| Battlestar Galactica | |
|---|---|
DVD cover |
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| Genre | Science fiction Drama |
| Directed by | Michael Rymer |
| Written by | Ronald D. Moore Glen A. Larson[1] |
| Based on | A teleplay by Glen A. Larson |
| Starring | see cast |
| Country | United States |
| Original channel | Sky One Sci Fi Channel |
| Original run | December 8 – 9, 2003 |
| Running time | 180 minutes |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Followed by | Re-imagined Battlestar Galactica |
Battlestar Galactica is a three-hour miniseries (comprising four broadcast hours) written and produced by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Michael Rymer. It was the first part of the Battlestar Galactica reimagining based on the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, and served as a backdoor pilot for the 2004 television series. The miniseries aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States starting on December 8, 2003. The two parts of the miniseries attracted 3.9 and 4.5 million viewers,[2] making the miniseries the third-most-watched program on Syfy ever.[3]
Contents |
After a 40-year armistice in a war between the Twelve Colonies (the homeworlds populated by humans) and the Cylons (human-created robots), the Cylons launch a surprise nuclear attack intended to exterminate the human race. Virtually all of the population of the Twelve Colonies are wiped out. Most of the Colonial military is either rendered ineffective or destroyed due to malware in the military computer network, which rendered it vulnerable to cyber attack. The malware was introduced by Number Six, a Cylon in the form of a human woman, who seduced the famous scientist Dr. Gaius Baltar and exploited their relationship to gain access codes under the cover of an insider contract bid.
Battlestar Galactica, a space battleship that fought in the earlier war, is being converted to a museum when the attack occurs. Because its older computer systems are not networked, the warship is not affected by the sabotage. Its commander, William Adama, assumes command of the few remaining elements of the human fleet. He heads for Ragnar Anchorage, a military armory station where Galactica can resupply itself with weaponry and essential supplies.
Secretary of Education Laura Roslin is sworn in as President of the Twelve Colonies after it is confirmed that the President and most of the government have been killed (Roslin is 42nd in line of succession). The cabinet department starship carrying her (Colonial One) manages to assemble a group of surviving human ships.
When a Colonial Raptor from Galactica lands briefly for repairs on the Twelve Colonies' capital world of Caprica, the two-person crew, Sharon Valerii (callsign "Boomer") and Karl Agathon ("Helo"), choose a small group of survivors to evacuate. Helo decides to remain on the stricken planet by giving up his seat to evacuate Baltar, who he recognizes for his media celebrity as a noted genius.
Although Roslin hopes to transfer all the surviving refugees to ships capable of interstellar travel, the Cylons quickly locate and attack the surviving ships.
Roslin is forced to abandon many of the survivors, as only the ships capable of faster-than-light (FTL) "jumps" are able to escape the attack and rendezvous with the Galactica at Ragnar Anchorage.
On Ragnar, Adama learns of the Cylons' newly-developed capacity to appear in human form.
Roslin appoints Baltar, who has not disclosed his suborning by the Cylons, as one of her senior advisers. Number Six reveals to Baltar onboard Colonial One that she planted a microchip inside Baltar's brain while he slept and can manifest herself to him in hallucinatory form, while attempting to direct his behavior. Responding to one of her suggestions, he is compelled to identify Aaron Doral, a public relations specialist, as a masquerading Cylon. Despite his protests and the lack of any evidence to support the accusation, Doral is left on Ragnar Anchorage when the Galactica departs.
As the Cylons attack Ragnar, the small human fleet escapes by "jumping" to a distant, unexplored area of the galaxy. Adama attempts to lift the morale of the surviving humans by announcing plans to reach a legendary thirteenth colony, "Earth," whose existence and location have been closely guarded military secrets. Roslin later convinces Adama to privately admit that his announcement was simply a ploy.
Adama finds a slip of paper in his quarters with the typed statement, "There are only 12 Cylon models." On Ragnar, a group of humanoid Cylons retrieve Doral. In a twist ending, one of the group appears to be Boomer, indicating that her counterpart on the Galactica is a Cylon as well.
None of the previous efforts to remake or continue the story of Battlestar Galactica by Tom DeSanto, Bryan Singer, and original series star Richard Hatch (which involved using either the original cast or the original characters and plot) proceeded beyond the development stage. Actor Richard Hatch, from the original version of the series, made numerous efforts to purchase the franchise from the original's producer Glen A. Larson. Unsuccessful, he produced his own version in a comic book series, even going as far as to produce a proof-of-concept trailer called The Second Coming. Much of the actor's campaign was based on the concept discounting the events which occurred in Galactica 1980. The property's owner, Universal Pictures, later instead opted for a remake, rather than the sequel, with the production-shift moving from Los Angeles to the Greater Vancouver area.
The special effects of the miniseries were created by Zoic Studios who previously worked on the Firefly television series. The regular series also contains effects by Atmosphere Studios,[4] Enigma Animation Productions and the production's own effects team[5] although near the end all visual effects were done by the in-house team. Executive producer Ronald D. Moore said the outer space battles were created and rendered to look like a Discovery Channel crew was actually shooting footage.[6] Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The soundtrack for the miniseries was largely scored by Richard Gibbs. Many of the cues from the Miniseries soundtrack have been re-used as incidental or background music in the regular series beginning in 2004.
In 2005, Tor Books published Battlestar Galactica (the miniseries), by Jeffrey A. Carver — a novelization of the 2003 miniseries. The book incorporates deleted scenes and gives background information not seen on screen.[7]
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