Olmos warns Galactica purists to stay away (1 Viewer)

[Michael St. Clair]

"If you're a staunch purist, then you won't like it," he said in a phone interview last week. "But if you're open to a new look at that situation, you might."

In the original series, humans traveling in "a rag-tag fleet" of ships in the deepest reaches of space set out on a quest for Earth, pursued by evil robots called Cylons.

In the new version, Olmos said, it's impossible to tell Cylons from humans, "which poses a tremendously difficult problem that's speaking directly to cloning, which we face in this world today."

Still, he realizes that regardless of the relevance of the new "Battlestar Galactica," some fans will object.

"Big time," Olmos said. "There's no two ways around it. If I were a purist, I wouldn't watch it. Don't waste your time. Get the old version on DVD. Don't hurt yourself. Don't go through the pain."

http://www.post-gazette.com/tv/20030...os0429fnp4.asp

I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Tony Whalen]

I'm willing to give it a shot. I love the original, in all it's cheesy glory... but this could be interesting.

Although the one thing I'm upset about is that "Starbuck" will be a female character.

And it just won't be the same without John Colicos chewing up the scenery...

Beyond that, I'm prepared for the "reimagining". (I hate that new term... just call it a remake, and quit tryin' ta sound like its anything else...)

 

[PhilipG]

Look at it this way: the only way to go after Galactica 80 is up.

I hope!

 

[MikeAlletto]

So they aren't going to have the big shiny evil robots? Its just going to be humans fighting humans? The Cylons made that show that and the sound of them when they talked. Is there an air date yet for this miniseries?

 

[David Forbes]

That's kind of strange, because the ten second teaser had the red Cylon "eye" scanning back and forth with the noise that it made from the old (craptastic) series. So they're not using robots at all?

 

[Qui-Gon John]

No Cylons like we've known, blasphemy!


Sounds too much like "V" where the reptilian aliens wore masks that made them look human. Doesn't sound too good. I think the big thing about BG was the machines vs. carbon-based units.


Oh, and yes, John Colicos will be missed. His characterization reminded me so much of Dathan in The Ten Commandments.

 

[todd s]

John,
You are right regarding Colicos and Dathan. And in regard to the re-imagining. I the vein of Ten Commandments..."So Let It Be Written..So Let It Be Redone!"

 

[Jeff Kleist]

There are supposedly about 6 kinds of Cylon, so he may only be referring to the ones with lines, not the footsoldier types

At least Olmos is being open about it, essentially: "We're blaspheming the show you love, it's going to piss you off, spare yourself the pain"

Unilke some other parties who insist they're not changing much at all. Bravo to Olmos for telling the truth.

 

[Tony Whalen]

There are supposedly about 6 kinds of Cylon, so he may only be referring to the ones with lines, not the footsoldier types

I think Jeff nailed it there. I seem to recall reading somewhere that there will still be a "Centurion" class of Cylon, who will bear a strong resembalance to our red-eyed chrome-plated villains of yesteryear.

If memory serves... I *think* the Cylon race is still mechanical in nature. Just now they are more "android" than "robot", if ya get my meaning.

I'll reserve judgement 'til after I see it.

 

[Richard Travale]

I *think* the Cylon race is still mechanical in nature

Actually, if I recall I think the Cylons were reptillian in nature and their underlings and soldiers were mechanical.

 

[Tony Whalen]

Good god... I think yer right Richard. :b I don't know if we ever actually SAW a reptillain Cylon though... unless we're counting the shadowy "face" of the Imperious Leader.

However, in the new "reimagining", I think the Cylons were originally a servitor-creation of humanity, that later rebelled against their creators...or something like that.

 

[Jeff Kleist]

Actually, if I recall I think the Cylons were reptillian in nature and their underlings and soldiers were mechanical.

In the original BSG script and treatments, the Cylons were reptillian creatures cybernetically enhanced. ABC basically said "Killing anything alive on a regular basis is bad", so they were turned all robot.

And now here's some spoilers from the original Galactica season 2. Since it will never be filmed, I don't see the harm

Count Iblis, many thousand yahrens ago took a primitive reptillian race and gave them sentience. His chosen general was turned into the first imperious leader, while his lieutenants became IL (Lucifer-type) series Cylons. The rest had their conciousnesses transferred into Centurion class Cylons, and when they're destroyed, they just download the backup of the conciousness into another body.

This is why Imperious Leader speaks with the voice of Count Iblis. Also, when an IL is lost for whatever reason, the IL series come together and elect a new Imperious Leader(like the pope) who recieves massive augments and data stores for strategizing and huge computational problems.

 

[Qui-Gon John]

How did Count Iblis live many thousands of yahrens prior to the events of Balltestar Galactica Season 1?

Holy cow! Do you realize, if the Cylons still have their Reptilian Sect around, this could lead to a Galactica/V Cross-Over Series?

 

[derek]

I always felt Count Iblis basically represented the devil (melding of Christian/Mormon/antiquity beliefs.) As a 'fallen angel/transcedent being' his 'lifespan' was somewhere on the eternal plane. It is a shame we didn't get the BSG season 2 it sounded quite interesting as we never knew very much about the Cylons. I'm not sure what to think of Olmos' comments. I consider myself a huge fan of the original series...but if the scripts/storytelling are good with some depth and they don't stray TOO FAR from the original premises I think I'll enjoy it.

 

[Jeff Kleist]

That's correct. Galactica is loosely based on Mormon doctrine. Without taking a long time to explain it, and busting HTF religous rules. Ship of lights= God and his followers, Count Iblis=Satan.

Before anyone brings it up, there was a planned shot that would show a cloven hoof sticking out of the wreckage of the ship near where they found Iblis, IT WAS NEVER SHOT. I have confirmed this personally with every single person who was acting in the scene except Patrick MacNee.

 

[Richard Travale]

Before anyone brings it up, there was a planned shot that would show a cloven hoof sticking out of the wreckage of the ship near where they found Iblis, IT WAS NEVER SHOT. I have confirmed this personally with every single person who was acting in the scene except Patrick MacNee.

Cool.