Here's Where You Can Stream Or Buy Every Season Of Battlestar Galactica
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There's a common thought these days that there are some books, shows, or movies that would be tempting to forget, if only so we can experience them for the first time again. Back in college, I binged through all of the "Battlestar Galactica" series that began in 2004 over the course of a few months. That's 10 years gone at this point, and it's still one of the most rewarding viewing adventures I've ever taken on. I look back fondly at hitting play on each episode, tucked away with a laptop, crying and cheering as the plot twisted when I thought it would turn.
For those unfamiliar with the "Battlestar Galactica" reboot, it followed the last of humanity as they traveled through the stars on the titular ship, doing what they could to evade the Cylons, replicating androids that sought to destroy their creators. It should be easy to root for humanity, but "Battlestar Galactica" sought to challenge viewers with more nuanced explorations about what it means to even be alive, in between space battles, of course. Those characters and stories lingered with me long after I finished the series, and it's still one of my favorites to this day.
So where can you frakking find this outstanding piece of sci-fi television? For an out of this world viewing experience, we've broken down where you can stream or buy every season of "Battlestar Galactica."
Where Can You Stream Battlestar Galactica?
"Battlestar Galactica" can be found on Peacock, the NBCUniversal streaming platform. As part of its overall goal to fill out its library and develop more content, all four seasons are available there to stream for free, as long as you sign up with an email. However, make sure to begin by watching the miniseries that started it all, as its an essential primer to the show. That's also streaming for free on Peacock, which is going to be your best streaming option overall. If you're not into the free, ad-supported version of Peacock, you can always pay for the commercial-free version for $9.99 per month.
Where Can You Buy Battlestar Galactica?
If you decide you need to own a DVD or Blu-ray of "Battlestar Galactica," or that's your preferred way to view a show, it's available for sale in both formats. The best deal is buying the complete series on Amazon as box set, though the show is also sold by individual seasons. Once again, make sure whatever you purchase includes the miniseries as a prerequisite to the full show. The Blu-ray collection is $76.99 on Amazon, and the complete series on DVD goes for $79.98.
Amazon sells a version of "Battlestar Galactica" that includes the full contemporary series along with the original "Battlestar Galactica" from the 1970's, its follow-up film, and the bonus films set in the same series as the reboot. It also includes the series spin-offs "Caprica" and "Blood and Chrome." However, this version will not play on North American Blu-ray players. But if you have a Region 2 Blu-ray player, this bundle may be worth considering.
Otherwise, Amazon Prime Video has the miniseries available on digital for $12.99, as well as all of the other seasons. Apple TV (or iTunes) also has the show at $1.99 for each episode, but since "Battlestar Galactica" has 75 episodes, that's gonna be a costly endeavor.
Battlestar Galactica's Legacy and Future
"Battlestar Galactica" was a bold show with lofty storytelling goals. Its tone, topics, and performances challenged the typical critics of sci-fi and fantasy. It laid the groundwork for shows like "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones" to become media darlings. It demanded its space in a way other genre shows weren't always allowed to, essentially declaring itself a drama that happened to take place in space, showing that science fiction tropes are just tools for great storytelling. And, yes, sometimes "Battlestar Galactica" got lost in the weeds of its own ambition at times. However, I'd submit that I never felt disrespected, jerked around or lead astray as an audience member, as many shows have gotten away with over the years.
"Battlestar Galactica" is also an excellent artifact of post-9/11 and early Iraq War era television. In college, two different professors at two different universities used the same episode (the Emmy nominated "Occupation") to demonstrate the power of television's ability to integrate social and political discussions from the real world into fiction. It's a heavy show, but you want to help carry the load of it by watching, taking each question that an episode raises and holding it for a lifetime of reflection.
The Syfy series a proper binge for anyone looking for something with heavy world building, top notch performances, and long-game storytelling. News of a possible reboot or a movie has me torn, as "Battlestar Galactica" was itself a reboot of the 1978 series of the same name. It went well once, and it could go well again. However, you can't replicate a good binge experience just like a Cylon. If you've never watched the show and decide to try it out, I'm envious of your chance to take the first flight once more.