Battlestar Galactica - a Soap Opera?

Posted by flung
April 13, 2005

I was sitting down at volleyball last night talking to a friend of mine and he mentioned that he considered BattleStar Galactica a Soap Opera. That made me think about things for a bit.. a soap opera? is that really true?

In many ways, BSG is indeed a soap opera in space with all the focus on the different relationships that people have with each other - either in the fleet, on Caprica, with the Cylons, or between Cylons and Humans… and indirectly with the Lords of Kobal per se. However, I actually see BSG as more than just a soap opera per se. Yes there are romantic qualities to the show and yes there’s a great deal of personal drama.. but there’s also something greater at hand - the survival of the human race at the hands of an agressive and overwhelming foe.

Is this more like David and Goliath in space perhaps? Or perhaps, we should just extend the religious contexts of BSG into something larger - that BSG is really more like a prophecy in action… “It has all happened before and it will all happen again”. The notion that what we are all observing is a preordained act.. that no matter what the humans or cylons do, a path has been chosen and we the viewers get a chance to see this all in action. Ok.. I know I’m stretching this a bit and yes.. there are flaws to the storyline and yes.. this is really just a complex soap opera in the end.. but it does make you wonder about some things in life - at least it does with me every so often.

On a side note, BSG is now in reruns until July so catch all your missing episodes on the Sci Fi channel now!

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Information: April 13th, 2005; Comments

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Categories: Battlestar Galactica

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Name

I think that most of what you said is true, however, I think that it lacks a few qualities that make a soap opera. For example, if you look at the cinematography of a soap opera, it is low quality, this technique is used to make the viewer feel like they are watching a home movie. Also it has a story line that is inevitable to end, where as soap operas tend to continue indefinitely. It is really not a big deal I just like to prove my friends wrong and this is good evidence. Great show though!

Jake the Snake

I like Battlestar Gallactica... It gives me a warm feeling in my tummy when I go to bed at night. The kind where you feel when Brian bitches on how he can't get rid of his baby... and then bitches again when he looses his baby... it makes you smile :)

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