More than two decades ago, what would become one of television's most celebrated sci-fi sagas was brought to life as a reimagining of a beloved 1970s classic. The project faced several setbacks before reaching television, but when it finally premiered, it proved to be far more than a simple revival, earning a highly positive reception from critics and viewers. That was not very surprising, seeing as it distinguished itself from typical space operas by featuring no alien civilizations. Instead, the series centered its story on a war between humanity and a race of sentient machines created by humans themselves.

That series was Battlestar Galactica, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick...