Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome was intended to be the third series in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica universe, following Battlestar Galactica and Caprica. Set during the First Cylon War, the story follows a young William Adama as he begins his military career fighting the Cylons.
Unfortunately, the series was never picked up. Instead, the pilot was released as ten short online episodes in 2012 before airing as a TV movie in 2013.
It definitely has a low budget feel at times, especially with some of the CGI backgrounds, but the action scenes and space battles are really cool. It’s a shame it never became a full series, as the First Cylon War had so much potential for more stories.
The show follows a young William Adama, played by Luke Pasqualino, as he begins his military career aboard the Galactica. He is partnered with a battle weary officer, Coker, played by Ben Cotton. The two end up on a dangerous mission into Cylon controlled space.
Pasqualino had some big shoes to fill, taking on a younger version of the character made famous by Edward James Olmos. He brings a certain charm to Adama, who at this point is far less battle hardened and a little cocky, believing he is almost untouchable. Interestingly, Coker is much closer to the Adama we know from the original series. He has seen the horrors of war and understands just how brutal it can be.
I think that’s what makes them such a good pairing. Coker can see a younger version of himself in Adama, and in many ways becomes a mentor to him. It’s an interesting dynamic to watch, especially knowing what Adama will eventually become.
What I really like about this TV movie is that we already know stories about the First Cylon War, how brutal it was and how Adama became a legend because of it. But here we get to see him as just a young man who is in way over his head and isn’t quite prepared for the brutality of the war. We know the legendary commander he will become, but it’s interesting to see the inexperienced young pilot who still has a lot to learn.
Unlike the previous two series, Blood & Chrome was filmed almost entirely against green screens rather than using the physical sets that Battlestar Galactica and Caprica were known for.
While Caprica focused on family drama, religion and the creation of the Cylons, Blood & Chrome was all about military action, space battles and soldiers trying to survive the horrors of war. The special effects helped the movie stand apart from the previous shows, but they also made parts of it look a little wooden.
Part of me can understand why the show was never picked up for a full series. At times, it felt like a cheap 2000s Syfy movie. But I still wish it had been given a chance. It would have been interesting to see how the characters developed into the people we know from Battlestar Galactica and how the First Cylon War played out. I also wonder whether, if the show had received a full season, they would have continued using green screens or moved towards physical sets.
I watched the movie in its entirety after purchasing it through Google Play. However, it was originally released on YouTube in ten short parts, which I think would have been an odd way to experience the story, especially with how much it relies on the action and tension building throughout.
One thing I find interesting about Blood & Chrome is just how different it is from Caprica. While Caprica took its time building its characters and exploring the creation of the Cylons, Blood & Chrome throws us straight into the war. Both shows had something different to offer, and I think that’s what makes it such a shame that neither got the chance to tell its full story.
I enjoyed the action in Blood & Chrome, but I do wonder whether it would have developed the same depth as the previous two series had it been given more time. There’s only so much character development you can fit into a 90 minute movie, especially when so much of it is spent fighting Cylons. I would have liked to see the show slow down a little and explore the people fighting this war, not just the battles themselves, however the battles were very cool.
If you want to check out Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome (2012), you can rent it in Australia through Apple TV or Amazon Video from $4.99. It’s also listed on Google TV.
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