Techtite Game Reviews ---

Galactica 1980: Worst Sci-Fi Series Ever? Yep.

There's this moment in Galactica 1980 lore when Adama approaches "Doctor Zee" for the first time. Unintentionally humorous; the concept is that the commander of the last rag-tag fleet of space humans, is about to ask a child what to do next. Here's Lorne Greene, the veteran television actor of such shows as Bananza, approaching some kid with a cheap looking Dutch boy haircut, who, if he was so brilliant, might've chosen a good barber. Unfortunately for Greene, the "intelligent" recommendation he received was never, "Run! Run from this stupid series! Run while you still can!"

All kidding aside, Galactica 1980, almost two decades later, is still the worst mishap in the history of sci-fi TV. Apparently thinking that the problem with the original Battlestar Galactica's ratings was how they were "lost in space," this series had Galactica find Earth, only to sit around after finding it. Why the wait? Galactica is concerned that our defenses are insufficient to defend Earth against the Cylons. Doctor Zee's suggestion: send two dorks to Earth for a cheap rip-off of the cop drama, CHiPs. With suggestions like this, who needs a self destruct button?

The "two dorks" chosen for this mission: Lt. Dillion and an adult "Boxey," aka, the now adult version of the kid from the first series that always caused mischief. They are given two flying "speeder bike" style motorcycles, which you may think is pretty imaginative ---three years before Return of the Jedi--- and yet the FX were so cheaply done, the idea was just an eyesore. Among their first missions: send Galactica's Super Strong Space Kids to Earth for safety. Time out, please: "super strong space kids"...? Here's what I'm guessing; someone saw Superman: The Movie 100 times and felt that every kid from space has super strength. They also felt that a whole classroom of bad child actors would make Doctor Zee look "smart." They were wrong on both counts.

What really made this series reek, however, was in the sorry fate of the original series' most beloved stars (nearly all of whom, with the exception of Greene, left skid marks from this spinoff). Apollo is apparently dead yet nobody bothers to explain how or why. This story is at least better than the fates of Athena, Cassiopeia, and Colonel Tigh, since their absence is never explained at all. Meanwhile, Starbuck ---as explained in the series' sole watchable episode--- is marooned on a planet. This is apparently considered an "okay" fate for Starbuck, since he is revealed to have known Doctor Zee's mom. Yet both he and the mom remain on the planet so the baby can be saved. Oh yeah; someone really loved Superman: The Movie didn't they? If only they had the same love for good television.

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The Top Ten WORST Sci-Fi Series Blunders Of All Time!

Galactica 1980