Sunday, March 11, 2007

Battlestar Galactica

There are many phrases that could be used to described the 1970s sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica, but I can't think of any more appropriate than utter shite. To describe the characters as two-dimensional would be obsequious flattery. It was an appalling series that made Star Wars look like Samuel Becket.

When I discovered that a new version had been made (I love the way they now say reimagining rather than remake) I was incredulous. But as if that wasn't strange enough, I found perfectly sane non-geeky people recommending it to me. When two friends that I have the utmost respect for - one a lecturer at Sandhurst, the other an artist living in Helsinki - recommended Battlestar Galactica, my curiosity was aroused.

I am now two-thirds of the way through the pilot episode and I can see what all the fuss is all about. It's complete nonsense, but done with such consumate artistry that it's impossible not to feel compelled to watch the rest of the series. I feel dirty and ashamed and I will stop here so that I can order the rest of the series.

My wife doesn't know.

2 comments:

Beth Roland said...

Interesting... my flatmate's (Maths at Camb, so quite geeky anyway) most frequent response to 'Watcha doin?' recently has been a head-down mumbled 'watchingBattleStarGalactica'. And now I'm thinking I might steal a peek while he's away on holiday!

Pirooz M. Kalayeh said...

Once you get past the pilot, there's no going back. It just gets better and better. Fabulous writers!