In an episode that can only be dubbed the best episode of the best show currently on TV, last night's premiere proved that good sci-fi has nothing to do with science fiction. Let's list the topics addressed on this sobering, unreal, impressive, and mind-blowing episode: the politics of suiciding bombing (from the debate about its effectiveness, usage, acceptance to its reaction), holocaust-style stormtroppers killing their own kind, trusting the enemy, torture, rape - physical and emotional, obsecity, guilt, conflict of two very different religions, the price of freedom, the rationalization of death and, hope.
That sounds more like Iraq and Afganistan than New Caprica, the barely hospitable planet that the humans relocated to under the imept leadership of lame-duck President Baltar. For those of you who are not followers of BG, here is a brief BG 101: The humans created Cylon robots to do their chores but the Cylons evolved, rebelled and killed all but 40,000 humans in the galaxy. The remaining rag-tag fleet, lead by the only surviving member of the government, secretary of education Roslin, and the head of the military, Admiral Odama left their old home in search for a new home, Earth. The journey was not without its hicups as the Clyons were constantly one their tail and the humans had to rebuild society, the political appartus, and adjust to the new, post 9/11 normal of contanst threats from a cunning enemy of their own creation. Along the way, relationships were formed and this highly political, highly sensitive show addressed the very nature of the human condition. When it was believed that the Cylon threat was over the humans got a bit too comfortable. Upon discovering a new planet, a wave of defeatism swept over the population and they chose between two missions - colonozing New Caprica or contining the mission in the sterile, smelly, stale star ships towards Earth. This became the primary election issue and pro-colonization, clyon collaborator, Dr. Baltar, won the election and began colonizing the planet. This left the head of the military and some other ships in orbit while everyone else struggled with the harsh reality of starting over, again. The military lost its edge and when the Cylons returned they were forced to abandon the humans on the planet below and fly off to safety. Left defenseless, the Cylons conquered New Caprica and vowed to find a way to promote peaceful co-existence under their dictatorship. The cost of this co-existence, the spread of the Cylon religious orientation and the complete conversion of all the humans who have their own very different beliefs.
In essence, the Cylon bad guys are the American invasion forces and the humans are the Iraqis. Our currently world spun on its head. When the season starts out, the occupied humans resort to drastic measures in the forms of an insurgency. Under the defense of freedom fighting, the insurgents begin a series of suicide bombings that not only target Cylons but also innocent humans. The moral ambiguity of war is ripped even wider. The Cylons, who can't die, are noticably shaken which only reassures the insurgents that this new tactic is worthwhile. However, the reaction of the Cylons is cruel and swift. They reduce what freedoms the humans have left by closing the market, interning hundreds of innocents and coercing the president to sign an execution order, all the show the insurgents their motives are costly. In the end, former President Roslin is rounded up and shuttled to a rock quary where Cylon robots open fire, presumably killing her and the hundreds of other detainees. Meanwhile, the military fleet wrestles with its degree of preparedness and decides now is the time to go back and mount an impossible rescue. The irony isn't lost on the audience or the characters. Surely, this rescue mission is a suicide mission itself.
It was frack'n unbelievable.
The only thing that would be more unbelievable would be the absence of this show on the Emmy and Golden Globe ballot. Indeed, anything shy of a best drama win for both award shows is an injustice.
This isn't your typical science-fiction. It isn't really fiction at all.
In an episode that can only be dubbed the best episode of the best show currently on TV, last night's premiere proved that good sci-fi has nothing to do with science fiction. Let's list the topics addressed on this sobering, unreal, impressive, and mind-blowing episode: the politics of suiciding bombing (from the debate about its effectiveness, usage, acceptance to its reaction), holocaust-style stormtroppers killing their own kind, trusting the enemy, torture, rape - physical and emotional, obsecity, guilt, conflict of two very different religions, the price of freedom, the rationalization of death and, hope.
That sounds more like Iraq and Afganistan than New Caprica, the barely hospitable planet that the humans relocated to under the imept leadership of lame-duck President Baltar. For those of you who are not followers of BG, here is a brief BG 101: The humans created Cylon robots to do their chores but the Cylons evolved, rebelled and killed all but 40,000 humans in the galaxy. The remaining rag-tag fleet, lead by the only surviving member of the government, secretary of education Roslin, and the head of the military, Admiral Odama left their old home in search for a new home, Earth. The journey was not without its hicups as the Clyons were constantly one their tail and the humans had to rebuild society, the political appartus, and adjust to the new, post 9/11 normal of contanst threats from a cunning enemy of their own creation. Along the way, relationships were formed and this highly political, highly sensitive show addressed the very nature of the human condition. When it was believed that the Cylon threat was over the humans got a bit too comfortable. Upon discovering a new planet, a wave of defeatism swept over the population and they chose between two missions - colonozing New Caprica or contining the mission in the sterile, smelly, stale star ships towards Earth. This became the primary election issue and pro-colonization, clyon collaborator, Dr. Baltar, won the election and began colonizing the planet. This left the head of the military and some other ships in orbit while everyone else struggled with the harsh reality of starting over, again. The military lost its edge and when the Cylons returned they were forced to abandon the humans on the planet below and fly off to safety. Left defenseless, the Cylons conquered New Caprica and vowed to find a way to promote peaceful co-existence under their dictatorship. The cost of this co-existence, the spread of the Cylon religious orientation and the complete conversion of all the humans who have their own very different beliefs.
In essence, the Cylon bad guys are the American invasion forces and the humans are the Iraqis. Our currently world spun on its head. When the season starts out, the occupied humans resort to drastic measures in the forms of an insurgency. Under the defense of freedom fighting, the insurgents begin a series of suicide bombings that not only target Cylons but also innocent humans. The moral ambiguity of war is ripped even wider. The Cylons, who can't die, are noticably shaken which only reassures the insurgents that this new tactic is worthwhile. However, the reaction of the Cylons is cruel and swift. They reduce what freedoms the humans have left by closing the market, interning hundreds of innocents and coercing the president to sign an execution order, all the show the insurgents their motives are costly. In the end, former President Roslin is rounded up and shuttled to a rock quary where Cylon robots open fire, presumably killing her and the hundreds of other detainees. Meanwhile, the military fleet wrestles with its degree of preparedness and decides now is the time to go back and mount an impossible rescue. The irony isn't lost on the audience or the characters. Surely, this rescue mission is a suicide mission itself.
It was frack'n unbelievable.
The only thing that would be more unbelievable would be the absence of this show on the Emmy and Golden Globe ballot. Indeed, anything shy of a best drama win for both award shows is an injustice.
This isn't your typical science-fiction. It isn't really fiction at all.