Battlestar Galactica (1978)
A brief look back at BSG78
I was eight and it didn’t feel like a Star Wars knock-off to me. This show was a wonderful visual feast that I was able to tune into on a weekly basis.
Debuting in 1978, the series followed the last survivors of humanity as they fled the Cylons and searched for Earth. The effects were ambitious for television at the time, but what keeps the show interesting is its sense of adventure and optimism. There were cut corners to stay within budget, but I never really noticed back then.
It only lasted one season, yet it left a lasting mark on science fiction television and me. Watching it today feels like a look back at a time when TV was willing to dream big with limited resources. Sure, it has some cringe moments, and there are episodes that I can stand to miss but it stays in regular rotation on my Plex server.
It was a huge deal for anyone who had been infected with Star Wars fever! It was must watch tv and the opening talking about the ancient Egyptians also covered the Chariots of the Gods background buzz in the mid 70s. My dad who was an excellent model maker make a Viper kit for me that shot some sort of missile. I’m also sure that my doodles were always BSG themed when I was at school! Good times! And when The Who came out with Athena a few years later she was the Athena I thought of lol!