The end of Battlestar Galactica

[Ironman1188]

'Battlestar' Gets Grounded by Sci Fi
By Nellie Andreeva
Reuters
LOS ANGELES (June 1) - The upcoming fourth season of Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica" will be its final one after all.

After months of speculation, the show's producers are set to make the announcement at a press conference Friday.

Ending "Battlestar" with the upcoming 22-episode fourth season was a creative decision made by the hit show's executive producers Ronald Moore and David Eick.

"This show was always meant to have a beginning, a middle and, finally, an end," Eick and Moore said in a statement Thursday. "Over the course of the last year, the story and the characters have been moving strongly toward that end, and we've decided to listen to those internal voices and conclude the show on our own terms. And while we know our fans will be saddened to know the end is coming, they should brace themselves for a wild ride getting there -- we're going out with a bang."

The fourth and final season of "Galactica" will kick off in November with "Razor," an extended two-hour episode, with the rest of the season slated to run beginning in early 2008.

Sci Fi executive vp original programming Mark Stern said the channel's brass "respect the producers' decision to end the series."

For months, Sci Fi had dispelled rumors about "Battlestar" ending its run after the fourth season.

A couple of weeks ago, one of the show's stars, Edward James Olmos, was quoted as saying that the upcoming batch of episodes were definitely the last ones. Sci Fi issued a statement denying such a decision had been made.

 

[screamingmetal]

'Battlestar' Gets Grounded by Sci Fi
By Nellie Andreeva
Reuters
LOS ANGELES (June 1) - The upcoming fourth season of Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica" will be its final one after all.

After months of speculation, the show's producers are set to make the announcement at a press conference Friday.

Ending "Battlestar" with the upcoming 22-episode fourth season was a creative decision made by the hit show's executive producers Ronald Moore and David Eick.

"This show was always meant to have a beginning, a middle and, finally, an end," Eick and Moore said in a statement Thursday. "Over the course of the last year, the story and the characters have been moving strongly toward that end, and we've decided to listen to those internal voices and conclude the show on our own terms. And while we know our fans will be saddened to know the end is coming, they should brace themselves for a wild ride getting there -- we're going out with a bang."

The fourth and final season of "Galactica" will kick off in November with "Razor," an extended two-hour episode, with the rest of the season slated to run beginning in early 2008.

Sci Fi executive vp original programming Mark Stern said the channel's brass "respect the producers' decision to end the series."

For months, Sci Fi had dispelled rumors about "Battlestar" ending its run after the fourth season.

A couple of weeks ago, one of the show's stars, Edward James Olmos, was quoted as saying that the upcoming batch of episodes were definitely the last ones. Sci Fi issued a statement denying such a decision had been made.

I thought you didn't watch the remake?
I think that it's good to go out when they're doing their best work then drag it on needlessly. BSG can take a seat on the shelf next to Farscape, a show I think that did end too soon and without warning.

 

[Ironman1188]

I don't. But now maybe they'll be room to revive one that I do.
Maybe even Farscape.
Or Firefly [give Nathan Fillion a job!!!].
Or Space: Above and Beyond.
Or John Doe.
Or Surface.
Or Invasion.
Or Threshold......

 

[DarthNeil]

I don't. But now maybe they'll be room to revive one that I do.
Maybe even Farscape.
Or Firefly [give Nathan Fillion a job!!!].
Or Space: Above and Beyond.
Or John Doe.
Or Surface.
Or Invasion.
Or Threshold......

Wasn't Threshold the funniest thing ever?... Here you have this unique show moving along and then poof--network brass yank it without so much as a sorry.

Invasion-- well the premise was stale but there were bright spots.

Firefly in a heartbeat.

Never watched the other ones... But BSG-- well, I'm glad that they're going out on their terms. I'm looking forward to what should be a fun ride.

 

[screamingmetal]

I don't. But now maybe they'll be room to revive one that I do.
Maybe even Farscape.
Or Firefly [give Nathan Fillion a job!!!].
Or Space: Above and Beyond.
Or John Doe.
Or Surface.
Or Invasion.
Or Threshold......

I'd love to see the return of Firefly, Space Above and Beyond, or Farscape but I seriously doubt that'll happen.

I would like to see them do a series to The Lost Room.

 

[Morgan the Raider]

The end of Battlestar for me was the last episode of the second season. I hated the time jump. I thought it robbed the series of a lot of character development and just cheated it along the way. I watched the first episode of season 3, but have not been back since.

I will eventually catch up on the DVDs. Still, I think the show has gotten way too much positive buzz. It was outstanding at times, but at many other times it was mediocre.

 

[DarkArtist81]

While this makes me sad.... I'm glad that things are ending on their own terms and that we will get a full story out of it. BSG is my favorite show, I wish they would keep it going forever.... but in the end we (the fans) would lose out.

 

[ONEYE]

I miss Starbuck already.

 

[Batty]

At least Caprica might still happen.

It goes without saying that a lot of people want Firefly to return. Its cancelation was one of the biggest disappointments caused by Fox.

I actually enjoyed Invasion. I thought it continued to get better as it went along. Then the hammer fell and we were left hanging as to how it ended.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

thats bad/great news. at least it isn't a last minute kind of notice and everyone knows its coming. i hate when series end abruptly and they leave so many things open because of lack of preparation. so now the writers can write like there really is no tomorrow.

~~i love the end of season 3 when apollo sees starbuck and she smiles at him.

 

[Ironman1188]

I heard in the final episode Richard Hatch finds himself inside a Colonial Viper, looks over, sees Dirk Benedict flying alongside and remarks about the terribly strange daydream he just had in hyperspace.

 

[Darth Caedus]

I heard in the final episode Richard Hatch finds himself inside a Colonial Viper, looks over, sees Dirk Benedict flying alongside and remarks about the terribly strange daydream he just had in hyperspace.

Then Mr. T comes along and says he doesn't want to fly in a Viper piloted by Murdoch. It shall be a very odd finale.

 

[gdb]

SciFi promoted the hell out of this show. Even still, they did it all wrong. The webisodes were cheap and hard to download but it was the hiatus's that really killed off viewers. Season two was going strong, then suddenly it ends. Months later they release a season 2.1 DVD set and just as suddenly as it ended, it started up again. It was the wrong time of year as well. Viewers need to be conditioned to tune in each week. Just last season, the networks figured out hiatus's in the middle of the seasons drive off viewers. That's why Heroes will have Heroes-American-Idol next year and why Lost won't have any anymore.

Still, these 22 episodes are gonna rock!! Hopefully they'll get enough veiwers and attention that Caprica moves from development hell into full production.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I'm betting that despite all the critical acclaim the show was just too expensive for Sci-Fi. It's not like SG1 where the writing team couldn't get another job to save their lives. I'm betting BSG cost as much as a top network show on the backend, even though they saved some in production costs.

And I'd love to see Farscape, Firefly or John Doe return. Although Kyle XY is a teenage John Doe and is returning this summer. And John Doe himself is stuck in Mexico planning on breaking his brother out of jail.

 

[gdb]

I think that's it, Dave. The only way it would have been finacially successful is if it was a runaway hit.

 

[Masao]

Re: The end of Galactica 1980 2.0

I'm betting that despite all the critical acclaim the show was just too expensive for SSC. It's not like SG1 where the writing team couldn't get another job to save their lives. I'm betting BSG cost as much as a top network show on the backend, even though they saved some in production costs.

It is more likely that the crappy writing and rediculous convolutions of a good idea finally caught up with the show. The running joke is that they were constantly cutting corners. This was evidenced by the use of current military technology on a Sci Fi show about A-L-I-E-N-S. No one in their right mind can put down SG-1 then turn around and applaud Galactica 1980 2.0 using SG-1 military weapons. This tops a list of stupidity that had to make an impression eventually.

Another problem is that modern actors are clueless about their craft. Afterall, if a Shakesperian actor were to mention being amazed that there had been a previous production of Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet we would call the actor "dumb as a post" or some such. When we see rehashed scripts stolen from JAG or The Cape or Pensacola, some of us have to laugh before switching channels.

The show was another bad Trek and it finally had to go.

If there were only one SG1 writing team, maybe there wouldn't have been Atlantis or the crappy 9th season. Too bad. All SG-1 needs is another creative consultant and they could go on for another 5 seasons.

Oh well.

And I'd love to see Farscape, Firefly or John Doe return. Although Kyle XY is a teenage John Doe and is returning this summer. And John Doe himself is stuck in Mexico planning on breaking his brother out of jail.

...Or the return of Briscoe Co Jr,
or The Lone Gunmen
or Millenium
or Space Above and beyond
or The Chronicle

Too bad intelligence is inversely proportional to corporate leverage in the entertainment community.

 

[LordAzrael]

Re: The end of Galactica 1980 2.0

or The Lone Gunmen
or Millenium

Seeing both these shows were wrapped up in the X-Files (the Lone Gunmen all died sacrificing themselves to stop a bio-weapon, and the Millenium came and went with Frank helping Scully & Mulder stop a zombie armageddon) I suspect these two are a no go.

 

[devlinboy]

bring back sliders !!!!

 

[gdb]

Re: The end of Galactica 1980 2.0

It is more likely that the crappy writing and rediculous convolutions of a good idea finally caught up with the show.

I'm sorry you don't like the show but you're revealing your ignorance by attacking the writing and I'm simply confused by your assertion that actor's in Shakespeare's day were any less full of themselves than today's crop. The show's foundation is its writing. It won a Peabody award. You may find the writing is not appealing to you personally but then it's not written for you personally.

I'm not clear on what rehashed script elements you are refering to, but that's the nature of television. Hell, that's the nature of drama. Macbeth wasn't the first play on the Thames featuring witches you know.

 

[Masao]

Re: The end of Galactica 1980 2.0

I'm sorry you don't like the show but you're revealing your ignorance by attacking the writing and I'm simply confused by your assertion that actor's in Shakespeare's day were any less full of themselves than today's crop. The show's foundation is its writing. It won a Peabody award. You may find the writing is not appealing to you personally but then it's not written for you personally.

Interesting. I never said anything about Shakespeare's day. I was referring to modern actors who don't know anything but acting...and not much about that. Part of acting is research. These actors had no clue about the previous incarnations.

I'm not clear on what rehashed script elements you are refering to, but that's the nature of television. Hell, that's the nature of drama. Macbeth wasn't the first play on the Thames featuring witches you know.

Now who is showing ignorance?

As you say, the foundation is the writing. Hmm, lack of understanding of human nature outside of Hollywood culture, use of terms which are exclusive to the modern US military, total lack of understanding about technological development.

Drama is conflict. It is based on the natural flow of events resulting from interaction. Starting from action to rest.

None of this applies to Galactica 1980 2.0! Stilted dialog. Foundationless high drama.

I guess I am wasting my time this way. Here is a list of examples of the nonsense of G1980 2.0 in no particular order.

-A fighter pilot acting as a lawyer.(ah, the only original idea in the series...no wait, nevermind.)
-Current US Military terms used as alien language.
-No energy weapons, but faster than light propulsion.
-Computer technology that can run FTL drives and Cylons but are no more sophisicated than your laptop.
-Reconizable weapons used a dozen times before: P-90s(SG-1), Vektors(Fifth Element, SG-1, Firefly), Barretas (SG-1, Firefly), Cop gun (Blade Runner, SG-1, Matrix, Bad Boys), etc etc etc as alien weapons.
-Humvees...with Canadian Lic plates.
-Craft with hyperdrive but not steath.
-Carbon fiber plates on a battle ship without knowlege of the stealth properties.
-People in a life and death peril having time to get into petty squabbles.
-Military personnel in a life and death peril having time to get into petty squabbles.
-A group of people who are being chased by the problem they created themselves... yes, there is a logical emotive for the audience to embrace the characters.
-The characters are no longer the victims, they are now the unwanted masses who want to spread their problems.
-LACK OF ORIGINALITY. The original BSG did something totally new. This was ignored to remove any taint of originality.
-Unconvincing actors cast in meaningless situations, causing some audience members to say "get back to the story!".
-Predictablity.
-There are no 'good guys' in the entire series. While flawed characters are great for a story, the characters should not all be equally flawed in a cookie cutter fashion.
-The writers were so inept that they had to turn male characters into females to get some measure of strength into them. Afterward they did not know how to handle female characters.
-All female characters were removed because the writers were unqualified to write for them.
-Demotion of all African Amercan characters.
-Gerry Anderson seems to be more of an influence that Glen Larson.
-Use of advanced technology such as WWII style radar.
-Hopping back to the home planet at any convenient moment! Do I really have to explain how stupid this is? Do I have to explain how this destroys the drama by making isolation irrelavent? Probably.
-Yes, Galactica 1980. It introduced the humanoid Cylon and Cylon social drama.


The downward spiral of this series had to end sometime. It could not continue to get consistantly worse forever.

Let me say, when I first heard about the series I was excited...then finally I got to see it. My reaction was WTF is this? It didn't include much sci fi but it was profuse in political dogma.

I have watched a wide variety of dramas both good and bad. I know bad when I see it.

My brother didn't. He loved the series. Then he finally caught what they were up to. He said he nearly lost his mind when he saw one episode in particular. All I could say was; "I told you so".

There seemed to be plenty of people who think G1980 2.0 is somehow superior to SG-1, but at least the folks at Gekko gave some EFFORT!

They created new technologies within the show. They created new weapons, ships, and worlds. Yet somehow this element says Gekko was not as original as the rehash of Frankenstein and Galactica 1980.

BTW, taste is not ignorance.

Very sad.