E and I just got in from a sneak-preview of the new feature-length Battlestar Galactica episode, Razor, which doesn’t air for another two weeks.
We didn’t have to sign any confidentiality whatsits, so I suppose I’m free to divulge whatever plot points I see fit.
However, it’s hardly worth it – there’s nothing shocking or titillating present for any well-read BSG fan. The sole delights are Michelle Forbes portraying Admiral Caine’s descent into her ends justifying any means necessary, and an impressive turn from the slight Stephanie Jacobsen in the lead role – as newly introduced Kendra Shaw.
Past the leading ladies Razor is a empty husk of less-than-gripping retconned plot. The twin stories it portrays are both extraneous – the Pegasus history just as grim as you imagined it, and the Battlestar present (actually, occurring just after The Captain’s Hand) is an inexplicably unmentioned adventure in vintage Cylons, hybrid models, and nuclear warheads. The acting in the Pegasus half is up to BSG par, but the present is plagued by limp, frequently stilted performances the two Adamas, with Kara Thrace escaping with a few good scenes (especially with Kendra).
Also, keep an eye out for a too-long, horrifically lazy young-Adama flashback that would have been so much more effective as a patented, heavy on the gravitas Edward James Olmos speech intercut with a few illustrative frames. Nevermind how they plan to explain why he’s never mentioned it before or since.
Without a single true shock to its credit, Razor is drab filler that supposedly presages the major revelations of Season 4. I can’t say that it has inspired any additional fervor from this fervent fan. If anything, it just emphasizes why BSG’s lease on life is drawing to a close.
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4 Comments
can you think of any examples where filler-movies are good? I can’t. babylon 5’s all sucked except for one, which was interesting only because it filled in a few important holes, not because it was particularly gripping in its own right.
aw man! I was so looking forward to this. I’m still going to watch it.
Not really sure why they felt the need to do the same show and delay the original when its ratings were already begining to tank. They think drumming up interest will happen by delaying a somewhat liked show and making a show to show the human side of essentially Galactica’s enemies when they meet up? Sounds like a winner there. Next they should do a show with only Cylons called “Cylonia”. And they can show clips of quantum leap with dean stockwell and not explain the connection. Everyone would go for that.
The thinking between E and I is that they knew the writer’s strike was impending and would interfere with not only the release of S4, but also the DVD release of S3 due to the webisodes. So, they intentionally banked a script that people who were only through S2 on the DVDs would be able to enjoy. Strategically it’s super-interesting, but they could have done a lot more with the opportunity.
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