Battlestar Galactica in Reverse

If you don’t already know, I am a huge fan of the superb science-fiction show Battlestar Galactica. I am also a huge fan of the social voting site reddit. While browsing through the latest stories this morning, I came across this comment about Battlestar Galactica in reverse.

Simply put, it adds a whole new level of depth and brilliance to the already amazing show.

20 hours ago, reddit commenter Lurking_Grue wrote:

I think I need to go watch Battlestar Galactica backwards.

1 hour later, reddit commenter Taciturn brilliantly responded:

WARNING: Spoilers lie ahead.

If you watch Battlestar Galactica backwards, it’s a story about a ship called “Galactica” coming out of retirement to lead humanity to a new home, where it is retired. The people have to abandon their home planet to spend some time farming mud on “New Caprica,” then they find a beautiful new place to live.

Roslin becomes president, then she’s a schoolteacher for a while, then she’s president again. She has cancer, it goes away, then comes back. Then she doesn’t have to worry about it anymore.

The president has an assistant who gets killed by a cylon-hater. She gets a new assistant who gets killed by a cylon-hater.

SURPRISE!, Tigh’s wife comes back! Then he kills her. Then SURPRISE!, she comes back!

Adama is very sad because the woman he loved died… but he falls in love again. Then he’s very sad, because the woman he loved died.
Baltar works on a farm, but then he becomes a famous scientist before working on a farm again.

Lee and Starbuck try to have an affair, but it’s really awkward, because Starbuck’s already in a serious relationship. She gets married. Then Starbuck and Lee try to have an affair, but it’s really awkward, because she’s already in a serious relationship.

In the first episode you’ll wonder when they’re going to explain ChipSix. In the last episode you’ll still be wondering that.

Also, if you watch the series forwards, the same stuff happens.

My jaw is on the floor and my mind is now properly blown.

The prominent line of the series, “All this has happened before, and all this will happen again” suddenly makes a ton of sense and really makes every step of the storyline fall into place and seem pre-ordained.

Well done reddit and well done Battlestar Galatica writers.

Artwork credit: Chris Bis | CC-NC-ND 2.0