Thus ends BSG. WAH.

[misscam]

Battlestar Galactica. Oh, BSG finale. I don't even know where to begin.

I don't know, I'm still a mess. I can see why some would hate it. I'm sort of emotionally drained, and I know when it wears off I will start to poke holes at this rationally. Certain things are going to really bug me. But overall, it was good as I watched it. It was BSG. Kicks you in the guts, drives you mad with little things, leaves shit unresolved, breaks your heart and fraks with you. Oh, BSG. I'm going to miss having no more episodes for you to break me with.

Some rambling points:
- I knew this episode would kick my ass from the moment of Laura saying goodbye to Doc Cottle. Oh, man.
- Admiral Hoshi and President Romo. Oh my.
- I'm still not sure how I feel about the flashbacks. I like some of them, but the finale did feel to strain a little under having three stories as one at times. (Mission, aftermath, flashbacks.)
- Gauis redemption and ending up with Caprica Six was generally funny and sweet. Moment of both realising they saw each other's head!people cracked me up so hard. The two people that were so involved in the destruction of the Twelve Colonies... Some journey they've had.
- Epic fightscenes were epic. Loved, loved the red-marked Centurions, and old!show Centurions getting in on the action, Adama ramming the Colony, the pacing, the attempt to make another truce, the wham-bam of it.
- Boomer redeemed herself and died for it. Oh, Boomer. Your life really got frakked a lot. Then again, true for all on the show and they didn't all kidnap Hera. (Though at times it seemed like it.)
- Galactica is the Opera House! Did not see that one coming, but lovely visual mapping work there to sell it.
- The moment Tory started talking about dark secrets, I know Chief was going to find out. I'd given up on that misdeed of Tory's ever coming to light - talk about a dramatic way to have Cally's death be addressed again.
- Cavil blows his brains out - well, I did not see that one coming. But I did predict the Colony going into the singularity. Score!
- Music as jump coordinates. Was actually something lovely about that, and music is a lot of math.
- When they found Earth, it did feel like a different episode/story suddenly. The shift felt slightly jarring, which I suspect is from cramming so much into the finale. Also raises a whole lot of 'but wait, if that's our Earth, what about...' points, I suspect.
- Some of the implications about the natives already there did squick me somewhat. Um, could have done without that.
- Helo lived and fightin' Agathons got happy ending, with Athena going to teach how to hunt. That was cute. I am pleased for falena84.
- Ellen and Saul, aww. But no farewell scene between Saul and Bill? BAH.
- Chief goes off to Scotland, lol. But also, poor Chief. I do think he loved Cally after a fashion, and his rage at Tory was probably parts that and parts having a new target for the guilt he had felt for Cally's death. Boomer dies on him, returns to frak him over, Tory was actually his Cylon ex-girlfriend that murdered his wife and he then murders. Yeah, I can see why he'd want to go brood on some moors.
- Kara's goodbye to Sam made me sniffle, and I was never a shipper. And having him guide the ships into the sun was a wonderful image.
- But wtf giving up all technology? That felt more something stuck in there to make it be our Earth and our ancestors than some organic development in the story. I can see giving up some, because they got to be sick of space after being all they had so long. Not buying all.
- Centurions getting a basestar on their own. Lol. I can't just imagine their space adventures.
- Kara and Lee. lotus79 was really disappointed by this part, and I gather a lot of the shippers were. (Wankily so, even.) But for me, they've always seemed a pair trying to dance with different tunes in their head and thus always out of step. So the end made a certain sense to me, though I understand the frustration. Kara just vanishing was quite WHUT and hai, missing explanations. I assume we're meant to speculate like mad about it and the writers are notoriously evil. With so much else getting closure, that felt more like just an end than actual closure.
- Timestap of 150,000 years ago of Colonials landing is not quite making sense for me with what I know of early human history. Then again, we so not know enough about that. But Hera as our Eve? Hmmm.
- The cautionary bit at the end was a bit much, but I did like the question mark of whether or not we can change our cycles. Yes, can we? Could have done without some of the very Obvious Shots of Robots at the end there. (And hi, Ron!) Technology in itself is not bad or evil, it's what we do with it, FFS. Back in the day, I am pretty sure we threw rocks at each other.
- Not sure how I feel about the spiritual bits and fairly obvious anvils. Atheist self would probably mutter angrily, but in BSG's fictional world, I am somehow a lot less bothered. Maybe because the characters have gotten smacked about so much I want something beyond for them.
- Finally, Bill and Laura. I saved them for last because they did kill me. From Laura using her last bit of life on the mission, to Bill's protectiveness in CIC and the 'honey', to watching the wildlife in Africa and talking about chasing dreams, to the last Raptor flight and her death and the ring and to Bill actually planning the cabin. I cried. It was heartbreaking and lovely at the same time, because she died happy and Bill seemed at peace in the end. He probably knew he would join her soon enough, and in the meantime, live for them both.

Adama: I laid out the cabin today. It's gonna have an easterly view. You should see the light we get here when the sun comes from behind those mountains. It's almost heavenly. Reminds me of you.

I've shipped a lot of various couples over the years, but their story? Blows me away like none of the others. The acting, the execution of it, the heartbreaking and heartwarming nature of it all, the love in it all - kudos. And I'm trying so hard to avoid writing 'reuniting after death' fic. Must. Resist.

(I probably forgot to mention stuff, but man, there was a lot in this finale.)

BSG is over. I still can't believe it. I want DVDs with deleted scenes and more stuff fast, or I will go into withdrawl. MAH SHOW.

What the heck am I going to watch now? (After I've done a lot of rewatching, naturally.) Yes, I am taking suggestions.

Comments

[kittycatness.livejournal.com]

...I had a conversation with a teacher in high school about BSG. I said "they land and they're totally the forerunners of 'us'" and he basically said "Er... that would kind of totally ruin the story, n00b".

I'm just glad to know that, even though there were holes and unexplained-ness, that Bill and Laura tied up nicely. That's all that truly matters to me.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Hah. Guess it depends what story you're watching, really. There were some theories floating about that would be the case, so I wasn't too surprised at it. That part didn't bother me that much.

Yes, they did. They had their end, and it was like all their scenes, really. Understated and lovely.

[mingsmommy.livejournal.com]

I told cincoflex I feel a little as though I've had a peaceful death in the family. Yes, it was a rich full life and it ended beautifully, but I will miss it forever.

I think you know how in love with this show I am. It is more than television, more even than art. It is so much richer and deeper than anything else I've ever seen. For all that I liked the ending (no, it wasn't perfect...but the moments of ending and peace and redemption were *sigh* lovely) I am grieving a frakking lot little bit today. I will miss it a lot...I feel emotionally wrung out.

I have been refreshing LJ all morning waiting to see what you had to say.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. I'm still very flattered how you got into the show ;) It's been a show that really resonated with me and made me think in so many ways. It's been a very special show to me, and glad to see that's shared.

Awww. I've been writing up my thoughts really slowly, in between finishing my ship_manifesto for Adama/Roslin (now that I know how it ends) and discussing it with people on IM. I watched it like ten hours ago, but anything I typed up back then would be incoherent bawling. OH SHOW.

[denorios.livejournal.com]

I'm sniffling again just reading this. Bill and Laura just absolutely broke me. I was sobbing so hard my flatmate came in to see what was wrong. I guess we knew it was going to end like this, and it was beautiful and peaceful, but oh so sad.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I made pathetic noises that made the cat stare at me. Oh Bill and Laura and that cabin and my heart :(

I sniffled writing this, so we're in the same boat there.

[babylon-whore.livejournal.com]

When was the 'honey' bit??? I feel like I need to watch these episodes again, there was so much to follow

[misscam.livejournal.com]

After Galactica has made the final jump with Kara's notes (as it were), Bill helps Laura up and asks 'You all right?' to which she goes 'Honey, I'm fine'.

There was a fucking lot to follow, really.

[cutemaggie.livejournal.com]

ohhh my dear God ...... :(((((
&hearts

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was sad, but a beautiful kind of sad.

[wintergreen126.livejournal.com]

The acting, the execution of it, the heartbreaking and heartwarming nature of it all, the love in it all - kudos.

well said. they showed the power and depth that two veteran actors can bring to older and mature characters. i loved that they didn't shy away from showing their feelings,that it wasn't always about the young pretties. their relationship was the most poignant because that really was a real relationship.

Loved, loved the red-marked Centurions, and old!show Centurions getting in on the action

that was pretty fantastic. it got me thinking- did cavil ever finish lobotomizing the radars? because they, unlike the centurions, seemed not to be acting of their own accord.

talk about a dramatic way to have Cally's death be addressed again.

i was afraid they had forgotten about that, what tory had done. i kind of like that all that hardcore cyloness came back to basically bite her in the ass.

Moment of both realising they saw each other's head!people cracked me up so hard.

that was hilarious. those two always did bring the humor, especially in their early interactions in season 1.

What the heck am I going to watch now?

when you figure that out, let me know. because i don't know what to do now, either.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this show really did show some mature relationships - Ellen and Saul too, even if that had a bit of a higher degree of frakked-up-ness.

Adama/Roslin really was all the more poignant to me because they both entered into it knowing of her cancer.

Cavil probably got up to lots of stuff and lobotomizing in his spare time. He seemed to be the kind.

I don't want to find a new show, wah :(

I cried

[witchqueenrat.livejournal.com]

and I cried and I cried some more. I just locked myself into my apartment with the vodka and a bunch of napkins, cause I knew I was going to bawl... :-)

It's grown into me for the last three years and having ripped off hurts. I don't know if I'd have preferred the finale to be crappy just so I don't miss it so much.

Re: I cried

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Some people did hate the finale, so if you try really hard, maybe...?

I liked that the finale didn't taint my experience with the show, though I will retain some complaints.

Re: I cried

[witchqueenrat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, io9-ers are furious at Moore.

There were some parts that were just off (not the grandest exit for my girl Starbuck and the angel conversation at the end was just too smug and felt more like "Charmed" than like BSG) but I need some emotional distance to get my critical glasses on. :-)

Re: I cried

[misscam.livejournal.com]

So are Kara/Lee shippers, it seems. Wankery a plenty.

Yeah, there were off bits and stuff I am not happy with, but it carried such emotional impact I, like you, need some distance before I can get into all that.

How's spring and working treating you? Missing the snow already?

[clanne.livejournal.com]

I totally held it together...until the Bill and Laura scenes at the end. Then I was just sobbing and it was messy and embarassing and totally, totally worth it.

The real treat of the episode, for me, was all the Caprica/Gauis interaction. I loved, early on, their scene on Galactica where she says that she's proud of him. And the flashback, where he slips up and says something to the effect of 'the things we do for love'? There was squee and there ending was, for me, perfect.

Thank you so much for introducing me to this show. It's been amazing and wonderful and, if not for your numerous BSG-related posts, I never would have started watching. I owe you.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Bill and Laura wah :( But yeah, totally worth it.

Gaius really came through in the end. His characters has really been on the longest, strangest journey of them all. Back to farming, which he'd always tried to get away from, just felt fitting.

Aw, I'm flattered I made you watch it! Good to hear it was so rewarding, too. I caught it mostly by chance myself, and I'll always be grateful.

[laurandbillever.livejournal.com]

I am still in such a terrible shock.... I can't pay attention to anything else but Bill and Laura... I cried all day and the pills for my headache are nasty.... gods.... I can't believe that two fictional characters did that to me....

WAIT!! WHAT WAS THAT "HONEY" YOU WROTE??? HE CALLED HER THAT??? WHERE??? I DIDN'T HEAR THAT!!

At last something to be happy about...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Sorry it hit you that hard :(

Um, when Galactica has made the final jump with Kara's notes (as it were), Bill helps Laura up and asks 'You all right?' and she replies 'Honey, I'm fine'.

[laurandbillever.livejournal.com]

wow.... so sweet!!!!! I have never heard them talk with pet names unless I have missed something... I am not a native speaker.... did I miss some other pet name this season??

surprizingly this made me a little less depressed....

[lily-winterwood.livejournal.com]

idk... but I have a personal joke (that's going to pop up in OFUBSG a few times) about Laura calling Bill "pooky" and Bill calling Laura "kissimwhiskers". It started with my sticky note doodles, really. Really.

[laurandbillever.livejournal.com]

hehe- sounds fun :) but really- I wouldn't even imagine Laura to call Bill with pet name... it is so damn fantastic... how far their relatioship has gone... and how desperately I want to cry again....

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I haven't caught any other uses. But we haven't gotten a huge lot of scenes of them in private after they got together, so it's a bit up to the imagination if they used them in private.

Awww :)

[laurandbillever.livejournal.com]

I wonder if there will be any cut scenes of Bill and Laura in private.... it is just with her being president and he- admiral, i just couldn't imagine them having pet names... it would sound soapy to me if it wasn't them... when it is about them it sounds so perfect...

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I totally missed the "honey". Will be going back to watch that again in a minute. :)

I'm a hardcore atheist too, but I have no problem with the mixy religious stuff in this show at all. (Head!Baltar's "You know it hates to be called that" ftw.) Plus Sam shouting at Saul to stay with the fleet because of the "angels", plus the Head!Six and Head!Baltar (see icon) pretty much being angels, in the end, makes me believe that Kara was brought back as an angel, after a fashion, and that's why she just disappears at the end. She was there for a reason, as she says, and now she's done.

and I loved the death of Roslin, especially because, as the "angels" have been actively working to break the cycle, the vision Roslin had with Elosha of her death did happen, but not the way she saw it. Kara and Lee were there, but there was love, and Bill was at her side, but not helpless. And her last line - "There's so much LIFE."

Okay, yeah, I totally cried a lot at this finale.

Cavil ALWAYS brings the funny, right up to his last line and last act. Love him.

PRESIDENT LAMPKIN. That is so utterly fitting. The frakkin' idealist underneath the cynic, opposite Lee, the cynic underneath the idealist.

And yeah, sure, plot-holes, but you know? That shit happens. We all expect our favorite shows to be perfect, and they simply can't be. Even The Wire, which is as close to perfection as any tv I've ever watched, took a small misstep here and there.

AND IF KARA CAN RETURN FROM THE DEAD THAN LAURA CAN TOO THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT.

(No, seriously, I loved the ending, but then I also love what I read fanfiction for, which is different ways to make things different.)

In conclusion: OMG.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

It's right after Galactica's last jump.

Yeah, it mostly works for me too. I think it's because it's such a mix of religions it just feels more spiritual than preachy, with a side of mysterious.

Kara as an angel seem to be the prevailing theory. Raises a lot of questions, but I do like that things weren't all spelled out in general. Not sure how Kara works for me. I have to consider it after the emotional impact has worn off a bit.

So many great character beats in the finale, really. Even for some minor ones.

For Laura, it really was a wonderful death - peaceful, knowing she was loved, knowing she'd lead her people to a new beginning, undramatic and surrounded by life. I just felt so sad for Bill. I hope their reunion was epic and lovely in whatever after, because they earned that.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Kara could also be Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn. Now the dawn has come, and she can go.

I think it's because it's such a mix of religions it just feels more spiritual than preachy, with a side of mysterious.

That's my thought too. I've wanted for a long time to make a big lj post about being an atheist, yet digging a lot of tv shows that have religion as a main or secondary theme. I think this series may have pushed me from "yeah, I'll get around to that" to "start outlining".

There's so *much* in these three hours. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to post everything I want to post.


So many great character beats in the finale, really. Even for some minor ones.

Yes, and so many lovely call-backs without being too obvious about anything. And "reveals", both big and small. So wonderful.

When I can do it without being sad all over, I'm going to make the Roslin icon I've wanted to make for so long now. But it's goofy-funny, and I'm not in the mood.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

That would tie into the title of the episode.

I like some shows that explore why people believe, because I find that deeply interesting. It says something about humanity, this need to believe in greater powers and purpose.

I had to watch some Top Gear yesterday to shake some of the good-sad of the episode, and I've resisted watching the finale again today not to get it again. Man, I will need some emotional distance like whoa.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I had to watch some Top Gear yesterday to shake some of the good-sad of the episode,

Hee -- I've decided that today is QI day for that exact same reason.

(I still say that if there are "angels" or whatever, and Kara can simply reappear from being 100% really most sincerely dead, then, if they're well-written, I will be happy to buy into any "Roslin returns" stories.)

Goddammit, now I'm teary again. Frak.

[hadria.livejournal.com]

Surprisingly, I didn't think there was enough spiritual anvils. To be honest, the show was really, really missing a scene of Laura on that ship in the afterlife for me. I think if that was in there, I would have had a much different view of the finale. That AND A BROMANCE GOODBYE SCENE IT IS UNFORGIVABLE THERE WAS NO BROMANCE FAREWELL. I did love that the Galactica was the opera house in this iteration of the cycle.

THERE WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN BE A BILL ADAMA AND LAURA ROSLIN.

[lily-winterwood.livejournal.com]

Hm, you're right on some level there. But I do know a Bill and Lori who have a son named Liam... ;P

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I wanted a scene of Bill on that boat eventually, and Laura waiting. But that's because I am sad and fangirl and all those things wah.

I'll pretend there was a Saul and Bill scene that just got cut and will be on the DVD. Lalala.

I KNOW :( Man, their story was something else and I'm already missing not getting new scenes with them. WAH.

[padawanpooh.livejournal.com]

Still sniffling over here.

Fabulous final ep though. Tied up better than any show I can remember save B5.

Damn fine television if you ask me.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

It did remind me a lot of B5 at times. Then it was Sheridan dying, now it was Laura, and both had one last flight and the love of their lives left to live alone for a while.

Sniff.

[lily-winterwood.livejournal.com]

Ya got any tissues, Cam? I'm all out.

It was great how our ship at least got closure. And that was an interesting plot twist about the second Earth and stuff.

NASA should hurry up and start looking for the Twelve Colonies and the Cylonish Earth! ;]

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I stocked extra.

It was a beautiful end for it, but I just wasn't ready to let it go. Too attached, wah.

[chicklet73.livejournal.com]

I am completely overwhelmed by the finale - I did not hate it, I loved it, and you're right - there is SO MUCH, so much about it. I don't know that I could even write it all down in ten posts, nonetheless one. But you've brought up so much about this that I loved or found memorable too. And so many of them ones I didn't get around to mentioning in my own brief babblings about it today. Like:

Only the Old Man would just drive Galactica right into the Colony. AWESOME. Utterly, completely awesome.

Cavil's suicide. "Oh, frak".

I, too, missed there being a Bill/Saul good-bye. *sigh*

And you know, all the scenes at the end with Bill and Laura? I thought of you in every one. Knowing you must have been loving it and having your heart broken too. I have to go back and watch again, I missed the "honey", but that last scene, with Bill talking to Laura's grave about heaven and reminding him of her? Just gorgeous. And that's where I think the episode could have ended and I would have still been happy. Maybe even happier. But that's all right. It's BSG and it's genius and oh my GODS how I am going to miss it.

Let me also say again how incredibly happy I am that Helo lived. Wonderful Helo, one of the most decent people in the Fleet. Good to see he got his happy ending.

Oh, and Galactica, what a wonderful send-off for her, going off into the sunset, and the last we see of her she's still going...proud, never failing.

*sniffle* Good-bye show.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Adama is fucking hardcore in his suicide missions, yo. Totally loved him in this episode. It was a change from his downwards spiral, and at the end he seemed at peace. He'd lost his ship and Laura, but he'd had them and the memories were good.

You're right, I did love it even as it broke my heart. because those just loved each other so much, and simply that.

Cavil was apparently originally meant to be killed by Lee, but the actor suggested the suicide way and they went with it. It felt like something Cavil would do, so I'm good with it.

I still can't believe it's over. Maybe I'll have come to terms with it about when the DVDs come out.

[lily-winterwood.livejournal.com]

Ooh, while you're rewatching, watch the gag reels! Those'll cheer you up a little bit. :]

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Which ones? I've seen the ones from the previous seasons before. They are indeed a hoot.

[lily-winterwood.livejournal.com]

I saw season 3.

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

Other than not-getting a Bill/Saul goodbye scene and Tory's death creeping me out, I liked a lot of the finale.

But I started the waterworks during the scene with Cottle and Laura, where she thanks him and he kisses her hand. It mostly stopped until that scene with Kara and Sam's goodbye, and then hit full blast until the end. I think I'm out of tissues.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I was all out of tears at the end. Just got me, really.

I don't think I've processed Tory's death yet. I did want her to get called on what she did, but that was... Er, yeah. Chief can get kinda scary and violent at times.

[oszras.livejournal.com]

I wept over Roslin and Adama. But man, did I love this finale. I can't even explain why, I just did.

*sigh*

Aaaaand now it's over. I don't know what I will do with myself next Friday.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Kicker of an emotional impact is what did it for me. How the actors played it just made me go with it, mostly.

Me neither. Get around to writing something, maybe, if I got enough distance. Sleep in on Saturdays. (Since that's when I watch it.) Drool on DVDs. I want extended versions and deleted scenes a whole lot.

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

hold me?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Of course.

[jaded-chord.livejournal.com]

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about the finale. There were some things I HATED, and some I adored beyond reason. I dunno, I still need time to sit back, re-watch it, and digest it all y'know?

Oh gods, Adama/Roslin. My heart, it HURTS like hell. :( So beautifully heartbreaking. :( :( :( I know that RDM in a recent interview said that he had originally planned to have the two of them get into a raptor and fly off together to explore the universe, but MM disagreed with that and said that Roslin had to die. I think I'll just spend the rest of my life imagining their happy reunion in the afterlife.

I have no idea how to deal with the fact that BSG is over. I just...yeah. Gods, what a show.