Thought I should start a couple of Ep specific threads about BSG, seeing as Rob has been good enough to start a BSG board. It has been a week since I saw '33', but I thought I should start at the beginning...

33 was a excellent episode. I thought they'd have a tough time following on from the miniseries. The MS was just so bleak. I though we might see the show softening a bit as it went to the episodic format. Glad to see I was wrong.

I loved the fatigue that you could see on everyones faces. Not only did they look fatigued, but they were all making rash, emotional decisions. I'm sure Adama wouldn't have destroyed the Olympic Carrier, if he'd had more sleep.

The show seems to be getting a bit of critism over the steadycam approach, but I think its w**king really well. It makes you feel really involved very quickly. I've only seen four episodes, but I already care more about the characters on BSG than I do the ones on Enterprise, after 3 series. Of course, the fact the the cast are so good doesn't hurt either.

Still not quite sure about the Cylons as a baddie though. They seem little motiveless at the minute. All this Cylon sex seems a bit far fetched as well (she wants a baby?). I'm sure Ron Moore is going somewhere with this though.

The camerawork is one of the aspects of the series that I really like, I must admit. It gives it a kind of edginess. :thumbsup:

I thought this was a good, solid opening episode, with a nice working of tension based on the 33 minutes, and some nice tough decisions that are not just forgotten about in the next episode. :)

I'm of a similar opinion to Steve on the camerawork. For me, it's a definite positive, it dictates the pacing superbly. If you look at Enterprise, it plods along in places, the chances of that on BSG is pretty remote so far.

Regarding the cast I'd have to agree, I'm far more interested in them than their Enterprise counterparts. A lot of this is due to Ron Moore's brilliant stewardship of the project. The dark tone is a Moore hallmark, look back at DS9, Roswell, Carnivale and you'll get the picture I'm sure :)

As for the opening episode, I thought it was superb. As you've correctly pointed out it would take something pretty good to live up to the expectation generated by the mini series. Fortunately we got it. As first episodes go it was gripping. Conflict and tension are great dramatic factors and here we have it in bucket loads.

With Enterprise flagging, Andromeda a 'never been' and SG1 not exactly space-based, BSG looks like it may fill a pretty important, and significant gap in the genre.

A very good point. :)

Great opening (or following on) episode, no, or minimal, scene setting just jump straight in to the story.

I really like the camera style both of the live action and of the space stuff, that smash zoom cutting gives a real edginess to the battles.

A great ep to start the season, it follows nicely from the mini’s and fit’s together perfectly. The 33min story was very unique and enjoyable, the cast played their parts well are were very convincing as tired and really out of it, but trying to pull them selves together. The camera w**k seems essential as it keeps the show looking live and exciting. The Cylon w**k was once again fantastic! They look so very intimidating and real.

Overall it was a great episode which kept my interest in the show :)

With everybody looking so fatigued and the men are unshaven. Did anybody else notice that after commander Adama shaves later in the episode he is clearly unshaven?

A brilliant continuation from the miniseries with the story entering in the middle of what quickly becomes apparent is a continuing series of Cylon attacks -- with the titles counting off the sleepless hours. The decaying status was convincingly depicted. And the emphasis was on making tough decisions. If anything, this episode was better than the miniseries which was excellent in itself.

I can see that Baltar's hallucinationary conversations with #6 will become tiring. Switching to the lake house is even more distracting. It's better when she appears in the middle of the ship and the people he's talking to forcing him to concentrate to keep the two realities separate. At least Callis does an excellent job of portraying the distracted, conscience-torn man.

This cat-and-mouse between battleship commanders is an old plot that I'm very fond of. This time, it is seen from only one side. And I didn't forsee the resolution. Based on the few episodes I've seen so far, taking old material and making it fresh will be the hallmark of BSG.

I will not give the game away about the interaction between Baltar and no6 but I always found it effortless and often the source of a great deal of humour. It does make you 'work' a little bit but I am glad the writers give the viewers some credit.

It is far more preferable to Friends style SHOUTING in case the audience doesn't GET IT - I realise that is not a perfect argument or comparison - At BSG engages you with a little subtlety is what I am driving at. sk