SCI FI Channel Photo By Justin Stephens
SCI FI Channel Photo By Justin Stephens
Title:
Battlestar Galactica: Season Three Premiere Episodes:
Episodes:
“Occupation/Precipice”, “Exodus, Part I”, “Exodus, Part II”,
“Collaborators”
Stars:
Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, Katee Sackhoff, James Callis,
Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Michael Hogan, Aaron Douglas, Tahmoh Penikett,
Alessandro Julianni, Kandyse McClure, Lucy Lawless, Nicki Clyne, Michael Trucco,
Kate Vernon, Dean Stockwell, Callum Keith Rennie, Matthew Bennett, and Rick
Worthy
Guest
Stars: Richard Hatch and Amanda Plummer
Writers:
Ronald D. Moore, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, and Mark Verheiden
Inspired
By “Battlestar Galactica” Created By Glen A. Larson
Directors:
Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Felix Alcala, and Michael Rymer
Consultant:
Glen A. Larson
Executive
Producers: Ronald D. Moore and David Eick
Third
Season Premiere Running Time: 120
minutes with commercials
Average
Third Season Episode Running Time: 60 minutes with commercials
Media:
SCI FI Channel Original Series (NTSC DVD Screeners)
“Occupation/Precipice”
Third Season Special Two Hour Premiere Event: Friday, October 6, 2006 from 9pm
to 11pm (ET/PT)
“Exodus,
Part I” Episode Premiere: Friday, October 13, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT)
“Exodus,
Part II” Episode Premiere: Friday, October 20, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT)
“Collaborators”
Episode Premiere: Friday, October 27, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT)
Network:
SCI FI Channel (Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV
Rating: Not Available At The Time Of Review
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
SCI FI
Channel now airs arguably two of the best sci-fi shows on American television
and this fall viewers can enjoy SCI FI Fridays with a lineup that includes the
new Doctor Who series two adventures beginning at 8pm (ET/PT) on
September 29, 2006 and the special two-hour event third season premiere of the
SCI FI Channel original series Battlestar Galactica. Already airing on
various NBC Universal stations as well as available on DVD as a limited Best Buy
exclusive sold with Battlestar Galactica: Season 2.5 DVD Box Set is Battlestar
Galactica: The Story So Far, which brings new and veteran viewers alike up
to speed by recapping what has transpired in the last two seasons as well as the
miniseries that started it all. In addition SCI FI Channel has a miniseason of
Internet webisodes entitled Battlestar
Galactica: The Resistance that serves as a bridge between season two and
season three and further prepares the viewers for what is to come.
It has
been over six months since season two left the majority of the human survivors
stuck on New Caprica after the Battlestars Galactica and Pegasus
along with the fleet were forced to make emergency FTL jumps when Cylon forces
suddenly appeared in the nebula that surrounded the planet and gave the self
indulgent President Baltar (James Callis) an ultimatum to surrender and co-exist
“peacefully” under Cylon rule, or be annihilated. Now more than a year has
passed and humans are coping living under the thumb of the Cylons and
interestingly Cylons are coping with governing and co-existing among humans.
Some humans have tried cooperating with the Cylons and even have formed a kind
of secret police to keep the Centurions clear of the human populace. Of course
this collaboration is viewed with contempt by others and seen as treason to be
someday punishable by death. A resistance has formed with the help of a person
working from within Baltar’s figurehead office. This has enabled the freedom
fighters to thwart as best as possible the Cylon occupation. The hope is that
somehow they will be able to contact the fleet if they can get past the Cylon
jamming frequencies and be rescued or make life on New Caprica difficult enough
for the Cylons that they will throw in the towel and leave them in peace once
and for all.
The Cylons have become more human than I think they would ever admit. Lies and deception are common tools, but deadly force, detention, and torture are not beyond the tactics used to break the will of the humans. Yet the Cylons have picked up a few vices along the way. Sexual favors in exchange for information, dominance, or the freedom of a detainee are common and those violating Cylon law, which they see as the Word of God, are infidels to be executed on sight. The Cylons have even had to watch their own centaurians and keep them from becoming sentient enough to discern the difference between a human and a Cylon out of fear that they may be betrayed by the forces they use to subjugate others. The line between human and Cylon is indeed becoming more blurred with the existence of at least one hybrid hiding in the city and the possibilities of others existing there too. The truth of these matters will surely lead to a reckoning for both the humans and Cylons before long, but you will have to watch the shows to find out how.
The four
episodes I screened were in one word excellent. Fans of the original series will
see a few events come to pass in a different manner in these episodes and the
overall character arcs are now greatly changed. Certain people who were
pessimistic are now among the faithful on both sides and others have become
bitter shells of their former selves. Characters change and some die and it is
all handled so beautifully that I think it will truly defy audience expectations
and will no doubt garner the series as a whole even more awards and recognition.
The show’s producers have managed to steer clear of mistakes made in other
sci-fi shows and keep the viewer interested in the characters and the action.
The
action in one episode is sure to leave some fans drooling with the most dramatic
space and land battle dramatized on the series yet. Given the nature of digital
effects, items can be perfected closer to airdate than they could have even ten
years ago. So as a result some of the action I witnessed was not finalized, but
that is common when reviewing television shows in general, especially genre
television. Usually the fighting displayed between capital ships appeared to be
missiles and so forth, but if what I’ve seen is correct then we will see some
heavy duty lasers used and I don’t think the new series has ever shown that
before. The makeup effects are also quite good though the hefty Captain Lee
Adama (Jamie Bamber) at times look like he is doing a Marlon Brando as the
Godfather impression with swollen pit bull like jowls. Even so, I think some of
the subtle humor is intentional otherwise these stories might be too bleak for
some viewers to enjoy. Regardless, when the series premieres on Friday, October
6, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT) for a special two hour third season opener, everything
you thought you knew will be different and by the time the first four episodes
have aired on SCI FI, everything you thought you knew when the third season
began will be different again. Don’t miss anything because there simply
isn’t any other way to put it, but Battlestar Galactica kicks ass and
if you miss one show you might find yourself kicking your own ass wishing at the
very least you recorded it for later viewing. The third season premieres for the
first four episodes are noted below now don’t miss the show!
“Occupation/Precipice”
Third Season Special Two Hour Premiere Event: Friday, October 6, 2006 from 9pm
to 11pm (ET/PT)
“Exodus,
Part I” Episode Premiere: Friday, October 13, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT)
“Exodus,
Part II” Episode Premiere: Friday, October 20, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT)
“Collaborators”
Episode Premiere: Friday, October 27, 2006, at 9pm (ET/PT)
©
Copyright 2006 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.