Why didn't Sharon and Helo flip the fuck out when they discovered that Hera wasn't dead? Why are they now living like a regular family on Galactica when their baby was such a source of contention before? Why aren't the Cylons trying to get Hera?

I thought they did. Athena had Helo shoot her so she could go get Hera. I can't imagine what else they'd do besides live on Galactica. With Three boxed and Six in captivity on Galactica, no one is left who cared enough to come get her.

That's Sharon Agathon's legacy versus Boomer's, who chose to fulfull her Cylon programming over her human conditioning.

I'm not sure I agree with the word 'chose' WRT Boomer. She tried to kill herself and she blew up the base ship, plus she sabotaged the ship while blacked out. Didn't she also express regret for having shot Adama? It seems to me that she fought her programming pretty hard.

Also, see above re: Cylons as unreliable narrators, due to the programming factor. We, and they, never really know when they are exercising free will or not b/c of the plan. Which gets into a whole fate vs. determinism thing. Which is also a debate that could be had about the humans, thanks to the apparent cyclical nature of colonial history.

I thought they did. Athena had Helo shoot her so she could go get Hera. I can't imagine what else they'd do besides live on Galactica.

Why are they even still on speaking terms with Adama and Roslin? Why wouldn't they have resigned (or at least threatened to resign) their posts when they were so betrayed by the leadership? Why was it so important to remove Hera from their care before but now it's okay? Why hasn't Roslin shown one bit of interest in Hera since she returned to the ship? IMO, none of this makes sense in light of what we were shown.

So far as they know, Adama was unaware that Hera was alive. . . and I believe that he was, in fact, unaware that Hera was alive based on the episode when they discover that she is alive.

I have the same questions as GC w/r/t Helo & Athena. Exactly.

Adama was unaware that Hera was alive

I would have doubted that Sharon and Helo would accept that. I thought that they were showing us how close Sharon and Adama got during the occupation so that it would hurt that much more when she discovered that Hera was still alive. They did show that he was unaware this season but I could have sworn he knew about it. I need to rewatch. Regardless, I still think they wouldn't have believed him what with his relationship with Roslin and being the Admiral and all.

Oh. Well, that's a good reason for you to wonder, then!

I guess I forgot that part. I think I'm sort of a lazy TV watcher. Anyway, I guess Baltar is the most likely person. I sort of don't imagine him caring enough about anyone but him to take the time to do that. OTOH, he might have felt like it was his way of atoning. Certainly making more sense now.

About Adm. Adama being a Cylon...my "madness" would come from lazy set-up. If they do a great job a nd knock it out of the park, then I would buy it. Anything short of great storytelling and it will seem like asspulling, I think. If Bill or Laura is the last Cylon, then we need to have a gret set-up. Having said that, if they can do it in a good way, it would be great story telling. Especially now that we know that being a Cylon doesn't necessarily mean that you are actively working against the humans. I'm totally in the corner with Jessica WRT Tigh's response. You are more than your origin. I like that story.

To kvetch a little more, I found the finale to be a total let down. You don't need all the gimmicks (silly sounding "rock" music, rotating camera work, pull-back through universe) if you have a solid story. GF and I were literally laughing out loud at the silliness toward the end (you could practically see the behind-the-scenes people going for broke with their top hats). I kept remembering last season's finale and the big "holy shit" of seeing all those toasters marching through town on New Caprica. Now that's a finale! I'm disappointed and hoping they get it together next year.

GF and I were literally laughing out loud at the silliness toward the end

Me too! My breaking point was the new cylons each reciting a line from the song. Not mysterious! Ridiculous!

I'm also hoping they get it together again next year but I'm not holding out hope. at all.

Oh, lisah, my BSG twinsie. At least I'm in good company.