Simply Everything

The cast of "Battlestar Galactica"

By Peter K. Lam

First, I want to apologize for not posting any new blogs for the last several months. All of my time was taken up by watching the recently completed science fiction series, “Battlestar Galactica,” which aired on the then Sci Fi network. Ever since “Battlestar Galactica” aired in 2004, I have heard nothing but good things about the show. I did not have cable at the time so I was never able to watch the show. I would catch bits and pieces of the show whenever I traveled or I’d catch a random episode when I stayed at a friend’s house. Although I didn’t have a clue about what’s going on, I still found myself completely sucked into the story. The dialogue, imagery and symbolism is incredible.  The words the characters spoke and the manner in which they said it was gripping. I was fascinated but how complex and deeply layered the show is. My friends who watched the series finale told me that they were so moved that some of them even started to cry. After that, I knew I had to watch the series in its entirety. A TV show so powerful that it can move someone to tears must be a show that truly engages you.

I guess all my talk about “Battlestar Galactica” prompted my brother to buy me the HD DVD for Christmas in 2008. Even though I had the whole first season right there in my grasp to watch at any moment, I left it near my file cabinet where it collected dust for several months. I don’t know what prompted me to pick it up and start watching it this past August. Once I watched the mini-series, I found myself just completely immersed into the story and watching hours of it. Three or four hours would past likely nothing at all. It was crazy. The last time I was so into a show was while watching the FOX network’s “24″ on DVD which I also did some crazy marathons with. So over the course of a nearly three months, I completed the entire series and my god, “Battlestar Galactica” has seriously become the best show I have ever watched.

Those of you who have followed me know that I’m a pretty tough critic when it comes to TV shows and movies. I want entertainment not just for entertainment’s sake. I want entertainment that thoroughly engages your mind and gets you thinking. Shows and movies that gets you to think and maybe even question your ideals are shows that stick with you. The ones that give you a good laugh for a few seconds fade from our memories just as fast. The ones that move you and engage you mentally and emotionally tend to have a profound, lasting effecting on you.

“Battlestar Galactica” is a show which examines humanity at its best and worst in the face of extinction. The broad spectrum of emotions that this show conveys is simply amazing. One episode you may find yourself filled with anger whereas the next episode you may feel joy. In many episodes you may feel anger, fear, frustration, hope, and happiness all in one single episode. I have never watch a show that could be so powerful that I would tear up but “Battlestar Galactica” is one of those shows. I have been moved throughout several different points of the entire series. The show truly calls into question the cycle of life and the lifestyle in which we are all too familiar with. Even though the show takes place from in a different era than our own, many of the things the characters go through are things we may have already gone through, are going through, or will go through.

Even though I have already completed the entire series, I’m watching the show again with my brother. It’s his first time watching the complete series. I’m watching it again really to catch the pieces of the story that I may have missed. In the next few months I will be writing more about “Battlestar Galactica” and examine some of its characters as well as some of its overarching themes. It’s been ages since I felt compelled to write an essay about something but here I am. “Battlestar Galactica” is really THAT good that I feel the need to discuss and critically analyze it down to the very last detail.