I finally got power restored last night so I was able to finish the season.
While I initially was disappointed that Frank returned from the dead only to die again by the end of the season, I do like how the season set-up how his death and Juliana's departure to another parallel world has left a vital vacuum that is filled by their friends and comrades to continue their work, work that will grow only stronger with their absences. On the West Coast, Ed, Jack, and Robert spread Frank's art on the grand scale Frank dreamed of, while on the East Coast, Wyatt and his group rapidly spread copies of the film Juliana dearly hoped would ignite people to finally wake up and resist. This is the part of the show I've always loved the most and I'm thrilled that's going to be a major part of the next season.
The rest of the season was good, but I have to be honest, aside from John Smith and Takeshi Kido, I'm largely only interested in the characters from the original novel. I was particularly bored by Helen's struggles to overcome the loss of Thomas, especially her sessions with her psychiatrist. I get what they were going for but it just didn't click for me. Likewise, I was largely disengaged with Nicole's story after she left Joe's orbit. Again, I appreciate what they were trying to do but it didn't really work for me. Conversely, Joe is the one character from the novel that I never cared for, even if the show improved on his original, largely two-dimensional characterization, I never found myself sympathizing with him (certainly not to the degree I do with John), so I don't mind his death at all. Especially by Juliana's hand.
With Frank dead for good, Joe finally gone, and Juliana separated from everyone else, the show has reduced the original novel characters down to just Tagomi, Ed, Robert, and Hawthrone (who is largely different from the novel anyways). I'm not too concerned about this shift because of the hope of resistance is now growing stronger, but I hope the show is able to develop better original characters.
Actually, I take back my original aside because I greatly enjoyed seeing the St. Theresa's community as well as the return of Mark Sampson, who I had forgotten about. Even though Frank is no longer there, I do hope we see more of them, especially since the show took the time to develop Mark's girlfriend, Lila. I hope as the two coastal uprising movements grows strength, the community will change their minds and decide it's better to resist than to hide.
On a final note, was anyone else as disappointed as I was with how the show utterly wasted Michael Hogan? He barely appeared and had very few lines before dying. As soon as I saw his photograph on Kido's board, I figured he was going to play a major role in the resistance efforts and then...nothing. On the flip side, we now have three Cylons show up in the resistance. Is it too much to hope for Lucy Lawless to show up next season?
IStop making me feel bad for a Nazi, like damn show, you’re giving me mixed signal here. Poor Smith. Sometimes I want him to get the win, but then remember what the hell he is.
Yeah, no kidding. The way I justify any sympathy for him is that he was once an American who became a Nazi to save himself (and Helen? I can't remember). Not an excuse for his actions as a Nazi, but it's a path towards redemption that I could live with.
J. Edgar Hoover is a bastard in both universes it seems[/spoiler]
I loved that as well. Kudos to William Forsythe for making him as smarmy as I always imagined him to be.
And, "You can smell them?" Best scene.
From the moment they spewed that shit, I greatly looked forward to that scene. The "huh?" look on their faces as Mark revealed himself was the absolutely best.
Also, as a former Navy guy I have to say that not only do I love the imagery of the CGI Yamato, the sight of it and the rest of the Japanese Fleet sailing around in SFO bay is chilling- every American's worst nightmare in January of 1942.
Yeah, that also struck a chord with me as a former Navy guy. I was really impressed how well that fleet looked and how chilling their presence felt in San Francisco Bay.
Was she alive in the universe where her 'sister' came from? If not she may have gone there
Trudy noted that her Juliana was dead, so that's precisely where I imagine Juliana went.
Yes, the other Tagomi was dead. That Tagomi was an alcoholic and apt to disappear for days, so when the Trade Minister Tagomi appeared it seemed to be just another return. I've forgotten how the other Tagomi died, something vague about falling into water while drunk seems to float up...
Yeah, I believe he had just committed suicide so "our" Tagomi was able to just pretend he returned from one of his benders.
