Your thoughts on getting into Firefly and Battlestar Galactica.

Ronald Epstein · 01-08-2006, 11:01 AM

My friend is urging me to get into Firefly
and Battlestar Galactica, citing these
to be amongst the best two sci-fi shows he has
ever seen (particularly Galactica).

The last time I was talked into a sci-fi
series (Babylon Five), I was immediately won
over.

My friend says Firefly is an easy watch
at only 13 episodes. He said that I should then
watch the film Serenity thereafter as it
ties up all the loose ends.

He then suggested the new Battlestar Galactica
which I think is in its second season on DVD. I
am unsure how many episodes are in each season --
and I heard something about a miniseries -- so I
am not that sure of the best way to watch this.

I have seen pictures of the blonde from that
show and I must say, she's about as hot as they get!

I suppose I am just looking for your opinions
on both shows and the best way to get into them.

To me, it seems like a no-brainer as Firefly
should take me less than 2 weeks to watchg, then
on to Serenity and then over to Galactica.

Nelson Au · 01-08-2006, 11:27 AM

Ron-

I can only comment on Galactica. I've seen the original series in the original broadcast run but I do not own it. I'm familiar with it and I can understand all the fuss that went on when the series was about to premier from all the upset fans that Ron Moore had re-imagined it.

I don't have cable, and I've never had an opportunity to see the series on air except a few bits on NBC. I also have a friend who knows of my interest in Sci-Fi and Star Trek in particular. He highly urged me to see the series.

Knowing that, I finally bought the DVD box set late last year and I went into it totally with an open mind. It is a highly well made series! Well acted and written. And the new take on the series themes and ideas are perfectly valid. It's a new version no doubt and I think you can accept it and also still enjoy the original series on it's merits. Glenn A. Larson created the original, and is also a consultant on this new version.

What I like of what I've seen so far is the focus on character and not so much action. There is action, but it is not the focus of the show. Also, I compare this series very closely with Star Trek Deep Space Nine. It's no surprise to me as Moore was so instumental in that series turn around in the last 3-4 years of it's run. There's a lot of political and religious issues they examine in both shows. So far, I've seen the Miniseries. You have to see that first. I have completed the first season and just saw the second episode of Season 2. I'm trying to make these shows last so that when the next box set is out, I will either time the release or have to wait a few weeks for the next set so it's a continous viewing experience.

That's my point of view.

Paul_Scott · 01-08-2006, 11:54 AM

Firefly is a pretty breezy watch and Serenity does provide a sense of closure that the series needed. i definitely would not watch the feature without having seen the show.

i am a huge fan of Buffy but resisted Firefly for as long as possible until i finally caved last year. its good, but i don't think it blew me away as many would saying it would.
as popcorn sci-fi/space opera i like the show much better than the SW prequels, and the one episode with the Bounty Hunter was the kick ass depiction of a bounty hunter that i had always wanted to see after Boba Fett first planted the concept (but was never developed and just tossed away).

the one big problem i had with the show was the 'reset' nature. some characters will take all kinds of bodily abuse in one episode and yet the very next one they are fit as a fiddle and ready to kick ass. that was disappointing to see as Buffy often carried over phyiscal (and psychological wounds) for several eps giving them a little more substance.
here, people seem to have the healing properties of superheros.

but the writing is otherwise up there, and its a fun, no heavy lifting show to watch.

i've heard great things about BG too, but that seems like i much denser show to get into. looking forward to it eventually though.

Bryan^H · 01-08-2006, 02:13 PM

Firefly is a great show. It is escapist television at it's very finest. I have tried watching Galactica more than once, and from what I've seen, the acting is great, but it is very, very dark sci-fi. Maybe I would have better luck getting into it if I got the first season, and watched it in order.

Mike*SC · 01-08-2006, 02:18 PM

It would seem the easiest place to get into "Galactica" would be with the miniseries, which is included in the first season DVD. That said, the series is better than the miniseries. The miniseries is promising and frequently satisfying, but also sometimes seems to wallow in darkness. Yes, I get the dramatic point of

Spoiler:

, but even so, I didn't much enjoy watching those parts.

Once the show got going, though, it really became quite compelling, and it's one of the only shows I ever feel actual anxiety watching, because I really don't know what's going to happen (and yes, that's partly because they dared to do the things in the spoiler above).

As for "Firefly," I never made it through the first one, though I know lots of people strongly disagree with me.

**HTF Ads**

Patrick Sun · 01-08-2006, 02:21 PM

Start with Firefly, and then finish up with Serenity. In ... that ... order. Please resist any urge to simply watching Serenity first.

BG is more bleak at times, it's gritty, but it does have some interesting ideas as well. There was a 2-hour miniseries in 2003, and then season 1 had 13 episodes, and the first part of season 2 had 10 episodes, and the 2nd half of season 2 just re-started with the airing of episode #11 this past Friday.

Britton · 01-08-2006, 03:26 PM

The Galactica mini-series was very solid, but like Mike pointed out, one might feel it wallows a bit too much in the darkness. I didn't mind since it is about the genocide of humanity. However, the series is excellent from its very first episode.

The mini-series, all of Season 1, and the first 10 episodes of Season 2 (called Season 2.0) are all on DVD. The mini-series was released in a 2-disc set, but it was also included in the Season 1 boxset. However, the documentaries and other extra material specific to the mini-series were not brought over to the Season 1 boxset.

I've never seen Firefly, but I can say that Galactica has much better acting across the board than Babylon 5. They don't have any weak links among their cast like B5 did. The effects and sets are much, much better too.

And yes, the blonde is hot! I find that the show is crawling with all sorts of very attractive ladies. If I had to be on a ship running from an unrelenting enemy force, it could be a lot worse than being stuck aboard Galactica.

RogerH · 01-08-2006, 03:39 PM

I only thought Firefly was alright (although near the end it showed alot of promise).

As for BSG I was a huge fan of the original show and for the longest time I hated the new show with a passion (for all the changes).

BUT after watching the first season on the SPACE channel here in canada I'm loving it now. In fact the season finale was a fantastic episode that I could watch over and over. The 2nd season starts here next week so I can't wait.

IMO BSG is the best show on TV at this point and time. I'll be getting this show on DVD in the near future.

Simon Massey · 01-08-2006, 03:41 PM

I would recommend both shows though I preferred Galactica. Firefly took me a bit to get into but around Episode 6-7 I really felt the show starting to take off and it was a real shame the show was cancelled. Serenity the film was a great addition to the series

Galactica however, I loved from the first episode. I have never watched the original series but I was drawn to this show by the fact Ron Moore was involved - Deep Space Nine being by far my favourite ST show. Only seen the first season but cant wait to start watching Season 2.