Battlestar Galactica Season Premiere Tonight

Thankfully, Mrs. F and I are taking care of two of our young friends this weekend (M & C) and their parents have cable (!), so we'll be able to see the two-hour premiere (as I'm still not seeing any notice of a current season pass for the show at the iTunes Music Store). If you've not been watching the show during the past couple of seasons, you can still download the catch-up episode for free -- The Story So Far -- at iTunes:



For a bit more on the premiere, here's some of Melanie McFarland's review in the Seattle P-I after the flip (protecting you should you not want any spoilers; just click the full post/permalink link)...

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Battlestar" isn't just another Sci Fi Channel trifle. Heavy-duty acting and harsh social and political commentary over the first two seasons cemented its reputation as serious drama.

In our so-called golden age of drama, filled with ambitious series people aren't avidly watching, "Battlestar" is a show people plan their Friday nights around. Its fan base is devoted, obsessive even, but relatively small: the second season averaged 2.3 million viewers. Fervent initiation through DVD exposure might grow the audience, though.

[...]

Revisiting a New Caprica (population 39,192 and plummeting) pinned down by a Cylon occupation is even more compelling. Citizens are detained without charge for months on end, gruesomely tortured and in some cases, disappeared. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) has an especially twisted jailer, Leoben (Callum Keith Rennie), who redefines the concept of fatal attraction.

In response, Tyrol (Aaron Douglas), Tigh (Michael Hogan) and Starbuck's husband, Anders (Michael Trucco), have formed a rebellion secretly headed by the former Colonial President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell). Their raids escalate when volunteers blow themselves up near high-profile targets.

It's relentlessly grim, with familiar characters orchestrating suicide bombings and planning to string up collaborators. And two hours simply aren't enough.