Battlestar Galactica

Created by the prolific writer/producer, Glen A. Larson in 1978, the original Battlestar Galactica chronicled the story of a band of humans who, fleeing the destruction of their twelve homeworlds by the implacable cybernetic alien race the Cylons, strike out in their rag-tag fleet protected by the last surviving Battlestar, the Galactica, in search of their mythical lost colony. 

A mysterious planet named Earth. Although massively expensive by the standards of the television of the day, and with a concept that was informed on a basic level by Larson's own Mormon beliefs, the original Battlestar Galactica-although spawning a loyal fanbase-never really transcended the simplistic space opera format which was the inevitable result of the all-pervading influence of the newly released first Star Wars film. 

Although still relatively popular with the viewers, the sheer expense of the production ensured that cancellation came in fairly short order. However, talk of a return of the Galatica in any number of possible incarnations-the most persistent of which was spearheaded by one of the original stars, Richard Hatch, who had played the heroic Captain Apollo-continued to surfaced from time to time offering a slim but continuing hope to the faithful. That hope eventually give birth to a revival when, with the involvement of US cable station Sci-Fi, in partnership with Satellite channel Sky, former Star Trek writer/producer, Ronald D. Moore, developed an ambitious two part mini series that retold Larson's basic story in a unremittingly harsher and consistently naturalistic fashion, which successfully mirrored the concerns of a world still coming to terms with the radical changes wrought globally by post 9/11 events. With the mini-series an unqualified success, drawing in record-breaking audience figures for Sci-Fi, the obvious next step was taken and a commission was given to Moore to produce a 13-episode first season, which would continue the Galactica's story.

This was a dark, dangerous universe populated only by what remained of humanity from the destroyed twelve colonies, and their ever-present persecutors, the robotic former slave race which they themselves created, the Cylons. But these Cylons were a far cry from their original incarnation. These Cylons had evolved, had in some cases taken on human form, and even more disturbingly, appeared to have found both a God and a soul. This theme of religion, wedded to that of basic survival that was the heart and driving force of the new series. There were now no absolutes in the new Galactica universe, except those of death and survival.

Published on November 29th, 2018. SRH.