BSG Series Finale (Spoilers, Obviously)

[Tyrel Lohr]

Okay, any one else want to give their thoughts on the BSG finale?

I have to say that it has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I had joked about these last episodes ending like Enterprise did, with a *bad* holodeck episode. Unfortunately, that is partially what the BSG finale provided with its "character building" segments. I can see what they were attempting to do with them, in order to provide some framing for the events of the episode, but I thought they really didn't add anything valuable; they were useless filler. By the series finale these sorts of things, if they were actually important, should have already been shown. They weren't important before, and they really weren't important now.

The worst element of this finale, IMO, is the literal use of a dues ex machina to explain away all of the loose plot threads. To me that is extremely sloppy writing. It certainly wasn't a satisfying ending to the series, and very frustrating at that.

I also didn't appreciate the idiotic anti-technology message that the finale presented. Proposing that the complete and utter loss of all "modern" technology is some sort of a panacea is asinine. The loss of medical equipment and knowledge would ensure that most of those 30,000 survivors would be dead within a couple of years, and that is barring some sort of pandemic caused by foreign pathogens. Add in that a large number of the female population will likely die during child birth, that the natives have spears and have no reason not to give them the "stabbity-death", etc. They are also assuming they will have enough provisions to get them by until (or if) they can start growing food of their own. Who needs shelter, either? There can't be any natural predators or freak environmental conditions that could possibly harm our brave space explorers! No, no, let's make the same mistake we did at New Caprica and make a rash or ill-informed decision without considering the repercussions of your actions.

Sigh. So much wasted potential. Oh well. The first two seasons were okay to good; I just have not cared for much past that point, so shouldn't be surprised that I don't like the direction that the show went in or its eventual destination. After watching tonight with my dad, we both agreed that the actors and actresses all did a very good job -- absolutely wonderful -- but we spent most of the episode essentially MST'ing it.

-Tyrel

[zyffyr]

I liked it slightly more than I did the rest of Season 4, but that isn't saying much.

About the only thing I found believable in the the character's actions is Tyrol's reaction when he found out what Tory did.

[Tyrel Lohr]

I liked it slightly more than I did the rest of Season 4, but that isn't saying much.

About the only thing I found believable in the the character's actions is Tyrol's reaction when he found out what Tory did.

Yeah, up to the end of Season 2 I liked the show. I still maintain that Season 2 should have ended with Cloud 9 blowing up, as that would have been more dramatic than a quick "flash forward" like you would find in a bad soap opera (SORAS'ing to the extreme!).

I do agree that Tyrol's reaction to the revelation that Tory killed Cally was one of the few things that made any real sense and had some past precedence for happening. A lot of the other stuff just came out of nowhere.

Did anyone else have a problem about a corporate entity testing for humaniform Cylons prior to the miniseries? That seemed VERY out of place, especially given the fact that Adama was nonplussed by the question...

Finally, I have to agree with this statement I found on another forum:

"...Is it too late to side with Gaeta?"

Honestly, Gaeta and Cavil both would have been better to come out on top than the Luddite Moron Squad.

-Tyrel

[MarkG88]

Here is a link to a very good "after action report" by Ron Moore. It also has many links to other articles on the show's last few episodes as well.

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com ... olmos.html

As for me, I'm still a fan of the show, beginning, middle and end. One of my favorite episodes is Ron Moore's (and many fans) least favorite: "Blackmail" so I'm definitely someone who goes his own way on things.

[jygro]

All in all, I liked the series, but I did have a couple of issues with the final episodes.

1. Technology - yes, rampant technology increases can be dangerous if the morale/education of said race isn't up for the challenge. This whole thing can be summed up in the following quote:

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." - Jurassic Park

Perhaps that is what the writers were trying to tell us, but I don't feel that the approach they took tells us that. Now, creating the humanoid Clyons for the sole purpose to allow your dead daughter to 'live' again would be a good morale dilemma, but we are going to have to wait for Caprica for that story (in theory).

2. Starbuck - Seriously, all of the crew were having delusions of an 'angel'. Of course, it was never stated that these 'angels' couldn't interact with the world, but I felt that whole story arc and it's completion was a cop out.

3. Flashbacks - They were interesting, but a bit too late in my opinion. These flashbacks should have been many seasons ago if they were suppose to give any motivation of those characters to the story. As they were, they felt like a way to get the finale to a 2 hour time slot. Of course, I'm not a writer and perhaps they had a different meaning and I completely missed it...

That's all for now,
-Bren

[nimrodd]

3. Flashbacks - They were interesting, but a bit too late in my opinion. These flashbacks should have been many seasons ago if they were suppose to give any motivation of those characters to the story. As they were, they felt like a way to get the finale to a 2 hour time slot. Of course, I'm not a writer and perhaps they had a different meaning and I completely missed it...

And what was the BS question in Adama's flashback of the "Interview" where they asked if he was a Cylon. At that time, the Colonials didn't know about the skinjobs.

Yes, way too many holes and screwups, but overall, I enjoyed the series.