I got the 3rd season as a gift and wondering if i would be able to get into it at all or be able to remotely follow it if i am completely uninitiated. tia.

You would be better off watching seasons 1&2 as they are always referencing events that happened in the past. Without watching the first two seasons you would be lost. (Plus you would miss some real good episodes)

I would highly recommend renting or buying the rest of the series first. This isn't an episodic show. With a few episodes as exceptions, it's generally one long story. The characters and their relationships to one another change significantly during the course of the show.

Keep in mind, Season 2 was split in half and was released on DVD as Seasons 2.0 and 2.5, with (I think) 10 episodes each.

So the viewing order would be this: Miniseries (Disc 1 of the Season 1 box set), Season 1 (I think it's 13 episodes), Season 2.0 (10 eps.), Season 2.5 (10 eps.), Season 3 (20 episodes).

You'll know about three episodes into the first season if you want to see anymore. If you don't want to see any more, there's something wrong with you!

Start at the beginning. It isn't really a show you should just jump into.

Don't forget BSG Razor (don't know if it qualifies as a movie or not)

You could try, but I wouldn't recommend it.

This is definitely a show you have to watch from the beginning if you want any chance of understanding what's going on.

that's what i was afraid of. i have this S3 and will try to rent the others, but this could get pricey with how BBV makes you rent each disc.

no.

If you like sci-fi, or even just gritty intelligent action/drama, your blind buy of S1 and 2 will be worthwhile.

I would recommend either buying them or getting setup w/ Netflix/BBonline. You should be able to get through at least season 1 during the trial period (assuming they are still offering 2 weeks free).

Where would Razor fit in this order? Reason I'm asking is I blind bought season 1 and have gotten really into it so now I'm planning for the rest.

Would you jump into TWIN PEAKS in Season 2 or THE X-FILES in Season 4? No, watch it from the beginning...you'll have less questions and more fully enjoy the shows.

Razor is a prequel, but should be watched after you've viewed all three seasons.

Not according to Glen Larsen it doesn't (he holds the rights for any BSG movie, thus Razor is a "special double episode")

As for timeline, production wise it was done as the first two episodes of a 22 ep 4th season (thus the rest of S4 will be 20 eps). You can watch it between S3 and S4, but it's such a jump in the timeline (in more ways than one) and a major tonal shift IMHO, that it fits better in the latter half of S2 between "The Captain's Hand" and "Downloaded". If you watch it like this, there is a spoiler that some of us consider minor and some others consider fairly important. The choice is yours.

I think you can safely watch it after season 2 before season 3. That's when I watched it and I don't think anything was spoiled. I also think it fits in better.

Minor spoiler...

well, i bit and got S1/2.0/2.5...miniseries seems good, but i have fallen asleep during it the past two nights. not sure if that is a bad sign or i am just really tired...

I should have also mentioned, I originally watched the 13 regular episodes of S1 before I ever saw the mini-series. You can kinda tell the producers didn't have their sea legs yet. But stick it out, it's worth it.

And don't forget to buy Razor!

isn't the mini-series the prelude? i mean wouldn't i be lost if i didn't see it. i will give S1 a try first. i still have the reciept and wrapped 2.0 & 2.5, so we will see.

The Mini-Series definitely has its slow parts. If you aren't hooked by the first series episode ("33") then you might not get into it.

This sealed my fate as a fan of the show during the back half of the MS.

I'd highly recommend watching the mini, then the rest of the seasons, and finish it off with Razor. The mini really sets up the entire show magnificently and season 3 is probably the hardest season of them all to be able to just jump into. You would really be lost. As it is, the first season pretty much resumes where the mini left off; they assume you've seen the mini before the show.

I watched Razor when it aired and I personally don't recommend watching it until you've finished with season 3. I think it would totally put a damper on some of the plot revelations about a certain character and change the way viewers see that character in season 3, when I think that was the intended effect for season 4.

the miniseries is the first disc of s1
it's really more than a prelude... to me it's still the best and most amazing part of the whole series.

things that happen there are referenced constantly in the regular eps


also, bsg is such an amazing show that i don't know why you wouldn't want to see every part of it, or as much of it as you could

i thought before i watched the pilot, that i knew exactly what it was gonna be - and i figured it would be average at best. couldn't understand why people who's opinions i respected were raving about it. chalked it up to groupthink and laughed at them behind their backs.

then i saw the miniseries and i realized what they were talking about

it's frakking epic

i've watched it three times and it just gets better every time

I fell asleep the first two times I tried to watch the first miniseries too. My friend kept hyping it to me, and I was like, "I don't know, I'm not feeling it." And then after the first few episodes of season 1 I was totally into it. By season 2 I was hooked the way people love lost.