Battlestar Galactica is really a modern mirror upon humanity and about all the aspects of it. Faith, religion, science, war, love, hate, forgiveness, revenge, hope and so on, and much more. One might look at it and fail to see the way the series deals with all this. For the untrained viewer it may seem as some kind of space age war scenario. But there are many references to symbolism, past and present. Was it all intentional from the writers? Probably some of it, but I think most of it comes from the synchronicity of our times and where our collective consciousness is focused. So it come forth in the series. The dealings of the hard problems of consciousness and matter for example. Are they separate? Does materia come first? Does consciousness comes first? What is the relationship intelligente life has with it? Will humans create artificial intelligence? Depending on how the hard problem of consciousness is solved, will give way or not give way to the possibility of uploading and downloading consciousness. For it is the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica that make the viewer question and think about it. The interaction between them and the humans, initially hateful yet mixed with the opposite, love, knowledge, wisdom and visions.
So say we all!
There are so many character specific twists in the series that I cannot go into them here, since I don’t want to spoil it for you if you have not seen the series. Or seen it once and planning to see it again. But many decisions of the characters are to be pondered upon. Why did someone do it, did it come out right in the end and what was the deeper motive? This remake of the original series is galaxies better. I tried to watch the original Battlestar Galactica but it was really weak. It even had a cute robot and a little boy that just got in the way of everything, like Star Wars on a really bad trip with no attitude. But the concept was good and this remake is brilliant.
There are characters that change a lot and the main ones are not so likable all the times and some just not at all. Changes are irreversible and since the series has many loses and victories there is not a single climax. Which makes a certain effect on the characters. But it’s honest and raw. I think it got as good as it could and managed to keep up that. Nothing is perfect but this is really good!
If Star Trek is about how we want to be, then Battlestar Galactica is about how we actually are – as humans. And how we would likely deal with a situation of drifting in space together looking for a new home planet. Here are some things that Battlestar Galactica deals with:
Ancient alien theory – 13 planets and the story of the lost tribes. Explains the 12 star signs we can see from our Earth, the 13th being the planet one stands on. The star signs are in that sense road maps to our lost tribes. Also a connection to the theories of Zecharia Sitchin, where the Sumerians introduced the 12 star signs. The series has total leaning to the ancient astronaut theory. In a sense that the human race is a planet-moving species – and seems to been that for thousands and thousands of years.
Transhumanism – The machines humans created then created the ”skin jobs” Cylons that look and feel human, yet are not. They upload their consciousness and illustrate the present day view of how some transhumanists see the future.
Gayatri Mantra – Part of the music in the episode intro is the Gayatri Mantra. Suits really perfect and here is the translation and meaning.
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tát savitúr váreṇ(i)yaṃ
bhárgo devásya dhīmahi
dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt
O Divine mother, our hearts are filled with darkness. Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination within us.
Social issues – Even as the last human survivors the order of work, class, background and wealth are confronted in the series. So the series is not only focusing on the heroes and cockpits, but at the whole picture.
Extreme utilitarism – In the case of the Sagittarons and medicine/vaccine – and other situations.
Experimental interrogation methods – Which is a reference to the LSD program by the U.S. Army.
Survivalism – As a group of humans in space – how the practical situation combined with human faults doesn’t result in the united collective teamwork that is portrayed in Star Trek maybe. But here the workers rebel, there are elections (politics and politricks), fight for power, ego, sacrifices and much more.
Mystique – There is a mystical side to it all, where destiny and circular view on existence is talked about. Where visions of the Gods and the one God are mixed with prophecies of ancient scriptures. Different views on our existence are presented, one being pantheism.
Digital tech dangers – The issue of having everything connected. Like we have today, if internet fails then chunks of our society will fail. In the case of the ship Batlestar Galactica not having everything connected and centralizes – made it survive whereas the other battleships were dissabled by some kind of Wi-Fi wireless attack. It is a hint to our own system where every bit of data and maintenance system is connected. Making the nuclear power system security, banking system, health system, internet account system and all others – very vulnerable…
Black market
Nothing good can rise out of the ashes of human society, same business as usual, only on a miniature scale.
Fear and conquer – A typical method of spreading an idea. As is classical when forces of tyranny are at work. There are many parallels with actual human history and present time if you look at the world.
Suicide bombers
Desperate people take desperate measures.
Black ops missions – There are plenty of extra secret missions in the series and some are really heavy. Just like in our real world.
Algea food – That saves them once, the superfood of spirulina as eaten by ancient civilization. And in modern days got a stronghold in the health food market through good hype up.
This series has it all, even though being some episodes too many and not always good, as a whole it is a great story. But also one to implement many aspects as the one mentioned above. Also some spiritual aspects to it, as the ending of the series is sometimes on the border of the mystical.
Here are some images I found interesting, one actually having my favourite car model, the, Citroën Déesse, in a parking lot.
Some classic Battlestar Galactica quotes:
-Which side are we on?
-We’re on the side of the demons, Chief.
-We’re evil men in the gardens of paradise, sent by the forces of death to spread devastation and destruction whereever we go.
-I’m surprised you didn’t konw that.
Exploration of human emotions, relationships and change in characters.
-You know, sometimes I think that you’ve got ice water in those veins and other times I think you’re just a naive, little schoolteacher.
Mind & Body relations.
-Look at me.
-Look at me.
-When you make love to me Gaius, you don’t always think about me.
-Your mind wanders, I know that.
-You think of equations, puzzles, your laundry…
-It’s the nature of the mind to disconnect from the body and journey on its own.
What do you think?