Politics: ur doin it rite

Sean Tevis for State Representative of Kansas

Can you resist the allure of references to:

bulletin board-speak

xkcd

Napoleon Dynamite

indexed

Rickrolling

Battlestar Galactica

300

all in one?

Battlestar Galactica

Last Friday marked the premiere of Battlestar Galactica's final season. In Canada, it is on the Space Channel, Fridays at 10 pm.

For the uninitiated, the premise of the re-imagined version of BSG follows that of the original 1970 version (which was really campy and obviously trying to play off the popularity of Star Wars, Star Trek and Bonanza). Somewhere in the galaxy are 12 planets, colonized by humans originating from the planet Kobol. The human race developed an artificial intelligence and manufactured machines to do their work called Cylons (a la Terminator, The Matrix, Blade Runner and a host of other science fiction plotlines). Realizing their lot in life was a bit of a raw deal, the Cylons rebelled, and a great war was fought. During the course of this war, the humans and Cylons reached an armistice (peace agreement); for 40 years they lived apart, the humans with their 12 colonies and the Cylons finding their own region of space. The truce is broken suddenly when the Cylons launch a surprise, all-out offensive that decimates the 12 Colonies in a flourish of nuclear strikes. Battlestar Galactica is the story about the survivors, a rag-tag fleet of ships being led in a glactic convoy to safe harbour and possibly a new home by the Battlestar Galactica, the sole remnant of a once vast military force.

What sets this show apart from the original (and the 1980s reboot) and other space exploration shows? Firstly, they nuked the campiness that drove the original to an early, merciful demise. Unlike most science fiction shows floating around, the technology and alien themes that litter those lesser shows take a backseat to true storytelling: character drama, political/sociological/moral/philosophical dilemmas and a rich tapestry of moods (primarily post-apocalyptic darkness). This show was developed around the same time Joss Whedon's Firefly was in production. There are similarities between the two, especially the way both shows eschew the clean cut sterility of 20th Century futurism, opting instead for a grittier, dirtier realism (through documentary-style filming) and exploration of current themes and questions against a backdrop of space. Also, the actors are all extremely hot.

There is a lot more that can be said, but I don't have the resources or the space to do so. There are professionals who can take you through a tour of the show and provide insightful commentary. I'd ask you all to watch it (because it awesomes like nothing else), but since it is a highly serialized show, you'd be frustratedly at-a-loss from the get-go.

Fortunately, SciFi Channel, the American carrier of the show, has done us all a solid by whipping up an 8-minute recap video. Needless to say, if you haven't seen the show before, spoilers ahead.

Other Links:
Official Site
TWoP Episode Recaps (warning: long winded)
Battlestar Galactica Wiki - a comprehensive compendium of all things BSG
Galactica SITREP - for all the latest news etc.

TV time

the beginning of the school season also marks the beginning of the television season and the hockey season; it also marks the beginning of my descent into academic purgatory on account of all the above.

anyway, here is a list of the stuff i am watching, or will be watching, in case you are interested (since i have good tv taste, right?).

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book 3: Fire
Genre: Animated Action/Comedy
though it is aimed at the under 18 demographic, the show's depth, excellent writing, spot-on character voicing and stellar animation sets it a cut above all other kids shows. season 3 was originally slated to be the final act of the 3-part story, but it looks like there will be 3 more seasons following this one as well as a live-action movie trilogy helmed by M. Night Shyamalan.

Dexter - Season 2
Genre: Live-action Thriller/Drama/Comedy
the heavily serial nature of this show makes it difficult to watch part way through a season as themes, motifs and story arcs run season-long. but it also makes this show difficult to put down once you've started. i watched season 1 straight through in about 3 days. it walks a fine twisted line between the darkest abyss of human savagery and slightly off-beat black humour. unlike Avatar, i would not watch this with kids.

Pushing Daisies - Season 1
Genre: Live-action Fantasy Drama/Comedy/Procedural
this show just premiered last week and it has already hooked me. it might have something to do with the whacky premise. it might have something to do with the fantastic colours. it probably has a lot to do with the way it reminds me of Amelie. there was even a scene in the pilot episode ("Pie-lette") that had a song from Amelie playing in the background. the lead actress, Anna Friel, reminds me of the canceled Standoff's Rosmarie DeWitt.

Smallville - Season 7
Genre: Live-action Action/Soap Opera
this is one of my guilty pleasures. the writing is crappy and sappy. half of the acting is pretty sucky. and again, the writing is REALLY REALLY crappy. but still i watch it. because it's Superman, pre-flight.

The Office - Season 4
Genre: Live-action Comedy
this show has almost everything i've ever wanted in a show: smart writing, humour (ranging from flagarantly crude to subtle snark), eye-candy, witty dialogue and videography, and characters that i care about. the only thing that's missing is action (but there is some of that).

come January, some other shows will be coming back:
Battlestar Galactica - Season 4
Genre: Live-action Science Fiction Action/Drama
this show can take you to moral, ethical, political, legal, social, and personal places you couldn't possibly grasp on your own. just because it is set in space does not mean they don't deal with racism, elitism, discrimination, love, justice, violence, etc. the dialogue is... not memorable, but the fully developed characters are. sometimes you'll find yourself saying, "Admiral Adama would not have allowed that," when watching the politcal reports on the news. sadly, season 4 will be the last one.

Psych - Season 2 (second half)
Genre: Live-action Procedural/Comedy
you know all those shows that have cropped up recently that are based on Sherlock Holmes? let me refresh your memory: House, Monk, Bones, CSI, blah blah blah... anyways, Psych is the funny version. it reminds me very much of Scrubs. it is a very self-aware comedy that is not afraid to poke fun of itself and the genre of police procedurals.