Ronald D. Moore: On Battlestar Galactica's Flawed Characters

"Our people are deeply flawed, deeply human characters. They are not, by nature, innately heroic or noble creatures. They are simply ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. They do not always make the right decision and they do not always do the right thing. They make mistakes, act out of pettiness and spite, and occasionally do things that are reprehensible. However, they are also capable of growth, or change, of learning to overcome their flaws and rising to the challenges laid before them and performing great and mighty deeds."

-Ronald D. Moore, Battlestar Galactica: the Official Companion, p.96-



Extracted from Moore's Battlestar Galactica series bible, those words ring true and echo forth the series as the anti-Battlestar Galactica Classic as envisioned by Glen A. Larson. In many respects the new version of Battlestar Galactica is the antithesis to it, the mirror universe. This prism of human nature is much less noble filled with some of the worst and most base of human qualities.



If it becomes too much there's always the hopeful optimism of the original Battlestar Galactica the arms of which await you.



Moore's perspective on humanity is much darker than the original. The truth of humanity falls somewhere in the middle of the two and this writer likes to lean toward Larson's more hopeful vision. Nevertheless the flawed universe of Moore's world is a fascinating rumination on human nature at its worst despite those moments of "growth." In fact, some might believe Moore's grim world to be a bit too dark.



There is of course a place for both and again the truth falls somewhere in the middle.

These alternate views of humanity are why I love both series equally, two sides of the human coin. Both are riveting and exceptional and often beautiful in their execution.