Reviewed by: Samuel K. Sloan (FarPoint Media Executive News Director)
It’s been so long since I’ve watched a fresh episode of “Battlestar Galactica” that I’ve gotten a bit lazy and forgot what great programming this show is.
I finished watching the special 2-hr movie “Battlestar Galactica: Razor” last night, and I only have three words to adequately describe it — “Oh My God!”
Once again Ronald D. Moore, Michael Taylor and David Eick have shown us what great sci-fi is all about — action, characters, great acting, flawless CGI/SFX and superb writing. Did I mention the writing? Let me do that again — SUPERB WRITING!
If the networks and studios need a reason to give into the demands of the writers of the Writers Guild of America and end this strike, then “Razor” is proof positive that the guys and ladies deserve whatever it is they want.
For the past month, the SCI FI Channel has been teasing fans of the series with short 2 min “Razor Flashbacks” designed to set the stage for the 2-hr movie that aired last night. We all thought the flashbacks were awesome, but they paled compared to the epic adventure fans were able to view last night. It was all there. The Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes) back story, why she turned into this ruthless hard-ass willing to do whatever and kill whoever in order to get the job done, is beautifully laid bare. We got to see the early command of Lee Adama (Jaime Bamber) as C.O. of the Pegasus Battlestar, after the assassination of Cain from last year’s record breaking episode. We also found out the real reason why the Cylon Six look-a-like, Gina, played by Tricia Helfer, killed her…and, without giving anything away for those who have yet to see “Razor”…the reasons are nothing like you might imagine. Let’s just say it had absolutely nothing to do with the Cylon-Colonial Fleet war. Fans were also introduced to the hard-as-nails – Starbuck competition, character Kendra Shaw, wonderfully and intensely portrayed by actress Sthepanie Jacobsen. Much of the show dealt with the dynamic between Shaw and Cain, and how that shaped the mission.
The special effects for this 2-hr feature were nothing short of genius, which really puts the onus on the producers to make the final season really excel.
Fans are given some inside dope about Starbuck and what may lie ahead for the fleet and those nasty Cylons hot on their trail.
I would love to tell more, but this is one you have got to see for yourself. If you don’t catch it in reruns, then I highly recommend purchasing the complete DVD of “Battlestar Galactica: Razor” which becomes available on store shelves December 4, 2007. The DVD will have the full, unrated, uncut version of the film, extra features and more. It will be a must and I will be one of the first in line.
On my Uncle Sam scale of 0 to 5 stars….I give “Battlestar Galactica: Razor” 
This was an awesome show!
Wasn’t it? I caved and watched the DVD screener that leaked 3 weeks ago. But I saw it again live last night and it just kicked ass. Definitely getting the uncut DVD of this.
yeah it was very awesome.
Also hacked me off to see ‘march 2008’ instead of ‘january 2008’ there when it continues, and just reminded me why I”m pissed at them for taking so long to bring the show back.
Michael Taylor wrote one of my favorite DS9 episodes, “The Visitor” In both stories, he holds up a mirror on the characters and shows us what could have been. Seeing how close Adama and Cain are and could be was nicely done. The scene at the end where Adama admits that without Roslin and Lee around to be his conscience was superb.
Anyone know if Sci-Fi is going to air repeats of this?
I can’t find it anywhere on their website.
I set my VCR to tape it because I had to go out, but…oh, never mind. It’s too embarrassing to explain. 🙁
Damn.
Tallgrrrl – it’s coming out on DVD Dec.4.
thanks for the review, Sam. I really was going to skip it because I wasn’t interested in looking back so much but from your review it sounds like it’s worth seeing. I’d be happy to be wrong and enjoy it.
Thanks for the review Sam.
I bought the season 3 DVD last week (hasn’t been screened on local channels yet and the DVD just came out in Australia), and I am more than half-way through already…. I need more BSG!
Btw, I wasn’t expecting much from season 3 due to the comments of _some_ people on the SoSF team, but there have been some great episodes in season 3. And even an average episode of BSG is better than most TV out there 😉
I haven’t been able to stop myself from burning through watching the DVDs quicker than I intended 😉
You LIKED it? Wow… I found it deplorable. Anyone who isn’t eating and breathing BG would never understand this mis-mash of back and forth in time. The writers never provided us enough of a moment to connect with what was happening let alone understand it contextually. I thought it was a huge disappointment and poorly contrived.
I agree with Sym.
I ‘liked’ it, but to say it was SUPERB and five stars was a stretch.
They told a story that needed three hours in two, and simply milked Cain and the Pegasus, there was no real reason for them to be in the story. It was simply filler, not bad filler, but filler none the same.
It becomes apparant they did this to whet the palate until March.
Really only made me more angry then I already was
When is season 3 coming out in Canada? BTW I live near Vancouver where the series is produced!
I should say, when is season 3 coming out on DVD in Canada… sorry for the double post!
Razor gives the fans enough of the old school BSG, talking about fate, destiny and the Jihad between the Cylons and the humans, while still bringing in a new story of Kendra Shaw.
You can listen to the live Pop-Culture Radio show about BSG Razor.
Discussing how War Terrorism and Pop-culture converge from the Islamic view.
http://www.hotconflict.com/blog/2007/11/battlestar-gala.html
Battlestar Galactica: Razor will be blasting onto DVD on the 26th December 2007 (in the U.K.) unravelling the long awaited truth behind the saga.
Serving as a prelude to the release of season 4, Razor takes us back in time to tell the epic story of the doomed ‘Battlestar Pegasus’ and the desperate survivors of that ship.
Check out http://www.razorchallenge.co.uk for more about the DVD, exclusive clips, images and challenges or visit the official site http://www.battlestargalacticarazor.co.uk
I watched basically every episode from iTunes, so I get to see them all again in HD on my computer, Razor is definitely one I will watch more than a second time 🙂
Eric