Naturalistic science fiction
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In Theory...
Naturalistic Science Fiction (NSF) is a realistic take on the SF genre, avoiding typical SF cliches, utilizing visual and artistic elements from such dramas as The Sorpranos and The West Wing.
In Practice...
For BSG this means that characters are viewed as normal, every-day people. There will be no characters that are simply the "smoking chauvinist", "loyal soldier", "heroic lead", "spiritual commander", "whiz-kid genius", or "sexy doctor".
Technology is far enough advanced for star travel to be possible (see: FTL travel) and plausible yet every other aspect of Colonial technology is humbly realisitic. Instead of Star Trek matter-energy conversion tech, people need to be physically shuttled between ships on smaller craft like Raptors; Colonial ships are not powered by inexhaustible Dylithium crystals and Warp Cores, ships burn a limited solid fuel known as tylium; phaser weapons and photon torpedoes are replaced with guns, bullets and nuclear bombs; and other unrealistic SF deus ex machina are replaced with technology more in-line with what's seen in modern life.
Much like Aaron Doral noted in the opening of the Mini-Series, form follows function. Galactica was designed to be a battle cruiser/aircraft carrier in space; the hull is lined with armour plating, strengthened by structural ribbing and insulated from external explosions by water tanks. The CIC is buried deep within the ship and protected from any attacks, unlike Star Trek starships, whose bridges are openly exposed at the top-centre of the ship. Colonial One was designed to be a jetliner in space and is set up similar to a real world passenger airliner with rows of seats separated into various classes down the fuselage, cramped airplane bathrooms, cargo bays in the ship's underbelly and private cabins for VIPs.
Characters like Col. Tigh are annoyed by endless technobable, instead of routinely spouting it themselves. Complex procedures are often explained in simple and down-to-earth terms, if they're ever explained at all.
There are no "planet-of-the-week" episodes. A majority of BSG's episodes primarily focus on internal fleet survival issues (see: Water, Bastille Day, and The Hand of God). There will be an absence of aliens, a la Joss Whedon's Firefly, for planets will be mostly uninhabitable and lifeless (with sound, scientific reasoning).
BSG avoids the thematic elements found in Star Wars and episodic storytelling, using a documentary feel for the series and tribal music.
Related Articles
Galactica2003.net's Reprint of RDM's Take on Naturalistic SF