Felon said:
...but that little bit of magic that breathes life into the golem just isn't there.
It's hard to argue 'magic', not that I was looking for an argument.
There are no really compelling characters, plots, or ideas.
I dig the conflicted, God-feraing robots. They make nice metahpors. And the fallible humans; they make nice metaphors, too.
Everyone plays their archetype straight-faced
The show has some archetypes I wasn't familiar with, like schoolteacher turned president turned moderately ruthless prophetess
Even the characters that are closer to stock end up being used differently. For instance, I love the XO, Saul Tigh. Mainly because the writers have shown no interest in either redeeming or punishing him for his weaknesses (he'd be in AA after two episodes if he were in the Federation). On BSG, he is what he is, a drunk with a certain level of competence and an inability to command. I'd say that's far from SF archetype of the 'competent man'.
...and there's lots of slow-motion and swells in the background music during the high-drama moments...
There is that. SF and melodrama, perfect together...
..but to me that's all formulaic.
In what way do you find the show's formulaic? It
starts with a standard SF action formula, but that goes off the rails almost immediately. The writers introduce an awful lot of ambiguity into what could have been a straight-up story of 'humanity triumphing against overwhelming odds'.
It lacks any sparkle, any wryness or wit.
It sure as hell isn't funny. But I think there's wit. Take Baltar, the character is a walking commentary on the traditional SF obsessions; science, God, and improbably sexy ladies. He also functions like a romanticized stand-in for the average audience member; SF fandom incarnate. But, unlike say Crighton from Farscape, a character built along similair lines (with all his geek/pop-culture references), he's played as a fool and traitor.
It may not be Joss Whedon witty, but its still a kind of wit.
Not even Sharon
shooting Adama, or Lee pulling the gun on Tigh? I can't think of many other SF shows that introduced, and then proceded to work through, that level of inter-protagonist conflict.
However, I did miss last season, so if it's improved, I'll be glad.
It
changed, that's about all I can say.
