Anybody up to a
real challenge?
I watched the first season of BSG, but no more.
Anyone feel they have sufficient fortitude to spoil me on how the series ended, in such a way that I can actually understand it?
(It's not important that I know every little detail--I know we're talking 4 years of TV here--just enough that I have a solid sense of how all the basic issues evolved and were wrapped up.)
I know it's asking a lot. That's why I said "challenge."
Well, I'll give it a try.
You've seen the first season which means you know about the prophecies about a dying leader leading the remnants of mankind to earth, right?
Okay, here goes- (please forgive any typos and omissions - I'm trying to be succinct but typing this while I'm at home with the flu).
SPOILER ALERT
Throughout the history of mankind and cylons there has been a repeating cycle of war between humans and cylons, and civil war between humans and humans, and cylons and cylons. The destruction of the colonies isn't the first time an apocalypse has befallen either humans or the cylons.
The Cylons had a plan (which will be highlighted in the upcoming movie
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan - which will tell the story of the destruction of the colonies from the standpoint of the Cylons). It wasn't simply to erradicate humans, they just wanted
most of them dead. The Cylons then took some survivors and ran experiments on them in the attempt of learning how to breed (whether cylon with cylon, or cylon with human). The Cylons were apparently motivated by what they felt was the will of their god and a desire for true procreation.
At the end of the series, you'll realize that this "God" has been pulling the strings from the start, throughout the endless cycle of destruction and rebuilding. This "God" is never clearly defined. But, we do know it's an entity of great power, outside of space and time, and not limited by our definitions of good and evil. This "God" has been subtly guiding mankind and Cylons, through all of these endless cycles, with the purpose of apparently perfecting the species (eliminating weaknesses such as hate, etc., and create a society and culture based around love).
After the destruction of the colonies and searching for Earth for a while, the survivors find a habitable planet in season three (but it's not Earth). It's definitely not a garden spot, but it is livable (about like Iceland in the summer
). The fleet splits, with some deciding to colonize the planet (named New Caprica), and others deciding to stay with the fleet. However the Cylons find the colony. They begin running an experiment on whether Cylons and Humans can live together (with the Cylons in charge of course). The Cylons rule in an almost "occupying force" manner, much like the Nazis did in WWII. Torture and imprisonment are common, with incentives for informing on malcontents. A resistance group forms. Eventually, the Galactica returns, working in concert with the resistance, and frees mankind from the Cylons (Again). During this time Baltar is the puppet President. Eventually Baltar will be charged with War Crimes, but is found inocent. edit: Also, while on New Caprica, Saul Tigh (who is a member of the resistance) discovers that his wife Ellen is collaborating with and giving information about the resistance to the Cylons. In order to protect their plans for the "Rescue", Saul kills Ellen by poisoning her.
Eventually, the fleet discovers Kobol (the planet which is the origins of everyone in the 12 colonies). Their is virtually no animal life and almost know evidence of any past civilization, except for some barely discernable ruins. The Cylons however, also find Kobol. It's a race to see who can find the path to Earth in the ruins of the Kobol Opera House first. This is where the "Dream Scenes" in the intact Opera House happen. It's where we see Athena (an 8), and Laura Roslin chasing after Hera (the Half-Cylon/Half-Human girl - created out of love - apparently the missing ingredient for breeding between humans and cylons). Hera is picked up by Baltar and Caprica 6 and taking through a doorway before Laura and Athena can get to her. Also, there is a flash, but they don't show the faces, of the five unkown Cylons. This is also seen by a number 3 (known as D'anna) played by Lucy Lawless. Because of her revelations, she is viewed by some of the other Cylons (especially the number ones, or Cavils) as a destabilizing force, and are "boxed" so that they can't cause problems. However, both the Humans and Cylons are forced to evacuate Kobol when it's sun goes nova.
After this, a civil war takes place within the Cylon culture, mostly driven by the number ones intention of "lobotomizing" the centurions and raiders because they are becoming too "free thinking". This free thinking was possibly taking place due to the influence of "God". The Cylons split with the Ones (Cavil), Fours (Simon), Fives (Aaron), and one Eight (Boomer) on one side - and the Twos (Leoban), one unboxed Three (D'anna), the Sixes, and the rest of the Eights on the other. We find out later that the Sevens (known as Daniel) were boxed a long time ago (before the series) due to them being a little too philosophical and introspective. During the war, resurrection technology is destroyed for both sides, introducing a "mortality" factor to the Cylons for the first time.
Eventually, from following information found on Kobol, and from information a returned from death Starbuck has, the Humans and one half of the Cylons (the Twos, D'anna, the Sixes, and the Eights) finally find Earth. However, the planet is nothing but ruins with virtually no life (minimal plant life) and highly irradiated soil. Apparently the world was destroyed in a planet wide nuclear war. Some skeletal remains are found and tested. This leads to a Revelation that "Earth" (the 13th colony) was entirely populated with human-like Cylons.
What's also revealed at this time is that five cylons survived the apocalypse on Earth, the so-called "final five", and are now living among Humans (believing they are Humans also). They are Chief Galen Tyrell (Chief Engineer of Galactica), Samuel Anders (once a sports star on Caprica but now a Viper pilot and husband of Starbuck), Saul Tigh (XO of Galactica), Torry Foster (President Roslin's Chief Aid), and Ellen Tigh (wife of Saul Tigh). They left "Earth" after it's apocalypse nearly 20,000 years before the beginning of the series, in a non-FTL vessel traveling near the speed of light (with the expected relativistic effects). In the intervening 20,000 years, Humans once again create "Cylons" (the neverending cycle thing again). The five arrive in Cylon space after the first Cylon War (50 years before the series). The five "create" the Eight human-like Cylon models (the number 13 popping up again) and also give them Resurection technology. The Five each a carry a piece of the knowledge it takes to create Ressurection technology in their minds. Seperately they are useless, together they can recreate it. edit:We also discover that Ellen "awoke" on a resurection ship after Saul killed her on New Caprica, with all of her memories restored. Eventually she escapes with Boomer (just before Cavill is to have Ellen executed) and they find their way to Galactica.
Needless to say, after Humans and Cylons find Earth ruined, and peice together their shared history, there is a fleetwide depression that takes hold. Suicide's begin to increase. There seems to be absolutely no hope. Then, there's a mutiny on board Galactica, led by Felix Geata and Tom Zerek (Ritchard Hatch). Zerek has the colonial council executed. Eventually the Mutiny is foiled. Adama regains control of the ship and Geata/Zerek are executed. edit:Also, Sam Anders (Starbuck's husband and one of the "Five") is shot in the head during the mutiny. While he is being prepped for surgery he starts remembering everything about his and the "Fives" pasts, and starts telling them. However, before he can tell them everything, he goes into surgery. He survives physically but comes out of the surgery mostly brain dead.
After this, Adama decides that they aren't going to go out like this. They are going to survive, and begin looking for a new planet to live on. Cylons and Humans begin working together towards those ends. Also at this time, it's discovered that Galactica herself is falling apart, with debilitating cracks in her superstructure. The ship that has been their home and life is dying. The Cylons begin working together with the Galactica crew to save the ship by using "biologic" Cylon technology to strengthen her skeleton. What sets up the beginning of the end is when Boomer (an Eight) kidnaps Hera (the Human-Cylon hybrid child of Athena and Helo) and takes her too the Cylon colony on the orders of Cavil (a One). Eventually the fleet discovers where Hera was taken to and a rescue mission is planned. A mission that may very well be one way, and probably the last mission for the dying Galactica. Cavil believes that Hera is the key to "Gods" plan.
In the final episode, the Galactica jumps in to where the Cylon colony is, in the acretion disc of a Black Hole. There's only one way in, which will immediately put the Galactica within point blank range of the Cylon colony. The Galactica battle plan is multi pronged, use the wounded Sam Anders (who is partially brain dead and acting as a type of base-ship hybrid) to disrupt the hybrid controlling the Cylon Colony (hopefully disabling their guns temporarily), launch vipers to keep off Raiders, ram the colony with the Galactica in order to off load boarding troops (made up of humans, human model cylons, and cylon centurions), and having a squadron of Raptors sneak in the back way and rescue Hera during the ensuing battle. On board the colony, the Galactica troops find themselves fighting new type and old type (original series BSG) centurions. Boomer betrays the cylon colony and gives Hera to the rescuing force (Starbuck, Apollo, Athena, and Helo). Athena then executes Boomer. They make it back to Galactica where Baltar and Caprica Six are holding the line against centurion boarders.
In the climactic scene, Cavil and some centurions infiltrate Galactica where there's a showdown in the CIC. Cavil (the number One) grabs Hera and holds a gun to her head, with everyone on Galactica aiming at Cavill. Baltar attemps to talk Cavill down (and actually does a pretty good job) and Saul Tigh promises to give Cavill Resurection technology in exchange for Hera. Cavill agrees. A data link is made between Galactica and the Cylon colony so that the "Five" can transmit the technical data for Resurection technology to them. Unfortunately, during the "sharing" between the "Five" (necessary in order to bring all of the knowledge together) Chief Tyrell sees in Torries mind that she killed his wife (Callie). He breaks the link and attacks Torry, killing her by breaking her neck. The Cylon colony sees this as a betrayal (since the data feed ends with this event) and begins re-attacking Galactica. Cavill, in true cowards form, commits suicide rather than being taken captive by Galactica's crew. Adama orders Starbuck to jump them out anywhere (she does not know the rendezvous coordinates for the fleet). She sets coordinates based on a song her father taught her (revealed in dreams prior to this event - it also seems to be the same song that the "Five" kept hearing in their heads which eventually lead them to eachother and the realization they were Cylons). This final jump leads them to Earth -
Our Earth - but Galactica's back is broken and will never jump again. We are treated to the view of Galactica cruising over our moon to our Earth, with the African continent clearly recognizable as they begin to orbit. They contact the rest of the fleet which eventually rendexvous with Galactica in orbit around our Earth.
After sending parties to the surface, we learn that this is our Earth, but in our far distant past, where early modern man is still living in Africa, specifically 150,000 years ago. On the advice of Lee (Apollo), the surviving Humans and cylons decide to not build a new civilzation, but to live with the land and pass on the "best" of humanity to the humans of Earth (our language, etc. but not our hate, wars and technology). Laura Roslin dies while Adama is flying her over the surface of what looks like Lake Victoria. Adama buries her on a hill where he intends to build a cabin and live out the rest of his days in solitude. Baltar and Caprica Six learn that the Six that Baltar kept seeing in his head, and the Baltar that Six kept seeing in her head, are actually Angels of God who were sent to them to help guide mankind (that apparently included the necessity of the destruction of the colonies). The Centurions are given their freedom and depart in the Basestar for points unknown, to live and evolve on their own. We can only assume that the Cylon Colony (where the other half of the cylons are) will eventually die out due to no resurection technology and their inability to breed. The fleet is flown into the Sun by Sam Anders after all of the colonies survivors settle on Earth.
150,000 years later, and we are now in our modern world. In a conversation between the Baltar and Six angels, we learn that Hera is "Mitochondrial Eve". They also believe that this time, we may just be able to learn our lesson and end the never-ending cycle of apocalypse and rebirth. It ends to Jimmy Hendrix's
All Along the Watchtower with video of modern day robots. Possibly implying that this could all happen again.
END of SPOILERS
I really liked the way it ended. It was one wild ride. I especially loved the use of the original theme music as the fleet was flown into the sun. Gave me goosebumps.
