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.

By Peter K. Lam

Eliza Dushku as Echo

Last night was the season two premiere of Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” which was titled “Vows.” The season premiere had a good story and picked up on the mysteries and discoveries from last season. It was a good premiere to help get viewers back on track after summer hiatus. Even though the storyline continued with the momentum from the last half of season one, the ratings for the show remain low.

As happy as I am that “Dollhouse” is back for a second season, the low ratings is pretty worrisome. “Dollhouse” season one was plagued with rating woes and the possibility of cancellation. The season two premiere pulled low ratings again but from what I remember, the number is pretty consistent with what “Dollhouse” have pulled in the past.

FOX has stated that this time around it will stay out of the creative process for the show and let Joss Whedon work his magic. I can only hope that the “Dollhouse” will be able to at least maintain the audience it has and push for another season.

It’s a great show but this year “Dollhouse” has tougher competition. The other problem is that people are out doing other things on Friday nights. The ratings for shows for all the networks are less than stellar hence Fridays nicknamed as “the Friday wasteland.” The season premiere also was not geared to obtain new viewers. It didn’t have too much backstory and picked up where the season one finale left off. If they had designed the season two premiere to snatch up a few new viewers, maybe the ratings would’ve been a little higher.

I hope that “Dollhouse” continues to develop and find its identity so that more viewers will watch and hopefully create a stable fanbase. It’s just one episode in right now so there’s still a lot of time to change the ratings.

By Peter K. Lam

The cast of "The Beautiful Life"

The CW’s “The Beautiful Life” is the first casualty of the new fall season being cancelled after airing two episodes. This really shouldn’t come as a surprise though. The promos and ads for this show were not interesting and The CW did not do much to help create buzz for the show. Most of the marketing effort was geared toward promising new shows like “Melrose Place” and “The Vampire Diaries” both of which had good ratings.

When I heard that there’s going to be a new show created about models and the drama of their lives, I knew that it was not going to get renewed. I thought they’d at least air maybe eight or ten episodes before being cancelled but The CW did not waste any time getting rid of this show. I guess it’s better to cut off the malignant tumor earlier than later.

I didn’t watch the show but the premise was boring. The CW already has “America’s Next Top Model” which is kind of similar to “The Beautiful Life.” Also, there was a show called “Models, Inc.” which spun off from “Melrose Place” years ago that had the exact same premise. That show also got canceled promptly. I think people are just not that interested in watching a serialized drama about models.

The good news is that there’s an open spot on the schedule now. The CW will be able to fill this spot with a midseason replacement when the time comes. Hopefully they’ll have a better show to put in that time slot.