# Battlestar galactica sucks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645 "2011-04-25T14:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/41 "2011-04-25T18:43:37Z")
I saw a few episodes, it sucked. You keep asking, why did they do this, why not do that? The main protagonists seem to make arbitary decisions, whose outcomes are hardly worse than the outcomes they are attempting to prevent. There is no moralising about certain acts which would prove controversial in any society, and above all, just a sheer lakc of logic throughout. I can’t understand why any of those being protected would follow a commander or a system that treats them pretty much as disposable, what is the point of having a military arm if the only objective is to secure only the survival of the military arm? rather than the survival of the society that created it? ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/42 "2011-04-25T18:49:45Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I can’t understand why any of those being protected would follow a commander or a system that treats them pretty much as disposable, what is the point of having a military arm if the only objective is to secure only the survival of the military arm? rather than the survival of the society that created it? Assuming you are not whooshing us…Real answer: What are the other options? Besides, the objective seems to be keeping humans as a species alive. Also, it’s a question that’s addressed in the Pegasus episodes where you see another Battlestar survived and had a different opinion about the worth of their civilian fleet. As for the op: Best thread on the subject yet. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/43 "2011-04-25T18:52:32Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I can’t understand why any of those being protected would follow a commander or a system that treats them pretty much as disposable, what is the point of having a military arm if the only objective is to secure only the survival of the military arm? rather than the survival of the society that created it? Assuming you are not wooshing us, this is the major theme of the entire series. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/44 "2011-04-25T19:10:46Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > **STARBUCK** doesn’t play a prominent enough part??!? Wow. Yeah, give up now. I got maybe five minutes of Starbuck and almost two hours of waiting around for Starbuck. Totally not worth it IMO. It would have to be at least 1/4 Starbuck for me to not be parched all the time. > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Serious reply: BSG is an epic saga type of show. Much is introduced initially to give you the feel and scope of the universe you have just entered into. It’s meant to be somewhat chaotic and disjointed initially, as many of these people were thrown together in just that chaotic and disjointed manner. > > Over time threads are more fully developed and intersect in unexpected ways. Story lines creep up and fall behind and individual stories are developed. The beginning is meant to pique your tastebuds, so you care a bit about these characters as the plot moves along. > > It may not be your cup of tea, no worries. But it is purposeful and stylistically planned, not a mistake. I can understand that the species is ending and everybody is freaking out. We don’t have time for characterization because we are supposed to be panicked. So then put a hold on the piddly boyfriend/girlfriend bullshit and back stories until the plot has cooled off and we have time for side plots. It’s just a non stop orgy of plots, side plots and back stories. I can’t believe I have to _convince_ you people that you should feel bad and that you didn’t already know it. And that you are fighting me not to! ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/45 "2011-04-25T19:18:36Z")
Yeah. See, the problem isn’t that the OP thinks that BSG sucks. Lots of people have thought that BSG sucks in just about every thread on BSG that’s been on the Dope. That got arguments (lots of 'em), but not so much mocking. The problem is that the OP’s _criticism_ sucks. Hence, the mocking. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/46 "2011-04-25T19:19:14Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I saw a few episodes, it sucked. > > You keep asking, why did they do this, why not do that? > > The main protagonists seem to make arbitary decisions, whose outcomes are hardly worse than the outcomes they are attempting to prevent. There is no moralising about certain acts which would prove controversial in any society, and above all, just a sheer lakc of logic throughout. > > I can’t understand why any of those being protected would follow a commander or a system that treats them pretty much as disposable, what is the point of having a military arm if the only objective is to secure only the survival of the military arm? rather than the survival of the society that created it? Exactly. You’ve now understood the point of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/47 "2011-04-25T19:28:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I guess anything with more characters than _Waiting For Godot_ is beyond some people. > [@Walmarticus](#): > > I got maybe five minutes of Starbuck and almost two hours of waiting around for Starbuck. TIGH: Nothing to be done. ADAMA: I’m beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life I’ve tried to put it from me, saying Bill, be reasonable, you haven’t yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle. So there you are again. TIGH: Am I? ADAMA: I’m glad to see you back. I thought you were gone forever. TIGH: Frack off. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/48 "2011-04-25T19:33:36Z")
If you think BSG is confusing and difficult to follow, then you prolly don’t wanna try \*Babylon 5 \*either. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/49 "2011-04-25T19:36:26Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Yeah. See, the problem isn’t that the OP thinks that BSG sucks. Lots of people have thought that BSG sucks in just about every thread on BSG that’s been on the Dope. That got arguments (lots of 'em), but not so much mocking. > > The problem is that the OP’s _criticism_ sucks. Hence, the mocking. wtf? My criticism is fine. The characters don’t make sense. They’d probably make more sense if the story wasn’t so disjointed or there weren’t so many of them. I can’t care about that much shit at once- I’d implode. Mock me because I think BSG fans should feel dirty and ashamed, not because you don’t agree with my criticism. > [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > TIGH: Nothing to be done. > ADAMA: I’m beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life I’ve tried to put it from me, saying Bill, be reasonable, you haven’t yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle. So there you are again. > TIGH: Am I? > ADAMA: I’m glad to see you back. I thought you were gone forever. > TIGH: Frack off. ooooooooooooh, I get it now. > [@Oakminster](#): > > If you think BSG is confusing and difficult to follow, then you prolly don’t wanna try \*Babylon 5 \*either. > [@Walmarticus](#): > > Clarifying: I do not think BSG is confusing > > I am not confused by this show. > > This show is not confusing > If I could use flashing sparkly text to explain to you people that I’m not whining about how confusing the show is, I would. Can we say derp derp derp in the Cafe Society? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/50 "2011-04-25T19:52:18Z")
I guess what’s puzzling mr is why on earth you’d expect so much to be resolved by the end of episode 2? I think your expectations might be out of line with the epic saga scope of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/51 "2011-04-25T20:08:33Z")
If you’d bothered to watch the miniseries you’d probably have a better handle on the characters. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/52 "2011-04-25T20:15:12Z")
> [@Walmarticus](#): > > wtf? My criticism is fine. The characters don’t make sense. They’d probably make more sense if the story wasn’t so disjointed or there weren’t so many of them. I can’t care about that much shit at once- I’d implode. > > Mock me because I think BSG fans should feel dirty and ashamed, not because you don’t agree with my criticism. No. Your criticism is sad pants. You’re complaining that you can’t keep track of the characters… when you apparently haven’t watched the miniseries in which they were all introduced. And you’re complaining that there’s too many characters… a whole dozen. Good criticism complains about the flaws of _the show_. The flaws you are complaining about, are _your_ flaws. BSG fans should not feel ashamed because people who have difficulty keeping track of twelve things start watching the show already in progress and can’t understand what is going on. BSG fans should, instead, mock the people who can’t keep track of twelve things or start watching at the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/53 "2011-04-25T20:37:49Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > This line made me laugh before, this line will make me laugh again. So say we all. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/54 "2011-04-25T20:45:34Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > No. Your criticism is sad pants. You’re complaining that you can’t keep track of the characters… when you apparently haven’t watched the miniseries in which they were all introduced. And you’re complaining that there’s too many characters… a whole dozen. > > Good criticism complains about the flaws of _the show_. The flaws you are complaining about, are _your_ flaws. > > BSG fans should not feel ashamed because people who have difficulty keeping track of twelve things start watching the show already in progress and can’t understand what is going on. BSG fans should, instead, mock the people who can’t keep track of twelve things or start watching at the beginning. I’m going to wet my pants and have a tantrum if I have to keep repeating that I understand the show. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/55 "2011-04-25T20:47:13Z")
> [@Walmarticus](#): > > I’m going to wet my pants and have a tantrum if I have to keep repeating that I understand the show. Pics or it didn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/56 "2011-04-25T20:48:49Z")
What a jerky thread. Hell, I didn’t like BSG, and I legitimately defended my complaints and you know what? people didn’t mock me. Instead, they suggested other shows I might like better. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. Who is making you watch it? Badmouthing the fans and calling them stupid is rude however. Everybody likes different stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/57 "2011-04-25T20:49:22Z")
Why should fans think the show sucks when the real problem is that the OP doesn’t understand the show? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/58 "2011-04-25T20:50:08Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Why should fans think the show sucks when the real problem is that the OP doesn’t understand the show? Yeah, if he’d only listen to us explain it, he’d understand it so much better. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/59 "2011-04-25T20:54:06Z")
I’m not going to say BSG sucks, but I did have a difficult time enjoying the show. Humanity is on the verge of extinction and they spend more time fighting amongst themselves than actually fighting the Cylcon threat. You can argue all you want about how it’s the antithesis of the “hey everything is all right” or “humanity trumps all” type science fiction that’s out there already, but I think they cranked it up to 11 when dialing it back a step or two would have been fine. I’ve even put off watching Season 4.5 exactly because I don’t want to watch when everything totally comes off the rails. Everyone defending this show right now, don’t forget that the final episode was blasted by a lot of people here for what the writers did at the end with the human survivors and the Galactica itself. BSG has nice effects and really good acting in it, but I still found it very frustrating at times. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645/60 "2011-04-25T21:21:21Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Yeah, if he’d only listen to us explain it, he’d understand it so much better. I understand this show so thoroughly that you should be asking _me_ to explain it to _you_. We need more Cafe Society threads talking about things when they suck. They are much more fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battlestar-galactica-sucks/579645.md?page=4)