When Star Wars became a hit in 1977, it spawned endless imitators. One of the most popular was Battlestar Galactica. It wasn't perfect. Star Wars was the superior product. But BSG was popular! Even so, it was cancelled quickly. The special effects made it "too expensive" for a weekly series.

Photo: Dan Roberts standing next to a Viper at EMP's BSG exhibit in 2010.

Ironically, when Star Wars and Battlestar were both given a second life, it was BSG that was superior in its characters and storytelling. Critically acclaimed, Emmy winning; BSG was one of the best drams on television to address war, religion, terrorism, and our relationship with technology. If you like intelligent escapism ala the Sopranos, Breaking Bad or the Walking Dead, you owe it to yourself to give this version of BSG a look.

As soon as the series ended its successful run, word spread about a prequel series: Caprica. That show didn't fare as well with viewers or critics (personally, I liked it). But fans wouldn't get too discouraged, because almost immediately another, more action-packed series was announced: Blood & Chrome.

And then Sci-Fi channel changed their name to SyFy and stopped producing serious science fiction, focusing instead on schlock. That's not an opinion, they literally got into the business of purposely making B movies with has-been stars.

Richard Hatch, an actor on two versions of Galactica (starting with the 1978 original), said during an appearance at Seattle's EMP/Sci-Fi museum: "I hate to say it, but SyFy channel hates science-fiction."

Blood & Chrome would be produced, but put on a shelf for almost 2 years.

Finally, it's arrived. Online. With weekly 10 minute episodes. The conclusion will arrive in February 2013, with a DVD of the entire adventure hitting stores almost simultaneously, and then it will finally air on SyFy. Is this a new beginning for fans? I'm not holding my breath. But at least it's one more adventure in a universe I teasure.

Here's a look at the trailer for the "un-cut" DVD, and thus an overview of the web installments.

Blood & Chrome, as the title suggests, has more gun-play, more spaceships and more explosions than the previous versions. But the theme of man creating his own worst enemy is still present, and gets more relevant with every new gadget we invite into our lives.

Watching in 10 minute chunks on my computer isn't ideal to me. But it's better than never seeing it. And I sure as hell can't wait until February to get back onboard the Galactica.

To view the Blood & Chrome web-series for yourself, click here.