The award-winning 2004 series Battlestar Galactica has eight spin-offs, along with books and video games, which can mean that working out a timeline for the rebooted series can appear confusing.

Starting the Battlestar Galactica franchise for the first time is more straightforward than it might seem, as the best way to watch Battlestar Galactica in order is to begin with the prequels. These have been less critically praised than Battlestar Galactica, but both add value to the series. The prequels add new layers of worldbuilding and insight into the forming of the Cylon army and show the character development of recurring characters in Battlestar Galactica, like Commander William Adama. Caprica was the first Battlestar Galactica spin-off, released in 2010, and this is where to begin.

Caprica

Caprica Told The Cylons Backstory

The Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica is set 58 years before the events in Battlestar Galactica, though Caprica was released six years after the rebooted series. Caprica's focus on storylines involving religion and human connections gives it a slower pace, and there are few surprises for audiences familiar with Battlestar Galactica. Still, although Caprica was canceled after one season, it is well worth watching. Caprica gives an early introduction to William Adama (seen as a child) and insight into the Cylons' backstory and formation of the Cylon army. This adds an extra dimension to Battlestar Galactica by expanding on its lore.

Battlestar Galactica often treated the Cylon race as a menacing mystery, which was made more threatening by the fact that Cylons could perfectly imitate humans and infiltrate the ship. Though Battlestar Galactica revealed the Cylons' greater plans over time, comparatively little was known about their culture in the beginning. Caprica elaborated on the Cylons' world, showing how the Cylons developed consciousness and religion. This adds an extra layer of interest when watching Battlestar Galactica later, as the audience can see how some of the Cylons have been manipulated in the name of their faith.

Blood & Chrome

Battlestar Galactica's Movies And Web Series Are Optional Extras

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome began as a web series. The events of Blood & Chrome take place between Caprica and Battlestar Galactica, in the tenth year of the First Cylon War. Adama is close to retirement in Battlestar Galactica, and Blood & Chrome follows him as a recently graduated pilot signed to the Galactica, and seeing his first war. The series received criticism for its "stilted" dialogue, but, Blood & Chrome was praised for its robot/animal hybrids, which got it an Emmy Award nomination for "outstanding special visual effects."

Blood & Chrome began as one of four web series that expanded the world around Battlestar Galactica, and were used to promote the main series. Of the two Battlestar Galactica movies, Razor was packed with references and flashbacks and considered a reward for longtime fans rather than new viewers. The Plan tells the same story from Battlestar Galactica seasons 1 and 2 but from the Cylons' perspective. The Plan can be seen as an epilogue after Battlestar Galactica, but the movies and other web series are usually considered optional extras, rather than essential viewing.

Battlestar Galactica

The Show Ran For Four Seasons

The Battlestar Galactica miniseries and TV show continue the story of Adama, now a commander, in the aftermath of a Cylon attack that broke a 40-year peace treaty. Battlestar Galactica has a 95% positive Rotten Tomatoes rating, multiple awards and nominations, and a legacy. Battlestar Galactica changed the science-fiction genre: its longer storylines, gritty action, and serious content even influenced later episodes of science-fiction staples like Star Trek and Doctor Who. Many science-fiction shows had previously been campy, with few significant roles for women, while Battlestar Galactica showed the violence of war and introduced fan-favorite characters like Starbuck.

The controversial ending of Battlestar Galactica left several questions unanswered, and, when Peacock announced that there would be a rebooted TV series and movie set in the same universe as Battlestar Galactica, it appeared that some of these were going to be addressed. The planned Battlestar Galactica reboot has now been canceled, however, this does not mean that it will never be made. Many successful science fiction movies and TV shows have been rebooted after a long break, including Quantum Leap and Doctor Who, and as Battlestar Galactica itself was a reboot, there may be hope yet.