It’s barely a debate that the rebooted version of Battlestar Galactica is one of the best science fiction TV shows of the 21st century. And, at this point, it’s been over two decades since this “new” Battlestar debuted on Syfy Channel in 2003 (and you know it’s been a long time, since for most of the run of BSG, the network was still called “The Sci-Fi Channel”). In 2026, Battlestar Galactica doesn’t really need to be designated as the reimagined series, because at this point, as charming and wonderful as the 1978 show is, collectively, most of us think of this version of the franchise when we think of Galactica.
And part of the reason why the contemporary Battlestar is hard to top is that it’s the perfect blend of cool, thought-provoking science fiction, and unflinching, complex social allegory. While rarely on-the-nose or pedantic with its cultural parallels, Battlestar did, very often, give fans exactly what they wanted when it came to awesome sci-fi action. And one example where BSG’s social and political significance was totally eclipsed by sheer badassery was the epic battle in Season 3’s “Exodus, Part 2.” Twenty years after this pivotal episode aired on October 20, 2006, one moment is still burned into our brains.
