Original Galactica recs
I've added recs to my absolute Original Galactica favourites to telekis_vendiak. I apologize by the fans of the new show, but there were no recs for that one on the list.
I won't go into detail how much I was offended by the so-called "reimagined" show - those who know me know it already. There will be no divine intervention or unexpected miracle that could change my opinion about it, so let's not argue about the topic.
However, for those who'd like what great stories the original has inspired during the last 25 or so years, now can look them up at telekis_vendiak. Currently, all the links given there are working, I've checked every single one.
Oh, and by the way, I've acquired the entire original show on DVD a few months ago and re-watched it. Let me tell you: despite the occasional silly episode (and which show doesn't have those), it's still captivating.
I know, people (especially males) keep harping about the quality of the tricks. Well, let me tell those people, that at that time (we are speaking of 1978, when CGI didn't even exist), it was the peak of trick technology. The computers on board the Galactica were the top of their kind (donated by a computer firm), and they actually worked. So yes, when Omega or anyone hit a key, things happened on the monitors in real time, not just in the form of Okudagrams. John Dykstra himself was the head of the creative department, which meant Star Wars quality back then, in television.
All right, they re-used the Viper footage a bit too often. But the show cost a lot of money, at that time it was perhaps the most expensive one on screen. And I loved the Egyptian-style helmets and the costumes and the very looks of the show. Actually, I liked it a lot better than the idiotic trousers Kirk & Co had to wear in the original Star Trek.
And the characters. Lorne Greene as the patriarch not only the family but the entire Fleet. Apollo, while a lead character, a young leader with responsibility and conscience. Okay, Starbuck was a womanizing chaot, but he had this deep friendship with Apollo that overcame everything fate or the Cylons might have thorwn against them (and spawned a lot of bad slash, but that's not their fault). Colonel Tigh, the token XO who nevertheless showed more personality in his few scenes scattered across a season than most leading heroes in five or seven years. *coughsheridancough* *coughrikercough*
And they actually had strong women. Athena, who was a bridge officer and occasionally a Viper pilot and a teacher (and got dropped by the frigging PTB like a hot potato). Cassiopeia, the socialator-turned-head-nurse. Sheba, whose role was weakened by the horrible acting of the actress who played her, but she was a squad leader and a crack shot Viper pilot nonetheless. And even Rigel, who had nothing else to do but give Vipers free for launch from the bridge, but did it with calmness and competence.
Oh, and the other Viper pilots were great, too. Especially Boomer, who got screwed into a female Cylon in the new show, poor thing. I loved it in the original that he wasn't just a pilot but also very talented with all electronic equipment, and that it was based on his slightly... troubled youth. He was a very popular character, as you can see when you check out the Lt. Boomer Dedication Site, so yes, fans do have a right to be offended by what has been done to him.
And they even had a fat pilot (Jolly), who was just as competent as everyone else, and not the poor excuse for comic relief. Show me another series that managed to pull *that*!
All right, Boxey was annoying sometimes, and Muffit, the daggit was a nuisance. But I didn't mind Apollo having to raise the kid of his dead wife until less than ideal circumstances. And the few recurring characters, like Dr. Wilker and Chief Accuser Solon and the sneaky Sire Uri and all the others. They even managed not to portray a really annoying woman in leading position (Siress Tinia) as a complete idiot. And that back in 1987!
I wish to God Richard Hatch had gotten the okay for his vision, The Second Coming! That would have been a worthy continuation of the original, with the Cylons finally showed according to Glen A. Larson's original idea (reptiles in armour rather than clumsy robots) and a lot of other things. But we weren't that lucky. I still grieve for the series that never was.
I won't go into detail how much I was offended by the so-called "reimagined" show - those who know me know it already. There will be no divine intervention or unexpected miracle that could change my opinion about it, so let's not argue about the topic.
However, for those who'd like what great stories the original has inspired during the last 25 or so years, now can look them up at telekis_vendiak. Currently, all the links given there are working, I've checked every single one.
Oh, and by the way, I've acquired the entire original show on DVD a few months ago and re-watched it. Let me tell you: despite the occasional silly episode (and which show doesn't have those), it's still captivating.
I know, people (especially males) keep harping about the quality of the tricks. Well, let me tell those people, that at that time (we are speaking of 1978, when CGI didn't even exist), it was the peak of trick technology. The computers on board the Galactica were the top of their kind (donated by a computer firm), and they actually worked. So yes, when Omega or anyone hit a key, things happened on the monitors in real time, not just in the form of Okudagrams. John Dykstra himself was the head of the creative department, which meant Star Wars quality back then, in television.
All right, they re-used the Viper footage a bit too often. But the show cost a lot of money, at that time it was perhaps the most expensive one on screen. And I loved the Egyptian-style helmets and the costumes and the very looks of the show. Actually, I liked it a lot better than the idiotic trousers Kirk & Co had to wear in the original Star Trek.
And the characters. Lorne Greene as the patriarch not only the family but the entire Fleet. Apollo, while a lead character, a young leader with responsibility and conscience. Okay, Starbuck was a womanizing chaot, but he had this deep friendship with Apollo that overcame everything fate or the Cylons might have thorwn against them (and spawned a lot of bad slash, but that's not their fault). Colonel Tigh, the token XO who nevertheless showed more personality in his few scenes scattered across a season than most leading heroes in five or seven years. *coughsheridancough* *coughrikercough*
And they actually had strong women. Athena, who was a bridge officer and occasionally a Viper pilot and a teacher (and got dropped by the frigging PTB like a hot potato). Cassiopeia, the socialator-turned-head-nurse. Sheba, whose role was weakened by the horrible acting of the actress who played her, but she was a squad leader and a crack shot Viper pilot nonetheless. And even Rigel, who had nothing else to do but give Vipers free for launch from the bridge, but did it with calmness and competence.
Oh, and the other Viper pilots were great, too. Especially Boomer, who got screwed into a female Cylon in the new show, poor thing. I loved it in the original that he wasn't just a pilot but also very talented with all electronic equipment, and that it was based on his slightly... troubled youth. He was a very popular character, as you can see when you check out the Lt. Boomer Dedication Site, so yes, fans do have a right to be offended by what has been done to him.
And they even had a fat pilot (Jolly), who was just as competent as everyone else, and not the poor excuse for comic relief. Show me another series that managed to pull *that*!
All right, Boxey was annoying sometimes, and Muffit, the daggit was a nuisance. But I didn't mind Apollo having to raise the kid of his dead wife until less than ideal circumstances. And the few recurring characters, like Dr. Wilker and Chief Accuser Solon and the sneaky Sire Uri and all the others. They even managed not to portray a really annoying woman in leading position (Siress Tinia) as a complete idiot. And that back in 1987!
I wish to God Richard Hatch had gotten the okay for his vision, The Second Coming! That would have been a worthy continuation of the original, with the Cylons finally showed according to Glen A. Larson's original idea (reptiles in armour rather than clumsy robots) and a lot of other things. But we weren't that lucky. I still grieve for the series that never was.