Battlestar - cnt.

With more time to think abt it, I've got greater clarity:

1. Theologically - satisfied. I think the way "God" is conceptualized works and works well. I like the injunction for humanity to create & interpret meaning, and to solve our problems, make shit better ourselves. I like the seeming insignificance of God's plan... "we're supposed to save Hera? That's it?" On the one hand, a lot of violence and bloodshed over one individual, on the other, a small moment of grace, protecting this child. I think this tension speaks to what has made the show work at its best.

2. Politically - dissatisfied. I don't like this racist bullshit about bringing language and culture to the African tribals. I don't like the way the Chief's murder of Tori passed by so uncritically. It feels to me like Tori died as much for her at-times open embrace of Cylon superiority, and it's hard not to see this as a metaphor for what happens to the "uppity" woman of color. I don't like the way civilian perspectives were minimized yet again (you should check out Maia's many posts about this in Alas, a Blog) with the offhand comment about how everyone in the fleet is eager for a "clean slate" and thus no one contests the decision to settle the planet w/o technology. But most of all... I don't like the ultimate ideological emphasis being placed on a cautionary tale abt technology and civilization's excesses. For many of us leftist/feminist/antiracist, etc fans, the ideological arc of this series has been the destruction wrought by the process of creating an "other," and it was frustrating to see this message reduced to "don't build robots," fade out. The ease with which the episode dispensed with an entire half of the Cylon race whose views were less easily reconciled with our heroes' seems connected with this. nojojojo has a lot to say about this in Alas, a Blog, and quotes some other great bloggers.

3. Characters - mixed. Plotwise, I certainly got more than enough closure, but I think this is also part of the problem. Nothing left to chew on. And a lot of that last half hour struck me as ridiculously sentimental. Mary McDonnell can usually make me choke up even when I should know better, but Laura's passing did very little for me. Lee and Kara's dialogue was just plain awful. I cringed when Lee started talking about exploring. Sam Anders's line about perfection was overwritten and badly delivered last week, and was still overwritten and badly delivered this week. ...but as I said previously, I really loved most of Baltar and Six's scenes. Who would've thought that my least favorite character(s) at the outset would become favorites by the conclusion? ...and I think that ultimately reflects well on what this show has been able to build, even if many aspects of this finale disappointed me.