AJ Papa’s Blog

This Friday I will lock myself in my home and find that comfortable “ass divot” on my sofa and take in light created from polarized liquid crystals. Actually it’s nothing really special; it’s like any other Friday night. However, this Friday night I’ll be more anxious than usual as, after a very long hiatus, Battlestar Galactica returns to TV for its fourth and final season. Frak yeah.

Though there is something disconcerting to me. It’s not the show’s season premiere or anything of that sort; it’s the ass divot that concerns me. It has created an imbalance in my couch. Nobody — in my circle of friends at least — is willing to let this wonderful show make an impression upon them and equally make a companion ass impression upon my couch. Getting my friends to watch Battlestar Galactica has been one of those impenetrable barriers. I’ve since given up, but I have a few theories as to why my friends show no interest.

First, Battlestar Galactica has a couple things working against it, mainly its name and genre. The mere mention of the title, Battlestar Galactica, and its Sci-Fi genre gives off a certain stigma. I believe my friends in their mind associate Battlestar Galactica with the likes of Star Trek — a show, in retrospect, that seems a little silly and geeky to today’s standards. Maybe it’s because of the word star in its title; I don’t know. I do, however, know and have become familiar with the reaction I get when I invite my friends to watch. They give me this look like I’m asking them to willingly get infected with AIDS.

Battlestar Galactica is NOT Star Trek

Do not fret. You won’t get AIDS. You won’t turn into an anti-social trekkie from watching an episode. Battlestar Galactica is not Star Trek; it’s far from it. In fact, Battlestar Galactica has some of the most intelligent writing and directing I have seen in years. I invite people to find a show that tackles issues and concepts such as: survival, political intrigue, abortion, suicide, monotheism, polytheism. Not to mention, Battlestar Galactica has spaceships that go pew pew and broom!

Second, Battlestar Galactica requires a significant investment, a time and mental investment. Battlestar Galactica is essentially a continuous story; it isn’t procedural in a sense such as shows like Scrubs or My Name Is Earl. The show has a beginning and eventual end. It does require knowing the intricacies of the relationships between the characters and the over arching back story. With my friends increasing limited time, I believe my friends are looking for that quick instant entertainment that doesn’t require a lot of thought — something like watching the Jabbawockeez on Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew.

Regardless of my rant, I am one who is heavily invested in the show, and I can’t wait for Friday to come. Again I invite my friends to watch. Help me bring balance to my couch. Create an ass divot.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 2:39 pm and is filed under Geeky, Rant, Revelation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.