InsidePulse DVD Review – Battlestar Galactica Season 2.0

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InsidePulse DVD Review – Battlestar Galactica Season 2.0

Creators/Executive Producers:
Ronald D. Moore

Cast:
Edward James Olmos ………. Commander William Adama
Mary McDonnell ………. President Laura Roslin
Katee Sackhoff ………. Lieutenant Kara “Starbuck” Thrace
Jamie Bamber ………. Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama
James Callis ………. Doctor Gaius Baltar
Tricia Helfer ………. Number Six
Grace Park ………. Lieutenant Sharon “Boomer” Valerii

Recurring Characters:
Michael Hogan ………. Colonel Saul Tigh
Aaron Douglas ………. Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol
Tahmoh Penikett ………. Lieutenant Karl “Helo” Agathon
Paul Campbell ………. Billy Keikeya
Nicki Clyne ………. Crewman Specialist Cally
Alessandro Juliani ………. Lieutenant Felix Gaeta
Kandyse McClure ………. Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla
Kate Vernon ………. Ellen Tigh
Richard Hatch ………. Tom Zarek
Luciana Carro ………. Louanne ‘Kat’ Katraine
Bodie Olmos ………. Brendan ‘Hotdog’ Constanza
Sam Witwer ………. Crashdown
Dominic Zamprogna ………. Jammer
Kerry Norton ………. Paramedic Layne Ishay
Lorena Gale ………. Priest Elosha

The Show:
For those of you unfamiliar with the show this is a reimagining of the original series from the 70’s that has become a hit on Sci-Fi Channel in the U.S., Space in Canada and in the U.K. The man behind this is Ronald D. Moore, who is also known for being the lead writer for ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’, which I personally thought as the best of the five Trek shows. However, this particular version almost never happened, as a “next generation” show, spearheaded by the X-Men team of Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto, was to have been produced for Fox. That particular project was eventually killed by Fox in favour of a show called ‘Firefly’, which in typical Fox fashion got cancelled and was elevated to mythical levels of greatness by fans of the show.

I do have to hand it to Joss Whedon though – only he has the ability to get two shows with decent fan followings killed in favour of some piece of shit he throws together at the last minute. But enough about ‘Firefly’, this is about ‘Battlestar Galactica’.

The reimagining of the show resulted in Starbuck becoming a woman, Boomer going from tall black man to cute Korean woman, a better background story for the Cylons, and the layering of politics into the mix of science fiction and religion, creating one frakking fine base on which to build a show on.

The first season saw the good Lords of Kobol take a likin’ to the Twelve Homeworlds and blowin’ ’em up good via the Cylons, with Adama and Roslin (a better female President than Geena Davis, by the way) struggling for control of the fleet containing the surviving humans, both with each other and against each other. The first season ended with the Galactica discovering Kobol (the mother planet), Starbuck heading to Caprica to find the Arrow of Apollo, Adama and Roslin at odds and Adama getting shot by Boomer, who turned out to be a Cylon.

Episodes:
I’m only putting in a brief summary of each episode, as Ryan Closs has lovingly recapped everything you find in this set. The first in a nine-day stretch, no less. And you thought I was crazy. I’ll include a direct link for each episode. But since there are deleted scenes for almost every episode, I’ll include them here.

Disc One:

2-1, Scattered
Ryan’s Recap
Quote: “Bitch took my ride” – Starbuck, after Sharon takes her Cylon fighter.

Picking up where Season One left off, Commander Adama is critically injured, President Roslin is in the brig and Colonel Tigh is now in command of the fleet. Meanwhile, the troops trapped on Kobol continue to try and survive, as do Helo and Starbuck on Caprica.

Deleted Scenes (16:43 total):
– We see how Adama and Tigh first met. Apparently, during a bar fight, which was meant to lead into the cold opening.
– A longer speech from Tigh concerning Adama and the President.
– Baltar wanders around alone on Kobol until he runs into Six, in white and apparently rather cold. They make out, and then he wakes up to find that he’s lying down in a rather disturbing place.
– An extended version of Tigh interrogating Boomer, which leads into a flashback of Tigh beating the crap out of someone at the local bar, with Adama bailing him out, and telling him of his grand plan of getting them back into the fleet.
– While Gaeta’s explaining his plan to “network” the computers together and create a “firewall”, Tigh gets another flashback to when Adama gets back into the fleet.
– An extended scene of Tigh getting his commission back.

2-2, Valley of Darkness
Ryan’s Recap
Quote: “I’m getting a really bad feeling about this place” – Baltar, to Crashdown.

Gaeta’s desparate gambit has allowed Cylons to board the Galactica, and it’s up to Apollo, Kat, Billy and some Marines to stop them. Meanwhile, on Caprica, Heloand Kara visit her loft, Cally and Tyrol are still in shock over Tarn’s death, Six is still wearing white, and thankfully the BC Kobol air is still chilly.

Deleted Scenes (10:26 total):
– An extension of the scene where Helo and Starbuck head to her apartment
– Yet another Adama/Tigh flashback, this one is pretty long with the two drinking and Adama talking about what the Cylons did the first time they boarded the Galactica. The great part about this is when they get back to the present, Tigh sighs and says “It’s a long story”.
– Ellen calls Tigh and he tells her to grab his gun to defend herself.
– Apollo calls Tigh and they argue about who’s in command of the unit.
– Baltar gets a visit from Six at the while the others are tending to Socinus.

2-3, Fragged
Ryan’s Recap
Quote: “I have decided to dissolve the Quorum of Twelve and as of this moment, I have declared martial law” – Tigh, opening a big ass can of worms.

Doctors are hard at work trying to save Adama, and Apollo plans a rescue mission for the Kobol survivors while still at odds with Tigh. Meanwhile, Six has sadly stopped wearing thin white clothing, and Tom Zarek makes his first appearance of the season as the Quorum come looking for Persident Roslin, who is starting to suffer from her lack of medication.

Deleted Scenes (1:10 total):
– President Roslin has a nightmare about Billy killing her.

2-4, Resistance
Ryan’s Recap
Quote: “It just feels kind of touchy-feely. You know, ‘Let’s all sit down and talk about how we feel about martial law.'” – Ellen Tigh, trying to convince her husband to not go the Dr. Phil route with the civilians.

The rise of the two new power players, Baltar and Tigh continue, as they face some bumps along the way. Apparently, civilians don’t take to martial law all that well. Apollo and Roslin plan a prison break which, like Michael Scofield’s plan, would appear to involve a deal with the devil. Meanwhile, on Caprica, Helo and Starbuck run into their greatest adversaries yet – humans. By the way, Cally looks cute when she’s pissed.

Deleted Scenes (1:11 total):
– Dualla and Apollo talk about scrambling communications.
– The brig officer awakens and reports the jail break.

Disc Two:

2-5, The Farm
Ryan’s Recap
Quote: “Zeus has returned to Olympus” – Zarek, in telling Lee that his father is back in command.

Starbuck is shot during a Cylon ambush, and awakens to find herself in a hospital, and Anders, the resisitance leader, dead. But of course, things are not what the appear to be, as Anders, Helo and the rest are very much alive, and it’s up to Sharon, the mother of Helo’s child to lead them to her. On board the Galactica, Adama resumes control of the fleet and starts searching for fugitives Roslin and Apollo. Unfortunately, one third of the fleet has decided to follow Roslin and withdrawn from the group.

Deleted Scenes (11:49 total):
– Baltar explains to Six why people are applauding Adama’s return.
– An extended scene of Roslin, Apollo and Zarek in the meat locker.
– An extended scene between Kara and Dr. Simon, which explains why he’s acting like an ob/gyn in a later scene.
– Kara has a dream where she sees Helo and Anders, and awakens to find herself strapped down.
– Lee gives Roslin a pep talk, and Roslin acts like a bitch about it.
– An extended scene of Kara sneaking around the hospital.
– Lee pledges his allegiance to Roslin, and she acts like a confident bitch about it.
– Kara nearly runs into a couple of Sixes while trying to escape.

2-6, Home, Part 1
Ryan’s Recap
Quote: “Thank you. Now put that thing out the airlock” – Roslin, demonstrating how to defuse a situation and create a whole new one. Bitch.

Starbuck and Helo return to the Roslin-loyal portion of the fleet with the Arrow of Apollo – and Sharon, the mother of Helo’s child. And lucky for Sharon, the mother of Helo’s child, she knows where the Tomb of Athena is, or she’d be spaced. Meanwhile, Adama is burdened with the troubles of martial law and the loss of Apollo, and Zarek is making plans for a power grab.

Deleted Scenes (2:18 total):
– Roslin and the Quorum of Twelve pray.
– Elosha and Roslin talk before leaving for Kobol

2-7, Home, Part 2
Ryan’s Recap
Quote: “Do you seriously expect me to listen to you while you sit around stark naked?” – Baltar to Six, speaking for all men that find themselves in his situation. The talking naked woman, that is, not the Vice President of a ragtag fleet of survivors and traitor to his people.

Adama heads to Kobol to reunite the fleet. On Kobol, Roslin, Apollo and the others continue searching for the Tomb of Athena with the help of Sharon, the mother of Helo’s child. And Baltar is trying to come to terms with the fact that all this traitor stuff with six may just be a product of his imagination. In the end, the group finds Earth (kinda), and we get a slow clap, of all things.

Deleted Scenes (10:23 total):
– Zarek and plot
– Starbuck and Helo chat about the rough ride he and Sharon are in for, as Adama, Tyrol and Billy track them down.
– Roslin and Adama catch up on old times.
– Baltar gives the doctor the finger, and sweatsuited Six plays with his mind.
– More of Baltar and sweatsuited Six.
– Billy tels Roslin that he believes in both her and Adama. Adama, Apollo and Starbuck have a reunion in a manner that only they can provide.
– Baltar and sweatsuited Six lead into Helo’s visit with Sharon in the brig.
– Kara returns to her crew quarters.

2-8, Final Cut
Ryan’s Recap
Notable Guest Star: Lucy Lawless (Xena, Warrior Princess) as D’Anna Biers
Quote: “What a strange little man” – D’Anna, to Dualla after she chats with Baltar.

Aftereffects from the period of martial law force Adama and Roslin to ask (in a direct order kind of way) reporter D’Anna Biers to provide a “fair and balanced” article on the men and women of the Galactica. While this is going on, Ellen Tigh tries to convince her husband that he’s being made a scapegoat for all the things that have happened.

Deleted Scenes (2:54 total):
– We see the genesis of the “inside the Galactica” report.
– Extended scene of D’Anna talking with Roslin and Adama.
– Tyrol shows us his sewing skills using a stapler.
– D’Anna interviews Helo.

Disc Three:

2-9, Flight of the Phoenix
Ryan’s Recap
Quote: “Solvent my ass. I know a still when I smell it.” – Tigh, to Tyrol. Although if it’s homemade hooch, I’m sure it could be used as a solvent. Just stick to your premium stuff, Colonel.

Chief Tyrol is having a hard time letting go of Boomer, and “talking” with Helo and the return of cute Cally doesn’t seem to help things. So he decides to build a new Viper. The rest of the Galactica residents aren’t much better, as the months on the run have seemingly caught up to the soldiers. On the operational side of things, Gaeta’s gambit from the first episode of the season has yielded another problem – a Cylon “logic bomb”, or as we call it, a computer virus. So the solution, of course? Solicit help from Sharon, the mother of Helo’s child.

Deleted Scenes (2:54 total):
– Starbuck accidentally knocks over some items in the Memorial corridor.
– Extended scene of Tyrol talking to Apollo.
– Cally tries to talk to Tyrol.
– Extended scene of Dualla getting sparring lessons from Apollo.
– Baltar tries to sit in on Helo’s conversation with Sharon. So of course he gets a visit from Six.
– Baltar, at Six’s prompting, tries to convince Tigh and Adama that giving Sharon access to the computers is a good thing. This is an extended scene of Sharon on the bridge.
– Extended scene of Tyrol visiting Sharon in the brig.

2-10, Pegasus
Ryan’s Recap
Notable Guest Star: Michelle Forbes (Ro Laren from ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’) as Admiral Helena Cain
Quote: “Well Madam President, you picked a hell of a day to visit.” – Adama to Roslin, as if Cylons attacking the fleet never happens.

The Pegasus, a Battlestar-class ship thought to have been destroyed, reappears. As ranking officer, Admiral Cain takes over the fleet, which of course causes tension among the troops accustomed to Adama’s command. Helo and Tyrol save Sharon, the mother of Helo’s child, from getting raped by Pegasus’ Cylon “interrogator”, who had allowed the crew of Pegasus to have their way with their own Cylon prisoner – Six. All of this comes to a head when Cain sentences Helo and Tyrol to death, Adama decides to attack the Pegasus.

Score: 7/10

The DVD:

Video:
(Presented in 1.78:1 Widescreen format)

Looks good, but I’m sure something could be better. Scenes aboard the Galactica are dark and muted, while the saturation on Caprica is turned up and almost annoyingly yellow.

Score: 8/10

Audio:
(English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
English is your only spoken language option, but they do have Spanish subtitles. They make decent use of the Dolby, but not too much as this was originally designed for your standard TV.

Score: 7/10

Special Features:

As I mentioned above, there are deleted scenes for every episode except Pegasus. There are also Podcast commentaries from Ron D. Moore for all episodes except Fragged, Flight of the Phoenix, Pegasus. I checked out a couplt of them at random, and it’s interesting stuff, as he mixes in script explanations with technical details. Definitely worth checking out.

There’s also a quick featurette on the back half of Season 2 (2.1? 2.5?). Decent enough, I guess.

Score: 8/10

Packaging:
The front is a holofoil cover featureing Adama (with pockmarks), Six (with slinky blue dress and “glowing” eyes) and Boomer (also with “glowing” eyes with Cylons in the background. The discs are separately stored in slimline cases, with various cast members on the front.

Links:
The Official Site – You can find podcasts, blogs and other downloads here.
Battlestargalactica.com – A nice unofficial site that covers both the original and new series. Lots of info and trivia for those of you that want to find out more about the series.

Kevin has been an Insider since 2003, writing on a variety of topics ranging from The Amazing Race to Mixed Martial Arts. His current hobbies include Fantasy Football, Sporcle, travelling, making liberal use of his DVR and wondering what the heck he's gonna do when his two daughters are old enough to date. You can follow Kevin on Twitter (@starvenger).