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I have watched a few random episodes of BSG here and there and really enjoyed it, but now I want to do it right. I want to go back to the start, and watch it all the way through.
I understand there is the main series, but have also heard of a mini-series, and movies etc. It makes me quite confused, and I have no idea of where to start and in what order I should watch. Can someone please clear this up for me, and give me a list of the entire viewing order?
I've pulled this from a few forum posts and wikis
(*) The Plan is technically a flash back of season 1&2 from the cylon POV (that was released after the end of the series) but many have suggested that due to it also explaining details about the final 5 it's best to watch it before or after "4.15 No Exit" which first exposes the history of the 5. My personal view is it works best after.
Hmm. It appears that the accepted answer on this page was largely taken from my Battlestar Galactica Viewing Order, which I created nearly four years ago :(
My episode order was the first to take into account all the BSG extras, like the web series, deleted scenes, extended episodes, etc. It was also the first to suggest placement of Razor and The Plan in the positions mentioned in the other answer. There was no other such list on the internet at the time.
My list was (and still is) the first result in Google if you search for "Battlestar Galactica viewing order". And two months prior to the other answer being posted, it was even featured on an episode of TekZilla.
It's surprising that my answer didn't come up in the other answerer's research, because if it did, I'd like to think he would have given credit where it was due... Hmm.
Anyway... here's almost all of my original blogpost. (The original viewing order is even longer -- if you're looking for the most comprehensive and spoiler-free guide on the internet, I'd recommend checking it out: Battlestar Galactica Viewing Order (No spoilers!))
The Miniseries
Season 1
Season 2
Razor (101 minute extended version - not the 81 minute broadcast version) TV movie. If you have this on DVD or Bluray, you have the extended version.
Important note: This was originally broadcast just before Season 4, but chronologically it fits here, telling more of the Pegasus's story. Some people argue it's better to watch after Season 3, as originally broadcast, but it makes most sense to watch it here.
Note: This was billed as a "seven episode web series", but really they are just deleted scenes from the shorter broadcast version of Razor. In fact, most of these scenes are now reintegrated into the extended version of Razor (the one on DVD and Bluray), making what's left even more unessential.
The Resistance A 10 episode web-based series bridging seasons 2 and 3. (25 mins.) This should be included on your DVDs/Blurays, but if it's not, and you're in the US, you can watch it here.
Season 3
Season 4
Season 4 Continued (aka "Season 4.5" or "The Final Season")
The Face of the Enemy A 10 episode web-based series (although it plays together like an intense mini-episode). (36 mins.) These episodes have not been included on any DVD or Bluray releases :( I highly recommend you try and track them down as they add some important details to the continuing story.
The Plan (DVD/Bluray movie) A stand-alone movie that shows (approximately) the first two seasons from the Cylons' perspective. (You finally get to see "The Plan", mentioned all those times in the opening sequence!) Although The Plan was originally released after the show had finished, it is generally agreed that it should be watched here, so that everything is all tied up when you do reach the end.
Caprica An entire TV series set 58 years before the events of Battlestar Galactica, and revealing the events surrounding the creation of the Cylons. (Although it's worth noting that you don't have to have seen BSG to watch Caprica... and some people have decided to watch this series first, even though it was produced after BSG had finished.)
Blood and Chrome This was potentially a whole new show at one stage, but it appears to be now just a stand-alone TV/web movie. The story follows the exploits of a young William Adama during the First Cylon War, and is considered a sequel to Caprica and a prequel to Battlestar Galactica.
As stated before, you can view this reading order in much more detail (and without spoilers) on my blog. Thanks.
The easiest way to do it is to just get the DVDs or watch it through Netflix. If you get all the DVDs, they're in order.
The mini-series came first, then the series.
Aside from that, there are two movies, "Razor" and "The Plan." "Razor" comes after season 3 and before season 4. I suppose one could make justifications for it coming at other times, but that's also the time when it was originally aired.
"The Plan" is best to wait until afterwards. It's essentially a re-telling of many of the events from the Cylon point of view. Personally, I don't feel it added much to the series, but that's just my opinion.
Note: The following viewing order is fundamentally the same as both answers above, just with cleaner formatting, and without any superfluous notes and explanations. It is intended for a first-time viewer who cannot and does not need to know or debate the finer points of why a certain viewing order is preferred. If you are interested in that nitty-gritty detail and discussion, then feel free to consult the more detailed answer above, and the many, many comments throughout, but BEWARE: SPOILERS ABOUND.
There are no spoilers in this viewing order.
BSG Series Viewing Order Begins
BSG Series Viewing Order Ends
Notes for streaming services and other versions:
* Updated for 2023: BSG is no longer available for streaming anywhere that I know of, but is still available as a downloadable purchase in a few places. The following notes may be applicable and helpful for downloadable versions or if the show ever pops up on streaming again.
* Some download/streaming services might combine the miniseries into one part - which is fine.
* Some download/streaming services might combine S03E01 and S03E02 into one part - which is fine, but then it does shift all the episode numbers down by one.
* Some download/streaming services might combine S04E19, S04E20, and S03E21 into one part, or recombine them into two parts - which is fine.
* Some download/streaming services list Razor as Episodes 1 and 2 of Season 4, and then the real Episode 1 (in terms of story) and the direct continuation to the cliffhanger ending of S03E20 becomes Episode 3 of Season 4. This is because Razor was produced as the first part of Season 4's production budget, however, it chronologically belongs in Season 2 and storywise it fits perfectly there.
* Some download/streaming services have alternatively listed Razor at the end of Season 3 instead of at the beginning of Season 4, or as a separate movie.
* Some download/streaming services list The Plan at the end of Season 4 instead of as a separate movie.
* Most download/streaming services don't have The Resistance and The Face of the Enemy webisodes at all, nor the extended versions of Razor, nor the extended versions of episodes S02E10, S03E09, S04E12, S04E18, and S04E19-E21. You will have to search some or all of these out if you want the complete story. I've heard that the SyFy streaming service does have the extended versions, but then you also have to deal with the joy of commercials. The best way to get all the available media is by buying the Blu-ray boxsets, but beware that some versions of the boxsets don't have The Plan and unfortunately no versions (except an obscure Japanese release) have The Face of the Enemy. You may have to turn to less savory or more "grey" areas to find some versions. The webisodes, for example, are commonly available on video-sharing websites like youtube.com or dailymotion.com.
* You may find extended versions alternately listed as "Director's Cut", "Unrated" version, or "Uncut" version.
* You may find The Resistance and The Face of the Enemy webisodes in the original release format of ten 3-minute webisodes, or as one 30-minute presentation.
