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Battlestar Galactica (TRS)

2007-01-15T23:41:23Z

BWMathis: /* Summary */ - Fixed spelling, corrected awards.

<blockquote>''This article refers to the 2003 re-imagined version of ''Battlestar Galactica''. For information on the 1978 Original Series, see [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)]].</blockquote>

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[[Image:Image lg bgcast.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Some of the central cast of the new "Battlestar Galactica" series.]]

==Summary==
The 2003 [[Miniseries]] debut of '''''Battlestar Galactica''''' was a "[[Wikipedia:Reboot (continuity)|re-imagining]]," or updated version of [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|the 1970s "Battlestar Galactica"]] made [[Naturalistic science fiction|more suitable]] to the modern sensibilities of the 21st Century. Aiming to tacle issues of civil rights, survival, terrorism, and religion, "Battlestar Galactica" is an sci-fi drama following the survivors of the human race—which number under 50,000. A familiar but different [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' finds herself leading a refugee [[The Fleet (RDM)|fleet]] on a lonely (and [[Home, Part II|initially fictitious]]) quest for [[Earth]], with turmoil from within and danger from without.

On the "Battlestar Wiki," the show's most common abbreviations are "the Re-imagined Series," or "RDM" for the initials of its executive co-producer and chief writer, [[Ronald D. Moore]] (as "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is often referred to as "TNG"). It was also initially disambiguated as "TNS" (for "The New Series"), or "BSG", but this has become rarer over time as it distinguished itself more from the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|1978 series]], or the "Original Series" as it is commonly called on Battlestar Wiki.

"Battlestar Galactica" began (or, "re-began") as a four-hour [[Miniseries]] pilot that showed the destruction of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], but in a style more familiar and disturbing to today's viewers, making its events eerily reminiscent of feelings felt by many viewers to the sporadic and inconsistent news and chaos shown during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

While the ship was probably the most familar element derived from the Original Series, many elements of the new show were very, very different. The commander, [[William Adama]], is a battle-hardened, secularly-minded commander on the eve of retirement for himself and his combat-decorated old battlestar. The names of Original Series characters are now the pilot call signs for his son, [[Lee Adama|Lee "Apollo" Adama]] and the crack-pilot, [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]]. Starbuck's change into a female character initially became a torrid issue to Original Series fans who feared this and other changes would render an inferior series.

However, some fans became pleasantly surprised when the series aired. Unlike its Original Series counterpart, this new series has not only survived, preparing episodes for its third season beginning in October 2006, but has received many awards and nominations. These include several Emmy nominations, a Peabody Award, a Saturn Award, and a Hugo Award. Its popularity has even given the show its own spin-off series, [[Caprica (series)|currently in development.]] However, it has received some criticism from fans who feel it bastardized the original series, and some critics disliked it for various reasons.

As of the end of the regular 2006 television season, "Battlestar Galactica" was the Sci-Fi Channel's highest-rated program, beating out the venerable SF series, "[[Wikipedia:Stargate SG-1|Stargate SG-1]]" and its spin-off, "[[Wikipedia:Stargate Atlantis|Stargate Atlantis]]."

== Noted Changes from the [[Original Series]] ==
The basic story is still present: robotic [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] surprisingly attack the Colonies resulting in a holocaust, thus forcing a "rag-tag, fugitive fleet" to coalesce around the last surviving [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]], ''[[Galactica]]'', to seek a mythical [[13th Colony]] where refugees hope to find shelter from the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]].

However, many of the fine details are changed, such as:

* The Cylons were created by Humanity, not by a reptilian race (also called [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylons]]) who hated Humanity. This makes their origins similar to those of the machines of the [[Wikipedia:The Terminator|Terminator]] or the [[Wikipedia:The Matrix|The Matrix]].
* Battlestar ''Galactica'' is a 50 year old relic on the verge of decommission.
* The names of "Apollo", "Boomer", and "Starbuck" are changed to call signs. Most characters have standard first and last names; some first names were not given until later in the series, such as [[Felix Gaeta|Felix Gaeta's]] or [[Anastasia Dualla|Anastasia Dualla's]].
* The futuristic (and often confusing) terminology used to denote units of measurement, such as distance and time, in the original series has been replaced with understandable terminology. For instance, "year" was replaced with "yahren" in the original.
* The ship designs, save for some revisions to the [[Viper (RDM)|Mk. II Viper]] and ''[[Galactica]]'' and a few noteworthy background ships (such as the [[Astral Queen]] and the [[Botanical Cruiser]]), have been redone.
* The [[Quorum of Twelve]] is not mentioned in the miniseries, and is apparently supplemented by a government body similar to the United States [[WikiPedia:executive branch|executive branch]]. There is a president, vice president, and secretaries. The [[Quorum of Twelve|Quorum]] does not make an appearance until episode 1.11 ([[Colonial Day]]).
* Instead of the other-worldly, Egyptian-esque clothing and city designs (i.e. pyramids) seen in the original, the clothing and cities are more contemporary in design and function.

The relationships and characters also differ significantly from the Original Series.

* [[Boomer (TOS)|Boomer]], who was played as a male character by [[Herb Jefferson Jr.]] in the original, is now the call-sign of a female Lieutenant [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]] ([[Grace Park]]).
* [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]], who was played as a male character by [[Dirk Benedict]] in the original, is now the call-sign of a female lieutenant named [[Kara Thrace]] ([[Katee Sackhoff]])
* "Adama", "Tigh", and "Baltar" are now surnames.
* The character of [[Adama (TOS)|Adama]], portrayed by [[Lorne Greene]] in the Original Series, becomes [[William Adama|William "Husker" Adama]] ([[Edward James Olmos]]). Adama's beliefs are far more secular than his TOS counterpart.
* [[Apollo (TOS)|Apollo]], portrayed by [[Original Series]] star and continuation activist [[Richard Hatch]], is the call sign of [[Lee Adama]] ([[Jamie Bamber]]).
* [[Baltar (TOS)|Baltar]], who was willingly complicit in the destruction of the Colonies due to his thirst for power, is now a scientific genius named [[Gaius Baltar]].
* The character of Colonel [[Tigh (TOS)|Tigh]], portrayed by [[Terry Carter]], is now separated from his wife and seeing out the rest of his career from inside a bottle in the form of Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] ([[Michael Hogan]]) who hasn't seen military action in a long while.

The show has taken a more realistic turn. [[Science in the Re-imagined Series|Realistic science]], which was painfully absent in the Original Series, is applied in this series.

Certain models of Cylons [[Cylon agent|appear human, right down to the blood]] -- it takes complex tests just to screen for these [[Cylon agent|Cylon agents]]. This generates some very disturbing questions. For one, the Cylons have now managed to merge in with human society, making it easier to manipulate from within. This mirrors terrorist methods of infiltration and delivering destructive results to heavy population centers (a la suicide bombers).

==Cast==
===Stars===
* [[Edward James Olmos]] as [[William Adama]]
* [[Mary McDonnell]] as [[Laura Roslin]]
* [[Katee Sackhoff]] as [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]]
* [[Jamie Bamber]] as [[Lee Adama|Lee "Apollo" Adama]]
* [[James Callis]] as [[Gaius Baltar]]
* [[Tricia Helfer]] as [[Number Six]]
* [[Grace Park]] as [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii/Number Eight]]

===Co-stars===
* [[Michael Hogan]] as [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Aaron Douglas]] as [[Galen Tyrol]]
* [[Tahmoh Penikett]] as [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
* [[Kandyse McClure]] as [[Anastasia Dualla]]
* [[Paul Campbell]] as [[Billy Keikeya]] (2003-2006)
* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]

==Production Crew==
===Producers===
* [[Ronald D. Moore]] - Developer / Executive Producer / Writer
* [[David Eick]] - Executive Producer
* [[Toni Graphia]] - Co-Executive Producer / Writer
* [[Harvey Frand]] - Producer
* [[Glen A. Larson]] - Consulting Producer

===Directors & Writing Staff===
: ''To view the list of all the directors and staff, see the [[Portal:Battlestar Galactica (RDM)/Crew#Directors|Battlestar Wiki Crew Portal.]]

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Behind the Scenes]]
[[Category:Series in the Re-Imagined Continuity]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Talk:The Temple of Hopes/Archive 1

2007-01-10T00:12:05Z

BWMathis:

'''The Temple of Five Lords.'''

I knew I had heard this title before somewhere, In Battlestar Galactica's case it does not refer to this. However,

::''"In China where Haikou and Qiongshan border on each other there is a grouping of ancient buildings. The group is comprised of temples, gardens and the houses of five famous ministers of the Tang and Song dynasties. Construction of these ancient buildings began during the reign of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty. The group takes its name from its main building, which is also called the '''Memorial Temple of Five Lords'''. Nine meters in height, the temple is a two-story wooden building covering a floor-space of 560 square meters. During the Tang and Song dynasties, five outstanding ministers were demoted and exiled to Hainan-the bleak end of the earth at that time. And it was to them that the temple was dedicated. With a golden-glazed board reading “Number One Building of Hainan” hung at the front, the temple has become the most popular site among Hainan’s cultural relics."''
::exerpt taken from [http://www.china.org.cn/english/travel/42545.htm Here]
I know that BSG hasn't used any asian references insofar, but I thought it might be interesting to add, and get the imagination going.
--[[User:Gallion|Gallion]] 07:30, 1 December 2006 (CST)
::: In Chinese, it is called "[http://www.hainan.gov.cn/data/lyxx_jd/2003/12/19/ 五公祠]"(in Chinese).-- [[User:SuperMMX|SuperMMX]] 03:49, 19 December 2006 (CST)
:This really isn't an article since there's nothing really to say. However, we can keep it as a placeholder since we know of [[Number Three]] and her strange vision quest with five luminous beings, and of the Final Five. Probably related. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 07:51, 1 December 2006 (CST)

::There's nothing to say yet, true... I had thought that there should be at least a "placeholder" as you said, just because there should be an inevitable development around this subject. Anyway never opposed to getting rid of it later if it gets in the way.--[[User:Gallion|Gallion]] 08:12, 1 December 2006 (CST)

Ok. I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned this, but the Temple of Five "priests" == [[Cylon Models#Final five|five missing Cylon models]], which are devoted to the one god, a jealous god... connection? [[User:Luis F. Gonzalez|Luis F. Gonzalez]] 00:35, 19 December 2006 (CST)

:Maybe. Maybe. A group of humans who are connected with creation of the first humanoid Cylons? Another link to the Lords of Kobol and the Cylon god? Baltar's ultimate destiny? Much will be answered in the next episode... --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 07:50, 19 December 2006 (CST)
::This leaves one logic gap: the temple is thousands of years old (since the exodus from Kobol happened thousands of years ago), but the humanoid Cylons cannot be more than 50 years old. How can they possibly be connected? --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]] 10:53, 19 December 2006 (CST)
:::Actually the agents couldn't be more than 40 (assuming that only the original chrome-jobs existed at the armistice and made the humanoids, at the earliest, within a year after their exile). Series information tells us that Cylon agents were in the Colonial's midst no earlier than 2 years prior to the [[miniseries]]. The number that the Colonials date the structure is about 4,000 years. This approximates the time of the Thirteenth Tribe's exodus, at about 3,600 years (see [[Pythia]]). The mystery likely involves what Roslin read from the Scrolls: the Temple's five obelisks represent five ''human priests'' (Cylons in ''any'' form did not exist, or so we think) that worshiped the One Who Name Cannot Be (something). Could that entity be the Cylon God (believed to be the "jealous" God of Kobol that led to the tribal exodus)? [[Dodona Selloi]], a human oracle, also relays a message from the Cylon God to D'Anna-Three, further suggesting that the Cylon God and the Lords are Kobol are connected. The [[Hybrid]]'s information about the Eye of Jupiter further reinforces a connection. We know much, and yet so little. That alone gives you a big "holy frak" feeling after watching this cliffhanger. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 12:47, 19 December 2006 (CST)
::::I see two plausible theories here:
::::1. The fact that there are five missing models and five priests is just a coincidence. The Final Five left Cylon society for some reason and ran across an abandoned manmade temple, which just happened to contain a lot of reference to the number five. Deducing that it had to be the Temple of Five the Scriptures write about, they thought it fitting to leave clues to their identity there.
::::2. The Final Five were somehow 'possessed' (or something similar) by the 'ghosts' of the five priests, and were threatened to be boxed for that, so they fled. They hid clues in the Temple of the Five, a place which they could easily find and was of great importance to them.
:::::Or 3. The [[Religion_in_the_Twelve_Colonies#The Cycle of Time|Cycle of Time]] - The past equals the present. ($PAST == $PRESENT) The five priests of the one [http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=33899428 jealous god] in the past are the same as the five Cylons models. The five in the past came to the same conclusions as the five in the present. [[User:Luis F. Gonzalez|Luis F. Gonzalez]] 12:53, 23 December 2006 (CST)

::::Both are plausible, but depend on unlikely things: #1 depends on extreme coincidence (five priests, five final models who just happen to find the temple), #2 depends on spiritual things like possession. I hope someone else can come up with a more likely theory. --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]] 13:49, 19 December 2006 (CST)
:::::I just think the scriptures prophesized the 5 priests and built the temple for them, and when the Final Five read the scriptures they eventually became convinced it reffered to them and went and did whatever they had to do at the temple. Much like Roslin's situation: the tomb of Athena was already built even if no one had ever used it before, and Roslin was already prophesized, it only took for her to realize this to go and do it all, but everything else was ready for her. --[[User:Sauron18|Sauron18]] 13:57, 23 December 2006 (CST)
::::::And whatever they had to do is prophesized in the scrolls, and that is of course creative fodder for the gourmet trough of the next scriptwriters feast of an episode. [[User:Luis F. Gonzalez|Luis F. Gonzalez]] 13:20, 24 December 2006 (CST)

There is a discrepancy. The Temple of Five is dated at 4,000 years old, built by the Thirteenth Tribe. However, Pythia's predictions were 3,600 years ago, and the Exodus from Kobol occurred 1,600 years later, making the exodus of the Thirteenth Tribe 2,000 years ago, rather than 4,000. --[[User:BWMathis|BWMathis]] 18:12, 9 January 2007 (CST)