Battlestar Galactica

If you have already seen Friday’s amazing Battlestar Galactica episode, The Hub, then you might enjoy this humorous YouTube clip based on the episode. I know I did! If you have not already seen The Hub, however, do NOT click this link as you will definitely be spoiled!

Last week we saw another a puzzling prophesy from a Cylon hybrid: 

“It’s really coming to pass.

A dying leader will know the truth of the opera house. 

The missing three will give you the five, who have come from the home of the thirteenth. 

You are the harbinger of death, Kara Thrace, you will lead them all to the end.”

The hybrid said all of this while smiling at Starbuck and stroking her face, which made the prophesy even creepier than normal. 

Anders, Natalie, Leoban, and Athena all heard these words as well and immediately latched on to line three, struggling to puzzle out the meaning of that part of the prophesy.

Their interpretation is that D’Anna, the boxed Cylon model which is also model number three, is the three.  The five is “the final five,” which only Anders knows is really “the final one” at this point.  And the thirteen is the thirteenth colony, the lost colony of Kobol, also known as “Earth.” 

Makes sense to me, but it also makes me suspicious.  This line seems oddly easy to interpret, but perhaps the hybrid set her speech on “easy mode” since there were humans in the chamber.

Why they ignored the fourth line of the prophesy is not clear, because if I had heard the person I am traveling with is “the harbinger of death” I would be a bit concerned.  Especially given the usual clarity of line three. 

But as many people have pointed out, the prophesy may not mean death in the sense of a second holocaust.  Kara could bring death to the dying leader, something that has to happen for the prophesy to be fulfilled.  She could also bring death to a way of life, or to the war between the Cylons and the humans.  What do you think?

If you don’t mind a couple spoilers, check out these preview clips for this week’s Battlestar Galactica episode “Guess What’s Coming to Dinner.” 

Monday night on the ShaunOMac radio show I made a wish for something to happen in this episode, and based on these clips it looks like it will come true … I can’t wait!

This episode will be the seventh of the ten episodes we were promised this year.  Only four more weeks of Battlestar Galactica remain before the long, cold summer months stretch out before us.  

The final ten episodes will not be aired until 2009, which is a harsh punishment for fans.  If we are lucky we will be treated to another set of webisodes between now and then, or perhaps some additional footage on Hulu or a preliminary DVD release.  Dare to dream.

We are now halfway through the Battlestar Galactica episodes we will be able to see in 2008, and things are really moving.  Friday’s episode, “Faith,” was one of the vocally loud and visually soft episodes to date.  Click below if you have seen the episode, or if you do not mind being spoiled a bit.  If you have not seen the episode, feel free to watch the embedded version above.

(more…)

So much happened in this episode! Some quick thoughts below, and I will be on the ShaunOMac show again this evening to talk about Battlestar Galactica if you want to call in.

(more…)

For fans who have not yet had a chance to watch the newest Battlestar Galactica episode, The Ties that Bind, here the episode from Hulu.com. Quick comments will be available here on Sunday, but until then here a few samples of the commentary taking place around the ‘net:*

TV Squad, Pop Critics, Scott EVill, Pop Media Cult, Thuderdome, Jedi Archives, and discussion at the Television Without Pity forums.

Please note this is not an endorsment of any particular review … I am at a wedding this weekend, and still trying my darndest not to be spoiled until I can watch this episode tomorrow afternoon. I am so curious, but even BSG can’t trump old friends.

Last week’s episode made it very clear to me:  that creature is not Starbuck.  That is my theory anyway … it’s still a mystery on Battlestar Galactica, but in my humble opinion Starbuck would not do the things this thing has done.  If you have seen “Six of One” or don’t mind being spoiled, click below.

(more…)

Battlestar Galactica has always been about the questionable choices people make in terrible circumstances, but last night’s episode “Six of One” seemed to take that to a new extreme.  If you have not watched it yet, the entire episode is embedded above … if you have watched it, feel free to add your thoughts to my first impressions below.

(more…)

One of the most popular questions fans are asking after last week’s Battlestar Galactica episode, “He That Believeth In Me,” has to do with the Cylon raiders.  Or, more specifically, a certain Cylon raider in particular and a certain moment.  For those who have seen the episode, click below.  For those who have not, beware of spoilers.

(more…)

Bear McCreary’s compositions add amazing layers to Battlestar Galactica, and it seems his talents are only growing in season four.

Bear recently blogged about the various pieces he composed for last week’s dramatic season four premiere, and included the translation for the haunting chant/prayer that is part of his new theme for Gaius Baltar.

The combination is designed to highlight Gaius’ new mental, emotional, and spiritual journey and the lyrics combine Cylon and Fleet sayings with images of suffering and redemption:

We gadriaþ in nihtscuan (We gather in shadow,)
Neoðan þin gledstede, (Beneath your altar,)
þin liċfæst in blode ond lieġe. (Your image in blood and flame.)
Nu þin ġebann, æþreddaþ us (By your command, deliver us)
To þæm anliċum æltæwan gastcyninge (Unto the One True God)
Gaius Baltar, ure dryhtweorþ nergend (Gaius Baltar, our divine savior)
Nu ond æfre to alder. (Now and for eternity.)
Swa we ġehwilc ġehalsiaþ. (So say we all. )

Bear also blogs about how he uses his compositions to highlight the complicated nature of the Battlestar Galactica characters, playing music that may not seem appropriate for the dialogue to increase the drama of a scene. I love Bear’s music, so it’s a damn effective technique if you ask me!

Below are some thoughts about the oft-mentioned Cylon plan, and a theory about some of the things that happened in the first episode of Battlestar Galactica’s fourth season.

(more…)

Fans who have watched the first episode of Season Four, “He That Believeth In Me,” might be curious about the bevy of beautiful women who are suddenly keeping company with Dr. Gaius Baltar.

Tracey Anne is the young woman who shows Dr. Baltar the benefits of his new life situation, using the language that Baltar understands the best.  She is played by Leela Savasta, a Canadian actress who grew up in Vancouver and has appeared on Smallville and Stargate: Atlantis.  The photo to the left was taken from Leela’s official web site, which reports we have not seen the last of her character.  Leela will also be a regular on Atlantis during its upcoming fifth season.

Click the link to read more about Baltar’s new friends, but beware of spoilers if you have not seen the episode yet.

(more…)

We are going spoiler free here at WatchingBSG, for as long as we can stand it.

I have blogged before about how I let spoilers ruin Razor … I watched every clip I could find, read every bit of news I could locate, blogged about it all, and suffered the consequences.  When I watched the movie it was a huge letdown … hell, I had already seen a good portion of Razor on You Tube before it aired.

I have also blogged about how I stopped watching promos for Season Four after Razor, and tried my best to stay away from anything huge and spoiler related.  As a result, the Season Four premiere was a lot of fun … I loved not having scenes from the promos lurking in the back of my mind, and watching the show was more fun when I really had no idea what was coming up next.

So with your permission, dear readers, I want to continue on that path of avoidance.  Traffic has been better than ever since I stopped posting spoilers, so I am hoping most folks will be amenable to this plan … there are still plenty of places to find spoilers on the Internet, you just won’t find them on WatchingBSG.

The television premiere of Season Four of Battlestar Galactica was last night, and you can already see the first episode online.  This is great news for Battlestar Galactica fans who are dying to find out what happens, but do not get the SciFi Channel!

Fans can watch “He That Believeth in Me” on the SciFi Channel web site, but I have heard that some people are having trouble with software issues.  Traffic is also huge over there this morning, so every time I tried to access the site my browser crashed.  If you are among the folks that cannot get the SciFi.com viewing option to work for you, have no fear - there are others.

Fans can also watch “He That Believeth in Me” on Hulu.com, the free streaming service that launched this year and is partnered with the SciFi Channel and its parent company Universal.  You have to register to watch, but registration is free and no additional downloads or software is required.  The viewing there is fairly high quality, but it is also interrupted by commercials. 

Hulu also allows you to embed episodes on blogs, which I have attempted to do above … let me know if it works, and if so you can watch “He That Believeth in Me” right here at Watching BSG!

Fans who want to watch BSG commercial-free can do so through Amazon Unbox.  Episodes are available online or through your TiVo, but to see the episode without commercials fans will need to pay a fee of $1.99.

Edward James Olmos will be featured in a documentary on Discovery en Espanol on Sunday night, where he will discuss the real issues behind gang violence in a documentary called Voces de Cambio. This is a cause close to Olmos’ heart and one he has spoken about in the past, and he makes another passionate plea for action in the broadcast:

“We are all responsible for our future. This is a simple truth an honest truth. The role that ex-gang members have on society is intrinsic. An ex-gang member can turn around the lives of thousands upon thousands of people as they turn negative energy into positive - it’s enough to make one cry.”

BSG writer Mark Verheiden recently blogged about the bittersweet joy of ending his Battlestar Galactica experience, and about the cast and crew’s belief that “no spoilers” makes the show a more enjoyable experience. 

Speaking of spoilers, a clip from the extended version of “Unfinished Business” (also known as “the New Caprica shipper episode”) has been leaked on the Internet.  Or you can wait and watch the clip in context when the Season Three DVD comes out later this month.

On a related note, I recently confessed on the ShaunOMac show that I have been taking great pains to avoid watching any of the Season Four promos for the show or the cast and crew interviews, which is why you have not seen any on the blog.  The always-reliable folks at Galactica SitRep have them all, however, so if are looking for a good collection head over there.  If you really think we need to have them over here at WatchingBSG.com too then feel free to drop me a note and let me know.  Now back to the news!

Even if you are spoiler-phobic like me, you can still enjoy the new clip up on SciFi.com where the channel condenses the first three seasons of BSG into one eight-minute clip.

Some lucky fans snagged a radio interview with Mark Sheppard, who plays Baltar’s mysterious lawyer Romo, at last weekend’s MegaCon:

“When I asked Mark Sheppard to do the on-air interview he asked me, ‘What do they want to talk about?,’ and I said, ‘You!’ He replied, ‘Great! I know all about that subject.’”

Lucy Lawless’ new movie, the animated Justice League: A New Frontier, has been getting strong reviews.  Lucy’s controversial Wonder Woman joins a cast that includes Bionic Woman’s Miguel Ferrer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s David Boreanaz, and many others.

Grace Park’s film West 32nd will be featured at the San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival later this month, but the early word is that Grace herself will not be able to join her costar John Cho at the screening.

The always-entertaining Leah Cairns recently did an audio interview with the folks over at Battlestar Blog, which you can listen to here.