BSG
Now that I've had some time to think about the ending of BSG I want to say that the finale was emotionally satisfying, and matched the level of quality that I think the series held to as a whole. It was flawed, and there were some major plot holes, but there was a kick ass battle and I was choked up when someone died.
I think BSG, as a whole, was successful in spite of Ron Moore's "I'll just wing it from episode to episode" philosophy and not because of it. I read an interview where he seemed to express that he thought BSG's success in some way validated that approach and I want to let it be known that I disagree. Almost every episode title sequence pointed out that the Cylons had a plan. Ron Moore did not know what that plan was and the entire series ended without us ever finding out, really, what it was. Sure sure, there's a TV movie this Fall called "The Plan" which may tell us something, but it is bullshit that the Cylons having a plan was an important, if not THE, central theme/mystery of the show and the show proper ended without that having closure.
As a whole the series was up and down and as flawed as the characters within it. It got lost, found itself, and got lost again, just to find itself again in small moments here and there. So, as a metaphor for humanity I suppose it works. I just wish it were a little more satisfying as a self-contained entity. I have changed from recommending the show to people who haven't watched it to saying that they can go ahead and skip it. The show, as an entity from start to finish, never really went anywhere for me. It seems like a zero sum thing. All the good equals all the bad and, in the end, I'm not sure it really mattered. Again, I see how that mirrors our lives.
I just don't think that was the point.
I think BSG, as a whole, was successful in spite of Ron Moore's "I'll just wing it from episode to episode" philosophy and not because of it. I read an interview where he seemed to express that he thought BSG's success in some way validated that approach and I want to let it be known that I disagree. Almost every episode title sequence pointed out that the Cylons had a plan. Ron Moore did not know what that plan was and the entire series ended without us ever finding out, really, what it was. Sure sure, there's a TV movie this Fall called "The Plan" which may tell us something, but it is bullshit that the Cylons having a plan was an important, if not THE, central theme/mystery of the show and the show proper ended without that having closure.
As a whole the series was up and down and as flawed as the characters within it. It got lost, found itself, and got lost again, just to find itself again in small moments here and there. So, as a metaphor for humanity I suppose it works. I just wish it were a little more satisfying as a self-contained entity. I have changed from recommending the show to people who haven't watched it to saying that they can go ahead and skip it. The show, as an entity from start to finish, never really went anywhere for me. It seems like a zero sum thing. All the good equals all the bad and, in the end, I'm not sure it really mattered. Again, I see how that mirrors our lives.
I just don't think that was the point.