Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Season 4 Premiere to debut online...more webisodes...

More news from the Sci Fi Channel upfronts in The Hollywood Reporter, as we see what the network's new production exec Dave Howe has in store for BSG fans:

Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica" will live on with "Caprica."

At its upfront presentation Tuesday in New York, the cable channel said that it has greenlighted a two-hour back-door pilot for the prequel, which had been in development for two years.

[snip]

"Caprica," which is set 50 years before the events in the departing "Battlestar," will begin production in the spring. It hails from the "Battlestar" masterminds Ronald D. Moore and David Eick.

As for "Battlestar," the series' final-season premiere will debut online nine hours before it airs on TV.

[snip]

The channel also will expand its digital offerings with a game site launching in mid-April as well as "Battlestar" webisodes and a social game based on the show.


Very exciting news, eh?

Also in THR is this piece in which Ron Moore repeats his opinion that BSG is not well suited for feature film format (nor will any be necessary at the end of this season)...and also mentions that he re-thought the big arc of the "back ten" during this winter's WGA strike, and is tweaking the final episodes to reach "a clearer vision for the show."

Meanwhile, in our Off Topic Department: rumors continue to swirl about the fate of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Keep yer fingers crossed.

6 comments:

Sean said...

I don't know if those I'll be watching online or on air. hmmm.
I think the extra nine hours is just to long a wait.

Anonymous said...

Whoa.. glad to hear our favorite series will continue to live in another form. I'm a little apprehensive though -- I hope it meets the high standards set by Galactica.

Based on what I read of 'Caprica' months ago, the new series could be based on the 'relationship' between the Adamas and another family. Whenever Galactica veers away from the human-Cylon conflict / tension, and delves into human drama, it invariably runs into trouble. See 'The Woman King', 'A Day in the Life', 'The Passage', 'Black Market' and 'The Captain's Hand'.

To me, Galactica's strength has always been the paranoia and mystery surrounding the Cylon threat (which is why Season 1 was so good). That, and I'm a sucker for well-thought-out sci-fi mythology. I just hope Ron and the rest of the writers understand this, and either downplay the 'soap opera' portions, or knuckle down and come up with compelling human stories. It isn't impossible, 'Lay Down Your Burdens' and 'Final Cut' were great human-centric episodes.

Ron, you there? Thoughts from a fan meaning well.

ProgGrrl said...

Ouch nugget, that hurt. o_O

As a feminist, I take issue with your use of the words "soap opera." It's a subtle but insulting term that suggests any narrative/drama that women might be interested in, is by its nature faulty or less good.

At the heart of most of the great things on BSG is character and drama (not to mention its fascinating gender-equal culture).

Anonymous said...

Sorry, perhaps I should have chosen my words more carefully.

I love narrative / drama as much as the next BSG fan -- as long as it's done well. That's why I made a list of human-centric episodes I thought were excellent, as well as a list that I thought were bad. Come on, did anyone like 'The Woman King'?

When BSG tries, its human elements shine. I love the ass-kicking Kara gives to anyone who gets in her way, her unconventional thinking, and her flawed, tormented psyche. Equally, Baltar's thoughts, actions and justifications throughout the 3 seasons make him a compelling person to watch. And Helo, pre-'The Woman King'. He is the gang's moral compass.

I also happen to like Kara and Lee's relationship! Hard to forget moments: Kara saying "no takebacks", or Lee seeing Kara in a blue gown at the dance for the first time, or Kara admonishing Lee that he's trying to be "everyone's best friend" and not the CAG, and eventually convincing herself to take her own pills. Classic.

It's when BSG writers don't try, that the drama stumbles and trips. Like the string of bad ones in Season 3 I mentioned. (Exceptions: I loved 'Unfinished Business', and liked 'Collaborators' and 'Dirty Hands') Or when the writers put in some unbelievable events. Helo was a Raptor ECO in S1, and he eventually becomes XO. Then *CAG*? Where did he get the flight experience? Or when Lee gets promoted *twice* in one episode. Just a tad too convenient.

I wrote the previous post because I was afraid Caprica could suffer from the same missteps if the writers aren't careful. (Take your time writing the scripts -- quality over quantity (of episodes). Why did you think Aaron Sorkin (West Wing S1-S4) was always late with his scripts?) That, and I hope Caprica keeps the strengths of Galactica, draws us in and keeps us hooked.

Anonymous said...

Well I guess this answers the question I posed in the Letterman post! Yes!!! Not only are they putting up the premiere online, but 9 hours early? Thank the gods.

Anonymous said...

Prequels make me nervous. Thanks a lot Lucas. >_<

But I'll be watching anyway!