Battlestar Galactica Review: A Grown-Up Space Opera
9/10 — Battlestar Galactica (2003)
Pros
- Mature, political writing
- Olmos and McDonnell are superb
- Gritty documentary style
Cons
- Uneven later seasons
- Divisive ending
After the Cylons, robots built by humanity, launch a devastating attack on the Twelve Colonies, a ragtag fleet led by Commander Adama, played by Edward James Olmos, flees in search of Earth. It ran for four seasons.
What works
The writing tackles politics, religion and morality with unusual maturity, and Olmos and Mary McDonnell are superb. The handheld, documentary-style camerawork is fresh, and the first two seasons are gripping.
Where it falters
The third and fourth seasons are uneven, and the final answers divide fans.
Verdict
A smart, tense sci-fi drama that rewards its first seasons.
