Battlestar Galactica (TV Series) Daybreak: Part 2 (2009) User Reviews

A very satisfying finale but not a flawless one

[GusF · 8/10 · 18 September 2013]

I loved the insight into the characters which the flashbacks to Caprica before the Fall provided. We were given the opportunity to see the origin of Lee and Kara's complicated relationship, the beginnings of Caprica Six's seduction and manipulation of Baltar, the Tighs' relationship, Adama's resistance to retirement and Roslin's life before becoming a member of Adar's cabinet. This exploration of the characters was particularly interesting in the case of Roslin as, other than the fact that she was a teacher before entering politics and her mother's death from breast cancer, the series had never really explored her past prior to this. Her two sisters, let alone their tragic deaths, were never mentioned prior to this. Up until "Daybreak", she could very well have been an only child. I don't recall her father ever being mentioned either.

These scenes were my favourite part of the finale. I wish that there had been more flashback episodes based before the attack of the Colonies as one of my major problems with the miniseries was that we didn't really get to know the characters, let alone the society, prior to their entire civilisation being wiped out. While real history has many examples of war decimating entire countries and their populations, billions of people and 12 planets being wiped out is very different to conceptualise. If it were just a one-off society in "Star Trek" or "Doctor Who", it would have been alright but, considering the Cylon holocaust is part of the series' basic premise, the miniseries failed in making me care about the practically extinct civilisation. I grew to care about the care as the series progressed but, when it came to the civilisation, the balance was never redressed satisfactorily until now.

The Battle of the Colony was probably the weakest part of the finale as the stakes didn't seem as high as they could have. Of course, Hera was more than just an ordinary child, being the Cylon's best and last hope to propagate their species following the destruction of the Resurrection Hub. However, the final human-Cylon battle didn't seem as epic as it could have been. It was entertaining but not nearly as much as it could have been.

One reason that I was really looking forward to the finale as I was hoping that it would provide answers to burning questions, most pressingly the circumstances of Starbuck's death on Earth (and possibly an earlier death when her ship was destroyed in "Maelstrom") and how she came to life. The answer can be summarised in three words: "God did it." Right...

My first reaction to this was to check that I wasn't watching "Touched by an Angel"! In all seriousness, it's just lazy writing to say that God was responsible for orchestrating events to turn out a particular way. Considering all the fascinating answers to the myriad fascinating questions raised by "Babylon 5", it was very disappointing. The way that I rationalise the whole God thing is to imagine the higher power who orchestrated events is essentially the new series' version of the Beings of Light from the original series, who were able to bring Apollo back from the dead in "War of the Gods, Part II" in much the same as "God" supposedly brought Kara back. I see them as being like the Q from Star Trek or the Ancients from "Stargate" if they didn't have a policy about non-interference in human affairs. In spite of the lack of aliens in the new BSG universe, I find the idea of advanced aliens a bit easier to swallow than God interfering and Head Six and Head Baltar being angels, frankly.

I was already aware of how the series ultimately ended. Specifically, the fact that the lush blue and green planet that the fleet jumped to after the final battle was our Earth and its most advanced "civilisation" was a primitive race of hunter-gatherers in Africa who could control fire and not much else, meaning that the series takes place a long time ago - specifically, 150,000 years prior to the 21st Century - and begins in a star system far, far away. The decision of the fleet and the rebel Cylons to dump their technology is a very understandable one. In spite of the fact that I was annoyed to be without the Internet for a few days last week, I have to admit that I can see the attraction of living the simple life without modern annoyances and stresses on one level.

At the time - when I not only didn't watched the series but could never imagine watching it - I thought that it was a stupid idea but now I love it. It was a very fresh and interesting take on the voyage to Earth sci-fi subgenre. The original series implied in a few episodes that Earth was a technologically advanced society - and the new series certainly seemed to reflect that in respect to the original Earth - while "Galactica 1980" retconned that by placing that series' events in the then present day. Instead of following the lives of our contemporaries or our distant descendants, we spent the entire series following our very, very distant ancestors, which isn't something that I've come across before in a sci-fi setting bar the occasional one-off story. I also like the fact that the majority of the Colonials seem to have settled in Africa considering that, to coin a phrase, life here began out there.

When it came to the characters, I thought that Roslin's peaceful death on Earth was the best scene outside of the flashbacks. It seemed appropriate that the dying leader died so soon after reaching the fleet's new home as it reflected Moses' dying before his people reached the Promised Land.

I certainly appreciated the relatively happy ending to the series. It was a very effective series finale all told.

A superb way to end the series

[ian1000 · 10/10 · 22 March 2009]

Briefly then, and without spoilers:- For some days before viewing the final part of Battlestar Galactica I speculated privately as to the fate of the major characters and although I partially guessed the ending, nothing could have prepared me for the manner in which it was presented.

My greatest fear after five years of meticulous viewing, DVD collecting and thorough enjoyment was that the producers would end BSG in a manner similar to "The Sopranos". No! I don't want to be allowed to make up my own mind - I want to be told exactly what happens in black and white and a large font please.

Relax; all of the important loose ends are tied, and all of the big questions are answered, although it does leave room for some viewer interpretation on a couple of points, but the key factors are that we now know what happens to the Colonials, to the Cylons and to the major characters within those groups.

Watch end enjoy the end of a five year thrilling ride.

Ron Moore goes all the way

[ghpilato · 10/10 · 21 March 2009]

You cannot fault this finale much at all for style. The music, the action, the boldness all ring true to a stunning final movie. But this is about wrapping up plots too. And I can sure tell you right now that some people will be very upset at the plot finales. Without spoiling anyone, it's all about the particular answers that are given to some of the long-term questions of the series. While never anything but completely bold and amazing, like the climax of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", this is an ending that is all about never holding back. The totality of the many, many plot threads is indeed tied in a very interesting final knot on a very large tapestry, that ends up really making quite the final statement about life, the universe, and everything. God, miracles, determinism, human frailty, the status of the human condition right now on Earth -- these are the subjects of the final themes and the final significance and epic closing of this 5-year story. I'm sorry I'm being so vague, but I wouldn't dare spoil anyone yet.

So bold. So definitive. So epic. So human and so satisfying.

Is this the best moment for the series? The best? No. Just the end. The show is full of peaks with different sorts of drama peaking at each one. The journey's the thing. And it really depends on one's personal favorite character and favorite arc. So much has changed and so much has been so steady since the beginning, it is very difficult to pin down any one part and hail it the most. Certainly, this end is one of the stand outs, though.

A few other favorite episodes of yours truly would be: "33", the first episode of the first season, post-miniseries, when the dramatic intensity couldn't be pitched any higher, and yet every character still made huge strides towards the long haul, setting up an incredible epic perfectly after the marvelous reimagination and efforts of the miniseries; the episode "Six Degrees of Separation" from the first season, as funny and sexy as it gets, with a masterful psychological twist on Dr. Gaius Baltar's predicament as principal human genius/accessory to genocide; "Kobol's Last Gleaming", the two-parter finale to the first season, as epic and suspenseful as television has ever been in any form, with massive twists and an unbelievable cliffhanger; "Home part two", a mini-finale of sorts, the end to the first act of a three act story (presented in four seasons), the episode where everything that matters is supremely satisfyingly dealt with and made ready to move on to more, pointing the epic onward as much as every individual character's plots; "Occupation/Precipice", the two-parter that opened the third season, the tough-as-nails allegory of occupation tied tightly to the situation in Baghdad at present, masterful and mesmerizing; "Sometimes a Great Notion", perhaps the darkest episode of the series, where the floor falls out from before, all hopes left behind after the massive revelations of the previous episode, and also the most dramatically potent and stunning of moments, perhaps, in the series, as major epiphanies are all dwarfed by the overwhelming loss of hope.

This is a finale that satisfies all that has gone before. This series will be remembered for generations.

Not What I expected

[k-sheldrake · 10/10 · 30 March 2009]

After all the sheer misery and disappointments the characters face throughout the miniseries and 4 seasons, I expected a depressing, downbeat ending that would inevitably kill-off most of the principal characters. The optimism that came with the final episode was surprising, and gave an opportunity for characters to reach a satisfying arc - Baltar finally redeeming himself, Tigh finally finding peace and so on. I'd already guessed that Starbuck was an angel (being killed then subsequently resurrected and the angle-wing tattoo on her arm being obvious giveaways), though it somehow felt "right" given the show's heavily religious themes (God, resurrection and so forth). Some people seem to need clarification on this matter, though the ambiguity is fitting with the "heavy" sci-fi of, say Arthur C. Clarke, Dan Simmons etc. If we assume that a sub-plot which explains the "higher power" at work in the story would take many more (probably tedious) mystery-robbing episodes, such arguments seem pointless. After all, when we found out that Neo was "The One" in The Matrix, the explanation given was too clinical and a little silly - best to leave these things to the imagination. The red-herring that the mid-season Earth was in-fact not OUR Earth was clever, and like all good twists, laughably obvious in retrospect. The colonists' decisions upon arriving on the planet to abandon technology give an intriguing argument for the positive influence a lack of technology can have. Ultimately, the weighty themes, moral complexity and huge plotting of the entire Galactica remake is bound to cause disagreements, since we all have a version of how it SHOULD end. It certainly took me by surprise... and I LOVED it.

No loss is ever forgotten - but some are forgiven and some are learned from

[pmartin13-1 · 10/10 · 29 March 2009]

Life needs a purpose. People need to know their purpose or they are bitter and confused. Ronald Moore, et al, transcended the typical idealized "human" purposes of "we need to struggle" and "we need to explore" to get use back to "each individual needs to find our use to others." I didn't expect all of the back-story, but I am so glad it was done. It helped me understand many of the characters much better as their journey ended. I struggled with liking Laura Roslin after the exodus from New Caprica. The finale helped me appreciate that her coldness stemmed from much more than her cancer. It helped me reconnect with that character before she passed. BSG is one sci-fi series that I recommend to sci-fi haters, because like the best dramas and tragedies struggles with every aspect of existing as human beings (not just abstract humanity). The story arc needed to go to old-Earth so the characters could understand that humans (or cylons) create technology faster than they can mature to use it. (Think of the War to End All Wars-WWI-for instance.) It takes a lot to get to the point where you want a "clean slate." But one you get there, you really are willing to do anything to keep the slate clean. BEAUTIFUL.

Skates right to edge of Excess, but does not fall in...

[A_Different_Drummer · 8/10 · 4 April 2015]

I have reviewed many individual episodes and I am guessing that if any reader is interested in this review of the climax, the finale, said reader has already slogged through the series.

And what a series.

As I said before, in the TV Hall of Fame (not a real place, I am using Poetic License) there is Buffy, there is Angel, there is Ed Sullivan, there an embarrassed-looking Bob Barker, and there is BSG.

There are many ways to exit a milestone series. For the record, Buffy ended with an epic battle and viewers were told she went off for a world tour. Angel ended with an epic battle too. Viewers were not told what happened, but trust me he got another series and went on with his career.

Ron Moore does not do things half-way. After closing down the main arc, he found his inner Star Trek 1 director hat and went Old School for the last 20 minutes.

Some will love the nuances. Some won't. But the sincerity is palpable.

PS -- after this, the producers did THE PLAN. Avoid it.

Great ending for a great series

[sjensen-4 · 10/10 · 22 March 2009]

Finally a series could be ended in the correct way. Usually series just goes on and on until they are canceled by some suit.

But not BSG. BSG ended on its own terms.

BSG was a great series and it ended in a great way which blew me away. It ended in more of a theist way than the more more atheist approach of the 1978-version: but not done in a preachy way.

Most ends were tighed and most questions were answered. And that is what i like. We do not have to be told everything. We can second guess for over selves.

Ronald Moore did not go towards the "ancient astronaut"-ending, like in the original 1978-BSG. And first i was disappointed. But now that the final episode has settled in my mind i rejoice and am glad. The 70ties were another time - today we need different answer to the fundamental question: Why? And the series finale episode did give a good answer to why.

It was a good ending for the series. And i know i am going to see the episode over and over again and again. Just like when the season finale of season 3 came (that fracking song).

Overall i really liked the series (just not all that suicide-bombing glorifying of start season 3 and all the other left wing political references to the Iraq war).

It was a more or less decent and good show. I liked it. And i loved the final episode. Now what do i do?

A wonderful end to the series

[rivendel-605-748346 · 9/10 · 10 February 2013]

Daybreak: Part 3 is sort of like the last episode of MASH; there's little action except at the very beginning, the rest is a long denouement of the characters and the story, which if you watched the preceding four seasons is well deserved.

Without giving away spoilers you finally find out what the mysterious song means, and seeing each character more or less live with the person they were meant to or become themselves was satisfying.

"Battlestar Galactica" has gotten a fair amount of controversy about how good it is; I know I watched the original mini-series, wasn't impressed, and didn't watch it during the original run. Having just watched the entire run basically the first season does a steady build up of the story; the second begins to falter and sway a bit. The third starts off well but the series hit it's low point in the latter half with episodes that were mainly filler, and finally the fourth season had many twists and turns but ultimately resolves and settles the story.

If you haven't watched the show at all it's best to skip the last three episodes until you've seen the rest as there's a final profound "Uh-Huh" that isn't really appreciated until you see it in context of the entire show.

Wow, Just Wow

[bobjohnson994 · 10/10 · 21 March 2009]

Never been a first commenter before.

You will have to wait for another commenter to describe all the nuance of this ep, I will just point out some few things from memory.

Similarly to Lord of the Rings, we are SO invested in these characters that we get a long goodbye, and we NEED it.

It struck me that they were never going to be able to explain "imaginary" 6, and Starbuck surviving the crash, but I think they do a good job.

My interpretation is that the imaginary Starbuck, 6, and Baltar, are servants of an incredible alien intelligence, one that kick starts the cycle of life again every million years or so. You will recall that Baltar, at the end of the ep says about God - "it doesn't like to be called that". This implies to me that the alien power knows it is not omnipotent, just powerful enough to create these avatars, and even create a perfect replica of ancient earth a million light years away from the original. I think Ron Moore has read the Hyperion series.

The only part that did not feel quite right, even though I understand it somewhat, is Adama is choosing to leave the group behind and just live or die by himself with Laura Roslyn's corpse, out there in the middle of nowhere. The eps clearly implies to me that Adama is just going to sit on that hill until he dies, unwilling to go on without his lady love. I suppose it would have been anti-climactic to have him just be the leader of the new ragtag group of humans, after all he has been through, he is too much of a mythic figure to go out with a whimper.

Good on ya Ron Moore, you are a genius, and nice with the cameo at the end of the ep. This story wrapped up the way he envisioned it. The skill to wrap up all these threads in good if not perfect fashion, would be beyond the scope of 99% of writers.

The age old question has finally been answered ........

[jmmjg · 9/10 · 27 March 2009]

In the forgettable film Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Captain Kirk posed the immortal question "What does God need with a starship?" For nearly 20 years, that question went unanswered .... until now.

Ronald D. Moore, a former Star Trek writer, finally answered that question.

The Question: What does God need with a starship? The answer: To give to Kara Thrace.

****Note: I cannot take credit for this. I would like to thank my friend Chris G. for bringing this to our attention****

On a serious note, Ronald D. Moore deserves a lot of credit for resurrecting ( no pun intended ) a short lived '70s series into one the greatest science fiction series of all time. Kudos for a fantastic finale. I am sure there are other fans out there who feel the same way I do ... it's going to feel weird not seeing a new BSG episode Fridays @ 10pm on the sci/fi channel and talking about it with their friends and co-workers on Monday.

A thoughtful and considered ending to an amazing series.

[lhawker-2 · 10/10 · 7 October 2009]

**************************** SPOILERS ****************************

Wow! I've avoided watching the series on TV so I could watch the whole of season 4 on DVD, it didn't disappoint! I loved the 'Lord of the Rings' style ending, I was scared that the show would end without addressing each character and couple in turn. We've invested a lot of emotions in the characters so getting to see characters conclusion was great.

I think I'll still need to watch season 4 again as the red-herring Earth confused me along with the Cylon population that died on it. Some thing to do with the cycle of war repeating. I also found the REAL Earth confusing, were those Humans? As it said in the ending, "Who'd have guessed that humans had evolved independently...." (I think), so when did Man make the Cylons? Need to watch again or read other posts.

The mid season cliff hanger blew my mind! was that really the ruins of the Brooklyn Bridge, but obviously not, having just seen part 2. That was far better than the moment when the "Statue of Liberty" was discovered in the film 'Planet of the Apes'.

I was sad to see that Lee and Kara didn't settle down; I knew a girl like Kara and it ended similarly *sniff*, but I guess it was fitting that she vanished (as she was an angel - which fitted with what the Cylon husband said before they sent BSG into the sun, "See you on the other side").

Another poster said that Admiral Adarma sat on the rocks and waited to die because he couldn't go on with out Laura. The way the story ended, I imagined that they all kept in touch as the new civilisation grew and Cylon and human bloodlines blended........ yes BSG is set in our universe, thousands of years ago! amazing! The last twist in the last five minutes was cool. It featured Gaius and Caprica in OUR present day talking about what happened all those thousands of years ago..... but then it hit me, it wasn't Gaius and Caprica... it was the Angel's Gaius and Caprica (the ones that appeared to the mortal Gaius and semi-mortal Caprica throughout the series). It showed them walking through Times Square and you could see hi-tech robots being shown on TV! the twist, will it happen all again!?! will John cavil come back. Did the Centurions find happiness? another series (not Caprica) to wrap up some loose ends, or we can just imagine what could happen...

I'd wished the Jimi Hendrix song had continued long into the credits. It would have affirmed that the series had finished in our universe.

This is Science fiction at its best. Nothing comes close.

Season 4: The religious mysticism is a bit too front & centre but still the season is engaging and satisfying all the way to the end (suggestive spoilers)

[bob the moo · 26 July 2009]

After the WTF conclusion to season 3 it was all I could do not to rush straight into the newly released DVD of season 4. I managed to give it a few weeks before starting it – grateful again for being late to the show and not having to endure a year long wait (with another long wait in the middle of it due to writer's strike). BSG is a show that has grown on me by getting better with each passing season and, although I dispute the "better than The Wire" claims as "hogwash", I have enjoyed it a lot more than I expected and entered season 4 having really enjoyed season 3. Unfortunately it must be said that season 4 does not continue the upward motion of the previous seasons but happily it doesn't really represent a dip – just a slightly different approach.

For the majority of the show, there has been a bed of sci-fi, a bed of religious mysticism, a solid narrative, a gritty and dark approach and some well-done real-life parallels that added something to the whole show but in season 4 this changes a little bit to bring the religion and mysticism increasingly to the front of the narrative, becoming all the more important as we go along to be central in the conclusion of the show. I had a minor problem with this the whole time because I felt it has always been a weaker element of the show, mainly because any script that says "just go with it whether it makes sense or not" is immediately a weaker one from my point of view. I do recognise that such "faith" is fairly central to any plot driven on religion and had always accepted it to a point in BSG but when it is such a large part of the flow, it is harder to swallow and I can totally understand why some viewers reacted badly to it (in particular the ending). Of course it has been there all along and should not have surprised anyone and I did accept it as part of season 4.

By doing this I found the show easy to enjoy. The first half of season 4 is perhaps the weaker as it does tend to spend too much time "up itself" without making a lot of progress but to a point I was into the plots, into the characters and I was going along with it. The second half is much better, coming back off the discovery of a barren Earth with a darker content again and mostly good episodes. The ending will be debated for as long as people are actually watching this show as to whether it was any good or not and, while I understand those that hate it, for me I thought it worked because it was in keeping with themes that had been there the whole show – right from the start. Yes, angels and gods being part of it smack of a "cop-out" but it is not like they came out of nowhere – it was just that mysteries that we were following remain mysteries if you don't accept this, which is annoying. Personally I found it quite satisfying even if some of season 4 made little sense when you think about it too much.

Focusing on the ending forgets that again season 4 continues a nicely dark thread with plenty to be engaged with in terms of plot, mystery, sci-fi action and drama. Although the moving up of religion took some aspects away for me, it did still work and held me. The special effects are good, with only some specific effects being clunky (the older model centurions for example) and generally the production does show good use of the budget to make the whole thing feel very professional. The cast continue to make me forget my original misgivings over their performances. Olmos, Callis, Park, Hogan and a few others continue to be as good as they ever were. Sackhoff, Bamber, Helfer and a few others all do better but generally everyone seems to work better than they originally had, even if some of their material must have made things harder for them. Maybe I am just "used" to them now after 4 seasons but I do think they got better as the show went on.

Season 4 is not the best of the seasons but to me it is still strong and delivers on the way to a pretty satisfying ending. Religion and mysticism being brought to the fore is a bit of a problem but not a sudden surprise – again I understand why viewers have some misgivings over it but I don't get why people react like the "hand of god" came out of nowhere. Not perfect but then BSG never was, those that have enjoyed seasons 1-3 will find this to be another strong season that will hopefully only produce minor quibbles to those that have been paying attention.

Good characterization. Shoddy plot development.

[egress63 · 6/10 · 26 March 2009]

BSG was never a well planned series. Creator Ronald Moore himself said in an interview that nothing was planned out in the beginning and every time an episode was written, brainstorming had to be done to get the plot going on forward. As expected, the writers plugged in a number of plot lines, but there are still holes in the plot that you can ram a rhino into it and you won't even get a dent. Many numerous plot lines are completely ignored (the cult of Baltar is one example). Many plot lines are resolved in a very slip shod manner that had me going "Is this for real or is this some sort of early April fools joke?!??" Oh and the preaching of the last 15 minutes. It just would not end! Moore just kept going on and on about how technology can be the end of us all. About how people relying on technology are on a brink. It was *very* irritating to say the least.

But what really ticked me off was the ending. I wont reveal it here explicitly but just say this: I did not enjoy BSG reusing the themes used in "Chariots of the Gods". That was just plain dumb.

In the end, this gets a 6.

Are You Kidding Me??

[swordafish-1 · 4/10 · 23 March 2009]

The fight scenes were great. Loved the old and newer cylons and how they painted the ones on their side. It was the ending that I hated. I was disappointed that it was earth but 150k years back. But to travel all that way just to start over? Are you kidding me? 38k people that fought for their very existence and once they get to paradise, they abandon technology? No way. Sure they were eating paper and rationing food, but that is over. They can live like humans again. They only have one good doctor. What are they going to do when someone has a tooth ache never mind giving birth... yea right. No one would have made that choice.

The final confrontation and finding a new home

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 22 February 2012]

So, after four seasons this is it the final confrontation between the fleet and Cavil's Cylons is about to take place and the futures of both species hangs in the balance. When the attack on the Cylon colony takes place we get some of the best action scenes in the series so far. This action will lead to many losses including some fairly well known characters. The action lasted for the first half of the episode and included the sight of the Galactica ramming the colony and battles with both regular centurions and the 'old fashioned' type. By the time the fight is over all the key characters are assembled on Galactica's bridge; the Final Five all together with Anders in the middle taking the role of a hybrid. Cavil has grabbed Hera and threatens to kill her until Ellen makes him an offer that he finds acceptable. Unfortunately things don't go according to plan after Tyrol learns that Tory was responsible for Cally's death and kills her before they can give Cavil the promised resurrection technology. As the attack resumes Adama gives the command to jump and Starbuck uses the notes provided by Hera to establish coordinates. The jump completed the Galactica is clearly a broken ship but it is in orbit above a very familiar planet... our planet. The remainder of the episode covers the decision to settle and gives each of the main characters the send off they deserve at the end.

Having sat through four seasons of 'Battlestar Galactica' I was expecting a spectacular finale and wasn't disappointed. The action was intense but also included some poignant moments; I was pleased that Baltar and Boomer found redemption even if it meant the latter wouldn't survive. The settling of 'New' Earth was obviously less thrilling but it was good to see the characters getting a good send off and having an idea what would happen to them in the future. There was one inevitable scene that was quite a tear jerker; we have known from early on that Laura Roslin was the 'dying leader who would lead her people to Earth' and having done that she did die; it wasn't a bad death though and she was with the man she loved. The epilogue; where 'Head' Six and 'Head' Baltar talked around modern day New York while discussing the prospects for humanity did feel a little tacked on and I personally would have preferred things if the series had ended with Hera and her parents on the African plains, however it wasn't bad enough to spoil the episode. As always the acting was solid throughout and it would be unfair to pick out any one actor as the best. The series has always had good music and with this episode composer Bear McCreary surpassed himself with stirring themes that even included snippets of the theme from the 1977 series. As with all great series it is sad that it ended but good that it finished before it went stale and with all the major plot threads wrapped up it finished on a high... excellent stuff!

Fantastic

[richardgrandorge · 9/10 · 10 November 2013]

An incredible journey with a cute ending. It makes sense and gives a innocent variant to most sci-fi series. I'm just going to miss no. 6.............

This is possibly the best sci-fi I have ever seen that deals with the issues of today's life. We live in a world of equality and prejudice and many other problems. As an expectant father, I will confidently know that my children will watch this series when they are older to explain and give balance to their perspective on life. This is a series to learn from and is fascinating and reflective, as well as engrossing. I lost the last month watching the complete series, and was continually rewarded with an after reflection with most episodes. A near perfect series.

This is proof that sci-fi can have an educational theme.

A proper ending to a fantastic series

[dj_lynn · 10/10 · 1 May 2009]

I think Daybreak I and II did justice to a series with such a wide scope as Battlestar Galactica. All of the subplots to a series marked by genocide, terrorism, racism, and religion won't be adequately explained away by pyrotechnics and technobabble, like if Michael Bay made a movie about the end of the world and... the people who... go and try to save it... from Armageddon...

The difference between action thrillers and science fiction tales has faded markedly when it comes to movies and television. Ever notice how films marked as "action" or "sci-fi" usually have something big blowing up in the end? What about how television marked as "action" or "sci-fi" disregards plot holes (and, sometimes, actually makes up random stuff) for the sake of flashy CGI? I think it's great that Daybreak has made us, the viewers, talk as much as we have about Battlestar Galactica, but it's unfair to say that the ending "sucked" because it had exposition or character flashbacks and not enough kicking of asses. Bullshitting is not story-telling; it's a workaround for lazy writers.

Daybreak was art, not to mention the series in general. It made us talk; it made us wonder; it made us cry, cheer, or perhaps throw expensive television sets. But most importantly it made us think, which is essentially the entire purpose to science fiction, and Ron Moore and David Eick and folk can't be reprimanded for that.

Spectacular finish

[gritfrombray-1 · 10/10 · 21 March 2009]

After the buildup from last week this kicks off in top gear. The fleet is poised in space as Galactica jumps, on it's rescue mission to save Hera from the Cylons and Cavil's nefarious hands. Galactica jumps in pretty close to the centre of the Cylon's 'Capital' and without spoiling too much the rescue is well underway. This is high speed action from almost the first minute of this fantastic extended finale and provides plenty of jaw dropping moments and the visual effects are stunning. This brings a fitting end to a roller-coaster 4 year adventure through space. The one big puzzle in this is Starbuck. What was her part in it all? Each viewer will have to draw their own conclusions, I think... I for one will adding this to my DVD collection the moment it is released in full with many extras, hopefully! Watch for Ronald D.Moore in a cameo near the closing scene. Fitting as he was the genius behind this brilliant show and many of the best of Trek's more interesting episodes in TNG and DS9.

The series is over, but thats just the beginning.

[capreedy · 10/10 · 25 March 2009]

WOW WOW WOW I am totally blown away by this final episode. Not only is the threat of the extinction totally gone but the cylons and the human survivors now live in peace. 150,000 years ago! This fast paced, gritty, beautifully written finale is still giving me goosebumps a day after watching it. The end is exactly as it should have been although its saddening to know of the few characters who did not survive to live in peace.

All the questions are answered all the bad guys get their just desserts and all the heroes get their rewards.

Thank you David Eick and Ronald D. Moore, my Tuesday nights will not be the same again without this beautifully created passionately written and magnificently produced show.

I Really Really Liked It

[anderbilt · 10/10 · 1 March 2014]

More than a few actors have commented on the difference between television and movies; namely that movies have a start, middle and end, while television is "all middle." I'm not surprised that many longtime fans of the show didn't know what to make of the ENDING. TV isn't supposed to end, after all. Yet this show did end, and I think it did so excellently.

I'm in the midst of watching Battlestar Galactica 2004 all the way through for the fourth time. It is not only the finest science fiction show I've ever seen, it is so great that it has positively ruined my ability to watch most other television shows. So I don't mind watching it again, even through to the somewhat controversial ending.

The four seasons of this series accomplished an amazing amount of things, from engaging action and adventure, to a compelling study of the human condition. It went to the extent of examining human religion and notions of God, and even to the extent of building a bridge of sorts between God and Science. There's where the atheist and agnostic find fault.

When the non-religious react to the mention of God, it's troubling when they leap to the central tenet of their own 'religion', which is the belief that anyone who believes in or needs God is weak minded or defective in some way that the non-religious are not.

The tragic result of this is that they're not equipped to enjoy the rich aspect of this show in its examination of religion. There ends my sermon on that topic.

To the main contrary question - did this finale do a disservice to the series Battlestar Galactica, I would have to say NO. Was it among the ten most exciting episodes, dramatic episodes, action-packed episodes? No, no and no.

Since it's "end" and not more "middle," a finale of this sort won't feel like what you loved about the show. The best you can hope for is something that comes logically forward from what has happened, that brings your beloved characters to as satisfying an endpoint as possible, and if you're lucky, still gives you one last surprise or twist on the way out. THIS is what Daybreak 1, 2 and 3 have done.

What was problematic or illogical? Not much. The metal centurions were sufficiently advanced life forms before Cavill put inhibitors on them; those were removed, and it was a complex and sentient metal race that took the final base star on a stellar exploration. The presence of technology's signals enabled the Cylons to find New Caprica, so the decision to send technology into the sun to better hide on a rich and lush planet wasn't so ridiculous either. The twist at the end, linking Hera to "Midochondrial Eve" and the genetic research of the last decade, was wonderfully inspired.

So again, I'll say well done to Eich, Moore and everyone else who earned my adoration with BSG.

Season Four

[zkonedog · 10/10 · 5 July 2019]

After two seasons of slowly developing its character-based drama, "Battlestar Galactica" come on strong in Season 3 with more intensity. The same can be said for this first half of Season 4, as literally every single episode crackles with dramatic development, action, and even philosophy.

I won't give away any major spoilers here, but this season begins with the aftermath of the Gaius Baltar (James Callis) trial and the miraculous "return" of Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Katee Sackhoff). From there, it also deals with the revelation of four of the final five Cylons (and how they deal with that knowledge), as well as a potential human/cylon alliance in order to find Earth. There is so much going on this season both plot-wise & character-wise that I could write for paragraphs and still not cover it all! This set also ends with a cliffhanger that you will NEVER see coming (even if you know it is indeed coming).

Again, mirroring what I liked about the third season of this show, the beginning of this effort is just as much about the Cylons as it is about the humans. To me, the human/Cylon relationship has always been the backbone of this show, and this season gets off to a great start by exploring that relationship in even greater depth.

Of course, as per usual, the acting and character drama is also incredible. Each member of the large ensemble cast is given a juicy role (no one is left out), while the show even proves it can survive for a few episodes without a strong Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) presence. We're talking LOST-like character progression (the highest compliment I can give a TV show).

Overall, this beginning half of Season 4 continues the strong BSG tradition of crafting intense, character-driven drama that truly makes you care about the participants. You might as well have 4.5 ready, because you won't want to wait to see what happens next!

Sometimes, the term "science fiction" gets a bad rap, being lumped in with other descriptive phrases like "nerd", "junkie", or "social outcast". If you mention you're a fan of "Star Wars", "Star Trek", or any similar sci-fi fare, and many people will automatically brand you as "that kind of person". Those people making those types of judgements will likely never give a show like Battlestar Galactica a chance, and that is a shame, because it is truly one of the greatest shows ever produced for television (with an epic conclusion among the greatest of its kind as well).

I don't want to give away any spoilers about the episodes in this set, but suffice it to say that every single one is an incredible tribute to BSG's storytelling. Not a moment of plot development or character development is wasted...it's pure human drama that builds with each episode and concludes with a touching send-off to the characters we have all come to love.

In terms of shows beginning the winding-down process, BSG 4.5 far outpaces the final episodes of my three other favorite TV efforts: LOST (too many unanswered questions), 24 (no true ending at all), and The X-Files (too drawn-out to provide true closure). Though there are potentially a few little things (as always) that can be nitpicked, this show comes about as close to perfection as possible in terms of wrapping up such an epic tale.

To conclude, I would categorize Battlestar Galactica as a drama, first and foremost, that just happens to be set in space. It is much closer to LOST or 24 than any sort of Star Trek fare. In fact, and I say this as a long-time Trekkie, my interest in watching "Deep Space Nine" (the one Trek series I haven't seen and was going to begin before stumbling across BSG) is almost completely "zero" after concluding this journey. BSG (especially in its conclusion here) just set the bar too high.

Years later...still the only series finale to ever delight me. It is about acceptance and yet struggle

[jmcternan-91574 · 10/10 · 29 June 2017]

I wrote a gushing adulating review recently in the main section so I will comment on the series finale alone.

I know some people complain that the series was set too far back or that they didn't build Atlantis, or the science Mitochondriol Eve is flawed. In fact I like to imagine all how the names like Thrace, Apollo became significant even though it's a stretch, but that's the fun,but I've never been LITERAL like that e.g. they didn't speak English either if we were being honest too! This was real to them (the characters), but to us it is a myth, which it is. But it has lessons.

When they made the series which had that point...at being all time favorite level "how is anything going to compare to this".....they quietly drop the knowledge that this is a saga not of future history, but ancient past....left me all warm and....haunted. I still think about it. I feel it broadens the tapestry so much, that it was this close to home and sets it in the larger picture, leaving me with the only series finale I've ever been truly delighted with.

It's probably the reason that the series keeps drawing me back, it states these people were not some future evolved humans, it cements the fact that was clear time and again throughout the series: they were us. And now it's now our turn to not balls it up, it turns not from a tale of dreary bleak (exciting) future, but one that can be prevented.

Revealing that everything we just found was not our bleak depressing future graveyard trip, but only our prologue, that life started not here, but way out THERE and the future is just beginning. That feels a blessing, that all is not lost. It is thoughtful series in a way I haven't seen since.

Just ending their stories as they hand off to us...when they fly the fleet into the sun, it's like the last triumph cry of the old Colonial Civilisation and all its glory, not be to heard again.

There is a sense of peace, but acceptance, you don't want to leave them, we may never break the cycle, but we can only try our best with the lifespans we are given. And ultimately that will have to be enough and we can find a measure of peace and happiness in that. Without other alternatives and there never was, it is THE CHOICE.

This for me is the end of the saga, a massive full stop and I feel the likes of Caprica just feel like fan fiction.

It had to end somehow

[deanofrpps · 6/10 · 21 July 2009]

The dramatic tale of the Battlestar had to end somehow and somewhere. The road to an earth-like settlement takes a few exciting twists as the Colonials, with Gallactica ready for the scrapheap, undertake a desperate attack on the Cylon Base Star commanded by the evil John Cavil (Dean Stockwell). To get volunteers for this hazardous nearly suicidal mission, Commander Adama must threaten to fly off in a Colonial Viper on his own to attack the Cylons.

The battle seesaws to an impromptu truce where the two warring factions broker a peace which is foiled when the Final Six (Cylon infiltrators) mind meld and Chief Galen Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) realizes that Tory Foster, President Roslin's aide (Rekha Sharma) killed Galen's wife. In renewed hostilities The Colonials finish off the Cylons before Battlestar Galactica makes its last jump to earth.

After some debate over creating a new city near a river, the new President Romo Lampkin (Mark Sheppard) at Lee Adama's (Jamie Bamber's) urging decides that the Colonials instead of setting up a new colony will go native and join primitive tribesmen. The fleet is scuttled, with the exception of one viper which Commander Adama flies President Roslin around in a tour of the planet. She dies before landing.

I deemed the ending romantic but not true to character. Most likely refugees of any sort will try to recreate what they ran away from. Just look at America and England. However the producers wanted to end the story line for good and they had to do it somehow.

Still the episode had some exciting moments.

Disappointing

[Razinha · 2/10 · 22 March 2009]

Horrible ending - and I can't believe Moore spent a year coming up with it. Smacks of L. Ron Hubbard and Dianetitcs, which Hubbard claimed to pen in just three weeks. This was actually disappointing enough for me to toss my discs from the first 3.5 years. Now, the first 1.5 hours were action packed, though absurd in the premise, and then it deteriorated into a slow, painful, sophomoric dissolution of the series. Unbelievable how slow and drawn out that last hour was. Were we to think more deeply? If I wanted a lesson in a-materialism, I would reread Daniel Quinn's Ishmael. Absurd to think 38K people would give up everything for a "fresh start". Absurd to throw in a disappearing Kara, and a reappearing Baltar and Six. Absurd to throw in the Mitochondrial Eve. Just absurd.

GOD wins

[artpf · 9/10 · 27 December 2013]

I found myself compelled to write this review after reading a number of bad reviews.

To be perfectly honest, I really didn't like Season 4 overall. The budgets must have been tightened and the special effects started to really suck. The cylons started to look like cartoons.

In a lot of ways I thought the series jumped the shark once so many main characters were revealed as cylons.

Further, the story line and direction became choppy and hard to follow.

But when all is said and done, I must admit that I liked the very final episode. It essentially tied it all together in a good way. The people who didn't like the ending are just depressed debbie downers who probably voted for obama.

It's a good ending that pretty much takes care of wrapping up the series that started so strong then lost it way, but comes back at the end.