Palmer served his full term but chose not to run for a second term after getting caught lying to police in order to protect his ex-wife. Keeler (his opponent) won the election but was seriously wounded in an attack on Air Force One. Logan was his VP and became President. Logan is a loser. He is weak and is going DOWN. I can't believe I know all that.

Yep. Hard to beat BSG.

Oy, Alcibiades! How can you watch 5 without having seen 3 & 4?! :) But Harry got it right.

I saw parts of the earlier seasons, but I had issues with some of the characters, like President Palmer's wife, whom I found just too annoying. And it was inconceivable he would trust her again. Or the villain from the first year returning in the second, which made my suspension of disbelief fall apart entirely. Or the annoying daughter always making stupid decisions.

And I saw enough of the other ones to have a general sense of things. I just never knew what had happened to Palmer and how President Logan had come about.

I think I watched all of 4, though, or most of it. From my POV, it was the best season so far.

Although this season looks good so far, and has few actors and writers and producers whose work I'm familiar with from elsewhere that I really like.

Thanks for the explanation, Harry.

It'll be interesting to see how they develop this season's story re: the VP now president. It looks like the president's involved in the Palmer murder, in locking his wife away because she heard from Palmer before he was murdered, and might have concocted the poison gas ploy to make it look like he can save the country without Palmer's help.

I watched all the seasons within six months so its hard to remember which story is which season. I can't wait to see S5, but I am waiting for DVD so I can watch it without waiting a week in between episodes.