So Say We All, One Last Time

Resurrected from the remains of the 1970s classic, the re-imagined “Battlestar Galactica” became more than just the greatest science fiction epic of all time; it became one of the greatest dramas of all time.

From the beginning, Ronald Moore and David Eick were intent on making a “Battlestar” a science fiction series that didn’t become trapped in old clichés of the standard space opera. Instead of finding different planets and different species, “Battlestar Galactica” was a show about the survival of the human race as well as the social and political problems human beings face regardless of time or place. In doing so, “Battlestar” was never afraid to take chances and parallel the world in which we live.

When no other show would touch the topic, “Battlestar” fearlessly commented on the nature of suicide bombing through life on the Cylon-occupied New Caprica. With the arrival of the Battlestar Pegasus, the writers showed us the dangers of a military-controlled government. And as the series came to a close, more than ever the subject of racism and prejudice became a focal point. Without hesitation, the writers tackled these and other controversial issues with great success.

Of course, none of that would matter without spectacular storytelling and detailed characters. As fans know, “Battlestar” had both of those in abundance.

Coming into season 4.5, Starbuck (Katee Sackoff, “Bionic Woman”) had led the fleet to Earth, only to find  it a desolate wasteland. The entire fleet, up to this point in the series, was able to keep going on the hope that they may one day find Earth and return to some sense of normalcy. As the midway finale, it was an intriguing and bold move as the most obvious way to end the show would have the fleet settle on Earth.

The gamble paid off as the final episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” have some truly wonderful moments. The two part episode “The Oath” and “Blood on the Scales” was masterful story telling. Reaching into the depths of the human psyche, the two episodes exhibited the terrifying consequences of what blind hatred and the unwillingness to trust others can lead to. Felix Gaeta, (Alessandro Juliani, “Smallville”) more than any other character in the show, went through a complete transformation throughout the series. Every event that caused this change was perfectly told and just another showcase of the writers’ talent.

While every episode has a purpose and most are spectacular, episodes such as “No Exit” and “Deadlock” serve as informational pieces. The revelation of the fifth of the final Cylons, how and why the 12 models were created – all pertinent information, however, the episodes didn’t have the emotional force others had.

With the end approaching, there were varying emotions throughout the different characters. President Roslin (Mary McDonell, “Dances with Wolves”) had accepted her fate as her cancer worsened, even Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos, “Miami Vice”) understood that his beloved ship couldn’t last much longer. Baltar (James Callis, “Bridget Jones’s Diary”) and his followers were angry at what was happening, feeling slighted by God. Starbuck was still trying to figure out who she was and what her purpose was after making a startling discovery.

The journey of the Battlestar Galactica came to an end in “Daybreak.” Whether or not you like the eventual outcome is almost irrelevant. This is how the show had to end. A primarily character driven show, we were given final flashbacks of many of the main characters to emphasize how far they had come. Beautiful action sequences and heart wrenching story telling made all three parts of “Daybreak” one of the best episodes in the series.

Looking back at the odyssey of “Battlstar Galactica,” one cannot help but be amazed at how drastically the circumstances had changed. The complex story, deep emotional characters, perfect settings and ambiance all created the realistic feel of a world in crisis – people in despair – yet there was always the underlying sense of hope. “Battlestar Galactica” was the wonderful exception on television today and is nothing short of sublime.

The absolute best way to experience such an epic tale is on Blu-ray. Immediately, you will notice how wonderful it looks in 1080p. Though some scenes were purposely filmed in grainy manner, most scenes come out beautifully. When compared to the DVDs of previous seasons, the 4.5 Blu-ray looks especially wonderful and rich in detail.

Equally impressive is the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For a show that draws so much from its music, the sound on the Blu-ray disc is perfect. Every sound is heard clearly: the creaking of the ship, the take-offs of Raptors and Vipers and, of course, the explosions will make you wonder how you watched it in any other way.

Perhaps the most important part of a DVD or Blu-ray release is the extras packed into the discs. Have no fear, as there are plenty of extras to keep you busy once you’re done with the episodes.

First and foremost, there are three extended episodes in the box. On the first disc, is the unaired extended version of “A Disquiet Follows My Soul.” On the second, is one of the penultimate episode, “Islanded in a Stream of Star,” and finally the extended version of “Daybreak.” For those wondering, there is commentary for every episode including the extended one just mentioned.

Like every good DVD/Blu-ray release, there are some deleted scenes for your enjoyment. Also, there are some great features spread across all three discs. Unfortunately, not all are in high definition. There is a quick, eight minute recap of all that has gone on in the Battlestar universe entitled “What the Frak is Going on With Battlestar Galactica,” which is mildly funny. The high-definition feature “The Journey Ends: The Arrival” is also on the disc.
Perhaps the best of all the extras, “The Evolution of a Cue,” follows the brilliant Bear McCreary and his team of musicians as he creates the music to one of the scenes and serves as an example of how he created the soundtrack to “Battlestar Galactica.”

The second disc contains Eick’s highly entertaining video blogs, which are definitely worth checking out for any fan. The final disc has two high-definition features called “A Look Back,” which is self explanatory as well as a look forward to the upcoming television movie “The Plan,” entitled “And They Have a Plan.” In the latter feature, Edward James Olmos taunts us by saying, after we watch “The Plan,” we’re going to have to go back and watch the entire series over again. Finally, exclusive to the Blu-ray release, is “The Musicians Behind ‘Daybreak,’” which again follows McCreary behind the scenes as he creates the score to “Daybreak.”

Also exclusive to the Blu-ray version is the BD-Live feature and the U-Control, which offers two options called “The Oracle” and “Battlestar Actual” for every episode. Basically what happens is in the lower right hand corner is the letter “U” in a circle and at different points throughout an episode, it expands and gives you the option of clicking on “The Oracle,” “Battlestar Actual,” or sometimes both. If you click on “The Oracle,” it will give you a profile, a bio, a history up to that point and a quote from a particular character or a special object (the Battlestar Galactica for example) in that scene. “Battlestar Actual” is a glossary for all the terms unique to the “Battlestar” universe. Both are neat features, but impractical if you’re just trying to watch an episode, uninterrupted, for the first time.

Overall, this is a spectacular release and must have for any fan of the show. The final 10 episodes of “Battlestar Glactica” are a fitting end to the show that set out to differentiate itself from the rest of the genre and ended up transcending science fiction.

So say we all.