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Battlestar Galactica
Season Four
SERIES: Sci-Fi, Friday 10:00p (60 minutes)

8.9 based on 16 reviews read critic reviews how did we calculate this? based on 58 votes read user comments rate this tv show

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Orlando Sentinel Hal Boedeker

The premiere should please fans who consider Battlestar Galactica a landmark and entice newcomers to look at previous seasons on DVD.

100

San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman

There are many small and wonderful dramatic accomplishments in the underappreciated gem that is Battlestar Galactica, but perhaps the most enduring is that what was conceived of as an epic space adventure has turned into a finely detailed, intimate drama.

91

Entertainment Weekly Ken Tucker

The series' brilliant conceit is that enemies are often sane and rational, and many good guys and gals are obsessed, flawed, and ruthless.

90

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen

This new season gets off to a rousing start that lives up to high expectations.

90

TV Guide Matt Roush

Simply put, the journey of Battlestar Galactica is one long, exhilarating headtrip.

90

Variety Brian Lowry

Crisp and tense, this Sci Fi Channel staple looks destined to make a headlong plunge toward the finish line in pursuit of that elusive place called Earth.

90

Newsday Verne Gay

Tonight's episode is superb, and barrels--relentlessly--toward the answers.

90

Time James Poniewozik

Thus begins the final season of a cerebral space opera that asks what it means to be human.

80

The New York Times Alessandra Stanley

The multitude of exegeses and theories devoted to major plot twists and minor details attest to the series’s enduring egghead appeal.

80

Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan

Though Sci Fi only sent one Season 4 episode for review, it looks as though the prodigal pilot, as well as the rest of the Galactica crew, is in for a bumpy ride.

80

Los Angeles Times Mary McNamara

But of what actually happens, I will say no more. You'll have to watch it yourself. And you should.

80

Salon Heather Havrilesky

Only one thing is for certain: Even if you're skeptical of science fiction, Battlestar Galactica will make a true believer out of you.

75

New York Post Linda Stasi

Riveting as ever, Battlestar Galactica proves again that sci fi doesn't have to be clap trap.

75

Chicago Sun-Times Thomas Conner

Never mind the feminine religious cult Baltar falls into in this premiere. Add that to the clue-packed promotional photograph circulating of the BSG cast mimicking "The Last Supper," and what began as a deep, dark sci-fi drama seems to be turning into an anti-Arthur C. Clarke religious tract.

75

New York Daily News David Hinckley

The truth is that at this point, the complex subplots and nuances of all the backstories make it more satisfying for longtime fans than for recent drop-ins.

70

Philadelphia Daily News Ellen Gray

To be honest, I'm weary of Baltar and his endless visions/hallucinations, as I am of the fleet's wandering as the surviving colonists try, somewhat fitfully, to find their way back to a home planet none of them remembers.

The average user rating for this tv show is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 58 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Ogan K. gave it a3:
I totally agree with MonoApe Ape. I loved the ship designs and technology elements in the series, and some philosophical references, but machines having FAITH !?! that is far from SCI-FI machines built to compute and rely on reference logic can never have such pointless faith and stuff. And whats up with all that god mumbo-jumbo. There were too many cliches and the uniforms the space marines are wearing are too much alike SWAT teams, the weapons they used are also not compatible with the general texture of the series. I MEAN come on if you are making a sci-fi and if its about a people that has nothing to do with us humans PLEASE give some time to design OIRIGINAL uniforms etc at least ! These are very crucial in a sci-fi, the watcher must lose contact with todays human society in order to enter into the atmosphere of what they are watching. In general I couldnt connect to the whole battlestar galactica concept I general found myself bored (except for the first season) watching. This series is a light sci-fi movie directed at general crowd who doesnt pay attention to detail and has little idea about sci-fi and philosophy. Big disappointment for me in general. Look at the real sci-fi works such as star wars and ghost in the shell, that is how sci-fi is made. IMAGINE DEEP. (cylons with ak-47's and 15000 yrs ago yeah right) - its like scientology.

Martin S gave it a9:
Easily the best SciFi drama ever. Atleast the best TV SciFi drama. I hated the original so much I didn't watch the first season. I was surprised to see so much religious emphasis in a Sci-Fi show but in retrospect it all seems plausible.

K P gave it a3:
I'm so bummed. I LOVED this show. But in my opinion it jumped the shark long ago. In fact it's now more like a soap opera than a sci-fi show. I think it all happened when Starbuck came back to life, and Apollo turned in his wings. The majority of the episodes after that were shaky. Some like chinese water torture. Too bad. It was a great show.

Travis A gave it an8:
BSG is undoubtedly one of best shows in a long time, and the 1st season kicked some serious butt. However, I feel the show, at times, lacks focus. There seems to be this endless babbling of incoherent emotion...it has become more like a soap opera staged in space than a Sci Fi adventrue. The main theme of the show seems to be that of depression and it has certainly become depressing to watch. I give it an 8 because the first season was that good and a part of me keeps hoping that the writers will come to their senses and deliver back to us a once brilliant show.

Aaron S gave it an8:
A great concept. A good, but uneven start. Based on Whedon's track-record it's well worth giving it his usual period to mature.

Michael L gave it a10:
The best Frakkin show on TV! Possibly my favorite drama of all time and there's a ton I love over the years.

Adrian S. gave it a9:
While I'd love to give this show a 10 for its depth, epic scope, and poignant study of human civilization through the microcosm of the fleet, there have been episodes that drag, and the soap opera quality of some of the relationships got tedious (especially in season 3). That being said, there are so many highs in the series that completely erase any memories of the not-so-spectacular episodes. Battlestar Galactica excels in merging ideologies with action, which are executed with brilliant detail in the form of tense diplomacy, space battles, enemy occupation, and rebellions. These episodes catapult the quality and depth of the series far beyond what I've ever seen in science fiction, and I commend the series for its stellar approach and its constant reckoning of the human spirit.

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