Battlestar Galactica: Season 3 [2006] [DVD] [2004]

Let’s get straight to the point: bar none, Battlestar Galactica is the best science fiction television programme currently showing. In fact, let’s go further. It’s the best of the last decade. And truthfully? You’d find very few sci-fi fans who’d disagree.

What’s more, plenty of people must be busy eating their words, too. Back when it was announced that Battlestar Galactica was being revived, feelings were mixed, not helped by the divided reaction to the mini-series that kickstarted this iteration of the show. Yet over the past couple of years, it’s cleverly proven to be a tense, gripping mix of action and drama, with a tightly-woven plot.

This third season? It’s arguably the best so far. A delicious soup of mystery, relevations, actions, striking characters and winding narrative, Battlestar Galactica is also served superbly well by a quality cast, some quality special effects, and a real focus on what matters from behind the camera.

As usual, there are no spoilers in this review, although it’s not giving much away to say that the deadly cylons have to share the screen time with some intriguing and revealing character development this time round. And with word that season four of the revived Battlestar Galactica will be the last, things are set up for a terrific final act.

Season three of the show though is extraordinarily good, a real, genuine sci-fi classic that’s going to have one mighty shelf life once this particularly iteration of the programme has gone. And with umpteen surprises to go back and check out, it’s never likely to be one to gather dust on the shelf, either. --Jon Foster