I saw the miniseries that launched the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica in 2003 and I loved the changes from the cheesy original: the grittiness, the elliptical style, the ambiguity in both situations and individuals, the portrayal of Cylons as near-human, the strength (and high number) of the female characters.

But several obstacles intervened, including the fact that my cable agreement doesn't include the SciFi channel. So I didn't follow the series, though it kept hovering at the edge of my consciousness as a cultural phenomenon.

I recently bought the DVD of the miniseries and was reminded how strong the work was in both concept and execution. Knowing myself, I have the suspicion that I'm going to get the whole thing and watch it in one fell swoop, as I did with Xena and Samurai Champloo.

I'm a big fan of the re-envisioned series. Some of it has been just fabulous. Some of it has been over-the-top but I'm willing to forgive that.

The fourth season, which is half-way done, showed signs of exhaustion, veering even further into bleak black-emoting soap opera. But the cliffhanger of the mid-season was one of those HOLY SH*T! moments.

But the final 10 episodes won't even start until 2009. Damn.

I'm a fan of it as well. Though I agree that some parts of it have indeed been over the top, the masterfully executed themes and the gripping portrayals of reaction and emotion--from the subtlest moments to the displays of raw pathos--have had me hooked from the beginning season onwards.

And as for the withholding of the final 10 episodes until 2009, Damn sums up my thoughts exactly.