That said, I'm not sure I am completely satisfied with the "how". The writers and creators of the show have done a great job of creating interesting story-lines full of potential, but I can't help but feel they took a few easy explanations in the end. I can almost envision a bit of creative exhaustion creeping into the writer's room. Some will say that ambiguous endings and "explanations" are OK, but maybe people like me wanted a little more of a concrete explanation. I freely admit the fault may lie in the desire for a pretty bow-wrapped exposition, but I can't help but feel the great build up deserved a little ... more.
(Slight spoilers below)
A few of the more serious holes included a better explanation of the "skin job" cylon's motivations. Why exactly did they initially nuke the 12 colonies? At that point in time, they had resurrection and their own fleet and colony. Was the attack motivated out of pure childish vengeance? Was it "divinely" inspired? Cavil lays claim to logic, but the cylon's actions do not appear logical.
While it may be my own discomfort with ambiguity, I would have preferred a better explanation of the "head" people and Starbuck's nature. Kara Thrace ends up being a bit of a deus ex machina in retrospect.
One thing I've not see discussed was a depressing feeling of the Galactica "family" being broken up. At the end, all the main characters appear to be going in their own directions. After building up a tight family-like structure, it all seems to fall apart at the end. There seems to be a pointed effort by the writers to show that none of the main characters (with the exception of a few couples) will spend any more time together. No more team work. No more family. In the extreme, a few of the characters are depicted as becoming hermits living the remainder of their lives alone.
The only way I can read this aspect is using the series as an allegory for individual life. It is a struggle for survival from the beginning, you make friends and enemies, experience some drama, and in growing up you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the next generation, the children (Hera). In the final days, you are alone to meet your fate. Somewhat accurate, but not very happy in some ways.
Over the last half season of episodes, I was not entirely convinced by Baltar's religious conversion. Maybe there was not enough time to cover all the lines in the necessary detail, but I always thought of Baltar as one of the primary characters and would have thought his plot line would have deserved greater attention.
I still think this is still one of the best shows ever played on television, I was hoping for perfection.
Links to Reviews
Spoilers
- http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/03/battlestar_galactica_ronald_d.html
- http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/03/battlestar-galactica-daybreak-finale-moore-mcdonnell-olmos.html
- http://www.tvguide.com/Episode-Recaps/battlestar-galactica/Battlestar-Galactica-Episode-1004259.aspx?imw=Y
- http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/03/21/battlestar-galactica-daybreak-part-2-series-finale/
Additional Links
- Slashdot has a discussion up now.
