November 4th, 2006

So, back when I first got Direct TV (last January) I asked for recommendations on what I should be watching on TV, since I’m so inexpert. The general consensus was that I should be watching Battlestar Galactica. Obediently, we acquired the first season, and I watched the first four shows of the first season. And then…stopped. I’m still taping it, but I’ve not watched a single one of my recorded episodes because I never got past the fifth show on season one. And it’s not because I don’t like it. No, I do like it. I just almost always seem to have something better to do than watch it. Which means I don’t love it.

I’m not saying I don’t have a problem with it that makes me reluctant. I do. It’s the Cylon’s plan that’s giving me trouble. I’m not convinced they really have one. Or rather, I’m not convinced they really have one that makes sense beyond being convenient to the overall plot. I know the beginning of every episode tells me they have a plan, and since these guys are robots they must be governed by logic, but they’re acting like idiots, and each new idiocy makes it less likely that the show’s creators are going to be able to stitch the thing together in a way that will click for me.

Please, this is not an invitation for you folks in season 3 of Galactica to tell me in great detail how much sense the Cylon’s plan makes. For one, you’re not going to sway me that way, and I’ll abandon the show completely if it’s spoilered for me. However, if you want to reassure me that their plan isn’t colossally stupid without ruining the whole show, you may do so. I’m just saying, from where I’m standing, getting rid of those last 50,000 humans ought to be a piece of cake, and I can’t figure out why the Cylons keep botching it. If getting rid of that last 50K isn’t the plan, then whatever the alternate plan is, it better make sense. No, really.

I’m not giving up yet. I still enjoy watching it when I have time. I’ve watched three more episodes in the last week, in fact. Up to about show 8 or 9. I like a lot of things about the show, more things than I roll my eyes at, that’s for sure. It’s just that I’ve been burned by the everything-will-ultimately-make-sense handwaving back in the X-Files days, and I’m suspicious.

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