MovieChat Forums > Battlestar Galactica (1978) Discussion > Final Thoughts on the Series

Final Thoughts on the Series

posted 9 years ago by Slideman67
11 replies | jump to latest

We just finished the last episodes last night. It was great seeing these episodes again, like visiting with an old friend. While it is hard to not judge these episodes with my current TV eyes, I have some final thoughts.

The theme is epic and absolutely blows away the theme from the new series.

The miniature effects hold up very well even today. Especially considering these were all done with models. I wonder where the original Galactica model is now?

Having learned on this board that the show was originally designed to be a series of 2 hour movies, not a weekly show, it is easy to see how that could have been. The two part episodes are much better than the one off episodes. Some of those are pretty bad.

I wish they hadn't of had to reuse and recycle some of the same shots. As the show went on, it got glaringly obvious.

I wish there would have been more of a story arc to the series. Yes, they did keep the Beings of Light in the show mythology. Maybe I am looking at things too much like Babylon 5 or Farscape, but more of a story arc would have improved the show.

Also, I would have liked a little more character development of the other characters, like Boomer or Jolly for example.

And I didn't remember that the Patrick Macnee intro got cut halfway in.

They were just starting to gel when the plug was pulled. This show easily deserved another season.

I wish more than just Richard Hatch would have appeared in the remade show. It would have been such a nice nod to the fans.

All of this being said, on the whole, the show was great and great for its time. I enjoyed watching it again, and my wife enjoyed seeing it in its entirety.

Thoughts?

[–] hnt_dnl 9 years ago

What amazes me is that growing up, I always thought this show went for several seasons, so came as a shock when I started watching re-runs it only went for ONE season! I just think this show was entertaining and packed in enough in the first and only season to keep it memorable. A testament to how great the show is that a 1-season series is still so iconic.

Actually, it's probably a good thing it only went for a season as you can binge-watch the series in one weekend. Plus, most shows that go a long time get stale after a while anyway. I think this show was well-cast with good chemistry, positive themes of hope, unity and family, great action sequences, healthy debate, great heroes and a great villain. It's almost like an extended film, just one that goes for 21 hours!

[–] Slideman67 9 years ago

Agreed. And it still stands up to its iconic status.

[–] stevewyzard (1601) 2 years ago

It only seemed like there was more than one season, because the shows were only intermittently broadcast. They would show 3 episodes in 3 weeks, and then take a 3 week break before resuming again. As a young viewer watching the original run, it was maddening not knowing when the show would be on again. It was only many years later I found out that I had also missed a few episodes because I never knew when the next episode would be on.

[–] Korpus500 9 years ago

Watched the first run with a room full of friends every week. Still love it, and I don't believe the reboot did it justice, being far too dark and depressing...

[–] Blueghost 9 years ago

I didn't see any of that. It was a kids' show. It really didn't have anything to offer to older sci-fi viewers.

The quality of the series itself was about right for the time the show was made. Note that television of the 1960s seems have higher production values than shows of the 70s, or even 80s.

I thought the series would be bigger in scope, but wasn't, and did feel like a bit of a cashing in on Star Wars' success.

Still, it was something different from all the cop shows and family sitcoms. You didn't have many adventure or space shows on TV in the 1970s.

[–] residentevil6901 8 years ago

I was so upset as a kid when it got cancelled, it was my favorite show on TV at the time. I for one have always felt the show was left so unfinished. I've heard the new movie they're working on is going to be based on the original series. Sure would be cool if they could make it right for the fans this time around.

[–] Blueghost 8 years ago

Like I mentioned on other threads, I was never a big BSG watcher or fan, though the show did seem entertaining even though it was aimed at a younger audience than Star Trek, my favorite show. Yet everyone I knew and their families watched it.

Other kids at school talked about it all the time. Boys and girls alike of all backgrounds. Nearly every household tuned in where I lived. And then the show got pulled. And even as a non-regular viewer, knowing the show's popularity, I was really surprised it got cancelled.

I'll never understand that.

[–] avortac4 (3746) 2 years ago

"I wish they hadn't of had "

You asked for thoughts.. well, my thoughts are: you should learn english.

There's no such thing as 'hadn't of'. Don't you see anything wrong with using a word like 'hadn't', but then suddenly using 'of'?

"I wish they didn't need to", "I wish they weren't forced to", "I wish they hadn't have to"...

What kind of sense in your mind does 'hadn't of had' make?

OF and HAVE are not synonyms, they're completely different things.

Please learn at least this fact before thinking your writing skills are up to par so you can write a review of something. Maybe next time you can write something coherent.. I'm rootin' for ya!

[–] MovieKnut (184) 2 years ago

There is no need to be rude. There will be posters here for whom English is not their first language. I did find their post coherent.

[–] Enigmaticocean77 (2440) 2 years ago

All this post did, was reveal that you are a HUGE douche bag.

[–] BKB (9987) 5 months ago

Shows like this and KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER were one season wonders that ended up becoming Cult hits. GALACTICA 1980?? Not so much, except for the one episode titled "The RETURN OF STARBUCK" that told the fate of Dirk Benedict's character who in the novel, ended up dying and becoming part of the Ship of Lights