How long the writer’s strike will last is anyone’s guess, but with all of the scribes on the picket lines the television landscape is looking more desolate every day. Even with the bleak programming roster in front of us, there are a few bright spots to keep TV viewers hooked. While other shows have already burned out their canned episodes, the SCI-FI Channel is pulling out the best show in their arsenal with the two-hour prequel Battlestar Galactica: Razor, which airs Saturday, November 24, 2007.

By all accounts, Razor should sweep the ratings game since all other network scribes and producers will probably be glued to the TV, along with the rest of us. In the last three years we’ve enjoyed Galactica’s deeply complex storyline, which, at times, parallels the current socio-political state of the world today, including the Iraq war. With Razor, though, we’re taken back in time to the time when Lee Adama assumes command of the Pegasus. Through a series of flashbacks to the initial Cylon attack, which connects back to present day, Razor offers a cool look at the events between the Cylon holocaust and when the Pegasus hooked up with Galactica, all told through the eyes of a completely new character, Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen). Adding new complexities and questions, Razor also serves up hints on the direction of the fourth and final season, namely the long-running question of whether Starbuck is actually a Cylon. Without giving away the goods, let’s just say that Razor hits the hot button.

The Starbuck/Cylon storyline will undoubtedly be carried over to the fourth season. However, it’s only one element within Razor. The best aspect of the special is how the story parallels Pegasus’ fight for survival in the same manner as Galactica’s initial flight from the Cylon attack at the outset of the series. Think of it as Battlestar Glactica as if the Pegasus was the main ship instead of the Galactica, and the crew included Kendra Shaw. As for Helena Cain, wait until you see how she commands the Pegasus without the watchful eyes of Laura Roslin and Billy Adama over her shoulder. Another interesting thread to the Cain subplot is how Number Six ended up on Pegasus to begin with. Remember when Gina was roughed up and found on the Pegasus brig? If you loved Bounce and Saving Grace, it’ll blow your mind. Needless to say, it was a brilliant move given today’s social climate.

Even if you’ve never laid eyes on the new Battlestar Galactica (if that’s possible), there’s something in Razor for everyone. Razor utilizes some of the best CGI based deceptive trickery on television, especially during a Cylon attack on the Scorpion shipyards. If you’re a sci-fi action nut, you’ll love the amped up violence since nothing rounds out a great story better than a hail of gunfire and massive explosions. Another cool aspect of Razor is the subplot surrounding the origins of the organic Cylon, which pays off even more mysterious backstory fans have been waiting for. Accompanied by a detailed flashback about his first encounter with mysterious lab during the Cylon wars, and the beginnings of the human/Cylon hybrid, William Adama spins an awesome tale… “This has happened before and it will happen again.” If you’re a fan of The Matrix, you might be able to put it all together… but that’s just our theory.

For those who might miss out on the initial airing of Razor on SCI-FI, NBC/Universal has you covered with the extended version DVD, which hits store shelves on December 4, 2007. Since we’re all enduring the writer’s strike and Christmas is just around the corner, the timing for Battlestar Galactica: Razor couldn’t have been better.