And I totally agree about Ellen — I was always bored by her character, until New Caprica, at least. I went back and watched the 4 New Caprica episodes over the weekend and was amazed by how well her arc back then fits in with this new development, and have a new respect for Kate Vernon. I'm also eager to see her reunion with Tigh, especially given Caprica Six's pregnancy… Would love to hear your thoughts on that.

Another big theme of this show – self awareness – was also seriously reinforced by the recent revelations. For example, we have the emerging "fleet" self-awareness (which we see via Lee and Roslin), that they are not what they once were, that they have become something new, and in order to survive they must deal with who they are, not who they were. There have been individual struggles for epiphanies of self-awareness (roslin coming to terms with her role in the doomed quest for a new home, coming to terms with her mortality and realizing what's really important for her last days, gaeta trying to come to terms with his own complicity in evil acts, kara searching for who she really is, Lee's ongoing quest to find a place where he fits and become a man, etc). There is the emerging self-awareness of the final 5, who now must discover and deal with who they are, not who they thought they were. There is the emerging self-awareness among the other cylons too – in various ways (as their unity has broken down and they are dealing with rebellion in their own ranks, having to see themselves as beings with free will, rather than as a borg-esque entity with a unified front, and also coming to terms with their newfound mortality). So, the ray of light would come, if it ever does, with a broader self-awareness of "beings" – as each contingent recognizes that they have common histories, needs, and goals, allowing for a meaningful long-term co-mingeldy existence. I could see it just as easily going the other way, though, as RA Porter pointed out above, with all sides unable to adapt and therefore all becoming extinct.

I was particularly impressed with Ellen – I had never really been a fan of the character before all this. So now that light has been shed on her true nature, so many things about her (personality, demons, etc) makes more sense in hindsight. I thought that the actress was pretty awesome in every single scene – infusing every line with a confident dignity and self-possession that I don't remember seeing in Old School Ellen.

And if not, you will owe me another bellini.

And if not, you will owe me another bellini.