While Battlestar Galactica saw only a television release is the USA, in foreign markets it was a major theatrical release.
The leaders of the Twelve Colonies of Mankind are making plans to sign a peace treaty with their mortal enemies, the Cylon Empire. On the eve of the ceremony, the Cylons betray the pact and destroy most of the Colonies and their entire fleet. Under the command of Commander Adama, the battlestar Galactica leads the remaining Colonial ships into space and seeks out a lost thirteenth colony, which turns out to be Earth. Along the way, the Colonials encounter various races (both friendly and hostile), the legendary human warrior Commander Cain, and the planet Kobol, the motherworld of all the Colonies. All the while, the Cylons – under the command of human traitor Count Baltar – closely pursue this fugitive fleet across the universe.
The 1-season series was about a ragtag fleet of human colonists who escape their home world of Caprica after a devastating attack by a species of robotic aliens called Cylons. The fleet is led by Commander Adama (wonderfully played by TV legend Lorne Greene in my favorite ever role of his). Adama commands the last remaining Battlestar, the Galactica, which must lead the way of the fleet to a star system light years away, which includes the planet Earth.
While Adama is the fleet leader and doles out the orders, for me, the heart and soul of the fleet (and the series) is his son Captain Apollo (brilliantly played with passion and persuasion by Richard Hatch, in his best role ever). Apollo is the ultimate sci-fi heroic role model: brave, strong, confident, decisive, caring, and faithful. Hatch was really the star of the series as he had top billing and most of the big scenes always involved his character. Apollo was the leader of the Viper fighting squadron aboard the Galactica and led most away missions and battles.
Assisting the stars Hatch and Greene is an eclectic supporting cast: (1) the insanely popular Lt. Starbuck, played with tongue-in-cheek humor and appeal by TV vet Dirk Benedict, who was Apollo’s fellow pilot, right hand and best friend, (2) Col. Tigh, played with stern authority by Terry Carter, who was Adama’s 2nd-in-command, (3) Athena, earnestly played by 70s sex symbol Maren Jensen, who was Adama’s daughter and Apollo’s sister, (4) Lt. Boomer, nicely played by Herbert Jefferson Jr, who was Apollo and Starbuck’s fellow pilot and friend, (5) Cassie, effervescently played by blonde bombshell Laurette Spang, who was a medic and Starbuck’s girlfriend, (6) Boxey, played by Noah Hathaway, who was Apollo’s adopted son, (7) Lt. Sheba, confidently played by Anne Lockhart, who was Apollo’s fellow pilot and potential love interest introduced about halfway through the first and only season, and last but not least (8) BALTAR, superbly played by John Colicos, a traitor to the Colonies and human leader of the Cylon enemy. All the characters were well- defined on the show and brought something to the table. I liked how effortless the interactions were among the characters and the easygoing appeal that was ever-present throughout.
The special effects were cutting edge for the late 70s, capitalizing on the Star Wars craze that popularized the sci-fi action-adventure genre in both movies and TV. But “Battlestar Galactica” was really the first TV series that got it right, like Star Wars was the movie that got it right. In addition to the great effects, the show also fostered healthy discussion and debate among it’s characters that felt organic, illustrating that an action series can be both fun and provocative.
Much like “Star Trek” of the 60s, “Battlestar Galactica” of the 70s, enjoyed only a limited run due to low ratings, but I truly believe, that pound for pound, these two series did more for the science fiction genre on television that many long-running sci-fi series in the later decades did, most of which ended up being very repetitive, watered-down, self- congratulatory, and unoriginal. In terms of sci- fi action-adventure, I’d actually rank this version of “Battlestar Galactica”, the original one, second only to the original “Star Trek” series as the best of it’s kind!
