Battlestar Galactica, Season 4.0

The first half of BSG Season 4 is named 'Season 4.0'. The writers strike gave them an excuse to bifurcate the season similar to what they did (sans excuse) in season 2. That's moderately annoying, but at least in this case understandable.

Even after 3.5 seasons, the writing on this show is still gripping, some of the plot twists unexpected, and the acting and cinematography top notch. As reprises go, this one beats the living frak out of the original.

I loved the original BSG and I sort of lament that they didn't find a role for Dirk Benedict, but the new one is a whole different feel. Where the original had the sci fi setting, the desparate battle, the protracted quest, and romance, humour and character development, it is eclipsed in many ways by the new one.

The new BSG has a far less caricature alien foe (who, unlike ST klingons, don't forget their original roots with a retcon) that is fascinating, complex, and multidimensional. The characters themselves are deep, rich, and either flawed by nature of brought to points of failure by circumstance and by testing one can only barely imagine.

And the new show is shot with a lot more intensity and tension. There were many episodes where 'edge of the seat' was no exaggeration.

I'm looking forward immensely to the last half of the 4th and final season. I'm sure I'll probably regret some of the directions they take and who knows what I'll think of the ending, but I think they've already given me so much enjoyment (and proven that SciFi need not be one dimensional characters with laser swords) that I'm willing to give them a chance to blow my socks off again.

I'm not just in it for the hot models either. I have always liked Lucy Lawless (moderate +1 for Australian accent and +1 for being Xena and +1 for looking good as a blonde). I have decided I also quite liked Katie Sackhoff (Starbuck) and Grace Park (oh-my-lord Boomer!). Most people find Tricia Helfer the compelling female femme fatale of this show, but I think Grace Park and Katie Sackhoff have both had very complicated roles to play with a lot of range required and both have proven they have the acting chops as well as phenomenal good looks.

Of course, credit where credit is due: The show needed a lot of less pretty people - James Olmos as Commander Adama was inspired and is the perfect 'old man' for a ship that has to fly through hell and survive. Michael Hogan as Saul Tigh has been amazing. And the actors playing Helo, Apollo and Chief Tyrol were strong. About the only one I wasn't crazy about was the actor playing Mr. Gaeta. I wasn't fond of Gaius Baltar, but I don't blame that on the actor. I'm just strongly anti-weasel and anti-pretty-boy.

I hope others follow on in the footsteps of this show by making other sorts of SciFi that has depth of character and meaningful character arcs. I give Richard Hatch a big nod for getting this project back into the land of the living after its demise so many years ago.

I look forward to the last half of season 4.... So say we all!