When Battlestar Galactica aired the series finale “Daybreak” in 2009, and sparked heated debates among fans and critics. While much of the series has received rapturous praise for its engaging storytelling, complex characters, and philosophical themes, the Galactic ending was polarizing. Some called it bold and emotional; others found it confusing and unsatisfying, a disappointing limit to Battlestar Galacticathe worst season.
However, looking back, it’s worth considering a fascinating “what if?” scenario. Under different circumstances, Battlestar Galactica could have ended just a year later, in 2010. It is no exaggeration to argue reception at BSG the ending could have been much kinder to the naysayersespecially looking at how TV finals have evolved over the last 14 years.
Why Battlestar Galactica’s series finale was divisive
God, technology and Starbuck left many fans indifferent
It’s not hard to see why some Galactic fans were angered by the “Daybreak” resolutions. Firstly, the reliance on spiritual and supernatural explanations would certainly appeal to many fans, especially those who loved the grounded and gritty tone that defined much of the series. Although spirituality between humans and Cylons was a central theme throughout the seriesthe ending’s intervention by a divine force – referred to as “God” but deliberately left ambiguous – angered some viewers.
Leaning heavily on mystical resolutions to major plot points reached its peak (or its low point, depending on your view) with the surprising resurrection and eventual disappearance of Kara “Starbuck” Thrace. 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’s left the question of how Starbuck returned and why is one of the central mysteries of season 4.
However, “Daybreak” didn’t explain how or why Starbuck returned. Instead, she vanished into thin air into an empty field after a final conversation with Lee “Apollo” Adama (Jamie Bamber), leaving Battlestar Galactica viewers with more questions than 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 seemed poetic and hopeful to some, others found it too idealistic at best and absurd at worst, especially given humanity’s history of repeating mistakes.
2010 was the year TV finals changed forever
Lost put endings under the microscope in a whole new way
Of course, all those complaints from 2009 may have looked very different in light of 2010. That was the year when LostABC’s groundbreaking sci-fi drama aired its own even more controversial series finale. Very similar Battlestar Galactica, Lost wove a complex narrative full of mysteries, character arcs and philosophical reflections which ran through these themes until the final episode. However, its ending left many fans equally frustrated with similar complaints that the ending did not resolve its most significant mysteries and spent too much time on its spiritually and emotionally focused conclusion.
Although there are clear parallels between reactions to BSG and Lost In the end, there was an elephant-sized difference between the two: the scale. The scrutiny aimed at Lost made any previous fan dissatisfaction seem like small potatoes in comparison.
Its finale, “The End”, became one of the most discussed television events of the decade – mostly for the wrong reasons. Fans who spent years theorizing about the show’s countless mysteries – What was the island about? Why was the Dharma Initiative conducting experiments? What’s the deal with the Smoke Monster? – I saw many of these issues minimally addressed or completely ignored.
Instead, the emotionally charged resolution revealing that the “flash-sideways” timeline was actually a purgatory-like afterlife sent goosebumps. For some, the Lost the goodbye was poetic and cathartic; to others, it felt like a massive betrayal of the puzzle show’s original promise.
This unprecedented sheer volume of reactions made it clear that by 2010, endings had become more than just “the end of a story.” The conclusions of the hit series were now cultural eventshigh-stakes bets that carried the pressure of satisfying years of speculation, theorizing, and emotional investment. In this new era of increased scrutiny, some endings – like Lost and Game of Thrones in 2019 – have become symbols of what happens when die-hard fans are left wanting. Others, like the end of 2013 for Breaking Bad, they have become cultural references for making the ending “right” and “hitting the mark.”
Compared to Lost, Battlestar Galactica’s ending would have seemed less controversial
There really weren’t many unanswered questions
With Lostfinal dominating the conversation in 2010, it is likely that if Battlestar Galactica Had it aired its own ending a year later, the comparisons between the two would have stolen some of the attention. After all, while Lost had a more intense cultural prominence, its ending left many more questions unanswered than BSGhe did. From the infamous “What Was the Matter with Walt?” to the complex mechanics of the island’s mythology, Lost avoided delving into its meandering tradition. About that, Battlestar Galacticathe supernatural aspects of seemed restrained in comparison.
Lost fans felt that after six seasons of intricate and intriguing setups, the show had stumbled across the finish line. Happily, Battlestar Galactica had far fewer unanswered questions as profound in its run. Although Starbuck’s resurrection was a bit complicated, most of BSGThe other major storylines, such as the identity of the Final Five Cylons and the fate of humanity, had relatively clear resolutions.
It seems likely that in the 2010 televised discourse, fans would have been much kinder to the film’s perceived failures. BSG finale than went to the holes criticized at the end of Lost.
Although some fans disliked the religious and mystical tones that Galactic occasionally indulgent, they were still largely consistent with the series’ overarching themes of faith, destiny, and cyclical history. Loston the other hand, it was criticized for not staying in the mystery show vein. It seems likely that in the 2010 televised discourse, fans would have been much kinder to the film’s perceived failures. BSG finale than went to the holes criticized at the end of Lost.
The ending of Battlestar Galactica is actually very good
Fans should look at the series finale in a new light
There is a final advantage to the ledger for Battlestar GalacticaEnding: Some viewers simply got it wrong. Battlestar Galactica wrapped in equal parts rich emotion and thematic satisfaction. The choice to abandon technology and merge with nature was not a reset button – it was an accurate commentary on humanity’s relationship with progress and its consequences. The decision to tackle big ideas of faith, free will versus determinism, and the cyclical nature of history was ambitious, but “Daybreak” remained true to the essence of the series.
Most importantly, the finale gave the characters we’ve known and loved for four seasons farewells that mattered. Bill Adama’s grief, Laura Roslin’s silent death, and even Gaius Baltar’s unexpected redemption took an emotional hit. Even Caprica Six, so often a villain and an enigma, had a closure that affirmed her humanity. Although it remains to be seen whether Kara Thrace was an angel, a ghost, or perhaps something else entirely, It’s a bit of ambiguity in a story that ends quite conclusively..
Revisiting the ending today, it’s easier to appreciate its willingness to be bold. The goal wasn’t to please everyone by carefully tying up all the loose ends or giving in to fan theories. Instead, he embraced the messy, complex, and deeply human questions he had been asking all along. Whether you loved it or hated it, one thing is certain: Battlestar Galacticathe ending of remains deeply unforgettable.