Movies - Comparison of Battlestar Galactica and Battlestar Galactica

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	Movies - Comparison of Battlestar Galactica and Battlestar Galactica

==Overview== Since the 2003 miniseries and the 2004 television show were reimaginings of the original series, there are many differences between the two shows. Unlike a remake, these differences are mostly intentional and not the result of omitting research on the topic.

Characters

Many characters from the 1979 series are present in the reimagined version in some form or another, but changes have been made, sometimes minor, other times significant.

Characters in the orignal series were often named for stars, constellations, or characters in Greek mythology. In the new series, those names have translated into callsigns or nicknames (i.e. Commander Adama's son in the 1979 series was named Apollo. In the new show, Apollo is Lee Adama's callsign). Additionally, people of the original series never had last names, in the new series they do.

Captain Apollo

The leader of the viper pilots on Galactica in both series, respected as a capable pilot and commander. In the 1979 series he has a congenial relationship with his father, often trusting Adama's instincts when many others disbelieve him. The Apollo in the new series has a history of enmity and conflict with Adama, related to the death of Zac.

Starbuck

Starbuck has undergone major changes from one series to the other, most notably the fact that in 1979 the character is male, and in 2003 the character is female. Circumstances surrounding the character's life in one are thus extremely different from the other by virtue of gender (the characters romantic involvement with Zac in the 2003 series would have been a highly unlikely plotline in 1979, for example). As far as the character goes, both versions of Starbuck enjoy gambling, smoking cigars, drinking, playing the games Triad and Pyramid, and being somewhat indiscriminate in romance. However, the reimagined Starbuck sometimes engages in more self destructive manifestations of these habits.

Colonel Tigh

The character has changed from an African-American to a Caucasian, but has remained Galactica's second in command with a reputation for a 'by-the-book' mentality and disciplinarian attitude. The reimagined version is married and is an alcoholic.

Boomer

Boomer is another character who has undergone major changes. Not only is Boomer a female in the reimagined version, she is also a Cylon (see below for differences in Cylons). The Boomer of 1979 was often covering for Starbuck and Apollo when they went off together on barely authorized stunts, but was a secondary character with little back story development. The reimagined version has a more fleshed out character. The 1979 version was also ranked as a lieutenant and seemed to be the 'third in command' of the Viper squadrons. The reimagined version of Boomer is a lieutenant junior grade and not very high in the pilot command structure.

Baltar

Baltar in both series is portrayed as the human primarily responsible for the Cylons' victory over humanity, but for different reasons. In the 1979 version, Baltar's treachery was a conscious decision to betray mankind in hopes of attaining personal power/wealth. In the 2003 miniseries, Baltar was largely deceived into betraying humanity by a Cylon agent. Both characters, however, show a streak of remorseless ambition and desire for power. The Baltar in 1979 was a commander of a Battlestar, whereas the reimagined Baltar is a scientist-turned-vice president-turned-president.

Minor characters

The Battlestar Galactica doctor is different in both name and demeanor: in 1979 his name was Wilker and he was a generally jovial person. In 2003 the doctor's name is Cottle and he is a heavily sarcastic chain-smoker. Both are loyal to their profession in caring for and saving lives, regardless of whose.
A President called Adar was in charge of the colonies at the time of the Cylon attack in both series. He perished in the attacks in both series.
Zac Adama in both series is brother to Apollo and son to Adama. He also gets killed relatively early in his career as a pilot, though in the 1979 version this is due to a Cylon deception, whereas in the 2004 series it is suggested he was not qualified to pilot a Viper and therefore crashed long before the Cylon attack.
Boxy is a small child in both series: In the 1979 version he is Apollo's son and appears regularly throughout the series. In 2003 he was an orphan rescued from Caprica by Boomer, but he hasn't reappeared since the pilot miniseries.
Cain is the commander of the Battlestar Pegasus
in both series, but here again the character change is dramatic. The 1979 Cain was a male commander, well known throughout humanity as a legendary commander, and clashed with Adama because he took many barely justifiable risks. The 2004 series' Cain was a female admiral, her 'legendary' status was restricted to the opinions of her own crew, and she clashed with Adama because she had a more ruthlessly aggressive policy toward confronting the Cylons. Both versions of Cain were dead after a relatively short appearance.
'Jolly' was a recurring junior pilot in the Viper squadron in the 1979 series, but in the 2003 miniseries he was a member of one of the advanced Viper squadrons that fell prey to the Cylon virus in the initial strike. He is mentioned by Starbuck much later in the TV series when she is listing names of dead pilots.

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