One of the most highly anticipated new Science Fiction shows of the new season has finally arrived with the first episode of  "BATTLESTAR GALACTICA" which aired this past Monday and Tuesday nights(12/8-9) on the Sci-Fi Channel and charge up your blasters , and put your Vipers on autopilot kids because...this aint your daddy's "BATTLESTAR GALACTICA"...simply put, it blew me away!

This new limited series based on the original late 70's hit TV show is a vastly improved version in all aspects of the production,from the impressive special effects and set design-to the fine writing and acting performances , something that was sorely deficient in the original series (1978-80) which aired on ABC and starred; Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, and Jane Seymoure and featured the effects wizardry of John Dykstra (Star Wars), the show, despite being labeled as a STAR WARS clone, initially did good in the ratings...but suffered from poor writing and some severe overacting that would have made William Shatner proud , but that was then...this is now.

Most of the main core characters are back albeit with some noticeable physical and characteristic changes ,especially in the characters of Starbuck and Boomer who are now female.The cast is headlined by two award winning veteran actors; Edward James Olmos ("Stand & Deliver", "Miami Vice") as Commander Adama, and Mary McDonnell ("Dances with Wolves", "Independence Day") as President Roslin. The rest of the principal characters are portrayed by relative yet talented newcomers who turn in impressive performances; Jamie Bamber (Apollo), Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck), James Callis (Baltar), Grace Park(Boomer), and Tricia Helfer as a seductive new prototype Cylon creation (#6).

The original storyline based on creator Glen A. Larson's teleplay is intact, Larson, who produced the original series in the 70's serves as senior creative consultant on the new show. The new series is scripted by Hugo Award winning screenwriter Ronald Moore (Star Trek: First Contact) and is finely directed by Michael Rymer ("Queen of the Damned"). The series opens with a short narrative that sets up the rest of the show; this new series takes place some 40 years/yarns from the original Cylon uprising that culminated into a long and bloody war-but eventually an armistice treaty was signed between the two warring factions and an unsteady peace has prevailed for some 40 years ...that is ...until now. The Galactica is in the process of being decommissioned and is undergoing preparations for the stand down ceremonies when word gets out that the merciless ,murderous Cylons have broken the treaty and has launched a massive attack on the 12 colonies including the home planet of Caprica.During these ceremonies one will spot glimpses of the original series including a museum that is on board the old warship and chronicles the Cylon/Colonial war , images like an old model Cylon Centurion warrior(deactivated),model of a Basestar , and the old MK-11 class Vipers..if you listen carefully during the beginning of the ceremony you'll even recognize the original theme music from the show. This new , improved "BATTLESTAR GALACTICA" is well paced and the acting ,commendable,but the main improvements from the older version are of course in the special effects and the writing ,both of which are top notch. I'll be honest with you ,I was never a fan of the show,I dismissed it as a sub-par Star Wars wannabe with bad acting,and the only reason that I would tune in ocassionally would be to check out the effects and the babes,and the Cylons which I just thought were cool looking, but this new limited series is far superior to the original in every way and has the promise of being the Sci-Fi channells next big hit of the season...

So I highly reccomend that you join in on the exploits of the crew of  "BATTLESTAR GALACTICA" as they and the ragtag remains of the colonial fleet desperately flee from the clutches of the evil Cylon tyranny...For those who may have missed the limited series the entire run will be shown in it's entirety this coming Sunday(12/14) evening ,only on the Sci-Fi channel...For additional information about the new series check out their site at BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 2003.