The SCI-FI Network recently premiered their new original series Battlestar Galactica, with record numbers for the cable station. After the success of the first five episodes, which have already aired, SCI-FI has optioned a second season to the hit series as well.
Galactica was originally a cult series during the 1970s, then remade into a TV mini-series in 2003 by executive producer Ronald D. Moore (Roswell). Due to the success of that two-part series, SCI-FI decided to go ahead with a 13 episode weekly series.
The story of the show revolves around Cylons - human-made robots who've learned to take on human form - and have just destroyed billions of people. The only survivors from this devastation are a ragtag fleet of ships, which were getting ready to retire and call it quits. Now, these ships and the people they house have been thrust into the position of being the sole opportunity to advance the human race into the future.
Mary McDonnell (Donnie Darko) plays Laura Roslin, a woman suffering from breast cancer, who was the Secretary of Education until she inherited the role of President. "Pres. Roslin is a middle-aged woman who has power thrust upon her," McDonnell said in a phone interview. McDonnell is no stranger to the acting field, garnering two Academy Award nominations for Dances with Wolves and Passion Fish. However, the idea of a weekly character-driven series enticed her. "When you're my age," McDonnell said, "and this type of storytelling is possible, you crave it."
Katee Sackhoff plays Starbuck, a tomboyish fighter pilot with a sordid history. Sackhoff, a 24-year old actress, is extremely happy this series has made it to a second season. "I'm the queen of cancelled TV shows," Sackhoff said about her career, which has included the short-lived series, The Education of Max Bickford. Already a sci-fi fan before receiving the role of Starbuck, Sackhoff says that the reason she was drawn to Battlestar Galactica was because it was so "character-driven...and it's not stereotypically sci-fi."
Tricia Helfer (former Victoria Secret's model) plays Number Six, a Cylon who has taken the form of a sultry blonde female. Helfer echoes Sackhoff's comments about Galactica not being your run-of-the-mill sci-fi series. "I think this was not your typical science fiction," Helfer said, "I didn't want to play just a fantasy chick; I'm much more into realism...it's much more a human piece set in space."
Another central character in the series is Captain Adama played by the accomplished actor Edward James Olmos. McDonnell defines Adama as the exact opposite of her role of Pres. Roslin. "She's anti-military, [an] educator, and no respect for war. It is built into her culturally," McDonnell said. This is in sharp contrast to Capt. Adama who is the military leader of the fleet, and is constantly having to get in predicaments with Pres. Roslin.
One notion that McDonnell, Sackhoff, and Helfer all share is that this sci-fi series speaks for today's society. "It is poignant to today," Helfer said. Sackhoff agrees saying that, "for young people right now the emotions are true and pure. It is relative to what is going on today." Modern issues of the inhumane treatment of prisoners, suicide bombers, and human slavery are all themes within the first season of Battlestar Galactica.
At this point, with a second season guaranteed, the actresses of Battlestar Galactica appear excited to get started exploring their characters even more. Sackhoff sums it up saying, "I want to know what the hell is going to happen."
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