Shush, TV
By now, I think everyone knows how I feel about TV. However, there’s one show that I have gotten into since living up here - Battlestar Galactica. I like it because it’s actually got well-written plots, good characters, and I don’t feel like my intelligence is being insulted. I also find the whole post-apocalyptic theme compelling for some reason. This is in sharp contrast to most of TV, which I feel plays to the lowest common denominator and most simplistic impulses. How many teen sex romps, cop/lawyer/doctor dramas, and diverse collections of thirtysomethings in New York City do I really have to sit through?
Anyway tonight was the season three premier which I had been waiting on for months now. Last season ended with quite the cliffhanger way back in April or something, so it was really tough to see “Battlestar Galactica will return in October” at the end. But I waited and waited and finally it came, and I have to say that while I really enjoyed it I also felt almost overwhelmed with information. So much happened, and so many characters went through changes. There was easily at least one entire subplot that I could have done without during those two hours and still gotten the same enjoyment out of the episode. I don’t really want to say more than that because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who hasn’t watched it yet.
This episode also ended on a cliffhanger, because two hours apparently isn’t long enough to tell the story. That’s okay, because the ongoing plots are part of the appeal of the show. What I found interesting was that the scenes from the next episode completely gave away the resolution of the cliffhanger. Way to go, TV network. I also found it interesting how this episode tackled some of the current big problems we are facing overseas: indefinite detentions, suicide bombings, resistance fighters, sabotauge, and so forth. It being TV, the treatment was a little heavy handed and over the top, but it did at least raise the questions and show how things look from the other side, and how sometimes in the name of freedom and revolution things can go too far.
Enough of the heavy stuff. As usual, I really enjoyed watching the show except for the million commercials Sci Fi crams into every hour. If only there were some way to skip the commercials in TV shows. Then I’d be set. As for the tons of plot lines and character changes, I will give it a couple episodes for everything to sort itself out before I decide what I really think.
In other news, the weather looks excellent this weekend. I do believe I will have to go on a hike.