The Cylons were created by Man.
They Rebelled.
They Evolved.
They Look and Feel Human.
Some are programmed to think they are Human.
There are many copies.
And they have a Plan.
The above is the opening text to the TV show on SciFi, Battlestar Galactica. The original series aired in 1978, but as I have not seen the original, I’m going to be discussing the new series which started in 2003. Battlestar Galatica is, in my opinion, the best show on television right now. It is now in the middle of its third season and still going strong. Unlike some other shows on now, the plot of Battlestar Galactica develops quickly. In each episode, generally quite a bit happens, and over the course of a season many different plot lines are developed… the direction of the main story evolves and changes.
If you have not seen the show, the basic premise is given in the lines quoted above. Humans created robots called Cylons, originally made of metal with a roving red eye on the front of their heads. There was a war, an agreement was finally reached and the Cylons disappeared for many years, not to be heard from for over 40 years. The series (beginning with a three hour miniseries) starts with the Cylons returning and launching a catastrophic attack on Kobol, the home planet of the humans. The survivors, most of whom were aboard space ships, flee, attempting to escape the Cylon attackers. They discover that some Cylons appear human and may be living among them, adding to the drama.
Battlestar Galactica is a Sci-Fi show, but many people who are not Sci-Fi fans enjoy it. While there are battles in space, space travel, and robots, the focus is more on the survival story of the humans and their conflicts with the Cylons (called either “Toasters” or “Skin Jobs”, depending on which version is referred to). There is a lot of interpersonal drama among both the Cylons and humans, which makes the characters more believable. They all have their faults, and the story comes from choices they make and the consequences of their decisions. The show is also intriguing because many moral choices come up, and there is usually no clear wrong or right answer. Who can be trusted? Must sacrifices be made for the greater good? Should the humans do whatever it takes to survive?
Battlestar Galactica is an amazing show, and I recommend it to anyone. If you have not seen it yet, start with the miniseries, and then watch the seasons in order. Each episode is highly dependent on the plot development, and it may be seeing them out of order may be confusing and will spoil some of the episodes. Buy the DVDs, borrow them, download the episodes (available on iTunes), whatever you can do to see them. The second half of the third season starts on Sunday, January 21 on the Sci-Fi channel.
