Battlestar Conflict

I was overseas when the Battlestar Galactica Miniseries and Season 1.0 first aired. On returning to the U.S., I checked out part of a Season 2.0 episode, wasn't particularly engaged, and left it at that.

On the strength of several recommendations, not the least of which was the fact that the series won both Nebula and Hugo awards for 2005, I got my hands on the miniseries and checked it out.

The Battlestar Galactica Miniseries is like a textbook for creating and maintaining conflict. Every action was both resolving a conflict, and creating fuel for further conflict to come. As a result, dramatic tension never let up for a minute.

Whether the conflict was "galactic" (human vs. Cylon), political (civilian vs. military), ethical (who lives, who dies), interpersonal (Adama vs. Apollo, for example), or internal (Gaius Baltar's journey), there was always a decision to be made and the consequences of either choice were always vital to the viewer and the characters.

That's how you make a great science fiction dramatic presentation! I was inspired to look at my own work, to make sure the forward motion in my writing is always being fed by the flames of conflict.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the series' masters of generating conflict keep up the tension in Season 1.0.