Just watched the finale of Battlestar Galactica - all three parts of it, in one long sugar-laden marathon. I'll preface my comments by saying: Battlestar Galactica was never the show I wanted it to be. It was far more interested in sitting at home and debating Contemporary America than forging out into the galaxy, and making the most of being in space. It explored aspects of science fiction handled better in Blade Runner, hinted at surrealness, without ever going the whole way, and subsituted angst for drama. I've never thought it was a bad show: it just did a lot of things that tend to irritate me. And I was amused to see the pivotal scene of the finale, and thus arguably the whole show, involved my much-hated trope - everyone pointing guns at one another.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help becoming involved over five series, and now it's all gone away I'm feeling weirdly bereft. That and my cheeks are sore from having a good sob ten minutes from the end. I get the feeling

There are plenty of people who hated the finale, but it was everything I expected it to be. Maybe it's a symptom of not really liking the show. Look up Children of Earth. It's the Torchwood which non-fans adore, and which actual fans can't stand. I think it's the best damn piece of television ever, period, but those who agree seem to be those who (also with me) criticised the first to seasons. Go find a hub of proper fans, however, and their feelings are far more mixed.

I feel some of their pain. Those flashbacks. While they were nice (particularly Gaius' final one, particularly Starbuck saying she had no fear of death), they were also strangely meaningless. There were too many endings which felt final, but they were tying up some 90 hours of television so I'll let that pass. The future bit was just egging the pudding too much. "Does it have to happen again?" Ugh, remind me of the heavy-handed political subtext again? I'm also aware that the many threads were not so much tied up as Pritt-sticked, but I'm not fan enough to be bothered by the intracacies. Thematically, it seemed to work.

I was very happy they didn't kill characters unecessarily - I was kinda expecting a nihilistic slaughter. Everyone who died needed to go and was sent off suitably, in a way that befitted their ongoing plotlines. I loved Starbuck's casual "there must be some way out of here", and the moment they almost explained the Opera House Thing was spine-tingling.

On the whole, it united most of the things I have enjoyed about the show - Gaius' invisible girlfriend, his relationship with Caprica, the Admiral and the President being adorable, great music and such a strong element of belief. I found The Pivotal Speech very moving, but then as a Doctor Who fan, I'd spent the entire show fervently hoping the cylons and humans would unite and live in peace and harmony. War isn't the answer! "There should have been a better way"! and all that. So the prospect of the End Of War and a Peaceful Resolution made me very happy. I'm also a believer - in what, I'm not sure, so the rather fuzzy theology of said Speech struck me as rather beautiful, despite its ambiguity. I loved the lack of answers and Disappearance of another major character. Daft it may be, I liked Humanity's ultimate fate. I loved the celebration of truth, love, honesty and beauty - oh! how it touched my hippy heart! It was romantic, hopeful, and I suspect fans of hard SF would be less enchanted.

How can you not love a serious show that ends proposing that not only does God exist, that he is watching out for us - but that he is also a Jimi Hendrix fan? I'll get my coat...