Primer: Miniseries, Part 1

[havoc]

SpringSummers said:

I don't mean posting these to any other sites. I mean telling people about it and giving them links to OUR site. Definitely, I want to jealously keep these HERE ONLY.

If you know of any sites that you want me to "infilitrate" with the news of this new offering at the S3, let me know.

Ok, I hoped to only be linking, I can't imagine having to email or upload them to a zillion places. I have linked the site on my Yahoo profile already and am going to be adding it to my own website; but, will have to work up a list of places to hit. Will let you know

[Nickim]

havoc said:

You could probably read the first few paragraphs; but, If you want pure objectivity, don't. I approached the show expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised to get the best in my estimation. I spent a few paragraphs going over obvious changes from the old show right up front; but, I get into a lot of spoilers for the sake of time. If I had to write the spoilers out till the end, it would have ruined my train of thought. And I wanted a pretty raw unadultered flow for the first one as much as possible. Editorial liberties or no, I think that's what I was able to present.

I'm considering options for style on the others, so spoilers may be written out altogether. Will see.

Do you mean spoilers for future episodes or the one you're reviewing? Spoilers for future episodes would ruin it for a lot of people, and keep them from reading the reviews.

[havoc]

Nicki said:

I did, one of first big TV crushes.

Oh I missed that, I didn't have a crush on Starbuck, but I have one now. Wonder if she smokes cigars in private...

[havoc]

Nicki said:

Do you mean spoilers for future episodes or the one you're reviewing? Spoilers for future episodes would ruin it for a lot of people, and keep them from reading the reviews.

Oh no, not for future episodes, only for current. I don't like reading major spoilers in a review and was skeptical about including them in this one; but, coulldn't get around it, so ...

[Nickim]

havoc said:

Oh no, not for future episodes, only for current. I don't like reading major spoilers in a review and was skeptical about including them in this one; but, coulldn't get around it, so ...

Are you going to start posting your reviews now or wait until each episode is shown? Because after it's aired, it's not consider a spoiler, at least not here.

[Nickim]

havoc said:

Oh I missed that, I didn't have a crush on Starbuck, but I have one now. Wonder if she smokes cigars in private...

Maybe, you two can share one.

[havoc]

Nicki said:

Maybe, you two can share one.

LOL. See review - snowballs will survive 300 degrees first. But, in a purely Bundy sense, I can dream.

As for the other episodes, I'm writing the reviews as I can and will probably post them as they are finished; but, with the warning for those who haven't seen the episodes yet. By the time January gets here, I should be 10 weeks ahead of everyone or more.. And I'm considering whether that is good or bad. I don't know if sky one is going to be perpetually ahead of everyone else and am hoping it doesn't stay that way. Has pros and cons..

[Nickim]

havoc said:

LOL. See review - snowballs will survive 300 degrees first. But, in a purely Bundy sense, I can dream.

As for the other episodes, I'm writing the reviews as I can and will probably post them as they are finished; but, with the warning for those who haven't seen the episodes yet. By the time January gets here, I should be 10 weeks ahead of everyone or more.. And I'm considering whether that is good or bad. I don't know if sky one is going to be perpetually ahead of everyone else and am hoping it doesn't stay that way. Has pros and cons..

I don't know about others, but I'd personally prefer you to post the review the day after its episode airs. I know I wouldn't read them in advance. I like to see the episode and see what I notice and then read a review.

[Patti - S'cubie Cutie]

havoc said:

LOL. See review - snowballs will survive 300 degrees first. But, in a purely Bundy sense, I can dream.

As for the other episodes, I'm writing the reviews as I can and will probably post them as they are finished; but, with the warning for those who haven't seen the episodes yet. By the time January gets here, I should be 10 weeks ahead of everyone or more.. And I'm considering whether that is good or bad. I don't know if sky one is going to be perpetually ahead of everyone else and am hoping it doesn't stay that way. Has pros and cons..

I believe the plan is to post the second half of your pilot in a couple weeks and post your review of the first episode right after it airs in the US - you will be ahead with the writing, and so the reviews will be posted very quickly after the ep - it'll be great!

[havoc]

Patti said:

I believe the plan is to post the second half of your pilot in a couple weeks and post your review of the first episode right after it airs in the US - you will be ahead with the writing, and so the reviews will be posted very quickly after the ep - it'll be great!

Thanks Patti. I was remarking only on my ability to get them here, it remains Vlad's prerogative as to when would be best to publish the others and that has not been discussed between us as yet. This is still all pretty new to me so I'm still working on a wait and see basis.

[Patti - S'cubie Cutie]

havoc said:

Thanks Patti. I was remarking only on my ability to get them here, it remains Vlad's prerogative as to when would be best to publish the others and that has not been discussed between us as yet. This is still all pretty new to me so I'm still working on a wait and see basis.

The copy of the pilot that Vlad has mailed should arrive in a day or two - am eager to watch, so I can read your review!

[havoc]

Patti said:

The copy of the pilot that Vlad has mailed should arrive in a day or two - am eager to watch, so I can read your review!

Hope you like both It's long but it's a good view. I am working on getting better mpeg copies right now. Hoping to get something DVD quality that can be shared around. But it may take a while. The P2P networks make getting large files a tad difficult at times. And nothing larger than the AVI's I gave Vlad has been available on the newsgroups yet. If you want copies of the other episodes, just give a shout or tell Vlad and we'll see what we can do Got them all in avi format and most of them in Mpeg format now.

[Patti - S'cubie Cutie]

havoc said:

Hope you like both It's long but it's a good view. I am working on getting better mpeg copies right now. Hoping to get something DVD quality that can be shared around. But it may take a while. The P2P networks make getting large files a tad difficult at times. And nothing larger than the AVI's I gave Vlad has been available on the newsgroups yet. If you want copies of the other episodes, just give a shout or tell Vlad and we'll see what we can do Got them all in avi format and most of them in Mpeg format now.

thank you, that's a very kind offer!

[Lola m]

Thanks, Havoc, for an interesting primer and review of the BG “pre-quel” miniseries. (And welcome to the s’cubie reviewing group.)

I was glad to read your opening remarks. First, paying tribute to the original Battlestar Galactica (a series I fondly remember from my misspent youth). Second, not letting your appreciation for the old stop you from appreciating the good qualities of the mini-series.

Loved our “introduction” to Starbuck – I was immediately won over to the role being played by an actress. Because the moment she decked Tigh, I was like, “that’s my Starbuck!” Eetah to your admiration of Edward J Olmos as Adama, he truly was an inspired choice for the role and it was a pleasure to watch him move from gracious-even-while-disapproving-“retiree” to the guy who has to try and save whatever is possible.

I also loved the “archaic” feel to Galactica herself and, in particular, loved how they used the fact that her technology was out of date as an advantage over the Cylons. It was a nice touch. (OK, that's perhaps a bit of a jump into the second half, but I had to say it.)

Speaking of Cylons, I was a bit bummed at first to see the idea of them being “human-looking”. Not so much from a “hey, that doesn’t really fit the time-line” thing, but more from a “dude, I always liked the cheesy dorky low-rent special effects” side of things. However, once into the show, I liked the different versions of Cylons and was willing to go with flow.

The attack on Capria and the flight of humanity in the odd bits and pieces of ships was done very well and very believably. As you indicated, the way it is presented in this mini-series actually sets up the future story much more effectively than in the original series. Eetah also on your description of Mary McDonnell’s performance. It was an excellent piece of writing to create this character thrown into circumstances almost impossible to handle while already at a personal crisis point and she certainly brought that character to life.

Lola

[havoc]

Lola said:

Thanks, Havoc, for an interesting primer and review of the BG “pre-quel” miniseries. (And welcome to the s’cubie reviewing group.)

I was glad to read your opening remarks. First, paying tribute to the original Battlestar Galactica (a series I fondly remember from my misspent youth). Second, not letting your appreciation for the old stop you from appreciating the good qualities of the mini-series.

Loved our “introduction” to Starbuck – I was immediately won over to the role being played by an actress. Because the moment she decked Tigh, I was like, “that’s my Starbuck!” Eetah to your admiration of Edward J Olmos as Adama, he truly was an inspired choice for the role and it was a pleasure to watch him move from gracious-even-while-disapproving-“retiree” to the guy who has to try and save whatever is possible.

I also loved the “archaic” feel to Galactica herself and, in particular, loved how they used the fact that her technology was out of date as an advantage over the Cylons. It was a nice touch. (OK, that's perhaps a bit of a jump into the second half, but I had to say it.)

Speaking of Cylons, I was a bit bummed at first to see the idea of them being “human-looking”. Not so much from a “hey, that doesn’t really fit the time-line” thing, but more from a “dude, I always liked the cheesy dorky low-rent special effects” side of things. However, once into the show, I liked the different versions of Cylons and was willing to go with flow.

The attack on Capria and the flight of humanity in the odd bits and pieces of ships was done very well and very believably. As you indicated, the way it is presented in this mini-series actually sets up the future story much more effectively than in the original series. Eetah also on your description of Mary McDonnell’s performance. It was an excellent piece of writing to create this character thrown into circumstances almost impossible to handle while already at a personal crisis point and she certainly brought that character to life.

Lola

Thanks for the input. I had hashed through a lot of material in the original series prior to seeing the miniseries for the first time. The cylons looking human thing kinda bothered me in principle because it stank of the 1980 season.. But, it has been done well and no longer presents an obstacle in my mind.

I loved the shiny suits myself. On the other hand, there are a lot of standins that got hurt in those shiny suits; so, I'm sure that played a part in the decision making.

I have submitted the second part review and final updates; so, when vlad has the chance to dig into it, it will be available as well. It doesn't have quite the flash of the first; but, it crams a lot more into the narrative. I don't know if they'll re-air the miniseries and have not seen it in the schedule; so, I thought it practical to make a readers digest condensed that everyone can get up to speed on things with if necessary. On Jan 1 when the first episode airs, there will be a lot of people in the dark if they haven't seen the miniseries. soooo..

Lastly, thanks for the welcome. Kinda nice to share my opinion in an environment that allows me to do so amicably. Hope you like the next one and the upcoming series.