Why I Love Battlestar Galactica

I have recently started watching the re-imagined version of the 1970s science fiction show Battlestar Galactica, and so far I really love it. I am only midway through the second season but up to this point the show has greatly impressed me. It is the perfect mix of science fiction, politics, philosophy and religion (coincidentally four things I love discussing).

The show's premise is mapped out extremely well: the human race's 12 home planets are attacked and massacred by a race of machines called Cylons that were originally created by the humans. With about 50,000 survivors left, the decimated remains of the human race must survive while being outnumbered by the enemy in an unforgiving part of the galaxy. While lacking political cohesion (the highest ranking politician is the Secretary of Education) and dealing with the new threat that Cylons can perfectly mimic human form, the crew of the warship Battlestar Galactica must rally behind the belief that the commander of the fleet can lead them to their mythical home planet of Earth.

Is it a little dense? Yes, of course it is. This is science fiction, what did you expect? But the beauty of it all lies in its execution. Compared to other space-based science fiction franchises such as Star Trek, there is a wonderful sense of realism. With the show's creators and writers (many of whom are Star Trek alums) producing the show through the lens of a post-9/11 world, the characters, events, setting and design, it is not afraid to get very dark and very real.

The characters are well-written, with all of them having their own problems. These deep flaws really help create drama that other science fiction shows lack by making the characters feel more human. They make wrong decisions sometimes, and these wrong decisions sometimes end up with disastrous consequences (an ill-advised military coup; mistreatment of Cylon prisoners). These are decisions that have lasting consequences as well. Unlike most shows, the problem is not fixed after 43 minutes. And there is no clean slate with which to start the next episode.

The setting is also expertly designed. When Secretary of Education Laura Roslin assumes the office of the president, there is no smooth transition. She must deal with dissent among citizens who feel she should not have assumed office, opposition from a former terrorist/freedom fighter (clearly influenced by people such as Bill Ayers or Timothy McVeigh) and a less-than-smooth relationship with Commander William Adama, the head of the military.


The fleet also has to deal with prisoner ships, fuel and water shortages, the discovery of another Battlestar (along with someone who has a higher rank than Adama) and concerns over loyalty for the president and the military. There are major conflicts between characters and story arcs that take place over multiple episodes, which helps stretch out tension.

The feel of the show is well-constructed: it is not outlandish or pretty. People communicate via phones (and not fancy ones; we are talking old-fashioned land-line designs). They still use paper. The sets are dark and gritty; there is no Apple Store feel like there was in the new Star Trek movie. Ships can travel faster than light, but it takes time and can only jump from one place to another, unable to maintain faster than light speeds. And when they jump, they do not know where they will end up. They still use nuclear weapons and projectile firearms (no phasers). The medicine is not much more advanced than it is today. People get angry, parts break down, things fall apart.

But there is more to the show than just plot. Like I said earlier, it has a great mix of politics, philosophy and religion. Politically, there is a great deal of turmoil surrounding President Roslin. She has to cope with dissidents such as terrorist/freedom fighter (depending on who you ask) Tom Zarek, rough relations with the military and has an upcoming election to deal with. Is she handling the apocalyptic situation well? Is she representative of the people? Are her actions helping or compromising the security of the fleet? How much should religion factor in her decision-making and image? Could Tom Zarek do a better job? These are the types of political issues the show raises and addresses well.

The religion of Battlestar Galactica is also significant. Humans are pan-theists, who believe in the 12 Lords of Kobol. The ancient texts talk of a dying leader (Roslin is dying of breast cancer) who will lead the people to Earth, and Roslin begins to accepty her role as a sort of emissary after having visions predicted in the ancient texts. Her faith also leads her to make an order that opens a huge can of worms when it challenges the orders of Commander Adama. Contrastingly, the Cylons are monotheists, believing in a single forgiving god unrelated to the Lords of Kobol. The religions presented highlight issues such as faith, the role of faith in making important decisions, debate over which theistic belief is right, and if any of the gods even exist.

But my favorite part of Battlestar Galactica is the philosophical questions it poses. Cylons are able to perfectly replicate human form all the way down the the DNA sequences. But are they human? Or are they still machines? They can still feel emotions such as love. They can feel pain, incur psychological distress (one Cylon prisoner is repeatedly beaten and raped) and even be impregnated by a human.  What if a Cylon and a human have a baby? What is the child? Most simply see these Cylons as mindless killing machines, incapable of understanding what it means to be human.

But what does it mean to be human? This is the fascinating philosophical question that Battlestar Galactica throws at you, and I still have yet to come up with an answer in that context. But that is what I like about the show and about science fiction in general: it challenges me to think about such fundamental questions about human nature in a brand new light. This is the brilliance of Battlestar Galactica.

I hope that, as I continue watching, it maintains its quality and continues to come up with challenging questions and scenarios that I have come to love about the show. If you like intelligent television that really makes you think, this the show for you (or at least the first season and a half). If you do not like such television, enjoy the Jersey Shore.

Until next time, Orange Hat Guy