Last week I happened to read two articles, on a famous science fiction TV serial / movies, in two leading magazines. If you guessed it to be Star Trek you are right and have set the premise for this post. While Newsweek chose to put it on its cover and Time gave decent two-page coverage on Star Trek and its influence on a generation (that includes President Obama) that grew up on it and in making science fiction as a welcome genre. There was just a passing reference about my favorite program Battlestar Gallactica (BSG) and that too in only one of the two articles.

While the President grew up on Star Trek, I grew up on Battlestar Gallactica. In all these years, while Star Trek got more than its share of coverage, my favorite program BSG was left in its shadow. So I decided: it is time to put things into perspective, to right the wrongs as they say. I know that the odds are not in my favour but I will try anyway. That’s very much in the spirit of the Gallactica’s crew. Isn’t it?

protectingthegalaxy

While Star Trek made it possible to visualize hitherto unknown concepts like black holes, moving at the speed of light, travel back in time etc.; to me it appeared that, Star Trek could only inspire a 6 year old who is trigger happy with his toy gun. That is, in spite of all its special effects or may be because of them.

It was too predictable. We know before the end of each episode, that there will always be someone who rises to the occasion: may be in the form of Data, the humanoid or the Doctor the hologram. If none is at hand, the rescue is always explained away by some hitherto unknown, not proven theory, new; even to the Star Trek crew.

I agree Star Trek was a pioneer, and made many theories (that were till then the exclusive preserve of scientists) as household topics and some of the real tech toys that we use today may have been inspired by the tech toys that we saw on screen. But it was too far into the future, divorced from reality. It took the original and two sequels to mature to Voyager, get it right and become interesting to watch.

Whereas BSG got it right from the beginning. BSG was spot on when it recognizes that it doesn’t need ugly looking alien life forms to pose a threat. No matter how far we go into the future or past, or how far advanced we become technologically, we carry our human nature with us. That’s enough to bring the human race close to extinction and subsequent redemption. This concept formed its core.

So there was a credible story line and there was continuity from episode to episode. The BSG crew fought a real fight with a formidable enemy, with limited resources and an unknown future. Leadership, decision making, team spirit, technology, science, ethics, relationships, diplomacy, negotiations, democracy and sex. They are all there in the right proportions. At the end of each episode, you get the feeling: OMG! Why did it end so soon? What’s going to happen to next? There was always suspense at the end of each episode and we were kept guessing.

You don’t agree with me, do you?

If you don’t, you must be the Cylon.

“I am not a Cylon. I am just a Star Trek fan “, you protest.

Oh, yes. I forgot that you are a part of the Borg collective.

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