Criticult.Com

It's been a long, long year since fans saw Kara Thrace miraculously re-appear after being long thought dead. In that time we were given a 2 hour movie, Razor, that helped to fill the gap. But there is nothing that beats fresh Battlestar.

Every so often a genre show comes out of nowhere and captures a large audience while maintaining, at least for a time, a measure of intelligence and daring that makes a cult show a phenomenon. The X-Files, Lost, Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, these shows are far and away the exception that proves the rule. Namely that smart dialogue, imaginative stories, and boundary pushing entertainment rarely are rewarded by your average television viewer.

So they die on the vine before their time. This is not the case with Battlestar Galactica.

While I'm sure the producers would love to keep the show going, and keep getting paid for as long as possible the Sci-Fi Channel has finally said enough is enough. After all, their core audience tunes in for Mansquito and Hammerhead Island what could they possibly want with a tightly plotted space opera?

No, Battlestar is going out but it IS going out on top. They may not be able to do everything they planned, but at least we are getting a damned ending. And if the two episodes we have seen so far are any indication it is going to get bloody indeed.

What is entirely obvious is that the show is no longer trying to bring in new viewers. It has been a losing battle that they seem relieved to give up on. Exposition explaining past events has been largely replaced by character interactions that are relevant and meaningful and will sail cleanly over the heads of anyone tuning in for the first time. It is as if the show is saying "You had your chance, either keep up or frack off."

And it's about damn time. Battlestar Galactica has reached it's turning point and there is now no going back. No longer having to court new eyes means that the writers can concentrate on wrapping up the considerable plot threads without worrying about the casual viewer being able to follow along. This new attitude is evident even in the opening credits. What used to serve as a fast backstory to the evolution of the Cylon has been replaced by a tag describing the 11 revealed Cylon models with the 12th model left to be shown. Generalities are no longer required, now we are down to the details.

Of the final 20 episodes, we now have 18 to go. Every time the end credits appear it is another nail in the coffin of what IS the best science fiction show yet seen on television and one of the best DRAMAS of all time.

Labels: Battlestar Galactica, commentary, TV