Battlestar Galactica (2003) Rewatch - Primer

Published: March 11, 2026

I cannot believe it has been +20 years since the Battlestar Galactica remake was released. It’s no wonder my knees hurt so much!

Where It All Started Link to heading

The original series (Battlestar Galactica) aired on ABC (September 1978 - April 1979, 24 episodes), and while it initially received high ratings, competition from “All in the Family” (airing on CBS) impacted viewership. There was a very short-lived sequel, Galactica 1980, a 10-episode series airing in… you guessed it; 1980. And then nothing; not for a while. In 1999 Richard Hatch (played ‘Apollo’ in the original series) tried to resurrect the IP, but Universal didn’t bite. It took a few more years before we finally got industry veteran Ronald D. Moore (and company) launching a rejuvenated and darker version of the classic late-70s science fiction show, airing as a two-part miniseries in December 2003.

What Is It About? Link to heading

Generally, both series are about humans in a distant star system trying to survive against the Cylons, a race of sentient robots. The titular Galactica is a Battlestar, a military warship. After a critical attack from the Cylons, the Galactica and a fleet of civilian ships begin their journey to discover a new home; Earth.

Plots, style, and characters diverge greatly between the original and 2003 series, and while I am sure I will write about the original series (and 1980) at some point, I will focus on the 2003 series for now.

Battlestar Galactica (2003) Link to heading

I can’t remember where I was when I first saw it, but I know I will never forget the feeling and lasting impact that the show has left on me. Is it perfect? Far from it. But it holds up. It’s a show that has a lot of depth. It’s gritty, raw, political, sexy, and emotionally complex. The characters are fully developed, with flaws and contradictions, and aren’t just props to each other. It stood on the shoulders of giants (Stargate SG1, Farscape, Star Trek: DS9, and The X-Files), but it became a giant itself. The show’s narrative is deeply intertwined with themes of religion, philosophy, myth, and humanity. Of the 2000-2010 science fiction shows, it is my pick! Firefly is great, Fringe is cool, Doctor Who is British, Lost is fine… But Battlestar Galactica… It just feels different. Better.

I can’t put a finger on just one thing that makes this show my show, because it isn’t just one thing. It’s everything about it.

So, Why Talk About It? Link to heading

I used to watch this show annually. Maybe every two years, if I am being super honest. Since I became a father I haven’t had a ton of time to rewatch things like this. Recently, Katee Sackhoff (‘Starbuck’ in the 2003 series) started a BSG Reacts series on her Youtube channel. Apparently, she has never watched the show, and now she is, and I thought… Well, it’s about time for a rewatch for me as well!

Look forward to review notes, and general musings in the coming posts! Thanks for hanging out!