Streaming Finds: Tracking down sci fi and fantasy shows of interest available on the streaming services.
What Is It? This 1978 sci fi series follows a group of humans from a distant part of the galaxy fleeing from the robotic Cylons who are determined to exterminate them. The fleeing human ships are led by the last surviving warship, Battlestar: Galactica, and they seek the mythical lost colony known as Earth. The series was an attempt to replicate the success of Star Wars on television and it was popular for a while, but disappeared from television after a truncated revival attempt that followed its first season.
Starring: Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, Lorne Greene, John Colicos, Maren Jensen
The Skinny: These days people generally think of the 2003 reboot from the Sci Fi Channel when you mention Battlestar: Galactica, but that franchise got its start in the late 70’s when Glen A. Larson tried to bring a grand space opera to television. Star Wars had become a phenomenon when it broke box office records in 1977, and the television networks decided to reach for their own sci fi hit for the small screen. BSG definitely seemed to owe much to the George Lucas film, but it was actually based on a script that Larson had written in the 60’s called “Adam’s Ark”. When the show arrived in 1978, it was greeted with much anticipation and it met up to expectations with its early episodes. But as the show drew on, it became apparent that Larson lacked the vision to really tap into the epic potential of the series (and network execs didn’t help either by preferring their shows to stick a tried and true formula). But still, the series did produce some good episodes, and “The Return of Starbuck” is worth watching from the Galactica: 1980 continuation (you can read more about the show’s cancellation and failed revival at this link). The original does not quite measure up to the superior reboot, but it can be fun in a cheesy 70’s way and it did have a good cast.
NBC has the entire series (plus Galactica: 1980) available for streaming at their website and on their app. They do run commercials during the episodes, but not as many as you typically get when watching a show on broadcast. NBC.com actually has quite a number of sci fi and fantasy shows old and new available for streaming, several of which cannot be found on the other streaming services. Below is a list of other shows you can stream from their site.
Watch Battlestar: Galactica on NBC.com
More Sci Fi / Fantasy from NBC.com:
Amazing Stories
The Bionic Woman (1976)
The Cape
Dracula
The Event
Heroes
Heroes Reborn
The Incredible Hulk
Kings
Knight Rider (1982)
Knight Rider (2008)
Quantum Leap
The Six Million Dollar Man
Xena: Warrior Princess
Click on the following links for a comprehensive list of the Sci Fi TV Shows available on Netflix | Prime Video | Hulu | Other Services
