Battlestar Galactica

Season 4 of Battlestar Galactica is finally set to kick off on Friday, April 4 at 10pm.  By that time it'll have been more than a year since the season 3 finale, and over five months since the premiere of the "Razor" TV movie.  With that kind of a wait, even the most dedicated fans of the sci-fi drama may have trouble remembering where we last left the Battlestar Galactica crew.  Thankfully the Sci Fi Channel has taken this into account, and is planning to give fans a refresher in all things BSG with a pair of half-hour specials set to air in March.

The two specials are entitled "Battlestar Galactica: Revisited" and "Battlestar Galactica: The Phenomenon."  The first will give a helpful recap of the first three seasons of the series, as well as "Razor," while the second special will take a look at the positive response that fans and critics have had to the show.  "Revisited" and "The Phenomenon" will air back to back on Friday, March 28 at 10pm.

I think it's a great idea for the Sci Fi Channel to air these specials.  Because the season 3 DVDs won't be in stores until March 25, most fans won't have time to rewatch every single episode before the new season premieres.  A half-hour recap special will act as a handy primer for the beginning of season 4.  I also like the idea of a special dedicated to the Battlestar Galactica phenomenon, if only because I never tire of hearing critics applaud one of the best shows on television.

Though nothing has been confirmed, the fact that these specials are airing on a Friday at 10pm makes it appear as though this is BSG's new permanent time slot.  This definitely isn't my favorite scheduling move, but I'd gladly devour new episodes even if they aired on Sunday mornings at 3am.

- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of the Sci Fi Channel)