The re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, both the miniseries and subsequent weekly television series, paid homage to the original show of the same name from the late 1970s. This original Battlestar Galactica certainly drew inspiration from Star Wars, which was released a year prior to Battlestar Galactica's premiere. At the time, there was little precedent for fast-paced space stories told with state-of-the-art special effects. Enter Battlestar Galactica, an episodic drama that was driven by themes far darker than Star Wars, though it masked them with big toothy grins and robot dogs. The reboot of Battlestar Galactica was inspired by the original, but added details of its own.
Both Battlestar Galactica shows centered on a desperate fight for the survival of the human race in circumstances that seem hopeless. The similarities ran deep. The casting in the re-imagined series had some creative tweaks. The most immediately noticeable was the character of Starbuck. In the newer Battlestar Galactica, Starbuck is female, but many other characteristics were retained. Starbuck was still fond of gambling, drinking, and smoking cigars, much like her male counterpart. Baltar in the original was not a doctor but a villainous Count. The actor who played Captain Apollo in the first series, Richard Hatch, returned to play Tom Zarak, a political activist. He was the only actor to have appeared in both shows.
From small, retained elements to distinct parallels with the original series, the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica incorporated unique twists in aesthetics, themes, and casting, creating something similar yet different. One subtle tribute to the original came in Battlestar Galactica season 2 when the anthem of the 12 colonies is heard. This "Colonial Anthem" was a version of the theme song of the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica and helped give the modern story a nostalgic feel that spoke to fans of the old series in a way that still felt fresh and different. Gone was the kitsch and swashbuckling, and in its place were contemporary themes and Cylons that looked human. Throughout the reboot, there were little gems, little throwbacks to the original Battlestar Galactica, creating a respectful tip of the hat.
Why The Original Battlestar Theme Is Perfect For The Anthem
The reboot of Battlestar Galactica had a darker palette, and the characters were generally more morally complex than in the original. A striking tribute to the original is the "Colonial Anthem". Stu Phillips' composition for the original Battlestar Galactica was a bright, orchestral piece, reminiscent of Star Wars. Bear McCreary adapted the work for the newer series. The music was immediately recognizable, despite the heavier undertones in the revised version. It cropped up throughout the reboot in subtle ways. This is particularly meaningful as each time it played, and there were many such instances, it was a nod to the original Battlestar Galactica. The use of the word "Frak" as a substitute for profanity was used in both shows, and it was, in the reboot, a direct reference to the original, but the presence of the "Colonial Anthem" goes much deeper than that. It was the theme of the original Battlestar Galactica, and as such, it was representative of the show. To use that anthem in the newer Battlestar Galactica ties it to the first show in ways that transcend all the other throwbacks.
The Battlestar Galactica reboot pays homage to the original in many ways, but ultimately, it forged into territories that the original never did. The use of the "Colonial Anthem" was an important acknowledgment of the show's predecessor, but the show plunged forward without looking back, much like the survivors onboard Galactica and the remaining vessels in the fleet moved on after Battlestar Galactica's war with the Cylons. They were influenced by what came before, but they needed to make something new.