I´ve just finished watching the season 4 finale of BSG and I still can´t stop thinking about it ! I´m not generally a big sci-fi fan, but this show rocked my socks off. I was already hooked halfway into the first episode, loving the action and the characters. It´s an amazing mix of drama, haunting emotions, with a touch of mysticism and a lot of suspense. The look is a big grungy and grainy, You care for the characters, and empathize with their real, complex emotions.
More reasons why I love BSG (no spoilers):
* Everyone is a shade of grey.
Each of the characters has their dark sides, parts of their character they are struggling with. There is no childish division of good guys vs bad guys. The characters often let their darker traits take over, and you end up loving and hating them at the same time because
They don´t come up with a sci-fi solution for every problem. Characters die. Those that survive struggle with survivor´s guilt. The problems, the happy and sad moments are not far removed from what we know, in spite of happening a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
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| And they are all hot. |
* Strong, real female characters.
Finally, a feminist Sci-fi ! Battlestar Galactica´s ladies are strong, real characters, that would have worked even if you switched their gender. Even though they are all good-looking, they are under-glamourised throughout the show (except for the head 6, but she has a good excuse). They get dirty and grungy doing their jobs. I admit I have a ladycrush on Kara Thrace, for her tomboyish looks and her drunken laugh. However, there is plenty of eye-candy for the ladies, too.
* The romance
For an action-oriented series, the love stories are deep, touching and often heart-wrenching. I have teared up several times during the series. The love stories are often messy and complicated, with twists and turns and lows and highs.
* The music
The intro goes from the Gayatri Mantra to the amazing Gaelic drums. The sountrack includes a trance-like version of Bob Dylan´s "All Along The Watchtower". And ethnic instruments like er hu, zhong hu, bansuri, duduk, nagado daikos and tablas. Main characters have a leitmotif. Of course you don´t always notice it, what with all the action and romance happening on the screen, but it´s totally worth keeping an ear open for.
I was always annoyed how most sci-fy seemed like it was written for the under-13 crowd: girls and boys just hold hands, and everything episode ends on a happy note. BSG is refreshingly grown-up, and girls and boys share hot, steamy moments. Some of the characters drink heavily, and smoke cigars (some, like Starbuck, do a lot of both). And everyone says "Frack".
Especially the ones brought to us by Gaius Baltar. BTW why does he look like Jesus when he grows out the hair and beard ? Also: the fat Lee Adama. and every moment with Romo Lampkin.
* The dry humor:
'Helo' Agathon: That's my Raptor wranglers, always looking for new and interesting ways to get killed.
*
Gaius Baltar: “All we need is strength, and strength comes from within…and guns. More guns. Bigger guns. Better guns.” *
Apollo: (speaking to Starbuck who is in the brig) What’s the charge this time?
Starbuck: Striking a superior asshole.
*
Laura: (talking to Tory about getting information from Baltar) I don't really care if you have to spend the night on your knees praying, or just on your knees. I want a name.
And the last season finale ? I liked it that not all the mysteries were forcibly solved. Gives me something to ponder about at random moments.
What are you waiting for, go and watch it !
For those of you who have already watched the series:
For fans of Starbuck
Frak yeah BSG
Gaius on Tumblr
Top 100 scenes of BSG
Now some picspam, because I couldn´t decide which images to post.
