6.03.2007
Season 4 to end the BSG Legacy
I read the official announcement last night that Season 4 will conclude the epic and awe-inspiring story of Battlestar Galactica. The critically acclaimed but pop-culture shunned series has been in an uphill battle for ratings since its initial conception as a mini-series remake of the horrid original series remembered for being one of television's greatest cheese-fests. Due to that sci-fi connection the new series never caught on with the masses, despite it being one of the greatest written television dramas of our time, and I don't think I'm being excessive when I say that.
The fortunate side of being a show w/ constant budget cuts and the looming cloud of cancellation floating overhead has been the added passion and courage from the writers and production staff to ensure something special and anti-network formulated. Ronald Moore and David Eick have treated their creation with the utmost respect and sincerity, never letting one script fall to the ravenous network wolves who think they know best when it comes to quality vs. ratings. This is so much so that scripts were even written as a slap in the face to the Sci-Fi network which once attempted to dictate a plotline to the creators, a dangerous yet bold move.
Another plus side to this final season is that it was ultimately the direct decision of Moore and Eick. The creators knew that extending past 4 seasons was running the risk of the show canceling according to network requirements and lack of ratings. They also realized about halfway through the third season that they were entering the 3rd and final act of the story as already foreseen to a particular degree by Moore. That being the case, what does this mean for the narrative of the 4th and final season?
Well, from some of the sources I've read, it should mean that there are relatively zero filler stories. No Black Market type eps with stories that have little to no repercussions on the plot as a whole. In an interview with Eick, he stated a solid commitment to wrap up many of the loose ends and explore some rabbit trails that have been left open in past episodes. All this, obviously, leading to the epic conclusion of the show.
I truly believe each episode will be an essential story to bridge us to the conclusion. I'm ecstatic to see what Moore puts together, and I'm sure some big surprises will be at every turn. Ultimately this means I'm very happy that the creators chose to end the series with this 4th season installment. While I'll miss the characters and the incredible drama that ensues with them, I'm confident now that the show will end strong, not limping into redundancies, rabbit trails, and unanswered questions (think X-files and potentially Lost).
Razor, the BSG movie that highlights the initial adventures of Pegasus just after the Cylon attack is due to air this November. Season 4 should begin in January. Expect the DVDs for S3 this August. Oh, and make sure you buy the DVDs! This show uses that revenue to beef up their production budgets. Help the series go out with a bang!
Labels: battlestar galactica, bsg, entertainment, sci-fi, tv
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