Second Half of Battlestar Galactica S2

[labingi]

I finally finished S2 of BSG. Yes, I’m behind the times. I won't do episode reviews because everything's already been said. But here are some general impressions

Comments

[lillibet]

I've really been enjoying S3 for some of the reasons you mention here. Especially toward the end of the first half (where we are right now), a lot of things are moving and shaking on personal levels in ways that I've been really enjoying. I understand that the ratings have dropped significantly--I'm hoping that the critical swell it's been getting at the same time may help to keep it afloat for another season, at least.

[labingi]

I'm glad to hear S3 is going well. That's encouraging!

[vilakins]

I gave up on BSG half way through S2. I just got bored.

I'm enjoying the US Office though. Michael is every bit as squirmingly horrible as David Brent, and Jim and Pam as engaging and sad as Tim and Dawn. I suppose there won't be any happy ending for them as your series will run indefinitely.

[labingi]

Oh, I'm sure there will be a happy ending in the end. It's an American sitcom after all:)

[vilakins]

I hope so. I was so scared we weren't going to get one for Tim and Dawn and was amazed and moved when we did. Why on earth does an intelligent girl like Dawn or Pam put up with an oaf like the loutish bf from stores?

[labingi]

I think, in a nutshell, it's a testament to the power of the "gotta hang on to your man" myth. The idea that you've got your guy and you're supposed to be happy makes it hard to face the fact that you're really miserable.

[camillemulan]

I've had BSG Season 2.5 for over 2 months, but haven't made it past episode 3. I keep waiting for the hubby to be in the mood to watch it; unfortunately, he's been feeling that the show is too depressing and he never feels like watching it.

This is a just a long explanation as to why I'm not going to read your whole post; there might be spoilers.

[labingi]

Interesting. I don't find it depressing much at all, precisely because I don't care enough about the characters to be that deeply involved. But if you're more oriented around the general situation--yeah, that's pretty dark.

By the way, my post actually isn't spoiler heavy. I think there's one relationshippy spoiler that might come as anything like a surprise.

[ewans_gal_4ever]

As a character-and-relationship-based viewer, I think these episodes suffer from too large a cast. There are so many characters, each with their own stories, that the "main" characters and relationships end up underdeveloped.

I think this is a huge reason why I never got into the show. I tried, really I did. As you know Eric LOVES it and it's "must-see TV" (along with Heroes) for him but I just can't bring myself to give it another chance. This is why I loved Farscape so much because it DID have such a small intimate cast (of main characters) and they slowly integrated in new ones so it didn't feel so overwhelming tring to follow the lives of a bazillion people an hour a week like BSG. I feel no connection to anyone at all because you don't really know anyone at all so I simply don't care what happens to them.

[labingi]

Yeah, looking back Farscape, for all its weak spots, really was something special and daring, and we haven't seen anything like it since.

[kaseido]

I completely agree. Much as I respect and enjoy watching BSG, I've never gone back to watch anything but the mini and the first few episodes of Season 1. Not even tempted to buy Season 2. And it's because of the spotty attention to relationship and character development.

I don't know that they could have done better: ST:TNG had much the same flaw, though it was from an earlier era where the self-contained episode with a reset button was the norm.

OTOH, Season 3 has been *much* better than Season 2.5, dramatically so, even if the last two episodes were *very* weak for exactly the reasons you cite...

[labingi]

Yeah, ST:TNG was the same way, though as you say, that was more the norm back then, so I feel a bit funny calling it a "flaw." I'm glad to hear that S3 has been better overall. I do want to see it.