Ronald D. Moore, a writer for both the Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek copied each other back and forth over the years.
The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode's framework, which focuses on themes of deception, mistrust, and an overarching tactical play, is repeated in Moore's Battlestar Galactica episode "Hero." The two shows feature very different interspecies politics, especially given Battlestar Galactica's "no aliens" rule. However, the essential premise of a plant being placed among the crew is the same, as well as the discovery of the deception. With the same set-up in BSG, viewers can observe the remarkable evolution of Moore's writing.
Battlestar Galactica's "Hero" Is A Cover Version Of Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Defector"
Moore Copied His Own Motifs From Star Trek & Made Them Even Better
The Battlestar Galactica episode "Hero" and the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Defector" are both season 3 episodes of their respective series. In the BSG episode, a Cylon raider is pursued by two other Cylon raiders and flees to Galactica. The "Cylon" inside is a human, Bulldog, who served on Adama's previous ship, the Valkyrie, and was held captive by the Cylons for three years. He escaped the Cylons but is not aware that the Cylons likely let him, knowing he would seek the truth about why he was captured and take his revenge on Adama.
Katee Sackhoff Dives Deep Into The Sackhoff Show Podcast's Origins And Reflects On Her Work On Longmire, Battlestar Galactica & The Mandalorian
Katee Sackhoff discusses her conversational podcast, The Sackhoff Show, and the wisdom she's gleaned from her decades of experience in the industry.
Viewers do not see much of Starbuck in the episode but, significantly, Thrace looks edgy and suspicious as Bulldog and Adama salute each other, similar to the suspicious initial reaction of the crew in Star Trek's "The Defector." Later, she is seen reviewing the footage. Her realization that the "Cylons could have wasted him" is comparable to "The Defector" showing the bridge's computer footage. Geordi points to the screen's evidence — the Romulan warrior ship could have overtaken the scoutship at any time, showing the Romulan "defector" aboard Enterprise is a plant, whether he knows it or not.
What Battlestar Galactica's Version Does Differently To Star Trek: The Next Generation
It's Not A Straight Copy Of Star Trek, Instead Using More Compelling Plot & Themes
One key difference between the episodes is the openings — whereas Star Trek opens "The Defector" using Shakespeare's Henry V as a framing device (ideated by Patrick Stewart, according to best episodes of Battlestar Galactica.
The episodes are more similar in their underlying tactics than in the details.
Additionally, the episodes are more similar in their underlying tactics than in the details. BSG's Black Ops mission lured Adama into making a call that was one of a few actions that triggered the Cylon attack on the colonies; the Romulans similarly wanted to lure Enterprise into the neutral territory to justify attacking. However, Moore leverages this in different ways — namely, in Battlestar Galactica, he expands the idea. "The Defector" is a highly rewatchable episode because it has little impact on the overall plot. In BSG, "Hero" is a key episode for both Adama and Tigh's character development.
Source: Eruditorum Press
Battlestar Galactica
- Release Date
- 2004 - 2009-00-00
- Network
- SyFy
- Showrunner
- Ronald D. Moore
Cast
Edward James OlmosWilliam Adama
Mary McDonnellLaura Roslin
WHERE TO WATCH
Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction television series that premiered in 2004. The plot follows the crew of the aging Battlestar Galactica as they protect a small fleet of human survivors from the renewed threat of the Cylons, in a quest to find the mythical 13th colony, Earth.
- Directors
- Wayne Rose, Michael Nankin, Rod Hardy, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Edward James Olmos, Robert M. Young, Jeff Woolnough, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jonas Pate, Allan Kroeker, Anthony Hemingway, Jean de Segonzac, Marita Grabiak, James Head, Paul A. Edwards, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Brad Turner, Ronald D. Moore, Bill Eagles
- Franchise(s)
- Battlestar Galactica
- Seasons
- 4
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