Battlestar Galactica DVD gripe
Jun. 5th, 2006 02:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
javasaurusgrumble.
First let me note that I don't have cable (I only watch about 4 hours of TV a week, and it's all broadcast, so cable's just not worth it).
This means I don't see Battlestar Galactica (or anything else) on SciFi. But I heard it was pretty darn good TV sci-fi, so I bought the DVD of the mini-series. Loved it. Absolutely floored by it. So I bought "Season One" and was a little upset to discover that there were only 17 episodes in season one, and the first four were a repeat of the mini-series. Where I come from (i.e., broadcast tv), a season is 22 or 23 episodes, not 13 plus a mini-series. To give them credit, the back of the box did say 13 episodes and the mini-series, so I need to learn to read the back of the box. Just like I learned years ago that the sale price in the grocery store only applies if the bar codes are the same, so ya gotta read all the bar codes on the prices and boxes to see if you are getting the sale item. But that's a different gripe for a different time.
I saw that "Season 2.0" was out, and got that. Nothing on the box about number of episodes, but I figured probably 17 or 18, similar to season one (with mini-series). Thin box, but hey, Greatest American Hero season two has 22 episodes in the same size box. It, by the way, does indicate 22 episodes, six discs, and a slew of extras on the back of the box. However, the Season 2.0 box of BSG does not include all of Season 2. In fact, only 10 episodes, half of the season. Anybody with cable might have realized that season 2 was still being produced when the Season 2.0 box came out, so of course it wasn't complete! But to me, there was no indication that this was only a half set. Yes, the box indicates about 7 hours of playing time, and in retrospect, 2.0 might imply the coming 2.1. The low price tag may have been a clue as well, but it's on par with Angel and Stargate (which are also full seasons).
As much as I'm enjoying the series (which is quite a bit), the DVDs are really ticking me off.
Regardless of DVD matter, you can now see why I only have time for four hours of broadcast tv per week.
First let me note that I don't have cable (I only watch about 4 hours of TV a week, and it's all broadcast, so cable's just not worth it).
This means I don't see Battlestar Galactica (or anything else) on SciFi. But I heard it was pretty darn good TV sci-fi, so I bought the DVD of the mini-series. Loved it. Absolutely floored by it. So I bought "Season One" and was a little upset to discover that there were only 17 episodes in season one, and the first four were a repeat of the mini-series. Where I come from (i.e., broadcast tv), a season is 22 or 23 episodes, not 13 plus a mini-series. To give them credit, the back of the box did say 13 episodes and the mini-series, so I need to learn to read the back of the box. Just like I learned years ago that the sale price in the grocery store only applies if the bar codes are the same, so ya gotta read all the bar codes on the prices and boxes to see if you are getting the sale item. But that's a different gripe for a different time.
I saw that "Season 2.0" was out, and got that. Nothing on the box about number of episodes, but I figured probably 17 or 18, similar to season one (with mini-series). Thin box, but hey, Greatest American Hero season two has 22 episodes in the same size box. It, by the way, does indicate 22 episodes, six discs, and a slew of extras on the back of the box. However, the Season 2.0 box of BSG does not include all of Season 2. In fact, only 10 episodes, half of the season. Anybody with cable might have realized that season 2 was still being produced when the Season 2.0 box came out, so of course it wasn't complete! But to me, there was no indication that this was only a half set. Yes, the box indicates about 7 hours of playing time, and in retrospect, 2.0 might imply the coming 2.1. The low price tag may have been a clue as well, but it's on par with Angel and Stargate (which are also full seasons).
As much as I'm enjoying the series (which is quite a bit), the DVDs are really ticking me off.
Regardless of DVD matter, you can now see why I only have time for four hours of broadcast tv per week.
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no subject
Date: 2006-06-05 04:51 pm (UTC)(snark) Well, the Quantum Leap usenet group was bitching about songs being cut, I am sure that if you had done some research, you would have found out that songs had been cut from the Muppet show. It isn't Disney's fault that you didn't do your research. (/snark)
yes, by my logic, they do release everything in chunks.
But they don't release the DVDs in chunks (I have yet to hear of any other show having 1/2 of Season X as a release ... esp. not clearly marked). Why not acknowledge on the package that it is Season 2 (part 1 of 2) or something like that?
I hit amazon.com's reviews and at least two other sites when i'm in any doubt what is on offer, or i simply accept the risk and accept the purchase agreement.
But why should Java have had any doubt about what is on offer? The box implied Season 2 (not 1/2 of Season 2). The first season wasn't a 2-box set to be purchased separately.
on the other hand, i think given the circumstances of the series' production, and the production values it excels at when compared to "Friends Season 7", I think the price-point is quite reasonable.
Why not do what Star Trek does and have the full year as a single box for a higher price? Or were they measuring the sale of the DVDs to determine whether or not to continue the series? Or maybe they are planning to release the 2nd half of the season in a boxed set called Season 2.1 - the complete 2nd Season - which will cost 2x what Java purchased and contain both halves. That could make them quite a bit of $ for their investors and it isn't like they told anyone that they planned to release the 2nd half by itself....
I know that MASH Season 11 is coming out this fall. I assume (unless told otherwise) that it will contain Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen and may cost a bit extra because of that. However, if they market it as "MASH Season 11 - the regular episodes" and sell GFA separately; that is fine (I will admit to being somewhat annoyed that there is a special DVD that you will only be able to get by buying the boxed set of all 11 seasons when Java and I have already bought 10 of them).
on the other hand, you get what they offer at the price they sell it at or you don't. if you don't yet know what you're buying, then don't buy or accept that you took a risk and it didn't "pay".
Like people who purchased the upgrade to MS Suite THEN found out it didn't contain the Photo-Editor? Or people who purchased a season pass to Gauga Lake or Frontier City then found out that they weren't going to be part of the 6 Flags Family the next year? Or people who purchase a new computer then find out that the chip is unstable? Or people who purchased the Ford Pinto when it first came out then had it blow up? Or the people who invested in Enron? Or the book I bought several years ago that had the 1st 4 chapters in it twice and was missing chapters 8-12. I made the purchase, I should have no reason to bitch about it (I was able to return it and get another copy). Saying that anytime a person purchases something it is 100% buyer beware is a VERY bad idea to me.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-05 04:57 pm (UTC)