Few shows have left as significant a mark on sci-fi television as 2004’s reimagined Battlestar Galactica reboot, with the series inspiring shows like The Expanse. Battlestar‘s gritty, realistic tone and deeply human storytelling set a new standard for the genre. It was revolutionary in its portrayal of hard-hitting realism, political intrigue, and moral ambiguity. It pushed the boundaries of what modern audiences expected from science fiction.
When The Expanse debuted in 2015, it quickly became a fan favorite for many of the same reasons, drawing unavoidable comparisons between the two SyFy Channel original series. The connective tissue between Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse is undeniable, a clear lineage in the evolution of top-shelf science fiction on television. Both series remind us that stories grounded in realism, humanity, and moral complexity can thrive in even the most fantastical settings.
7 Battlestar Galactica’s Realistic Space Battles Mirrored The Expanse
Battlestar Galactica’s Nukes Inspired The Expanse’s Weaponry
One of the most striking elements of Battlestar Galactica was how it treated space combat. Rather than relying on clichéd laser beams or endless explosions, Battlestar Galactica battles were grounded in realism. Ships felt bulky and lived-in, prioritizing functionality over flashy designs. In Galactica, Vipers and Raiders maneuvered in zero gravity with weight and inertia, making combat feel authentic and tense.
This same approach resonated deeply in The Expanse. The series showcased space battles that adhered to real-world physics. The Rocinante’s crew relied on Newtonian physics as they evaded enemies, and thrusters scorched space as the ship spun to orient itself for combat. Missiles and bullets dominated over blasters and phasers, setting the show apart from similar series. This commitment to realism elevated the emotional stakes so every fired projectile had weight, every explosion had consequences, and there were legitimate stakes for every skirmish.
The Colonial Fleet in BSG used nuclear warheads sparingly, a constant reminder of their devastating power. Similarly, The Expanse followed suit, highlighting the destructive capabilities of nukes against civilian and military targets alike. The infamous battle of the Donnager in the early season 1 episode “CQB” highlighted this approach, as Martian gunships fired barrages of kinetic rounds, shredding their enemies.
Turning away from futuristic weapons helped give the battle sequences in both shows an unsettling sense of plausibility, showcasing a sort of warfare one could imagine emerging as humanity moves to the stars. There’s something far more terrifying about battling with tools already understood, sparking questions about how these abilities might evolve in our real-world future.
6 Battlestar Galactica & The Expanse Avoided Alien Villains
Human Drama Took The Spotlight
Unlike many space operas, Battlestar Galactica was notable for keeping the conflict largely human-centric. The Cylons, while technically artificial lifeforms, were created by humans and evolved to reflect humanity’s worst traits. Galactica’s battle wasn’t about defeating some elusive alien race. Its story focused on humanity’s survival, trust issues, and internal conflicts.
Similarly, The Expanse largely avoided the traditional alien antagonist trope. While the Protomolecule served as a mysterious force, it was more of a tool than an actual sentient foe. The show’s real conflict was between human factions — Earth, Mars, and the Belt. The series followed how power struggles, ideologies, and greed drive humanity to destroy itself, even with the vast capabilities of space at their fingertips.
By moving away from external alien threats, both Galactica and The Expanse brought the focus inward, asking hard questions about humanity’s own capacity for destruction and redemption. Too often, sci-fi series place the blame on outsiders, but both shows resisted the temptation, to great effect.
5 Battlestar Galactica Proved “Realistic” Space Sci-Fi Could Work
BSG Pioneered The Shift From Fantasy Into Hard Realism
Before Battlestar Galactica, science fiction on television largely opted for escapism. Shows like Star Trek and Stargate SG-1 offered idealistic futures with neatly resolved narratives. Galactica, on the other hand, took a grittier approach. Scarce resources and fleet logistics were as central to the story as space battles, with the show covering facets of the plot that other shows would have kept off-screen. This move proved to audiences and creators alike that there was a demand for more realistic depictions of interstellar drama.
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The Expanse took this ball and ran with it. From its inception, The Expanse leaned into its hard sci-fi roots. It embraced orbital mechanics, depicted life in space as difficult and unglamorous, and focused on resource scarcity as a central plotline. By following Galactica’s lead, The Expanse carved out its own place as a standout series in its own right when it came to realism-focused sci-fi.
4 Battlestar Galactica’s Politics Inspired The Expanse’s Drama
Power Struggles And Moral Ambiguity Took Center Stage In Both Shows
Battlestar Galactica excelled at weaving political intrigue into its narrative. From President Laura Roslin’s struggles to maintain democracy to Commander Adama’s pragmatic militarism, the show explored the complex dynamics of leadership. The constant tension between ethical decisions and survival grounded the series in realism and highlighted its impressive scope, extending far beyond what viewers expect of “traditional” science fiction.
The Expanse brought these political elements to the forefront, expanding them onto a galactic stage. The fragile balance between Earth, Mars, and the Belt mirrored themes explored in Galactica: oppression, rebellion, and power struggles. Across both Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse, leaders made questionable compromises, underlining that, in dire scenarios, there are seldom clear-cut answers. This shared focus on nuanced politicking elevated both shows, challenging viewers to think critically about power, privilege, and governance.
3 Battlestar Galactica’s Ensemble Cast Set the Tone for The Expanse
Diverse, Complex Characters Drove Morally Gray Story Arcs
Character complexity didn’t just end at the leadership in both shows. Battlestar Galactica excelled in crafting characters who felt deeply human. From Kara “Starbuck” Thrace’s reckless bravado to Gaius Baltar’s manipulative genius, each character was flawed yet relatable, with imperfections that made their struggles all the more compelling.
The Expanse followed in this tradition, delivering a diverse ensemble of characters with their own internal conflicts. James Holden wrestled with the weight of leadership, Naomi Nagata grappled with her past, and Chrisjen Avasarala constantly surprised viewers with her sharp wit and political cunning. Much like Galactica, The Expanse characters lived in the moral gray, making choices that blurred the lines between right and wrong.
Both Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse also highlighted the importance of a solid ensemble cast to bring the characters to life, and it’s no surprise actors from both shows have gone on to become fixtures in the sci-fi genre. Galactica‘s Katee Sackhoff is perhaps the most notable, with a massive role in the Star Wars franchise as Bo-Katan Kryze. The Expanse also featured an acting heavyweight in Shohreh Aghdashloo, who’s starred in a host of movies and shows in different genres, often to great acclaim.
Aghdashloo will return to the world of book adaptations in 2025, playing Elaida a’Roihan in season 3 of Prime Video’s
The Wheel of Time
.
The dedication to character-driven storytelling and impressive casts ensured that both Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse were able to resonate deeply while still remaining grounded and relatable. After all, high-stakes or revolutionary battles are nothing without characters and performances to care about, an approach that served both shows well.
2 Battlestar Galactica’s Tone Influenced The Expanse’s Atmosphere
Neither Series Was Afraid Of Darker Moments
Despite their many charms, no one would likely call Battlestar Galactica or The Expanse light and fun. In fact, one of Battlestar Galactica’s most defining features was its intense, often somber tone, tackling themes like genocide, faith, and humanity’s darkest impulses, all while maintaining a glimmer of hope for survival. The weight of its narrative grounded Battlestar Galactica, making its stakes feel immediate and real. It showed that sci-fi didn’t have to be goofy and that there was a place on TV for darker space-set stories.
The Expanse borrowed this tonal complexity, crafting a universe rife with tension. Whether following the political drama on Earth, social unrest in the Belt, or the horrors of war, the show never shied away from gritty realism. However, it balanced its serious tone with select moments of levity and hope, mirroring Galactica’s optimism amidst chaos. This shared atmosphere helped both series transcend their TV sci-fi origins and differentiate them from other sci-fi series, offering stories that challenged and resonated on a deeper level.
1 Battlestar Galactica’s Use of Visual Effects Set A Precedent
Realism Over Spectacle Always Won The Day On Both Shows
Battlestar Galactica was way ahead of its time in leveraging visual effects to enhance realism. Its spacecraft sequences, shot in a documentary style, stood out from the CGI-heavy gloss of other sci-fi shows. The focus was less on spectacle and more on immersion. The show’s multiple award nominations and critical acclaim stand as a testament to how far the genre came during its time on air.
Battlestar Galactica
was nominated for several Emmy Awards throughout its run, and two of its wins were specifically for special effects, highlighting the show’s prowess in the field.
The Expanse took this visual realism a step further, incorporating cutting-edge effects to depict zero-gravity environments, the harshness of space, and the intricacies of interplanetary travel.
Much like Galactica, its visual approach complemented its grounded storytelling, pulling viewers deeper into its universe. Of course, without Battlestar Galactica laying the groundwork, it’s possible that The Expanse might not have had the same opportunity to flourish.
By choosing authenticity over flashiness, both series proved that less is often more when crafting believable science fiction worlds. Without Battlestar Galactica’s influence, The Expanse might have remained an obscure novel series, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
Battlestar Galactica, released in 2003, re-imagines the original series with a focus on a fleet of humanity’s last survivors. They evade relentless robotic pursuers while seeking Earth, their fabled home.
- Cast
- Barclay Hope , Edward James Olmos , Katee Sackhoff , Mary McDonnell , Tricia Helfer , Paul Campbell , Jamie Bamber , James Callis , Callum Keith Rennie , Grace Park , Aaron Douglas , Alessandro Juliani , Lymari Nadal , Michael Hogan , Kandyse McClure , Lorena Gale , Tahmoh Penikett , Matthew Bennett , Nicki Clyne , Connor Widdows , Alonso Oyarzun , Ty Olsson
- Release Date
- December 8, 2003
- Writers
- Ronald D. Moore
- Character(s)
- Transport Pilot , Commander Adama , Kara ‘Starbuck’ Thrace , President Laura Roslin , Number Six , Billy , Lee ‘Apollo’ Adama , Gaius Baltar , Leoben Conoy , Lt. Sharon ‘Boomer’ Valerii , Crew Chief Tyrol , Felix Gaeta , Giana , Saul Tigh , Anastasia Dualla , Elosha , Karl ‘Helo’ Agathon , Aaron Doral / Number Five , Specialist Cally , Boxey , Crewman Specialist Socinus , Lt. Aaron Kelly
- Directors
- Michael Rymer
10/10
The Expanse
The Expanse is a sci-fi series set in the distant future where humanity has spread out across the solar system, but the alliances between the three most potent governing bodies have reached a state of the cold war. In the series, a mixed crew finds themselves at the center of a dangerous intergalactic conspiracy that threatens to bring war to the colonized worlds.
- Cast
- Thomas Jane , Dominique Tipper , Cara Gee , Jasai Chase-Owens , Florence Faivre , Cas Anvar , Keon Alexander , Frankie Adams , Shawn Doyle , Steven Strait , Paulo Costanzo , Shohreh Aghdashloo , Wes Chatham , Nadine Nicole
- Release Date
- November 14, 2015
- Seasons
- 6
- Franchise(s)
- The Expanse
- Writers
- Mark Fergus , Hawk Ostby
- Showrunner
- Naren Shankar , Mark Fergus , Hawk Ostby
