For ANOMALY 12 (approximately 1985) I
came up with an interesting idea for an article; have the readers of the
zine rate the episodes of Battlestar Galactica. The results were rather intriguing.
Some episodes were uniformly highly rated; others were uniformly rated low, while some
varied widely from reader to reader. I’ll take each episode individually in order of
airing, discuss how the readers rated it, and include some of their comments.
PREMIERE Written by Glen Larson, directed by Richard Colla and Alan Levi. The first episode was fairly uniformly rated by all; its highest rating was 1, lowest was 6. A Canadian reader aptly described it as “Star Wars humanized. People really do get hurt in a war, but life goes on.” Another commented, “Did they have a job to establish an entire civilization, destroy it, and save it in 3 hours. I think they did a pretty good job.” A British reader said that it “suffers from too many rewrites and rethinks, but is otherwise everything the pilot film for a major new SF series should be.”
LOST PLANET OF THE GODS Written by Glen A. Larson and Don Bellisario, directed by Christian I. Nyby II. Highest rating was 4, lowest rating 11, the rest fairly evenly distributed between these extremes. According to a British reader, “a strong episode, somewhat spoilt by the fact that Larson’s read Erich von Daniken—and it shows.” Most of the readers liked the Apollo/Serina romance (“tastefully treated”), but one reader was not too impressed with Serina herself: “I found Serina a bit hard to take at times…if the overall image projected by her had not been that of an intelligent and enlightened woman, such behavior might not have rung so untrue and might have bothered me less, but during training sessions and on viper patrol were no times to be making coquettish remarks to her lover.” Several readers mentioned liking Boomer’s comment to Colonel Tigh that “the viper is flown from the seated position, sir.” All in all most of the comments tended to agree with one reader who summed up this rather ‘bitty’ episode as “A very mixed bag of good and bad!”
THE LOST WARRIOR Written by Don Bellisario, directed by Rod Holcomb. Lost Warrior is one of the episodes whose ratings varied wildly, from a high of 3 to a low of 16 with the rating of the episode appearing to largely depend on how much the particular reader likes the Apollo character. Several made sarcastic reference to its relationship to the classic Western Shane (“About all you can say for this rewrite of Shane is that Richard Hatch is taller than Alan Ladd” was a good zinger!), but others were highly complimentary: “Probably Apollo’s strongest episode; Richard Hatch’s acting is superlative—watch his reactions during the scene where Vela is talking about Martin” and “The Apollo/Vela situation is so romantic….”
THE LONG PATROL Written by Don Bellisario, directed by Christian I. Nyby II. Ratings for this episode varied from a high of 3 to a low of 12, with the others scattered widely between the two. A couple of readers hit this episode for having a stupid plot; one called the prisoner society “incredible.” A British reader commented dryly, “Contains the memorable line about Apollo (as a child) climbing into Adama’s bed when he couldn’t sleep.” She also cited as an irritant “Richard Hatch and Herb Jefferson’s stunt doubles clearly visible when Robber opens fire. Universal don’t let their actors jump over a couple of boxes?!”
GUN ON ICE PLANET ZERO Written by Leslie Stevens, Michael Sloan, and Don Bellisario, directed by Alan Levi. The ratings for this episode were fairly widely distributed, the highest being 2, the lowest 13. A number of readers indicated that they found this episode overly long. Several expressed dislike of the clones and a Swedish reader wasn’t too thrilled with Boxey either: “Would have been better with less Boxey and clones.” Others cited it for plot weaknesses (i.e. “the writer has managed once again to ignore the implications of space travel”) but everyone seemed to agree that as a straight-forward action-adventure it was pretty good: “Good story,” “A good action adventure.”
THE MAGNIFICENT WARRIORS Written by Glen A. Larson, directed by Christian I. Nyby II. This magnificently silly episode was rated from 5 to 15, with most of the ratings clustered in the 8-11 range. Everyone seemed to like Starbuck in this, especially one who commented enthusiastically, “Starbuck was beautiful.” Others liked Siress Belloby, especially a British reader who admitted, “I have a certain fondness for Siress Belloby, especially the way she always sounds like she’s a couple ambrosas ahead of the rest of the world.” But others expressed a severe dislike for Belloby (“the awful scenes of a cringing Adama and the vamp Siress Belloby are among the worst in BG”). Most appreciated the humor, but the reader who rated it 15th overall commented, “This thing is downright embarrassing!”
THE YOUNG LORDS Written by Don Bellisario, Frank Lupo, and Paul Playdon, directed by Don Bellisario. This episode was almost uniformly rated near the bottom: the highest rating was 5, the lowest 17, with the rest of the ratings clustering around the 11-15 range. No one liked Starbuck’s little poem: “That children’s rhyme is another of BG’s low points” “I could easily have done without the ‘cute’ little rhyme.” Several enjoyed Starbuck, however: “One of Benedict’s better jobs of acting, on the level throughout.” A British reader felt that Specter was the only redeeming facet and went on to list a number of “Low points: Awful Landers, Kyle’s voice, Kyle himself, the children’s ‘let’s see how many bits of dead animal we can string together today’ costumes, Boxey’s bedtime story, the poem, Megan’s acting, the silly unicorn headdresses on the unfortunate horses, the secret door (secret door?!) in the castle, the silly premise, leaving a family of six to colonize an entire planet….” Another summed it up, “Sixteen magazine in outer space. Talk about suspension of disbelief!”
THE LIVING LEGEND Written by Glen A. Larson, directed by Vince Edwards. This episode was uniformly rated in the top 9 by all, the highest rating being 1, the lowest 9, with most of the ratings clustered around 6-8. Several cited it as being one of the strongest episodes, a Canadian reader describing it as “A very ‘tight’ military drama,” another reader as “Good, action-packed excitement.” Most expressed a liking for Commander Cain, several remarked on the good characterization displayed in this episode, though one reader felt Cassiopiea displayed “a rather singular lack of sensitivity for Starbuck’s feelings when, as he was preparing to make a jump ‘into the heart of a Cylon city,’ she expressed concern only for Cain.”
FIRE IN SPACE Written by Jim Carlson and Terrence McDonnell, directed by Christian I. Nyby II. Aside from one reader who rated it as her favorite largely because it highlighted Athena and Boomer, this episode was uniformly relegated to the basement. Aside from the anomalous 1 rating, the highest rating was 12 and the others uniformly either 16 or 17. Reactions included “Absolutely the nadir—stupid, stupid, stupid” “The title says it all” “The fire scenes became interminable, there are scientific errors.” But most found redeeming aspects. According to a British reader, “Colonel Tigh’s ‘what do I do with this mushie tin’ expression is worth seeing” and a Canadian reader felt “characterization of Tigh, Adama, Boomer, and Apollo save this episode.”
WAR OF THE GODS Written by Glen A. Larson, directed by Dan Haller. The most uniformly rated of all the episodes: most readers rated it 2, with the lowest rating being 7. A reader called it “visually and dramatically one of the best,” another, “well-written.” Readers enjoyed the break from the Cylons, liked the Iblis/Adama and Iblis/Apollo confrontations, and generally were only put off by the “angelic choir at the end.”
THE MAN WITH NINE LIVES Written by Don Bellisario, directed by Rod Holcomb. The readers disagreed on this episode: the highest rating was 3, the lowest 13, and the rest were distributed pretty evenly between those extremes. Several readers had problems with the episode. A British reader remarked, “There is no such thing as a ‘lovable’ con man in my book…Starbuck comes across badly in places too.” Another reader commented insightfully, “I have a few problems with it…Starbuck’s enthusiastic embracing of the possibility that he (Chameleon) was his father strikes me as a little bit wrong. His reaction to the discovery that his well-meaning friends had been checking up on Chameleon impressed me as somewhat extreme as well…. I question whether the premise was handled quite as well as it might have been.”
MURDER ON THE RISING STAR Written by Jim Carlson, Terrence McDonnell, and Don Bellisario, directed by Rod Holcomb. I was slightly surprised to see how much the ratings varied on this episode. The highest was 1, the lowest 14, with the rest sprinkled in between. Several readers found the premise unbelievable, but the ones who did like this episode were enthusiastic about it. A British reader cited it as “A good ‘relationship’ episode…the launch bay confrontation between Starbuck and Apollo and the final Triad match are amongst my favourite scenes in the series.” According to another, “For its dramatic look at a more vulnerable and very human Starbuck and its emphasis on friendship, particularly that between him and Apollo, I cannot help but love it. The plot provided a number of moving and unforgettable scenes and for a real standout of a closing sequence culminating in that beautiful freeze-frame ending.”
GREETINGS FROM EARTH Written by Glen A. Larson, directed by Ahmet Lateef. This episode, like Fire in Space, proved another notable ratings nadir. Several readers chose to rate it by hours: the first hour was rated as high as 3 and as low as 12, while the second hour was rated from 12 to 18, the only 2 hour episode anyone chose to rate this way. On the first hour, a Canadian reader commented, “A good drama on a likely situation, the capture of an Earth (?) ship and the complications which arise,” but about the second hour she said, “That woman’s sniveling about ‘these poor children,’ Starbuck’s phony plight in the ruined city, and Hector and Vector’s comedy (?) and song and dance routine make this BG’s nadir.” A British reader noted, “I never watch it if I can conceivably help it, and would certainly never show it to anyone as an example of my favourite series.” Another reader summed it up perfectly: “I envied the people on Paradeen—they didn’t have to watch it.”
BALTAR’S ESCAPE Written by Don Bellisario, directed by Rick Kolbe. Highest rating was 5, lowest 15, with most of the ratings falling in the 12-15 range. A Canadian reader rated it 15, but added, “Lots of good character interaction in this one, but Siress Tinia is most interesting to watch. She’s BG’s strongest woman character.” According to a British reader, “Unmemorable apart from some good scenes for Colonel Tigh. Good bits: Maga’s observation that Baltar’s past record ‘does not inspire confidence’ (how true); Starbuck dropping the Cylon helmet; the tag. Thank god I don’t have to eat on the Prison Barge if they let Baltar do the cooking, particularly if he keeps his gloves on. Yech!”
EXPERIMENT IN TERRA Written by Glen A. Larson, directed by Rod Holcomb. Aside from one 4, this episode was uniformly rated in the 12-16 area. A Canadian reader felt that its one redeeming quality was “some very good characterization of Apollo.” A British reader noted, “Another weak plot—this one feels as if it was written at about ten minute’s notice. The ‘angels’ as represented by John are implausible and inconsistent (one minute insisting they can’t interfere, the next doing just that). Main irritations: the forgotten storyline (“Take your uniform for your guide”); the stock missile footage; the Galactica going to lightspeed (what have they been doing up till now, then?). The Eastern Alliance leader bears an unfortunate resemblance to Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles.” Another reader grumbled, “Why was the president wearing an orange suit?”
TAKE THE CELESTRA Written by Jim Carlson and Terrence McDonnell, directed by Dan Haller. Highest rating was 8, lowest was 15, with a fairly even distribution between these two points. Several readers found Aurora’s relationship with Starbuck inconsistent with the premiere episode; a Swedish reader noted, “He said he was really serious about her so he must have had a serious period about then since he told Athena the same thing!” Another asked, “If Starbuck had been in love with Aurora, why the tender (if somewhat inept) semi-proposal to Athena in the premiere?” A British reader found some good moments in it, particularly the medal ceremony and the funeral, and remarked “Aurora’s reasons for selecting the planet she does are wonderful—it has a good landing field!” and listed the following irritations: “Ana Alicia, Randy Stumpf, Hatch’s stunt double again, the Celestra’s control panel (a viper joystick!), a non-moving starfield outside the supposedly moving shuttle.” Another reader, unimpressed with Ana Alicia, commented, “I had always credited Starbuck with better taste.”
THE HAND OF GOD Written and directed by Don Bellisario. The last episode, and rated more variably than I would have guessed, from 1 to 13, with most of the replies in the 3-8 region. According to a British reader, who was one of three readers to rate it 1, “Funny how the last episode should be the best. The basic plot is good, the writing displaying more sensitivity towards the plight of the refugees than usual, the acting and characterization is some of the best in the series—even Baltar is believable! The battle scenes are tighter and less tedious than some, and the ending is moving and unforgettable.” Another reader felt that it showed the full potential of the series. A Canadian reader commented, “In the last show of the series we finally get some straight talk on what it means to be a hero.” Another liked it for its more courageous stance on the part of the Colonials and added that she felt it was well balanced in terms of storyline and “the solid manner in which each of the principals was featured. Overall it is a hopeful episode that makes one wonder (wistfully) what might have come after.”
�2000, Susan J. Paxton
Originally published in ANOMALY 12