Battlestar Galactica: Season Three - Reviewed by axlish
Reviewed By: axlish
Release Date: March 18th, 2008
Directed by: various
Released: Universal Studios
5 out of 5 Skulls
Created in the wake of the Star Wars craze, the original Battlestar Galactica television series first aired in 1978. It was quickly cancelled, disappointing legions of bitter fans. On through the early 1980’s, more attempts were made at restarting the franchise but for one reason or another, it never lasted long. 
Flash forward to the year 2003. The words “Battlestar Galactica”, although familiar enough, mean very little to the average person walking the street, including myself. What little imagery the words do conjure up is that of hokey science fiction, such as human beings walking around in corny metal outfits trying to pass themselves off as robots. 
In December of 2003, the Scifi Channel aired a two part, four-hour miniseries simply titled Battlestar Galactica. It made tiny waves amongst average television audiences, but made a big impression on the folks that were lucky enough to tune it. What they got was a complete re-imagining of the original series. Most loved what they had seen, but a considerable amount of the fans of the original series were upset with the fact that they had changed the genders of a few key cast members from male to female. The fact is things have changed since 1978. Women are more prominent in the overall workforce and thus a re-imagining should reflect that. Minor grudges aside, the miniseries was successful enough to warrant a weekly series starting in January of 2005.
The series begins on the planet Caprica, one of twelve colonial planets inhabited by the human race. Forty years prior, a war between the humans and a man-created robotic race called the Cylons came to an end when a treaty was signed. Dr. Gaius Baltar, an extremely intelligent scientist working for the government, makes the mistake of falling head over heels in love with a blonde bombshell that is only interested in getting the defense codes for the human military. 
The Cylons have been busy over the forty year period of peace, physically evolving and readying themselves for the day that they can finally destroy their creator. The blond bombshell that Dr. Baltar falls for turns out to be a new model of Cylon, completely made up of flesh and blood. Upon gaining the defense codes from the blonde, the Cylons launch a Pearl Harbor style nuclear attack on all of humankind, completely wiping them out save for a ragtag pack of ships that happened to be in the air at the time.
The Battlestar Galactica, a battleship similar to an aircraft carrier in space, is the only military ship that wasn’t immediately destroyed. It is an old ship from the first war that was scheduled to be retired and made into a museum that very day. Commander Bill Adama, played by Edward James Olmos (American Me, Stand and Deliver), is a veteran of that first war, and knows the dangers of technological advancement first hand. He never allowed his ship’s computers to be networked so that no one could hack in. This is the reason that the Battlestar Galactica wasn’t destroyed in the initial attack.
Now this band of ships led by the Galactica must run for their lives as the Cylons follow closely. The ultimate goal is to find the planet Earth, supposedly the thirteenth colony that many believe to be nothing more than a myth. While they are on the run, a new society is budding and the problems that go with it are deeply explored. A new president must be sworn in and the highest ranking government official still alive is Education Minister Laura Roslin, played by Mary McDonnell (Stands With A Fist from Dances With Wolves). Adama reluctantly accepts this new government although he harbors some ill feelings towards it. It is after all wartime, and perhaps a temporary military dictatorship would be more effective.
The Cylon’s situation is equally complex. They are now led by their humanoid models (called “skin-jobs” by the humans), with the Cylon Centurions (the robots) relegated to military duty. When a Cylon is killed, they download into a new body on a resurrection ship, retaining all of their memories. If a resurrection ship is out of range, the Cylon dies completely and their memories and knowledge are lost forever. Only seven of the Cylon models have been identified by the humans as such, so there are still five hidden amongst the human populous waiting for the day that they are activated to carry out their mission. The Cylon Raiders (the Cylon’s version of a jet fighter) are a metal shell with organic innards. When the Raider gets blown to bits, it reincarnates and learns from its mistakes.
There is also a large element of religion. Humankind follows a religion similar to the ancient Greeks, worshipping several Gods led by Zeus. The Cylons believe in one true God, and they have faith that it is inspiring their every move. President Roslin has cancer, and is using a particular root extract to treat it. The drug causes hallucinations which Roslin believes to be messages from the Gods to give her clues on Earth’s location. Oddly enough these visions prove to be very helpful, although her political opponents use this as proof that she is an unfit leader. 
Now fast forward to season three. Dr. Gaius Baltar has defeated Laura Roslin in a presidential election, based solely on the fact that he intends to settle on a life supporting planet that they have recently discovered, and Roslin wants to continue the pursuit for Earth. They settle on the planet, aptly named New Caprica, and life is good for about a year (there is a one year jump in the story line). The Cylons find the settlement and quickly take over without a fight. The fleet was caught off guard, and without enough people to man the attack stations, they decided to jump out of the system and leave the settlement on New Caprica defenseless. 
The Cylon occupation is a brutal one. They keep the human government in tact, but they are merely puppets to the Cylon’s demands. Colonel Tigh, the 2nd in command on the Galactica, organizes a resistance that uses terrorist tactics to keep the Cylons off guard. Eventually they get a signal from the Galactica notifying the folks on the ground that a rescue attempt is coming. The rescue operation is a glorious land and air battle that ends in success. Gaius Baltar is left behind and the Cylon’s take him with them. Everyone is back with the fleet and they can once again continue their pursuit, as Laura Roslin resumes her Presidential reign by default.
The time on New Caprica proves to be tough on everyone involved as new rivalries develop between the people who were on the ground and those who stayed with the fleet. A circle of six is created to judge and execute war criminals. The circle is done away with once a general amnesty is granted by the president. These grievances eventually subside as both sides come to an understanding. Occupation is hell and it takes time for people to get over it. 
The humans run out of food and must stop at a nearby planet to collect algae. While there, they discover an ancient temple that is yet another clue to Earth’s location. The Cylons arrive and a standoff ensues. The Cylons are looking for Earth as well, with the intention of making it their home. The humans are outmatched but they threaten to nuke the temple which makes the Cylons back off. Found inside the temple is The Eye of Jupiter. Baltar and the Cylon known as D’Anna (played by Xena’s Lucy Lawless) journey down to the planet to find out what mysteries the Eye contains.
There are seven known models of humanoid Cylon known to the humans. Those seven are also the only models that the Cylons themselves are aware of. The identity of the final five are kept secret from everyone. This is the main reason that Baltar wants to figure out the secret of the Eye of Jupiter. He wants to find out the identity of the final five because he is unsure whether or not he himself is a Cylon. D’Anna is able to figure out the riddle of the Eye and is able to see the final five. Before she can tell Baltar, she is killed by the humans. D’Anna reincarnates back on the resurrection ship only to find out that her model of Cylon is being shut down permanently. Her traitorous actions with Baltar cause the Cylons to think that her model is corrupt. Her model is terminated, thus losing the knowledge of the final five.
Kara Thrace (aka Starbuck), played by Katie Sackhoff (Halloween: Resurrection), realizes that she has been having visions of the Eye of Jupiter since she was a child. This is evident in several drawing and paintings that she did throughout her life. While out on a flight mission, she encounters a large spiral storm that looks very similar to the Eye of Jupiter. Upon entering said storm, she begins to hallucinate. She stays in the storm too long and her craft explodes.
Baltar is captured at the temple and thrown into the brig on the Galactica. The final episodes of the season center around Baltar’s trial where he faces the death penalty for treason. Lee Adama (aka Apollo), son of the now Admiral Adama, is responsible for the proceedings and for the well being of Baltar which is no easy task since many people want Baltar dead. Shortly after the conclusion of the trial, mayhem ensues as the Cylons show up and launch a full assault on the fleet. All available pilots take off in their Vipers, including Lee Adama who is no longer of military rank due to his falling out with his father over the trial.
While Lee is on approach, he spots an unidentified bogey and cuts off from the pack to check it out. It turns out to be Kara Thrace who was thought to be dead in a prior explosion. As the final episode of the season concludes, Kara tells Lee that she has been to Earth, and she is going to lead the fleet there.
Although this recap may seem lengthy, I haven’t even scratched the surface on this amazing show. There are dozens of characters and angles, all explored deep enough for the viewer to know and have a meaningful connection with. To explain it all in proper detail I’d have to write a novel. This show realizes that science fiction is a setting, not a story. The setting works, and the story is built upon the interweaving of well written and acted characters.
The Battlestar is more like a submarine than a typical spaceship that you might be used to seeing. There are no windows, just radar. The Viper Fighters are like jet fighters. The sets are brilliantly created and have a lived-in feel to them as opposed to the ultra clean norm of typical science fiction. The CGI space scenes are top notch, easily surpassing anything on television before, and pretty much all cinematic films as well. George Lucas should hire some of these CGI artists, as they are superior to his current staff. Also worth noting is the documentary-like feel of the camera work. It is mostly handheld which gives it that Saving Private Ryan look. This cinematic style also carries over to the CGI space shots which gives the show a nice fluidity.
The Cylons characters are complicated to say the least. They have evolved well beyond mechanical form and are profoundly introspective. They continuously have second thoughts regarding their pursuit of the human race, and are constantly at odds with each other. They are a new species and thus they are a little naïve at times. Adding to the confusion, multiple versions of the same model exist, and different versions have slightly different behavioral patterns due to differing life experiences.
My favorite television shows of all time are HBO’s Rome, Spaced and Battlestar Galactica. Galactica trumps the other two series because it has continued the excellence for much longer, running for four full seasons compared to fourteen total episodes of Spaced, and twenty two episodes of Rome. I cannot recommend this series enough, and not only for Science Fiction fans. Get on board before the fourth and final season concludes!
I believe that NBC’s The Office (another brilliant show) put it best with this exchange.
DWIGHT SCHRUTE: “Do you watch Battlestar Galactica?”
DAN: “No.”
DWIGHT SCHRUTE: “Then you’re an idiot.”
Extra features include deleted scenes, podcast and original commentaries, an extended episode, and Producer David Eick’s video blogs. The most significant extra is The Resistance Webisodes, which consists of ten thee to five minute clips that take place between the end of season two and the beginning of season three. These chronicle the events that lead to Colonel Tigh’s creation of the resistance, and the hard sacrifices that had to be made. Oddly, these webisodes were featured on disc two when clearly they should have been on the first disc. These webisodes should be watched before you begin season three because it adds a lot of depth to the scenario and clarifies why certain people act they way they do.
Battlestar Galactica is presented in anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio.
GET OUT AND BUY THIS ENTIRE SERIES AT ONCE, NOT TO BE MISSED!