Editing Continuities and continuations
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After the cancellation of the [[Original Series]], the former cast and crew of the 1978 show as well as others attempted to revive or relaunch new ''Battlestar Galactica'' television shows or motion pictures. | After the cancellation of the [[Original Series]], the former cast and crew of the 1978 show as well as others attempted to revive or relaunch new ''Battlestar Galactica'' television shows or motion pictures. | ||
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A '''continuation''' is a movie or series that utilizes a majority of the same situations, ideas, story, settings, characters and, consequently, the cast. Continuations are usually done after a long hiatus of a series and are ''not'' considered to be a spin-off. | A '''continuation''' is a movie or series that utilizes a majority of the same situations, ideas, story, settings, characters and, consequently, the cast. Continuations are usually done after a long hiatus of a series and are ''not'' considered to be a spin-off. | ||
Examples of this occurance in the genre include: | Examples of this occurance in the genre include: | ||
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A '''re-imagined''' show (also called a "[[w:Reboot (continuity)|reboot]]") is a buzzword used to describe a film or TV show that bases its storyline and characters from a prior work, but may drastically change the overall storyline, characters, situations and locales to the point where it is neither a spin-off or continuation of the original work. In some cases, major story elements and characters are discarded entirely. | A '''re-imagined''' show (also called a "[[w:Reboot (continuity)|reboot]]") is a buzzword used to describe a film or TV show that bases its storyline and characters from a prior work, but may drastically change the overall storyline, characters, situations and locales to the point where it is neither a spin-off or continuation of the original work. In some cases, major story elements and characters are discarded entirely. | ||
The 2003 [[Miniseries, Night 1|''Battlestar Galactica'' miniseries]] is a strong example of a re-imagined story concept. | The 2003 [[Miniseries, Night 1|''Battlestar Galactica'' miniseries]] is a strong example of a re-imagined story concept. It formed the basis of the [[Re-imagined Series|2004 series]]. Reboots are most common in the comic book universes, where a major story arc is used to add or remove characters, change their histories, or add or dispose of entire universes in the story altogether. | ||
Re-imagined shows may revise story arcs from its original parent. The battlestar '' | Re-imagined shows may revise story arcs from its original parent. The battlestar ''[[Pegasus (TOS)|Pegasus]]'' from the Original Series makes its way into the Re-imagined Series as a [[Pegasus (RDM)|more advanced ship]], complete with a commanding officer named [[Helena Cain]], mirroring [[Lloyd Bridges]]' [[Cain (TOS)|character]], but with a higher rank and a grim view of her [[William Adama|subordinate officer]]. | ||
Reboots may also be done due to licensing advantages or disadvantages of a work of fiction. One example is the "rebooted" version of ''[[w:Bionic Woman (2007 TV series)|Bionic Woman]]'' (produced by Re-imagined Series co-producer [[David Eick]]), which uses some elements from [[w:The Bionic Woman|the 1976 series]] (itself a spin-off of ''[[w:The Six Million Dollar Man|The Six Million Dollar Man]]''). As with the Re-imagined Series, this new series makes substantial story element changes not only for an improved story, but because the licensing rights of the ''Six Million'' characters cannot be used in the new series. ''The Bionic Woman'' original series characters were derived from Caidin's work but aren't part of the ''Six Million'' franchise, allowing the reboot. | Reboots may also be done due to licensing advantages or disadvantages of a work of fiction. One example is the "rebooted" version of ''[[w:Bionic Woman (2007 TV series)|Bionic Woman]]'' (produced by Re-imagined Series co-producer [[David Eick]]), which uses some elements from [[w:The Bionic Woman|the 1976 series]] (itself a spin-off of ''[[w:The Six Million Dollar Man|The Six Million Dollar Man]]''). As with the Re-imagined Series, this new series makes substantial story element changes not only for an improved story, but because the licensing rights of the ''Six Million'' characters cannot be used in the new series. ''The Bionic Woman'' original series characters were derived from Caidin's work but aren't part of the ''Six Million'' franchise, allowing the reboot. | ||
Re-imagined television and motion picture projects are frequently met with criticism by fans of the original work, who may feel that the re-imagined work will taint the original or eclipse it completely. One key change in the Re-imagined Series that caused much controversy initially was the change of the male Original Series character known as | Re-imagined television and motion picture projects are frequently met with criticism by fans of the original work, who may feel that the re-imagined work will taint the original or eclipse it completely. One key change in the Re-imagined Series that caused much controversy initially was the change of the male Original Series character known as [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]] into a female named [[Kara Thrace]], with her pilot callsign as "Starbuck." The second change, which reflected the real-world problems in fighting terrorism (due to the difficulties in distinguishing friend from foe) came with the introduction of the [[humanoid Cylon]]. | ||
As shown by licensed [[List of books|novels]] and [[comics]] currently in publication for both Original and Re-imagined continuities, as well as DVD sales of the both series, the ''Battlestar'' saga appears to maintain a notable readership and viewership in both continuities. | As shown by licensed [[List of books|novels]] and [[comics]] currently in publication for both Original and Re-imagined continuities, as well as DVD sales of the both series, the ''Battlestar'' saga appears to maintain a notable readership and viewership in both continuities. | ||
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===Additions=== | ===Additions=== | ||
The Re-imagined Series often creates retcons through the use of ''additions'' to the series by way of flashbacks and deleted scenes. Generally these additions don't contradict aired content but add interesting or insightful background to a character or event that was specially created for the episode or outtakes initially removed during editing for various reasons. The flashback scenes of the post-war lives of [[William Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh]] in the episode "[[Scattered]]" is a good example of this. The same is true for a scene, added to the episode, "[[Scar]], | The Re-imagined Series often creates retcons through the use of ''additions'' to the series by way of flashbacks and deleted scenes. Generally these additions don't contradict aired content but add interesting or insightful background to a character or event that was specially created for the episode or outtakes initially removed during editing for various reasons. The flashback scenes of the post-war lives of [[William Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh]] in the episode "[[Scattered]]" is a good example of this. The same is true for a scene, added to the episode, "[[Scar]]", where [[Kara Thrace]] pleads unsuccessfully for a rescue mission to Caprica to the president and Commander Adama. This scene was shot for "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" and only included later in the [[Pegasus (Extended Version)|extended cut]] on DVD. | ||
===Alterations=== | ===Alterations=== | ||
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''Alterations'' to the series content are rare, if nonexistent in the Re-imagined Series. An alteration is a scene that basically tells the viewer, "What you saw before didn't really happen." The most famous alteration retcon ever made on TV was the death of the character Bobby Ewing in season 8 of the TV show, ''Dallas''. An entire season was filmed after the supposed death of Ewing until another character awakens in season 9 to find the before-deceased character in the shower, which dismissed the entire previous season as a dream. | ''Alterations'' to the series content are rare, if nonexistent in the Re-imagined Series. An alteration is a scene that basically tells the viewer, "What you saw before didn't really happen." The most famous alteration retcon ever made on TV was the death of the character Bobby Ewing in season 8 of the TV show, ''Dallas''. An entire season was filmed after the supposed death of Ewing until another character awakens in season 9 to find the before-deceased character in the shower, which dismissed the entire previous season as a dream. | ||
Small changes made on ''Battlestar Galactica'' include the number of ships in the rag-tag [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] and the number of prisoners on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', both of which were increased after the [[Miniseries]]. Other minor examples include changes to the CGI models for the [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] | Small changes made on ''Battlestar Galactica'' include the number of ships in the rag-tag [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] and the number of prisoners on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', both of which were increased after the [[Miniseries]]. Other minor examples include changes to the CGI models for the [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]) and the [[Viper Mark VII]] {{TRS|Maelstrom}}. | ||
==Remakes== | ==Remakes== | ||
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The original 1966 ''Star Trek'' series has been [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/23775.html digitally remastered], fully substituting the [[w:Matte (filmmaking)|mattes]] and paintings used for the effects in the series but creating new CGI models for both the starship ''Enterprise'', weapon effects, celestial bodies, and ships mentioned but not seen in the shows as they aired. The remastering also cleans up and restores the colors and clarity of the live-action shots, removing imperfections such as scratches as found on the original film masters. The live-action remastering often improves on the planet landscapes where the characters are found, but does not alter the character's physical appearances. | The original 1966 ''Star Trek'' series has been [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/23775.html digitally remastered], fully substituting the [[w:Matte (filmmaking)|mattes]] and paintings used for the effects in the series but creating new CGI models for both the starship ''Enterprise'', weapon effects, celestial bodies, and ships mentioned but not seen in the shows as they aired. The remastering also cleans up and restores the colors and clarity of the live-action shots, removing imperfections such as scratches as found on the original film masters. The live-action remastering often improves on the planet landscapes where the characters are found, but does not alter the character's physical appearances. | ||
The [[Original Series]] was [[Battlestar Galactica 1978 - The Complete Epic Series (Region 1 DVD)|released on DVD]], with some remastering of the episodes to clean up scratches and improve its clarity, but no alterations or additions were added. | The [[Original Series]] was [[Battlestar Galactica 1978 - The Complete Epic Series (Region 1 DVD)|released on DVD]], with some remastering of the episodes to clean up scratches and improve its clarity, but no alterations or additions were added. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||