WhenBattlestar Galacticaaired its series finale “Daybreak” in 2009, it sparked heated debates among fans and critics alike. While much of the series got rapturous praise for its engaging storytelling, complex characters, and philosophical themes,theGalacticafinale was polarizing. Some called it bold and emotional; others deemed it messy and unsatisfying, a disappointing cap toBattlestar Galactica’s worst season.
However, looking back, it’s worth considering a fascinating “what if?” scenario. Under different circumstances,Battlestar Galacticacould have endedjust one year later, in 2010. It’s not a stretch to arguethe reception to theBSGfinale might have been far kinder from the naysayers, especially looking at how TV finales have evolved over the past 14 years.
Why Battlestar Galactica’s Series Finale Was Divisive
God, Tech, And Starbuck Left Many Fans Cold
It’s not hard to see why someGalacticafans got riled up with the resolutions of “Daybreak.” First and foremost, the reliance on spiritual and supernatural explanations was bound to throw many fans, especially those who loved the grounded, gritty tone that had defined much of the series. Even thoughspirituality among both the humans and the Cylons had been a core theme throughout the series, the finale’s intervention by a divine force — referred to as “God” but deliberately left ambiguous — rubbed some viewers the wrong way.
Leaning heavily on mystical resolutions for major plot points hit its pinnacle (or its low point, depending on your view) with the startling resurrection and eventual disappearance of Kara “Starbuck” Thrace. The fan-favorite Starbuck died after her Viper broke up in a storm during season 3’s “Maelstrom,” only to mysteriously reappear three episodes later in the season 3 finale “Crossroads Part 2.” That leftthe question of how Starbuck came back and why as one of the central mysteries of season 4.
However, “Daybreak” didn’t ultimately explain how or why Starbuck returned. Instead, she vanished into thin air in an empty field after a final conversation with Lee “Apollo” Adama (Jamie Bamber),leavingBattlestar Galacticaviewers with more questionsthan answers. Then, there was also the choice to send humanity back to “square one,” abandoning all technology for a pastoral existence on prehistoric Earth. While it felt poetic and hopeful to some, others saw it as too idealistic at best, nonsensical at worst, especially given humanity’s history of repeating mistakes.
2010 Was The Year TV Finales Changed Forever
Lost Put Endings Under The Microscope In A Whole New Way
Of course, all that 2009 grumbling may have looked a whole lot different in the light of 2010. That was the year thatLost, ABC’s groundbreaking sci-fi drama, aired its own even more controversial series finale. Much likeBattlestar Galactica,Lostwove a complex narrative full of mysteries, character arcs, and philosophical musingsthat rode those themes all the way to its final episode. However, its finale left many fans equally frustrated with similar complaints that the ending didn’t resolve its most significant mysteries and spent way too much time on its spiritually-focused, emotionally-driven conclusion.
While there are clear parallels between reactions to theBSGandLostfinales, there was one elephant-sized difference between the two: the scale. The scrutiny aimed atLostmade any previous fan dissatisfaction look like small potatoes by comparison.
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Its finale, “The End,” becameone of the most discussed television events of the decade – mostly for the wrong reasons. Fans who’d spent years theorizing about the show’s myriad mysteries — What was the island about? Why was the Dharma Initiative conducting experiments? What’s the deal with the Smoke Monster? — saw many of those questions either minimally addressed or outright ignored.
Instead, the emotionally charged resolution revealing that the “flash-sideways” timeline was actually a purgatory-like afterlife raised hackles. For some, theLostgoodbye was poetic and cathartic; for others, it felt like a massive betrayal of the puzzle box show’s original promise.
That unprecedented high-volume of backlash made it clear that by 2010, finales had become more than just “the ending of a story.“Hit series conclusions were now cultural events, high-stakes gambles that carried the pressure of satisfying years of speculation, theorizing, and emotional investment. In this new era of increased scrutiny, some finales — likeLostandGame of Thronesin 2019 — became symbols of what happens when rabid fans are left wanting. Others, like the 2013 ending toBreaking Bad,became cultural benchmarks for doing an ending “right” and “sticking the landing.”
Compared To Lost, Battlestar Galactica’s Finale Would’ve Seemed Less Controversial
There Really Weren’t That Many Unanswered Questions
WithLost’s finale dominating the conversation in 2010, it’s likely that ifBattlestar Galacticahad aired its own finale a year later, comparisons between the two would’ve stolen some of the heat. After all, whileLosthad a hotter cultural spotlight on it, its finale left far more unanswered questions thanBSG’s did. From the infamous “What was the deal with Walt?” to the complex mechanics of the island’s mythology,Loststeered away from going deep into its twisty lore. Meanwhile,Battlestar Galactica’s supernatural aspects felt restrained by comparison.
Lostfans felt that after six seasons of intricate, intriguing setups, the show stumbled at the finish line. Thankfully,Battlestar Galacticahad far fewer unanswered questions so deep into its run. While Starbuck’s resurrection was a bit of a head-scratcher, most ofBSG’s other major storylines like the identity of the Final Five Cylons and the fate of humanity got relatively clear resolutions.
It feels likely that in the TV discourse of 2010, fans would have been much more kind to the perceived failures of theBSGfinale than they were to the holes lambasted at the end ofLost.
While some fans disliked the religious and mystical tones thatGalacticaoccasionally indulged, they were still mostly consistent with the series’ overarching themes of faith, destiny, and cyclic history.Lost, on the other hand, was criticized for not staying in its mystery-show lane. It feels likely that in the TV discourse of 2010, fans would have been much more kind to the perceived failures of theBSGfinale than they were to the holes lambasted at the end ofLost.
Battlestar Galactica’s Finale Is Actually Really Good
Fans Should Look At The Series Ending In A New Light
There’s one final plus in the ledger forBattlestar Galactica’s ending: some viewers just plain got it wrong.Battlestar Galacticawrapped with equal parts rich emotion and thematic satisfaction. The choice to abandon technology and merge with nature wasn’t a reset button — it was a spot-on commentary on humanity’s relationship with progress and its consequences. The decision to tackle big ideas of faith, free will vs. determinism, and the cyclical nature of history was ambitious, but “Daybreak” stayed true to the series’ essence.
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Most importantly, the finale gave the characters we’d known and loved for four seasons send-offs that mattered. Bill Adama’s grief, Laura Roslin’s quiet demise, and even Gaius Baltar’s unexpected redemption packed an emotional gut punch. Even Caprica Six, so often a villain and an enigma, got closure that affirmed her humanity. While it remains unknown if Kara Thrace was an angel, a ghost, or maybe something else entirely,it’s a small bit of ambiguity in a story that ties up fairly conclusively.
Revisiting the finale today, it’s easier to appreciate its willingness to be bold. It didn’t aim to please everyone by tying up every loose end neatly or pandering to fan theories. Instead, it embraced the messy, complex, deeply human questions it had been asking all along. Whether you loved it or hated it, one thing is clear:Battlestar Galactica’s finale remains deeply unforgettable.
Battlestar Galactica
Cast
Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction television series that premiered in 2004. The plot follows the crew of the aging Battlestar Galactica as they protect a small fleet of human survivors from the renewed threat of the Cylons, in a quest to find the mythical 13th colony, Earth.
