I too loved when Baltar gets teary-eyed about farming (near the end, when he and six are walking up that hill with all the rest of the Galactica crew, yes?) They did such an excellent job at making Baltar the opposite of a cliche. I mean, if you didn't like him, that's one thing (I adored his character), but Baltar was most certainly *human*

I will disagree with you about Tigh's screaming in the strip club.. I thought it was hilarious! And so *Tigh*. I agree about Lee though, that guy had it so rough. There's nothing tha went well for him.

Actually, I was just reading a show-based thread on a forum and someone brought up a very cool idea that I agree with.

We all assumed that the dying leader who would lead them to Earth was Laura Roslyn. How could it be her, though? She had given up on the whole Earth concept! No, the dying leader who took them to Earth was...Galactica herself. By the end, she was as much Cylon as she was human, a perfect coexistence between the two races (and a coexistence that will have to continue from that point forward). She did her job, took them to their new home, and then died.

Overall, I did enjoy the finale. I got my megaholycrapgoddamnawesome battle for all time. Space ships fighting, ground troops fighting. And, I have to say, I love the way Centurions shoot. They have a certain panache to their movements. They aren't just pointing their wrist cannons and firing, they're almost pulling off B-boy moves during gun battles. It's quite entertaining! Also, the unexpected, but very welcome, robot vs. robot collisions...pure sweetness.

And I got my "Damn!" moment when Cavil decided to follow up the renewed hostilities with a 9mm. chaser to the braincase. It actually DOES make sense...after all, as soon as Tory died, all hope of Cylon resurrection's triumphal return died as well. At that precise moment, he was doomed to existence as the one thing he couldn't handle being...mortal. And how better to show your disdain for mortality than by repainting the floor behind you in your own gray matter?

Aaaah, Tory. We all KNEW what was going to happen as soon as she started stammering her "Now, let's not go crazy and start judging each other!" claptrap. She was doomed. I think that was the moment when the writers decided "Okay, let's give the viewers something that absolutely want." And we did. Everyone who was really in to the show WANTED Tyrol to end her.

As for the character endings...

I think the one that maybe tugged at the ol' heartstrings a bit, for me at least, was the Adama Family Goodbye. For years, Lee and pappy didn't really get along...then they finally start to form some kind of relationship, and dad hops in to a Raptor and leaves. I can definitely empathize with at least the first part of that, and I can imagine the pure suckage of finally forming that bond only to have him leave.

And, seriously, did the writers secretly HATE Lee Adama? I mean, he lost EVERYONE this season. Did his character rape a nun in a deleted scene or something? Karma was a BITCH.

As for Adama himself leaving, I totally understand that. His job was done, and from the flashbacks we are given the impression it was a job he didn't really want anymore. He wanted to be retired...but circumstances forced his hand the other way. The fleet and his ship were gone, Laura was gone...that's it. Time to let people start to figure things out for themselves.

I actually didn't have a problem with the way Starbuck went poof in to the night (well, okay, in to the DAY, even though that doesn't sound nearly so cool). It's okay for a show to leave a little mystery. I LIKE a show that doesn't feel the need to lead me by the hand through every second like I'm some kind of fracking retard who can't find his way. Maybe she was an angel...maybe
she was some sort of ghost with a corporeal being...who knows? And does it really MATTER? After all, we know she isn't a Cylon, and that was the only REALLY important question.

My one complaint...I will never like that final five minutes. For a show that's been so creative and so different to fall back on such a tried and true and hackneyed concept as the "Then, in the FUTURE..." bit is just sad. Weee...the two angels walking around, asking aloud if it all needs to happen again...I hated it. It wasn't enough for me to hate the whole show, but it WAS enough to sour the ending of it, that's for damn sure. It's just such an utter cliche in a show that I've grown to expect the unexpected from.

All in all, it was a great ride, though. One of the best television programs that I have EVER seen, and I've enjoyed it through and through.

And speaking of great TV, I just finished Season 3 of The Wire last night...all I have to say on that, DAMN.