What's with the hoopla over Battlestar Galactica?

After reading one rave review after another about BSG, I decided to

Obveeus...

I'd say that, of the shows you mentioned, the original Star Trek most
closely matches Men In Trees. Half the episodes seemed to be about getting
laid and the circumstances the characters were thrown into was frequently:
overly contrived. Both MIT and original Trek were about self discovery
much more than about how different people tick differently. BSG seems much
more intent on exploring dynamics betwen people and clutures. I don't see a
similarity between BSG and MiT at all.

Obveeus...

You don't see character quirks on BSG? That pretty much sums up why you
need to watch the earlier episodes before jumping to conclusions regarding
what this show is about. These characters have more quirks than early
versions of Windows.

Obveeus...

You are correct in that BSG is not about space aliens. Never has been and
never will be...I hope.

check the show out. Being a lifelong sci fi fan, I was looking for a
new show to sink my teeth into.

Ken from Chicago...

Did you read WHY the show was praised? Did the reviews say why or merely
gave generic, "great" writing, acting, etc.?

Boy, was I disappointed.

This isn't a science fiction show. It's JAG or Navy: NCIS, only in
spaceships.

zaryzary2003...

I'm not sure I understand the JAG or Navy: NCIS comparisons, although I
don't really watch either of those shows so I don't know. But
basically you're right: it's a show that happens to be set in space,
not a "sci fi show." That's a good thing. It's an complex show with
interesting, true to life characters dealing with issues, and it has a
story arc that allows it to draw parallels to the real world without
being to ham handed about it. (Well, so far. Even though I liked the
series 3 premier I'm afraid it's parallels to the real world will be a
little too obvious, but we'll see.)

Care to explain this phenomenon to me?

Ken from Chicago...

How do you define "science fiction"?

aybee...

BSG is a prime time soap opera serial set in space.

Ken from Chicago...

Who are you?

Who am I?

What is the nature of humanity?

What does it mean to be "human"?

I think, therefore, what am I?

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA raises those questions as well as many and oft
conflicting answers--but that's because people are not monolithic--and thus
some of the answers to those questions are not pleasant.

Where STAR TREK searched outward, tho it tacitly addressed those questions
in comparison to other alien races, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA more explicitly
searches inward. BABYLON 5 addresses some of those questions as well, "Who
are you?" in opposition to "What do you want?", and the resulting
consequences to people who focus only on the latter to the detriment of the
former.

zaryzary2003...

It's basically just a really good show. If you like shows with big
explosions and not shows that make you think a little, then you
probably won't like it. But if you're willing to have a show that makes
you pay attention then you'll probably like it.

wdstarr...

Some people like really, really good tv.

cloud dreamer...

This is the third season. Did you watch it from the beginning?

CabbageHeadRules...

I watched the first episode of the third season as well as the recap
show which detailed the earlier two seasons. I would've caught it
sooner, but I didn't know a thing about it until I read post upon post
about how good it is on here and in other TV related groups.

cloud dreamer...

Rent the mini-series and second season. The Recap cannot possibly do the
first two seasons justice.