Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 DVD. Actors: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhoff
Battlestar Galactica Season 4.5 DVD review
Now the series is over. I don't know for sure what I'm going to do with my Friday nights anymore; not much of a fan of "tv series", but I made sure to be in front of the tube every Friday night for this show. Can I say it was perfect; no, very few things are. However, this show came about as close to perfection as I can imagine. Where the original series, (which I watch regularly), fell into the formulaic trap of journey, conflict, fight and escape this series managed to become original by becoming spiritual. I've heard some say that the foray down this path began to ruin the show, however, I think that this is what made the show compelling, engrossing and engaging. The notion that for four years we were led to believe that perhaps Baltar was a cylon or insane only to find out that he was being guided by an angel I would have never imagined. I've read on some blogs the speculation that Starbuck was also an angel; I personally don't think so. The Caprica and Baltar angels were self possessed, in control and seemed to know what they were and what they were doing. Contrast that description with Starbuck; confused, obsessed with a sense of a calling, but confused as to what that calling was as well as trying to avoid having to respond to that calling. I think I've got a better description; she was a prophet, a little bit of a cross between Moses and Jonah. Like Moses she had a mission to lead her people, but like Jonah she didn't want to do what she was called to do; Jonah committed virtual suicide being swallowed and Starbuck did commit suicide to; both to escape what God wanted them to do. However, in both instances God's plans aren't thwarted that easily; Starbuck found herself brought back from the dead just as Jonah was brought back from the deep to fulfill his mission. Anyway, that's just my spin; hollywood and tv popularize the notion that angels are human souls, i.e. Clarence from Its a Wonderful Life; and this is theologically erroneous, as angels are a class of creatures unto themselves. I thought the conclusion of this series was touching, moving and entirely satisfying. I found the redemption of Baltar very satisfying; unlike the original series which I found his motivation always puzzling in this series he was portrayed as a flawed human who "sinned" by giving in to his base desires and passions, (lust/sex). We are all susceptible to this, it's just that most of us when we stumble don't bring down mankind with us. So, I really liked the idea that he finally committed an unselfish act, and in the end was no longer ashamed of his humble beginnings. We should all be so fortunate to be able to make that journey while still alive.
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Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5
