Alright, so I’ve had a few days to let the series finale of Battlestar Galactica marinate in my head and I’m ready to discuss it. Before we begin, let me just say that there will be HEAVY SPOILERS here on the front page. So do not read any further if you have not seen the series finale, or are still in the process of watching the series. Don’t even skim it because I don’t want to be held responsible if your eyes catch a glimpse of “Boxey was behind everything all along!” and then you’ll blame me for being spoiled. Here goes:
So in a nutshell, what did I think? I loved it. I say that now, having thought about it for four days and rewatching the final half hour. As I was watching the first hour and half for the first time, I thought it was incredible. I don’t think they answered a single question during that time, but the battle was just so amazing that I didn’t care. Baltar staying on the Galactica and teaming up with Caprica Six, Hoshi getting to be admiral, the jump into the colony, the barrage of fire the Galactica initially took, the ramming, the cylon versus cylon battle sequences, Starbuck in short sleeves while everyone else was suited up, was all frakking amazing.
So that’s the first hour and a half. Amazing. Now in order to properly discuss the final 45 minutes, I need to discuss some specific plot points. I may jump around a bit, but I’ll do my best to keep things in chronological order:
THE OPERA HOUSE: I was a bit let down by the Opera House explanation. Not the fact that the Opera House was really the Galactica, that worked for me. What didn’t work for me was that the characters’ involvement in the Opera House sequence was so literal. Throughout the series, we’ve seen visions of Roslin and Athena chasing after Hera, who is then picked up by Baltar and Six and taken away. And here in the finale, we see that the vision was literally just that. Baltar and Six taking her away. Not for a specific purpose, not because Baltar and Six were symbolic of something else, but just because that was the way things played out. So it felt more like they had to do it because that was the way they set it up previously, rather than giving it a true purpose to the story. Plus, how many frakking times can Hera run away? Someone put a leash on the damn kid.
THE FINAL STANDOFF: First off, where the heck did Cavil come from? Okay whatever, that’s not important. But seriously, he just popped out of nowhere! And what was with that phone call he made to the colony? That was like the way my Mom talks on her cell phone. “Hello?! Hello! This is Cavil! Stop everything!” Plus I didn’t realize the Galactica and the Cylon colony were on the same cell network. Odd. But beyond that, I thought the trade for resurrection was really clever, and the Tory/Chief exchange was a fantastic “Oh shit!” moment, which once again proved that Chief is the worst character ever. I just wish Cavil could have had a more appropriate death than the one we got. Apparently another ending called for Tigh to kill Cavil, which I think would have been so much more appropriate seeing as though Cavil held Ellen hostage for all those months (not to mention frakked her a couple times on New Caprica) that the two of them would have had some unfinished business. Plus, Cavil’s old body that he hated so much wouldn’t have been strong enough to take on Tigh, and that could have been poetic. Plus I feel like we haven’t had a really good hand-to-hand fight on this show since Starbuck and Six fought over the Arrow of Apollo. But apparently Dean Stockwell suggested this ending, so that’s what we got. Oh well. It could have worked if it didn’t come across so rushed and silly.
THE JUMP: As much as the “All Along the Watchtower” business bugged me since it made it’s first appearance in the Season 3 finale, I thought it totally worked in the scene where she punches in the jump coordinates. No, it still doesn’t make much sense, but in terms of the artistry of the scene, it worked. And the fact that Starbuck said: “There must be some way out of here!” before she started punching in the jump coordinates and I didn’t pick up on the fact that those are the lyrics to the song (I picked up on it the second time around, not the first) I have to give them credit for sticking that line in there and not having it stick out like a sore thumb, at least to me, though I can be pretty dense sometimes. And I loved the fact that she yelled “Jump!” just like a Hybrid.
WHERE THEY ENDED UP: So of course they find Earth. Not the original Earth, but our Earth. This was bound to happen, and just as I suspected it’s a pre-civilization Earth. What I completely did not suspect was cavemen and the total abandonment of technology. I mean, I should have suspected it since I predicted they would find our Earth and we don’t have fossilized Battlestars lying around, but to see them make the decision (unanimously?) to leave all their technology behind was a bit of a shock. But in terms of the story, it fits. You might have a hell of a time getting people to leave the comfort of their ships to go live in huts, but like I said, it’s a fitting rebirth of civilization. And who knows, after all these people have been through, they might all be too excited to stretch their legs in the open air to care what happens to their precious technology. Plus, Starbuck’s goodbye to Anders, Adama leaving for the last time in his viper, and the fleet heading towards the Sun with the original Battlestar Galactica theme playing in the background was incredible.
THE FLASHBACKS: I liked the flashbacks. I didn’t love them, but I enjoyed them, and their relationship to the current events. Apollo and Starbucks’ was probably the most interesting. Their almost getting jiggy with it defines their relationship for the entire show — constantly on the edge of being able to be with each other — so it’s interesting to have their relationship begin and end on the same terms. I also enjoyed Baltar’s flashbacks mainly because I enjoyed seeing the softer side of Caprica Six as she cared for Baltar’s father, and the way everything came full circle in the end as Baltar admitted that he knew about farming, which I found really touching. Adama and Tigh’s were also interesting, solely for Ellen’s involvement. I could have done without Adama entirely, but seeing Tigh and Ellen’s interactions were totally fun since I love them both, and it was a nice comparison to their current relationship. Boomer’s brief flashback was interesting, but why would she owe Adama because of scratching up the landing platform? Why not for SHOOTING HIM in the gut twice?! That was just odd. Roslin’s flashbacks were probably the most disappointing. While they started out strong with her tragedy (did anyone else think Tigh or Lee were gonna be the drunk driver?), they kinda fizzled out by the end, and I just didn’t find the former student storyline interesting at all. But I will say that she looked damn fine in her nightgown. Work it girl!
ADAMA: A little odd that he decided to go off and be on his own, but loved his final flight with Roslin and his plans for the cabin. I was worried for a minute that he would purposely crash the raptor to commit suicide, but thankfully that didn’t happen. “I laid out the cabin today. It’s going to have an easterly view. You should see the light that we get here. When the sun comes from behind those mountains. It’s almost heavenly. It reminds me of you.”
ROSLIN: My favorite Roslin moment of the episode was her chat with Doc Cottle. I wish her work in the sickbay during the battle and her later death could have had the same impact as that conversation, but once Adama put his ring on her finger, I felt it. “Don’t spoil your image, just light a cigarette and go and grumble.”
STARBUCK: So the real Starbuck died, and she was sent back to lead humanity to Earth. She’s always been my favorite character so I’m glad she turned out to be the primary hero of the series. I wish there would have been more of an explanation of her connection to the song, or her father (I’m still surprised there was no connection to the lost Cylon Daniel) but the vagueness does fit with her storyline, and upon second viewing I was able to appreciate her disappearance. “I just know that I am done here. I’ve completed my journey, and it feels good.”
APOLLO: As much as I like Jamie Bamber as Apollo, he really hasn’t contributed much to the overall storyline of the show. So his character discussion will focus solely on the superficial. He is so much hotter with his hair shorter! It has been large and in charge lately! Plus I really enjoyed the boyish excitement he exuded when he talked about his plans to explore. “Goodbye Kara. You won’t be forgotten.”
BALTAR AND CAPRICA SIX: Earlier in the season it bothered me that Baltar and Caprica Six hadn’t made contact with each other, even though they were both on the Galactica. Then a few episodes back Caprica confronted Baltar and told him of her disgust in his cult and I absolutely loved it. Then the finale wrapped up their storyline superbly. As I said earlier, I loved their flashbacks and the depth Baltar’s father added to the storyline. “Cultivation?” “Yes. You know, I know about farming.” “I know you do.”
HEAD BALTAR AND HEAD SIX: If I’m understanding it correctly, their purpose was to ensure that Hera made it to Earth safely. I just have a hard time accepting the idea that everything they did was to get Hera to Earth safely. Yes, you can say that because she ended up there that they must have done their job right, I just can’t accept it. But that’s a common problem I find with movies and television shows. They like to explain things away by focusing on the end result, but the end doesn’t always justify the means. I don’t want to blame it on poor planning, because I believe a show needs to evolve as it progresses, but at least acknowledge the fact that not everything they did was for the sake of Hera. “God’s plan is never complete.” “Great.” “I think it’s safe to say that, from now on, your lives will be less…eventful.”
HELO, ATHENA, AND HERA: So so so so so so glad they all survived and lived happily ever after! But the news article at the very end said that they found the remains of a young woman who they considered Mitochondrial Eve. Young woman? Odd, but acceptable.
THE VERY END: I was really unimpressed by the last two minutes the first time I watched it. The Ron Moore cameo stuck out like a sore thumb and the robot montage was a bit much, and lacked any kind of subtlety. Couldn’t they have just shown one robot with a hint of a rotating red eye? But upon second viewing, the shock of the surprise had worn off, and I enjoyed it more. Plus the Head Baltar and Head Six conversation and walk off was fantastic. And Meg told me that Head Six and Head Baltar are the Joker and the Thief from the song “All Along the Watchtower” and I think that’s a really great idea.
CONCLUSION: All in all, I thought this was a great finale to one of my favorite television shows ever. Yes, it appears I do a fair amount of complaining above, but I wouldn’t be a fanboy if I didn’t complain. What did you guys think?
