“Battlestar Galactica” is a popular science fiction franchise that includes both a classic 1978 television series and a critically acclaimed 2004 reimagining. The franchise has also expanded into books, comics, and spin-off series. In this guide to Battlestar Galactica, Meganano has dug into the history of the shows, from the different shows to the legal issues the original faced. After that you will find the best way to watch the new shows in order for the best chronological viewing experience.
Battlestar Galactica: A Brief History
Original Series (1978-1979):
- “Battlestar Galactica” was created by Glen A. Larson and premiered as a television series in 1978.
- The show is set in a distant star system where a human civilization called the Twelve Colonies is under attack by a robotic race known as the Cylons.
- The last remaining Battlestar, a massive starship called the Galactica, leads a fleet of survivors in search of the mythical planet Earth as they try to escape the Cylon menace.
- The series ran for one season, comprising 24 episodes, and was known for its special effects and epic space battles.
Galactica 1980 (1980):
- A short-lived sequel series called “Galactica 1980” aired in 1980. It featured some of the characters from the original series and was set on Earth as the Colonial fleet sought refuge.
Reimagined Series (2004-2009):
- In 2004, a reimagined version of “Battlestar Galactica” was created by Ronald D. Moore. This series is often referred to as the “reboot” or “reimagining” and is considered one of the greatest science fiction television series of all time.
- The reimagined series retained some of the core concepts from the original but introduced many new elements, complex characters, and social and political themes.
- It explored issues such as artificial intelligence, the nature of humanity, religious belief, and the consequences of war.
- The show ran for four seasons, with a total of 73 episodes, and included two TV movies and a web series.
- It received critical acclaim and numerous awards for its writing, acting, and storytelling.
Spin-offs and Expanded Universe:
- “Battlestar Galactica” has expanded beyond the main series with several spin-off series and webisodes, including “Caprica” (2010), which was a prequel to the reimagined series, and “Blood & Chrome” (2012), a prequel focused on a young William Adama.
- The franchise has also produced books, comics, and video games, further exploring the universe and characters.
Legacy:
- “Battlestar Galactica” has left a lasting legacy in the world of science fiction, particularly for its character-driven storytelling and thought-provoking themes.
- It has garnered a dedicated fanbase and influenced subsequent science fiction series.
Legal Issues
George Lucas, the creator of the “Star Wars” franchise, was reportedly not pleased with what he saw as similarities between “Battlestar Galactica” and his own “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”
When the original “Battlestar Galactica” television series premiered in 1978, it did draw criticism for some elements that appeared similar to “Star Wars.”
These similarities included:
Spaceships and Space Battles:
Both “Battlestar Galactica” and “Star Wars” featured epic space battles with starfighters and capital ships. The visual effects for space battles in “Battlestar Galactica” were reminiscent of those in “Star Wars.”
Robotic Enemies:
In both series, the main antagonists were mechanical beings. In “Star Wars,” it was the Empire led by Darth Vader and the Imperial Stormtroopers. In “Battlestar Galactica,” the robotic Cylons were the primary adversaries.
Hero’s Journey:
Both series featured a hero’s journey narrative, with characters like Apollo and Starbuck in “Battlestar Galactica” bearing some resemblance to Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in “Star Wars.”
Mythical Elements:
“Battlestar Galactica” also incorporated elements of mythology and prophecy, similar to the Force in “Star Wars.”
Due to these similarities, Lucasfilm did file a lawsuit against Universal Studios, the producer of “Battlestar Galactica,” alleging copyright infringement. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, with Universal Studios agreeing to pay damages and make changes to the series to reduce its resemblance to “Star Wars.”
It’s worth noting that the lawsuit did not result in the cancellation of “Battlestar Galactica,” and the series continued to air for one season before being canceled. It later gained its own dedicated fanbase and was revived in the form of the highly acclaimed reimagined series in 2004, which had a distinct identity and narrative from “Star Wars.”
Despite the initial legal dispute and similarities, “Battlestar Galactica” has since been celebrated for its unique storytelling, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes, establishing itself as a beloved science fiction franchise in its own right.
While the original series had a more traditional, episodic format and was popular in its own right, it was the reimagined series that truly cemented “Battlestar Galactica” as a beloved and enduring franchise in the world of science fiction television.
How to Watch the Reimagined Series
With all the spin-offs, webisodes, and movies, there are a lot of components to this epic reimagined saga. If you want to watch the whole story in chronological order of events, you can follow this guide to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Chronological Order of Events:
- Caprica (2009-2010 Tv-Series)
- Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome (2012 Movie)
- Battlestar Galactica (2003 Mini-Series)
- Battlestar Galactica Season 1 (2004-2009 Tv-Series)
- Battlestar Galactica Season 2 (2004-2009 Tv-Series)
- Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance (2006 Webisodes)
- Watch here: The Resistance
- Battlestar Galactica Season 3 (2004-2009 Tv-Series)
- Battlestar Galactica: Razor Flashbacks (2007 Webisode)
- Watch here: Razor Flashbacks
- Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007 Movie)
- Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Episodes 1-11 (2004-2009 Tv-Series)
- Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy (2008 Webisodes)
- Watch here: The Face of the Enemy
- Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Episodes 12-15 (2004-2009 Tv-Series)
- Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009 Movie)
- Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Episodes 16-20 (2004-2009 Tv-Series)
Conclusion
As a child I loved the original series a lot, Boomer, Starbuck and Apollo were such great characters. I don’t know why it took me so long to even look at the reimagined series but all I can say is I have thoroughly enjoyed watching it and highly recommend you watch it if you haven’t seen it yet.
That’s All Folks!
Excellent article about an excellent series. The watch order is great and including links to the webisodes is helpful. Great job Luke. So say we all!
Your very welcome, I’m glad you found it useful.