snarky yet enlightening ‘Battlestar Galactica’ recap

I have an, oh, somewhat related question...

How would one really get into BSG, having not seen any of it yet? I was looking at past seasons and was a bit confused as to my best approach. Is the miniseries necessary, or should I just start with season 1? What's the difference between Seasons 2 and 2.5?

Thankfully, now I have a Tivo again, and can actually catch up on some of these shows that I know I've been missing. :/

Thanks MaryAnn, (or other bloggers)

Great question Will because you absolutely have to "get into" BSG. You should definitely Tivo S4 while you catch up because it is necessary to start from the beginning (even if this little recap is wonderfully fun and funny).

Start with the Mini-series, it sets everything up, introduces you to the characters and lays the foundation for the entire series before you go into the nitty gritty of S1.

As for S2, there was a long break between the first part of S2 and the second part of S2. Such a long wait in fact that the first part of S2 was released on DVD before the second part. It's all S2, just packaged separately so you do have to watch both.

Then it's onto S3 before you can finally watch S4. I know it seems like a lot to do but it's completely worth it. I'd pick a nice empty weekend to do your own personal marathon. Have fun!

Thanks Katie!

Will, there's also a stand alone movie, "Razor," which aired last fall, months after the Season 3 finale. It's basically an untold tale from Season 2. The recent Entertainment Weekly episode guide places it chronologically just before the two-part Season 2 finale. A prophecy at the end of "Razor" alludes to events at the end of Season 3 and will have implications for Season 4, but it's so vague that I wouldn't consider it spoilery at all. If I were watching the whole series over again (or for the first time), I would watch "Razor" amidst Season 2.

Haha, I totally meant to mention 'Razor' and then forgot so you can see how much of an impression it made on me. It's one of those that you can take or leave. I didn't love it and feel that ultimately, it doesn't really progress the story all that much. It doesn't "hurt" the story but it doesn't really "help" either.

You should definitely watch it but you can wait till later. It's not essential to watch it chronologically. At least so far.

I agree with the above. Recently I sat down (before season four started) and watched seasons 2.5 and all of season three in one weekend (I'd watched the miniseries and seasons 1 and 2 already). It was fine to skip Razor, although if you have access to the little webisodes, I would recommend watching them between seasons 2 & 3 because then certain events will have a bit more emotional impact.