Summary
Some of the best parts of any sci-fi show are the space battles. These are big, expensive set-piece spectacles, full of action and showing off everything the production team can manage. The reimaginedBattlestar Galacticaseries is no different. The show features some of the best sci-fi space battles of all time, from high-stakes, last-ditch efforts involving an entire fleet, to smaller scale battles between only a handful of combatants.
With a string of awesome battles,Battlestar Galacticawas a masterpiece of sci-fi television, spawning not one but two spin-off shows to go with what was an instant classic of sci-fi TV. Among those spectacular showdowns, these are the most memorable.
10Battle of the Binary Star System
Episode/s: The Captain’s Hand
Featuring the Battlestar Pegasus, squadrons of Vipers, Raptors, three Cylon Basestars, and numerous Raiders and Heavy Raiders, the Battle of the Binary Star System made for some fantastic television. This battle wasBattlestar Galacticain all its glory, a true testament to what can be achieved on the small screen.
Lured into a trap by the Cylons, the Battlestar Pegasus is forced to commit to a defensive action and battle three Basestars at once. Thanks to Kara Thrace, Lee Adama, and the sacrifice of Commander Garner, the Cylons are forced to retreat — but not until after a heavy thrashing.
9Battle of Kobol
Episode/s: Kobol’s Last Gleaming
Despite its smaller scale compared to many inBattlestar Galactica, the Battle of Kobol was an important one. It took place in the space above the long-abandoned, thought mythical, planet Kobol. The Kobol arc brought with it some excellent viewing, including the iconic Kobol opera house vision scenes, and featured an epic space battle to wrap it all together.
While things weren’t exactly going well on the ground, events in space took a bad turn too, as Cylons prepared for a boarding action against the Galactica. The Battle of Kobol made for tense viewing on all fronts, which is perfect television (if a little stressful to watch).
8Battle of the Tylium Asteroid
Episode/s: Hand of God
The Battle of the Tylium Asteroid made for a fantastic piece of television. In lore, this battle marks the first time in forty years that the humans had launched an offensive against Cylon forces, and it was worth the wait. Using a combination of sneaky tactics and superior flight skills, Colonial forces outmaneuver the Cylons in a battle to secure essential spaceship fuel for the humans' refugee fleet.
The heroes were faced with massive numbers of Cylons. However, the quick thinking of both Adamas andKara Thrace, along with the skill of the Viper pilots, sees the Cylon fleet destroyed.
7Battle of the Ionian Nebula
Episode/s: Crossroads, Part II & He That Believeth In Me
This spectacular set-piece action involves the Battlestar Galactica and a full complement of Vipers and Raptors, along with four Basestars and their associated Raiders and Heavy Raiders. The Battle of the Ionian Nebula is one ofBSG’sbest space battles.
Its importance in the lore can’t be understated. This was this battle that kicked off the Cylon Civil War, which ultimately led fto a human victory over the Cylon forces. All that, and it was set against the stunning backdrop of the Ionian Nebula itself.
6The Battle of Ragnar Anchorage
Episode/s: 33
One of the first space battles in the reimaginedBattlestar Galactica, the Battle of Ragnar Anchorage is a visual spectacle worthy of the highest praise. This battle served to ground the series' approach to space fighting. It also contextualized the abilities of the Cylon fleet in comparison with the Galactica and its fighters just after the start of thesecond Cylon War. Viewers can only watch in terror as the Basestar pummels the Galactica with its missiles.
Not only did it do that, but the Battle of Ragnar Anchorage also helped viewers understand humanity’s fragile position in the post-Cylon attack world ofBattlestar Galactica.It served to drive home the precarious situation the Colonial Fleet found itself in.
5Battle of the Asteroid Field
Episode/s: Scar
It may not have had quite the same high-stakes consequences as some other battles inBattlestar Galactica; however, the Battle of the Asteroid Field was a fantastic look into a smaller-scale but no less epic battles between the Colonial Fleet and the Cylons.
The enemy in this fight was an experienced, veteran Cylon Raider named ‘Scar’ by the Colonials. The Battle of the Asteroid Field saw Kara Thrace and her pilots pitted against — for the first time in history — a Cylon fleet capable of dying.
4Battle of the Resurrection Hub
Episode/s: The Hub
Probably the most important battle in the entire series, the Battle of the Resurrection Hub was a joint operation between the Colonial Fleet and a group of Cylon rebels. The Colonial Fleet’s goal was to end the Cylons' ability to resurrect once and for all. Featuring Vipers and a rebel Cylon Basestar, the Battle of the Resurrection Hub was filled withBSG’s trademarked verve and style.
Together, the Fleet and the Cylon rebels rendered the Cylons mortal with a combination of trickery and good old nuclear ordnance. This key battle marked a major turning point in the series. It meant that Cylons and humans were playing the same game — with the same stakes — as resurrection technology was known only to theFinal Five Cylons.
3Battle of the Colony
Episode/s: Daybreak
Set against the backdrop of a black hole, the Battle of the Colony is the final conflict ofBattlestar Galactica.Started as a last-ditch effort to rescuehuman-Cylon hybrid Hera Agathon, the Battle of the Colony was a dramatic and spectacular bit of television.
Featuring a frantic, high-stakes space battle and less serious boarding action, the Battle of the Colony was a real treat to watch. It was the climax of the sci-fi masterpiece that wasBattlestar Galactica. This battle resulted in the eventual destruction of the Battlestar Galactica itself, leading directly to the events of the finale when the remnant fleetsettled on Earth. And it involved a giant space station being sucked into a black hole itself, which was an extremely cool bit of sci-fi television.
2Battle of the Resurrection Ship
Episode/s: Resurrection Ship
One of the most important battles in the entireBattlestar Galacticareimagined series, this was a fantastic set-piece battle with all the spectacle viewers had come to expect, and some high stakes too. Throughout the series, it was discovered the Cylons had the ability to resurrect, making death a mere inconvenience. In a joint operation with the Battlestar Pegasus, the Galactica and its crew launched an attack on aCylon resurrection shipto put an end to the Cylons' resurrection abilities.
Of course, this didn’t solve the problem of Cylon resurrection for good. But it did deliver the first actual Cylon casualties of the war and was a big boost of morale for the Colonial fleet. And it made for some excellent viewing.
1Battle of New Caprica
Episode/s: Exodus Part III
The Battle of New Caprica is one of the standout battle sequences — on ground or in space — in all sci-fi television. As the culmination of the New Caprica arc, the Battle of New Caprica delivered on the promise of something truly spectacular. Faced with overwhelming odds, with the lives of almost every remaining human at stake, Admiral Adama executed an extremely risky FTL jump maneuver to get his ship into place to support the New Caprican Resistance.
This wild risk worked, and allowed the brilliant Battle of New Caprica sequence to get going. This battle resulted in the destruction of no less than four Cylon Basestars, the ground occupation forces, and innumerable Raiders and Heavy Raiders. Unfortunately, the Battlestar Pegasus was also destroyed. Thistruly magnificent shipwas sorely missed after its demise.
