Battlestar Galactica & Caprica

[Wojo 2,453]

I still absolutely hate the character of Laura Roslin.

So we won't be buying you this shirt then.

[OneBuckFilms 319]

I saw The Plan this weekend, and I could think of a lot of things I could have better spent my time on.

It had none of the real drama, suspense or just plain good quality of the rest of BSG, which was unfortunate.

There are maybe a couple of interesting footnotes, but it was effectively a clip show with some gap filling.

I think the series should have ended with the end of Season 4.

Bear's music for the End Credits was great, and the beginning sequences were pretty good, but it really was a pretty poor showing.

I'm sorry Eddie Olmos and Jane Espensen, your work here simply did not live up to the promise, and it may take a while before I can really pinpoint why.

[John Crichton 4]

So am I the only one that liked The Plan, then?

[Danielle 0]

So am I the only one that liked The Plan, then?

No I quite liked it too, a lot more than Razor anyway.

[Charlie Brigden 7]

I didn't like Razor much at all. The character of Kendra was unsympathetic to a point, and the actress playing wasn't great, so it was like 'Who is this person and why should we care?' and there was no reason provided for us to care.

[John Crichton 4]

I'd say The Plan is better than Razor too. Razor is decent, in some ways I prefer the shorter broadcast cut (all the stuff with Cain as a kid should have stayed out). It was cool to see classic Cylons though, and I liked the old hybrid's ravings pointing the way to season 4.

It helps that The Plan doesn't focus so much on a new character the way Razor does. There is one, but she's more on the periphery than a central player.

[OneBuckFilms 319]

I found Razor to be the better of the two by a long shot.

I loved the opening to The Plan, and though it was great and well done. We finally get to see some things the Base Stars can do that we never got in the series proper.

But it was basically a clip show with continuity porn between clips. In the end, it just didn't work, though I loved the end credits piece.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Is it me, or do season 3 and 4 feel like it's 5 seasons crammed into 2?

I keep getting the feeling that somewere during season 2, they were told that there would be a maximum of 4 seasons, not 6 or 7. So a lot of the storylines were moved forwards, truncated, sped up etc....

[OneBuckFilms 319]

Season 4 definately steps up the pace. I think the reason is that they had a definitive end date. Season 3, I think, just wanted to start moving faster anyway.

[John Crichton 4]

From my recollection it was towards the end of season 3 while they were breaking the finale that they decided that it felt like the story was moving into the final act and the next year would be the end. It was definately the producer's decision, not the network's.

[Jay 37,287]

Actually, that's not the case. They wrote the first half of Season 4 leading into the mid-season cliffhanger without knowing if Season 4 would be the last season or not. Once they got the word it was, they kept the first half of Season 4 exactly the same as it was.

If it was extended past 4 seasons, the second half of season 4 would have been radically different.

[John Crichton 4]

Actually, that's not the case. They wrote the first half of Season 4 leading into the mid-season cliffhanger without knowing if Season 4 would be the last season or not. Once they got the word it was, they kept the first half of Season 4 exactly the same as it was.

That doesn't jibe with my memory, but I don't feel like trolling through the internet to find out right now.

I know the last half of season 4 was changed due to the writer's strike, they had a lot more time and decided to go a different direction than was initially intended, all the details of which are in Ron Moore's podcasts.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Just finished season 4. Bloody awesome!

In many ways this is the best season. Slighly less balanced then season one. But their is so much good stuff going on.

Ruminations:

Tigh being a cylon had me worried, but they do the right thing by not changing his character in any essential way. Whatever he may be, his loyalty to Adama is what defines him most.

I did not buy the romance/pregnancy angle between him and Caprica 6 though. One episode he's in an interragation/SM session with her, the next she's pregnant and they are appartently in love....

After Ellen returns this plot thread is put hastilly to an end...

Tyrol being one of the five is also problematic. They not only had to kill Callie (which was done very well), but then they had to made Callie an adultress, so their child is not actually his, so Hera could be the only Human/Cylon child etc...etc...etc...

James Callis is once again fantastic as Baltar. Often incredibly funny.

Interesting that even though the Fleet is reduced to eating algea, booze and drugs don't seem to run out.

Adama is put through hell this season. It's great too see Olson's performance as a man who's faith in what he knew to be true is so shattered. The scene were he breaks down after Tigh's big revelation is fantastic. He does it again later in the season when it turns out Galactica cannot be repaired, but that was a bit much I thought.

One season highlight was the unrelenting dessolation after finding the nuked "earth". With Dualla shooting herself, and the seeds sown for the upcoming mutiny.

Starbuck finding her own corpse and burning it was fantastic.

[Jay 37,287]

Yea, the show definitely ended strong. I agree some plot points seemed like an afterthought, or wedged in to make all the points they wanted to make, but overall I think it was a great success.

What are your specific thoughts on the Finale?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The final shot of the fleet and galactica was underscored with Stu Philips immortal theme from the original BSG. Which is great, but it also painfully illustrates that the new series never came up with a theme of that quality, or anywere near it.

On an emotional level the finale works incredible well. So well that I'm willing to see past most of my misgivings.

A lot of the plot threads from the whole series are patched together very neatly. Maybe a bit too neatly.

The final resolution, that the fleet finds our earth and by choosing to live on it pretty much sets the human race in motion is a very neat concept. Even though it's a modified version of 2001: A Space Odessey. (The humans and Cylons from the fleet are the Monolith and the unseen alien lifeform is God instead.)

The whole "we are part of God's higher plan" is a bit too Hallmark maybe, and rather goes against the gritty feel of the series. But on the whole even an non-believer like me was swayed by it.

[John Crichton 4]

Just finished season 4. Bloody awesome!

In many ways this is the best season. Slighly less balanced then season one. But their is so much good stuff going on.

Good man!

I thought Tigh's character did change quite a bit after the Cylon revelation, and all for the better. He finally found himself and became a great leader and a better man. The small, insecure drunk that almost led the fleet into total disaster after Adama was shot was nowhere to be seen.

Tyrol being one of the five is also problematic. They not only had to kill Callie (which was done very well), but then they had to made Callie an adultress, so their child is not actually his, so Hera could be the only Human/Cylon child etc...etc...etc...

I actually thought that added quite a bit to Cally's character, showing that Tyrol's rants about her not being a saint after her death actually had some truth to them. And it was honestly amusing, I was laughing quite a bit when that revelation came out.

James Callis is once again fantastic as Baltar. Often incredibly funny.

One of the highlights of the season 4 premiere has always been the return of Funny Baltar, just glorious. Not to mention the scene a few eps later when he's visited by Head/Angel Baltar.

With Dualla shooting herself...

Most shocking moment of TV ever. I missed the signs and totally didn't see it coming, and reacted almost like it was actually happening in front of me.

You should give the Season 4 CD a try Steef, the second disc with the complete score for Daybreak is fantastic. McCreary got better and better as the show went on. Plus it has the Stu Phillips quote. (one of my favorite moments too)

[OneBuckFilms 319]

I second that. BSG seasons 3 and 4 are fantastic scores, and very innovative.

It may not have the catch Star Wars-esque title theme, but it has a lot of great themes and instrumentations, and is very innovative.

IMHO, Bear McCreary is someone to watch.

The 1979 BSG fanfare would not have worked for this incarnation of the series. It is not a fanfare appropriate production.

[Charlie Brigden 7]

I second that. BSG seasons 3 and 4 are fantastic scores, and very innovative.

It may not have the catch Star Wars-esque title theme, but it has a lot of great themes and instrumentations, and is very innovative.

IMHO, Bear McCreary is someone to watch.

The 1979 BSG fanfare would not have worked for this incarnation of the series. It is not a fanfare appropriate production.

Maybe not the fanfare, but a traditional orchestral approach could have worked with the right person composing.

Personally, I find McCreary's music often overbearing and sometimes dull. Some of is great, some of it just sounds uninspiring, and greatly affected how I felt about some of the series. I'm aware that this is a minority opinion, but sometimes I was just dying out for a big emotional fanfare.

[John Crichton 4]

McCreary's music never really impressed me until the season 4 midseason "finale". From then on I really liked, and Daybreak is a wonderful score.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

McCreary sometimes has very innovative and interesting ideas that really enhance the scenes, but other times it's just like he's trying to see how many ethnic instuments he can fit into an episode.

Interesting how most often the least interesting music in this seies is the action music. Whixch is most of the times just those battle drums. Now I luv me some drums in my action music, but these drums...they don't resonate, they don't resound. They are just sort of there. Doing what they need to do, nothing more.

It's like the battle music from Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World, played with 3 people who are kinda bored...

Season 4 had some pretty good action writing though.

BTW, I have been and always shall be a huge fan of Stu Philips's theme, one of the best composed for TV.

[Charlie Brigden 7]

BTW, I have been and always shall be a huge fan of Stu Philips's theme, one of the best composed for TV.

Same here. There's a certain soul to it which always stands out (which I think the series could have sometimes used). His theme for Adama was amazing.

[Greg1138 3]

"Out Of This World" with Johnny and the girls and boys doing the business.....Oh yes....fantastic theme....

[John Crichton 4]

McCreary sometimes has very innovative and interesting ideas that really enhance the scenes, but other times it's just like he's trying to see how many ethnic instuments he can fit into an episode.

Interesting how most often the least interesting music in this seies is the action music. Whixch is most of the times just those battle drums. Now I luv me some drums in my action music, but these drums...they don't resonate, they don't resound. They are just sort of there. Doing what they need to do, nothing more.

Completely agree with all of the above. Though I'll say again his action cues were never as bad as those in the final battle in the mini, but that was another composer (Richard Gibbs).

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The Plan.

Like Razor, this is a prequel. Essentially it is an revisionist and in some cases apologist piece to get the first 2 seasons more in line with the latter 2.

In season 1 and 2 we are told every episode the Cylons have a plan. This TV movie shows...that their plan really is not very good, that it lacks commitment, vision and a long structure. Which is what I thought The Plan would have when I was watching seasons one and two.

A lot of the tension from these reasons comes from the fact that the Cylons seem to be everywere, playing a long game, biding their time, slowly manipulating the Fleet into some sort of trap.

As we all know, this went out of the window with season 3 and 4. Whatever Plan there was was dropped, and the Cylons became as conflicted as the humans in the show.

This TV movie shows that they were conflicted from the very start.

I'm guessing soon devoted fans will use the clips from this movie and insert them into the episodes of the series, into their proper cronology. It will make "everything clear", everything will "fit together" more.

It will rob those episodes of their tension though if you know beforehand that the Cylons are just making it up as they go along.

Now I'm making it sound like I hate this movie. But the curious thing is that I did NOT.

Yes it's shameless, but if you acknowledge it for what it is, that you can get past it and really marvel at the cleverness of some of this.

Dean Stockwell returns as Cavil and ones again does a great job portraying this spitefull, arrogant, and strangly human Cylon.

He is completely the centerpiece of this film. He is this film.

Most of the other regular cast is there, but really most of them have any stand out scenes.

It has the feel of a clip show. There is no way this movie makes sense without having first seen the series.

This film shed light on several issues, but did not make clear to me what exactly went on with Stasrbuck in the Cylon hospital she was in on Caprica. She was operated on, but the series (i think) never really makes clear what happened, and why.

[John Crichton 4]

It was a breeding farm, they were doing some kind of fertility tests on her. Remember, "procreation is one of God's commandments". It was the same vein as sending the future Athena to boink Helo- trying to find a way to have children.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It was never specifically stated what they did, they performed surgery on Starbuck. In season 3 it was revealed they took out her overy, but that turned out to be a lie.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The series finale seems to suggest that by destroying the Cylon colony and Cavil, the Cylon threat is over.

Surely there are basestars out their, with other Cavils? I think it was even mentioned in the episode that several baseships were seem to jumo away.

Also for a sci-fi series, BSG does seem to have a rather conservative streak to it. (Possibly due to it being produced in the Bush-era, and being mostly set in a military setting)

Torture (Gitmo style) and execution of a Cylon (Leoben)is apparently acceptable.

Abortion is banned (though in the specific case of the fleet at that time, it has some logical merit

Felix Gaeta is revealed to be bi-sexual, and subsequently stages a mutiny. Though unlike Admiral Cain, his sexual orientation is not a contributing factor into his atrocities.

The slow growing dominance and acceptance of a monotheistic God (resembling in many ways the one in Christian beliefs) over the old Gods of Kobol and the logic of science.

Also note that despite the Cylons being fanatically religious, the main Cylon who's eventually behind it all, is the only Atheist.

Gaius Baltar, who helps to destroy the colonies is also an atheist and is only redeemed after he converts.

(though it could be argued that apart from a few minor aspects, BSG is not really science fiction)

[John Crichton 4]

Also for a sci-fi series, BSG does seem to have a rather conservative streak to it. (Possibly due to it being produced in the Bush-era, and being mostly set in a military setting)

Some of my fellow conservatives were turned off to the show at the start of season 3, seeing New Caprica as a direct Iraq allegory with the insurgents being portrayed as the good guys, and that the show trended more leftward the last couple of years. Never really bought into either argument, though I tend not to look hard to allegorical meaning, more for broad philosophical strokes, and take the stories for what they are. I guess I'm in the Tolkien school in that respect. But I do love how the abortion episode was handled.

Deep Space 9 also struck me as very conservative, especially for Star Trek. I was especially happy how the military and war were protryated the last couple of years. Must be Ron Moore.

As for the plot question, it's implied in the finale that the centurions that are given the basestar are the only ones left, but you have to figure that not every Cylon was at the colony when it was destroyed.

[Danielle 0]

Also for a sci-fi series, BSG does seem to have a rather conservative streak to it. (Possibly due to it being produced in the Bush-era, and being mostly set in a military setting)

Torture (Gitmo style) and execution of a Cylon (Leoben)is apparently acceptable.

Acceptable to the characters, but not necessarily trumpeted as something moral. At heart, BSG is a 9/11 allegory, and that includes all of the bush-era reactionary politics that goes along with it. Display of such things doesn't equal approval.

Abortion is banned (though in the specific case of the fleet at that time, it has some logical merit

A lot of pro-choicers seemed to have been offended by that episode, but I'm not sure why. I didn't really think that it was about abortion anyway, more about a character being faced with a dilemma that eventually forces them to go against a deeply held belief. Replace abortion with some other issue and the episode could play out just the same way. (Incidentally though, an argument could be made that outlawing abortion wasn't necessary at all, since birth rates tend to skyrocket on their own after massive population depletions, like after WW2. Plus, prohibiting something doesn't make it disappear, it just pushes it into back alleys.)

Felix Gaeta is revealed to be bi-sexual, and subsequently stages a mutiny. Though unlike Admiral Cain, his sexual orientation is not a contributing factor into his atrocities.

No, just his disability.

(though it could be argued that apart from a few minor aspects, BSG is not really science fiction)

True, science fiction tends to be about asking "what if?" and then having a go at answering. Every major plot mystery being answered with "God did it" is kind of the opposite of that. BSG quite often seemed allergic to explaining anything, apparently due to Ron Moore wishing to avoid any and all uses of technobabble. It's a shame that this approach was taken, I'd have loved to find out why Ellen Tigh recovered her memories within seconds of resurrecting, yet Boomer never did.

Some of my fellow conservatives were turned off to the show at the start of season 3, seeing New Caprica as a direct Iraq allegory with the insurgents being portrayed as the good guys, and that the show trended more leftward the last couple of years. Never really bought into either argument, though I tend not to look hard to allegorical meaning, more for broad philosophical strokes, and take the stories for what they are. I guess I'm in the Tolkien school in that respect. But I do love how the abortion episode was handled.

Here's a pretty good write-up on some of the aspects of BSG's approach to allegory, especially concerning the suicide bombings.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Acceptable to the characters, but not necessarily trumpeted as something moral. At heart, BSG is a 9/11 allegory, and that includes all of the bush-era reactionary politics that goes along with it. Display of such things doesn't equal approval.

True, such behaviour is even questioned in the show (like Cally shooting Bomer and not getting a trial)

A lot of pro-choicers seemed to have been offended by that episode, but I'm not sure why. I didn't really think that it was about abortion anyway, more about a character being faced with a dilemma that eventually forces them to go against a deeply held belief. Replace abortion with some other issue and the episode could play out just the same way. (Incidentally though, an argument could be made that outlawing abortion wasn't necessary at all, since birth rates tend to skyrocket on their own after massive population depletions, like after WW2. Plus, prohibiting something doesn't make it disappear, it just pushes it into back alleys.)

I thought it was a logical result of one of the best lines from the mini-series "We gotta start making babies."

No, just his disability.

Never trust those crippled, they are fillid with feelings of hate towards those who are bipedal!

True, science fiction tends to be about asking "what if?" and then having a go at answering. Every major plot mystery being answered with "God did it" is kind of the opposite of that. BSG quite often seemed allergic to explaining anything, apparently due to Ron Moore wishing to avoid any and all uses of technobabble. It's a shame that this approach was taken, I'd have loved to find out why Ellen Tigh recovered her memories within seconds of resurrecting, yet Boomer never did.

That one is easy.

Cavill wanted the final five to die during the destruction of the 12 colonies, and to ressurect, apologising to him about making him like a human, acknowledging that humanity is flawed and weak.

He probably programmed the Hub so that when any of the final 5 were ressurected, they got their memories back.

Boomer, like Caprica 6 living so long amongst humans, and being unable to, at fiest live with her part in the destruction of the Colonies, and with her betrayal towards Adama probably refused to acknowledge her "true" persona. Like people who experienced a terrible trauma blocks out what happened to them.

Or it's just one massive continuity error!

Some of my fellow conservatives were turned off to the show at the start of season 3, seeing New Caprica as a direct Iraq allegory with the insurgents being portrayed as the good guys, and that the show trended more leftward the last couple of years.

God took care of everything....is not a left wing philosophy, John.

Never really bought into either argument, though I tend not to look hard to allegorical meaning, more for broad philosophical strokes, and take the stories for what they are. I guess I'm in the Tolkien school in that respect. But I do love how the abortion episode was handled.

The show mimics too closely the real world events of the day to just consider it a broad allegory. I knew that the moment I realised Colonial One has the same color scheme as Air Force One.

Here's a pretty good write-up on some of the aspects of BSG's approach to allegory, especially concerning the suicide bombings.

Nice article. I agree with the author that BSG sometimes hits matters over the head with a sledgehammer instead of calmly exploring them.

Now, what'about Caprica?

I've been reading the plot outline, and it just does not seem very interesting too me.

It's a prequel, which I usually dislike.

The premise of building a robot body so the soul of a loved one can be immortal in it is a very...very old and worn idea.

It stars Eric Stolz, who I haven't seen since the 1980's!

[Danielle 0]

Or it's just one massive continuity error!

That's the right answer.

Nice article. I agree with the author that BSG sometimes hits matters over the head with a sledgehammer instead of calmly exploring them.

You should check out the one she wrote on Daybreak. It's vicious, but sadly, I find myself agreeing with so much of it, which annoys me because I tried so hard to like it.

Now, what'about Caprica?

I've been reading the plot outline, and it just does not seem very interesting too me.

It's more interesting than it sounds. Totally different tone to BSG though. I've no idea if the series got picked up or not, but it would be interesting to see how far the concept can be spun out before it becomes too tiresome/soapy/silly.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The problem with the "final solution" on Daybreak, is that it explains everything, without explaining anything.

It also creates an rather interesting, but probably unintended concequence.

The first we hear about "God's greater plan with human kind" is in season one. And only from the Number 6 in Baltar's head, and from the Leoben Cylon.

Both portrayed as manipulative religious zealots.

Daybreak shows us that they were essentially 100% right, and that basically The Fleet, with our heroes, who we have been rooting for were ideologically wrong.

If BSG is indeed an 9/11 allagory, then it would mean Al Quada was right and the decadent West was wrong.

Does that seem right? Not to me anyway.

The longer I think about it, the more I think the final solution of "God planned it all" was not fully worked out intill the final half of season 4.

After the show had already changed it's essential nature a few times because Ronald D. Moore or someone on his writing staff had a bright idea, this was their only hope of even slightly tying everything together.

The only problem is that it just feels disingenuine.

Another thing what I was wondering about.

Rosslin pardons everyone after new Caprica of any crimes they may have done.

Yet Baltar is put on trail for signing a death warrant during the ocupation....

[Danielle 0]

That one never bothered me really... As I recall Lee even brings the pardon up in the trial when he's making his speech about Baltar being a dumping ground for everyone's sins. I do think it's fairly believable that everyone would quite willingly have a blank spot when it comes to Baltar.

(plus technically, Baltar wasn't actually in the fleet when the fleet-wide pardon was issued.)

If BSG is indeed an 9/11 allagory, then it would mean Al Quada was right and the decadent West was wrong.

Does that seem right? Not to me anyway.

I think the comparison only fits as long as you can view the Cylons as an incomprehensible, unstoppable enemy who could come out of the shadows and attack at any time. It fits perfectly for the relentless pursuit in seasons 1 & 2, but New Caprica did away with much of it. By season 4, all the blame is being shifted onto Cavill, a man with very recognisable, petty, and human motives.

This is much of the reason why I personally think that the first 2 seasons work so well. Episodes like '33' highlight the tension in the fleet, never knowing how long they can keep going, never knowing if they'll ever see a day free of the Cylon threat... Or 'The Hand of God', where the crew actually gets a chance to turn around and give the Cylons a bloody nose - the sense of overwhelming joy at being able to fight back for a moment and gain a victory is wonderful considering the brave new world these characters wake up to every day. Once Boomer and Caprica 6 take control and decide to play nice with the humans, that constant tension evaporates, and the relentless pace dies with it. It seems Moore was only too happy to take a knife to the pacing of his show and completely gut it, and all for a "OMG 1 year later!" shock moment.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I think the comparison only fits as long as you can view the Cylons as an incomprehensible, unstoppable enemy who could come out of the shadows and attack at any time. It fits perfectly for the relentless pursuit in seasons 1 & 2, but New Caprica did away with much of it. By season 4, all the blame is being shifted onto Cavill, a man with very recognisable, petty, and human motives.

The problem is that, in season 3, we get to see a lot more Cylons and know a lot more about their technology and society. And frankly, it doesn't really impress.

During a lot of the season 3 ep, particulary with those were Baltar is on the Cylon basestar, I find myself either confused by the lack of proper exposition, or annoyed by the lack of Cylons. (there are very few episodes were all of the 7 models can be seen)

It's all rather confusing, and most of all, not very scary.

It seems Moore was only too happy to take a knife to the pacing of his show and completely gut it, and all for a "OMG 1 year later!" shock moment.

Yes, i think too much was sacrificed for both the season 2 cliffhanfer (which sort of works) and the season 3 one (which has a Bob Dylan cover, Starbuck who isn't dead and 4 people staring at each other in a room) and doesn't really work.

Season 1's cliffhanger is absolutely brilliant though.

So John, what do you think?

[Jay 37,287]

Are you watching the series via the official DVD sets, or via downloaded torrents?

Watching the deleted scenes on the DVDs would fill in some holes for you

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Deleted scenes should have have too fill in anything for me.

I'm an 80's kid, I firmly believe that what you see in the actual episode is what's valid, not what was trown out.

[Jay 37,287]

Well, then I'm sorry you are not willing to enjoy the full experience. Every single episode of the show started as a 50-70 minute cut before they had to cut it down to 44.5 minutes. That's not a creative decision, that's a network limitation.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

That's a limitation that programme makers have been dealing with since the start of TV.

It cannot be used as an excuse.

[John Crichton 4]

So John, what do you think?

The Cylons couldn't have stayed the bad guys in the shadows forever, the show would've gotten stuck in a rut. I've always applauded Ron Moore and co. for taking risks and trying new things when so much TV just tries to play it safe. I like the arc the Cylons take over the final two seasons: since they've taken human form they become as conflicted and flawed as we are, and eventually induviduality asserts itself, as seen with the end of unanimous voting and the eventual civil war. Cavil is constatly fighting against his human nature, wanting to be a machine, and not only tries to destroy humanity but almost brings about his own people's destruction as well.

As for the "God did it all" theory, well...it's a very, very loose definition of "God". Moore leaves it very open, you could fit not only any type of diety but some other higher power in there. And no, it's not necessarily a left wing argument, but there are plenty of people on the left that are very devout to one religion or another also.

Some deleted scenes are better than others, but there isn't one extended cut ep on the DVDs that's not better than the original broadcast version.

[Danielle 0]

I like the arc the Cylons take over the final two seasons: since they've taken human form they become as conflicted and flawed as we are, and eventually induviduality asserts itself, as seen with the end of unanimous voting and the eventual civil war.

I do like the various Cylon experiments with individuality throughout the series, it was one aspect of The Plan that I enjoyed (specifically the Simon model who airlocks himself rather than being party to the death of his family). It's also interesting to consider the Cylons' efforts to mimic human behaviour from their more collective standpoint, especially in 'Downloaded', where their attempts to rebuild Caprica aren't anything more than a shallow mockery. They don't understand individuality at all, which is probably how Cavill managed to get them to go along with the attack in the first place - from their ordered perspective, humans must have seemed barbaric, chaotic creatures who really didn't deserve to survive. Considering that when they do eventually adopt more individual traits it ends up leading to civil war, maybe they had a point to begin with.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Bear McCreary's theme for Caprica, as hear in the opening of Day Break and also The Plan, very strongly reminds me of something. Alien maybe. It's driving me crazy, were is it from????

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

BTW, the series never revealed who left the note saying "There are 12 Cylon models" in Adama's quarters.

[Jay 37,287]

Yup! I was shocked when they brought that note up again in The Plan and then still didn't explain it!

[John Crichton 4]

Actually it's subtly confirmed in The Plan that it was indeed Baltar, which was always the logical person. The shot of Adama reading it fades out to a shot of Baltar in CIC, and it's said in the commentary that's meant to say yes, it was Baltar.

[Jay 37,287]

Ah. I missed that.

[ST-321 4]

Bear McCreary's music from BSG is now on iTunes, including a track & video of the BSG Orchestra playing Apocalypse, the theme from The Plan. Bear says in his blog:

And this is just the beginning. My team and I are sitting on footage and recordings of 25+ songs from our various Battlestar concerts. But I need to convince the powers-that-be that there are enough fans out there who want this material to justify finishing it. We could do a series of iTunes videos, a full concert DVD, a live album… anything is possible! I want this stuff to get out there and you want to experience it. So, help me send a message to NBC and iTunes that BSG fans want to see and hear more of the BSG Orchestra! If enough people download this first video and single, I know we’ll be able to deliver more.

[Jay 37,287]

Bear McCreary's scores to Razor and The Plan will be released Feb 16 on La La Land

Amazon link

[OneBuckFilms 319]

Fantastic !!!!

[ST-321 4]

Bear McCreary's scores to Razor and The Plan will be released Feb 16 on La La Land

Amazon link

Wow, Bear doesn't even have that on his blog yet. You scooped the composer Jason!

That's wonderful news.

[ST-321 4]

Bear McCreary's scores to Razor and The Plan will be released Feb 16 on La La Land

Amazon link

Pushed back to Feb 23. Bear updated his blog with the track list & info on the release

http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=3093