[pcthrowaway]

If not for the end of the season, I'd agree with you 100%. It was really a phenomenal moment in television (especially that wonderfully choreographed tracking shot). But the finale was somewhat of a letdown, and the following seasons even moreso.

But it is a good example of the advantages of the television over film. An excellent, self-contained story presented over the course of ~9 hours.

[mecha_ghidorah]

I actually didn't find the finale a letdown to be honest, though I can understand why some people did