Battlestar Galactica (new) and Lost

[QuadShot]

Ok, I'm sure many will say "HUH?!" when I admit that when the new Battlestar Galactica originally aired, I avoided it like moldy haggis, for many reasons. BUT...over the last couple of weeks, I've been watching the entire series on NetFlix and must admit...I'm glad I didn't watch it on TV. BECAUSE I'D HATE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT WEEK!!!!!  I'm really enjoying this series, well, once I put aside my bias. You see, I am probably one of the few on these forums that actually watched the original when it first aired, even went to see the pilot movie at a local theater. So, I put the new one up against that right away and hated it. Starbuck...a WOMAN?  Boomer...a WOMAN?! NO! But, it works with this new version.

Oh of course, I have some minor things I'm not crazy about, like the fact that everything is so close to Earth like things (cars, Humvees, personalized license plates, etc) but I get what they're they trying to paint for us with all that. But, here's the real reason behind this post:

Religion. Battlestar Galactica, the new one, is 100% about religion. Cool, I don't mind that at all, but when JJ presented us with the theological storyline of Lost, and especially the ending, everyone flipped out and said that was junk. If I remember right even a lot on the Treks forums blasted that aspect of Lost yet EVERYONE here LOVES Battlestar. Why? If you ask me, Battlestar had WAY more overt religiosity (I'm coining that word by the way) than Lost did (until the finale that is). Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm REALLY liking the new Battlestar a lot, but I was just curious why people react like they do? Ok, this is what happens when you get hooked on a show that's running in Netflix: you stay up way too late watching MANY episodes, even when you have to get up at 4:30 am to be at work...Sleep dep!! :)

[spaltor]

I didn't watch BSG while it was airing either, and I had the same reaction when I finally did.  :)  I wouldn't have been able to stand the long breaks I heard everyone going on about during the original airings.   I didn't watch Lost when it originally aired either.

But here's my take on the religion thing.  When people first started watching Lost, they thought it was a drama.  It became a sci-fi show, and then it became about religion.  AND it was on one of the four main channels.  So it's was reaching a much wider audience than BSG.  BSG, right from the beginning, is about religion, and it was shown on a science-fiction network, reaching a much more segmented audience.  SF viewers, traditionally, are much more open to exploring new and different ideas (TNG sometimes explored questions of religion as well).  And I would assume that anyone who would be uncomfortable exploring those questions would decide the show wasn't for them.  With Lost, people had already put 5ish years into the story, and weren't about to quit.  I hope that makes sense - not sure I'm explaining it all well.  ;)

[Bryancd]

Jamie and I are currently re-watching the entire series on Blu-Ray and are half way through season 4. Yes, it get's even more religious and that becomes a HUGE aspect of the story. When it aired, I honestly don't recall there being any backlash towards it, as you mention. I think it's handled extremely well, perhaps that's why.

And....Good Grief Al, what took you so long!!!! :)

[QuadShot]

Bryan...I'm slow! :) Hmm, perhaps a Just Because...Battlestar Galactica is in order! :)

[jedijeff]

I never minded the direction that Lost took, and the religious aspect I liked as to me, they left it fairly open to a persons beliefs (I am not the most overly religious person so it is possible that it might have bothered others, but I never picked up on it)

I liked the first half of BSG, but I found the second half got bogged down in it's mythology. To me, the story line seemed a bit pedestrian at times and the finale came off predictable. I came from the same thinking as you Al in that I was a big fan of the Original, so Battlestar Galactica to me was more Sci-Fi adventure then a heavy dramatic story. But it was very well received, so could have been me wanting something a bit different then what Ron Moore and producers intended. I have all the seasons on DVD so will have to go through them again at some point and see if I pickup more from another watching.

[Bromptonboy]

I loved both Lost & BSG.  BSG's mythology proved to be a disappointment to me - as I wish they had gone down a different path.  I found it tough to 'suspend my disbelief' with the final episode and how they dealt with 'Earth'.
Lost's ending I loved - although I was upset at many loose ends that didn't get explained.