IT is hard to imagine Edward James Olmos playing a transvestite hooker or a flamboyant torch singer.
However as Admiral Bill Adama of the Battlestar Galactica, he is perfect in every way.
For those not in the know – and if you’re not, why not – Adama is the military leader of a space fleet of humans fleeing the remorseless Cylon army, who have wiped out their home world.
While other actors on the show – about to start its fourth series on Sky One – have more flashy roles or acting styles, Olmos brings the same sense of quiet certitude to the table as he did when I first saw him.
That too was as a centre of calm in a wild world, as the police chief in Miami Vice back in the 1980s. Even then, 25 years or so ago, he looked like his face had been chiselled out of granite using a spoon, with a striking ‘tache for good effect.
Crockett and Tubbs may be gone, but Olmos is still the same and is the deliberate, measured heart of the show, which everything else revolves around.
I was a late covert to Battlestar, and as such am still working my way through the three previous series on DVD. Although Olmos stands out for me, the rest of the cast and show is outstanding too.
Although very different from the 1970s version, it is a tour de force in intricate plotting, character development and great storylines that explores some of the hot topics of today. Plus it has some fantastic babes in too!
If you haven’t seen it, then do so – that’s an order. So say we all.
