The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Viewpoints

Drew Zolides First-year philosophy student

I'll admit it. I am a nerd. That means I made sure to watch the "Battlestar Galactica" season finale last Sunday. This episode, and the ones leading up to it, reminded me why this is the greatest show on television.

The problem is, most people can't get past the fact that this show is on the Sci-Fi channel, is about robots fighting humans and takes place on a spaceship.

While these are in fact true, they do not lower the quality or the enjoyableness of the program.

The show is wrought with twists and turns, deep character development and enough references to modern day events to make it important.

For the sake of argument, let's say that the show contains no robots (which many episodes don't even mention), does not take place in space and is called "Political Drama."

If this were the case, the show would simply be about a group of people trying to survive in the best way possible. In this attempt they must face trials and tribulations, many of which come from each other.

Hmm ... sounds an awful lot like another hit show. (Is anyone "Lost" yet?)

Well that's funny, because "Battlestar Galactica" debuted in 2003, a year before "Lost."

Now, "Lost" is one of hottest shows on television. In fact, the entire serialized drama genre that is so immensely popular these days with shows such as "24," "The Sopranos," seems to leave out "Battlestar Galactica."

Why is that? Because people are so quick to label it as "sci-fi" or "fantasy" or even "sci-fi fantasy."

I know because I used to be one of them.

The sci-fi aspects of "Battlestar Galactica" are secondary to the main driving force of the show - drama. The show is about all these characters (played by a marvelous cast) and how they must work together to survive. Sometimes that goal gets lost in the petty squabbles between them.

Also, the show features several tie-ins to our modern world. Issues such as discrimination, morality and even presidential elections are all discussed in the world of "BSG" (that's what us nerds affectionately call the show).

So, regardless of the science fiction that clearly plays a role in the series, BSG offers viewers exactly what a series should: interesting plot, relatable, developed characters and social insight that is culturally relevant.

And by the way, this isn't just the nerd talking. In 2006, Time magazine called "BSG" the seventh best show on television. This was actually a fall from 2005 when it was No. 1. That's right, THE best show on television in 2005.

This is just one outlet of many, including the American Film Institute, TV Guide and the coveted Peabody Awards that have honored the series.

So, perhaps we should take a lesson from "Battlestar Galactica" itself and not discriminate. Whether it is race, religion, Cylon or sci-fi TV shows.

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