Olmos Promises That Galactica Will Become More Disturbing.
Source SciFi Pulse
6 February 2006
It has been a year in coming but finally the UK has released the official Battlestar Galactica magazine which is jam packed with features about the re – imagined version of the classic 70’s show. The first issue features an exclusive interview with Edward James Olmos who is more than happy to talk about his role as Commander, now Admiral Adama in the new series.
When he initially read the script for the new series Olmos was impressed and said from the start that the moment an episode features aliens with dodgy headgear he would leave the series. To date the dodgy aliens have not happened and Olmos feels the show has just gotten better. In fact the show has surpassed even his expectations of it.
“I’ve been doing this for almost 40 years. I did Miami Vice. I’ve done a lot of interesting work, but nothing prepared me for this. I’m overwhelmed because they are not falling prey to the normality of what this genre usually does, and that allows your mind to go into a fantasy world. There is no fantasy in this.”
In fact the new series has in many ways proved to be extremely political to a point where some people have accused the show and its political leanings of being damn right un – American. Olmos feels that the shows strength is how it mirrors contemporary times and holds a mirror up against humanity and shows how stupid and self-serving the human race can be. In fact the show has gone a lot further down the line than even Olmos would have expected it too.
“It evolved much farther than I could have ever expected. It resonates into contemporary times – people are seeing the complexity of it and the way it reflects what we are going through right now. It’s not so much about the hardware. It’s about the characters and where we are going. That’s why I love it so much. I’m anxious to read the scripts every time I get them, and I haven’t been let down yet. This season is better than last season.”
One of the re-imaginings biggest selling points is the ‘Gritty Realism’, which is what Re-imaginer Ron D. Moore, wanted from the outset. In fact some of the brutality, dysfunctional human relationships and down right disturbing things which have been depicted thus far have disturbed and upset quite a few people and Olmos reveals that the situation is not likely to get any better.
“I think this show is going to become harder to watch. I don’t think that they are going to tone it down, and I would be very surprised if we drop off in our veiwership. The word is going to spread. There are some disturbing, disturbing things coming up. And it’s not that they are disturbing in a violent, raw or crude sense. It’s the psychological aspects of the show that makes you stop and say, ‘Wait a minute this isn’t television. I’m thinking about how this effects my life.”
In closing you get the distinct impression that Olmos is happy to continue on as Admiral William [Husker] Adama till the show ends.
“The only way I’ll stop working on it is if the show isn’t picked up any more,” Olmos promises, “and the only way this show won’t be picked up any more is if the writer’s can’t write. If they lose their authority and integrity. Then the show will self – destruct and I can go out the door. I’m proud of this show. This is some of the most innovative television that I have seen in awhile.”
You can read more of this interview with Edward James Olmos about his role and his perspective on how the new series in progressing in the new Battlestar Galactica Magazine which is out now in the UK in all good news agents.
