This Is The Correct Order In Which To Watch Battlestar Galactica

When the 2003 re-imagining of the original 1978 "Battlestar Galactica" series premiered, it was immediately clear that this was far more sophisticated than most sci-fi fare. More than a simple reboot, the series follows the last remaining human survivors of a genocide committed by the sentient androids they once created and enslaved. They struggle to stay a step ahead of the Cylons as they search for a planet of legend known in their religion as Earth. The show is deeply grounded in realism, serving as a complex exploration of the War on Terror, one infused with layers of mythology. The Ronald D. Moore series would elevate the science fiction genre, paving the way for shows like "The Expanse" and HBO's "Westworld."

With a miniseries, several films, a few web-series, and a spin-off, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to "Battlestar Galactica." You may find yourself overwhelmed trying to decide what to watch first, but we're here to help. If you want to check out everything while avoiding spoilers, then this is the viewing order we recommend.

Released in 2004, the first season of "Battlestar Galactica" picks up almost immediately where the miniseries left off — with the Colonials on the run from the Cylons, who are hellbent on the total annihilation of the human race. Season 1 opener "33" (which saw the Colonial fleet mercilessly pursued by Cylons who inexplicably found them every 33 minutes no matter where they jumped to) would prove to be one of the best episodes, winning a Hugo Award for best short-form drama.

The first season follows the Colonials through weeks of fighting the Cylons while plagued with sleeper Cylon operatives, a suicide bomber, and internal political turmoil that threatens to tear the fleet apart. When they stumble upon a long-abandoned planet from their religious text, some among them begin to believe that the gods are directing their destiny, driving them toward the promised land of Earth.

Not every "Battlestar Galactica" fan agrees on the best viewing placement of "Razor," since it originally aired long after the events it details. This mid-series movie focuses on the journey of the Battlestar Pegasus during the first Cylon attack, so it fits best when viewed after the end of Season 2 (or, if you're really pressed for time, after Season 2, Episode 17).

Switching between the present-day Pegasus under Lee Adama's command and flashbacks of Pegasus crewman Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen), the 81-minute movie paints a grim picture of life aboard the vessel after the initial Cylon attack. Under the hardline command of Rear Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes), who discovers someone close to her is a Cylon early in the story, the Pegasus takes a very different path from the Galactica. Cain's cruel command serves as a foil to Adama's, adding layers and depth to already complex mythology.

To avoid getting hit with spoilers, fans have recommended turning off subtitles and pressing mute at three key moments in the story's last ten minutes. First, when the hybrid touches Shaw. Unmute when the hybrid releases her. Next, mute immediately after Red One says, "This is Red One, come in," before Pegasus has a chance to respond. You can unmute as soon as Red One comes on screen. Finally, hit mute after Lee tells Starbuck, "Well, ever think you might deserve it?" Unmute as she begins to leave. Once you have finished watching Season 3, you can go back and watch the final ten minutes unmuted. Trust us, it's worth it.

Aired as a ten-episode web series with each webisode between two and five minutes long, "The Resistance" is set between the end of Season 2 and the beginning of Season 3. The action takes place on the Cylon-occupied planet New Caprica. Rather than telling ten distinct stories, the web series is actually one complete story split into ten parts. Beginning 67 days into the Cylon occupation with the Colonial fleet nowhere in sight, the series finds the Cylons — now convinced that they are meant to work together with humans — failing to realize that cooperation can never be forced.

As the title indicates, the plot follows the Colonial resistance against their Cylon oppressors as the Cylons struggle to maintain order and put down the insurgency with the New Caprica Police, a human police force that most Colonials see as Cylon collaborators. The series paints a bleak image of life on New Caprica while establishing the rampant paranoia and confusion that will color the start of Season 3.

Season 4 of "Battlestar Galactica" was originally aired in two parts and featured some of the best performances in the history of the series. After all they've endured, the human and Cylon populations are still struggling with in-fighting and depreciating morale as they continue to search for Earth. Amid growing distrust from the Galactica crew, a changed Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff, who fought hard to secure the role) obsesses over the path to Earth amid a backdrop of tension and uncertainty.

The fourth and final season of the show sees many of the metaphysical elements begin to pay off. The meaning behind the mythology slowly comes into focus as new alliances are forged out of sheer necessity. A significant revelation in Episode 11, "Sometimes a Great Notion," serves as one of the most dramatic points in the series and sets the stage for the end of the story.

The story arc that spans episodes 12-through-15 of Season 4 makes it essential that these four episodes are watched together (if possible, you should watch the 53-minute extended version of Episode 12). As the fleet deals with the fallout of "Sometimes a Great Notion," morale is at an all-time low, and the new alliance with the Cylons quickly starts to leave a bad taste in many Colonial mouths. With a Cylon pregnancy aboard the Galactica and the fleet plagued with worry, two important figures plan a mutiny.

These episodes showcase some of the best storytelling ever seen on "Battlestar Galactica," a culmination of all the pent-up hostility and distress many characters have been feeling. They have endured a lot on the path to Earth, and things were bound to boil over at some point. A soulful performance from Alessandro Juliani as Felix Gaeta highlights the countless losses the Colonials have suffered.

The final five episodes of "Battlestar Galactica" begin with the Colonials grappling with heavily thinned ranks from the mutiny and the arrival of someone long thought to be dead. For a select few, visions start to become clearer and more frequent as the war escalates and begins to prove too much for the aging Galactica. The series culminates in the three-part finale "Daybreak," which finds what's left of the Cylon-Colonial alliance working together to rescue the child Hera (the only known Cylon-Human hybrid) from whatever Cavil has in store for her on the Cylon Colony.

The finale would prove divisive among critics and fans alike. It was so divisive that some outlets (Entertainment Weekly included) argued that it potentially damaged the show's legacy. Some viewers hated it, but others found it a fitting end to a long and emotional journey and a beautiful tribute to the characters they had come to know and love along the way.

The final installment in the reimagined "Battlestar Galactica" story, "Blood and Chrome" is a web series that was originally meant to serve as a pilot for a new series about young William Adama. The ten-episode web series takes place a decade into the First Cylon War. It follows Adama (Luke Pasqualino) as he joins the Battlestar Galactica fresh out of graduation from pilot academy and enters the war.

While the story doesn't necessarily add much to the overall "Battlestar Galactica" world, it makes for a fun watch for those who can't wait to revisit the Twelve Colonies. It's also an opportunity to finally see Husker's legendary viper pilot skills in action. At about 12 minutes each, the ten episodes add up to a total of 131 minutes — enough to tide us over until the long-awaited second "Battlestar Galactica" reboot finally comes to fruition.