Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Battlestar Galactica

//
Oh, what a slippery slope, this geekiness. Buffy was my gateway drug, and now I'm buying comic books, I've gone to conventions, I'm watching SciFi Original Series. My (fragile) mojo is lost!

Friends have been harping at me for months to catch up with Battlestar Galactica; saying that I would love it, that it's incredible, et cetera, but I kept putting it off, basically afraid of another TV addiction.

I think it was all the crowing by TV critics the past couple of weeks about how deserving Mary McDonnell was/is of an Emmy nod for her role in the series that finally convinced me to watch it. I like Mary McDonnell, and appreciate something that'd give the gal a juicy role.

I've never seen the original series, so I didn't have much of any idea what the story of the BG universe was about. So I wanted to ease myself in slowly, and intended to watch just half of the miniseries last night. But of course, being me, I ended up staying up half the night watching the entire thing and completely geeking out on it.

Now, it didn't blow my mind away or anything, there was plenty of silliness involved and lots of character by way of caricature, but I have to say I fully expect that stuff to level itself out as I see more of the show. It seems smart enough to flesh out these characters in unexpected ways as the series continues from here. And there was a lot I did like quite a bit - the level of brutality (the Cylons have completely got me freaked out) is terrific - not many shows have the almost total annhilation of the human race as their jumping off point.

So yes, now I'm completely invested now in watching what happens So... I'm hooked. Another geek bites the dust.

And yeah, Mary McDonnell is terrific. Can't wait to see where they take her character. Still have to get used to The Olmos a bit, but sticking Jamie Bamber in scenes with him does go a long way towards making him... anything... watchable.
,

4 comments:

NATHANIEL R said...

ooh wait for it. wait for it. it just keeps getting thornier and better and more complex as it goes + jamie has hanging around in a towel scenes. So, it's all good.

Jason Adams said...

I didn't want to sound too negative about the miniseries because I really did enjoy it and could not turn the damn thing off even as I was about to die from exhaustion, but yeah, I think I'm mostly hooked because I see the potential for greatness-to-come in it (not to mention the resounding chorus of how amazing it's gotten), more than actually being deeply, profoundly blown away by the miniseries itself.

I mean, I liked it a lot, but yeah, like you say, I think I could love it when it starts really digging into its story some.

And judging by my Netflix queue, which this morning was just crammed full of the series, I'm gonna work my way through it as quick as I can. I'm terrified now that I'll see a spoiler somewhere!

Brian W said...

Ooh yeah, avoid the spoilers, and don't even watch the credits--the little blipverts give away crucial scenes, I've always thought.

Season one is better than the miniseries. The first half of season two (erm, "season 2.0") is even better than season one. Season 2.5 went a bit fishy for a bit but then turned into a TOTAL STUNNER. You're in for such a treat.

And I have to second Nathaniel R's comment about Bamber and His Magic Towel. Best. Scene. Ever.

matthew h said...

The towel scene is amazing.