[Mezla PigDog]

Despite my trepidation over a Dirk-less Battlestar, I finally watched the first 4 episodes of season 1. Mainly on the back of endorsments by you lot. It was alright. Not great. Obviously these things improve as they go but Starbuck and Boomer really annoyed me. And the English dude with the blonde Cylon jabbering to him in his head. Does that continue for long? I liked the episode with the old Apollo as a terrorist! But, does it get REALLY good? I need encouragement to rent the next dvd.

[Obdigore]

no. it dosent. it just gets more space-trash-opera... ish?

Not worth it imo.

[Dr Trouble]

I liked it. I thought it got alot better.

It's alot better then most of the other shit out atm.

[Obdigore]

Trouble;199273 said:

I liked it. I thought it got alot better.

It's alot better then most of the other shit out atm.

Meh, I guess this is the point that I say I don't really watch any TV because almost all of it absolutely sucks?

[Mezla PigDog]

Yeah, it's hard to work out if other people have the same taste in tv. I haven't seen a series in a while that I really really liked. That's why I tried this one. If it's anything like Lost where nothing happens other than a lot of angst, I'll be very angry at Longhorn

[Abyss]

A trailer for the mftv movie BSG: RAZOR is on-line somewhere or other. Looks like it jumps back in time and does a Pegasus story.

Airing in November if my sources are on.

- Abyss, yes, has 'sources'. Because 'websites' just doesn't sound kewl enuf.

[Werthead]

In Season 3 they very nearly killed the series stone dead. First four episodes were great, culminating in Exodus, Part 2, probably the best 45 minutes of SF TV in the last ten years. After that the writers apparently phoned it in for about thirteen episodes until it got good again right at the end of the season. The final episode was pretty cool but episodes like The Woman King (Helo takes on the Inexplicably Evil Racist Doctor) were cringe-inducing.

Apparently the writers had an elaborate subplot that unfolded across the entire season and tied into Baltar's trial, but whilst writing the season finale they realised the storyline was crap and decided to re-edit the entire series to get rid of it (hence chucking in a ton of filler to make up the missing time). This probably ranks up there with one of the most incompetent plotting decisions of all time (rivalling JMS' poorly-judged decision to shut down B5's story arc at the end of Season 4 rather than in Season 5, although at least he did have the threat of imminent cancellation to explain that).

This was annoying as the first two seasons are probably among the best SF TV ever screened, whilst Season 3 ended up coming in a distant third place last year behind Heroes (great first season, lost it a little in the final few eps though) and a surprisingly resurgent Lost. Hopefully the fact that Season 4 will be the last means they can focus again and regain some of their earlier quality.

Razor does look really good though. Cain is back (in flashback) and we will get to see the old-school Centurions, Raiders and Basestars from the original series (apparently). The trailer is online here.

[RodeoRanch]

I totally agree. Season 3 started off with a helluva bang with Exodus but soon lost itself in almost pointless episodes that only distracted from the main focus of the show. And the season finale was inexplicably strange. The final huge plot revelations just didn't work for me at all.

Maybe next season will clear things up.

And I'm looking forward to the story of the Pegasus.

[Abyss]

Echoing agreement with Wert and Ranchero, BSG s3 was phenomenally weak at times, and if it had ended without the last 15min of the final, i may have not bothered coming back for s4. I don't have a problem with the finale revelations - i LIKE Big Crazy Next Season Setup Ideas, as long as the writing team can run with it (see Alias season 2 - season 1 ends with Sidney's mom, presumed dead, shooting her, season 2 starts with a mad crazy escape and all kinds of mommy issues) as opposed to crash and burn (see every season of Alias after 2)

There were some genuinely clever eps post New Caprica - the one where they were killing off collaborators, the one with the fight night where Starbuck roundhouse kicked Apollo on the head (bcs who hasn't wanted to do that at some point in the show?)... but yeah, overall so many eps that were barely worth scanning in fastfwd (see the Halo v Dr ep, the Cheef is a union leader ep).

- Abyss, liked the let's all sit around and drink coffee and discuss our relationships ep.

[Werthead]

It's also worth mentioning they went severely over-budget with all the location shooting for the New Caprica and Algae Planet (crappiest planet name ever) stuff, meaning they couldn't spend too much money later in the season when they needed it (hence the Cylons vanishing for 50 days). For Season 4 apparently they have a slightly higher budget and RDM's been hinting that they may be given a special budget for the series finale (which I imagine will be a double-length episode as well).

[stone monkey]

Isn't season 3 of Alias that starts with Sydney missing the previous two years of her life? One of my fave plot twists ever. (Although I did quite like the evil best friend doppelganger) Only beaten IMO by the introduction and eventual origin of Buffy's sister Dawn in Season 5.

Anyway, BSGversion2: the Chief as union leader had been touched upon before in the show and, despite the shortcomings of that particular episode, I thought it good to see an sf show going near this sort of subject (the only other sf show that I can recall doing something like this was Babylon 5)

[Mezla PigDog]

Mezla PigDog;199275 said:

If it's anything like Lost where nothing happens other than a lot of angst, I'll be very angry at Longhorn

Longhorn will be pleased to know he has been spared my Trans-Atlantic wrath! I watched the last episodes of Season 1 and I am hooked. I started out completely hating Baltar but now he's probably my favourite character. Although Starbuck still annoys me, Apollo is purdy :heyhey: . Now Amazon had better hurry up with Season 2, I need know what happens!

[McLovin]

Glad you like it Mez!

[Mezla PigDog]

I do really really reeeeeeeally wish the original Cylon red roving eye sound effect thingy was still used though *sigh*

[Werthead]

According to heavy rumour, the original Cylon Centurions, Raiders, Vipers, Basestars and possibly Battlestars will appear in Razor, representing the vehicles of the First Cylon War.

[Called-by-the-Voices]

Well... it's my absolute favorite show... I loved every single ep.
Although I agree with you on te pointless stand-alone eps from S3.. Like Hero, Dirty Hands, Woman King and A Day In Life.... Bah!

But Exodus pt2 made me cry! The Passage also (up until then i really hated Kat, but I liked her at the end..)
And of course, Crossroads rocked! lee as lawyer? And, come on, bring back Romo Lampkin... I loooved that dude...

[Werthead]

Copying this from a post I made on another forum:

Although Season 4 of the new BSG doesn't air until January, a two-hour TV movie event called Razor will air on 27 November and be released on DVD two weeks later. The DVD version will be 15 minutes longer and feature a number of 'webisodes' set during the First Cylon War which will impact both the TV movie and Season 4. These will be released on the Sci Fi Channel website in the weeks leading to the TV movie's transmission.

The movie is set during late Season 2, shortly after Lee Adama took over command of the Battlestar Pegasus, but features extensive flashbacks to both the First Cylon War and also Admiral Cain's tenure as commander of Pegasus.

The SFC has released two brief clips from the film, both focusing on Admiral Cain and new character Lt. Kendra:

Clip 1:
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=g_wLmrNTF5c

Clip 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ehwuXpPD9o...related&search=

The second clip features another character regular viewers may remember with extreme disdain from the original Pegasus episode.

[McLovin]

Werthead;206696 said:

The second clip features another character regular viewers may remember with extreme disdain from the original Pegasus episode.

Funny, I didn't see Apollo in there.

An interesting note - although the first clip explains the meaning of "Razor" Adm. Cain actually used the term at the end of Season 2.5's Resurrection Ship Pt. 1 (I just watched it again on DVD). Makes me wonder just how long ago "Razor" was planned. I am glad to hear it is not just going to be a catch-up episode for non-viewers, but a real bridge to Season 4.

Anyone wanna bet Lt. Kendra is the 12th Cylon? We should start a pool now.

[Mezla PigDog]

I started Season 3 last night. The end of season 2 was a bit of an anti-climax if you ask me. And the beginning of 3 is difficult to concentrate on while I'm trying to work out if Apollo is really that fat or wearing prosthetic jowels........

[McLovin]

It's prosthetics, believe it or not. They're so realistic and well done that apparently even Jamie Bamber's best friend called him up to ask what the hell happened...