GALACTICA 1980 SERIES(1980)
A very, VERY short lived, sci-fi show about out favorite
Battlestar finally reaching Earth!!
Gone are Dirk Bennedict, Richard Hatch, John Calicos, Maren
Jensen and, well, just about everyone from the original series!
Still here, though some in a diminished capacity, are Lorne
Green & Herbert Jefferson Jr.!
Here instead we have Kent McCord & Barry Van Dyke!
With a couple of known guest stars: Dana Elcar & Brion James!
EPISODES 1: GALACTICA DISCOVERS EARTH(PART 1)(Jan. 27, 1980):
Problems - where do I start?!!
With the two main characters gone(Appolo & Starbuck), this
relies on the two new guys(McCord & Van Dyke) to carry and
make up for them!! Also this relies on a kid("Dr. Zee") taking
charge of the whole fleet!
The story had merit, and most of the actors did their
best, but the script was pretty bad! Not a great start,
and having nearly none of it in space, this was a big
disappointment after the great original series!!
The real problem is that the turned this into a comedy!
And not a good one! Basic story is in the title, the
Galactica makes it to Earth, which is centuries behind
the technology that group is used to.
Several anomoies here: The character of Troy is supposed
to be Boxey from the original series, just 30 years later!
He has aged, as has Adama, but Boomer looks the same!!!
Guest starring here are: Robert Reed, Bryon James!!
Star Trek connection: Richard Lynch(TNG episodes Gambit
Parts 1 & 2), Sharon Acker(TOS episode "The Mark Of
Gideon")! C+
EPISODE 2: GALACTICA DISCOVERS EARTH(PART II)(Feb. 03, 1980):
Continued from the privious episode, the guys all head
back in time(!!!???!!!) to try to expediate the technology
of Earth, but get involved with the Nazis!!! OOOPPPPSS!
Guest Starring: Robert Reed!
Star Trek Connection: Michael Strong(TOS episodes "What
Little Girls Are Mad Of"), Bruce Wright(DS9 episode "Crossfire",
ENT episode "The Expanse"), Erik Holland(TOS episode "Wink
Of An Eye")! C+
EPISODE 3: GALACTICA DISCOVERS EARTH(PART III)(Feb. 10, 1980):
Wrapping up this portion of the story!! C+
EPISODE 4: THE SUPER SCOUTS(PART I)(Mar. 16, 1980):
There's a plan afoot to send all the children back to Earth
while the Galactica draws the Cylons away!
Star Trek connection: Allan Miller(Star Trek III: The Search
For Spock")!) C+
EPISODE 5: THE SUPER SCOUTS(PART II)(Mar. 23, 1980):
The group are now stranded on Earth with no hope of help
from the fleet! And the police are now after them all! And
two of the kids are sick from drinking poluted water! And
the culprit for the poluted water are out after them too!!
Star Trek connection: Allan Miller(Star Trek III: The Search
For Spock")!) C+
EPISODE 6: SPACEBALL(Mar. 30, 1980):
The boys are sent off to a mission and they leave the kids
with Jamie, which was a really bad idea, because the mission
is fake and they get stranded out in space!!
This continues the antics of the new bad guy(Commander Xaviar)
who takes the place of Baltar!!
Guest starring: Jeremy Brett! B
EPISODE 7: THE NIGHT THE CYLONS LANDED(PART I)(Apr. 13, 1980):
Betcha never guess what this one's about!! B
EPISODE 8: THE NIGHT THE CYLONS LANDED(PART II)(Apr. 20, 1980):
Continued from previoous episode!!
Star Trek connection: Marj Dusay(TOS episode "Spock's Brain"),
Arthur Batanides(TOS "That Which Survives"), Ken Lynch(TOS
episode "The Devil In The Dark"), Charles Lucia(VOY episode
"Alliances", TNG episode "Man Of The People", ENT episode
"Fortunate Son"), Willioam Daniels(VOY episode "Critical
Care")! A
EPISODE 9: SPACE CROPPERS(Apr. 27, 1980):
The Cylons attack the fleet, determined to desttroy their
ability to grow food! This forces Adama and crew to rely
on Earth for it's food supply!!!
Guest starring: Dana Elcar!
Star Trek connection: Ned Romero(TOS episode "A Private
Little War", TNG episode "Journey's End"), Booth Colman
(VOY episode "Nemisis"), Kenneth Toby(DS9 episode "Shadowplay")! A
EPISODE 10: THE RETURN OF STARBUCK(May. 04, 1980):
Last episode of the series!!
In an effort to get viewers, the producers asked Dirk to
show up for this last episode!! This episode shows what
happened to Starbuck, why he disappeared, and what he's up
to now!!
Guest starring: Gary Owens! B+
From another reviewer at IMDb.com:
Galactica 1980 may not have had what the original series
had, but it DID bring closure to the series by bringing
them to their final destination. The scenes on Earth
weren't that great, but the segment on whatever happened
to Starbuck was great.
I have great childhood memories of this series. SciFi
channel just started running it again and I'm watching
it more for nostalgia than as any kind of groundbreaking
series. And for that, I guess I'll always love it. - LenPal