Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Battlestar Galactica: Season Four Blu-ray Movie Review

"All this has happened before. All this will happen again."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 26, 2010

Final seasons are notoriously impossible beasts of burden. Give fans too much and they'll despise your convoluted denouement; give them too little and they'll hate you for it. The X-Files exited with bizarre ambiguity, The Sopranos signed off with a mean-spirited cliff-hanger, and Quantum Leap closed with the shocking revelation that Sam Beckett never found his way home. And don't get me started on Seinfeld's misguided farewell. Creative sinkholes in every sense, final seasons tend to leave viewers disillusioned and disheartened, shocked by the resentment they suddenly feel for a once beloved show. It's for that reason, and that reason alone, that I was absolutely terrified of watching Battlestar Galactica's highly anticipated endgame unfold. Even though each one of series creator Ron Moore's risky season and mid-season finales had proven to be brilliant game-changers, I was worried his critically acclaimed science fiction tour de force would be brought to a vague and underwhelming close. Thankfully, Moore's story ends just as it began: with the strength, certainty and style of an unforgettable television classic.

"This is the end of the line. We’ve got no where else to go. We gotta roll the hard six."

Forgive me for skipping the usual synopsis, but my every attempt to outline the fourth season's sprawling plot spoiled far too many of its best-kept secrets. As it stands, almost every episode either poses a grand question worth answering, every problem presents a solution worth pondering, every revelation unwinds some mystery, and every development deals with the thematic threads Moore has planted from the very beginning. Even a traditional overview of the characters involved in his tragic endgame would undermine the twists and tantalizing resurrections that await fans who have yet to take the plunge. Suffice to say, four mainstays struggle to adjust to the realization that they're Cylons, an old friend returns from the dead only to be greeted by accusations and suspicion, civil war splits the Cylon ranks, a devastating discovery leaves the crew of the Galactica paralyzed, a once-meek crewman mounts a fleet-wide coup, a manipulative politician takes advantage of the situation, death's hand looms every the entire season, unbreakable bonds and lifelong relationships are put to the test, the final human-model Cylon is revealed, an old enemy makes one last attempt to steal the fleet's most precious asset, the humans and Cylons have to come to terms with their future... and the hits just keep on coming. The first third of Season Four is a slowburn stunner; the second third a jarring thriller packed with pulse-pounding action and unnerving suspense; the final third is a tightly wound, incredibly effective tragedy in which every survivor, human and Cylon, faces judgement.

Amidst all the madness, Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos, serving up a phenomenal, career-crystallizing performance) and Colonel Saul Tigh (an equally impressive Michael Hogan) weather an unexpected storm, Apollo (Jamie Bamber) has to choose between his political aspirations and his father's path, Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) has to find answers to her own identity and convince the crew that she knows the way to Earth, President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) fights to maintain control of the fleet and her own cancer-ridden body, and Baltar (James Callis) deals with the consequences of his self-imposed Messianic calling. At the same time, the Final Five have to decide whether they'll ally themselves with the humans or the machines, a baseship is added to the fleet, a group of defecting Cylons have to prove their worth, and many a weary traveler doesn't make it to the series finale. With so many storylines and subplots converging over the course of twenty episodes, the fourth season could have devolved into a convoluted mess. Instead, Moore pulls the reigns of the series even tighter, providing closure where it's needed, gravitas where it's required, and heart-wrenching gut-punches wherever and whenever they're least expected.

For three mesmerizing seasons, Battlestar Galactica has held its audience captive with unrivaled pacing, plotting and performances, and the same can be said of Season Four. Olmos leads a cast anointed by the gods; a Hollywood-caliber ensemble whose deft and effortless embrace of their troubled characters have made the series one of the finest performance-driven dramas in recent memory. Galactica is one of the few television shows that have managed to leave me in an emotional heap by the time the credits roll. The finale alone, I'm unashamed to say, elicited a steady trickle of man-tears that made me feel as weak and vulnerable as Adama's fleet. Whether you credit the gifted men and women in the writers room or simply attribute everything to the cast's collective control over their characters, it's impossible to deny that Olmos and company sink their all into each and every scene. Bit players rise to the occasion (Alessandro Juliani comes out of nowhere to steal episode after episode in Season Four's middle stretch), key actors push well past their previously established limits (Hogan, Callis, Aaron Douglas, Tahmoh Penikett, Michael Trucco, and Tricia Helfer, among many others, are fantastic), and venerable industry veterans deliver the performances of their lives (Olmos and McDonnell will forever be Adama and Roslin to me). I challenge anyone, fan or detractor, to sit through the fourth season of Moore's sci-fi masterpiece and criticize the cast's vitality or commitment to their craft.

And the series' climactic final act? Let's be clear: with so much riding on every minute, Moore couldn't possibly please everyone. Some complained about the finale's use of the supernatural and the divine to answer several looming questions. Me? I think anyone who watched more than two minutes of the show shouldn't have been surprised to see such a fundamental aspect of the series in full force as the story neared its conclusion. Others disapproved of the fates Moore dealt their favorite characters. I thought the writers brought the humans and Cylons full circle, unraveling the disheveled survivors and providing a telling glimpse into their souls; after being adrift in space -- oft-times from their own humanity even -- it was refreshing to see each one reconnect with their individual purpose and calling. Still other critics barked about the last half hour of the finale, accusing it of cheap sleight-of-hand and rampant sentimentality. I seem to recall The Return of the King receiving the same criticism. Personally, having reached the end of four long seasons, and an even longer trek across the universe, I was ecstatic to simply sit with the characters and watch them evaluate their futures. Regardless of their sins, I realized I felt a genuine connection to them all. Even Baltar -- the man inadvertently responsible for the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, the man who weaseled his way to the presidency and a Cylon occupation, the man who declared himself Messiah amongst a band of rabid cultists -- won my affection and sympathies with a single, heartbreaking line.

It's possible the last six years have turned me into a Battlestar apologist, but I was invested in the journey, not my preconceived notions of how it would end. In that regard, Season Four and, more importantly, the series finale fully exceeded my expectations. I developed my own shortlist of nagging nitpicks -- the death of the series' central villain is a tad underwhelming, explanations for Starbuck's visions occasionally fall flat, Anders is mishandled a bit in several episodes, and Sackhoff's delivery of "there must be some kind of way out of here" will never, never sound natural to me -- but, more often than not, I was enthralled by the series' last season. Moore and company have proven themselves to be master storytellers, the cast members have proven themselves to be masterful performers, and Battlestar Galactica, more than any other science fiction television show I've followed to hell and back, has proven itself to be an indelible masterwork I'll revisit again and again for years to come.

Battlestar Galactica: Season Four Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Blu-ray release of Battlestar Galactica accurately preserves the artistic intentions of the creators. The stylized visual elements within certain scenes are intentional and faithful to the broadcast presentation of the television show.

Battlestar Galactica will never be -- nor was it ever meant to be -- a flashy, hyper-polished series ripe for Blu-ray consumption. Executive producer Ron Moore always intended to submerse his vision of Galactica in the grimy, rough fringes of space; to achieve a harmony of atmosphere and photography befitting a series as bleak and desolate as his creation. To that end, Universal's 1080p/VC-1 encoded presentation is worthy of high praise, if for no other reason than it pays tremendous respect to Moore's every intention. Colors are at the mercy of overblown contrast, absorbing shadows, and rampant noise, yet skintones remain relatively natural, primaries remain strong and stable, and blacks remain inky throughout. Likewise, detail soars and plummets with each lighting and scenery change, but nevertheless delivers an unexpectedly consistent experience. While it can be disconcerting at first, anyone who spends the smallest amount of time with Galactica will quickly realize how immersive and affecting Moore's aesthetic choices actually are.

The aforementioned noise is trickier to evaluate. At times, it's an unobtrusive and welcome filmic addition, lingering atop the image without interfering with the integrity of Stephen McNutt's cinematography. At other times, it's brash and unsettling, flooding the picture with detail-sapping grain (scenes involving the Cylon baseships tend to be the most distracting). That being said, Moore's use of noise isn't an issue per se, but it does make digital anomalies more difficult to identify. Look closely and you'll notice that the studio's technical presentation isn't perfection incarnate. Faint artifacting, minor banding, and crush leave their mark on several scenes, and edge enhancement (most noticeably in the last half hour of the series finale) makes its fair share of appearances. All things considered though, I remain quite pleased with the results. I'm confident anyone approaching Battlestar Galactica with realistic expectations will be just as satisfied with the overall presentation.

Battlestar Galactica: Season Four Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Battlestar Galactica: Season Four features a magnificent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that will attack, eviscerate and obliterate your home theater. The ominous rumble of colliding ships, the heavy kick-kack of gunfire, the recurrent bah-dah-dah-dah of composer Bear McCreary's version of "All Along the Watchtower," the thunder of a nuclear blast... each one erupts as powerfully and precisely as any BSG zealot could hope for. LFE output is robust and convincing, dipping deep to come up with some sternum-rattling bass. The shrill sheen of an FTL jump is crisp and clean, the desperate cries of fallen heroes are crystal clear, and the shunk-shunk-shunk of approaching toasters is strong enough to make an audiophile mutter, "fraaaak." Rear speaker activity is just as impressive, filling panicked hallways and shuddering bridges with the same rich ambient atmosphere that graces planetary surfaces and Cylon basestars. Pans are silky smooth, directionality is spot on, and dynamics are appropriately rowdy.

If I have any complaint it's that dialogue, while sharp and intelligible, sometimes sounds a bit too hollow. Lines occasionally sit above the soundscape instead of dwelling within it, leading to a few instances of pinched voices and shallow conversations. Even so, the track's attributes far outweigh such minor (and infrequent) annoyances, leaving little for astute listeners to whine about. Fans will be enraptured by the experience, newcomers will nod their heads in approval, and ardent audiophiles will give this lossless powerhouse their blessing.

Battlestar Galactica: Season Four Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Battlestar Galactica: Season Four arrives with an enormous supplemental package spread across each of its six BD-50 discs. Regardless of how you feel about the series final episodes, twenty-three full-length commentaries, three extended episodes, an extended version of Razor (with 16-minutes of additional material), several hours of behind-the-scenes featurettes and documentaries, two hours of deleted scenes, and multiple U-Control tracks is quite a hefty addition to a 20-episode run of a show. The only thing I would have liked to see tacked on is "The Face of the Enemy," a 10-episode, Gaeta-centric online miniseries that, for all intents and purposes, amounts to an additional episode (one that takes place shortly before the events of "Sometimes a Great Notion"). Unfortunately, the webisodes don't appear on this release or, surprisingly, the Complete Series box set.

• U-Control Features: Each episode (Razor included) offers two interactive fact tracks that can be viewed separately or in tandem -- "The Oracle" and "Battlestar Actual." Once either experience is engaged, simply press "enter" when the U-Control icon flashes to gain access to text-based factoids, glossary definitions, character bios, and photos. The finale episode is unique in that it also includes a feature called "What the Frak Happened to You," an additional U-Control track attached to the Extended version of "Daybreak." It serves up Maximum-Movie-Mode-esque Picture-in-Picture bios, origin details, and glimpses at the ultimate fate of each character in the series. Ultimately, the U-Control experiences don't amount to much, but they're welcome exclusives nonetheless.
• Unaired Extended Episodes and Film: Alongside their broadcast counterparts, you'll find extended versions of "Razor," "A Disquiet Follows My Soul," "Islanded in a Stream of Stars," and "Daybreak." The extended finale will be of particular interest to most fans as it fleshes out many a climax and backstory, giving Battlestar's swan song more room to breathe.
• Audio Commentaries: Candid, amiable, and quick to criticize his own work, showrunner Ron Moore uses his commentaries to pull back the proverbial curtain on every aspect of his critically acclaimed series. From casting to storytelling, visual to practical effects, behind-the-scenes anecdotes to boardroom revelations, he leaves no stone unturned, offering honest, insightful glimpses into how the series came to be, decisions that were made along the way and, inevitably, the series' emotional finale. His commentaries come in two flavors: home video and podcast. Both offer similar experiences, but the podcast commentaries tend to be a bit more informal, oftentimes recorded at Moore's house. Regardless of which you queue up though, his discussions are informative, entertaining and, above all else, exactly what a BSG junkie would want from a commentary.
  
  Moore unravels "Faith" (with supervising producers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle), "Guess What's Coming to Dinner" (with writer Michael Angeli), "Sine Qua Non" (with writer Michael Taylor), "Razor" (also with Taylor), and the extended versions of a "A Disquiet Follows My Soul," and "Daybreak" (with director Michael Rymer and fellow executive producer David Eick) in an official capacity, and delivers podcast commentaries for "He That Believeth in Me," "Six of One," "The Ties That Bind," "Escape Velocity," "The Road Less Traveled," "The Hub," "Revelations," "Sometimes a Great Notion," the broadcast version of "A Disquiet Follows My Soul," "The Oath," "Blood on the Scales," "No Exit," "Deadlock," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Islanded in a Stream of Stars," "Daybreak Part 1," and "Daybreak Parts 2 & 3." As an added bonus, series star and sometimes director Edward James Olmos offers an equally engaging solo track for "Islanded in a Stream of Stars." In all, there are thirteen commentaries to plow through and there isn't a dud in the bunch.
• David Eick's Video Blogs (SD, 85 minutes): Executive producer David Eick tackles his cast and crew with a camcorder, nabbing a variety of entertaining tidbits, details about the production, and memorable anecdotes. Above all, he captures the sense of community and family thriving on set. Chapters include "Love in Space," "Why Hath David Forsaken Us," "So This Is It," "What Next, What Now," "Digital Pressure," "Space Cowboys," "Lucy's Breakdown," "Are You Frakkin' Kidding Me," "I'm a Frakkin' Cylon," "Last Call," "No Retreat, No Surrender," "The Hatch," "The Fifth is Among Us," "Action Please," "Hanging in the Background," "Some Guy Named Colin, Part II," "A Cylon 'Til the End," "Inserts, Action & FX" "Documenting Battlestar Galactica," "Life on a Cylon Battleship," and "Favorite Battlestar Galactica Moments."
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 132 minutes): Deleted scenes are available for "He That Believeth in Me," "Six of One," "The Ties That Bind," "Escape Velocity," "The Road Less Traveled," "Faith," "Guess What's Coming to Dinner," "Sine Qua Non," "The Hub," "Revelations," "Razor," "Sometimes a Great Notion," "The Oath," "Blood on the Scales," "No Exit," "Deadlock," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and "Daybreak." Some are redundant connecting shots, some offer juicy character beats, but all of them are worth watching. Just be forewarned, fugly standard definition video and unfinished FX shots abound.
• The Journey (SD, 21 minutes): This hefty documentary traces the course of the characters, the stories, the performances, and the many arcs that develop as the series barrels toward its conclusion. Dozens of cast and crew interviews provide insights into the nuances and subtleties of the actors' efforts and their choices.
• The Cylons: The Twelve (SD, 16 minutes): An intriguing analysis of the Cylons, their motivations, and their evolving beliefs. The actors and writers are on hand to dissect the skin-jobs and chat about the conflicts that arise in Season Four.
• The Journey Ends: The Arrival (HD, 13 minutes): A thorough, rather somber reflection on the series coming to a close. Key members of the cast and crew struggle to hold back tears, discuss its impact on their careers and personal lives, and explain how the finale came together and the mythos came to a close.
• The Look of Battlestar Galactica (SD, 8 minutes): Ron Moore helms a solid overview of the series' production design, sets, ships, environments, and costumes, as well as the reasoning behind his decisions.
• My Favorite Episode So Far (SD, 11 minutes): Key members of the cast and crew weigh in on their favorite episodes of the series.
• Minisodes (SD, 20 minutes): An multi-part, online miniseries that expands a major plot thread in Razor. I won't spoil the goods (or the identity of the main character), but I will say I would love to see a spin-off series with its characters, themes, and storylines. Good stuff.
• Evolution of a Cue (SD, 23 minutes): Composer Bear McCreary takes you behind the scenes to learn about the creation of a single musical cue, from its inception in McCreary's mind to its orchestral recording and post-production mixing. Incredibly extensive, informative, and revealing, this is one of the finer musical score documentaries I've had the pleasure to review.
• A Look Back (HD, 37 minutes): An oft-times amusing overview of the series and its development, as well as its casting, storylines, creators and producers, production design, characters, plot twists, cliffhangers, and basically every other aspect of the show anyone with an inkling of adoration will soak up from beginning to end. The documentary is divided into six segments, available individually or in one massive chunk. Chapters include "So Say We All," "Manifesto Destiny," "Battle-Style Galactica," "Martyr to a Cause," "The Sins of the Forgiven," and "Battlestar Revelations."
• The Musicians of Daybreak (SD, 31 minutes): Bear McCreary is on hand again to lead this sprawling documentary about the music, instruments, themes and, most importantly, the individual musicians and percussionists who brought each episode of Battlestar Galactica to life.
• What the Frak is Going on with Battlestar Galactica (SD, 8 minutes): An absolutely hilarious recap of the entire series with a dry, critically precise narrator who's more than willing to poke fun at the beloved show. Even if you're not planning on digging through any of the set's special features, be sure to sit down with a bag of popcorn and enjoy this brilliant short.
• The Music of Battlestar Galactica (SD, 23 minutes): Composer Bear McCreary hosts a tour of the production of the series' score. Unfortunately, it's a tongue-in-cheek gag that runs on for far too long. There are nuggets of truth here and there, but the forced humor overshadows a lot of it. My advice? Check out to the fantastic music documentaries on Discs 4 and 6 and skip this lame stunt.
• Season 4 Sneak Peek and Trailer (SD, 3 minutes): Two quick glimpses at the series' fourth season.
• Caprica Sneak Peek (SD, 2 minutes): A television promo for the recently canceled Caprica series.
• The Untold Story Untold (SD, 2 minutes): A preview of the second half of Season Four.
• And They Have a Plan (HD, 5 minutes): A quick promo for the The Plan.
• My Scenes Bookmarking

Battlestar Galactica: Season Four Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Plugging along season by season? This release is for you. Looking for the most affordable, complete path to Battlestar happiness? Use the holiday money you accumulated to plunk down for the Complete Series box set. Either way, Season Four ends as wonderfully as it began, and Universal's final standalone BSG release looks and sounds every bit as good as previous seasons (with well over twenty-four hours of special features to boot). What more are you waiting for? Television's greatest sci-fi epic isn't getting any younger...