Did BATTLESTAR GALACTICA influence certain elements of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI?

The Battle of Galactica at Universal Studios!

Star Wars (1977) was the main influence / inspiration for Battlestar Galactica (1978 - 79) - no doubt about it.  Without Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica would never have seen the light of day.  Star Wars changed the sci-fi genre forever!  Every space-themed sci-fi TV show or movie produced after 1977 was influenced in large and small ways by the epic events of "...a Galaxy far, far away...."  Battlestar Galactica was the first sci-fi TV series produced in the post-Star Wars era.  Love it or loathe it, Battlestar Galactica stepped up to the plate and swung the bat...!  The series aired on ABC-TV on Sunday evenings during the 1978 - 79 season with a total of 24 episodes produced.  The short-lived sequel series Galactica: 1980 aired the following year with a total of 10 episodes produced.

Battlestar Galactica very rarely (let's face it - never) gets credit for the numerous times it "scooped" the Star Wars sequels in various plot details.  Disney recently announced that they will feature a Star Wars Land at their various theme parks.  More than 30 years ago, Universal Studios beat them to the punch with their popular "Battle of Galactica" theme park attraction which entertained studio visitors from 1979 to 1992.

I feel that it's worth mentioning that - **if you squint** - you might notice several plot points from various episodes of Battlestar Galactica that had counterparts in the Star Wars sequels, notably The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).

Were these parallel plot lines coincidental or merely a case of great minds thinking alike?  Who knows?

Just for fun, I've made a comparison (in no particular order) of a number of similar plot points from these epic sci-fi productions (please keep in mind that I'm a tremendous fan of **BOTH** Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica - I'm not slamming either production!) -  Please read and enjoy!  :-)

1).  Ice Planets!
In the 2-part Battlestar Galactica story "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero", the Colonials encountered the ice planet Arcta with freezing temperatures and deadly Cylons.  Two years later, The Empire Strikes Back featured the ice planet Hoth which served as the rebel's hidden base.  In the interest of full disclosure, it's also worth mentioning that ice planets appeared on both Star Trek ("All Our Yesterdays") and Space: 1999 ("Death's Other Dominion") years before the creation of either Battlestar Galactica or The Empire Strikes Back.  Still, "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero" was the most recent instance of an ice planet in the sci-fi genre, prior to The Empire Strikes Back.

Starbuck and Apollo on the ice planet Arcta
 in Battlestar Galactica ("The Gun on Ice Planet Zero", part 1);
aired on Oct. 22, 1978

Han Solo and Luke Skywalker on the ice planet Hoth
in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

2).  Zac = Dak?
In the opening minutes of the Battlestar Galactica premiere episode "Saga of a Starworld", Zac - Apollo's younger brother and wingman - is killed by the Cylons on his first patrol.  Two years later, in The Empire Strikes Back, Dak - Luke's close friend / co-pilot / tailgunner - dies battling the Imperial Walkers.  Both characters are portrayed as being very naive and eager to prove themselves.  Zac is **very** eager to go on his first patrol, ("I've studied the co-ordinates from here to the Cylon capitol - my ship's ready to go!").  Dak is also **very** eager to engage the enemy, ("I feel like I could take on the Empire single-handed!") - Was Dak inspired by Zac?

The doomed Zac in Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

The doomed Dak in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

3).  Rag-Tag Fugitive Space Fleets!

The spaceships of the rag-tag fugitive fleet -
Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

The rag-tag fugitive space fleet concept of The Empire Strikes Back is **remarkably** similar to elements from Battlestar Galactica (which premiered two years earlier).  Like Battlestar Galactica, The Empire Strikes Back **also** features a rag-tag fugitive space fleet on the run from hostile forces determined to destroy them!  After the events of Star Wars, the rebels flee Yavin's 4th moon and establish a new base on Hoth.  When the Empire invades Hoth, the rebels are forced to flee the planet using whatever spacecrafts they can salvage.  For the rest of the movie (and continuing into Return of the Jedi), the rebel fleet is pursued by the Empire.

The Livestock Ship -
  Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

The Colonial Movers -
  Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

"...Imperial troops have DRIVEN the Rebel forces from their hidden base and PURSUED them across the galaxy."
- the opening crawl of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The fugitive space fleet of the Rebel Alliance
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

4).  Masters of the Universe!
When Star Wars premiered in 1977, the "Big Bads" of the Star Wars universe were Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.  Emperor Palpatine wasn't introduced until The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - and in his original depiction (pre-Special Edition) he appeared far more alien than human (check out those bulging eyes!) and his face was cloaked in shadow and difficult to see.  Is it worth mentioning, that the "Big Bad" of Battlestar Galactica - The Imperious Leader came first?  He was introduced in the Battlestar Galactica premiere movie ("Saga of a Star World").  Like Emperor Palpatine, The Imperious Leader was alien in appearance and his face was obscured by shadows (and distance shots).  Also, both characters are only seen inside a darkened chamber / throne room.  Both characters look completely different from each other - I'm **definitely** not suggesting that the depiction of Emperor Palpatine was inspired by The Imperious Leader - just that as far as Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica chronology is concerned - The Imperious Leader was introduced first.

The Imperious Leader atop his throne from
Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

  

The "alien" Emperor Palpatine from
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
 (1980)

Something else that is well worth noting - there is a Deleted Scene from Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of  a Star World") featuring a Cylon communicating with The Imperious Leader via Hologram.  Watch this Deleted Scene in Color on the Battlestar Galactica - The Complete Epic Series DVD set (this scene also appears in issue #3 (May 1979) of Marvel's Battlestar Galactica comic book).  Two years later in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine have a conversation via Hologram!  The Empire Strikes Back did it better, but Battlestar Galactica did it first!  Photos below:

A Cylon communicates with The Imperious Leader
(via Hologram!) in a Deleted Scene (filmed in 1978) from
Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of a Star World")

Darth Vader communicates with Emperor Palpatine
(via Hologram!) in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
(1980)

5).  Swamp Planets!
In the Battlestar Galactica episode "The Young Lords", Starbuck crash-landed on a swamp-like planet called Attila.  Two years later, Luke Skywalker traveled to the swamp-like planet Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back - and crash-landed in the swamp!  Two swamp planets!  Two crash-landings!

Starbuck crash-lands on the swamp planet Attila on
Battlestar Galactica
 ("The Young Lords");
aired on Nov. 19, 1978

Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 crash-land on the
swamp planet Dagobah in
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Yoda teaches Luke Skywalker the ways of The Force
 on the swamp planet Dagobah
 in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

6).  Infiltration!
In the Battlestar Galactica episode "The Hand of God", Apollo and Starbuck infiltrate a Cylon basestar by piloting a captured Cylon fighter.  Four years later, in Return of the Jedi, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 infiltrate the Imperial base on Endor by piloting one of the Empire's captured command ships.  Both instances of infiltration even feature humorous tag lines - on Battlestar Galactica, the warriors "waggle their wings" and in Return of the Jedi, the rebels "fly casual".

Starbuck and Apollo "waggle their wings" as they pilot
a Cylon fighter on a mission to infiltrate a basestar
in Battlestar Galactica ("The Hand of God");
aired on April 29, 1979

Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3P0 and R2-D2
"fly casual" as they pilot an Imperial command ship
on a mission to infiltrate the Empire's base on Endor
 in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

7).  Use the Force!
In the Battlestar Galactica episode "War of the Gods", part 2, Commander Adama is shown using his long dormant telekinetic abilities to move a small metal statue on his desk.  Apollo enters the room and is astonished - he had no idea that his father possessed such an incredible power!  Two years later, telekinesis is introduced into the Star Wars Universe in The Empire Strikes Back when Luke uses Force-driven telekinesis in the Wampa's cave on Hoth in order to retrieve his dropped light saber.  Later in the film, Luke attempts to use The Force to free his x-wing fighter from the swamp - he fails, so Yoda moves it for him effortlessly .  The use of The Force to move small and large objects has since become a crucial element of the Star Wars Universe - but Battlestar Galactica did it first!

Adama uses telekinesis to move a small metal statue on his desk -
Battlestar Galactica ("War of the Gods", part 2);
aired on Jan. 21, 1979

Luke Skywalker uses Force-driven telekinesis to retrieve his light-saber -
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
 (1980)

Luke Skywalker tries (but fails!) to use Force-driven telekinesis
to raise his downed x-wing fighter from the swamp on Dagobah -
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
 (1980)

8).  Space Rockers!
One of the highlights of Battlestar Galactica's premiere movie, "Saga of a Star World", was the musical performance of the alien rock group The Tucana Sisters (a.k.a. The Android Singers) in the casino on Carillon.  Five years later in Return of the Jedi, Jabba the Hutt's palace featured several singing aliens!  In the interest of full disclosure, the alien Mr. Spock sang in an episode of Star Trek ("Plato's Stepchildren") years before Battlestar Galactica or Return of the Jedi.

One of the alilen Tucana Sisters (a.k.a. The Android Singers)
in Battlestar Galactica
 ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

It's "Love, Love, Love!"
 with the alien Tucana Sisters (a.k.a. The Android Singers)
in Battlestar Galactica
 ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

A singing female alien in Jabba's Palace
in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
 (1983)

The female singing alien trio in Jabba's Palace
in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: The Special Edition
 (1983 / 1997)

9).  Ewoks = the children of "The Young Lords"?
This thought has been bouncing around in the back of my mind for a couple of decades.  In a round-about way, is the Battlestar Galactica episode "The Young Lords" something of a prototype for the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi?  In "The Young Lords", the children of Attila - using only primitive weaponry and ingenuity - manage to run rings around the Cylons!  Later, (with Starbuck's help) they rescue their kidnapped father and destroy the Cylons that have overrun their planet.  At one point, Kyle (the oldest boy) even blows his battle horn, much like the Ewoks do in Return of the Jedi!  In Return of the Jedi, the primitive Ewoks (implausibly) are able to run rings around Imperial Stormtroopers and help the Rebellion defeat the Empire - a scenario not unlike "The Young Lords" which aired five years earlier!  The next time you watch the improbable shenanigans of "The Young Lords", see if thoughts of the Ewoks come to mind...

Using only primitive weapons and ingenuity, the children
of the planet Attila (implausibly!) defeat the Cylons
and help Starbuck rescue their kidnapped father in
Battlestar Galactica ("The Young Lords");
aired on Nov. 19, 1978

Kyle blows his battle horn in
Battlestar Galactica
("The Young Lords");
aired on Nov. 19, 1978

Slingshots take down Cylons!  Why bother with blasters or Vipers?!?
Battlestar Galactica
("The Young Lords");
aired on Nov. 19, 1978

A primitive Ewok in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
(1983)

An Ewok blows his horn in
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
 (1983)

The primitive Ewoks (implausibly!) defeat Stormtroopers!
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
 (1983)

10).  The Art of the Deal!
I think that it's worth mentioning that both Battlestar Galactica and The Empire Strikes Back feature characters who make "deals" that end up going bad.  In Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of a Star World") Baltar makes a deal with the Cylon Imperious Leader - assuming (wrongly!) that his colony / planet will not be destroyed and he will be allowed to rule the colony.  The Imperious Leader alters the deal and sentences Baltar to death!  His death sentence is commuted and instead he leads the Cylons in pursuit of the Colonial Fleet across the universe.

Battlestar Galactica
 ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

Two year later, in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Lando Calrissian makes a deal with Darth Vader in order to prevent the Empire from occupying Cloud City.  Lando bargains for Han Solo, Princess Leia and Chewbacca to remain on Cloud City in his custody.  Darth Vader alters the deal and gives Han to Boba Fett.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The motivations of both characters are certainly very different; but I feel the similarity of both productions featuring "deals with the devil" that go bad are worth a mention.

11).  Identical Endings!
Most episodes of Battlestar Galactica end with the clip of the Galactica leading the rag-tag fleet accompanied by the famous "Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny..." voice-over narration by Lorne Greene. This now iconic end clip was shown for the first time at the close of "Saga of a Star World" on Sept. 17, 1978. Two years later, The Empire Strikes Back ended with the Rebel Fleet flying to an unspecified "rendezvous point" (this clip doesn't feature voice over narration, though).

The famous ending of most episodes
 of Battlestar Galactica
features a clip of the fleet with
voice-over narration by Lorne Greene
- ("Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny,
 the last battlestar - Galactica,
leads a rag-tag fugitive fleet on a lonely quest
  - a shining planet known as Earth.")

The Rebel Fleet continues to flee from the Empire - the last scene
 of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

12).  A Terrible Truth is REVEALED!
Apollo's (losing) mano o mano battle against the supremely powerful Count Iblis in the Battlestar Galactica episode "War of the Gods", part 2, isn't terribly dissimilar to Luke Skywalker's (losing) battle with Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back.  Apollo lost his life...Luke lost his hand.  It's also interesting to note that during both of these dramatic confrontations, a terrible "truth" is revealed - in Battlestar Galactica - "War of the Gods", the warriors learn that Count Iblis is the Devil!  In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke learns the terrible "truth" - that the evil Darth Vader is his father!

Apollo loses his life in battle with Count Iblis
 - Battlestar Galactica ("War of the Gods", part 2);
aired on Jan. 21, 1979

Luke Skywalker loses his hand in battle with Darth Vader
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The terrible "truth" is revealed - Count Iblis is The Devil! -
Battlestar Galactica ("War of the Gods", part 2)

The terrible "truth" is revealed -
Darth Vader is Luke's father! -
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

13). "Super" Motorcycles!
Remember the Turbo Cycles?  Probably the most memorable images from Galactica: 1980 feature Troy and Dillon riding those futuristic machines along (and above!) the freeways of Los Angeles.  In the premiere episode ("Galactica Discovers Earth", part 1) the duo outwit a biker gang!  Three years later in Return of the Jedi (1983); the fantastic Speeder Bikes are introduced.  Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia outrace a Storm Trooper "biker gang" (of sorts!) in the forests of Endor.  The fast moving vehicles in both productions are by no means identical; but is it remotely possible that the Turbo Cycles influenced the creation of the Speeder Bikes?  [In the interest of full disclosure, Megaforce (1982) and Tron (1982) also feature "super" motorcycles.]

Troy and Dillon ride their Turbo Cycles
 on the L.A. freeway and encounter a biker gang in
 Galactica: 1980 ("Galactica Discovers Earth", part 1);
aired on Jan. 27, 1980

Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia ride their Speeder Bikes
in the forests of Endor and outrace a Storm Trooper
 "biker gang" in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

14). My Enemy...My Friend!
This might be something of a stretch, but I feel that it's worth noting.  After 24 episodes of Battlestar Galactica and 10 episodes of Galactica: 1980, in the Galactica: 1980 episode "The Return of Starbuck" - the final episode of the series (aired on May 4, 1980) one Cylon (nicknamed "Cy") - after who-knows-how-many years (Decades?  Centuries?) of being evil - finds redemption and befriends Lt. Starbuck.  After saving Starbuck's life, Cy dies valiantly in Starbuck's arms.

The Death of Cy.
Galactica: 1980 ("The Return of Starbuck");
aired on May 4, 1980

Three years later at the climax of Return of the Jedi (1983) in a similar scene, Darth Vader - after many decades of evil deeds - saves the life of his son, Luke Skywalker.  He finds redemption and dies as Luke watches helplessly.

The Death of Darth Vader.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
(1983)

Are there any other instances of parallel plot points between Battlestar Galactica and the Star Wars sequels (or prequels)?  Waitaminute - the prequels?!?  I'm sorry, but I can't...I just can't go there...!
:-)

15). A Boy and his Drone / Droid!

Boxey and Muffet - a boy and his Drone -
in Battlestar Galactica ("Saga of a Star World");
aired on Sept. 17, 1978

Anakin and C-3PO - a boy and his Droid -
in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)

16).  Super Kids!

The super-powered children of the Galactica.
Galactica: 1980 ("The Super Scouts", part 1);
aired on March 16, 1980

The Force-powered Jedi Younglings in
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
(2005)

Battlestar Galactica is copyright (c) NBC / Universal.
Galactica: 1980 is copyright (c) NBC / Universal.
Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi , The Phantom Menace and Revenge of the Sith are copyright (c) Lucasfilm.

Battlestar Galactica - created by Glen A. Larson.
Galactica: 1980 - created by Glen A. Larson.
Star Wars - created by George Lucas.

Star Wars (1977) - written and directed by George Lucas.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, story by George Lucas; directed by Irvin Kershner.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) - written by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas, story by George Lucas; directed by Richard Marquand.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999) - written and directed by George Lucas.
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005) - written and directed by George Lucas.

All photos are used for illustrative purposes only and are copyright (c) and trademark the respective copyright holders.  Any quoted dialogue is copyright (c) the respective copyright holders.