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?
Agreed completely.
Some people got way too pissed off being wrapped-up (and were being far too literal for scifi) by assuming this really was claiming that “Goddidit!” and it really refers to Christianity, etc.
I took the opposite view. Gaius’ CIC speech (Something is doing something, whatever it actually is) and “you know he doesn’t like being called that” just screams the obvious scifi twist of super-advanced beings, exactly like in 2001/2010. But, in the end, it’s kept vague. Why? Because we know as much as the colonials/cylons do.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed with the finale, but there were parts I really enjoyed.
I thought the Opera House vision was irrelevant after Athena shot Natalie, so I too was annoyed at how literal they made it. It did give us that great shot of the Final Five high above the CIC though, and that was really impressive. That said, Cavil and Baltar’s exchange afterwards was lame.
I thought most of the conversations on Earth were maudlin, and they let Roslin hobble around for so long that I almost wasn’t sad to see her die at the end. I said ALMOST (I still cried).
I would’ve loved a little more about Starbuck. At the very least, some sort of explanation about Daniel being her dad, but I guess they need material for the new series. I have to give Katee Sackhoff credit for being incredibly awesome these last few episodes though.
Baltar and Caprica were amazing, and I loved that they settled together. Their storyline came around full-circle, and that was really nice. The fact that he acknowledged his farming roots at the end too, I thought, was moving.
And of course, I still love the Chief. He’s flawed and impulsive, but he’s a good guy and incredibly loyal. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s smoking hot.
Glad you enjoyed the ending. All too often when our favorite shows end it’s a WTF moment.
I agree that Cavil’s suicide was pretty lame and seemed uncharacteristic considering how much he wanted to win.
My biggest problem is the abandonment of technology. I mean, really? Every one of the survivors agreed to this. Really? I have a feeling after about a week they would be all, “What the frak were we thinking?”
“which once again proved that Chief is the worst character ever”??????????????? Those are some serious fighting words there, Craig. You just might be dead to me now. JP on the other hand, has it right. Besides, I spent good money to buy one of the chief’s outfits from the big auction in January, then sat through an amazingly bad panel at Comic-Con to see him, so I might be sensitive on the issue.
I enjoyed the finale quite a lot. I was surprised at a few choices, but overall had no real issues with it. I guess The Opera House dream is what it is. I would have appreciated a slightly more esoteric explanation for it, but the connection of the chase portion to the Final Five standing there satisfied me enough.
The song acting as the jump coordinates worked in the moment, but afterwards I’m not sure that all the build up for it paid off. I have no clue how Starbuck translated the song into numbers or knew how to, but she did. I was hoping for a larger explanation then a FTL location.
I reada couple of interviews before the finale, where Ron Moore said he was caught off guard with the fan speculation around Daniel. The mention of Daniel was put into the show to explain the missing #7 model and show a piece of Cavil’s personality, and was not meant to mean more than that. So I wasn’t expecting Starbuck’s explanation to revolve around that. I think it’s best to not even think about Starbuck’s revelation, the more it’s discussed the more complicated it becomes.
I liked the final scene, it was the only moment the series hit us with a sledgehammer, but it tied the show together and was quick, so no problems there.
I hear the episode will be 20 minutes longer on the DVD, wonder what else they could include. And at least we still have The Plan later this year.
But Chief as worst character ever? That’s just wrong, man.
I did enjoy the flashbacks a lot and I’m glad they saved them for the end. You forget these people had lives before. I think the student Laura boinked was important because it was a catalyst for her making the decision that sealed her “destiny” (that’s what all the FB’s were about, I suppose). Right after she tells him to show himself out, she makes the call that sets her future political career in motion.
I hate to say this but I kind of thought (maybe even wanted?) more people to die. I won’t go over every little thing here, but the end was just too (IMO) inconsistent with the theme of the show.
I would’ve liked to have seen them find their new home or destiny by overcoming God, rather than having God (in all his power and omniscience!!1!) barely apply himself for the use of overcoming a handful of men. Does that make sense?
I skipped this post and the comments, as I plan on watching the series on Netflix DVD’s. But I’m glad you were happy with the outcome.
HUGS…
Atari-Age: I also really liked ““you know it doesn’t like being called that”. I think they left the destiny/religious stuff vague enough to keep it clever and inoffensive to people with varying religious beliefs.
JP: The shot of the Final Five in the CIC in the Opera House scene was really cool. Totally forgot about that.
JP and FDot: Sorry. I’ve just never been much of a Chief fan. He always seems to be complaining rather than doing. He did win me over a bit when he was making the Blackbird viper, but not for long.
FDot: I’m excited for the extended DVD. I heard there will be more Chief/Boomer/Helo flashbacks.
Sam: I guess you’re right in regards to that being the catalyst for Laura’s political career. I just wasn’t that intrigued by it. But it does make more sense now.
What I liked about the Chief/Tory moment was just before that — when the other 4 all saw what Tory had done — and looked up startled at her! I was thinking, “oh shit, somebody’s gonna get it…”
I agree that the decision to give up technology was odd, but it did help tie the story up. And remember, they’ve been on spaceships for several years — thousands of mammals cooped up together, breathing recycled air — that battlestar probably stank to high heaven! Fresh air might have been more precious than you think!
I liked how Starbuck yelled “Jump” like a hybrid too! I totally missed her line about there has to be a way out of here! Now, I have to go watch that again!
The gurgling sob that Balthar made when he said he knew about farming was touching.
I’ll have to re-watch and see if I like the ending better. I wasn’t sold on it after first watch. The whole angels guiding things didn’t sit well with me — too deus ex machina for me. Someone pointed out that Head Six has been telling us from the beginning that she is an angel sent by god, and I guess she was, lol!
One last thing — the music was nice in this episode. I think I heard some of the scores from previous seasons (and there were a few bars from the original episode when the fleet is being flown into the sun). Some of the BSG music is up on Youtube — like Roslin and Adama’s love story music –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG-Js_rMEV4
Overall, I was pleased with the ending.
It took me a few days, but I loved how it ended with the Capricans: Hope, not fear.
Well, I agree with all the problems you had with it, but for me those problems ruined it. I HATED it! Hated. It. It just all felt like such lazy writing, as if the writing staff decided to have their wrap-up party after writing the second-to-last episode, and then wrote the finale hung over. Instead of coming up with feasible and interesting explanations to tie up the loose plot points, they just explained it all away as being “God’s Plan.” I agree with Bart…the term “deus ex machina” popped into my head over and over again while watching the finale (to which my husband responded, “Literally!”). I’ve never liked deus ex machina as a literary device–as I’ve said, seems lazy to me–so maybe I was FATED to not like this episode. Here are a few things that pissed me off:
The Opera House connection
Cavil shooting himself
The dead raptor being nudged into firing its nukes at JUST the right time!
Sending all their technology into the sun–yeah, like 30+ thousand people would go along with THAT!
Starbuck disappearing–AGH! Are you frakkin’ KIDDING ME?!
Admiral Adama going off to live by himself.
The 150,000 years later ending. So stupid.
Things that did not piss me off?
The battle scene. Awesome.
Chief killing Tori.
Caprica and Baltar reuniting.
Yeah, that’s about it. Stupid finale. Ruined the whole series for me. After that steaming pile of crap, Firefly goes back to being my favorite SciFi show. At least they put some thought into ending THAT show!
Were you mulling this over for a few days or were you typing this for a few days. Wow, this is one long post. Who was the last Cylon?
Bart: I’ve heard the phrase “deus ex machina” but never gave it much thought or looked into what it really meant. But now I’m going to, thanks.
Tracy: Sorry you hated it so much. I completely forgot to make fun of the Raptor accidentally nuking the colony. That was slightly more ridiculous than little Anakin accidentally blowing up the Trade Federation vessel in Phantom Menace.
John: As much as I don’t want to tell you because you should watch the series (I’ll lend you the DVDs!) you could just google it and find out yourself so I might as well tell you. It was Ellen Tigh, the wife of the second in command Saul Tigh (bald guy with the eye patch) who was also a Cylon.
Earlier in the series, Saul killed Ellen for inadvertently helping the Cylons (neither of them knew they were each Cylons at the time) but she resurrected on a Cylon baseship where she was held hostage for months, so no one knew she was really alive, or a Cylon except the other Cylons holding her hostage, until she escaped and made her way back to the Galactica.
Here’s a pic of her:
http://www.sfuniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/ellen-tigh.jpg
Hey, I looked up deus ex machina on Wikipedia, and sure enough, somebody has already written in the BSG finale as a prime example of the term. Guess I’m not the only one who noticed that.
My DVR mucked up and didn’t record the finale. I did manage to tune in to the last 25 minutes. I read all about it the next day and did watch the interview/wrap up show that came after.
From what I saw, I thought the ending was a little too ordinary, too pat. I was hoping for something more. Even the explanation (given during the wrapup show) of head six and baltar being angels seemed too easy.
But then, I was screaming bloody murder at my cable box at the time (realizing that it wasn’t recording). And I did miss all the battle scenes which I’m sure was very cool.
I look forward to seeing the whole episode when it comes out on DVD.
Hmmm… Anyone who has to ask “who is the final cylon” at this point, by definition, doesn’t watch the series and doesn’t need to know the answer. Except to point out that the answer was old news in January.
Michelle: That really stinks! I think I read that they’re gonna release the DVDs fairly soon though so you might be in luck.
The ending is only an example of deus ex machina in the definitive sense that God or a machine must be the resolution. It was a sci-fi series discussing religion: God and machines HAD to be the resolution. But none of it was unexpected: ‘God’ was always part of the story, right from the start, so it seems like a justified end to that plot line to have Baltar call the ‘angels’ what they are, and confirm what we have suspected for ages. Had they revealed themselves to everyone and explained everything: that would have been a REAL crime.
Oh, and I agree: the Opera House visions were a let down. But the rest was pretty awesome.
This is off subject, but I have finally found the truth about Craig’s famous enowment- 26,25 cm (almost 10 1/2 inches)! Pretty impressive, unless compared to John Mayer’s 24.678,45 cm (9 715,9252 inches) and Heidi Montag has a 40.022,33 cm (15 756,82 inches) one, suprisingly enough. The wonders of tuck and tape, I guess.
http://www.epenis.nl/
I was also glad that Adama didn’t crash the raptor with Roslin. I dislike Thelma and Louise style endings. And while her faith may have waned a bit, Laura Roslin started out believing in the scriptures and the prophecies so she would have liked a proper, religious burial, right?
I also disliked that the Opera House scenes ended up with those 5 people only being in the same place at the same time. For so long it seemed that the images they were having meant that Six and Baltar were going to abduct Hera, but they ended up just bringing her to the CIC. Lame.
And yes, Apollo is much hotter with short hair.
I loved the finale. I really assumed that more major characters were going to die, ala Buffy, because it would have emotional impact. If Lee had died, it would have made more sense why Bill would have flown away from everyone. As it was, it made no sense why he’d abandon half of his family. I still loved it, though.
Opera House – Exactly!!!
The Jump – Eh. I found her line to be a ‘sore thumb,’ but I guess that’s because I knew the lyrics to the song before it appeared on BSG.
Where They Ended Up – I thought Starbuck’s goodbye to Anders was amazing. Probably my favorite Starbuck moment.
And Roslin is still my favorite BSG character and will be in my heart forever!!
Saw this and thought of you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDm1I_8nj14
Great synopsis.
One thing about great stories: they don’t always give you all the answers. Sometimes you’re purposely left wondering so that you can imagine all the possibilities. You seem to have realized that.
I also was disappointed by how the Opera House vision played out. A bit too literal. I think they didn’t know how to incorporate it in the short time they had left.
A great end to a great series otherwise.
I will say only this: The scene where Adama put his ring on Roslin’s finger made me cry.
And I don’t cry easily.
That sort of thing only happens when a show has good characters (and really good actors portraying them).
Months later, I just finished the series finale and its a lot to process. As I got closer to the last episode, I was getting more and more sad because there would be no more to watch. I LOVED the first hour of the finale… it gave me goosebumps. The second, not so much. I had the same sickly feeling when LOTR’s Return of the King kept going after the Ring got dropped in the volcano. Sometimes its just better if its left up to your imagination instead of having people go off and building logcabins and mating with the local inhabitants. I’ll just need to think about this more and maybe rewatch it.