Just two hours ago my friend Dave and I found ourselves wondering if Ron Moore could actually do it. After the jaw-droppingly good mini series, and the stupendously awesome first season, the last few years had seen Ron Moore… slip a little. We were propelled through seasons 2 and 3, lifted up upon the fluttering wings of promise; the promise that we’d see more epic story arcs like those in the mini series and season 1. It wasn’t to be. Truth be told, we all thought Ron had run out of steam. But then, with season 4, and the news that it was the last season, things got a little better. We knew that they would finally stop gallivanting across the universe in search of Earth. We might finally get a little resolution on the multitude of plots that he’d begun, but not come close to finishing.
Then that damn USA Writers Guild strike hit us! After 3 years of building a beautiful myth and spinning a legendary yarn, Ron said ‘Frack it, let’s just send them some Cylon ship that’ll take them to Earth.’ Quick, and totally brute-force. I don’t know if I should blame the WGA, or Ron Moore for that clumsy, shoe-horned plot device.
Anyway, there we were on Earth. Woop. 3 years down the drain. Earth was post-apocalyptic. What an anti-climax.
What followed were 6 cold, miserable, Adama-less months (caused by that damn writer’s strike); 6 months spent wondering if there could be any possible resolution. Could there be any chance of redemption, and an apt wrapping-up of the outstanding mysteries? Would we find out what happened in the Opera House? Is Starbuck a Cylon, or a Cylon child? What on earth has Baltar been doing for the past 3 seasons? Is Bob Dylan actually God, or should Tigh just grow a longer beard?
Those were just a few of the questions going through our minds as we turned up the volume, pressed play, sat back and had a moment of quiet contemplation and prayer.
‘I bet Ron Moore said to himself as he wrote this last episode: Don’t frack it up Ron, just 2 hours to go… don’t frack it up.’
Those were the fateful words spoken by Dave as we watched the ‘previously…’ sequence.
2 hours later, I blinked, cogitating, churning over what I’d just experienced. All doubts were dispelled: Ron Moore had sharpened his pencil, poured a fresh mug of coffee and scribed a monster of a script. In fact, I think after that little golden nugget, Ron probably put his pencil down and punched the air triumphantly, a broad grin on his face: ‘I did it, I frackin’ did it!’
2 hours later, I’m sitting here, still slightly awed by the finale of Battlestar Galactica. It was — possibly — better than the mini series. We were promised some kind of character-driven finale, and that’s certainly what we got! That’s not to say we didn’t get some action though; we probably got the finest action sequence I’ve seen in BSG.
From the moment Adama picks up that handset and delivers yet another one of his charismatic, through-the-fire-and-flames speeches, we were chained to an adrenaline-fueled roller coaster. I don’t think I stopped to catch more than a paper-thin breath until Kara Thrace stumbles around the CIC, blood everywhere, tubing dangling, fires breaking out everywhere, and tries to jump them to safety…
… anyway, I don’t want to give away too much, for those of you that haven’t seen it yet!
I’ll just stick to spoiling it with some screen captures!
For those of you that have seen it: I think you’ll agree that the Opera House plot was beautifully resolved. I was already on the edge of my chair from the violent, visceral, end-of-humanity-as-we-know-it action, and THEN they threw in the Baltar/Six Sharon/Roslin sequence. The Opera House scene, beautifully mirrored and montaged onto the final, dying throes of the Battlestar Galactica — and then, rather than the doors shutting us out, like they did so many years ago, we were offered a glimpse of salvation — we were offered a resolution. Thank God, er, Ron, er… Dylan! A resolution!
It’s safe to say that Ron Moore has successfully tied up the best sci-fi space-opera ever made. Every question has been answered, and storyline concluded. Well, except for just a tiny stickling point with Starbuck… but I guess we’ll have to live with that one. Ron’s allowed a bit of creative wibble, I guess; damn you, Ron, damn you. Maybe that one will be answered in a post-season mini-series, or that Caprica spin-off that has been rumoured.
Considering it is a space opera, I should probably save a few words for the people that actually executed Ron Moore’s script so deftly and turned it into a show: the characters; the cast! Despite some rather poor scripting and plot development in parts, the acting has certainly never been a weakness of BSG, and it definitely went from strength to strength in season 1, while the plot was still airtight and super-strong. It was their acting and characterisation that brought us the depth and understanding that we so desperately craved; with such a complex web of character interactions, nothing less would do!
But really, when it gets right down to it, the other actors were nothing compared to the power and on-screen presence of the ‘three wise men’ — Adama, Tigh and Doc Cottle. Tigh’s hoarse, derisive chuckle. Adama’s haunting, rousing and reverberating pre-battle speeches. Cottle’s cigarette smoking. All three will be the memories that first pop into my mind when I think of what a great show Battlestar Galactica has been over the past 4 years.
Jossie Posie
Mar 21, 2009
It was so well written I was beside myself. Your review was dead on. And for the record this nerd cried like a baby
I will definitely miss BSG.
sebastian
Mar 21, 2009
I sobbed too… just for a little… but the volume was so loud that no one could hear me
I wonder what will replace it… Sci-Fi (Syfy!) will need something good to fill its shoes!
Goza
Mar 22, 2009
*** spoilers! ***
IMO the finale was absolute crap. Plots didn’t get resolved at all (hello Starbuck? Caprica and Balthar ‘future’ versions popping out of nowhere?). The action sequence felt like they had been put there just for the sake of it. Suddenly they come up with the peace solution “kid vs resurrection” at the height of their conflict? Lol yeah – couldn’t think of that earlier…
Having seen the “last frakking special” the other day, it proved what I suspected for some time: Dramatic cliffhanger plots were introduced without any plan for the story consequences they would introduce, and without pre-thought (the “Heroes” syndrome). Hell, the writer said plain out loud he decided to make the 5 cylons on the Galactica because he thought the other plot (Bathars freedom) wasn’t awesome enough. He never ever thought about them being cylons before… Also funny: Starbuck’s actor said she hated her character in the final season because she didn’t understand what the fuck was going on (apparently noone does – awesome writing!).
At least they managed to resolve the opera scene. But overall: what a fucking, lame letdown. Writers, please have some kind of masterplan about your series, dont make up plots on the fly.
sebastian
Mar 22, 2009
(Your email isn’t public, just so you know!)
Yeah, the Frackin’ Special was a little worrying. I’d always wondered about how far ahead they planned the story arcs. I think it might be something to do with the American TV process though — producers just don’t know if their show will be signed up for another 6 or 12 or 24 episodes, so they might be afraid of doing huge story, awesome story arcs. Incidentally, the only show I know that was planned from start to finish was Babylon 5 — a show that many people say was the finest sci-fi ever made. Must be pretty insane to write out a story that spans 4 or 5 years, though!
In my opinion, the opera scene was the resolution that needed reaching. It was the only real ghost left from early on, when things still ‘made sense’. The Caprica/Baltar images really are angels/ghosts/images, as Ron said in the special. Nothing else to it — they are just avatars of God, or some higher force. Annoying for the people that were hoping for a more sensible solution though …
Starbuck is an odd one indeed. I can’t help but think he threw that one in just to piss us off… But also, her mystery over the last few episodes has been REALLY awesome — the music, the odd piano player (her father??), and her corpse on the first Earth… I quite liked the mysterious ending for her!
There’s another review of the finale going around that basically explains it away as Ron being a big, bad God lover… worth hunting down, if that’s your kind of thing!
Dave
Mar 22, 2009
The finest season finale since Blake’s 7. The rebirth of BSG is one of my most cherished memories of my time at university; back then 4 – 8 of us would meet up at my house on a weekly basis for dinner and the cream of that weeks television (we had a strict honor code of avoiding the episodes, or spoilers, until we were all together). While time and distance has whittled our numbers – only Seb and I watched this episode, in sync, with over 3000 miles separating us, and nothing but a shared irc window to try and communicate the sheer depth of emotion experienced during this episode – I’m eternally grateful to Ron (and anyone who was even _vaguely_ involved with the show) for giving us some of the finest television to grace our screens over the last four years. Cliched as it may be, I can honestly say that I laughed, cried and cheered like a schoolboy (annoying the hell out of those staying in the room beside me in the process). While I’ll avoid the spoilers for those who haven’t seen it, I’ll end with what was more or less our final spoiler-free response when the credits finally rolled:
! mrseb claps
dave: damn straight
dave: that was fracking awesome
mrseb : aye
sebastian
Mar 22, 2009
Aye, as Dave says, perhaps I am slightly tinged by nostalgia when I write about BSG. The mini series, followed by season 1 were probably my most enjoyable moments at university. But we battled through the often filler-filled episodes of season 2 and 3… and we made it to a grand, if a little spiritual, finale. I cried too; I bawled. Only when the volume was loud enough to drown me out, though
I think spirituality was always an important part of it, Goza. Even from the outset with the music, or Baltar’s visions (with the constant mentions of God, and his will) — not to mention the whole Prophecy stuff with Roslin! The whole Starbuck thread is actually one of my favourites, just behind Baltar’s thread of season 1/2 (God knows where he went in S3/4 though… really). I guess we both come from very different angles, thus the wildly different opinion of the conclusion!
But you’re right, it was incredibly dark in parts, and that was part of its strength, and what set it apart from other shows. It never erred on the side of caution; blowing things up, or blowing holes in people was always the resolution of choice! I thought the mix of darkness and spiritual undertones (overtones?) were part of the show’s strength. It wasn’t just about characters, or just about combat, or just about faster-than-light drives — it was about EVERYTHING. It was a soap opera after all… they have to be dramatic and developed over time!
I am almost certain it ended as intended; I am told the original season ended in a similar way? (But I haven’t seen it, so could be wrong). Sure, it was a bit light and fluffy, but perhaps they didn’t want another dark ending, after S2/3, and the apocalypse of original Earth?
Goza
Mar 22, 2009
(I know, still no reason to put the real one in here)
Sure producers dont know how long their series will run, but IMO it’s way better to have some huge general idea of what you want to achieve and in the worst case have it cut in the middle due to cancellation, than just “planning for the next day”. Come on, wtf was he thinking with “dead Starbuck” and Galactica Cylon Party? It was just there for watercooler talk and cliffhanger hype, I have yet to find anyone who says “yeah this made sense”.
The mystery ending for Starbuck, well that prob comes down to taste/preference. For me, all the psycho-mumbo-jumbo episodes with all those visions, Starbuck, the kid, the music notes etc were always the worst parts of Galactica. For me, it just didn’t fit in. Galactica was awesome when it was the darkest (detention camp, resistance, human mutiny). The supernatural touch just watered it down for me. It’s just so pretentious.
pinkjellybaby
Mar 23, 2009
I loved it. Cried muchly. I’m sad that both the Adamas got left alone though…
sebastian
Mar 23, 2009
Aye…! I think there was something to that… Admiral obviously lived his live entirely through the ship, and the fleet — so with that gone, he couldn’t really be content.
Not sure why they warped Starbuck away from young Adama though!
Eleni
Mar 28, 2009
I’ve finally watched it now. I thought it was pretty frakkin’ awesome as well. I agree that the whole Opera House stuff was resolved beautifully.
It would have been nice to see Kara and Lee all happy and together at the end, but it kind of made sense the way they left it. And you can totally see it coming with that shot where Lee is going on about exploring, and the camera pans around so Starbuck is cut out of the shot, and you think to yourself, “The only reason they’d cut her out of the shot in that way is so that when he turns around she’s not there anymore,” and what’d'ya know. But I won’t be disappointed about it. They’re allowed an unresolved mystery.
sebastian
Mar 28, 2009
I wonder how much of that opera house scene was planned, all those years ago… Having watched the ‘last frackin’ special’, I don’t think any of it was planned. Perhaps just some gifted writing from the hip… Although it is his baby, and his vision, so it’s not surprising he could conjure up something suitably ‘BSGish’ when it really mattered.
Do you think the whole thing reeked of Christian Goddyness? Or just undisclosed spirituality? I don’t know Ron’s own religious views… but I am curious as to what someone else makes of it! Referring to Baltar and Six as ‘angels’ was a little over the top, maybe…
I hope/think the Starbuck mystery might be resolved in Caprica… or at least her apparent father (the piano player?) might shed some light on the situation… we shall see! I think the mini series is soon…
Rachel
Jun 30, 2009
I have nothing intelligent to add just ‘Yay! Battlestar!’
…and I’m done.