promises even more of the drama, intrigue and action that viewers have come to expect from the series. One of television's most critically acclaimed dramas, Battlestar Galactica has captured the minds of a new generation of fans, distinguishing itself with the intensity and present-day relevance of its stories and the riveting performances of its ensemble cast.

The entire Battlestar Galactica ensemble will return, including Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park. As previously announced, Lucy Lawless will also join the cast for a 10-episode arc, reprising her role as D'Anna Biers, a Cylon.

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As of right now, whatever you might have heard, there is no real evidence that Olmos is bailing out on the show. Word on the street is that what was mentioned in the podcast was a joke.

Until new evidence surfaces, I am calling the rumor dead. Feel free to discuss if you think this is premature. I would love to see corroborating information if you have a link.

Thoughts on Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II

So, I just got back from the hospital where they were quickly sewing up MY HEAD FROM A MASSIVE EXPLOSION! (Ok not really)

Honestly, how do you start dissecting this episode? I have been thinking about it all day now and there is so much there to talk about… so many answers… so many questions… I never expected the episode I just witnessed. Is that brilliance or is it craziness? You have to admit, you feel a bit nervous after watching Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II. The show that we all knew (notice: past tense) and loved has fundamentally been changed on almost every single level. How are we supposed to deal with that? I have a feeling that if Ron Moore was in charge of Star Trek: The Next Generation when the Borg took Captain Picard and turned him in to Locutus, Ron Moore wouldn’t have let Riker save Picard. He would have kept Picard Locutus forever while Riker tortured himself over the failed rescue. Then he would have changed the entire series to operate from the Borg’s perspective…Ron Moore is twisted like that... twisted in a good way.

Let’s get the small stuff out of the way
Before diving head long into the epic insanity that is the last half of this episode, I just want to mention a few quick things that I really liked… just to get them out of the way and go on record about some pretty great moments:

  • Interesting that it turns out that the whole thing with the Chief is a bit of a Red Herring, only useful to bring PriestCylon into the show. I will say that I really enjoyed the moment with Tyrol and Cally, he apologizing, her forgiving, both of them realizing that maybe there is something there worth keeping.
  • Kara’s little three way with Lee and Anders was tense and enjoyably uncomfortable. I honestly thought that Anders had a better head on his shoulders. I expected a little more tact from him when meeting Lee for the first time… maybe he is just a big dumb jock after all. Not that it bothered me, I just expected him to be a different person, maybe filling the hero shoes that Lee left behind with his new responsibilities.
  • The little secret meeting between Baltar and Roslin had some great moments. Baltar had one of the best lines in the show: “I saved your life; I won’t save your political career.”
  • When the Priest-Cylon is outted, his line “Take me to your leader” was classic.
  • When PegasusSix is seducing Baltar, I feel like it has been a really long time since we heard the bell theme. It really jumped out at me.
  • That was one HELL of a nuclear explosion! The debris hitting the camera reminded me of the miniseries.

Alright, that is enough of that. I can’t think of any more at the moment. On to the good stuff!

There is no God?
The conversation with the two Brother Cavells in the brig reminded me of that scene at the end of The Matrix: Reloaded where Neo meets the Architect. There is a lot that is said in that scene. Here were my key takeaways:

  • Does Cavell speak for them all?
    A part of me is thinking that perhaps the War Hero Cylon’s effect on the others is not as pervasive as Cavell says. It is unrealistic to think that such a gigantic cultural and spiritual shift could take place among the Cylons so quickly. He says the humans get a reprieve, but can we trust that he is speaking for all Cylons? I wouldn’t be surprise if he turns out to be from a whole different faction.
  • We can admit our mistakes
    I am not buying that the Cylons gave up Caprica because they can admit their mistakes. From what Anders had said, there were only a few resistance fighters left, enough to shuttle back in a fleet of Raptors. If the Cylons were that close to snuffing them out, why the sudden change in direction?
  • New marching orders
    The Cylons no longer want to be the children of humanity? They no longer want to usurp the destiny of the colonialists? Just where the hell are they marching then? Cavell says they want to be the best machines in the universe, have they found another race of machines? Are they going head to head with the Borg? (sorry for all the TNG references.)

Perhaps Cavell’s biggest statement is that there is no God, or Gods… Atheism rocking the Cylon ranks is it? I find it strange that at the very end of the show when the three Cylons go in to Baltar’s chamber to accept his surrender; there is only a Six, a Five and an Eight. Where is the strong Number Three (Lucy Lawless)? Maybe the Cylons have their own little rebellion going on and the new marching orders that Cavell was talking about is a circling of the wagons to protect their own empire. We might soon find out that the humans are but small pawns caught in an intergalactic battle between the Cylon factions.

The choice for Democracy
This isn’t a very happy episode for the wisdom of crowds. I have never personally been trapped inside a spacecraft for months, so I really can’t relate to the appeal of settling on a barely hospitable rock deep within a nebula. To put it in perspective I am trying to imagine myself stranded on a Boeing 737 for a few months… yes… that would be hell… I would probably take my chances in Antarctica if it meant breathing real air and stretching my legs.

The most fascinating part of the great election was the conversation with Adama and Roslin after she confessed to knowing of the fix. There looked like a moment where Adama was actually going to go along with it, but then he said exactly what needed to be said. She would die inside. This isn’t her. She will lose the battle, but not the war. Both McDonnell and Olmos were fantastic in these scenes. It really felt like the culmination of a friendship that had been building the entire series. Roslin simply says “That’s it” and gives a great exhale ventilating herself of all the pressures and moral compromises she has had to make this season. While I never would have predicted back in episode 2.01 that Laura wouldn’t be President, I have to say I am surprised how the writers have made me come to accept this as a very natural event.

Holy crap one year later
I have a hypothesis: My DVR mysteriously died on Friday night. I got this strange error message that the disk drive had unrecoverable errors and that everything has been lost. I was forced to call customer support and learn that the only thing they can do is send me a new unit. My DVR is totally fried. Coincidentally enough, it died very near the end of the airing of this episode. Just as my own head exploded, I believe Ron Moore to be single handedly responsibly for frying my DVR with this pure craziness. How do we know a year passed?

  • Adama is alone on his ship and looking scraggly
  • Lee is alone and looking… older…
  • Dualla is looking fine, but is now on Pegasus
  • Helo is doing Gaeta’s job
  • Gaeta is doing Billy’s job
  • Kara is a happy homemaker
  • Tyrol is a union president
  • Cally is pregnant!
  • Baltar has a whole Emperor Caligula thing going on
  • Tigh and his wife seem to like each other
  • Kara seems to like Tigh
  • Laura Roslin is a teacher
  • Sharon and Helo’s baby is huge (notice the white crib!!)
  • There is a FREAKIN CITY on the planet

Ok let’s just stop right there for a second. Did ANYONE see this coming? This is about as far from anything I ever expected this show to possibly be. I kept expecting Baltar to lift his head off the desk, have it all be a funny little hallucination brought on by the stress of a nuclear detonation in the fleet… At this point, that isn’t possible. This is the real deal folks. There are no worm holes or alternate timelines. We are in it for the long haul. Season three is going to look like one hell of a different show.

Final thoughts
I can honestly say I was more blown away by the end of Lay Down Your Burdens than I was with Adama getting shot in the closing moments of season one. At least when Adama was shot, you knew he was going to pull through. When Picard was turned in to Locutus, you knew they would get him back! Resolutions to such situations are always in the back of your mind. It provides a comfortable cliff hanger. At the end of BSG season two, I have no planned resolution, therefore I am uncomfortable. There isn’t a single ounce of me that knows where this story is going next. That is perhaps the best gift we could have been given at the end of this complicated season.

Ron Moore wanted Battlestar Galactica to continually defy people’s expectations. He did it when Number Six snapped that baby’s neck in the miniseries. He did it when Tigh left that little girl behind singing on a bench while a missile slammed into her ship. He did it when Roslin pushed Leobon out of the airlock, when Lee committed treason, when Adama was shot, when Baltar kills Crashdown, when he keeps the Pegasus around, when Billy gets killed, when Lee becomes commander, Baltar becomes President and now this! The list of surprises goes on and on. 

In the end are we watching Battlestar Galactica because it is science fiction? Are we watching it because it is just good TV? Are we watching it because, like the show 24 we just want to see what crazy frakked up situation everyone is going to find themselves in next week? I guess it is a little bit of everything.

So I guess we wait until October… where we will see everyone fight ‘em until they can’t.

Principal MVP of the episode goes to James Callis as Giaus Baltar. He had far too many single-tear-rolling-down-the-cheek scenes to go unnoticed. It is tough to hand out the award to one person after such a complicated set of episodes, but his performance was pivotal in tying everything together.

Secondary MVP of the episode goes to Dean Stockwell as Cavell, if only for the almost hilarious banter in the brig. I think it was a great casting job and I look forward to seeing more of Dean on the show. He did a great job… in fact I think he is my favorite Cylon so far.

Additional Resources

Paley Festival Battlestar Panel Links

Justine over at the Tahmoh Penikett blog did a great roundup of all the links containing content about the Paley Festival:

Battlestar was honored on Friday at The 23rd Annual William S. Paley Television Festival presented by The Museum Of Television & Radio. Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, Katee Sackhoff, Grace Park, James Callis, Ron Moore and David Eick were all in attendance.

Read more to get more links and see some great photos.

It is always strange to see the cast out of their costumes.

BSG Season 3 coming in October

Gateworld is reporting the news... don't shoot the messenger:

The SCI FI Channel's top-rated original series will break the mold and jump to a fall season premiere, the network announced today. The 20-episode third season of Battlestar Galactica will premiere in October 2006 on the cable network. Production begins in April in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The network did not give a reason for the later premiere date. As a cable channel SCI FI has traditionally counter-programmed to the big broadcast networks, airing new episodes of its original series when the networks are in reruns. The broadcast networks have increasingly aired new programming during the summer off-season, such as ABC's highly-rated Dancing With the Stars. But in October, Galactica will likely face stiffer competition.

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All I have to say is that October is a long way off!

Ron Moore blog update

Ron heads back to the Q&A for his latest blog post. I liked this question:

"Ron, on another board we've been having a discussion about the comparisons between Galactica and Hill Street Blues, which just came out on DVD (Season One). How much of a conscious foundation is HSB for BG?"

Hill Street Blues was definitely something of an archetype we looked to for developing the structure of the series. I made explicit reference to the show in our series bible and talked about how we would strive to emulate their structure as much as possible. That structure was, basically, to have a self-contained A-Story that would begin and end each week, with smaller character-centered B-Stories that would take place over a few episodes, and finally long-running C-Stories that would arc throughout the season. It was a starting place for a lot of story discussions and script meetings, but we didn't strictly adhere to the form, as you can see from the experimentation we did throughout the first season. The first seven episodes of season two roughly follow this format, but then we varied again from that structure for the rest of the season. Why didn't we hew more closely to the Hill Street format? Partly it's a result of not wanting the show to get so serialized as to be inaccessible to new viewers, and partly it's a result of continually wanting to try new things on the show and mix up the story-telling.

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Beware of the copies

This made me chuckle:

There are many copies

Thoughts on Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I

As I write this, I am 30,000 feet above the ground on my way to a conference in San Diego. I am trying hard to think back to the scenes I witnessed on Friday, but that seems like so long ago, even if it was only two days back, a few feet closer to the ground.

Like all two part season finales, Lay Down your Burdens Part I is a setup for things to come. It is difficult to judge it on its own, separate from part II. If you remember back to my thoughts on Pegasus, I had some similar comments. How can you really say whether this episode stacks up to the likes of other shows from season two, when the primary plot threads have yet to reveal themselves?

If I had to pick one word to describe this episode, it would be methodical. The camera is very deliberate, hanging with each scene, uncovering every moment, exploring each character in a full and complete way.

Tyrol
It is only natural that some people within the fleet would start to second guess their humanity. I am a little surprised that the writers chose Tyrol for this job. After his gallant displays earlier in the season, you would think he has enough talent to keep him from second guessing his own abilities. Sharon on the other hand was specifically involved in incidents where she was stealing ordnance and turning up with amnesia. The Chief has to realize he is far from that situation. Sure, he smacked Cally around, but anyone stressed to the point he is, woken suddenly from a nightmare might do the same. He might be a little mentally unstable at this point, but that is far from being a Cylon.

One thing that hasn’t been touched on is how Tyrol was affected by the loss of Sharon’s child. He was with Helo on the Raptor when the fake-baby ashes were set adrift in space, but it was never specifically address how Tyrol is coping with the reality that one of the single forces tying Sharon and Helo together is now gone. There has to be a part of him that hasn’t let go of her yet and maybe his subconscious is drawing him back to her once more… maybe he feels this and is rejecting it by manifesting fears of being a Cylon.

To be honest, it is far too obvious to make Tyrol a Cylon at this point. It is far more obvious to me that the priest who is helping him with his problems is part of the club. That line that went something like “I know you’re not a Cylon because maybe I am and I haven’t seen you at any of the meetings” was a great one. It is just sarcastic enough to imply that perhaps the priest really is.

Starbuck and Apollo
Finally her dreams of returning to Caprica have become a reality. I was also happy to see that the Heavy Raider was not forgotten! As always, Starbuck was at her best when she was in the same room as Lee. Her brief scene with him showed that there is an ever widening gulf in their relationship. She is still a pilot… going out… risking her life to save the others. Lee on the other hand resides in the massive Pegasus Captain’s cabin, dining on Asian noodles, a far cry from the mess hall and the shared bunks. You can only imagine the tension that such a divide between two good friends would create. At the same time, I think they both respect each other. Apollo was searching for his purpose and essentially found it. Kara discovered her reason to live (Anders) and now has an opportunity to return to him.

The biggest question in my mind is one of intention. Why is Kara going back to Caprica? Is she truly going back to rescue the resistance party or is she going back purely for Anders? I don’t think it is made specifically clear. If she is going back for herself, risking the lives of all those soldiers, than it causes us to view her actions in a much less heroic light. I have a feeling that by the end of the arc, very few people are going to survive her mission. Will the cost have been worth it? For her maybe, but for everyone else? It could have a profound impact on her reputation amongst the crew. Her head-strong plan to help the hostages in Sacrifice lead to the death of marines and Lee getting shot. What is the price this time?

Baltar and Zarek
The relationship between Tom and Giaus was not one I saw coming. I guess it is natural that the man of rationalism and science, secretly courted by the Cylon God would team up with the fleet’s ultimate pragmatic terrorist. Interestingly enough, both of them would also become the party of “peace” and “hope”. I have to say, the dynamic developing in the campaign is beyond interesting. The political issues within the fleet are by far one of my favorite aspects lately. I have been mildly disappointed that we haven’t gone back to the realities of civilian governments in tense situations since season one.

So the big question is: can Baltar win? My gut tells me he will. It is far more interesting to have him and Zarek prevail than to have them defeated. It would mean so much more for the characters if they all underwent such a drastic change. Baltar elevated to President, Roslin stripped of her power, Zarek able to rule from the shadows… it would be too much fun to pass up!

Laura Roslin
Is it just me or does she get to be more and more of a hard ass every episode? It almost feels to me like her time is up. Not that she will be killed off, but that her role is going to change. That is the biggest reason I feel like she is going to lose this election. All of her policies are getting so hard core… her relationship with many of the main characters is getting estranged. She is ripe for a massive character upheaval that will send her in an entirely new direction.

My prediction is that she will be voted out of the presidency, but that she is some how put in to some other leadership role… maybe the vice president position or some other situation where she is allowed to interact with the new political players. Mary McDonnell is a powerhouse in the show, so she can’t possible disappear, but I can’t help but feel her role is changing. 

Sharon and Helo
It is obvious that Sharon is second guessing the role she has been playing. If Adama and the others aren’t careful, they are going to lose her. It almost seems like the writers are hinting at possible deception or treachery. Will she find out about her child? If she does, that will most definitely turn her against Roslin and the leadership of the fleet.

I am starting to think any choice Sharon makes is going to impact Helo as well. He has shown that he is willing to stick by her no matter what, even going so far as to stand against Adama. If Sharon turns her back on the fleet will Helo? He is a gallant person, full of duty and honor, yet he is also extremely loyal. If Sharon finds out Roslin, Adama and Cottle lied about the death of their child that will no doubt undermine Helo’s loyalty to the human fleet as well. We could see both of them back on the run shortly.

Conclusion
Ok my laptop battery is already running out. Something is up. I thought I charged this sucker before I left. Does anyone else have a laptop with crappy battery life?

I was definitely into this episode so much that when it ended, I really thought there was about 20 minutes left to go. In the meantime, I am happy just sitting back and waiting for Part II to arrive. I hesitate to pass too much judgment on the story arcs and character motivations without knowing how it all ends up. In the end, Lay Down your Burdens, Part I does exactly what it needs to do. It introduces some great story developments, shows us new aspects of characters we thought we knew and leaves us ready to be blown away with a finale to end all season finales. I am ready Mr. Moore… do your worst.

No MVPs this episode… I am holding off until we can see what everyone is really made of in part II.

Additional Resources

Ron Moore dislikes spoilers

Ron Moore posted a little note in his blog about the prevalence of spoilers. I have stated repeatedly that I steer clear of spoilers on this blog. Ron, if you are reading, I hope you appreciate that! ;)

Surfed through the official boards and saw a LOT of spoiler photos from the finale. I'm not trying to be snarky, or ruin anyone's fun or trample anyone's speech, but I gotta say, I'm pretty disappointed that so much material is getting posted. There's a lot of people who work really, really hard on the show who are waiting to see the finale and have the pleasure of surprising the audience and it's a bummer when it's ruined this close to the final airdate. Obviously, people can do what they want, it's a free country but I'd really appreciate it if the photos posted so far were confined to that thread and if people resisted the temptation to post any more shots or any more plot details.

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That being said, I personally don't have a problem with other people posting spoilers... some people just want to know... that is fine... But I agree with Mr. Moore that solid efforts need to be taken to project those that are trying to stay clean from spoilers. I think The Great Link has one of the best systems in place for spoilers. You are greeted with a healthy warning and you have to click a button to proceed. It doesn't get much more preventative than that.

There is a very real problem with international audiences who are behind the US in episode count. I guess for anyone outside my country this entire blog could be viewed as "Spoilerish"... and I recognize that. However we have to realize that no matter what, posting something will always be a spoiler for someone... I have friends in the US who only watch TV shows on DVD and therefore consider every Monday morning BSG lunch conversation potentially spoilerish.

Get BSG for free from iTunes

Andrew from the CIC posted this great news:

This is cool - Take advantage of this: You can get a free episode to download from the March 6th issue of TV Guide. Each issue will contain a 12 digit code for the iTunes store and can be used, appropriately, for the episode Downloaded, which guest starred Lucy Lawless.

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If you haven't seen Downloaded yet, give it a go! Let me know how it works out.

BSG Toys coming from Diamond Select

Brett J. emailed in with a link to this bit of BSG toy news:

Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles is proud to announce a partnership with Art Asylum and Universal Pictures to manufacture product showcasing the cast of Battlestar Galactica! In a recent agreement, Art Asylum will develop resin collectibles and Minimate block figures for both the groundbreaking classic show and the immensely popular modernized series, while DST will handle the marketing and sales of the new line.

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More and more toys are a better and better thing! Let's hear from the toy people out there... what do you think of these announcements? Is this headed where you want? Are there any "toy" tie-ins that you will be holding out for?

New prequel BSG novel around the corner

Andrew at the CIC posted a link to Craig Shaw Gardner's blog with this great bit of news:

So, if you're reading this blog, you probably already know that I do the occasional "media project." The next one out from Gardner Central will be the first original BATTLESTAR GALACTICA novel from TOR, due out this August. The title of this opus is THE CYLONS' SECRET, and it's a prequel to the events on the show, delving more deeply into the background of three of the show's regular characters.

Well, once you finish a media project, it has to clear the production people at the studio/comics company/gaming company. I've had to totally rewrite a project at the last minute (and over the course of a weekend!) But that's another story, and had to do with a copy-editor that thought he/she was a far better writer than yours truly (he/she wasn't). But mostly you get comments like "Batman would never use that language!" or "We can't do that because we're doing something else in season two."

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A prequel?!? That is excellent!! I can only imagine the amazing revelations in there! This is definitely going on the watch list.

Source: CIC

Ron Moore blog update

I am a little behind... just getting around to reading Ron's latest blog update:

"How were you able to deal with ramping up to more episodes per season? I recall hearing that HBO's "The Wire" even had to take breaks to ease new writers into the fold. BSG has a different model, with ads and other pressures... Maybe we will we see more character studies, which are more contained within themselves?"

We did take a month long break in between eps 10 & 11 in order to catch up on scripts. Doing 20 instead of 13 makes a big difference in terms of stamina and quality control. When you're concentrating on 13, you can essentially make each of them special and each of them gets a lot of attention. With 20, you're spreading yourself out more and trying to keep more balls in the air at once. I won't say that's the only reason why we had a couple of shows that I wasn't happy with this season, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a contributing factor.

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If anything, you can tell that the writing process is fairly fluid... often working backwards from a cool moment into justifications that would allow the moment to take place. Not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind as we contemplate the significance of certain moments in the show.

BSG Nominated for Golden Reel Award

Battlestar Galactica has picked up a Golden Reel Nomination. The award is meant to acknowledge       the year's best work in the areas of sound editing:  Dialogue & ADR,       Effects & Foley, and Music:

Best Sound Editing in Television:
Short Form – Music

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – “Flight of the Phoenix”
COLD CASE – “Frank’s Best”
CSI:  CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION – “Snakes”
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES – “Sorting Out the Dirty Laundry”
EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS – “Everybody Hates Halloween”
MEDIUM – “The Song Remains the Same”
SIX FEET UNDER – “Everyone’s Waiting”

See the rest of the nominees

Source: CIC

Galactica comic coming in May

Hollywood North Report has a link over to Comic Book Resources:

The Cylons were created by humans. They rebelled. Now there are less than 50,000 humans alive and in search of the fabled planet Earth. Oh, that’s the GOOD news. The remaining humans need to find a way to survive, despite their differences, and the Battlestar Galactica, the colonies’ last warship, is humanity’s last hope. Every Friday on the Sci-Fi network, fans race to their televisions to watch “Battlestar Galactica,” a thrilling update of the seventies cult classic, and fans have made it the network’s #1 program. Dynamite Entertainment announced their plans for a “BSG” series last year, and this May, fans will get their first taste of the series in a 25-cent issue #0, much like the way the company drew in readers with “Red Sonja,” Writer Greg Pak, who’s been making a name for himself at Marvel Comics, is writing the series and spoke to CBR News about working on the book, his plans and how he got involved.

“After the first issue of “X-Men: Phoenix - Endsong” hit the stands, I got a call from Dynamite,” explained Pak. “They initially wanted to talk about another project, but let slip that they had the rights to do the comic book tie-in to the new ‘Battlestar Galactica’ series. I’d loved the old show as a kid but was absolutely blown away by the new show -- it’s the only television program in years that I’ve actually built my schedule around watching. The chance to be a part of anything associated with it was too good to let slip by.”

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I was sort of out of the comic scene for awhile... I did end up buying and reading all of the Firefly comics that were released for the Serenity film, so I am ready to jump in for these!

BSG Freespace mod in the gaming news

Joystiq, a very popular gaming site that I read regularly, made mention of the BSG mod that is in production using the Freespace 2 engine:

A mod of the new Battlestar Galactica with the Freespace 2 game engine is currently underway and making some progress. Click on the image to the right and you'll be directly taken to the mod's 13MB AVI trailer.

This trailer gives a better sense of how things look than the images on the mod's home page at the moment (as the navigation there is a bit broken right now), but anything to mix a fan-favorite space combat sim with the hottest sci-fi show on TV today is definitely worth a look.

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The trailer looks pretty damn amazing.

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