Another Species

[Archaeis]

So this show is all about humans versus the machine race that they created. They've been to who knows how many parts of space, and had FTL for several thousand years. It is obvious that "life" can exist on other planets besides the colonies and Kobol, since we have seen it on New Caprica and algae planet, but in all the time and places they have been, they have never found another intellegent species.

Is there a significance to this? Would there be room in the universe for another alien race, or just humans?

Keep in mind that the original series had other species who built the robotic cylons. Maybe it could be a plot twist later in this last season?

I highly doubt it though.

[Pharaoh Atem]

i don't want to see a stargate unendign type situation where galactica meets someone and then gets cool tech to help them

but a resupply for food,water would be ok

[Oka]

There will never be aliens on BSG.

[DigiFluid]

I seem to remember, ages ago, EJO saying that 'the day someone walks onto the set with a rubber mask, is the day I walk off the set'. I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment; that's not what this show is about.

[BumpOnnaHalfApple]

"So this show is all about humans versus the machine race that they created."

Pretty much, yeah.

"Is there a significance to this?"

From the viewpoint of tone and style I think there might be.

This series has a much darker tone to it. It's takes place in a universe that's portrayed as a lot more bleak and inhospitable. Instead of taking place in a galaxy brimming over with "new life and new civilizations", it takes place in a universe where even marginally habitable planets, let alone habitable planets with intelligent species, are exceptionally rare (outside of the 12 home worlds they started out on, only 3 habitable planets have been found throughout the R.T.F.'s entire journey so far, Kobol, New Caprica, and the "algae planet").

Stylistically, it could also be that they wanted to avoid "alien of the week" syndrome. Although it can be fun to run into a new "species" every week, running into so many "species" carries with it the down side that you don't get to know as much about any one of them.

In just four seasons we've learned nearly as much about the cylons, and the twelve colonies, as Star Trek fans learned about the Klingons during decades of broadcasts.

Lastly, this show is much more about individual characters than most SF series. Just last night I watched the mini-series that started this show just after watching the season 4 premiere, and the depth of changes the characters have gone through is simply stunning. That's particularly true of Gaius Baltar.

"Would there be room in the universe for another alien race, or just humans? Keep in mind that the original series had other species who built the robotic cylons. Maybe it could be a plot twist later in this last season? I highly doubt it though."

I'd say your doubts are very well founded. I'm not sure I'd view it as a question of whether or not there's "room" for them, so much as a question of not getting off on tangents that don't have much to do with the core story being told. Like you said, this is a story about "...humans versus the machine race that they created", not a story about humans, the machine race they created, and all the other species that might live among the stars.

It's a "smaller" story in scope, but also a more intimate story as well. Some people are going to like that, and some aren't. Different strokes, ya know?

[Trek_Girl42]

I seem to remember, ages ago, EJO saying that 'the day someone walks onto the set with a rubber mask, is the day I walk off the set'. I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment; that's not what this show is about.

I absolutely agree. Appearance by aliens would just ruin the whole thing. Aliens have been done over. And over. And over. BSG does not need it, and in fact they would just destroy the themes of the show completely. Anyone who wants to see aliens on BSG/wonders why there aren't aliens, is clearly missing a lot, or just hasn't watched the show. BSG is all about humanity. On it's own, dealing with it's own mistakes, and whether they are worth saving at all. Their isolation in this universe, literally running from the mistakes that they've made, is integral.

The moment aliens show up on BSG, I turn off my tv and walk away in disgust. But it won't happen, so it's a moot point.

[kharn the betrayer]

the closest I ever want to see to aliens in BSG is if someone walks on set in a rubber mask for a gag reel or some bonus thing on the DVDs otherwise keep them the hell away

[lizzy4ever]

I think things are already complicated as they are, I don't see the point of bringing another species- the writers have already so much questions to answer!

[Daedalus-304]

It looks like the writers are going for the barren universe idea (I Tigh said something like that in Season one), where life would be very uncommon, other than slime or something.

[Sci-Fi]

In realistic terms, there is probably other intelligent lifeforms out there. But in the vastness of space, the likelihood of finding them or them finding us is pretty remote. How many Earth-like planets are there?

Also it's not like they will speak English like they do in TV shows or the movies, so any meaningful communication would be non-existent. Heck, we don't even have two-way communication to animals on our own planet.

As far as BSG, just Humans and Cylons are good enough for the story at hand. IF Universal decides to continue the BSG timeline after the Colonials find Earth, then anything is possible. NBC/UNI would probably wait until the viewer tastes changes and somebody comes up with a good script/concept before taking BSG down that road. Or they could tell a story about other Colonial survivors that went in a different direction and restarted their civilization somewhere else and by sheer luck, found an alien race or 2.

[X-3-0-2]

There will never be aliens on BSG.

The DeSanto and original Larson version had aliens

and in all the vastness of our universe alien life may not be such a far fetched idea

There are lots of alien species in nu-BSG

The Cylon ship that took a dump on the floor
Flying Chiroptera (looks exactly like a Bat from Earth)
Chicken - the colonials eat chicken
Ants
Dog - see jake
Romo's Felis catus (looks exactly like a domestic cat from Earth)
The Algae planet
Cockroachs
Horse Eqius caballus
Pigeons
Mice/Rats
Paintings of Otters can be seen on the walls WTF ?

In other words they couldn't afford they FX for an alien so they just threw in a cat or some chicken
and that's also why everyone wears such cheap/drab costumes

I actually find the notion that something that evolved on another planet, light years from Earth and would look exactly like a mouse/pigeon from Earth to be even dumber than the idea of pointy headed aliens

[Daedalus-304]

There are lots of alien species in nu-BSG

The Cylon ship that took a dump on the floor
Flying Chiroptera (looks exactly like a Bat from Earth)
Chicken - the colonials eat chicken
Ants
Dog - see jake
Romo's Felis catus (looks exactly like a domestic cat from Earth)
The Algae planet
Cockroachs
Horse Eqius caballus
Pigeons
Mice/Rats
Paintings of Otters can be seen on the walls WTF ?

In other words they couldn't afford they FX for an alien so they just threw in a cat or some chicken
and that's also why everyone wears such cheap/drab costumes

I actually find the notion that something that evolved on another planet, light years from Earth and would look exactly like a mouse/pigeon from Earth to be even dumber than the idea of pointy headed aliens

It's possible that the planets were teraformed and the animals were brought there. Maybe the "Lords of Kobol" were world-builders.

[DigiFluid]

blahblahblah

Find a new hobby, please.

/snore

[SoulReaver]

having aliens would be kinda awkward for this kinda show but they could bring in alien technology without ever revealing its creators' appearance - like a mysterious (possibly extinct) race much like what they did in SG1 with the furlings...

[GateMan2000]

BSG doesn't need any other species...If you want to see tons of different alien species go watch Star Trek or Farscape.

[AvatarIII]

well, i always thought the gods/lords of kobol were aliens, they had crazy technology, like galleons that flew through space, and teleportation/holographic/VR technology like in the tomb of athena.

[Archaeis]

Think the Lord of Kobol pulled a Goauld and took humans from Earth to Kobol?

[AvatarIII]

Think the Lord of Kobol pulled a Goauld and took humans from Earth to Kobol?

well, in their myths, human life started on kobol and was taken to earth.

[Trek_Girl42]

having aliens would be kinda awkward for this kinda show but they could bring in alien technology without ever revealing its creators' appearance - like a mysterious (possibly extinct) race much like what they did in SG1 with the furlings...

Ew. No. Just ew. BSG is not about the technology - if anything it's about the lack of technology - what has the Galactica got beyond us besides jump drives and the ability to turn algae into.....anything? Not much. They hardly even use computers! Even with the cylons, their technology is very organic.

Bringing in a bunch of new alien technology would just frak with the concept.

I really want one of those corded Galactica phones.....

[Sci-Fi]

I really want one of those corded Galactica phones.....

Not really practical since the "TA-1" is half duplex and you need to use a Press To Talk switch. It is 'sound powered', so there are a few advantages. Maybe somebody will make a look-alike commercial model...shouldn't be that big of a deal, but projected sales might be too low for it to go into production or it might be too expensive for the average fan to buy.