CLASSIC IMAGE: CHEERING ON THEIR GREATEST HEROES!

An innocent man once again, Starbuck rejoins his loyal-to-the-end friend and Triad game partner Apollo, where he is also cheered on by sports fans across the Colonial fleet, as well as his dearest friends, in this warm-hearted character scene that the Classic Galactica series always did best, closing Murder on the Rising Star.

'MERRY CHRISTMAS!' (2025)

Our three favourite Galactican heroes pose for an early publicity shot in or after Saga of a Star World, likely taken mid to late 1978. Their search for Earth continues with heroism and insight.

We wish all our worldwide readers a safe, happy and very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous 2026! 

LOSING THEIR ONLY DEFENSE!

It's life pods to the ready as all the Viper squadron pilots are taken out by a mystery disease brought back to the Galactica by Lt.s Jolly and Boomer. Dr. Salik is working to isolate the infection's cause, but who will meantime defend the fleet from future Cylon attacks?

A tense scene from fan favourite, Lost Planet of the Gods.

'MISSION' AT 45: THE KAMIKAZE ATTACK!

A catastrophe on the bridge!

A spectacular sequence from the film (with great stunt work and pyrotechnics), even if it had been pinched from the weekly series episode Fire in Space, as the Galactica bridge and its crew are caught in a brutal kamikaze attack by a Cylon fighter packed with Solenite explosives that near destroys them, bringing many casualties and critically wounding Commander Adama at the worst possible time, his injured body soon taken to the Life Centre medical area for upcoming dangerous surgery amidst a now compromised, fire-stricken Galactica.

Running from a major explosion.

Tigh and Lt. Omega tend to the fallen Adama in the international lobby card for the film.

Lorne Greene is given his 'wounds' by the Universal make-up team.

'MISSION' AT 45: THE CYLON ATTACK CONTINUES!

With the firepower of three Basestar compliments of fighters at his command, Baltar launches his most devastating Cylon Raider attack yet on the Galactica, bringing destructive carnage in its wake, deliberately targeting its bridge and the landing bays. 

Baltar relishes the last Battlestar's destruction...

Attacking the Gemini freighter.

Colonial Vipers speed in to attack the Raiders.

The Raiders continue their fleet attacks.

The fleet's food supplies are threatened, as the Agro Ships come under fire.

Fires spread out across the Galactica bridge. How much longer can they hold out?

The Vipers are overwhelmed but valiantly fight on against the Raiders, as the enemy conflicts spreads out across the Colonial Rag-Tag fleet, a deliberate action by Baltar so as to drain their colonial battle thruster fuel supplies further.

'MISSION' AT 45: SECURING THE CYLON TANKERS!

Co-ordinating battle interception plans.

As the Colonial Viper squadrons of the Galactica and Pegasus begin integrating, so as to build a strong sense of teamwork, Adama and Cain make plans to capture a supply of Cylon fuel tankers to aid the depleted Colonial Rag-Tag fleet that is now stuck dead in space, ready prey for enemy attack. But Cain is unhappy with the planned intercept scenario, and will deviously find a way to make sure that the enormous fuel depot on Gamoray will be targeted instead. Tensions between the two leaders on future plans will soon reach breaking point.

Tracing the route of the Cylon Tankers and their escorts.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: SHOWCASING LIGHT AND DARKNESS!

It may not have gone past its fourth and final issue back in 1978, but the distinctive Battlestar Galactica poster magazine series, published by Paradise Press with Universal, remains treasured by fans. I still have to get hold of this one after all these years, what with its memorable Adama/Lucifer cover. 

In the UK, I only remember the first issue coming out, specifically targeted with the theatrical release of Saga of a Star World. Am I wrong about this?

CLASSIC IMAGE: POWER OF LIGHT, POWER OF DARKNESS!

Two powerful forces for good and evil meet in Commander Adama and Count Iblis, as Lorne Greene and Patrick Macnee share great character scenes together during the storytelling within the fan favourite War of the Gods.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE PASSING OF SERINA...

Truly one of the series saddest moments, the tenderly written and played finale scenes to Lost Planet of the Gods, as a tearful Boxey and Apollo say their final goodbyes to the fatally wounded Serina (Jane Seymour, getting the finale she wanted and deserved onscreen) in a private area aboard the Galactica. 

CLASSIC MEDIA: GETTING WEIRD WITH 'WEIRD WORLDS'!

The arrival of the trailblazing Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica States-side saw the debut of many all-new cash-in magazines celebrating their impact in cinema and on TV, alongside articles on other classics of the genre like the original Star Trek, The Outer Limits, and many Gerry Anderson productions. Weird Worlds made Galactica their launch launch cover (with a rare image) back in 1978, but did it ever make it to a second issue?

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: SAVED FROM ANNIHILATION!

"We've picked up an explosion. A big one!"

As the critical point of potential destruction is is reached, Lt. Rigel picks up the incredible news that the Ravashol Pulsar weapon has been destroyed in an immense explosion on the planet's surface. The Galactica and the human fleet have been miraculously saved, and jubilant celebration is soon in the air around the bridge as an equally joyous Adama and Tigh order the immediate dispatch of a shuttle and fighter escort down to Arcta to retrieve their friends and family...

The mountain is confirmed destroyed!

The bridge crew celebrate their success and camaraderie under pressure.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45 - CLOSING IN TO DESTRUCTION!

Another close shave for the Galactica as its bridge crew react to the continuous bombardment of Arcta's pulsar weapon against them, which generates too many and numerous destructive near misses. 

The energy beams grow closer and closer...

And the Cylon Basestars are closing in behind them...

A tense sequence of building threat that was well edited for this episode...

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: THE GALACTICA TASK FORCE ASSEMBLES...

Adama addresses the selected to win them over to the mission.

Cleaned-up, put in uniform, the four criminal members of the new Demolition Team are brought to Commander Adama, as the life or death situation is discussed and the full mission to the ice planet Arcta initiated. Alongside the four, led by Colonel Croft, will be a team of six Colonial Warriors, led by Captain Apollo, Lt. Boomer (who, in later filmed footage for the two-parter, revealed he pulled a tour of duty at ice station Thula), and, incredulously, Lt. Starbuck!

Interestingly, this episode has references to pursuit by 'Cylon Battlestars' rather than Basestars - presumably script continuity gaffes. But wouldn't it have been interesting to have seen another type of heavy duty Cylon space vehicle in the series?

Unused angle of Wolfe and Croft, the latter of whom has his rank of Colonial Warrior Colonel temporarily re-activated during the mission.

The Colonial support team is introduced: senior gunnery master Sgt. Haals (Curtis Credel). A deleted scene moment.

A cheer for the selected Sgt. Vickers (Walt Davis) who previously partook as one of the key and valiant rear gun crew at the Battle of Caprica. A deleted scene moment. 

Lt. Voight (actor unknown) - laser technician and Chief of Weapons. A deleted scene moment.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: APOLLO'S EXCLUSION!

Apollo visits his father in hie quarters, angry that, in his position as the top Colonial Warrior in the fleet, he has been declared non-expendable by the Galactica's computer in its survey mission team selection to the ice planet, warning that, without his experience, his not going could lead to humanity's ultimate destruction. 

Apollo vents his frustration...

As the highest rated warrior, Apollo must be sent on the mission.

Adama refuses any kind of paternal involvement has stopped his son from going on the mission and soon orders him to be a part of the task force.

Adama grants his permission for Apollo to command the main Colonial Warrior team.

A deleted scene that never made it into the two-part version of the story, with the Starbuck plotline of him joining the mission coming to the forefront instead.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: YOU WANT ME TO GET THESE PEOPLE?

Having received the computer selected list of 'specialists' needed for the mission to Arcta, a surprised Starbuck re-confirms the decision with Commander Adama. Surely the fleet's survival shouldn't depend upon the skills of "a band of murderers and cutthroats!"

Starbuck gives Boomer some bad news about the recruitment list!

Great behind the scenes image of Dirk Benedict on the bridge set.

In a deleted scene, Starbuck later returns to the Galactica bridge to check the final list of team members chosen to go to the surface, of which his name will soon be 'added' to the list. Athena is disappointed that convict Leda has gone on the mission rather than the computer choosing her.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: THE CYLON 'WEAPON' REVEALED!

Returned to the Galactica with vital scans on the Cylon's new and deadly weapon, our heroes, including a frustrated Starbuck (angry about not being able to rescue Cree), assemble on the bridge to work out a plan of survival and attack. Adama concludes that a team must ultimately be assembled via computer selection to destroy the pulsar before the weapon can be used on the approaching Colonial Fleet and the Galactica (capable of being destroyed by it in a single pulse, no less), whose herding into the quadrant by the Cylons has now been ominously confirmed...

Assessing the telemetry information on the super weapon.

An analysis of the aerial footage and the weapon begins...

A terrific posed publicity image for the scene.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: AN OBJECT IN SECTOR SIGMA!

The planet Arcta, soon discovered by Starbuck's deep space probe. This space planet image would be regularly used both in Galactica and Buck Rogers.

Starbuck and his patrol discover an object in Sector Sigma, which, when relayed to the bridge, is revealed as a planet with hostile weather conditions marked by di-ethene storms. The cadet patrol is ordered to stay at a distance from the planet, whilst Starbuck and Boomer begin a safe reconnoiter away from its gravitational pull...

Adama and Tigh with Flight Corporal Rigel (Sarah Rush, sporting a new hairstyle since the pilot) observe information on Arcta.

The scanner read out information is relayed to the Colonial pilots.

The harsh realm of Arcta...

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: HERDED TO WHERE?

On the Galactica bridge, Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) confers with his trusted aides, daughter Athena (Maren Jensen) and Colonel Tigh (Terry Carter) on his instincts that, with their recent attacks, the Cylons are herding the Galactica specifically into a nearby quadrant - a supposed 'safe passage'. But why?

Two lovely on-set posed publicity images taken for the story of Greene and Jensen.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE HAPPY WARRIORS!

They're normally seen and partaking in such serious moments on the Galactica bridge as Commander Adama and Colonel Tigh, so any chance to see Lorne Greene and Terry Carter having fun between filming, as seen with The Long Patrol, is always welcome.