THE EDUCATION OF JARVIS SLACKS

Battlestar Galactica is one of those television shows that you hear about and avoid.  At least I did.  Huh?  An epic sci-fi series with tons of characters, ties to an older series and with high themes and over-reaching explanations about human nature?  Nah, I’ll pass.  Thankfully, I’ve reviewed how stupid I have been and have begun the long, long effort of watching the entire series from beginning to end.  Last night, I finished the first season, and I’m beyond impressed.  But, of course, not everything is perfect, and I’m very curious about how the story lines play out.  Warning, there are a few spoilers.  Don’t read if you don’t want stuff ruined.

The show starts off with the destruction of the entire human race.  Twelve colonies get completely wiped out by the machine race called the Cylons.  Man created Cylons and the Cylons rebelled.  A truce was struck, but 40 years later, the Cylons return.  Another big surprise, the Cylons have taken human form.  Not only are there metal Cylons, but there are 12 models of human Cylons.  With most humans dead, there are now only fifty thousand humans left, floating in an armada.  The only protection the humans have is the Battlestar Galactica, a base ship that is ancient and tired, but with a veteran commander willing to do whatever it takes to save humanity and find their new home, a mysterious and mythical place called Earth.

Man, I really, really enjoyed watching this first season.  There were so many wonderful moments.  Gaius being rescued after he was responsible for the Cylon attack.  The revelation that Sharon “Boomer” was a Cylon.  All the drama between Commander Adama and his son, the political stuff with President Roslin, the guilt and courage of “Starbuck”, the fire fights and the tactics, it is all brilliant and wonderful.  However, there is a flaw in the plot that can’t be ignored.  If anyone can be a Cylon, then the writers can create conflict anytime and anywhere they want.  Anyone can be a Cylon, and anyone can turn the story in a completely different direction.  Yes, this is a great idea for a narrative, but it is also a bit easy.  Stuck in a storyline?  Someone is a Cylon.  There.  Problem fixed.  I have had some great moments when the story clicked in my brain.  And the writers never over-used the “Anyone is a Cylon” idea.  The real interesting twist came more naturally when the religious ideas began to form, the idea of a “God” vs. “Gods”, religious ideals vs. realistic odds, the rights of prisoners after such a conflict, and the true nature of governing.  It is really, really great stuff and I’m extremely excited to start the second season.  What will they do with the Arrow of Apollo?  Will Roslin get out of the brig?  Why did Boomer shoot Adama?  And why do the Cylons want to have babies so bad?  No spoilers in the comments, or I will punch you in the internet throat.