After running out of things to watch I followed a friend's recommendation and took a look at Battlestar Galactica. I have vague memories of the original series as lightweight and relatively unchallenging entertainment, with the typical pantomime view of good and evil. I have to say the new version is much better, and has the potential to be really great. The idea of introducing evolved 'human looking' Cylons was something of a masterstroke, allowing the use of real actors in the role of machines which in turn allows a lot more depth of character to be explored. Humans are no longer purely good, Cylons are no longer purely bad and there is a rich vein of 'what makes us human' to be explored in the plots. Also the monotheistic belief system of the Cylons creates some interesting possibilities when compared to the polytheistic belief system of the humans in the show, and the 'religious war' background offers some interesting links with the older show - 'we have all lived before, this has all happened before' is one of the oft repeated mantras, of both religions, which indicates a fundamental belief in reincarnation of both individuals and the entire universe. So far I don't think the show has really reached it's full potential as far as exploring these issues is concerned (I'm near the beginning of the second series) and there's an obvious risk it won't ever reach that potential before degenerating into soap opera like most long running US TV shows, but if it even stays as good as it is now for another full season it will gain a deserved place in the classics.
