boomqueen

I'm still not quite able to meta about it yet, but I've got some initial reactions

That was an amazing episode. I've got so much love for BSG. It packed an unbelievable emotional punch and it looked gorgeous.

Some of my favorite moments...

OMG, the hotness of the paint scene. Must rewatch that one again and again.

Damn, the "I don't know smirk" in the bathroom with Helo was so awesome. I LOVE Kara's smirk.

The scene between Kara and Sam was so sweet. He tries to take care of her emotionally within the bounds of her comfort/trust issues. "No strings attached." Again, she's obviously confided in Sam enough to tell him about the oracle and her mother's abuse. That's awesome. He may not be the one who drives her crazy (in that good way) but he's become her best friend which is a HUGE part of being a husband/partner--way to go Sam!

Both the emotion and the snark in the memorial hall were dead-on. Lee's ability to quietly reassure her of his trust and respect for her through the banter and looks that define their special brand of UST: "I trust your eyes over dradis anyday...you're a raving lunatic." "And you're a bastard."

The scenes with Adama actually worked for me to (and I've been fairly annoyed with him for most of this season). Revisiting some of their previous lines to each other, "nothing but the rain" and "hell of a view", and her gift of the goddess while asking him for a fresh start--it was lovely.

All the visual montages were just amazing: her looking down into her cockpit, see her abused childhood self and the swirl of mother and mandala related images all fused together, the mandala in the wax, the colors in the clouds that only she sees. Gorgeous

The scene with Lee in the hangar bay killed me. I'd seen this one before, but in the context of the episode the emotions were even stronger. The wistfulness and pilot!friend-love: "I guess that's all we'll ever be now, huh?" killed me so dead.

I wasn't so sure about the Leoben as Jacob Marley device, but I liked that it was her own mental construct of Leoben (which meant it was more hottie CSK and less creepy Leoben) who was with her.

The interaction between her and her mother was just about where I lost it. The layers of trust and rejection issues that all stem from that maternal rejection...And her laugh-cry-smile over her mother's bed...yeah, I don't have words for this part yet.

Or the last several scenes really. Something happened, just not sure what. A transition to the "space between life and death", and a beautiful series of clips with her accepting and radiant smile and Lee's anguished defeat and loss.

And damn! Have we ever seen Bill cry like that in the entire series?

So, I was spoiled, and I'm very glad, because as devastated and overwhelmed as I feel now, it would have been insane if I hadn't known.

Having said that, I'm full of irrational hope and optimism. While it may appear superficially final, there are so many things up in the air.

In the words of a few flisters who are better able to articulate themselves right now than me:

marenfic - I am more sure than I've ever been that she's not dead. There were absolutely no answers and there were many thematic references to a new beginning, fresh starts, etc. etc.

ladyaugustana: Okay everybody calm down, take deep breaths and most of all don't panic because there are four reasons she's not dead.
1. No Body
2. Leoben said it was time to go to The place between life and death

brokenmnenomic: Kara is still alive. There's been way too much by way of buildup for her special fate to be "go slightly nuts, frak Leoben, explode in space."

metamaura: I do believe it is possible that her body was destroyed when her Viper exploded, but much like a Cylon, her consciousness survived. I do not believe that she is a Cylon, however, the Cylons may play a role in her return. She may possibly be the first human to ressurect.
-Many people have discussed the significance of the Aurora talisman that the Oracle gave Kara - Aurora represents a fresh start and a new beginning, and i believe that is what Kara will have when she comes back.
-Just cross your fingers and repeat after me. She's just like Buffy, she'll be back. She's just like Buffy, she'll be back. She's just like Buffy, she'll be back.

And now I've got a bunch of AMAZING Kara caps to share

You can download the .zip file for all 75 Kara-centric caps here.

The hotness of the bad!dirty!wrong! dream-sex with Leoben