BattleStar Galactica:Season 3.0--10/27/06--Arc 4

[Reynard]

That's their actual mantra? Going so far as to specifically define it as such? Then: oops, on their part. They've failed miserably, as BSG is one of the most contrived-feeling shows on television, for me. Not an episode goes by in which I roll my eyes at something they've done, just to force the story into "tension" and "conflict".

In that case, what's the point of coming in and threadcrapping? I mean, you already don't like the show. Let the people that do talk about it.

 

[Arnwyn]

In that case, what's the point of coming in and threadcrapping? I mean, you already don't like the show. Let the people that do talk about it.

Oh. You're one of those.

Hey, I still watch, and there are definitely moments that I very much enjoy (who doesn't like the Galactica dropping right into orbit to launch it's Vipers? Woo! Or Ellen [finally!] getting her comeuppance).

But it's still tremendously contrived. Doesn't mean I automatically dislike the whole show. (Of course, this being ENWorld...)

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

But it's still tremendously contrived. Doesn't mean I automatically dislike the whole show. (Of course, this being the Internet.)

Fixed that for you.

That said - I don't think it is any more contrived than most shows.
I mean - "Murder she Wrote" - she just happens to always stumble into a murder case? Veronica Mars always is in the right place at the right time to stumble into a crime scene?
At least BSG gives a lot of variation, requiring you to look deep enough in the setup to notice something contrived. Personally, I rarely see things as really contrived in BSG, but maybe we just have different perceptions or different "contrivance thresholds".

 

[Arnwyn]

Fixed that for you.

but maybe we just have different perceptions or different "contrivance thresholds".

No doubt about that - I think something like that will be different for everyone. (For example, Mrs. Arnwyn loves BSG and the contrivances don't bother her - while my eyes haved rolled out of my head by the end of the show.)

 

[Volaran]

The odd time I find something contrived or obviously playing to the audience in BSG, I've noticed Ron Moore has mentioned it in his podcast. Sometimes he's not fond of it:

- all of Black Market
- The second time Tigh goes drinking with Colonel Fisk to get information about Admiral Cain's actions

And sometimes he admits it is contrived, but it seemed too awesome not to do. Recent examples include:

- Galactica's intra-atmosphere free-fall
- Pegesus taking out a _second_ basestar with her landing pod after exploding

For more discussion on exactly what you find contrived/unsatisfying about the show, I think we'd need more specific examples to toss around.

 

[Arnwyn]

For more discussion on exactly what you find contrived/unsatisfying about the show, I think we'd need more specific examples to toss around.

Heh. That's okay - I'll stop now. I expressed my opinion, and I don't need to get into a point/counterpoint debate re: specific examples (especially since I know that there are a couple of ENWorlders who are rather... *ahem*... "overzealous" about BSG).

(But the examples you mentioned above [the ones Ron didn't like] are definitely a couple. The "awesome" ones he/you mentioned I'm quite fine with - of course, those are the 'action' ones, so what constitutes "awesome contrivances" is going to differ for each person.)

 

[Volaran]

Fair enough. No need to provoke anyone's overzealous nature, as you say.

 

[Reynard]

Oh. You're one of those.

*dexterously avoids baiting*

But it's still tremendously contrived. Doesn't mean I automatically dislike the whole show. (Of course, this being ENWorld...)

Technically, all television shows are contrived. The thing about BSG, for me, is that there are so very few instances while watching it of me actively realizing it is contrived that it ranks as a good show. I am going to hazzard a guess and say you don't much like TV or anything else with continuing main characters -- because those types of entertainments are *always* contrived because it is the job of the writers not just to tell good stories, but to make sure the continuing important characters are at the center of those stories.

For my money, BSG is one of the best written shows on television today, fanwankery aside.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

All of fiction is contrived, is bound by the fact it has to make sense when life doesn't and every story has been told often. It all comes down to execution. BSG is well executed.

 

[Arnwyn]

Technically, all television shows are contrived. The thing about BSG, for me, is that there are so very few instances while watching it of me actively realizing it is contrived that it ranks as a good show. I am going to hazzard a guess and say you don't much like TV or anything else with continuing main characters -- because those types of entertainments are *always* contrived because it is the job of the writers not just to tell good stories, but to make sure the continuing important characters are at the center of those stories.

Your guess would be completely wrong - serials and shows with continuing main characters are indeed my favorites. I'm a fan of everything from Lost (go figure - though admittedly there are problems there, too), to NCIS, to Heroes, to CSI.

I just find BSG to be poorly executed. There's a good show there, no question, but I find a huge number of contrived 'events' throughout the series that are there just to create a specific conflict/drama and don't feel natural (to me, of course). Here's an example that people asked for: Hera being taken by the cylons was one of the more recent biggies that exasperated me.

The "all fiction is contrived" argument doesn't wash with me. Like I alluded to in my previous post, it's all about where we draw the line.

I probably shouldn't have responded... sorry about going on. Please ignore my gripes!