There are few better arguments for the merit of rebooting a television show thanRonald D. Moore’s acclaimed reimagining of theBattlestar Galacticafranchise. While the original series of the same name from 1978 was certainly a fun, Star Wars-adjacent space adventure, it retained little more than a cult fan base after being canceled following its first season. Comparatively, the rebootedBattlestar Galacticadeveloped a far richer and more expansive universethat addressed modern themes, including the war on terror, political corruption, and the fear of artificial intelligence. Best of all, the rebootseries created new and dynamic characters that made it all the more compelling; there wasn’t another hero onBattlestar Galacticawhose arc was more satisfying overall thanKatee Sackhoff’s Lieutenant Kate Thrace.
Set in the distant future,Battlestar Galacticais centered on the crew of the titular spacecraft as it searches for a new home for mankind. The last established civilization of humanity, known as the Twelve Colonies, was destroyed in a critical attack by the Cylons, a malevolent group of man-made androids. While there is tension between the new President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and the military Commander William Adama (Edward James Olmos), the fleet is reliant on brave pilots like Thrace, who goes by the callsign “Starbuck.”The boldness of Sackhoff’s casting was very beneficial toBattlestar Galactica,ensuring its place among thegreatest television dramas of all time.
Battlestar Galactica
When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
Katee Sackhoff’s ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Casting Earned Backlash
Although Moore’s reboot drew some inspiration from the original 1978 series, the two shows were completely unique in their narrative complexity. While some characters were brought back and reinterpreted, they were only similar in name.The originalBattlestar Galacticafeatured Dirk Benedict as Lieutenant Starbuck, a womanizing fighter pilot who could be compared toHarrison Ford’s Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise.Battlestar Galacticahad already been hit with comparisons toGeorge Lucas’ space opera; in order to differentiate the two,Moore decided that“making Starbuck a woman was a way of avoiding” what” he “felt would be ‘rogue pilot with a heart of gold’ cliché."
Many characters from the originalBattlestar Galacticawere radically changed from the original series; while the 1978 shows featuredJohn Colicosas an entirely malevolent version of Gaius Baltar,James Callisturned the character intoa somewhat sympathetic, far less competent anti-hero. However,Sackhoff’s castingwas met with backlashfrom those who opposed the gender swappingof Starbuck. Benedicthimself even chimed in, posting a tirade expressing his dismay that “Starbuck would go the way of most men in today’s society.” Unfortunately, Benedict’s opinion was shared by many of the show’s doubters;Sackhoff was booed during her first appearancepromoting the show at the 2004 Comic Con in San Diego and even received some death threats prior to the show’s airing.
Although Moore was insistent that the gender swap was essential in order to distinguish the new series,Sackhoff wasn’t the first choice to play Starbuck.Moore revealed that the show’s producers were originallylooking for an actress in her mid-30swho had a tough demeanor, as they wanted someone who had believable military experience. However, it was Sackhoff’s acting ability that ultimately won them over;Moore stated that Sackhoff“auditioned for the role along with many other actresses, and simply blew them all away,” admitting that they were “lucky” that she agreed to play the role.
Starbuck Became a Fan-Favorite Hero in ‘Battlestar Galactica’
Starbuck was quickly established as one ofBattlestar Galactica’s most complex characters.Like many of theGalactica’s pilots,Starbuck is brave to a fault; she’s willing to put herself in danger for the sake of her crew and consistently goes on risky missions in an attempt to cheat death. While her hot-headed personality added energy to the series, there was a deeper reason for Starbuck’s erratic personality; she is still grieving the loss of Zak Adama (Tobias Mehler), her secret fiancé as well as a pilot under her command whose death hangs over her. This speaks to Starbuck’s selflessness; although she isn’t as interested in the political machinations in the fleet, she is completely loyal to those who serve alongside her. Starbuck’s empathy becomesmore powerful in later seasonsthat reveal her backstory as an abused child.
Starbuck’s relationship with the Adama family is among the show’s most profound dynamics;despite her involvement with Zak’s death, Kara begins to develop romantic feelings for his brother, Lee (Jamie Bamber). It’s a romance that’s doomed from the start, as both characters end up finding different romantic partners in the aftermath ofthe occupation by Cylon forces in the third season.However, their on-again, off-again affair indicated that the two couldn’t deny their feelings for each other; similarly, Bill Adama comes to view Starbuck as a daughter, giving her important guidance over the course of the series.
Katee Sackhoff’s Performance Succeeded Even When ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Didn’t
Despite the acclaim that the series received in its initial seasons,Battlestar Galacticadeclined in quality, significantlythwarting Starbuck’s story arc.Her romantic relationship with Samuel Anders (Michael Trucco) grew much more compelling, particularly upon the revelation that he was one of the “Final Five” Cylons hidden within the fleet. Unfortunately, Starbuck’s strange departure and miraculous recovery made for an uneven storyline that didn’t reflect her trajectory up until that point. Nonetheless, Sackhoff certainly committed to the material; her emotional performance almost made these strange plot twists tolerable.
While it could be said thatBattlestar Galacticaended on a disappointing note,Sackhoff has since become an icon in multiple sci-fi franchises.After voicing the character Bo-Katan Kryze onStar Wars: The Clone Wars, Sackhoff was able to portray the live-action version inThe Mandalorian’s second and third seasons. She also delivered a scene-stealing performance alongsideVin Dieselin the sci-fi sequelRiddick.
Battlestar Galacticais streaming on Prime Video in the U.S.
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