WARNING

This feature contains spoilers, so if you're watching the first season of Battlestar Galactica on DVD, you may want not want to read this.

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You can keep your CSIs, Law & Orders, Deadwoods, Sopranos and Losts.

Because we know what the best show on television is right now -- Battlestar Galactica.

That's right, Battlestar Galactica (Space, Saturdays, 8 p.m.). A science-fiction show based on a 1970s Star Wars ripoff that was cheesy even back when it first aired.

And while there's already been considerable press about version 2.0, we get the feeling that, for most people, Galactica is still flying under the radar. That the mainstream thinking still seems to be it's just a show for geeks hyperventilating over hot babes with guns battling chrome robots.

And we'll admit it: That's exactly how we felt when we first heard that the original Dirk Benedict-Lorne Greene vehicle was being updated for the 21st century. Heck, we don't even like saying the words "Battlestar Galactica" in public. We only bought the first-season DVD on a lark -- and boy, was it a revelation. We popped in the disc featuring the miniseries, hoping to be mildly entertained. What happened instead was that we got completely hooked into the story of a desperate band of humans trying to survive in a frightening new reality.

This is television at its most brilliant and cinematic. The superb acting, the innovative direction, the dense scripts, the pitch-perfect music, the gorgeous photography, plus the ability to put this together consistently week after week -- all of it puts most mainstream films to shame.

Even though it's set in space and features humans at war with robots, this show is really about us and the times we live in now. With its tale of humans who survive a catastrophic event and try to hold onto their values in the wake of a new and brutal world filled with dread and paranoia, Battlestar Galactica is a direct product of 9/11.

The 2003 miniseries that kicked it all off is a mesmerizing and heart-wrenchingly familiar setup for the rest of the series: Caprica, the Earth-like human home world, is annihilated in a surprise nuclear attack by the robotic Cylons. The only survivors are the crew aboard the Galactica, a kind of cosmic aircraft carrier, and an assortment of other non-military spacecraft that are packed with civilians. Together, this ragtag fleet -- numbering fewer than 50,000 people, the last of the human race -- journey through space in search of a new home: The mythical world of Earth. All the while, the fleet is attacked by the pursuing Cylons, who aim to exterminate humanity forever.

But beyond its sci-fi trappings and nerdy pedigree, Battlestar Galactica is, above all, a drama -- and a deeply human one, at that. These aren't stock sci-fi characters wearing capes and speaking in a lame faux Shakespearean dialect; instead, led by the excellent ensemble cast anchored by grizzled vets Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell and Michael Hogan, they're real people with flaws and ambitions and hopes and fears who are instantly recognizable and believable.

Another ingredient to the show's popularity? Sex -- and lots of it, and most often embodied in the form of Canadian actress-turned-model Tricia Helfer as seductive Cylon Number Six.

Sociological commentary, ensemble drama, action-adventure show, paranoiac thriller -- Battlestar Galactica is all these things and more. The show, created by the American Sci-Fi network's Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, is now (as of press time) five instalments into its 20-episode second season on this side of the border (the Americans are already up to No. 17). And unlike, say, the moribund Lost, there's no sign of the dreaded sophomore jinx here.

To get you caught up, we've whipped up this handy episode guide.

EPISODE GUIDE

THE BEGINNING

MINISERIES

STORY >>> The Cylons destroy the planet Caprica in a surprise nuclear attack unwittingly facilitated by Dr. Baltar, who fell under the charms of sexy femme fatale Number Six. After a devastating battle in space with the Cylons, Boomer and Helo repair their ship on Caprica, where they're beset by desperate civilians trying to flee the planet. Helo surrenders his seat to the treacherous Baltar, reasoning the human race needs his brilliance if it is to survive. In space, Secretary of Education Roslin assumes the presidency and rounds up other survivors to rendezvous with the Galactica. When the Galactica arrives at a weapons depot to load up on munitions, Adama fights and kills Leoben Conoy (Callum Keith Rennie), a Cylon posing as a human arms dealer.

WE SAY >>> Holy frack (the expletive of choice aboard Galactica)! A stunning 31/2-hour kickoff that firmly establishes this version of Galactica as its own show. Shot documentary-style with jarring zooms and shaky cams, there's a sense of realism and immediacy in this two-parter. The space battles -- accompanied by the minimalist musical score of military drums -- are tense and well-conceived. Add the superb performances by Olmos and McDonnell especially (the scene in which he is confronted with his role in his son Zak's death by Bamber is particularly devastating) -- and you've got yourself some of the best television ever produced. Plus, the shock ending in which Boomer is revealed to be a Cylon just leaves you wanting more -- and right away. Thank the gods for DVD. (GRADE A+)

SEASON ONE

33

STORY >>> Every 33 minutes, the Cylons find and attack the fleet, forcing the humans to "jump" (travelling faster than the speed of light) out of harm's way -- and resetting the clock for another 33 minutes in anticipation of the next attack. The exhausted crew -- which hasn't slept for five days -- discover a civilian ship with 1,300 souls aboard has been infiltrated by the Cylons and is armed with nuclear warheads, prompting the heart-wrenching decision to destroy it. Meanwhile, on Caprica, Helo encounters a copy of Boomer (we'll call her Boomer 2), who lies to him by saying she returned to rescue him.

WE SAY >>> A taut, tight hour that hammers home the fragility of humanity ... The destruction of the Olympic Carrier clearly recalls the debate over whether to shoot down American passenger jets during 9/11. (GRADE A+)

WATER

STORY >>> Boomer awakes stunned to find herself drenched and in possession of explosives. Then the ship's water supply is sabotaged, prompting herself and Tyrol to try to cover up her possible role in the event. Riots break out in the fleet as the crew scramble to find water. Luckily, Boomer does just that in her Raptor (a reconnaissance ship), finding an icy world -- but she first has to fight her Cylon programming, switching off the bomb she's planted beside her seat.

WE SAY >>> Grace Park won't win any Emmys for her acting, but she has an appealing naturalness -- and hotness -- that makes you root for her as she struggles with her Cylon side. (GRADE A-)

BASTILLE DAY

STORY >>> The president and Galactica turn to the denizens of the prison ship Astral Queen to perform the dangerous task of mining for the water. Unfortunately, they're led by jailed terrorist Tom Zarek (original BSG star Richard Hatch in a fine turn), who provokes a standoff with the military after he takes Apollo and others hostage. Apollo defuses the situation by negotiating with Zarek, guaranteeing new elections for the presidency after Roslin's term. Meanwhile, Adama pressures Baltar into completing work on his Cylon detector.

WE SAY >>> We see a different facet to the show -- political intrigue ... The Caprica scenes clearly show the Cylons are controlling Boomer 2's actions with Helo ... The lovely closing scenes between Apollo and Roslin, where she reveals her terminal condition and confirms her faith in him, rank among the most poignant and well-acted in the series. (GRADE B+)

ACT OF CONTRITION

STORY >>> When an accident aboard the Galactica kills many of their best Viper pilots, Starbuck is enlisted to train the recruits. But she's unable to let her guilt go -- she was the instructor who passed Adama's other son Zak (also her fiance), who subsequently died in flight because he didn't have the chops to fly. Starbuck finally admits this to Adama -- which threatens to destroy their strong bond. When Cylons attack, Starbuck saves the day, but she crash lands on an inhospitable moon.

WE SAY >>> Up to this point, we didn't really like Sackhoff's acting style, which seems to consist of tics like sudden grins, inappropriate laughs and bugging her eyes out. But she began growing on us with this episode. (GRADE A)

YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN

STORY >>> The Galactica searches for the missing Starbuck, with a desperate Adama insisting they pour all of the fleet's resources into the effort. On the moon, Starbuck boards a Cylon ship that has crash-landed, too -- and finds that it's partly organic. She figures out how to fly it and returns to Galactica. Meanwhile, on Caprica, Helo and Boomer 2, hiding in a fallout shelter, are attacked by Cylon Centurions -- when Helo comes to, Boomer 2 is gone.

WE SAY >>> A solid followup that features more good dramatic scenes between Adama and Apollo as they heal their rift. Olmos has underplayed his role so perfectly that when he shows emotion, it's that much more effective. (GRADE B+)

LITMUS

STORY >>> Aaron Doral (Matthew Bennett), one of the new organic breed of Cylons who has not been seen by the crew since the miniseries, returns as a suicide bomber, prompting Adama to launch an investigation into how he managed to come aboard and gain access to the ship's munitions. The ensuing witch hunt nearly convicts Tyrol of a crime he didn't commit -- and because one of his young crew takes the fall for him (to protect his secret liaison with Boomer), Tyrol ends the affair. On Caprica, a copy of Six beats Boomer 2 so that she looks like she escaped from a struggle; she is then reunited with Helo.

WE SAY >>> An okay episode that's somewhat predictable, although watching Baltar's continuing mental decay is a treat. (GRADE B-)

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

STORY >>> When Baltar mocks Six's belief in God, this leads to her angrily departing his psyche -- and manifesting aboard the ship as "Shelly Godfrey." She accuses him of being a traitor, bringing photographic proof of him destroying Caprica's defence systems. Baltar tries to destroy the evidence but is thrown in the brig, where he tearfully breaks down and prays to God, prompting his virtual Six to return. Almost immediately, the crew exonerates him, saying the evidence was faked. Meanwhile, on Caprica, Helo and Boomer 2 give into desire and make love.

WE SAY >>> A terrific performance by Callis as the increasingly nutso Baltar. Plus, he finally gets some imaginary nookie with the frequently naked Six. (GRADE A)

FLESH AND BONE

STORY >>> A copy of Leoben Conoy is found on the ship the Gemenon Traveller, and Adama sends Starbuck to interrogate him. He claims to have planted a nuke somewhere in the fleet that will go off in nine hours, prompting Starbuck to torture him in increasingly sadistic fashion. Roslin comes aboard to speak with him -- and he admits he lied about the bomb, but also claims that Adama is a Cylon. Roslin then orders him blown out of the airlock. Meanwhile, Baltar completes his first test on Boomer, which indicates she's a Cylon, but he hides this from her. On Caprica, Boomer 2 rebels against her Cylon co-conspirators and goes on the run with Helo.

WE SAY >>> Not for the squeamish, as Leoben is beaten to a pulp and nearly drowned in a bucket of bloody water. Rennie is great -- at turns creepy and sympathetic -- and Sackhoff gives another strong performance. (GRADE A)

TIGH ME UP, TIGH ME DOWN

STORY >>> Under suspicions he's a Cylon, Adama brings Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon) aboard, reuniting her with her estranged husband, Col. Tigh. He's soon off the wagon again, drinking and carousing, and everything comes to a head in Baltar's lab, where everyone's distrust of each other comes out in the open (i.e., Roslin demanded that Adama be tested first by the Cylon detector). Later, Baltar completes his test on Ellen, but chooses not to reveal the result -- not even to Six.

WE SAY >>> Yikes. Screwball comedy is something this show should never, ever attempt again. (GRADE C)

THE HAND OF GOD

STORY >>> The fleet is running out of tylium (fuel) and the humans begin a desperate search. They find an asteroid full of ore -- but also a Cylon base established there. With Starbuck, the fleet's best pilot, still injured and unable to fly, Apollo leads the mission to destroy the base -- which he completes, even though everyone doubts his ability. Meanwhile, Roslin -- who has been taking holistic medication to treat her cancer -- begins suffering more visions, and speaks with a priest about them. Roslin's religious awakening begins here, as she learns more about the prophecies about an exodus of humankind to Earth led by a dying leader.

WE SAY >>> A good, almost entirely action-oriented rebound from the previous episode. But amid the great special effects lies that warm human centre, as Apollo justifies his father's belief in him. (GRADE B+)

COLONIAL DAY

STORY >>> When Roslin holds nominations to the Quorum of 12 -- a body of civilians that serves as a sci-fi version of the Senate -- her nemesis Tom Zarek manages to get himself named a representative and call for vice-presidential elections. Meanwhile, Starbuck and Apollo foil an assassination bid on Roslin. And in an attempt to prevent the popular Zarek from becoming vice-president, Baltar runs alongside Roslin and gains the office. On Caprica, Helo spots another copy of Boomer 2, causing him to flee.

WE SAY >>> More political intrigue -- and more evidence of the show's flexibility in telling different kinds of stories. (GRADE B)

KOBOL'S LAST GLEAMING PT. 1

STORY >>> The Galactica appears to have found Kobol, the legendary home of their pantheon of gods. When Crashdown (Sam Witwer), Baltar, Tyrol and others are sent to check the planet out, they're attacked by Cylons and are forced to crash land. Meanwhile, an increasingly religious Roslin dispatches Starbuck to travel to Caprica in their captured Cylon ship to retrieve the "Arrow of Apollo" -- an artifact she believes will lead them to Earth. On Caprica, Boomer 2 reveals to a suspicious Helo that she's pregnant with his child, while Galactica's Boomer tries -- and fails -- to commit suicide over her confusion and despair at possibly being a Cylon.

WE SAY >>> One of the series' best. The pre-titles sequence -- which cuts between scenes of Baltar having a one-night stand with Starbuck, Apollo and Adama sparring in a boxing ring and Boomer contemplating shooting herself, all to a classical music score -- is brilliantly and evocatively constructed. Helo's rejection of Boomer 2 is heartbreaking. (GRADE A+)

KOBOL'S LAST GLEAMING PT. 2

STORY >>> Adama confronts Roslin about her role in sending Starbuck away on her unauthorized mission and orders Tigh and Apollo to arrest the president in a coup. Roslin is seized, but not before a conflicted Apollo turns his gun on Tigh in an act of mutiny. On Caprica, Starbuck finds the Arrow and engages in vicious hand-to-hand combat with a copy of Six, killing the Cylon before meeting up with Helo and Boomer 2. On Kobol, Baltar sees a vision of his baby with his Six, whom she calls the "first of the new generation of God's children." Meanwhile, Galactica's Boomer is sent on a mission to infiltrate the Cylon base orbiting Kobol, where she discovers dozens of copies of herself. Horrified, she destroys the base, returning to cheers aboard Galactica. As Adama goes to shake her hand, she shoots him twice at point blank range.

WE SAY >>> The season ends with one of TV's biggest shock moments in recent memory as Adama lies on a control panel, bleeding heavily while chaos erupts around him. (GRADE A)

SEASON TWO

SCATTERED

STORY >>> With Adama fighting for his life in sick bay, Col. Tigh assumes control of the fleet. When Cylons attack, he orders the fleet to jump, but the Galactica becomes separated from the rest of the ships. The crew successfully undertake a daring plan -- which involves jumping back to fight off the Cylons before they can ascertain the fleet's whereabouts -- to reunite with the armada. On Kobol, Tyrol and his crew try to retrieve a medical kit from their crash site but are ambushed by Cylons. On Caprica, Starbuck's attempt to kill Boomer2 is stopped by Helo -- Boomer 2 then flees in Starbuck's Cylon ship.

WE SAY >>> A fine season opener filled with some terrific moments, including Tigh's flashbacks to how Adama saved him from a life of boozing by getting him re-instated in the military; Tigh's brutal interrogation of Boomer, which leaves us even more pathos toward her; and the arrival of Cylon Centurions aboard the Galactica at the very end. (GRADE A-)

VALLEY OF DARKNESS

STORY >>> The Galactica's power systems are shut down by the invading Cylons, who aim to vent the crew out into space and use the ship to destroy the fleet. But Apollo manages to destroy the Cylons before they accomplish their mission. On Caprica, Starbuck and Helo go back to her old apartment and drive off in an army truck.

WE SAY >>> A decent episode that promised more than it delivered. Still, Aaron Douglas (Tyrol) gets a strong scene as he euthanizes a dying member of his crew on Kobol. (GRADE B-)

FRAGGED

STORY >>> A delusional Roslin, still imprisoned, is suffering from withdrawal of her cancer treatment, and the Lady Macbeth-esque Ellen Tigh pushes her husband to bring the Quorum and the media there to embarrass her, showing that she's unfit for duty. But thanks to her sympathetic guard, Roslin gets her drugs and is of sound mind, and reveals to all that she is dying from cancer and that she has been prophesized to lead them to Earth. In response, a humiliated Tigh then declares martial law. On Kobol, the unhinged Crashdown threatens to kill Specialist Cally (Nicki Clyne) unless she takes part in his suicidal plan to attack the Cylons, but he is himself killed by Baltar. The Cylons are destroyed by Apollo, who has come to rescue the survivors.

WE SAY >>> An episode that reinforces Tigh as our favourite character, even though he's portrayed in a negative light. At this point, though, we're seriously missing Olmos' authoritative presence. (GRADE B+)

RESISTANCE

STORY >>> With civil war looming, an increasingly drunken Tigh beats and incarcerates Tyrol for possibly being a Cylon. Tyrol again rejects Boomer, who miserably declares she still loves him. Roslin escapes from Galactica with help from Apollo and hides aboard the ship Cloud 9, under the protection of Tom Zarek. As Tigh and his wife argue, a weakened Adama appears at the door demanding to know what's happened. On Caprica, Starbuck and Helo encounter other survivors of the war, led by Anders (Michael Trucco). Back on Galactica, Baltar injects Tyrol with a drug that will kill him unless Boomer reveals how many Cylons are aboard the ship -- she saves him by responding that there are eight. While she is being led down a hall filled with jeering crewmembers, Cally appears and shoots her point blank and Boomer dies in Tyrol's arms.

WE SAY >>> Adama makes a welcome return to action -- and nobody seems more relieved than Tigh, who admits he's "fracked things up good" ... This show seems to specialize in shock endings -- in this case, cute little Cally's cold-hearted "Jack Ruby-ing" of Boomer. (GRADE A-)

THE FARM

STORY >>> A weakened Adama returns to command. His first order of business: Find and trap Roslin. But Roslin plays the "religion card" and sends out a message that any who wish to find Earth should follow her to Kobol -- and to Adama's dismay, a third of the fleet jumps with her. On Caprica, Starbuck is wounded and, while unconscious, taken to what's apparently a rebel hospital, where a doctor named Simon treats her. Suspicious, she discovers the hospital is really a Cylon "farm" in which human women are kept alive and impregnated with Cylons. Starbuck kills Simon -- a new Cylon/human hybrid -- and is rescued by the rebels, who are now being helped by Boomer 2. Starbuck has a tearful goodbye with Anderds and leaves for Kobol with Helo and Boomer 2 aboard a Cylon ship.

WE SAY >>> The second season's best episode is also its most moving. Amid the horror and shootouts, we get scenes like Adama in the ship's morgue weeping beside Galactica-Boomer's corpse and the painful goodbye between Starbuck and Anders. Sackhoff demonstrates how far she's come with this episode, her best work yet. (GRADE A)

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CAPT. LEE "APOLLO"ADAMA

(Jamie Bamber)

The commander's son is torn between his loyalty to his father and military duty and his mother-son relationship with President Roslin.

COL. SAUL TIGH

(Michael Hogan)

Adama's second in command and best friend. Unpopular with the crew, especially Starbuck, he's also got a drinking problem and a Lady Macbeth-like wife.

CMDR. WILLIAM ADAMA

(Edward James Olmos)

The taciturn military leader who commands the Galactica. Still troubled by the death of his son Zak, whom he'd pushed to become a pilot, and has a tenuous relationship with the civilian government led by President Roslin.

PRESIDENT LAURA ROSLIN

(Mary McDonnell)

Former Secretary of Education who becomes president after Cylon attack on the humans' home world Caprica. Suffering from terminal breast cancer but has vowed to lead her people to a new home: The legendary world called Earth.

DR. GAIUS BALTAR

(James Callis)

An amoral, sex-addicted scientific genius who inadvertently helped cause the annihilation of Caprica. Only he can see the sexy Cylon Number Six, who insidiously seduces him to do her bidding, but is it only his imagination?

NUMBER SIX

(Tricia Helfer)

One of 12 Cylon models made to look and act like humans, she's certainly the most sexually active and in touch with the monotheistic machines' God.

THE CYLONS

Robots built by the humans who rebelled and waged war with their creators. Fifty years after an armistice was called, they've returned to destroy the human race -- and now have models that look and act like humans.

LT. SHARON "BOOMER" VALERII (Grace Park)

A pilot aboard the Galactica who -- to her growing horror -- realized she was a sleeper agent for the Cylons. There are multiple copies of her.

LT. KARL "HELO" AGATHON

(Tahmoh Penikett)

Valerii's co-pilot, who stayed on Cylon-occupied Caprica and was duped into having a baby with a copy of Boomer for still to be determined reasons.

LT. KARA "STARBUCK" THRACE

(Katee Sackhoff)

The fleet's best pilot, Starbuck is also a roguish, anti-authoritarian rebel. Her engagement to Zak Adama makes her close to the his brother and father.

CHIEF TYROL

(Aaron Douglas)

Boomer's illicit lover and in charge of maintaining the aircraft aboard the Galactica.