BSG Ending – Part II

Last time on Beemsville, we discussed the Battlestar Galactica Series Finale (at least to a point) and the precarious proposition of television show endings.  Having written about some elements I enjoyed and appreciated, this section of the critque may seem a bit more…  critical.  But lest I open myself up to raging fanboy attacks, let me once again profess my affection and admiration for the show.  BSG has been one of my favorites because it’s smart, challenging – more than bubblegum for your brain on a Friday night.  BSG has time and again proved worthy of serious critical analysis…  But don’t expect too much of that here; I’m just going to whip some stuff against the wall and see what sticks.  Spoilers after the bump.

Battlestar Galactica – An Ending

Finally got the chance to finish watching Battlestar Galactica the last week or so, including the two-hour finale last night.  I was almost dreading the viewing, for several reasons.  First off, the initial several episodes of the final season were very bleak and in some respects tough to watch.  I was worried Eick and Moore may have lost the plot and were spiraling towards infamy.  Second,  BSG has been the best show on for several years and even if some elements had begun to feel played out as they entered the 4th season, I was sad for it to end.  Finally, I was worried about the actual ending.

TV shows have had some pretty terrible endings.  Consider X-Files or The Sopranos. You also have shows that simply don’t have endings, they have one last episode that ain’t much different, except it’s worse because the show has lost its momentum and creativity, which is why it’s been canceled or pulled in the first place.  Or they become these awful maudlin exercises with the cast taking their final tearful bow.  Occasionally you have endings that are satisfying and memorable.  MASH of course, and Seinfeld, and Family Ties (I always get choked up when I think about Michael J. Fox finally making it back to 1985 in time to take that truck down to the lake…)

BSG set the bar pretty high.  You always knew, by the way they structured the episodes, followed a pretty tight narrative line, and frontloaded certain characters with an array of portents, destinies, and thematic signposts, that Moore and Eick had an ending in mind.  With all the great press and awards the show has received (though ridiculously, no Emmys for anything other than special effects), with frakkin’ Whoopi leading a retrospective on BSG at the United Nations, you might have some concerns they’ve started taking themselves too seriously.  Always a problem in the entertainment industry.  And yet the writer in me can appreciate total commitment and immersion into the story.

So what’s the Beemsville take on Battlestar Galactica’s ending?  Read on after the bump.  Massive spoiler alert, naturally.

What the Frak Are You Watching?

Tonight, at 9:00 CST, those of us with discerning tastes and an appreciation for good TV drama, will be watching the premiere of the final run of Battlestar Galactica episodes on Scifi.  It’s Adama.  It’s Starbuck.  Cylons with souls.  Now, having finally reached the promised land of the forefathers…

Despite being snubbed by various mainstream awards, this series has been the best drama on for a couple of years now.  The stigma of science fiction is probably enough to keep golden globes and emmys away, but BSG has developed quite a devoted following among both critics and fans.  And we’ve been somewhat abused for our loyalty by Scifi’s callous breaking up and extending of the seasons.  This has included putting off the final run of episodes for half-a-year.  But now we’ll have to forgive them because it’s finally back on.

If you haven’t clued into BSG by now, it’s almost too late.  Your best best would be to add the previous seasons to your DVD queue, watch them, savor them, and maybe record this season to save for when you’re ready.  But expect no mercy in Beemsville, for I anticipate a number of posts on the final run as we drive through the winter.  Stay tuned…

Battlestar Galactica is Back!

Tomorrow night (Friday), 9:00 CST, and you can bet we’ll have the recorder set here in Beemsville. Why? BECAUSE IT’S THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION!!!

If you’ve missed Battlestar Galactica to this point, frankly we feel sorry for you. All is not lost, however; The scifi.com website is currently all BSG all the time, which includes a nice succinct 8-minute summary of the story to date. Just follow the link to the BSG area and click on ‘What the Frak is Going on?’

Alternatively, if you’re into the extended review, scifi will show the last half of the previous season tomorrow, running from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. So fire up that tivo or call in sick.

Battelstar Galactica isn’t just the best sci-fi show since The X-Files, IT’S THE BEST SHOW ON TV. (That’s why I keep SHOUTING). It’s also damned good storytelling by any measure. So if you think TV offers nothing more than gimmicky ‘reality’ programming, outmoded sitcoms, and hoary dramas, well you’re mostly right… But not in this case.

BSG is back. Yes…