What Was the Most Epic Sci-fi Series Finale?

[Terra_Inc]

Hey there, MSFCians! It's Poll Time!

We all love our SciFi. The title of "Best SciFi Series" is probably one of the most debatable things in our community, together with the question whether birthday cakes really are a lie. Most people seem to hold B5 in high esteem, others believe that BSG's epic buttkick deserves the title.

But we will not discuss this question today.

Instead, let us reflect upon the part of a SciFi series that can be awesome or horrible completely independent from the rest of the series: The finale.
Do you prefer the rather confusing, but epic denouement of BSG? The awesome and quite touching finale of B5? Or the "OMG deus ex machina lol" finale of SG:A? Or a completely different one? Your choice. As usual, feel free to explain your choice to the rest of the community.
Please note that there are no Star Trek finales in the poll. There are enough of those to have their own poll.

We missed one? TEH SKANDALZ! Please tell us!

As usual, we'll return in two weeks to bring you the next poll. Until then, vote and have fun!

The MSFC Polling Crew:
Terra_Inc & Amateur

P.S.: This poll was suggested by MSFC's administrateur extraordinaire, Majestic. YOU can make suggestions as well! Contact one of us and your idea, if suitable, will be put up. We are here for you! Contact your local Polling Crew member or dial 1-800-MSFCPOLL... err, never mind, PM us instead.

 

[Adm_Z]

Hmmmzz, well I have seen SG:1/A and firefly, and BSG, but I have either not seen or don't remember the others. Honestly, BSG was cool, but too long and I didn't like...well no spoilers, so some of the things they did in the very end.. SG:1's was teh terribles,(should have ended at 200 imho), and A wasn't anything special.
I don't exactly remember firefly's but if the Serenity counts, I would choose that.

But really, I choose other because Voyagers was my favorite. You can't beat super advanced tech like that, nomatter what the time-cops might do after the fact.

 

[Majestic]

Babylon 5 was epic, in my mind there is no competitor it was the only finale of Sci-Fi that brought a tear to my eye.

 

[Zelph]

Did Firefly really even have a finale?

I voted SGA, as I think it was the only finale of any of the listed that I'd seen. Although I think DS9 had a good one as well.

 

[Amateur]

Babylon 5 was epic, in my mind there is no competitor it was the only finale of Sci-Fi that brought a tear to my eye.

My feelings exactly. Very touching and human. In a way, Babylon 5 was the origin for the modern sci-fi drama. At least, that's how I see it. Yeah, Trek had those moments but - to me at least - Babylon captured more raw emotion than any soap opera ever could.

 

[Majestic]

My feelings exactly. Very touching and human. In a way, Babylon 5 was the origin for the modern sci-fi drama. At least, that's how I see it. Yeah, Trek had those moments but - to me at least - Babylon captured more raw emotion than any soap opera ever could.

I totally agree, the series made you actually care about what happened to the characters. Made you feel for them, as you said the raw emotion. JMS is a genius in what he did and was able to achieve, the graphics may not had been great but everything else was top notch and that's what really matters.

 

[Avon]

It's true Babylon 5 has a wonderful ending to an epic series. However, long before B5 there was an old British show called Blake's 7. (in fact the creator of Babylon 5 is a big fan, and has cited Blake's 7 as one of the many inspirations for B5)

Anyway, the final episode saw our intrepid motley crew finally track down their leader Blake (whom was missing for season 3 and 4)

And what does Avon (the new leader of the crew) do when he finally finds our long lost hero Blake?

Thinking he's been betrayed, he raises his rifle and blows Blake away in a rather bloody mess.

Suddenly armed guards run in from all directions and one-by-one, as they reach for their weapons, the entire crew whom you grow to love over the 4 seasons, are unceremoniously gunned down dead.

Leaving just Avon surrounded by guards, standing over Blake's body clutching his rifle grinning....as the screen cuts away to the credits and they start to roll, we just hear a couple of shots from the rifle followed by a large volley of gunfire.

Even to this day nearly 30 years on, this episode still leaves me sitting in a stunned silence for some time after watching

 

[Adm_Z]

Sounds like a terrible ending.

 

[Avon]

Sounds like a terrible ending.

Quite the opposite in fact. It showcases what the show was about. Other cast had been killed off throughout the series, and it's one of the charms of the show that you never quite knew if they would make it through each week. Quite the opposite of the safety net you get with Trek, where you know they will all be fine at the end of the episode.
Anyhow, it's one of the main reasons this show still has a huge cult following all these years later

 

[dinosaurJR]

Here I go again with a choice from WAYYYYYYYY out in left field... Ready?... You sure...?

Ok...

The Series Finale of Space:Above and Beyond.

There. I said it. I cant un say it. You read it. You cant un read it.

Im my most humble opinion S:A&A was probably one of the greatest Sci-Fi shows out there, and yet another victim of over zealous corporate tv execubots... (I am sooo glad Futurama didnt go the same way... they pummeled their execubts into ointment...)

Is the war over? Isnt it? where are the prisoners? What will happen to the downed crew members? The final dogfight scene was just amazing.

Of course, this is just my opinion - I did also like the finale of Voyager, TNG left me a little cold, I havent seen the finale of DS9 (didnt watch much after season 4) Nor the finale of any SG1 / SGa, or BSG. Heck, I aint even seen the finale of B5... I kinda feel like Ive been living in a cave the past 25 years or so...

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

Hm, aside from B5 and BSG I haven't even watched any of the other series...

Tried Stargate but did not like it so I skipped SG:A...

I liked the BSG ending, though I find it quite depressing.

Spoiler: BSG SPOILER

Kara gone just like that. Roslin's dead and Adama mourning. The whole crew dispersed over a whole planet...

It did not reach up to "Blood on the Scales" but it was entertaining.

Hm... no I vote for Babylon 5.

Spoiler:

Susan Ivanova for General, YEAH!

 

[thunderfoot]

Space: Above and Beyond was an excellent show. I liked the ending a lot.

The only finales I have watched are the TNG and the BSG ones. TNG's finale was a snooze fest. BSG's tried to bring closure but went about it in a very odd way. Much as I hate to admit it, when Kara died someone should have left her there instead of turning her into some sort of Colonial Deus Ex Machina. Instead one minute she's speaking to Lee and the next she's gone. Roslin used herself up getting everyone to Earth and it made sense she would finally give up to the cancer. The scene with Adama crying as he held here was very touching and made sense. They'd been through so much together and dealt with crisis after crisis for so long, he wasn't just losing his lady friend, he lost one of his two best friends and someone whose judgment he trusted more than his own. No one takes this kind of loss well, no matter how strong they are.

About finales in general. I think a most Sci Fi TV shows have directors, writers and producers who lose their way about four or five seasons into the run. As a result, some of the worst episodes show up and people lose interest. Eventually, after a far too long fatal wasting sickness, the Network execs decide the show no longer draws in the crowd the advertisers are screaming for and cancels the show. Upon the show being canceled, the director, producers and writers wake up, decide to go out with a bang, and make some of the most memorable episodes ever. My supposition is this: If these guys had been running flat out doing this all along, instead of dozing comfortably with the cruise control on and expending minimal effort to keep the show going, there would be no need for a finale in the first place. Because the show probably wouldn't have been canceled.

 

[Majestic]

About finales in general. I think a most Sci Fi TV shows have directors, writers and producers who lose their way about four or five seasons into the run. As a result, some of the worst episodes show up and people lose interest. Eventually, after a far too long fatal wasting sickness, the Network execs decide the show no longer draws in the crowd the advertisers are screaming for and cancels the show. Upon the show being canceled, the director, producers and writers wake up, decide to go out with a bang, and make some of the most memorable episodes ever. My supposition is this: If these guys had been running flat out doing this all along, instead of dozing comfortably with the cruise control on and expending minimal effort to keep the show going, there would be no need for a finale in the first place. Because the show probably wouldn't have been canceled.

Well said, I agree.

 

[Terra_Inc]

Personally, I liked the B5 finale best. Some people seem to view season 5 as unnecessary, since the main plot ended with the end of season 4 (and some huge buttkick), but I don't think so. The season 5 finale was awesome.

Talking about B5, did anyone here ever notice the similarities between the whole Sinclair story arc and HPL's "Shadow Out Of Time"? It's amazing, JMS must have done that one on purpose.

 

[Undying_Nephalim]

If Undiscovered Country counts as an end to the TMP movies as a series, then I'd have to say that's the most epic one. Otherwise I'm going to have to go with B5.