Battlestar Galactica: Season 1 - Episode 5. 'Lost Planet Of The Gods Part 2' (1978) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_390" align="alignright" width="178"] Official Score = 1 Devil[/caption]

So far I will say this about this so far about the original, 'Battlestar Galactica'... I can definitely see how this show was inspired by the original, 'Star Wars' movies, but short of a few basic looks in both ships and clothing and a few of the special effects, I would say that this show stands on it's own merits as a show...

And where as I am going to have to say that the most recent remake of the series was probably better then this series (Only I believe though by the fact that this show never really got it's opportunity to stand on it's own two feet...) Nevertheless, so far I have to say that this show is not bad, it is quite good!

You can definitely see the tie in to this show and ancient Earth... (I have to admit that not only am I pleased by this, but the recent remake never satisfactorily explained that for me!)

It also truly had some great talent attached to it, including: Lorne Greene (Earthquake), Dirk Benedict (The A-Team), Noah Hathaway (The NeverEnding Story) & Jane Seymour (Wedding Crashers) and that is just to name a few!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Just some of the cast of the original, 'Battlestar Galactica'![/caption]

I will be honest and say that one of the only things that this show really suffered from was bad writing... As a matter of fact, I would say that the only thing that I don't like in Lorne Greene's, 'Adama', is that Adama seemed like a little bit of a blowhard...

The sad fact is that bad lines are not the only thing that, Season 1 - Episode 5: 'Lost Planet Of The Gods Part 2' (1978) suffers from!

Written by: Glen A. Larson (Magnum P.I.), Donald P. Bellisario (NCIS) & Directed by: Christian I. Nyby II (Diagnosis Murder). Starring: Richard Hatch (All My Children), Dirk Benedict, Lorne Greene, Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Apollo 13), John Colicos (The Changling), Maren Jensen (Deadly Blessing), Terry Carter (The Phil Silvers Show), George Murdock (The X-Files: Fight The Future), Ed Begley Jr. (Pineapple Express) & Jane Seymour!

This episode being the final episode of the 2 parter, tells the story of how after the Galactica makes it in to the void that they eventually find their way out and to the ancient planet that is supposed to be the, 'birthplace of humanity'... On their heels though is Baltar (John Colicos) in his Basestar...

[caption id="attachment_2530" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Apollo (Richard Hatch), Serena (Jane Seymour) and Adama (Lorne Greene) as they are walking in the ruins of, 'Koval'![/caption]

At one point it is really starting to look like things might be changing for the Galactica and there refugee fleet... You see, Adama (Lorne Greene) is on the trail of finding out which direction the, '13th tribe' went to, and Apollo (Richard Hatch) and Serena (Jane Seymour) will end up getting married... And to make matters even more interesting, Baltar seems to have practically thrown himself at the Galactica crew!

But starting with the kidnapping of Starbuck (Dirk Benedict), and leading up to an ending that will shock and surprise you, things quickly go from good to bad, and as time goes on, it is looking more and more like the Galactica may have fallen pray to yet another, 'Cylon' trap, and will have to escape by the skin of their seat!

In the end, this episode was well acted, and the special effects for the most part have continued to prove to be a lot of fun... The two problems honestly are:

1. The writing in this episode sucked... I mean it was so bad it was actually distracting!
2. The editing in this episode was horrible, but in all truth, if the writing wasn't so bad, then this would not have been as noticeable... But since the writing is as bad as it was in this episode, it has just expanded on the problem at hand!

As far as this episode goes... It may not be great, but it does tie in to the series, and if you like a series bad enough, you will usually have to deal with at least one bum episode!

http://youtu.be/ArCXu8wPb-o

Battlestar Galactica: Season 1 - Episode 3: 'Saga Of A Star World Part 3' - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

In the 50s (really up to the late 70s) there was something about Science Fiction movies and TV shows that I believe may now work in their favor better now then it did when these programs were released and that is the fact that these shows were so awesomely campy! I mean don't get me wrong when I say that when Star Trek shed the last vestiges of it's campy past that the shows did get better, but there is something to be said about the campy appeal of the older shows!

The reason that I mention this is that as I go through the original, 'Battlestar Galactica' , I find that this is working more and more in their favor, and you know what? The latest episode that I am reviewing here, 'Lost Planet Of the Gods Part 2' from the original, 'Battlestar Galactica', really is a great example of this!

Written by: Glen A. Larson (Magnum P.I.), Donald P. Bellisario (Quantium Leap) & Directed by: Christian I Nyby II (Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack). Starring: Richard Hatch (Dead By Friday), Dirk Benedict (The A. Team), Lorne Greene (Noah's Ark), Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Outbreak), John Colicos (The Changling), Maren Jensen (The Love Boat), Noah Hathaway (Troll), Laurette Spang (Airport 1975), Jane Seymour (Live And Let Die) & Larry Manetti (Magnum P.I.).

It is really cheesy to say, 'the thrilling conclusion of an episode', but the truth is, is this is just that! You see as the Battlestar Galactica is investigating the weird circumstances surrounding the planet, 'Corolon', they learn the truth surrounding the odd truth about the Aliens that control the planet, and just why there is not much more about Corolon beyond the initial reports... As well as the Cylon trap that they are laying with the help of the Aliens on the planet!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="512"] The Battlestar Galactica crew as they blast they're way out of a trap that had been set by the Cylons![/caption]

And you know what? It will be up to Adama, and Colonel Tigh (Terry Carter) to stop the Cylons, and the Aliens down on the planet, as well as a foolish old Councilman who wants to destroy the military in an effort to get peace with the Cylons, before the Cylons, Aliens, or their own people destroy them!

You know, the truth is, is the best thing for me I found about this episode is the fact that this episode has a killer space battle between the Interceptors and the Cylons that looks like it was taken straight out of the remake's handbook!

In the end, if you are just joining us, then I would recommend checking out the first episode first, but if you have been following these reviews, enjoy!

http://youtu.be/YliHrc12SvE