By GustavoLeao / 22:22, 14 July 2005 / General Genre/SciFi

Hollywood North Reporter just posted an exclusive interview with BATTLESTAR GALACTICA actor Richard Hatch, who starred as 'Captain Apollo' in the original series and now guest-star as 'Tom Zarek' in the new remake. Here are a few excerpts from the interview, in which he talks about the new show's second season.



HNR: Looking back with 20/20 hindsight over the past year-and-a-half, why do you think this new version of Battlestar Galactica is resonating so strongly with both audiences and the mainstream press?

Hatch: A good show is a good show. No matter what you think, or like, or don't like... a well-written, well-acted, well-produced show is going to win over the majority of the core audience eventually. I also think that sci-fi fans are starving for truly good science fiction... and I think the press happens to like this show because it's extremely well written and acted. Usually, when it comes to science fiction, the press tends to put that in quotes, you know, "it's science fiction", and they relegate it to a place where they really don't take it seriously.

Here, Ron Moore has created a show that in a sense is for our times, and mirrors the sociological, political situations of our day""and actually speaks to this generation. I also think that when you add interesting characters and story plotting to phenomena that anybody today can relate to, then I think your show will move beyond the confines of 'genre' or 'demographic' and reach a broader, larger audience. And in the case of this show, anybody who likes good drama will find much to enjoy about Galactica. The characters, the relationships, the politics - everything that takes place - are elements that anybody in this day and age can identify with and find compelling. I truly think that Galactica is building a bridge between the world of science fiction and the world of today.

HNR: How would you characterize the tone of the show this year vs. last year, as far as the stories are concerned?

Hatch: I think any new show has to lay a lot of backstory and foundation for the characters and their relationships; a lot of emoting relating to each other, dealing with each other... a lot of issues and conflict, and yet at the same time - not unlike real life - you really don't know these people yet. It often takes a show till its second or third season till you've gotten to know the characters and bonded to them. Then as they get into difficult situations, you care about what happens to them.

In the first season, the show started out under circumstances where you got to know these characters dark side... their conflicted personalities and each one's issues and agendas. This year, the biggest change that I've observed is that they seem to be creating more of a sense of extended family with the characters, something with which I was familiar during the run of the original GALACTICA series. These characters do pull together to survive and they do care about each other. And you'll see that this season.

They're also starting to deal with the spiritual and philosophical elements of the original show more this season, and the entire issue of the 13 tribe and Kobol and the ancient 'root' race. In effect, they're starting to explore some of the core mythology that drove the original series. They're just doing it with greater depth and in their own unique way. They're going full bore into things that we barely touched upon in the original series.

HNR: So will we see the whole Egyptian, Mayan, ancient Earth civilizations thing going on this year, then?

Richard: Well, I can't get into the specifics, but I will tell you that they are seriously exploring the mythology this year. And I think that fans of this new show who have enjoyed it on its own merits - but who also enjoyed the original series - will be very happy with this second season. All the elements in this show are gelling.

HNR: Episode three, "Fragged," is the first season two episode in which you appear. Can you give us just a hint of what Tom Zarek is up to in that episode?

Hatch: 'Tom Zarek' is challenging 'Tigh's authority and leadership, and his declaration of Martial Law. The storyline speaks to the huge issue of balancing individual freedom with survival, something those of us in the United States are all familiar with right now. And even though 'Zarek's highly competitive with Laura Roslin, he has tremendous respect for her, and in this case it's civilian vs. military, so I'll let you guess where he falls in that struggle.

HRN: The much talked about "Pegasus" episode is finally a reality this year. What are your thoughts on how the story has been altered from the original?

Hatch: I think that pitting 'Adama' against a female admiral is a fascinating idea, given the far more competitive nature of women in this day and age and their essential contributions to military service. I think this episode will probably resonate on many levels, as well as being a nice ode to the original, "Living Legend" episode.

I think that once one dissociates oneself from making comparisons between this and the original series, the better one is able to enjoy those storylines from the original that are being resurrected... since they're being told in new and interesting ways with a more contemporary resonance.

HNR : At a recent convention in London, Glen Larson allegedly announced that he plans to begin a big screen continuation feature of the original series in about 18 months. Have you heard about this or have you been approached about it?

Hatch: No, I haven't heard anything about him mounting such a project. It's news to me. I honestly don't even know if he has the rights to do a feature, so I find it a little suspect. But who knows? Stranger things have happened.

The full interview can be found here.