If William Adama found his legs aching inBattlestar Galactica, he can blame the likes of James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard. WhileBattlestar GalacticaandStar Trekare two very different franchises, their spiritual connection can be felt within the myriad of sci-fi tropes shared between them. The inter-franchise bond is even stronger because of one Ronald D. Moore. The brains behindBattlestar Galactica’s 2004 reboot series, Moore first cut his sci-fi teeth onStar Trek: The Next GenerationandStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, in addition to a brief stint onStar Trek: Voyager.
Naturally, then, a hefty dose ofBattlestar Galactica’s DNA was carried over from Gene Roddenberry’s universe, but as much asStar Trekinformed whatBattlestar Galacticawas, it also informed whatBattlestar Galacticawas not. Alien species, for example, were taboo. Aside from thehuman-made Cylonsand the mysterious angelic beings that were never properly explained,Battlestar Galacticadeliberately avoided extraterrestrial races, and that bold decision ensured Galactica never veered into the same fantastical territory occupied by the Enterprise. There were, however, some less obviousStar Trektropes thatBattlestar Galacticaalso made a conscious choice to drop.
Adama Didn’t Have A Commander’s Chair In Battlestar Galactica Because Of Star Trek
Standing Tickets Only At Battlestar Galactica’s CIC
Most iconic space-faring vessels within the sci-fi genre come fitted with a captain’s chair of some description.Star Trekis the most obvious example, with captains all the way from Kirk to Burnham enjoying the benefits of a special seat positioned centrally on the bridge, allowing them to call orders and direct battle maneuvers. DirectStar Trekriffs likeThe Orvilleadopted this trope wholesale, whileStar Wars' Millennium Falcon opted for the no-less-iconic pilot’s seats. Even in theoriginal 1978Battlestar Galacticaseries, the titular ship’s bridge came with a commander’s chair.
Somewhere along the way, the notion became accepted as the norm within sci-fi: a spaceship with a crew led by a captain must typically have a big chair in the middle where said captain sits. That is not the case inBattlestar Galactica’s 2004 reboot series. Whenever Commander, later Admiral, Adama assembled his high-ranking crew members in the CIC (Combat Information Center) ahead of a big operation, his usual position was standing in front of a large console designed for strategic planning.
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Other crew members would be seated at their various stations, not dissimilar toStar Trek’s standard setup, but whereas a Starfleet captain would perch on a chair in the middle,Adama stood before his crew like a college lecturer or orchestra conductor. Ronald D. Moore has confirmed this unusual design choice was a calculated response to theStar Trekformula. Moore (viaWired) stated, “I’d done so much Trek, and I really wanted to have a general rule that if Trek went right, we were going to go left… No captain’s chair, there’s no place for the commander to sit.”
Why Battlestar Galactica Dropping The Captain’s Chair Trope Worked So Well
The Galactica Just Wouldn’t Be The Same If Adama Sat Down
DiscussingBattlestar Galactica’s anti-Star Trekphilosophy, Moore explained, “Trek had done it, and done it so well for so long.” Certainly,small details like the CIC’s lack of seating served to make the Galactica feel like a departurefrom the norm, but the real wisdom of the design deviation went much deeper.
The image of Adama standing over Galactica’s tactical console carries far more realism, conjuring up comparisons to wartime generals from history.
Battlestar Galactica’s switch from a bridge to a CIC maintained the show’s more militaristic presentation. Starfleet had always been a quasi-military outfit inStar Trek, but the Galactica took that to another level, often feeling likeTop Gunwith cyborgs.Battlestar Galacticacalled upon all manner of military vernacular and minutiaein order to feel authentic - everything from call signs and tactical briefings to the formal etiquette and ceremony one would expect on a real-world naval vessel. Stripping out Adama’s chair made a big contribution towardsBattlestar Galactica’s strong military vibe.
The image of a central figure commanding a spaceship from the comfort of a fancy chair is entirely the creation of science fiction, suited for the needs of filming an ensemble cast. The image of Adama standing over Galactica’s tactical console carries far more realism, conjuring up comparisons to wartime generals from history poring over maps and charts laid out on a desk as they bark orders over a radio. While Adama may have returned to his quarters with a bad back, his traditional standing position inside the CIC undeniably helpedBattlestar Galacticaposition itself as the grounded alternative toStar Trek.
Sources:Wired
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction television series that premiered in 2004. The plot follows the crew of the aging Battlestar Galactica as they protect a small fleet of human survivors from the renewed threat of the Cylons, in a quest to find the mythical 13th colony, Earth.
