Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2012

48%

WISE Score

6.9

IMDb

A forgettable Battlestar Galactica prequel TV movie that even die-hard fans found meh—military sci-fi for teens who've exhausted better options.

6.9/10

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Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome

movie

Unrated, 2012

48%

WISE Score

6.9

IMDb

A forgettable Battlestar Galactica prequel TV movie that even die-hard fans found meh—military sci-fi for teens who've exhausted better options.

6.9

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a TV movie that was chopped up into webisodes, then re-edited back into a movie, and released in 2012 to capitalize on BSG's fading buzz. The middling reviews (6.9 IMDb, 65% RT audience) tell you everything: it's watchable if you're desperate for more BSG content, but it's not good enough to recommend to anyone else.

The action is fine, the effects are TV-budget adequate, and the story fills in some backstory about young William Adama that... honestly, nobody really needed. If your teen is a massive BSG fan and has already watched the entire series twice, sure, throw this on. But for everyone else? Skip it.

The WISE scores are mediocre across the board because it's militaristic sci-fi without much heart, imagination that's derivative rather than original, and entertainment value that's just okay. It's not offensive or harmful—it's just forgettable. And in 2025, with infinite streaming options, forgettable is the kiss of death.

Age Fit

Best for teens 13+ who are already invested in the Battlestar Galactica universe. This isn't a gateway into the franchise—it's a footnote for completists. Adults who loved BSG might watch it once and shrug.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Military sci-fi with war themes and combat violence. Models courage and duty but within a grim wartime context. Pacing is action-heavy with little emotional warmth or cooperative modeling. The BSG universe is known for darker, morally complex storytelling rather than uplifting content.

Imaginative

Prequel exploring young William Adama in the First Cylon War offers solid sci-fi worldbuilding and space combat scenarios. The Battlestar universe has rich lore and technology concepts. However, this is a TV movie spin-off that doesn't break new ground—it's derivative of the main series rather than genuinely innovative.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 13+, suggesting moderate violence and intensity typical of military sci-fi. The BSG franchise includes combat deaths, war trauma, and occasional darker themes. No explicit sexual content or gore expected, but combat violence and wartime peril are central. For a teen audience, relatively predictable content without shocking surprises.

Enriching

Offers some exploration of duty, sacrifice, and military ethics within a sci-fi framework. The prequel format provides backstory for fans but limited deeper themes or character development given its 90-minute TV movie format. Modest ratings (6.9 IMDb, 65% RT audience, 3.1 Letterboxd) suggest it's middling entertainment without standout insight or skill-building value.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

If your teen is a hardcore BSG completist, they'll want to see young Adama's origin story
Space combat and military strategy scenarios offer some tactical thinking
Introduces the First Cylon War lore for franchise fans curious about the backstory
Decent enough production values for a TV movie (though clearly budget-constrained)

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What to Watch For

Combat violence and wartime deaths—it's a war story, so expect casualties and military peril
Honestly? The bigger issue is it's just not very good—65% audience score tells the story
Hard to find streaming anywhere, which is probably a sign
Requires familiarity with BSG universe to care about any of it

Conversation Starters

"What do you think makes a good prequel? Does knowing how Adama's story ends make this more or less interesting?"
"The Cylons were created by humans—what responsibility do we have for the technology we create?"
"Would you want to join the military in a war against robots? What would that be like?"

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