In the late 90s and early 2000s, the sci-fi genre was undoubtedly going through a major evolution on television that saw it switch from the bright and optimistic to a grittier, more realistic tone. Shows like Quantum Leap and Sliders, which had worked in the past, seemed out of place in a world that was undergoing a cultural shift as we entered the new millennium, and certainly in a post-9/11 universe where everything became morally ambiguous. While shows like Farscape and Andromeda tried their best to bring an air of prestige to the genre, it wasn’t until 2004 that a series came along to completely change the game. Now, 21 years later, it’s once again a hit thanks to digital streaming. We’re talking, of course, about Battlestar Galactica, the 2004 military sci-fi series that was a reimagining of the 1978 classic. Introduced to fans the previous year thanks to a three-hour miniseries, once the show began its regular run on the Sci-Fi Channel, the genre would never be the same again. What was once something that only appealed to a very niche audience was broken wide open, attracting a whole new crop of fans who gravitated to BSG thanks to its character-driven plots, political intrigue, and visually stunning cinematography. This wasn’t your granddaddy’s science fiction that featured fantastic settings peppered with one-dimensional heroes. No, Battlestar Galactica embraced the real-world to mirror society and bring things like religious extremism, civil war, and terrorism front and center. It blended genres to create something entirely new which worked on so many levels, and made the genre feel fresh. Its tone and philosophical elements rivaled that of shows like The Sopranos, The West Wing, and even The Wire, ushering the sci-fi genre into the category of prestige dramas that were hard to ignore.
‘Battlestar Galactica’ Influenced Everything That Came After It

Jamie Bamber in Battlestar GalacticaSci-Fi Channel

Starring the likes of Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, and Grace Park, Battlestar Galactica is currently the 15th most popular series in the Apple TV store, proving that it still has legs even now, more than two decades after its initial release. That comes as no surprise, really, especially when you consider how influential it was. Had it not been for BSG, we might have never gotten to see other great shows like The Expanse, The 100, Falling Skies, or even Foundation. They all owe a debt of gratitude to Battlestar Galactica for not just paving the way, but for breaking down the four walls of the box the genre had been placed in before it came along, allowing others to find success. Holding an overall score of 95% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 94% rating from fans, Battlestar Galactica remains not just one of the best science fiction shows in history, but one of the best shows period. If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching this sci-fi masterpiece before, it’s definitely worth the cost of admission this holiday season if you want to treat yourself to something truly special.

Release Date

2004 – 2009-00-00

Network

SyFy

Directors

Wayne Rose, Michael Nankin, Rod Hardy, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Edward James Olmos, Robert M. Young, Jeff Woolnough, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jonas Pate, Allan Kroeker, Anthony Hemingway, Jean de Segonzac, Marita Grabiak, James Head, Paul A. Edwards, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Brad Turner, Ronald D. Moore, Bill Eagles

Writers

Carla Robinson, Michael Taylor, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, Jane Espenson, Mark Verheiden, Michael Angeli, Anne Cofell Saunders, Jeff Vlaming, Michael Rymer, Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin, Seamus Kevin Fahey