On May 1, you can watch Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell tear each other apart in space again
The 2004 reboot of the ’70s sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica has some pretty major flaws, mostly in the obvious lack of a narrative plan. Creator Ronald D. Moore later admitted in interviews that he and the writers didn’t have an overall vision for the series, which led to it spinning off the rails. (Polygon included it in our recent list of TV shows that should have called it quits after one terrific season.) But when the series is good, it’s tremendous. The ensemble cast is stellar. The modern re-imagining of the android Cylons from the original series is daring and weird. And the focus on political strife and splintering factions among the remnants of a mostly destroyed humanity will always feel up-to-the-moment relevant. Then there’s the overall aesthetic vibe, particularly the sharp visual design and Bear McCreary’s mournful, memorable score.
The 2004 series was popular enough to last four seasons and launch a series of spin-offs, including a webisode series, a sidebar series (Razor), a prequel series (Caprica), and a very bad direct-to-DVD movie (The Plan). So it was surprising when Battlestar Galactica disappeared from streaming.
But the show will be back on May 1, on the subscription streaming service Paramount Plus and the free ad-supported service Pluto TV. That’ll be a relief for anyone who just wants to rewatch some of the best episodes, like the pilot or the breathless chase-and-fight episode “33.”
Different parts of the franchise will be available on different services. Here’s the rundown from Paramount:
- Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries: The series pilot, essential to watch before diving into the regular run of the show. Available on Paramount Plus and Pluto.
- Battlestar Galactica seasons 1-4: Available on Paramount Plus and Pluto.
- Caprica: Season 1: The prequel, set 50 years before the pilot. On Paramount Plus only.
- Battlestar Galactica: The Plan: An after-the-fact movie focusing on the Cylons that tries to retcon the events of the show into something more coherent. Honestly not worth your time. But available on Paramount Plus and Pluto.
Paramount also promises that as of May 1, you’ll be able to tune into a dedicated Pluto TV Battlestar Galactica channel, “free and always on.” That’s a lot of Galactica, but for those who miss cable TV, 24/7 streaming channels are steadily becoming more popular. You’re better off curating the best episodes for yourself, though. So say we all.
Battlestar Galactica showed fandom a better way
20 years later, the bold vision for the sci-fi ‘requel’ is still the blueprint creators should follow
