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UNCUT - Battlestar Galactica S1E13 (Season Finale) - Kobol's Last Gleaming Part 2

Thanks to everyone who enjoyed watching this first season with us. YouTube results will determine if we watch more.

UNCUT - Battlestar Galactica S1E13 (Season Finale) - Kobol's Last Gleaming Part 2

Comments

I want to watch more with you... this is only the beginning! This series is one of the most satisfying storylines that follows a lot of pieces that keep coming together as it progresses.

Who North America

Everything youve seen so far is the prequel. S2 is the start of the real story. If you truely want to be lost tho try The LEXX or Farscape.

Zee Doctere

Thanks for throwing out a free month, it gave me the chance to watch these. I really do hope you'll pick this show up again in the future.

xadg

Iron Giant reference FTW.

Scott Withrow

I've binged all the reactions that haven't been posted on the 'Tube. I reeeeeeeaaaaaalllllllly hope you're going to do S2. Your investment in the characters starts paying off now.

Scott Withrow

I understand this is an old reaction. Just subscribed to this channel (love your Star Trek videos.). As to BSG, I think the other season finale cliffhangers better resolve their respective seasons versus this one. S2:E6 marks the end of many arcs from S1 in a way that's pretty satisfying. I wonder if this abrupt conclusion was a result of not knowing whether they were going to get another season plus budget concerns (hint: budget definitely goes up next season.) And the rest of the seasons follow that mid-season cliffhanger + end of season finale pattern, assuming you count the last season with its extended nine month "mid-season" break.

Samir Sinha

Given all the Roslin hate this season, I'm surprised neither of you mentioned how her surrendering after Lee decided to mutiny basically meant he mutinied for nothing. Like for frack's sake, you couldn't have done that sooner so I don't get arrested? The first time I saw this episode, when Sharon shot Adama, I was certain it was a hallucination for a second. Like we were seeing her intrusive thoughts so to speak. But when it lingers in slow motion, and she shoots him again and gets tackled, it's sets in and I was just sitting there with my jaw on the floor. Definitely couldn't wait for S2, especially with the fate of so many characters up in the air. I'm going to echo what a lot of others have said and strongly recommend you proceed into S2. There's some really amazing storytelling in S2 and 3 and it would be a shame for you to miss out on that. But I'm also going to argue that from a business standpoint, I think you just need to see it through at this point. You've had so many shows where you watched a few episodes or a season, then dropped it. By this point you could have finished a show like BSG and started another. If it's about viewership numbers, anyone who sees you starting their favourite show is going to see Buffy and Quantum Leap and B5 and potentially BSG and GoT and all the others all abandoned a few eps or a season in. If I'm looking for a reaction channel following a show I like, I'm not going to bother committing time and money if I think there's a low chance of them seeing it through. It's wasted time for both you and the audience. If you don't continue with BSG, I would suggest either using that time slot for an extra trek episode, or sticking to movie and miniseries reactions. If your audience doesn't believe you'll ever reach the finish line on a non trek show, then eventually nothing outside Trek will get any views. Just my 2 cents.

Timothy Nikiforovs

I think BOBW remains such a legendary episode because it was such a novel idea at the time. By the time BSG rolled around, we'd had a decade plus of shows doing cliffhangers. By the time this episode aired cliffhangers were basically the norm for season finales, and it still hooked us in for S2. BOBW arguably started or helped start that trend.

Timothy Nikiforovs

I didnt spoil anything. Geesh.

Column Meanie

I tend to agree with you, Column

Collin Freeman

I can't refute your point about Baltar/Six scene without posting spoilers so I won't other than to say you're wrong. As for the rest, they absolutely had an idea of where things were going they just didn't follow traditional TV story telling. Which is something I love about it, it is aggressive in how it gives out it's information and you only learn things when they show wants you to, not when you would normally expect to. It's fine if you didn't/don't like how they told the story, but it isn't accurate to say there was no story planning for each season and the series as a whole.

LMPGames

Incorrect

Derek Orr

Love the comparison. It's the moment BSG, like TNG, comes fully into its own -- in terms of the series fully kicking into gear at full capacity, but also the moment both series finally step out from the shadows of their predecessors.

ScotchBeard78

exactly. I even amazed they waited to finish Best of Both Worlds for TNG

Derek Orr

Its definitely not regular formulaic network TV show...its something much more special

Derek Orr

Agreed

Derek Orr

what spoilers

Derek Orr

Haha he didn’t know the ending until they started S4

Column Meanie

No Ron Moore always knew the larger story points and conclusion he intended to

Derek Orr

First of all, SPOILERS. Secondly, yes it was resolved! You just didn’t like how they resolved it.

Rod Gallow

Agree

MertzRocks

Probably my sixth or seventh time through the show, and second with a creator/creators reacting to it (full-length uncut ofc - only way to go). I hope two things right now: 1, that you will at least watch to the mid-season of S2, which as I've said in 2 other comments, is like the second mid-season 'finale' to an extra long season (this one being the 1st), and the real finale is at the end of S2 -- but just get to that 'second' mid-season 'finale' and you'll see. I think you'll be hooked for TWO major reasons which I will not spoil here. 2: No matter what else you do, I hope you DO continue Babylon 5! I know you weren't jazzed about 'The Gathering' pilot movie, but even a lot of B5's biggest fans weren't jazzed about that. It is another serialized episodic show, and though it was a real pioneer in the long arc format, it did tend to wrap seasonal things up sort of the way you described wishing this had done - and which BSG DOES do if you give it a chance and keep going as I said in 1, above. -Thanks.

MertzRocks

Yeah, most shows are not planned out beginning to end. Also having all the beats planned out from beginning to end doesn't necessarily result in a better end product. It's normal to write with a general goal in mind but be open to things taking a different direction based on how things develop. It's not lazy or inept or poor.

Michael Ducharme

Nope, no clue why it did that

Evan Guthrie

Yes... We all say so! ;P :D

MertzRocks

I get mine buzzed so that doesn't happen... :D

MertzRocks

Totally right. When I heard what happened with LOST I was so glad that they LOST me in season 1. LOL. And no, I won't give it another shot.

MertzRocks

Yeah probably but YIPE that's a LONG wait. And to the 'mini-seasons': It is definitely like that' and season 1 is the first of seven mini-seasons, actually. I said in another comment that S1 and S2 feel like one really long season with two mid-season finales, leading up to the REAL finale which is the LDYB2 ep. It's not yet time to talk about 'mini-SODES'... :D

MertzRocks

According to sources, Breaking Bad wasn't planned out either, and it's considered one of the best shows of all time. That's not how I would run a show, but I'm not sure it's a hit against BSG.

Chris L

It's my favorite series of all time - I rank it higher than all of the Star Trek series (though not some of the movies).

Michael Ducharme

That's exactly right. It's almost like season one and two go together and there are TWO mid-season finales (this and the real banger in S2), and then the REAL season finale at he end of S2. Your points are totally valid guys. This is the only way I know of to assuage or at least mitigate any 'complaints' you have, if such they are. 'Nuff said.

MertzRocks

I truly hope you guys stick with it and watch the entire show. There are some real gems in storytelling and character development/arcs that must not be missed. I think you will like the series as a whole. There is a reason it is very high up on rankings in sci-fi shows. :)

Echo Moon

I loved the end of the series personally.

Michael Ducharme

It’s totally fair to say that based on how the series plays out (trying to keep it spoiler free here)

Column Meanie

They planned out each season/half season in advance. They had long term goals, but no, they didn't plan out the whole storyline of the show from start to finish. It's also not fair to say that they just went along as they wrote each episode - you make it sound much more haphazard than it actually was.

Michael Ducharme

Right. That would really be my only rebuttal to the guys' issue with the finale AS a finale. When the show originally aired, sure, if the finale was unsatisfying you had to wait. But all the episodes are out there! There's no particular reason to consume the show in seasons except convention. You can just watch to the end of an arc and see if that bow that gets tied rustles your jimmies. I promise, this isn't LOST - there are conclusions. :D

Dor

You’re describing everything that bothered me about this show. It is incredibly guilty about keeping the viewers out of the loop, and not because it was planned. There are scenarios that are presented and not resolved. The whole scene with Baltar and Six and the baby is a perfect example. It’s because Ron Moore really didn’t have a planned out story. They just planned out the narrative as they wrote each individual episode. Poor storytelling.

Column Meanie

Were you on a VPN possibly? It is only on Prime for free in the US...

Michael Ducharme

huh, that's weird, it was showing as purchase only earlier.

Evan Guthrie

It doesn't seem to have left Amazon Prime? That would be an awfully short time on Prime if so. These last two episodes begin an arc rather than ending one.

Michael Ducharme

Yup, this is definitely better than BOBW as a season finale to me as well.

Michael Ducharme

I loved this season finale, personally, and couldn't wait to see the continuation on first watch. My second favourite of the season after Hand of God. A bit disappointed that you guys weren't as blown away by it.

Michael Ducharme

Yeah exactly, the arcs don't fit to the seasons. The last episode and this one are the start of an arc, not the end of one.

Michael Ducharme

I agree with you on that TNG BoBW comparison.

Collin Freeman

Spoilers

Derek Orr

Can you step over here I want to show you this airlock…😜😜

Derek Orr

Exactly!👍

Derek Orr

I hadn't thought about it before, but it is true that BSG's character and story arcs don't tend to map directly onto season start/end. The central storyline, the survival of the remnants of humanity, is really a show-long enterprise. There are definitely many more distinct sub-arcs with their own payoff, but they don't tend to map onto seasons in the way Dexter (or Justified or SOA or etc) might do.

Dor

Kind of understandable, BSG will swing from very episodic, to a good mix of the two, to heavily serialized throughout the show. You did get it right, though, that they have a story they want to tell and it takes place over the entire series. Personally, this episode is my Best of Both Worlds Part 1 of BSG. A slow burner that leads up to a dramatic ending that then had a large time period between it and the next season. The show does somewhat request forward investment from the viewer, but that is why I like it. Not many shows at the time would take a risk like that with no guarantee of payoff. Looking forward to your thoughts on the season as a whole and if you will be continuing (I hope that you do).

LMPGames

They did NOT know if they were gonna get a season 2 when they wrote and filmed this. And again, as I said this show was a response the where airing Star Trek at time time was - VERY status quo, and episodic. Serialization was still pretty new and there was a lot of experimentation going on with how to do it. And personally, I find the "season plot arc" often is NOT very satisfying, because a lot of what I've seen is a lot of set up, then a rush to tie everything up in a way that's not hugely satisfactory. Here BSG has decided to flip the table over, and follow the pieces.

Nolan

Well, at least you didn't think it was a "Captain's Holliday".

startrekiborg

The show, at this point, was still finding itself but they are starting to weave in the bigger themes. Season 2 is where it really finds its feet. The show is really one big story. There are answers along the way, there are questions along the way but it’s going to be a long journey to get to the end. The characters are what make the show, Ron Moore always places character development above else so if you do continue you will see that. Also, the next three seasons are really six mini seasons and each had a “midseason” break. Me and a few others did say before you started the mini series this show probably could/should have waited to the end of Voyager/Enterprise. A lot of this show is a reaction to where Star Trek was in 2003/2004 and feel you would have a different perspective of the show with another 22 (!) seasons of Trek under your belt.

Jon1701

They should go back and check out this 'preview'. It could have been worse, but it was pretty bad!

#MaxwellDidNothingWrong

I love how neither of you were paying attention when Starbuck attacked Number6 in the intro previews. I'm not knocking it, I'm looking forward to your reaction when it happens. Okay...I got an "oh" out of one of you. Lol

startrekiborg

I don’t get the need for some neat bow on something I think it is a bad habit of shows that worry more about if there will be another season or not. This show is too big for that nonsense.

AzoriusMage

Gonna be honest here. While I was a fan of BSG 2004 in its initial run I do find my opinion of the show has changed while doing this rewatch. There are a lot of interest moments, characters, and concepts, but the show suffers from a lack of a singular, solid narrative. You can have the greatest acting, scenes, etc but there still needs to be a plot. There also needs to be clear understanding on the part of the writers on where they want to take the show. That lack of vision at times makes the show just seem really full of itself, and ultimately, boring.

Column Meanie

The tension with the chief and Crashdown was that Crashdown is the superior officer but lacks the chiefs experience

AzoriusMage

Context being that you’re comparing a franchise we are 180 episodes invested in vs this series we are just starting. If Hollow Pursuits was one of the first 13 episodes of Star Trek it wouldn’t have been the same reaction. Also, I didn’t say there was no meat on the bone, I said there wasn’t enough.

Josh (Target Audience)

kudos for correctly guessing last episode they kill a character off for the final

Dark Kronis

Both, but that’s not an answer. Serialized TV has a higher ceiling and lower floor. Bigger risk, bigger reward, blah blah blah. All of my favorite shows are mainly episodic but with enough continuity and arcs that watching in order is satisfying but not required for rewatching or to show someone one of the great episodes.

Josh (Target Audience)

BOBW was a finale cliffhanger that made you excited for the conclusion, and this one is just an empty shocker (but boy was it well executed)

#MaxwellDidNothingWrong

I think Season 2 will make you guys happy - I found it was good personally. I hope you continue!

Cameron Thacker

DAMN, BSG just left Amazon Prime. Guess I'm waiting for the Youtube video. From the sound of things, you guys weren't entirely jazzed with this episode. There are definitely parts of this show that I don't like but this episode is not one of them. Remind me - are you a bigger fan of episodic TV or serialized TV?

Evan Guthrie

In my estimation, the real back half of season 1 is the first half of season 2. That's where the bulk of these criticisms is resolved. And the mid-point of season 2? Holy cow.

Steven Portillo

Exactly, this show is far more complex and rich. TNG is amazing as a whole show...but BoBW was pretty simplistic network TV singular plot cliffhanger. This leaves you worried about Adama, freaked out at the coup against the president, worried about the survivors on Kobol, intrigued and dying to find out what's going on with the shape of things to come and arrow of Apollo etc.....and it was interesting Alex and Josh mentioned how they liked the conclusion to Lee Adama's arc this season...I barely even noticed that at the time or now, kinda irrelevant to me in the face of the much larger issues going with this rag tag fleet of the survivors of humanity.....I can only hope they choose to continue and see the light.....so say we all

Derek Orr

Yup...same here

Derek Orr

Harsh, but true

Derek Orr

Well, I definitely gotta hope you decide to do Season 2. I mean, I'll be here for the Star Trek, whichever way you go on BSG, but this is one of my favorite shows of all time, and you haven't even gotten to the "big questions." They didn't know there would be a second season (it wasn't renewed until February 2005, and this episode premiered April 1, 2005.) but they took a risk anyway with such a cliffhanger. This show took risks, and I think such storytelling should be rewarded. That's all I'll say.

John

Wow....that was one of the best season finales and such an amazing first chapter into the BSG saga....I can't comprehend how you guys are not 200% hooked

Derek Orr

They gave away she was pregnant weeks ago when she was randomly throwing up. That was the hint she was pregnant. No meat on the bone? You go crazy for an episode about a shy guy playing VR on a ship for 45 minutes, and someone saying the word "honor" 68 times in a row on a show that thinks drinking tea and lighting candles = complexity, but this had no meat on the bone? To each their own.

Ken R

You guys have me pulling my hair out!

Mark Chrisco

I can't imagine you guys not wanting to see where this story goes after watching that but I fully understand you ultimately have limited time and want to invest that in the best bang for buck when you're trying to build a successful YouTube channel! I hope the views over there come through to justify it for you both to continue, I'm absolutely itching to see you react to the next few seasons!

Jon Reid

Hot take: I prefer this episode over Best of Both Worlds as a season finale. It resolves some overall plot threads (Boomer now knows she's a Cylon, Helo and Sharon find Starbuck, the tension between the military and government hits a flashpoint) and set's up new threads for the next season. BoBW schtick is essentially "Will the status quo be restored? Tune in next episode to find out!" Apples and oranges in terms of show formats, but this is more engaging to me.

EnigmaticPenguin

I have to say, I popped a lot bigger at the very end when Sharon shoots Adama than you guys did when I first saw this episode in 2004. I also have to say, I think I’m enjoying this series a little bit more this time around then when it first aired. All that being said, I generally agree with your points, and I would be fine whether you decide to continue with this series or not.

Collin Freeman

I feel like you guys are going to want to see what happens, so rather than watch it on your own, you might as well make reactions for Youtube!

Rod Gallow

Josh seemed to have a perpetual look of concern on his face this whole episode lol

Rod Gallow

(Sings) And the HOOOOOOOOOK brings you BAAA-HAAAAAAAAACK, on that you can rely-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah! (harmonica solo)

Angelaina Marie

Boom. I caught up on five episodes over the last two days so this is perfect timing. Can't wait to watch this one!

SinocTheHodgeheg


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