I had encountered neither the old nor the new version of Battlestar Galactica until recently. My first attempt at watching a few episodes of the more recent version on Sci Fi channel proved very disappointing. I started in the middle of the third season, which made it tough. There were too many characters, very complex relationships, and many undercurrents that were fairly difficult to follow without knowledge of the back story. It struck me as dull and unnecessarily opaque.
Then, a few months later, on a recommendation from a friend, I decided to try again, only this time I began with the mini series, and then watched the episodes in order. They were fantastic. I was blown away. It was one of the best dramas of any genre I had ever watched on TV (although, I still found the third season pretty weak.)
However, before we start discussing the newer versions, let me turn to the classic 1978 version.
Intrigued by your reference to the older version of the Battlestar Galactica I found the episodes online and have begun watching them. I have to say, having watched the new version, watching the old version is tough and I haven't got through them all. However, I have got over the hump of expecting the characters and the production quality to be like the more recent version, and am beginning to get more interested. The two versions have a lot of similarities, but its the differences that are more interesting.
The most immediately noticeable difference between the two versions is the look: the sets and costumes. The classic version has spaceships that are clean and unblemished by the scars of battle, with plush opulent interiors reminiscent of Star Trek, and designs reminiscent of Star Wars. The colorful uniforms are straight out of Star Trek. In contrast, the new version is more gritty and somewhat more like a war movie than a Star Trek episode, perhaps more influenced by Aliens.
The other very obvious difference is the extensive use of stereotypes in the classic version. The classic version has the obligatory black surrogate (Colobel Tigh) who, of course is "good" and not really conflicted about his decisions. Colonel Tigh in the new version is a alcoholic with issues who is anything but loveable. In the classic version, children, robot dogs and civilians accompany the military on missions. In the new version, the world is at war, and children and very largely civilians are kept out of the military. The classic version has loads of pretty women on deck, and at least in the first few episodes, they seem to hold more secondary roles. The newer version has many attractive women too, but they hold posts of power and leadership, for instance, Starbuck and President Roslin. In the classic version, Starbuck (played by Dirk Benedict) is a charming womanizing cad, not unlike his later role as Lt. Templeton Peck in the "A Team".
Thankfully, these stereotypes have not made their way to the new version.
The storyline in the classic version is somewhat weak, to say the least. Humanity has almost been decimated, but no one seems very distraught. Starbuck is still chasing every girl he can find, and while the dialogue between Adama and others expresses grief. nothing else does - not the sets, the ships, the music, or the expressions or behavior of the characters. It all seems very flippant.
The storylines of the two are superficially similar. The differences though are intriguing?
The classic version is clearly Earth centric. The connection to Earth is emphatically called out in the introductory voiceover. In the classic version, there are other aliens apart from humans in this universe, yet it is the humans that the Cylons set out to exterminate, and the other aliens are largely supporting players. This may be explained later in the series, but not in the episodes I've watched so far. In this universe, Cylons are the creations of a forgotten race of reptilian creatures who are long extinct, and not the creations of man. All this reeks of a storyline that is strongly rooted in the '60s and '70s. A belief that humans are a superior race set apart by our humanity and decency, somewhat like the underlying theme of Star Trek. Contrast this with the humans of the new version, who create the Cylons and then are savaged by their own creations for their alleged hypocrisy and violence.
In the classic version, the Cylons trick the humans by tempting the humans with peace but then decimating the humans while their guard was down. The politicians in the classic version are corrupt, self aggrandizing, weak and naive. In contrast, the new version the Cylons take advantage of a complacency instilled by peace, and the leaders who emerge from the devastation are ordinary people who become extraordinary leaders faced with extraordinary times.
As I watched these contrasting episodes, I wondered how much of these were a reflection of the times. Is the classic version a direct or indirect statement on the Cold War, with its criticism of the "peace lovers" akin to a similar criticism of those who wanted to negotiate with the Soviets? In the classic version, warriors are celebrated and the peace lovers are hypocritical, naive and corrupt. In contrast, the new version is about failing to learn the lessons of war, of letting one's guard down, of being unprepared for a new form of attack when people least suspected.
Sounds familiar? The Cylons and humans, in the new version, cling to their religion and its prophecies as a way to salvation, and at times seems to reveal miracles, yet that religion also leads them to war and devastation. In the new version, people fight viciously for survival, yet there is a weary hunger for peace. War is no longer fun, victory no longer painless. Is the transformation of this attitude a reaction to the Iraq war and a consequential re-examination of the role of war? Or is it just coincidence?
Thoughts?
No comments:
Post a Comment