The show has a much different feel compared to the original version of the series; that bothers some people. All I could recommend to them is that different is not automatically bad; sometimes different is simply 'different'.
The BEST way to watch this series is to not even THINK about the original; the current series is SO different from the original that is shouldn't be viewed as a remake but instead more like a parallel universe.
When I heard of the casting for the new series I had doubts the series would fly; Edward James Olmos didn't strike me as an officer on a sci-fi series. Many of the cast members are basically unknowns. The gender change of some characters seemed like a risk more likely to fail than succeed.
After watching the miniseries and the first two seasons, these casting choices aren't a problem to me now; they turned out fine.
Some people consider the original series to be 'cheezy', but I won't do that. My best short description of it would be 'family friendly'. I won't spend lots of time bashing the series because it really doesn't deserve it.
The new series works with the basic template of the original series storyline: huge robot civilization attacks humanity, almost completely destroying it. Surviving humans head into space, fleeing the robots in a search for the mysteries 13th colony ( planet ) of civilization known as Earth.
The moods of the show have a very large contrast: the original show has hope, while the current show is depressed, desperate, with the basic organization of society being tested. The original show had lots of leather for fighter pilots and black sweaters with high collars for officers; the current show has a bit more black, with more of a daunting military feel to it. The original show gave a feel of old ancient Earth civilizations, while the current show has more debate of religion and Gods.
A few character changes exist between the shows: a few characters made appearances in the miniseries and been basically removed ( Boxey disappeared and Jolly died ); there are no cute robot dogs here; some skin color or sex changes have been performed on characters carried over; an acting President of the surviving civilian government was added; Baltar, in the original series a twisted genius who turns on humanity to help the Cylons, is now nervous genius who doesn't quite know what he wants to do, with the added problem of having visions of his evil girlfriend in his head. And of course...there are the Cylons.
The Cylons we know of old still exist, as history. The current metal Cylons are tall, semi-skeletal, and don't talk much; they are much like Jim Cameron's Terminators. There are also a few Cylons who have evolved into human-robot hybrids, some of which don't know they are hybrids; the female hybrids can have babies, creating lots of things to ponder.
The original Cylon society basically followed Baltar's commands, until they got tired of him. The current Cylon society has much debate between the hybrids, since they now have their own religion and God-worship.
Many of the crisis points of the original series are in the current series, but in different order, or with a focus on different events. Examples: in the original series Commander Adama becomes ill, then the Cylons commit an attack where a Cylon raider crashes into the ship causing a fire that threatens to destroy the ship, at the same time Adama is undergoing surgery.
In the current series a fire threatens to destroy the ship, but that's in the miniseries; later Adama becomes 'ill' ( he's a victim of a shooting ), then the Cylons crash into the ship; there is no fire, but the Cylons survive the crash and attempt to commit mayhem.
Comparing this version to the original is like comparing apples to oranges. I hope people remember that BOTH apples and oranges can be enjoyable.
The BEST way to watch this series is to not even THINK about the original; the current series is SO different from the original that is shouldn't be viewed as a remake but instead more like a parallel universe.
When I heard of the casting for the new series I had doubts the series would fly; Edward James Olmos didn't strike me as an officer on a sci-fi series. Many of the cast members are basically unknowns. The gender change of some characters seemed like a risk more likely to fail than succeed.
After watching the miniseries and the first two seasons, these casting choices aren't a problem to me now; they turned out fine.
Some people consider the original series to be 'cheezy', but I won't do that. My best short description of it would be 'family friendly'. I won't spend lots of time bashing the series because it really doesn't deserve it.
The new series works with the basic template of the original series storyline: huge robot civilization attacks humanity, almost completely destroying it. Surviving humans head into space, fleeing the robots in a search for the mysteries 13th colony ( planet ) of civilization known as Earth.
The moods of the show have a very large contrast: the original show has hope, while the current show is depressed, desperate, with the basic organization of society being tested. The original show had lots of leather for fighter pilots and black sweaters with high collars for officers; the current show has a bit more black, with more of a daunting military feel to it. The original show gave a feel of old ancient Earth civilizations, while the current show has more debate of religion and Gods.
A few character changes exist between the shows: a few characters made appearances in the miniseries and been basically removed ( Boxey disappeared and Jolly died ); there are no cute robot dogs here; some skin color or sex changes have been performed on characters carried over; an acting President of the surviving civilian government was added; Baltar, in the original series a twisted genius who turns on humanity to help the Cylons, is now nervous genius who doesn't quite know what he wants to do, with the added problem of having visions of his evil girlfriend in his head. And of course...there are the Cylons.
The Cylons we know of old still exist, as history. The current metal Cylons are tall, semi-skeletal, and don't talk much; they are much like Jim Cameron's Terminators. There are also a few Cylons who have evolved into human-robot hybrids, some of which don't know they are hybrids; the female hybrids can have babies, creating lots of things to ponder.
The original Cylon society basically followed Baltar's commands, until they got tired of him. The current Cylon society has much debate between the hybrids, since they now have their own religion and God-worship.
Many of the crisis points of the original series are in the current series, but in different order, or with a focus on different events. Examples: in the original series Commander Adama becomes ill, then the Cylons commit an attack where a Cylon raider crashes into the ship causing a fire that threatens to destroy the ship, at the same time Adama is undergoing surgery.
In the current series a fire threatens to destroy the ship, but that's in the miniseries; later Adama becomes 'ill' ( he's a victim of a shooting ), then the Cylons crash into the ship; there is no fire, but the Cylons survive the crash and attempt to commit mayhem.
Comparing this version to the original is like comparing apples to oranges. I hope people remember that BOTH apples and oranges can be enjoyable.