The Best War Never to Happen

Ok, so I’m a little bit of a sci-fi nerd. I admit it. Smallville, Buffy, The 4400, A Clockwork Orange; I cannot get enough. Shows that take out of the limiting boundaries of what is “real” to us often open up new and creative ways to explore what it truly means to be human. One of the shows that do this best is Battlestar Galactica.  Often mocked for it’s admittedly ridiculous name and always underappreciated, Battlestar is, in my opinion, one of the best war shows ever made (Never mind that it’s entirely fictional). To those who have no idea what this show is about, BSG tells the story of the last survivors of humanity traveling through space to find the lost planet of Earth while being pursued by their own mechanical creations, the Cylons. At less than 50,000 left from an original count of 20 billion, the human races only hope of survival comes from their fleet’s flagship, the battlestar Galactica.  Battlestar, while set in outer space, manages to very often deal with real issues we face today. In a society on the brink of extinction the question of abortion rights is debated in all levels of their government.  Soldiers and pilots get weary and tired of constant alertness, often wanting nothing more than the chance to rest and take their minds of the desperate situation they are in. In one series of episodes the Cylons have captured much of the human population and in their desperation to free themselves insurgents sources resort to suicide bombings. This action brings approval from some and horror from others. It is painfully obvious what real world event this parallels. Many people never give Battlestar a chance based purely by what they believe they know. But when it gets down to it, Battlestar Galactica is not so much a science-fiction show as it is an allegorical look at some very real issues. In as short of space as I could, I have given my reasons why this show should be given a chance. To summarize, though, I have to turn to a prominent pop culture figure: Mr. Dwight Schrute.