Battlestar Galactica Removed A Classic Sci-Fi Ship Detail Because Of Star Trek

If William Adama found his legs aching in Battlestar Galactica, he can blame the likes of James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard. While Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek are 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 behind Battlestar Galactica's 2004 reboot series, Moore first cut his sci-fi teeth on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in addition to a brief stint on Star Trek: Voyager.

Naturally, then, a hefty dose of Battlestar Galactica's DNA was carried over from Gene Roddenberry's universe, but as much as Star Trek informed what Battlestar Galactica was, it also informed what Battlestar Galactica was not. Alien species, for example, were taboo. Aside from the human-made Cylons and the mysterious angelic beings that were never properly explained, Battlestar Galactica deliberately 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 obvious Star Trek tropes that Battlestar Galactica also 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 Trek is 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. Direct Star Trek riffs like The Orville adopted this trope wholesale, while Star Wars' Millennium Falcon opted for the no-less-iconic pilot's seats. Even in the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica series, 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 in Battlestar 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.

Related 10 Coolest Spaceships In Battlestar Galactica, Ranked The most impressive, memorable, and creative ships in Battlestar Galactica all brought unique elements to the gritty sci-fi series.

Other crew members would be seated at their various stations, not dissimilar to Star 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 the Star Trek formula. Moore (via Wired) 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

Discussing Battlestar Galactica's anti-Star Trek philosophy, 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 departure from 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 in Star Trek, but the Galactica took that to another level, often feeling like Top Gun with cyborgs. Battlestar Galactica called upon all manner of military vernacular and minutiae in 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 towards Battlestar 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 helped Battlestar Galactica position itself as the grounded alternative to Star Trek.

Sources: Wired