Battlestar Galatica Miniseries

Work Title: Battlestar Galatica Miniseries
Medium: TV Episode
Episode Title: Episode 1
Year: 2003
Writer(s): Glen A. Larson
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Ronald D. Moore
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Christopher Eric James
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

from imdb.com It's been 40 years since the 12 colonies of mankind have heard from their progeny, the Cylons -- robotic creatures who rose up and declared war on their masters, then disappeared. In a sudden, devastating strike, the Cylons return and lay waste to the colonies, aided by human-looking Cylon variants and an unwitting fifth columnist. The attack forces Commander William Adama to call into action his museum-piece warship, the Battlestar Galactica, and soon its company of hotshot fighter pilots is blasting away at the invaders. But their best efforts can't prevent the colonies' obliteration. Fleeing the Cylon genocide, the Galactica leads a rag-tag fleet of survivors on a lonely quest to find humanity's fabled 13th colony -- a planet known as Earth. Written by John Colicos #6

Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_future
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

It is 40 years after a war with the Cylons, robots humans created. Space travel is common, the 12 colonies are peaceful, and there is a ban on artifical intelligence research.

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Cylons
  • Description of the technology: Cylons originally were robots that were created out of metal, yet moved fluidly. The lacked eyes and has a horizontal red light for ocoular vision. They in no way resembled humans. Now, however, they have evolved to a human form and are indistinguishable from humans. They interact with humans as if they were human. Cylons act superior and kill humans, causing a war. The reason for their hatred of humanity is unknown.
  • Nature of task or activity: fInitally, a human scientist dates aCylons, unaware she is not human. He gives her information that leads to the war and further interaction is through fighting a war.
  • Performance of the Technology: functions very well.
  • Description of creator(s): Humans created artificial intelligence and robots, but it is unknown who exactly.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): to advance technology, make life easier.
  • Description of users of technology: The male scientist is white, 30s, and very smart, but very arrogant and promiscious. Everyone else fighting the war are of all genders, races, and ages.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: social_presence
  • Description of presence experience: Gaius, the scientist, enjoys interacting with the first robot until he realizes she and her kind will destroy humanity. Then he's upset. For everyone else fighting the war, the experience is terrifying.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: at first, Gaius is unaware. Then, she tells him as the bombs begin to drop. Everyone else after this is aware.
  • Valence of experience: unpleasant.
  • Specific responses: physiological arousal, involvement,more intense parasocial relationships, fear, terror, confusion, resignation.
Long-term consequences:

The first episode ends with the war continuing and humanity being destroyed.

Other:

Coder name: Amanda Scheiner
Coder email: amandags@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University