I feel like an uneducated boob

[mllelaurel]

I started watching the new Battlestar Galactica miniseries earlier today. And then I stopped.

It just felt like everything was moving too slowly - or, more accurately, that everything had stopped while the writers cranked out intros. And yeah, I suppose those characters are cool, but I simply don't care enough about them yet to let the plot go while they're introduced. The fact that the teaser/opening felt artsy didn't help matters.

I will say that there were two intro segments where I found myself caring:


The one with the Cylon (Six?) and the baby, which horrified me, and...



The one with the woman diagnosed with terminal illness (was that Laura Roslin?). Major kudos to the actress, because I actually felt the character's pain and felt for her.


So what do I do now? Can someone who's seen BSG reassure me that the miniseries picks up? Is it possible to jump straight into the actual series and go back to the mini later, once I know the characters and care about them? BSG's received so much praise, and the idea sounds like something I'd like, so I don't want to just give up on it.

Besides, I can't help but think my reaction to Babylon 5 might have been the same, had I started with The Gathering rather than Midnight on the Firing Line.

ETA: Things picked up significantly about two minutes after my original drop point. That's irony for you. Glad I decided to give it another go, though.

Comments

[ryenna.livejournal.com]

I think you could go into the main series without too much trouble. How far (timewise) did you get into the miniseries?

Six and Roslin are major players in the big picture, so if you're interested by them then there's plenty for you. If you've made it halfway through or more, I'd say head on to the series and do the mini later. My mother did that and she's addicted to the show now.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

I'm about half an hour in. What vexes me is that some of the characters they're spending so much time introing haven't even been named yet. I had to guess on both Roslin and Six, based on what I've gleaned from my friendslist. (Did I guess right? Are those two really those two?)

I might see if I can get a bit further, or I might just plunge into the series from where I am.

[ryenna.livejournal.com]

You did indeed guess right. If you can't make it through the first hour just go on to the series and go back to the mini if you need some background. It does pick up by the end but don't bog yourself down if it's too slow at the start for you.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

It did pick up right after where I left it off - ironically. So I'm going to give it another go.

[ryenna.livejournal.com]

Cool. Let me know if you have questions. I'm a wee bit obsessed.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately most of my questions have to do with being unable to keep characters straight. The only ones I can positively ID are:

Commander Adama and his son, Lee
Kara Thrace
Laura Roslin
Six and Gaius Baltar
The mechanic guy (Tyrol)

Everyone else I can't put name or designation to. There's the girl and guy pilot team, and the guy Kara punched earlier, and Roslin's aide (identifiable but no name), and a whole lot of pilots/mechanics/people on Roslin's transport/possible extras. Problem is, I can't tell who's a real extra and who might become important later.

[ryenna.livejournal.com]

One tricky thing with BSG is that minor characters do sometimes return as major characters, but they do try to make the episode where the character becomes important pretty clear.

Roslin's aide is Billy.
The girl and guy pilot team is (I believe) Boomer (girl) and Helo (guy).
The guy Kara punched was probably Adama's second in command, Col. Tigh. I hated Tigh with a passion for being a useless drunkard - Until this season. The guy who plays him is a better actor than you realize until later.
The only other important people I can think of right now who are in the intro are Cally (Chief/Tyrol's assistant, a girl with cute cheeks) and (I think) the priestess who swears Roslin in. It might be someone different who swears her in but if it's a black woman in ceremonial robes then she comes into the plot a few times later on.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The names will make it much easier.

[ryenna.livejournal.com]

No problem!

[silverrose.livejournal.com]

I'm the same as you -I tried to watch it and almost died of boredom. Now everyone I know thinks it's one of the greatest shows on tv-- what to do???

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

I'm giving it another go, and barring that going straight into the series. I have a feeling it's the main title getting all the accolades, rather than the mini.

[silverrose.livejournal.com]

Oh I actually watched the whole mini and liked it. It was the series I couldn't get into. Good luck!! :)

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Ah. Well, haven't seen the series yet, so we'll see, I guess.