Last night was a "must have" TV evening for a sad-do like me.

Childhood memory caught up with Adult reality, when Sky Movies showed the first installment of the new version of Battlestar Galaticia.

I had noticed that this "re imaging" of the late 70's classic Sci-Fi series was on it's way, when, after one of those "lets see what comes up "searches on Google, brought up page upon page of missives based on shock and horror.

Fan sites across the Internet were complaining bitterly that The Sci-Fi Channel had committed the ultimate crime, they had re-written and restyled the Battlestar Galacticia. It was no longer the stuff of their memories. It had been debased, destroyed.(This is one of those missives )

Now, before going on any further, I remember the same being said of Star Trek when the next generation series was commission (although the "bleating" on the Internet didn't really exist then). But I, like last night, viewed the new series as what it is - a new series, someone else's view on the same story.

And what has happened to Star Trek - The Next Generation?

It is there, along side the original Star Trek series, as a favourite TV program of many. There is, and always will be, arguments between the supporters of all the various Star Trek variants (inclusive of Deep Space Nine and Voyager) which one is the best, which one is the definitive "Star Trek".

As far as I concerned they all have an affection in my viewing heart, and why?

Because they are all different in the their own right, and that is how I watched the Battlestar last night.

Liam, my eldest lad had also seen some of the original series and wanted to see what "all the fuss"was about, so , seeing as it is half term, we let him watch it in his bedroom.

What I saw was fabulous. The series is well made, much in the style, I thought, of "Space, above and beyond". There is a more realistic slant to the way the characters and the story work.The Colonial Vipers , the "Spitfires" of the goodies, now steer with steering jets. The smaller details have been covered. In these PC times, the Galaticia crew is truly mixed gender, with both male and female "warriors". But then, if the wars had been going on for as long as they were supposed to have, then the use of anyone with the right skills would be necessary.

I loved it, and I'm looking forward to the final episode tonight.

The basic story, for those of you who are asking "what is he on about?"

Humankind lives in the far reaches of space on the planets making up the 12 colonies (based around the signs of the zodiac)

Aeriana

Aeriana was once considered the "backward" colony. Situated closet to the Colonial/ Cylon border, Aeriana was always under attack by the Cylons.

Aquaria

Aquaria is mainly a waterworld with vast cities built both on (via "floating cities")and below the calm seas. Aquarians are mainly peaceful people, living in harmony with nature.

Canceria

Canceria is sometimes called the "Nightmare Colony". The skies are dark red, much volcanic activity produces continuous amounts of soot into the air. Cancerians are a proud people who work hard and don't expect much of life. Cancerians are rough, tough and resourceful.

Caprica

The seat of power for the colonies, Caprica is the largest, most urbanised, and most industrialised of all colonies. 55% of all industrial output in all the colonies comes from Caprica, and Caprica is over 79% urbanised. Before the holocaust, Caprica's population was the largest at 11.5 billion inhabitants. The holocaust devastated the planet and left only 2.9 billion inhabitants.

Gemoni

Gemoni is considered the stubborn colony. The last colony to join the Colonial Unification Movement, many Gemoni's still speak their own language and refuse to participate in Colonial affairs. Gemoni's pride themselves on their heritage and still continue to battle the Cylons on their own turf.

Leosia

Leosia is considered the art/literature colony. The planet is truly beautiful with terraformed lakes and landscape that hosts various places to sit and write or paint. Leosia is naturally a peaceful planet but had to militarise with the Cylon threat.

Libra

Libra is the banking powerhouse in the colonies. Large banking institutions and stock exchanges cover the whole planet and Libra is home to the Colonial Stock Exchange located in the capital city of Olympis.

Piscon

Piscon is mainly an agrarian colony. Most foodstuffs and food related manufacturing occur on the planet. Limited other manufacturing include various space transports, weapons, and med packs.

Sagitara

Sagitara is considered the colonial military "powerhouse". Most new technologies both war related and civilian related develop on the planet. The planet is host to numerous learning facilities that have been rebuilt. The most notable, the Sagittaran Military Academy, developed most of the Colonial war machine's weapons.

Scorpia

Scorpia was the last colony to achieve spaceflight. Scorpians tend to have a rigid society based heavily on the military. Most Scorpians excel in the Colonial military due to the rigid upbringing of the society. Scorpia is also home to numerous training grounds and various exercises for Colonial Warriors.

Taura

Taura is considered the vacationer's paradise. Large beautiful oceans cover the planet and the vast array of small islands that dot the planet are extremely beautiful and the perfect paradise for vacationers!!!

Virgo

Virgo is one of the top three industrialised colonies behind Caprica and Sagitara. The Virgo Fleet Systems shipyards are where most of the Colony's Battlestar go for repairs or refitting, and is one of the leaders in Battlestar construction. The first Battlestar, the Columbia was built here.

The enemy of these humans are the Cylons. A race of Robots , developed by an unknown reptilian race or Humankind it's self, in the dim darkness of history as a self repairing, self replicating race of slaves. But the slaves fought back. The Cylons became remorseless, relentless and determined.

Their aim?

To destroy Mankind.

The fight carries on for years, with the Colonies forces being headed by the mighty Battlestars. Huge ships, space borne "aircraft carriers", carrying thousands of personal. Along with their own defencive laser armaments, the fight is taken to the Cylons via the Colonial Vipers.

The Cylon Forces, are , however, equally armed. They pursue the humans , launching their attacks from massive rotating base ships, spewing out the nightmare swarms of Cylon Raiders..

The main premise of both T.V. series is this.

The war with the Cylons' is coming to an end. The Battle Fleets are collecting together, near the Colony Worlds, to celebrate the peace.

But mankind is betrayed by one of it's own . Baltar gives the Cylons the information to launch a devastating attack on the Colony Worlds . The Fleet is caught napping, the home worlds attacked and destroyed. Once the attack is over there is only the Galactica left of the mighty Battlestars to defend the remnants of Mankind.

But where can they go?

The Colony worlds have been obliterated, and the Cylons are hunting every last human in all of known Space.

But there is a legend. A 13th Colony. Known to have existed, but it's location lost in the mists of Colonial history. A place where the last vestiges of Mankind still live. It is decided that the remains of the Colonies must go in search of this fabled 13th Colony.

          The Two Commanders

Lead by Commander Adama, the "Captain" of the Galaticia, in what ever transport they can find.

Scavenging food, provisions,weapons, the "rag-tag and fugitive fleet" follows in the wake of the mighty Battlestar. Their only defence, the remaining Vipers, cunning, and luck. This mish-mash fleet sets off, out into the darkness of the void.

They go in search of EARTH