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| Battlestar Galactica - Season Three | 
 enlarge | Studio: Sci-Fi Channel, The
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.98
Buy New: $34.51
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Avg. Customer Rating:  178 reviews
Sales Rank: 424
Format: Ac-3, Box Set, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Number Of Items: 6
Running Time: 953
Discs: 6
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.3 x 1.8
MPN: 61101285
UPC: 025195010726
EAN: 0025195010726
ASIN: B00129W6LE
Theatrical Release Date: January 14, 2005
Release Date: March 18, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
The third season of Battlestar Galactica got off to a rip-roaring start on New Caprica, where the settlers had found themselves under Cylon occupation at the end of the previous season. Dr. Baltar (James Callis) had been elected President based on his intention to stop looking for Earth and settle on New Caprica, but is now a puppet of the Cylons, forced to sign execution orders for numerous humans, including former President Roslin (Mary McDonnell). A resistance movement is building, however, led by Col. Tigh (Michael Hogan), and assisted by Chief Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) and Samuel Anders (Michael Trucco). Tigh's desperate tactics--including suicide bombers--raise interesting parallels to the U.S. war in Iraq, and he finds he has to make an even tougher choice. Thanks to Admiral Adama's (Edwards James Olmos) return and the unexpected help of Boomer (Grace Park), the colonists escape, then begin a series of trials in order to convict all of the Cylon collaborators, culminating in the explosive trial of Baltar himself. In a boxing-metaphor episode, Apollo (Jamie Bamber) and Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) resume their mutual attraction with a surprising outcome. After the exciting beginning, Battlestar Galactica sagged a little in the middle of the third season (as it did in the second season) with its ship-bound episodes, but caught speed again at the end. The quest to find Earth, the unexpected loss of a major character, and the revealing of four of the final five Cylons kept viewers coming back to a series that blends action, drama, and universal questions of loyalty, faith, and justice in a way that transcends the science-fiction setting. With Dean Stockwell, Lucy Lawless, and Tricia Helfer as Cylons 1, 3, and 6, Mark Sheppard as defense attorney Romo Lampkin, Alessandro Juliani as Lt. Gaeta, Kandyse McClure as Petty Officer "Dee" Dualla, Nicki Clyne as Crewman Specialist Cally, Kate Vernon as Ellen Tigh, and Rekha Sharma as presidential aide Tory Foster. Every episode on the DVD set has executive producer Ronald Moore's podcast commentaries (occasionally joined by others) and almost every episode has deleted scenes, including a different (and less effective) version of the season's final surprise. Also included are bonus commentaries, the Resistance webisodes (10 episodes, 26 minutes total) that provide more of life on occupied New Caprica, executive producer David Eicks' "video blog" featurettes, and an extended version of "Unfinished Business" (mostly adding non-Starbuck-Apollo material). --David Horiuchi
Product Description
The adventure of one of television's finest dramas continues with the complete third season of the Peabody Award-winning Battlestar Galactica. The Colonies' survivors have found their hopes of eluding their Cylon pursuers dashed by an invasion and occupation of their new home. As the fate of all human life hangs in the balance friends become enemies enemies become unexpected allies and decisions are made that will haunt some people for the rest of their lives. Relive all 20 episodes of the season that challenges everything you thought you knew about the Battlestar Galactica universe. Presented in Dolby 5.1 surround sound the 6-disc set features over 15 hours of extensive special features including the DVD exclusive version of the episode "Unfinished Business" containing 25 additional minutes of never-before-seen footage. You won't want to miss a minute of the series considered "one of the best dramas on TV" (Time Magazine).System Requirements:Running Time: 953 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 025195010726 Manufacturer No: 61101285
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| Customer Reviews: Read 173 more reviews...
 A great show proves its greatness, and then loses its footing January 11, 2008
157 out of 227 found this review helpful
Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica took over a bit after the second season finale, which found most of our heroes stranded on the dismal planet of New Caprica, under Cylon oppression, and with the odds tilted heavily against them in terms of being able to mount an effective resistance. The series's third season starts out with four episodes that must rank among the very best of the series, which detail the covert resistance against the Cylon occupation. It's four hours of television full of modern-day resonance, as we see the "good guys" grappling with the ethics of suicide bombings, and the "bad guys" are somewhat sympathetic as they sit in their councils and wonder why the humans aren't taking advantage of the great new order they have been promised. The lines are blurred, to some extent, and the fact that this does not come off as political agitprop (from the left or right) is a testament to series god Ronald D. Moore, whose conviction and attention to detail in setting up the political and personal implications of occupation is plausible and impressive. Characters are continually making sacrifices for what they think is right, regardless of what side of the conflict they take, and we see real courage all around. It is, in sum, a truly satisfying four hours of television. And the episode that follows immediately afterward, which involves secret trials for collaborators, is another masterpiece, especially in how it looks at Starbuck's feelings about her role (or lack of one) in the resistance, and it reminds us just how closely the personal and political can be entangled.
So, for the first quarter of the season, this show put out some great television. It's a pity that it couldn't keep up the pace. Instead, it seemed like as soon as our heroes found their way back aboard Galactica the show immediately lost any forward motion, preferring variations of stock stories like the infamous "people trapped in the mine" episode (A Day In The Life). At times, it doesn't feel like the arc of the series is being advanced at all--the episode with the evil, racist doctor is one such episode (The Woman King). And the show's focus gets broader to encompass the travails of the fleet's working class (Idle Hands) in an episode that feels like a lack of focus. Hell, that could be the entire season summed up in a nutshell--after a terrifically focused opening salvo and before the pretty good three-part finale, it seemed as the show had lost any sense of forward momentum. It frequently felt like the show was just going from week to week, and that the episodes could really be viewed in any order--this is not entirely true, as the story arcs were frequently advanced in minor ways in these episodes, but for a show that has all been about the big picture and all about the arcs from day one it is incredibly frustrated to have to watch all these intrinsically trite and uninteresting storylines, presumably intended to add more "depth" to the series, but that I suspect were included to entice more viewers to tune in. The gambit failed, and perhaps they'll be gone in the next (and final) season. Nevertheless, it is enough to make one doubt the show's trajectory as it concludes.
This is not to say that the season was a wasteland between the beginning and ending episodes--I felt that the Kat episode "Maelstrom" was actually quite good and appropriate, and the midseason two-parter in which the humans and Cylons square off over a planet that might just hold the key to the location of Earth certainly held my attention. But these were rare exceptions, countered with heavy doses of episodes like "Hero" that were impossible to care about even at the time one is watching them. Let's hope that the show is able to rediscover in its final season that ambition and vision that made the show such a hit in the first place.
 Battlestar is the greatest show, but this was its weakest season February 5, 2008
70 out of 85 found this review helpful
Battlestar Galactica's new incarnation is superb entertainment. The first two seasons were the best show on television, SciFi or otherwise. Huge themes, such as an apocalyptic vision of the end of the world born of the robot servant's revolt (the Cylons); or a theory of human genesis that posits sister worlds, is interwoven with minute intimate personal detail of fascinating charaters. Characters are explored - their pasts delved into to reveal their evolving natures. These individual threads are picked up and engage the main threads and build towards exciting conclusion after exciting conclusion. The central plot - humanity's struggle against the robot Cylons is nuanced as well. There are moments of savagery on the part of the humans, and moments of odd tenderness, vulnerability, and spirituality on the part of the Cylons. Like life, there is little black or white. Hated characters become humanized, then loved. Characters evolve and change. They are scarred by their experiences (physically and psychically) - and are never again the same. This all increases the sense of reality and our (the viewer's) sense of involvement. Many of the plots echo current events - New Caprica looks like Iraq, for example. The writing, on the whole, is exemplary.
Battlestar's staging succeeds as well. The special effects advance the state of the art for television. As others have noted, technology does not dominate. In fact, many key technologies are familiar - or even retro: they use telephone handsets with intermittent audio problems; guns shoot bullets; space fighters look like 1960s jet fighters; "Dradus" looks like contemporary radar; books are on paper (albeit with a trapezoid shape); their computers are not networked by design. Like the rest of the writing, even these small details are explained and woven into the plot - the anti technology slant is a reaction to the Cylon's revolt. This allows the plotting and writing to remain in the fore - transcending the SciFi genre. I didn't even mention the subtle and addictive language "Galactica speak" that you will soon be talking (if you don't already). This is some 'frackin' good stuff indeed.
Season 3 starts where season 2 left us - with the Cylons occupying the human settlement on New Caprica and oppressing the humans. The humans react with armed resistance and acts of insurrection including a suicide bombing. This depiction of armed insurrection as a basic human response to oppression is bold, and extremely brave considering the political environment at the time those episodes were written and filmed. These early episodes in Season 3 are controversial, thus, and as hard to watch emotionally as anything in the series. To folks who feel that this means the writers of this show have joined Al Qaeda, I'd refer them to read history, including the history of the American Revolutionary War. Americans have behaved this way before (not that the humans of Battlestar Galactica's world are Americans, of course, but they represent us - unavoidably. The 1984 film "Red Dawn" is all about American citizens engaging in insurrection to fight the Russians for example). The resolution of the New Caprica crisis involves a space battle that contains the most thrilling special effects sequence I have ever seen on the small screen. The finale is also extraordinary - involving a mind blowing confluence of events impossible to even remotely characterize without spoilers but involving brilliant plotting, emotional power, and fantastic special effects too.
So why not 5 stars? Season 3 has a tough time exceeding the high bar set by the first two seasons. Other than the New Caprica beginning and that crackling ending, the focus on Gallactica and the Colonial Fleet becomes absolute for much of the remainder of the season and the show loses sight of the Cylons. This is a shame. The battles with the Cylons - both physical and psychological, are the wellspring of the show's crackling tension. Without the Cylons in view, the show sags. We have an airlock crisis, a whole show about Admiral Adama's memories of his troubled marriage, a long show trial of Gaius Baltar - that while dealing with great issues and having great moments lacks the life or death slam of events in the first two seasons. Season 3 is more cerebral, and less action packed than the first two. Is it still worth watching? There are many great moments even in the slower episodes. If you've come this far you've probably fallen in love with the characters and will not mind some psychological background story. Plus, you're crazy if you don't watch the first two seasons and if you do you'll absolutely need to wait on tenterhooks for season 4 with the rest of us - and you'll need to have watched season 3 for continuity alone. Make no mistake, season 3 is still great television - just not quite up to the heart pounding level of the first two seasons, that's all. The finale to season 3 is incredible, and will leave you panting for more. So say we all!
 Every season gets better and better January 8, 2008
69 out of 92 found this review helpful
Some of the best writing in TV is in Battlestar Galactica. As well as some of the best acting.
All seasons have been great, but this one is particularly excellent - the characters and the people are truly struggling and striving to survive. Not a season of space battles, like the previous ones, but a season of introspection and character development. As well as a fair number of plot twists and "Whoa! I didn't see that coming!" moments.
I am constantly amazed at the depth of the writing in this series. It is filled with creative and complicated plot lines; many plot twists; and terse writing that is so efficient, that I often have to rewind and listen to a part of a scene again to get all the words. This series has the least amount of exposition of any show I remember seeing. It can make following what's happening difficult, but it makes for far more exciting and interesting story telling.
If you are new to Battlestar Galactica, I suggest that you start with the movie and then work your way through the seasons. The episodes don't exist very well on their own, since they are all intertwined in one grand narrative that one needs to watch from the beginning.
I think this series is brilliant. And not just as a science fiction fan, but also as a fan of writing and story telling in general. Technically, Battlestar Galactica is excellent. The story line is also compelling, watching a small group of human beings trying to find their way back to their ancestral planet of earth while they deal with issues of religion, mythology, lost and altered history, and fight their own mechanical creations which are more fundamentalistically religious than the human who created them.
Great stuff!
Great show, decent season... January 11, 2008
28 out of 36 found this review helpful
I will say that Battlestar Galactica is the best sci-fi series currently on TV. However, this most recent season feels much more defined by its bookends. Battlestar's third season started off with a bang, logically taking up the overarching plot from the end of the second season, and wrapping it up with four strong episodes. However, the season takes a nosedive from there.
While the episodes that follow fluctuate from entertaining and meaningful to mediocre and pointless, all of them share some common weaknesses. All of them are standalone episodes. Standalone episodes are only good if they are qualitative enough to justify a character study, small story, etc. or if they still contain small bits of the C-plot of where the series is going story-wise. However, due to Battlestar's very strange oil and water relationship between its standalone and overarching stories, the latter strategy is never implemented. What we get is a plethora of disjointed episodes that provide flash in the pan moments of exquisite acting and writing, but barely seem to make sense in the big picture, a balance which the previous two seasons were able to meet at higher degrees.
Throughout most of the season, you're waiting for something to happen. You're waiting for them to find a marker to Earth...you're waiting for more details into the final fates of certain characters. When those payoffs are hindered, even by relatively astounding standalone episodes, you're going to feel a bit cheated and a bit impatient. I would definitely say that Battlestar's third season is a "bookend season," where the first four and the last two episodes are really all that truly mattered to the premise and plot of the series itself. With some amazing episodes, this season's rating is only hurt by its poor layout and meager story offerings.
Frackin' amazing television! January 8, 2008
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
I continue to be amazed at how much I love "Battlestar Galactica." I usually don't enjoy science fiction, but this show is unlike any other sci-fi series I've seen before. In fact, "BSG" just may be my favorite television show of all time, which says a lot!
Season Three of "BSG" picks up right where Season Two left off. The majority of people have been living on New Caprica for more than a year and are trying to build new lives for themselves. Unfortunately, the cylons eventually managed to track the humans down. After invading New Caprica, the cylons convinced President Gaius Baltar to cooperate with them. Now people live in constant fear of the cylon occupation. Resistance leaders including Chief Tyrol and Colonel Tigh continue to fight the cylons and attempt to come up with an escape plan, which is a very hard thing to do since both Adamas and their respective ships jumped away from New Caprica as soon as the cylons invaded. Obviously, the Adamas and their small crew can't just abandon the rest of humanity, and an elaborate rescue attempt is planned.
I don't want to reveal too many details about the season and spoil things for people who may not have seen it yet. However, there's a lot that goes on in Season Three, especially where Tyrol, Tigh, Tory, Anders, and Starbuck are concerned. If you thought the Season Two finale was shocking, just wait until you see what happens at the end of Season Three!
There are a few small issues I have with this season. First of all, I think there are too many "one-shot episodes" that don't really seem to advance the main plot of the show at all. Having a few episodes like that is fine, but I think there were an abundance of them this time around. Also, I'm not sure how I feel about the way certain music served as a major revelation during the season finale. Hopefully Season Four will do a good job of explaining things.
Overall, though, this was a great season. I'm very sad that there's only one more season left, but I can't wait for it to start up again in March.
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