Question about BSG Finale

[Banshee16]

I finally managed to get season 4.5 on DVD, and watch the finish of the show. I thought they did a pretty good job of wrapping everything up, but I was left with a question....











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Having listened to the commentary, I get that the end, with the survivors going back to basics and giving up their technology, is an homage to the original BSG, which was inspired by Chariots of the Gods etc.

What I was confused by, however, was Caprica 6 and Baltar being present 150,000 years after they reached earth. Baltar wasn't a Cylon (that we're aware of), and I didn't think the Cylons could live forever without resurrection.

Unless.........were they basically implying that the Caprica 6 and Baltar who were being seen by Baltar and Caprica 6 throughout the series...and who many always assumed were hallucinations or something, were in fact, Angels? Is that what was going on?

Banshee

 

[Wycen]

I have NOT read, watched or heard any of the commentaries about the finale, or many of the episodes in general, but since I wrote a paper on how much the finale sucked for a class I feel ok answering your question.

Those two disembodied "head" Six and Baltar avatars in the future could be "angels" if you are inclined to think that way. I'm personally not.

Remember Baltar cautions Six when she uses the word "God" that "he doesn't like be called that".

WTF does that mean? Don't know and don't care, but I suggest a Cylon/cyborg creator god/program, or if you prefer, they are "agents" like in the Matrix and exist only at the pleasure of their creator.

Hell, I just made that last part up, it wasn't even in my paper or notes.

However, the problem they present is what are they compared to Kyra who was not a "head" avatar? If she was an angel, how come other people could see her?

 

[Fast Learner]

You're basing your understanding on a paper you wrote about how much it sucked when you didn't watch many of the episodes? Definitely don't see how the paper implies a greater understanding.

As to the angel idea, yeah, that's my impression.

 

[Wycen]

You're basing your understanding on a paper you wrote about how much it sucked when you didn't watch many of the episodes? Definitely don't see how the paper implies a greater understanding.

As to the angel idea, yeah, that's my impression.

No. I did not make myself aware of the commentaries.

Edit: and besides we are talking about nerdrage, it wont make sense to most people.

 

[Fast Learner]

Gotcha.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

What I was confused by, however, was Caprica 6 and Baltar being present 150,000 years after they reached earth. Baltar wasn't a Cylon (that we're aware of), and I didn't think the Cylons could live forever without resurrection.

Unless.........were they basically implying that the Caprica 6 and Baltar who were being seen by Baltar and Caprica 6 throughout the series...and who many always assumed were hallucinations or something, were in fact, Angels? Is that what was going on?

Yes. Or if not angels, something close enough. Definitely not mere delusions or an undetectable chip in Baltars and Six' brain, which basically were the only other theories we had.

 

[coyote6]

Yeah, the Baltar and Six at the very end were the Baltar & Six that Six and Baltar were hallucinating. The implication was that they were angels.

Whether that means they were angels working for some divine creator, or some sort of weird super-AIs working for a post-singularity artificial intelligence entity a la Charles Stross's Eschaton, or ascended entities working for another ascended entity a la Babylon 5/Stargate/Star Trek, is not clearly defined in the show itself.

 

[Jack7]

How many Baltars does it take to dance upon the heads of men?

Why only one, if there be Six with him...

 

[Janx]

How many Baltars does it take to dance upon the heads of men?

Why only one, if there be Six with him...

I'm inclined to agree with Coyote6's theory.

the Baltar and Six seen in the modern "earth" are the hallucination characters seen through-out the series.

As to their exact nature, who knows? Angel is probablly close enough, though for some, that might have a specific religious signifigance. i think it was intended to leave you with more questions.

Considering the entire series had a "is this spiritual stuff real?" angle to it, where the characters struggle with that debate as it guides or interferes with their plans. What the final scene ultimately says, is yes, the spiritual stuff in the show was effectively real, and WAS guiding them. Because at long last, the imaginary Baltar and Six are seen out of context with the other characters, and discussing these greater matters.

 

[Fast Learner]

In this context, "angel" is just a convenient word for what appears to be a unreasonably-albeit-incompletely-omnipotent supernatural manifestation. It could well be some kind of super-science or whatever.