The McGuffin Review: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA The Series Finale

Posted by Cory Johnson on 03.27.2009

It's the last episode, with everything getting an answer......but is there anyway that they can possibly pay off on everything? Even a show this good???

Episode 84: Daybreak, Part 2

We begin on Caprica, before the war, in a strip club?!? A completely toasted Tigh buys Adama a lap dance, which he refuses. Tigh tries to drunkenly encourage Adama to take the job and get rid of all the fleet politics that go with being an Admiral. Adama, Ellen, and Tigh toast retirement.

Lee and Starbuck discuss politics over wine. Zach gets grumpily interjects that Lee is a cynic who doesn’t even speak to his own father. Lee says that Adama only believes in HIS system, HIS way. Lee claims that his is not following his father’s footsteps; just paying the military back for paying for his school. Lee gives Starbuck a look that lasts just a little too long.

Laura’s blind date turns out to be one of her former students. Laura gets quiet for a moment, and then snaps that he shouldn’t go anywhere-they should see what happens. That was a great little scene.

Adama challenges Tigh to look him in the eye and tell him that he would do “it” for a civilian desk job. Tigh won’t stop looking at the dancers, and Adama roars that knew it. Adama has probably 10 empty shot glasses next to him.

Lee and Starbuck put a drunk and nearly passed out Zach to bed. A giddy Starbuck tells Lee that it is time for shots.

In a poignant moment, Adama vomits on himself in a gutter while looking up at the stars.

Onboard Galactica, Six and Baltar have a projected conversation about God’s plan and Baltar leading humanity to its end. Baltar seems torn.

Cottle tells Laura that the injections will last her two more days, and that he is using up her last little bit of life. In a sudden flood of tears, Laura thanks Cottle for the extra time that he gave her. A shaken Cottle is speechless and softens, until Laura tells him not to spoil his image and to go light a cigarette and grumble.

Helo tells his Raptor crew that the next mission is going to be like threading a needle on a roller coaster. All the pilots volunteer anyway, and Athena cracks a sad, small smile.

Adama announces that this is going to be an old fashioned gun battle, two ships lining up and slugging it out. Adama wants his gun captains to hit them with everything they have….and then start throwing rocks.

Chief and final five plot a way for Sam to take over the other Cylon ship’s Hybrids. Sam is moving to the CIC to make this easier.

Adama makes Hoshi the Admiral of the fleet, charging him to keep them safe. Adama tells him that if they are not at the rendezvous in 12 hours, they are not coming. Hoshi wishes Adama good hunting and they salute each other.

Lee escorts attorney Lampkin, to a shuttle. Apparently, Lampkin is the new president of the colonies. The Galactica crew salutes the President of the Colonies and the Admiral of the fleet on their departure. Baltar slinks towards the last Raptor out, over a disgusted look from Lee. Baltar tells Paula that he is not going; he does not belong to them. Lee throws Baltar a gun. Six marches a battalion of Centurions in formation with the remaining human troops.

As Tigh has all departments check in over the intercom, Laura prepares herself to become a triage Nurse in sick bay, assigned to put an “X” on the forehead of anyone too injured to be saved.

Caprica brushes, my money is on intentionally, into Baltar. Baltar looks like a little boy all dressed up his soldier gear. Baltar wants her to leave, since it isn’t safe for her. Caprica informs him that she has been in far more battles than he has; Baltar questions what he is doing here.

Adama: “Just so there will be no misunderstandings later, Galactica has seen a lot of history; gone through a lot of battles….this will be her last. She will not fail us if we do not fail her. If we succeed in our mission, Galactica WILL bring us home. If we don’t, it doesn’t matter anyway. ACTION STATIONS”

Galactica jumps into a firestorm of gunfire from the Cylon Colony station, assaulted from all sides. Tigh tells Adama that they cannot take much of this. Ellen plugs Sam in; everything goes dark onboard Galactica for a moment. The Hybrid aboard the Colony ship flashes from pasty white to flesh colored and the guns stop. Raptors launch. Adama orders Galactica to brace for impact as they ram the colony! Everything aboard the ship is filled with smoke and debris. The last image from dradis is a massive Raider launch.

Lee and the assault team board the colony ship, Centurions taking point for their human counterparts. Helo and Athena’s second assault team group lands and begins cutting through the Cylon ship.

Lee and Starbuck’s team run into a hostile Centurion detachment and quickly drop them, including an old-school Centurion.

The creepy Cylon doctor draws fluid from Hera, while Boomer warns him about the attack. When the doc suggests that she overestimates their chances (I SWEAR I have heard that line somewhere) and it is all about mathematics, Boomer snaps his neck! She grabs Hera.

Old-school Centurions battle the new Centurions, with the V2 Centurions and their human allies winning, but taking some casualties.

Chief tries to get Sam to stop pushing so much power through the ship. Sam finally responds with a “you bet Galin, end of line”.

Cavil, another one of the doctor models and Leoben look at the empty operation room and wonder if it was a mistake to trust Boomer. Leoben doesn’t say anything.

Caprica tells Baltar that she is proud of him. She tells him that she always wanted to be proud of him, as that was the only thing missing about him. Baltar grabs Caprica and kisses her passionately. Their kiss is interrupted by Six, who tells them that all the pieces are falling into place. When they turn the camera around THERE IS ANOTHER BALTAR WITH SIX! Baltar tells them that they will hold the future of humans and Cylons in their hands. Baltar and Caprica both say “I will?” at the same time; then they simultaneously ask each other “you see them?” Another explosion rocks the ships.

Tigh reports that the Cylons blew a hole in the deck and Centurions are pouring in.

Starbuck blasts every Centurion in sight. As they slink around the ship, they run into Boomer carrying Hera. Boomer hands Hera to Athena, asking them to tell the old man that she owed him one. Athena tells her that this doesn’t atone for any of her other actions, and Boomer says that she made a choice, maybe her last one. Athena unloads on Boomer with at least 20 rounds.

Adama and Tigh are drinking and telling rookie pilot Boomer that she has washed out. Adama says that he knows that she has survivor’s guilt and tells her to not let her personal life get in the way of her career. Adama tells her to land her bird safely tomorrow. Boomer thanks him, telling him that she owes him one. Adama laughs, noting she is not the only one, and very few ever pay him back-especially the ones that owe you their lives. Boomer promises to pay him back someday-when it really means something.

Raiders continue to pick away at Galactica, while Tigh orders the centurions to repel the boarders. Over a shaky connection, Lee tells his father that they have the prize. A fire in the CIC disrupts everything.

Baltar and Caprica are pinned down by a group of Centurions until Baltar goes off, standing up and going commando (not the FRIENDS version) and bravely blasting every single one. He keeps firing at a dead Centurion until Caprica stops him, as Lee and Starbuck bring their group through, screaming that they are friendly. Baltar apologizes and Lee tells him that he did good. More Centurions interrupt, leading to the group with Baltar, Caprica, and Hera falling back.

Laura’s scrubs are covered in blood as she gives herself an injection. She has a vision of Hera running in the opera house.

Leoban trails Starbuck’s group, waiting until they have passed to begin shooting. He kills at least two guards before shooting Helo. Starbuck shoots him in the face. Helo is spurting blood as Athena tries to staunch the flow. Hera ran off during the shooting, despite the cries of her parents. Helo begs Athena to leave him and go get Hera. Athena leaves Helo, who starts to gasp for air.

Athena sees herself chasing Hera in the opera house dream as she chases Hera through the ship. Hera walks and runs unharmed through small skirmishes. Laura is racing through the ship as fast as she can move, also seeing herself chasing Hera in the opera house. Cavil and a huge group of Centurions move quickly through the ship, killing any resistance in their way. Laura, barely able to limp, catches up to Hera, hugging her tightly. Cavil’s squad is nearby, Hera and Laura can hear the gunfire. Laura hides Hera while Cavil’s troops pass. When they are gone, Laura realizes that Hera is gone.

Baltar and Caprica have two rounds left, suddenly separated from their group. They look up in amazement to see Hera. Laura and Athena both run towards Hera. Caprica picks up Hera and leads her through a doorway, simultaneously on the ship and in the vision. Athena and Laura arrive at the locked door as Baltar, Caprica, and Hera move through the ship. Baltar finds himself in the opera house vision, commenting that he has been here before; Caprica is now holding the infant Hera in the vision. Caprica hands Hera to Baltar and takes point as they walk into the opera house.

In reality, they walk into the CIC, to see Adama’s crew finishing off a Cylon attack, with the final five watching over Sam. Adama is thrilled that they have Hera. Cavil takes advantage of another explosion and manages to take Hera hostage. Cavil’s position is simple-he takes the girl and leaves. Adama’s counter offer is easy-not a chance. Caprica tells Cavil that there is no way they will let him take Hera. Baltar tells Cavil that Hera holds the key to both Cylon and humanity’s survival as well, while looking up to see the astral Baltar and Six nodding at him. Baltar tells him that he sees angels, even in this room. Baltar concedes that he might be mad, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t right. Baltar lowers his weapon, saying that there is another force at work here; they have all seen things that cannot be explained, whether due to God or gods, it doesn’t matter, it exists and humans and Cylons are a part of it. Cavil asks Baltar how he could possibly know that this force possibly has his best interests at heart. Baltar says that God is not on any one side, that God is a force of nature beyond good and evil. Baltar encourages Cavil to break the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Cavil asks how the extinction of his people fits into this plan, and Tigh immediately offers to give them resurrection. Ellen is shocked. Cavil is standing, and a marine has moved into position behind him. Tigh says that the war ends now and that humanity must be left in peace, now and forever. Cavil agrees, Adama wants to know how he can trust Cavil, and Cavil sneers that he can’t, he must take a leap of faith. Tigh hands the decision back to Adama, who says that he is losing a lot of men out there. Cavil orders all forces to stand down and all the Raiders retreat. Adama orders everyone to stand down. Cavil proclaims that he is as good as his word.

The Raiders retreat, as Viper and Raptors return to Galactica. Hera is reunited with Athena. Caprica and Baltar hold hands. Laura stays close to Adama. The final five each know a part of the resurrection puzzle, they are going to merge with Sam and share everything. During this process, they will learn everything that the others know. Tigh looks at Ellen and sarcastically says that he is looking forward to this (so THAT’S why I’ve been itching). Tory starts talking about how there are things that each of them have done, that nobody knows or even suspects, but Cavil yells to them that they are keeping two civilizations waiting. Tory wants them to agree that they are all Cylons capable of making mistakes. Tigh gives her a dismissive yeah, yeah, yeah, you’re forgiven speech. Everyone has flashes of memories; everyone glares at Tory as they see how she killed Cally. Chief cannot take it and pulls out of Sam’s tank, causing Sam and the Hybrids to scream, and immediately starts choking Tory. The Cylons report that they have broken off the download, and Leoben calls it a trick and gives the order to open fire! Adama ducks before Lee and Starbuck begin to return fire. Sam is still screaming when Chief drops Tory after snapping her neck. The other Cylons are dead, and Cavil screams “Frak” before shooting himself.

A disabled Raptor is hit by debris, causing the pilot’s “dead man’s hand” to hit the missile launch button. All of the missiles hit the colony, rocking it and Galactica. Adama orders Starbuck to jump the ship. Starbuck doesn’t know the jump coordinates for the rendezvous. Starbuck thinks back to the notes she played on the piano, and quotes the song lyrics “there must be some way out of here”. Starbuck flashes back to the drawings she used to make, finding her body on Earth, Leoben calling her “an angel of God” while she puts the coordinates into the system. Starbuck yells “jump” and Galactica flashes away.

On Caprica, before the war, Starbuck and Lee down shots while Starbuck says that she is not scarred of her fate or dying while flying. Starbuck tells Lee that she knows fear, but she is not afraid of flying, only being forgotten.

Galactica finishes the jump, and the ship nearly tears apart from the attack, as well as the jump. Adama wants a damage report from Tigh. Chief sits alone on the deck, his thoughts a million miles away. Tigh announces that Galactica will never jump again. Adama announces that they are stranded. In a long panning shot, Galactica slowly glides over a crater-filled moon and the camera pans up to….Earth?!

12 hours later, the rest of the fleet arrives. Hoshi joins Adama’s scouting team, handing back the Admiral stars, saying they were a little heavy for him. Baltar gives Adama the binoculars, saying that this is the most advanced civilization they have found. Adama looks at a tribe of African villagers. Baltar states that they are preverbal, probably a ritualistic tribal society. Cottle offers that they bury their dead and that they have compatible DNA. Upon hearing this, Baltar says that they can breed with them. Adama tells Baltar that he has a one track mind. Baltar defends himself vigorously, saying that he is talking about the survival of the human race. Adama tells him that he also has no sense of humor, which breaks up the whole crew. Adama, thinking aloud, wonders how humans could have evolved organically million of light years away. Baltar finishes his sentence, saying the odds are astronomical, practically divine.

Lampkin lays out plans for a city, but Lee disagrees. Later, on a walk, Lee tells his father about his plan to break the cycle, how their brains have always been ahead of their heart and souls. Now is the time to leave the technology behind and start over.

Onboard Galactica, Adama lays out the random distribution of colonists and supplies around the Earth. Lampkin is surprised that everyone agreed so quickly; Adama tells him not to underestimate the power of a clean slate. The skinjobs have decided that they want to contribute to this new world. They have also set the Centurions free and given them the Baseship, hoping that breaks the cycle of violence. The Baseship jumps away. When the colonists are settled, Anders will pilot the fleet into the sun.

Starbuck says a tearful, quiet goodbye to Sam, dropping her dog tags into his bath before kissing him goodbye and telling him that she loves him one last time. After Starbuck leaves, Sam manages to say that he will see her on the other side.

Adama says goodbye to his now empty ship. As Adama rockets out of the hanger, he flashes back to a lie detector test on Caprica. The Cylon MD is there as well. Adama freezes the interviewer with a hard look when he is asked if he is a Cylon. They ask Adama if has ever taken money from a cash drawer, and Adama ends the interview right there, saying that he’d rather spend the rest of his life in a broken down old ship than have the integrity of his word challenged. Adama soars out over his damaged, broken ship before looking at his new home.

The empty fleet soars towards the sun and disappears.

Chief is planning to spend the rest of his life alone in Ireland. Ellen hugs him goodbye and Tigh wishes him good luck and tells him that he would have done the same thing.

Back on Caprica, in the strip bar, Ellen tells Tigh that they are celebrating his retirement and all the time that they will get to spend together.

Laura watches a herd of gazelle’s with Adama while they hold hands. Laura can’t focus well enough to see them. Laura tells him that it is a beautiful world, Adama tells her that Earth is a dream, one they have chased for a long time and they have earned it. Laura is having trouble breathing. Adama picks Laura up, offering her a closer look. Lee and Starbuck watch Adama carry Laura into a Raptor. Adama tells Lee that he doesn’t have much time, Lee tells him that he understands and they finally share that father-son hug. Adama hugs Starbuck, and she starts to break down before she tells him that he should go. Laura waves goodbye from the cockpit.

Lee tells Starbuck that his earliest memory of his father was him flying away and wondering when he would come back, only this time he is not coming back. Starbuck tells him that she isn’t coming back either. Starbuck has completed her journey and it feels good.

Back on Caprica, Starbuck drunkenly double dog dares Lee to take her right there, right now on the table. Lee starts to lean in to kiss her, but the crash of a falling glass wakes Zach and puts an end to that.

Lee tells Starbuck that he is planning to climb mountains, cross the oceans……….but when he turns around, Starbuck is gone, just gone. Lee says goodbye to Starbuck, telling her that she will not be forgotten.

On Caprica, Lee wakes up to find that pigeon in his room and watches it fly out the door….Laura, in her lingerie, tells her blind date Shawn that they won’t be doing this again and asks him to show himself out. Laura calls Mayor Adar’s people and says that she will join his campaign-all the way to the end….Laura and Adama fly alongside a flock of birds, and Laura slowly fades away and her hand drops…Adama kisses her hand and places his ring on her finger….Adama tells her that he found a place for their cabin and puts the Raptor down.

Small caravans of people walk off in separate directions, including Ellen and Tigh. Helo, walking with a cane as well as Athena and Hera, tells Athena that he is a great hunter. Hera runs through the fields, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE-style. Baltar and Caprica wonder if Hera will be ok, the astral Baltar and Six tell them that God’s plan is never complete (to which Baltar deadpans “oh great”). Caprica wonders if this is it? The astral Baltar tells her that their lives should be less exciting from now on.

Back on Caprica, Six kisses Baltar on the street, Baltar tells her that he may be able to help her get a peek at the defense mainframe. Six says that it would mean a lot to her employers. Baltar says that he is not risking his life for them, but for her….and for love. Six seems surprised by his profession.

In the present, Baltar tells Caprica that he found some good land for cultivating. He tells her that he knows about cultivation, and the memories of his father and his childhood start the tears flowing. She tells him that she knows and they walk away holding each other.

At Laura’s grave, Adama tells her about the plans he has for the cabin, and describing the way the sun rises over the mountains……..and how it reminds him of her.

Hera plays in a field with Helo’s cane/walking stick as we soar over the features of the Earth, the plains, the mountains, the oceans. We soar to 150,000 years later??? Astral Six reads about the archeological find of a woman thought to be the “mitochondrial eve”-the mother of the human race-Hera. Six asks Baltar if the commercialism, decadence, and technology run amok reminds him of anything. Baltar ticks off the possibilities, Kobol, Earth, the real Earth before this one, Caprica before the fall.
Six: “All this has happened before”
Baltar: “but the question remains, does all of this have to happen again?”
Six: “This time, I bet not”
Baltar: “I’ve never known you to play the optimist, why the change of heart?”
Six; “Mathematics, law of averages…let a complex system repeat itself long enough, eventually something surprising might occur. That too is in God’s plan.”
Baltar: “You know he doesn’t like that name. Silly me, silly, silly me.”

Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” starts, while they flash to various scenes of robotic technology as Baltar and Six walk off into the crowd.

Analysis
Somewhere around the end of the second season, I wondered if there was ever going to be a way that they could end this series to anyone’s satisfaction, due to the quality of the show. They satisfied and looked good doing it. The reason that Battlestar was so widely hailed among critics was the depth of the emotion and intricate plotlines and this episode showcased everything that BSG was capable of producing. There are going to be some inevitable gripes about the ending, as there will be no true way to fully please an audience as demanding as theirs, but Moore and Eick did a great job of sending their creation off their way.

Battlestar always did a great job with their battle scenes, and this episode was the pinnacle. Special effects not really seen since the Resurrection Ship arc were expertly used to build the drama and tension while Galactica stormed the Colony. It looked like Galactica could fall apart at any moment.

The finale wasn’t perfect, there are plenty of holes and questions yet to be answered- namely how Earth advanced when they jumped and what happened to Cavil-led Cylons. In an interview, Katee Sackoff (Starbuck) said that she was stunned by the ending, calling it very, “that’s it?” Seeing the final explanation for Starbuck’s reappearance left a bit to be desired. The angel explanation works, and it fits, but it leaves me a little hollow.

With any BSG episode, you know that you are going to get quality performances, and this episode put the excellent cast front and center. Whether it was Adama leading one last charge before saying goodbye to his ship and his woman, Baltar discovering and embracing who and what he is, Athena exorcising her demons and reuniting her family, Starbuck’s emotional goodbyes, Chief’s grief and rage, Laura’s fight to live and go out on her own terms, or Six’s ability to emote with just her facial expressions, almost every scene felt like Acting 101. This cast deserves a tremendous amount of praise that I simply will not be able to convey here.

The ability to adapt to larger themes is the other part that made BSG special. This episode managed to put a great spin on the God theme they have been working into the show. They also covered free will, destiny, politics, and technology amazing well. A show simply shouldn’t be able to handle all of those thematic elements so well.

Things I Wonder
Does WAREHOUSE 13 look really good to anyone else?
What did you think of the CAPRICA preview?
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN????? WHERE DID THIS COME FROM??
Is Cavil or any of the other Cylons dead? I was left with the impression that the colony was still functional.
Why did Cavil shoot himself? To prevent anyone else from doing it first? Because there are other Cavils in the colony?
How great was Adama’s speech before the assault?
With that ending, are they implying that Bob Dylan is god?
Kinda weak that Helo survived a gunshot like that, isn’t it?
How did the Cylons miss Adama at point blank range?
Adama teasing Baltar was laugh out loud funny, right?
Was Caprica seeing Baltar the way Baltar was seeing Six the whole time?
The opera house was just window dressing, wasn’t it?
So much for that whole “Kara Thrace is the harbinger of doom” thing, huh?
What do you think of the Starbuck ending?
Anyone else really hoping that Ellen would die?
No Adama/Tigh goodbye?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they didn’t go into it, but how exactly did Lampkin become President?
No last kiss for Lee and Starbuck? I call bull….
Baltar’s redemption stole the show, didn’t it?
So what are the astral Baltar and Six-angels?
The Centurions are still out there, does that make anyone else smile?
Galen-Gaelic, is that too obvious?
Perhaps Tigh became the first pirate, ARRRRR?
I thought Adama was going to die with Laura, anyone else?
The trick to being a great kid actor is to not say anything, right? Hera did a great job in this episode.
Was Zach Adama what you expected or were hoping for?
Six and Baltar together in both worlds makes everything ok, doesn’t it?
Will any other show ever use “frak”?
Can any other sci-fi show hit a mark as high as BSG?
Are you telling me that I will never get to see blonde Six again?
How great will it be to sit down and watch these in order again five years from now?

About five years ago, my friend Dan told me that I had to watch this reboot of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. I was beyond hesitant, because outside of the original STAR WARS trilogy, I never understood what was so great about science fiction. He told me that this show was more than just sci-fi, and for that (and his loaners of the mini-series and season one and two), I have to say thank you to Dan for exposing me to this great show. Thanks to Al Norton for his encouragement and plugs! I also have it on good authority that Al’s Two TiVo’s to Paradise will include a special BSG section, so look for his column on this and every Friday.

Thanks for reading. As always, comments, feedback, corrections, and praise are welcome. I want to thank the loyal readers who played along with my reviews, those that called me an idiot because I couldn’t keep my cylon models straight, the raving lunatics who sent emails talking about government conspiracies, and everyone who just dropped by. This is Cory, I don’t know what I will review next, but I will be back soon. Until then, keep watching.

The 411: A fitting end for esily the best science fiction show ever. Time will tell how BSG stacks up to ALL other tv shows, but it definitely belongs in the discussion. This episode showcased everything that was and is great about Battlestar Galactica, and will leave you thinking about the end of this show for days after. This was a great episode, full of action and all the drama and intrigue that that no fan of these characters, the show, or the creators should miss.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]