User:Galactica1981/Galactica 1981 Reviews - Revision history

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: Text replacement - "Greetings from Earth" to "Greetings From Earth"

2023-09-22T03:21:08Z

Text replacement - "Greetings from Earth" to "Greetings From Earth"

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:21, 22 September 2023
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	That said, it's important to realize that writers Jim Carlson and Terrence McDonnell were forced to write this episode in 36 hours straight. Considering what a rushjob this script was, it's amazing it turned out as well as it did. This is one instance where it might be better to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty.		That said, it's important to realize that writers Jim Carlson and Terrence McDonnell were forced to write this episode in 36 hours straight. Considering what a rushjob this script was, it's amazing it turned out as well as it did. This is one instance where it might be better to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty.

	===[[Greetings ~~from~~ Earth]]===		===[[Greetings From Earth]]===

	'''RATING: Two and a half stars out of five'''		'''RATING: Two and a half stars out of five'''

Galactica1981: /* Lost Planet of the Gods */

2011-12-29T14:46:54Z

Lost Planet of the Gods

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:46, 29 December 2011
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	Anyway, the two-part episodes fare better than most of the one-part episodes because Glen Larson would often blow the budget and vastly overspend. There are many fantastic scenes in the second half: Serina proposing to Apollo that they marry immediately; the Star of Kobol appearing in the port window during the wedding ceremony; the light shining off of Adama's medallion inside the tombs of Kobol; the Cylon raiders attacking the surface of Kobol; and, of course, Serina's death scene.		Anyway, the two-part episodes fare better than most of the one-part episodes because Glen Larson would often blow the budget and vastly overspend. There are many fantastic scenes in the second half: Serina proposing to Apollo that they marry immediately; the Star of Kobol appearing in the port window during the wedding ceremony; the light shining off of Adama's medallion inside the tombs of Kobol; the Cylon raiders attacking the surface of Kobol; and, of course, Serina's death scene.

	Serina's death is one of the most poignant moments of the entire series. But it came ~~with~~ a high price, as the show arguably suffered without her. And the writing would start to take a turn for the worse with the very next episode.		Serina's death is one of the most poignant moments of the entire series. But it came at a high price, as the show arguably suffered without her. And the writing would start to take a turn for the worse with the very next episode.

	===[[The Lost Warrior]]===		===[[The Lost Warrior]]===

Galactica1981: /* Galactica Discovers Earth */

2011-12-29T14:32:49Z

Galactica Discovers Earth

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 29 December 2011
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	Galactica Discovers Earth turns out to be a watchable pilot, but watchable is about all. From the very first episode, Galactica 1980 is clearly nothing more than an attempt by ABC to cash in on the Galactica name by creating a cheap show that simply reuses the expensive special effects stock footage from the original series. The later episodes would only reinforce this. Kent McCord (Troy) and Barry Van Dyke (Dillon) come off as inferior clones of Starbuck and Apollo. In fact, the script for the pilot was originally written for Starbuck and Apollo. When those plans changed, the names were simply switched to Troy and Dillon. Jamie Hamilton comes off as a carbon copy of Lois Lane. Unfortunately, we are never given any backstory to any of these characters.		Galactica Discovers Earth turns out to be a watchable pilot, but watchable is about all. From the very first episode, Galactica 1980 is clearly nothing more than an attempt by ABC to cash in on the Galactica name by creating a cheap show that simply reuses the expensive special effects stock footage from the original series. The later episodes would only reinforce this. Kent McCord (Troy) and Barry Van Dyke (Dillon) come off as inferior clones of Starbuck and Apollo. In fact, the script for the pilot was originally written for Starbuck and Apollo. When those plans changed, the names were simply switched to Troy and Dillon. Jamie Hamilton comes off as a carbon copy of Lois Lane. Unfortunately, we are never given any backstory to any of these characters.

	This may be the only pilot in television history in which the premise changes in the middle of the episode! At first it's about advancing Earth's technology in order to fight the Cylons. Then it suddenly changes and is about capturing a time-traveling villain. It's really bizarre. Anyway, the time travel ~~journey to~~ Nazi Germany is never particularly interesting, partly because Xaviar just isn't that compelling of a villain, but mostly because this is NOT Battlestar Galactica.		This may be the only pilot in television history in which the premise changes in the middle of the episode! At first it's about advancing Earth's technology in order to fight the Cylons. Then it suddenly changes and is about capturing a time-traveling villain. It's really bizarre. Anyway, the time travel adventure in Nazi Germany is never particularly interesting, partly because Xaviar just isn't that compelling of a villain, but mostly because this is NOT Battlestar Galactica.

	The idea of the Galactica having to protect a primitive Earth from the Cylons is actually a compelling premise, but the problem is that Dr. Zee's plan to slowly increase Earth's technology is flawed. At the rate in which the Colonials were going, it probably would have taken at least decades to get Earth's technology increased enough to be able to fight the Cylons. Long before then, the Cylons would probably tire of waiting and decide to just destroy the Colonial fleet. Even if the Cylons didn't attack, how far could the Galactica lead the Cylons away from Earth before they (the Colonials) were too far away from the planet to ever go back there? It probably would have been smarter to temporarily abandon Earth and lead the Cylons away until Dr. Zee could invent some technology that would allow the Colonials to destroy the Cylon armada. (Actually, since Colonial Vipers can now turn invisible, it should have been fairly easy for the Colonials to launch a surprise attack on the Cylons and defeat them once and for all!)		The idea of the Galactica having to protect a primitive Earth from the Cylons is actually a compelling premise, but the problem is that Dr. Zee's plan to slowly increase Earth's technology is flawed. At the rate in which the Colonials were going, it probably would have taken at least decades to get Earth's technology increased enough to be able to fight the Cylons. Long before then, the Cylons would probably tire of waiting and decide to just destroy the Colonial fleet. Even if the Cylons didn't attack, how far could the Galactica lead the Cylons away from Earth before they (the Colonials) were too far away from the planet to ever go back there? It probably would have been smarter to temporarily abandon Earth and lead the Cylons away until Dr. Zee could invent some technology that would allow the Colonials to destroy the Cylon armada. (Actually, since Colonial Vipers can now turn invisible, it should have been fairly easy for the Colonials to launch a surprise attack on the Cylons and defeat them once and for all!)

Galactica1981: /* Galactica 1980 comic series */

2011-12-29T14:29:19Z

Galactica 1980 comic series

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:29, 29 December 2011
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	Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.		Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.

	Such is the case with the Galactica 1980 comic series, a cool idea that feels like a missed opportunity. First, the comic does a number of things right. It is a reboot rather than a continuation, delivering a ''War of the Worlds'' type story with the Colonials and Cylons battling over Earth. It even makes Dr. Zee a villian, a great move considering that Zee is hands down the most hated character in the entire Galactica universe. ~~It's also great that~~ Baltar and Lucifer are in it, leading the Cylons to Earth. Unfortunately, writer Marc Guggenheim decides to go for shock value. In the first issue, we learn that Troy is a drunk and Adama is suicidal. Personally, I found this ugly and disturbing.		Such is the case with the Galactica 1980 comic series, a cool idea that feels like a missed opportunity. First, the comic does a number of things right. It is a reboot rather than a continuation, delivering a ''War of the Worlds'' type story with the Colonials and Cylons battling over Earth. It even makes Dr. Zee a villian, a great move considering that Zee is hands down the most hated character in the entire Galactica universe. Baltar and Lucifer are also in it, leading the Cylons to Earth. Unfortunately, writer Marc Guggenheim decides to go for shock value. In the first issue, we learn that Troy is a drunk and Adama is suicidal. Personally, I found this ugly and disturbing.

	Even worse is the end of issue #1 when the Galactica is destroyed by nukes. Again, it feels like the writer is just trying to hit us with one shocking surprise after another. Surprises can be great fun, but I get annoyed when they lack logic as this one does. Why would Adama be so stupid as to fly the Galactica directly over the White House without first sending a message and waiting to see what the response would be? This just makes no sense.		Even worse is the end of issue #1 when the Galactica is destroyed by nukes. Again, it feels like the writer is just trying to hit us with one shocking surprise after another. Surprises can be great fun, but I get annoyed when they lack logic as this one does. Why would Adama be so stupid as to fly the Galactica directly over the White House without first sending a message and waiting to see what the response would be? This just makes no sense.

Galactica1981: /* Galactica 1980 comic series */

2011-12-29T14:28:42Z

Galactica 1980 comic series

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:28, 29 December 2011
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	Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.		Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.

	Such is the case with the Galactica 1980 comic series, a cool idea that feels like a missed opportunity. First, the comic does a number of things right. It is a reboot rather than a continuation, delivering a ''War of the Worlds'' type story with the Colonials and Cylons battling over Earth. It even makes Dr. Zee a villian, a great move considering that Zee is hands down the most hated character in the entire Galactica universe. Unfortunately, writer Marc Guggenheim decides to go for shock value. In the first issue, we learn that Troy is a drunk and Adama is suicidal. Personally, I found this ugly and disturbing.		Such is the case with the Galactica 1980 comic series, a cool idea that feels like a missed opportunity. First, the comic does a number of things right. It is a reboot rather than a continuation, delivering a ''War of the Worlds'' type story with the Colonials and Cylons battling over Earth. It even makes Dr. Zee a villian, a great move considering that Zee is hands down the most hated character in the entire Galactica universe. It's also great that Baltar and Lucifer are in it, leading the Cylons to Earth. Unfortunately, writer Marc Guggenheim decides to go for shock value. In the first issue, we learn that Troy is a drunk and Adama is suicidal. Personally, I found this ugly and disturbing.

	Even worse is the end of issue #1 when the Galactica is destroyed by nukes. Again, it feels like the writer is just trying to hit us with one shocking surprise after another. Surprises can be great fun, but I get annoyed when they lack logic as this one does. Why would Adama be so stupid as to fly the Galactica directly over the White House without first sending a message and waiting to see what the response would be? This just makes no sense.		Even worse is the end of issue #1 when the Galactica is destroyed by nukes. Again, it feels like the writer is just trying to hit us with one shocking surprise after another. Surprises can be great fun, but I get annoyed when they lack logic as this one does. Why would Adama be so stupid as to fly the Galactica directly over the White House without first sending a message and waiting to see what the response would be? This just makes no sense.

Galactica1981: /* Galactica 1980 comic series */

2011-11-26T00:56:43Z

Galactica 1980 comic series

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:56, 26 November 2011
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	Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.		Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.

	Such is the case with the Galactica 1980 comic series, a cool idea that feels like a missed opportunity. First, the comic does a number of things right. It ~~delivers~~ a ''War of the Worlds'' type story ~~involving~~ the Colonials and Cylons battling over Earth. It even makes Dr. Zee a villian, a great move considering that Zee is hands down the most hated character in the entire Galactica universe. Unfortunately, writer Marc Guggenheim decides to go for shock value. In the first issue, we learn that Troy is a drunk and Adama is suicidal. Personally, I found this ugly and disturbing.		Such is the case with the Galactica 1980 comic series, a cool idea that feels like a missed opportunity. First, the comic does a number of things right. It is a reboot rather than a continuation, delivering a ''War of the Worlds'' type story with the Colonials and Cylons battling over Earth. It even makes Dr. Zee a villian, a great move considering that Zee is hands down the most hated character in the entire Galactica universe. Unfortunately, writer Marc Guggenheim decides to go for shock value. In the first issue, we learn that Troy is a drunk and Adama is suicidal. Personally, I found this ugly and disturbing.

	Even worse is the end of issue #1 when the Galactica is destroyed by nukes. Again, it feels like the writer is just trying to hit us with one shocking surprise after another. Surprises can be great fun, but I get annoyed when they lack logic as this one does. Why would Adama be so stupid as to fly the Galactica directly over the White House without first sending a message and waiting to see what the response would be? This just makes no sense.		Even worse is the end of issue #1 when the Galactica is destroyed by nukes. Again, it feels like the writer is just trying to hit us with one shocking surprise after another. Surprises can be great fun, but I get annoyed when they lack logic as this one does. Why would Adama be so stupid as to fly the Galactica directly over the White House without first sending a message and waiting to see what the response would be? This just makes no sense.

Galactica1981: /* Galactica 1980 comic series */

2011-11-26T00:45:53Z

Galactica 1980 comic series

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:45, 26 November 2011
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	And I just didn't like seeing the Galactica destroyed. After all, this ''is'' Galactica 1980, so therefore the Galactica should be in it. If the Galactica had to be destroyed, it should have happened in the final issue (#4), not the first.		And I just didn't like seeing the Galactica destroyed. After all, this ''is'' Galactica 1980, so therefore the Galactica should be in it. If the Galactica had to be destroyed, it should have happened in the final issue (#4), not the first.

	Lo and behold, we get yet another shocking surprise in issue #2 when Dillon is killed off (and rather undramatically). I have a big problem with this as well. Troy and Dillon were the heroes of Galactica 1980, and I just don't think that either should have been killed (at least not less than halfway through the story). I was also disappointed that Jamie Hamilton ~~was~~ given nothing more than a cameo appearance in issue #4. Given that she was one of the main characters on the original show, she should have had a larger role in the story.		Lo and behold, we get yet another shocking surprise in issue #2 when Dillon is killed off (and rather undramatically). I have a big problem with this as well. Troy and Dillon were the heroes of Galactica 1980, and I just don't think that either should have been killed (at least not less than halfway through the story). I was also disappointed that Jamie Hamilton is given nothing more than a cameo appearance in issue #4. Given that she was one of the main characters on the original show, she should have had a larger role in the story.

	In the end, I wish Guggenheim had written a story that might have been done on television if not for the limited budget and children's hour restrictions that ultimately crippled the series. The ''War of the Worlds'' premise was perfect for Galactica 1980, but in this case the execution fell short.		In the end, I wish Guggenheim had written a story that might have been done on television if not for the limited budget and children's hour restrictions that ultimately crippled the series. The ''War of the Worlds'' premise was perfect for Galactica 1980, but in this case the execution fell short.

Galactica1981: /* Galactica 1980 comic series */

2011-11-26T00:34:17Z

Galactica 1980 comic series

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:34, 26 November 2011
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	And I just didn't like seeing the Galactica destroyed. After all, this ''is'' Galactica 1980, so therefore the Galactica should be in it. If the Galactica had to be destroyed, it should have happened in the final issue (#4), not the first.		And I just didn't like seeing the Galactica destroyed. After all, this ''is'' Galactica 1980, so therefore the Galactica should be in it. If the Galactica had to be destroyed, it should have happened in the final issue (#4), not the first.

	I ~~also had~~ a big problem with ~~Dillon being killed off in issue #2~~. Troy and Dillon were the heroes of Galactica 1980, and I just don't think that either should have been killed (at least not less than halfway through the story). I was also disappointed that Jamie Hamilton was given nothing more than a cameo appearance in issue #4. Given that she was one of the main characters on the original show, she should have had a larger role in the story.		Lo and behold, we get yet another shocking surprise in issue #2 when Dillon is killed off (and rather undramatically). I have a big problem with this as well. Troy and Dillon were the heroes of Galactica 1980, and I just don't think that either should have been killed (at least not less than halfway through the story). I was also disappointed that Jamie Hamilton was given nothing more than a cameo appearance in issue #4. Given that she was one of the main characters on the original show, she should have had a larger role in the story.

	In the end, I wish Guggenheim had written a story that might have been done on television if not for the limited budget and children's hour restrictions that ultimately crippled the series. The ''War of the Worlds'' premise was perfect for Galactica 1980, but in this case the execution fell short.		In the end, I wish Guggenheim had written a story that might have been done on television if not for the limited budget and children's hour restrictions that ultimately crippled the series. The ''War of the Worlds'' premise was perfect for Galactica 1980, but in this case the execution fell short.

Galactica1981: /* Galactica 1980 comic series */

2011-11-26T00:27:46Z

Galactica 1980 comic series

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:27, 26 November 2011
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	=== [[Galactica 1980 1\|Galactica 1980 comic series]] ===		=== [[Galactica 1980 1\|Galactica 1980 comic series]] ===

	'''~~RATING~~: Two and a half stars out of five'''		'''Rating: Two and a half stars out of five'''

	Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.		Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.

Galactica1981: /* Galactica 1980 comic series */

2011-11-26T00:26:16Z

Galactica 1980 comic series

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:26, 26 November 2011
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	=== [[Galactica 1980 1\|Galactica 1980 comic series]] ===		=== [[Galactica 1980 1\|Galactica 1980 comic series]] ===

			'''RATING: Two and a half stars out of five'''

	Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.		Comic adaptations of television shows are often very good because the writers are free from the usual constraints that a television show faces: limited budgets, censors, and network meddling in the storylines. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, as the comic book writers' unlimited freedom sometimes allows the story to go flying off the rails.
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	In the end, I wish Guggenheim had written a story that might have been done on television if not for the limited budget and children's hour restrictions that ultimately crippled the series. The ''War of the Worlds'' premise was perfect for Galactica 1980, but in this case the execution fell short.		In the end, I wish Guggenheim had written a story that might have been done on television if not for the limited budget and children's hour restrictions that ultimately crippled the series. The ''War of the Worlds'' premise was perfect for Galactica 1980, but in this case the execution fell short.

	~~'''Rating: Two and a half stars out of five'''~~

	== The Galactica Telemovies ==		== The Galactica Telemovies ==