Looking to get into Battlestar Galactica?

[Eishtmo]

The old BSG isn't required to enjoy the new BSG. They aren't the same timeline, though they share some elements (the core plot, some character names, basic designs). There are easter eggs for the old series in the new one if you know what they are, but otherwise it's unnecessary.

Start at the beginning, yes, no other way to really do it. A LOT of people are down on the series after the early episodes, but don't read or listen to that stuff, come to your own conclusions as you watch it episode by episode. It's a continuous story, so watch it in order.

It's not perfect. When it's good, it's really, REALLY good, when it's bad, oof. Just like any other series honestly.

[Yukaphile]

What are some of the major races of BSG? I only know of Cylons. I've also heard the story is somewhat similar to Voyager, in that it's about a starship trying to get home, only finds it's not Earth?

[Koshundheit]

What are some of the major races of BSG? I only know of Cylons. I've also heard the story is somewhat similar to Voyager, in that it's about a starship trying to get home, only finds it's not Earth?

There aren't a bunch of alien races in BSG. Ron Moore was specifically trying to do something not like Star Trek. Also, Edward James Olmos famously said he would faint on camera and have to be written out of the show if an alien showed up. Also no view screen, no comfy chair for the commander on the bridge, no magic comm badges on the uniforms to beam people out of danger unless the plot demanded they couldn't, etc. I love a lot of Star Trek, but one of the many things that makes BSG satisfying is it isn't full of what can now be seen as cliches thanks to Star Trek. Most importantly, it has an amazing cast delivering great performances each episode.

You're almost certainly better off not trying to learn a lot about it before you watch it. As most everyone has said, watch the pilot miniseries. It gives a good feel for the show. If you like that, you'll likely enjoy some or even all of the series. It kind of boggles my mind that people would compare it to Voyager. I'd think they're alike only to the extent that Voyager should have had substantial ongoing consequences to being on the other side of the galaxy with no support. It isn't even the same kind of being stranded and trying to get home. Again though, best to just watch the miniseries and see for yourself. There are various mysteries in BSG. If you enjoy mystery at all, don't seek out answers to things prior to watching the series.

[Yukaphile]

I don't mind being spoiled. I knew long before "War Without End" that the resolution to Sinclair's story arc would be him becoming Valen in a stable time loop, because of browsing through the wiki, and also watching SF Debris's reviews. Might have to check those out.

[Madner Kami]

Just watch the Battlestar Galactica Miniseries already. It tells you everything you need to know and shows what the series is going to be about and about an hour in, you'll know if you like it or not at latest. The music, sound-design, cinematography and acting is top-notch, even if you end up not liking the story, so it's not even wasted time if you decide it's not for you, because you can still enjoy it for the effort that was put into the development.

[Yukaphile]

The whole point of this thread was to ask people if they didn't mind giving me spoilers, but... never mind then.

[Worffan101]

nuBSG is intentionally the anti-Star Trek in tone, style, and structure. Where the classic Star Trek shows that everybody remembers (TOS and TNG) were episodic, relatively lighthearted, colorful, and had the day reliably saved through wits and courage with minimal casualties every episode (at least, that's what people remember), nuBSG is heavily serialized, dull-colored, and gloomy, where the characters all have issues with each other and aren't particularly good people and they lose regularly, with people dying all the time and nothing ever going according to plan /and that means people die/ instead of "Captain Kirk has to save the day at the last minute".

Basically, in TNG they explored random anomalies because they could. In nuBSG, if they ever ran across a random anomaly they'd examine it super closely with their few remaining scouts because getting any resources they could or running into a Cylon patrol meant life or death.

[User 2632]

The best advice I wish I'd gotten myself is to stop watching halfway through Season 4. Treat the mid-season end as the actual, proper end of the show.