[Television Mini-Series]: Battlestar Galactica: The Mini-Series, reviewed by Kester Pelagius (3/4)

[RPGnet Reviews]

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9944.phtml

C. Demetrius Morgan's Summary:

There are those who believe the perfect Space Opera series once existed, not lost somewhere in space, or forgotten in time, but right here, now, on this planet. Its name: Battlestar Galactica.

Go to the full review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9944.phtml) for more information.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Emprint at 2003-12-17 06:08:33
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<<We are treated to fraternization between ranks, while on duty, during operations on the flight deck.>>

One thing that was in the script that apparently didn't make the cut- Boomer and the Chief's relationship and conduct is frowned upon pretty heavily by the others on the flight deck. So, the expectation that it would set up a crisis on JAG isn't entirely off base. That and other, more spoilery things about the two characters involved are definitely going to be dire.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Thoth Amon at 2003-12-17 17:24:05
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Two things:

1. Fraternization does occur, so having it on the show isn't totally off-base.

2. Saluting aboard ship? Huh?

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-17 20:07:14
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Greetings,

<<Fraternization does occur, so having it on the show isn't totally off-base.>>

Perhaps, Thoth, yet. . .

1)This was between ranks. No matter how you cut it, or what military you are talking about, Officers and NCOs have codes of conduct. Humping in broom closets while on duty is not part of that code.

2)This was during an active OP. Not just while on duty, an OP was in progress, Tyrol left the deck. . . IOW: He abandoned his post to hump in a broom closet.

3)The scene served no purpose. It didn't advance the plot and, frankly, the scene didn't even properly introduce the two background day players so we could be properly saddend when, in part two, we see the woman cradling the charred remains of the male. (In fact if it is easy to blink and miss that, I did and didn't notice till re-watching.)

<<One thing that was in the script that apparently didn't make the cut- Boomer and the Chief's relationship and conduct is frowned upon pretty heavily by the others on the flight deck.>>

And that, Emprint, says it all. Obviously, if someone had in mind some sort of character development, once that was dropped so should this scene. It serves no purpose, save to introduce us to characters that will die later, and it fails to even properly do that much. IMHO, YMMV.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Wes Johnson at 2003-12-17 20:26:23
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I liked it much better than mine.:) Just had that rush to get it out and done with while it was fresh in my mind.

Great job!

--Wes

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by JJM at 2003-12-17 21:57:32
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Absolutely a wonderful review. Thorough and objective as well as entertaining and informative. Very well written.

However, in regards to the new show, I can't help but wonder, "why take the BSG property (mythos) and completely retread it in the first place?" Why not just make a whole new show; or would that require too much originality? Certainly, based on the hype, there was no intent to capitalize on an existing fan-base.

In my humble opinion, the same thing goes for scifi that goes for music: when you do a remake, it should be better than the original, not just different.

Many things bugged me about the show (including the shaky camera work), but the one that really rankled was that the "new" uniforms looked like someone had stolen them from the B5 wardrobe department. I couldn't believe that costumes in 2003 could make you long for '70s fashion.

Where's my suede jacket and motorcycle boots?

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-17 23:05:17
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>>However, in regards to the new show, I can't help but wonder, "why take the BSG property (mythos) and completely retread it in the first place?" Why not just make a whole new show; or would that require too much originality?<<

Wish I had a answer. But, rest assured, you're not alone in wondering why. I think most of us old enough to remember sitting up (in thunderstorms, no less) to watch the original BG came away from this wondering if perhaps this fast-food franchise mentality hasn't gone a tad too far.

>>Certainly, based on the hype, there was no intent to capitalize on an existing fan-base.<<

Given that this came from the same folks responsible for that butchered version of "Dune", and have kept going like some demonic hatchet wielding energizer bunny from the third circle of the crimson hells. . .

You're right. They aren't listening to fans.

>>Many things bugged me about the show (including the shaky camera work), but the one that really rankled was that the "new" uniforms looked like someone had stolen them from the B5 wardrobe department.<<

*shakes head*

According to the articles I read the "shaky camera work" was actually done on purpose, to give it a more docu-drama kinda look.

Seriously, they actually hyped this.

No, really! ;-)

As for the costumes. . . I hate to say it but I remember friends taking garbage bags and duct tape to make something approaching a "costume" like that. When we were in elementary school! Oy!

To be fair: I sort of liked the helmets.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-17 23:10:43
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>>I liked it much better than mine.:) Just had that rush to get it out and done with while it was fresh in my mind.

Great job!<<

Thanks.

I also like your review. Succint, to the point, and you provided a great overview of the characters. Thumbs up!

Course you realize that, between the two reviews, this site probably has the best overview of the series ont he 'net at the present?

*sound of ego inflating*

Funny how we both came up with the same ratings. :-)

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Devin Parker at 2003-12-18 00:19:52
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>>However, in regards to the new show, I can't help but wonder, "why take the BSG property (mythos) and completely retread it in the first place?" Why not just make a whole new show; or would that require too much originality?...Certainly, based on the hype, there was no intent to capitalize on an existing fan-base.<<

I'm not sure. I've been on the fringe of this whole affair, having loved BG when I was a kid, watched the movie/pilot on video about two years ago and cringed (though I was surprised at how well the first part - up until they land on the Ovion planet - held up; I thought it was pretty good), and don't currently have SciFi.

Still, my guess is that they just wanted Name Recognition. It got the "diehard fans" to watch, even if only to catalogue every reason they didn't like it. With all of its bold claims about "revolutionizing television space opera," I think they generated a fair amount of interest. To be honest, I got taken in by it - I honestly thought they might have had something really grand in mind...but then, my only exposure to the whole thing were the blurbs on SciFi's website. Serves me right for gobbling up hype willy-nilly, I guess. :)

In regards to the "first impression notes" regarding the claims of the show's "retreaders," it sounds like your reactions were justified. A bit rabid, sure, but good points. You don't just swagger in with a couple of episodes of Star Trek under your belt and think that qualifies you to dismiss decades of science fiction as irrelevant and hokey.

I would hope that the folks involved in this show would find themselves eating their words, hats in hand, but I lost faith in television long ago. My trust is in Joss Whedon and the Jim Henson Company...

>>As for the costumes. . . To be fair: I sort of liked the helmets.<<

Hey! That reminds me of Halloween as a kid...my mom would ask me every year what kind of costume I wanted to wear, and then she'd make it for me. For a few years in my life, I had a Colonial Warrior costume (complete with cape) and a Visitor uniform (from "V") that looked just as good as the ones on TV. Pretty groovy...I didn't realize at the time just how cool it was of her to do that. Hmmm...I need to call her up and thank her for doing that...

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Emprint at 2003-12-18 10:56:03
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<<The scene served no purpose. It didn't advance the plot>>

I'm not so sure about that. I'd hardly argue that it was essential to the mini-series, but look at two things:

* The events shown immediately before, on Caprica.

* The final scene of the mini. Particularly, the person who gives that last command.

The inappropriateness of what's happening is not coincidental.

<<Obviously, if someone had in mind some sort of character development, once that was dropped so should this scene. It serves no purpose, save to introduce us to characters that will die later, and it fails to even properly do that much.>>

I believe we may be talking about different things. I was referring to the scene in which Boomer and Tyrol have sex. They both survive, and have reasonably large parts in the remainder of the mini-series. You seem to be talking about the techs introduced in the previous scene, who are _not_ developed.

I agree, though- the reaction of the other characters should have been kept. Particularly, it makes Starbuck's question later about whether or not there's any word from Sharon (Boomer) seem somewhat different, and more interesting. (Particularly taken with her revelation to Apollo about Zack at the climax.)

Looking at the finished product, I'd guess the reactions were cut so that Boomer and Tyrol would be a little more sympathetic- making their reunion something the audience could root for, and making certain later events more knife-twisting.

Currently I'm trying to avoid spoilers. I'll drop that if everyone else wants to.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-18 11:26:33
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>>In regards to the "first impression notes" regarding the claims of the show's "retreaders," it sounds like your reactions were justified. A bit rabid, sure, but good points.<<


Yeah, good points, but *whistle* lord-ee! That's still my reaction and I wrote 'em.


>>You don't just swagger in with a couple of episodes of Star Trek under your belt and think that qualifies you to dismiss decades of science fiction as irrelevant and hokey.<<

Too true, too true.

And also quotable. Maybe you should write a review yourself when you see it? ;) :)

>>Hmmm...I need to call her up and thank her for doing that...<<

And don't forget to casually mention how her costumes were/are better than stuff seen on current multi-million (?) dollar series.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-18 11:48:41
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>>I believe we may be talking about different things. I was referring to the scene in which Boomer and Tyrol have sex. They both survive, and have reasonably large parts in the remainder of the mini-series. You seem to be talking about the techs introduced in the previous scene, who are _not_ developed.<<

Same scene.

As it opens there are two characters in the background. One male, one female. They are (one assumes) deck hands swabbing the deck.

They are exiting the broom closet when Tyrol and Boomer head toward it. They are, I am assuming, the same two characters seen later, after the nuke goes off, on the floor: female character (crying) cradling the limp body of a male character (face painted black to simulate burns). In the scene one assume the "techs" are supposed to exist to pull our heart strings later on, but that intent woefully fell far from the mark. By the time the scene appears I could not only care less I am thinking: You know the original BG managed to move this farce of a plot along in an hour!

What I am saying is that this scene totally should have been either A) dropped or B) reworked if, as has been pointd out, supporting commentary to establish the characters was edited out. As it stands the scene serves no purpose, IMO.

In short: There were two sets of characters this scene was trying to set the viewer up to feel. . . something for. In my opinion it failed to properly do this, and thus the scene serves no purpose. You could edit it out and leave in the scene where Starbuck asks about Shannon, no problem.


>>I'd hardly argue that it was essential to the mini-series, but look at two things:

* The events shown immediately before, on Caprica.

* The final scene of the mini. Particularly, the person who gives that last command. <<

[pirate voice]
Argh! Yon final scene.
[/pirate voice]

Where to begin.

My take: It was as throwaway a bit of pandering as has ever been filmed. It's a total backhanded, finger flip, to BG fanboys.

Even I asked myself: Why? Why was that line uttered?

I could see no reason. It served no purpose. There was no Imperious Leader present, no internal command structure has been established, so who the heck was that line for if not the fanboys?

Why?: It filled their quota of old show lines that had to be included. That's the only rationale for that line being uttered I can imagine.


>>Currently I'm trying to avoid spoilers. I'll drop that if everyone else wants to.<<

Yeah, kinda hard to be vague at times though. But, by now, those who want to see it will have done.

Speaking of things spoiled...

Personally I think the mini-series would have been better off as an indpendant production free of the Battlestar Galactica logo. It is not a total travisty, but it is a travisty the way the old show material was mis-handled.

Too, I think the acting in some scenes is a direct result of this. The actors, if left free to explore their roles unburdened by a need to maintain some faux appearance of clinging to the BG property, would have made this series come to life. As it is the series is uninspired and will only inspire maudlin reations for what could have been.
That's just my opinion mind, and it probably will grate on some who would rather have seen this filmed more true to the original series. But like I state in the review this is, yet isn't, BG. And therein is the conundrum.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Emprint at 2003-12-18 11:53:20
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<<You don't just swagger in with a couple of episodes of Star Trek under your belt and think that qualifies you to dismiss decades of science fiction as irrelevant and hokey.>>

I love Star Trek, but I'm not sure there's any better qualification to dismiss science fiction convention as hokey than having worked on it. It's a little thing called smelling your own...

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by JJM at 2003-12-18 12:11:16
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Concerning Connections:

I knew there was something about the whole woman-to-be-president character that I couldn't put my finger on for almost a week. Then, bingo! The actress is the same woman that played the First Lady in ID:4 (probably some general mental block concerning that whole movie, I'd guess).

In ID:4, she's severely injured in, but survives the near-genocidal alien invasion, and then takes on a leadership role.

In BG, she's severely ill, but survives the near-genocidal alien invasion, and then takes on a leadership role.

Just a thought.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Emprint at 2003-12-18 12:17:43
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Okay, I see your point now.

Again, it's not my favorite scene, but I like some things it sets up. Specifically, I like the parallel to the preceding Baltar/Number Six scene. Second, I like the disfunctionality of the relationships evolving on the Galactica. I would have left the reactions in, myself, though, obviously, I don't know how they turned out on film.

<<I could see no reason. It served no purpose. There was no Imperious Leader present, no internal command structure has been established, so who the heck was that line for if not the fanboys?>>

While I don't have any particular knowledge, I think that line was supposed to establish a bit of command structure. We find out who has been calling the shots, and she's the same model as someone we've been led (successfully or not) to like. While I doubt the Boomer at that particular status meeting is the supreme commander of the Cylons, I think it's pretty clear that she's the one in authority.

As for whether the line was for the fans... I think it obviously was. But I don't think it was wholly non-sensical.

I think that this new Galactica actually benefitted from the references to the original. They were subtle enough that they didn't bother the non-fans I watched the show with, but they brought some depth to my viewing of the show. I'm not really bothered by having two Battlestar Galacticas that I like, any more than I'm bothered by liking both Chretien and Malory's versions of the grail quest, or both The Who and Elton John's versions of "Pinball Wizard."

One thing that put it into perspective for me ( quoted from my own, more informal review thread at http://www.allitis.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=478 )

<<...somebody gave me a good description of the relationship between this series and the original:

This mini-series describes historical events, more or less the way they actually happened. The 70s version is the made for TV movie they make two hundred years later. Adama gets the George Washington treatment, and oh look, honey, they got Lorne Greene! They change Zack's death so it relates to the war, and obviously they're not going to get into Tigh's drinking problem. Not on network TV. Likewise, the Cylon's belief systems and motivations are glossed over- they're the bad guys after all. And of course, Adama had unwavering faith that they'd find the Thirteenth Colony. Because, as every school child knows, they did.

It fits very well. I'll leave you all to decide what it means about Galactica 1980.>>

I'm hardly claiming that was the intention, but I think it explains my feelings pretty well- they're two versions of the same story, with a lot of common elements. I can like them both, without wanting to disassociate them.

BTW, good review. Better thought out than most of the reviews online (positive or negative).

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Emprint at 2003-12-18 13:09:29
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For the record, here's the scene I was talking about...

INT. REPAIR BAY
Socinus ENTERS from the Hangar Bay, carrying a heavy tool kit. He heads for the Tool Room.

CALLY
Not so fast. The groping lamp is on in the tool shed.

SOCINUS
Frak me.

CALLY
Do I have to?

SOCINUS
This is outta control. The chief lost his mind or something?

CALLY
None of our business.

PROSNA
(sarcastic)
Yeah. He's just sleeping with the division officer. What's wrong with that?

There's a lot wrong with it, and the feeling is shared by all of them, even Cally.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-18 13:59:09
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Greetings Emprint,

That's it?

That was the whole of the scene they cut?

Honestly? They looked at the four hours they had and thought: "Yeah, a few seconds of dialog that established what the heck is going on. . . don't need that. Cut it!"

Guess those 50-day shooting schedules don't allow for much. ;)

<<...somebody gave me a good description of the relationship between this series and the original:

This mini-series describes historical events, more or less the way they actually happened. The 70s version is the made for TV movie they make two hundred years later. Adama gets the George Washington treatment, and oh look, honey, they got Lorne Greene! They change Zack's death so it relates to the war, and obviously they're not going to get into Tigh's drinking problem. Not on network TV. Likewise, the Cylon's belief systems and motivations are glossed over- they're the bad guys after all. And of course, Adama had unwavering faith that they'd find the Thirteenth Colony. Because, as every school child knows, they did.

It fits very well. I'll leave you all to decide what it means about Galactica 1980.>>

As to that comparison. . . Tigh had no drinking problem. Period. Least none I recall being mentioned. In fact I seem to recall he was a bit more hard nose about that sort of thing in the book.

As for Zak.

Oy!

[pirate voice]
Thar she blows! Avast and stand fast mateys.
[/pirate voice]

Zak.

In the book he was a hotshot pilot that got put on the patrol (if you remember the original series you know what I am talking about) not because he was an over excited green pilot, but because he got on Tigh's bad side. IOW: Punishment. If anything the Starbuck of the NEW series is far closer to temperment and character to the Zak of the novel. The Zak of the series was. . . well. . . what can you say. The character really was developed in post-mortem by what other characters said about him, wasn't he?

Personally I prefer the original series Tigh to any of the other versions. Of course that could just be the actor, he really brought the part to life.

Also, the idea that drinking problems were too much for network TV of the era is pure, unadultrated, 100 proof poppycock. There's an entire episode of drunkards, on a asteroid prison, who do nothing but make Ambrosia (the alchoholic drink of choice of Warriors) to say nothing of the fact Tigh often reprimanded Warriors for drinking.

Ok, maybe not often, but I swear I remember at least one episode that happened in! ;)

As for the bit about Adama and the thirteenth colony. . . totally different, I think. Be warned, this is running off of memory, which is akin to running your car off fumes, but if I remember correctly (I really need to just buy the original series on DVD) . .

In the original series didn't Adama come across more as a learned scholar who, after consulting the database of ancient lore, decided to seek for the legendary thirteenth colony. . . by way of returning to Kobol to seek answers!??

Don't even recall what the premise/set up for this was in the novel.

For the record: I would have made this a cable series and filmed THAT version of Carillion. Can you say: "Hedonistic Resort to shame all other Hedonistic Resorts"? I knew you could. So, yeah, definitely have to be for cable. :rolleyes:

<<BTW, good review. Better thought out than most of the reviews online (positive or negative).
>>

Thanks for the kind words.

Now if I could just edit out the silly grammatical errors. . . *laughs like a jolly fat man wearing red*


Kind Regards,

Kester Pelagius

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by James at 2003-12-18 15:34:51
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in this mini-series the 12 colonies were all on one world, not 12 planets in the Original Series.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Wes Johnson at 2003-12-18 17:17:07
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I think the colonies were still on seperate worlds, but this was a little nebulous in BSGmk2. The fact that they have FTL, makes this much less of an issue than the original series, which I thought did not have FTL per se.

Any die hards care to verify the FTL question?

--Wes

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Wes Johnson at 2003-12-18 17:19:50
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I thought it was better an ddifferen then the original. MANY of the problems the original had to suffer through were due to execs at ABC who had no idea how to market or create such a show. SciFi for all its faults, does know how to do science fiction.

Which might suggest it could get better...rather then do a death spiral that winds up being Galactica 1980....shudder.

--Wes

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Wes Johnson at 2003-12-18 17:21:36
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Usually you can smell many of the convention goers from blocks away.

I always liked working cons on Sundays. Smelling BO and being hungover...yay!

--Wes

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-19 00:06:27
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>>Any die hards care to verify the FTL question?<<

Not 100% on this but as I recall the Galactica had to adjust travel speed to that of the slowest vessel in the fleet. So, if in the main battle in the original pilot the Galactica makes the jump (?) to light speed to get back to the colonies but doesn't quite make it in time. . . then Light Speed would have to be their redline threshold. Right?

But was that maximum speed FTL? I don't think so, just Light Speed. Then again the distances involved between where the Battlestars are in relation to the colonies (I assume they aren't inside the same solar system) aren't ever specified so it's hard to say. D@mned interesting question though.

Anyone remember (or have a link tot he info) for sure what speed the Galactica was stated to be going to in the original pilot?

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Thoth Amon at 2003-12-19 04:54:47
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I seem to remember from one of the novelizations of the orginial series that the 12 colonies were spread out amongst four or five solar systems.

TA

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by K. A. Pezzano at 2003-12-22 14:03:49
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<<I seem to remember from one of the novelizations of the orginial series that the 12 colonies were spread out amongst four or five solar systems. >>

There are references to the "Twelve Colonies of the Three Suns". Presumably three separate solar systems (or two, one with a binary star).

As for the new miniseries, the original script had all the "colonies" on one planet (Kobol itself, oddly enough), but that was changed later to make them all separate planets.

The change was done late enough that the final script is still muddled about the whole "12 planets/1 planet" thing, but according to Ron Moore, the finished version is supposed to be 12 separate planets.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Blue Seven at 2003-12-22 20:19:00
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It seems that the Sci-Fi Channel doesn't really create science fiction anymore, for the most part. Most of what they have done in the last five years, if not longer, could comfortably fit into other genres without great effort, and may only qualify as science fiction by being aired on a channel caled The Sci-Fi Channel (which ain't much of a qualification).

The biggest seller on the channel currently is Stargate SG-1, which was originally created by and for one of the cable movie channels (I think it was Showtime). It qualifies as science fiction, but very little else on the channel that isn't at least 10 years old seems to these days. The people in charge of the Sci-Fi Channel have been creating more and more mainstream programs when they put together their original series fare (probably to attract more mainstream viewers, and therefore more ratings and ad revenue. This has served to alienate a lot of sci-fi fans). The Battlestar Galactica Club website actually had a petition for the resignation of Bonnie Hammer, the current president (CEO?) of the Sci-Fi Channel, for not showing sci-fi on a channel supposedly dedicated to it. This wasn't the only petition on that site (most were Battlestar Galactic specific, such as preserving Starbuck's gender or discontinuing the re-imaging altogether, things I doubt the Sci-Fi Channel would have listened to). I originally dismissed these claims, but having taken a look at the channel's usual fare, I'm not so sure they weren't at least partly right.

They really seem to know haw to market a series, or at least generate interest in it, even if they do it by raising a hell of a lot of controversy rather than just advertising it. They did air a lot of ads for the new miniseries. I noticed a lot of these during the airing of a classic Battlestar Galactica marathon last summer, which seemed like rubbing it in the faces of fans of the original series.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-22 22:58:56
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<<As for the new miniseries, the original script had all the "colonies" on one planet (Kobol itself, oddly enough), but that was changed later to make them all separate planets.>>

One wonders, with all these basic changes to the story/characters, what the status of the alledged Battlestar Galactica IP is. One further wonders if, perhaps, these changes weren't made to somehow challenge Larson's IP. . . certainly, if nothing else, they did not seem able to to grasp the subtle astro-mythological complexities the man used.


<<The change was done late enough that the final script is still muddled about the whole "12 planets/1 planet" thing, but according to Ron Moore, the finished version is supposed to be 12 separate planets.>>

Sadly, a whole lot more was muddled than just that. For instance, while it was nice to show interplanetary traffic (Ok, hint at it with a rescue mission) where exactly were any of these vessels? Where was Ragnar?

For that matter why is it that, since the entire military is patterened after modern Western earth naval forces, the only vessel that survived was one being mothballed to be turned into a museum? The U.S. alone has hundreds of vintage vessels in mothball. Hundreds more vintage in active naval service as part of the reserve fleet. It's just one more of those littel factoids that scream how very very little those involved seemd to truly know about actual military matters. Luckily BS is fantastical soft science fiction, so they can dodge the bullet of hard criticism by pointing out the fact this isn't based on reality, just mired in it's tropes. ;)

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2003-12-22 23:11:42
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K. A. Pezzano wrote:
-------------------------------
<<There are references to the "Twelve Colonies of the Three Suns". Presumably three separate solar systems (or two, one with a binary star).>>

It's probably due to the distance of time from the original material, but I seem to have an impression firmly in mind that these 12 colonies were all in one super-solar system? Possibly a system that was the product of advanced celestial engineering of a magnitude beyond even that required to create a Dyson sphere.

Not sure if that's altogether right, but it would be interesting to have the Lords of Kobol have been capable of such engineering feats, if only to raise the question: "Ok, so what happened to them? What became of/ Where did such intelligent beings go?"

Love a good mystery!

Speakingof which, I always wondered if that was not what those "beings of light" were going to be revealed as. . The descendants of the original Lords of Kobol.

Ah, the fanciful dreamy visions of youth! ;)

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by K. A. Pezzano at 2003-12-23 13:51:40
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<<It's probably due to the distance of time from the original material, but I seem to have an impression firmly in mind that these 12 colonies were all in one super-solar system? Possibly a system that was the product of advanced celestial engineering of a magnitude beyond even that required to create a Dyson sphere.

Not sure if that's altogether right, but it would be interesting to have the Lords of Kobol have been capable of such engineering feats, if only to raise the question: "Ok, so what happened to them? What became of/ Where did such intelligent beings go?">>

I can't recall any actual diagram of the Colonial solar system(s) being shown, but I do have vague recollections of a magazine that showed the various uniform designs and patches, and one had twelve concentric rings around a point, implying a single system with twelve worlds, as you say.

Of course, the show and the novelizations often differed like that (in the books, for instance, the Cylons were organic, as opposed to the totally-robotic Cylons of the series, and there's plenty of fanboy controversy over the names of all the canon Battlestars). So who can really say?

A twelve-planet system that was obviously created by a supremely advanced civilization would explain a lot about the unshakable faith that Adama and others had in the myths of Kobol. It'd be hard *not* to believe in an "ancient astronaut" origin, with evidence like that laying around!