This page is for the new Caprica series. Updates will follow shortly.

Reviews

1.00 – Pilot: C+

Caprica, set “58 Years Before The Fall” of the Colonies, is the precursor to the successful Battlestar Galactica series. This is the story of how humanity came to create Artificial Intelligence and set itself on a path to near annihilation. Caprica has long been billed as a change of pace from its gritty, militant predecessor. And in that respect, the series certainly has an entirely different look and feel. But at its most basic level, Caprica isn’t all that different from BSG, not where it matters most: the manner in which character interrelationships are portrayed. Make no mistake, this is a grand melodrama. But unlike BSG, which tried to portray itself as something else, Caprica is unabashed in its approach – something which I can respect, even if I don’t find it particularly tasteful. But let’s face it, if you’re gonna make a melodrama, go for broke, be proud about it, shout it from the rooftops … and all that jazz.

And that’s exactly what the opening episode drives home.

1.02 – Rebirth: C+

Coming on the heels of its pilot, “Rebirth” is the first official “episode” of Caprica. To that end, the episode has the responsibility of building on the foundation of the story, as well as setting the tone and approach the series plans to take as it unfolds. With that in mind, the episode is true to the billing: An expansive, melodramatic show, focused on characters, with a smattering of sci-fi, religious and philosophical ideas tossed into the mix. The question, of course, is whether or not it’s any good. If you’re okay with the soapy melodrama, then the answer is decidedly: Yes. If not? It may be difficult to sit through all the extraneous interpersonal, interfamilial conflicts in order to get into the real heart of the story.

1.03 – Reigns of a Waterfall: C+

“Reins of a Waterfall” is an improvement for Caprica. On the whole, the series is doing a very good job of developing its central mysteries. But character inconsistencies notwithstanding, this is an episode that really delves into the deeper elements of the overall story arc — elements like trust, revenge, faith, conspiracy, love, and thirst for power. Make no mistake, this is a melodrama on a very grand scale. But the unabashed approach is, in some ways, refreshing. This isn’t a show that is afraid to hides its over-the-top style. As such, the drastic events are a bit easier to swallow — even if they are, you know, radical for both viewers and the characters themselves.

1.04 – Gravedancing: C-

“Gravedancing” is an awkward, meandering, and mostly unremarkable episode of Caprica. Very little happens either naturally or organically. Most of the situations and conflicts are forced. And there’s almost no dramatic payoff. There are a few glimmers of hope, mostly toward the end of the episode. But otherwise, this is very much a subpar outing for a series that is in desperate need of a truly good episode.

1.05 – There Is Another Sky: B-

There are some very promising elements in Caprica’s “There Is Another Sky” and it will be interesting to see how they develop. However, the series is still terribly unfocused and uneven. Instead of more deeply exploring existing characters and plot threads, it adds new ones. It’s the classic case of quantity over quality. Fortunately for this episode, though, there are enough tantalizing ideas and developments to make it just slightly above average. It works here. But it’s not a formula that can sustain the series.

1.06 – Know Thy Enemy: B-

“Know Thy Enemy” continues the slow evolution of Caprica as a series. Unlike the first few episodes, this one has a fairly concise narrative, one that serves to focus the plot and characters. This is good because the series certainly needs a much clearer direction for its story. What holds the episode back, though, is the fact that it is, mostly, setup. Once again, new characters and conflicts are introduced, adding to what is, already, an overload of such elements. The episode works, because it manages to stay close to one specific narrative thread — and thanks to a few tantalizing and compelling scenes — but it doesn’t represent a giant leap forward for the series as a whole.

1.07 – The Imperfections of Memory: C+

Caprica takes a small step backward with “The Imperfections of Memory.” It’s not that the series has truly stumbled, however, this episode isn’t nearly as focused or thematically coherent as the previous two installments. Instead, we get a return to the scattershot approach of the early episodes of the series. And while there is a clear improvement in writing — particularly in terms of dialogue. There is a very solid, and welcome, plot twist at the very end of this episode. But on the whole, the unfocused approach proves to be more of a liability than a strength.

1.08 – Ghost In The Machine: B-

“Ghost In The Machine” is a psychologically and visually dark episode of Caprica. Improving on the “imperfections” of the previous installment, this episode is much more tightly focused and kinetic. I wouldn’t say that everything here works exceptionally well — Daniel’s mind-games are just a bit too maniacal, for example — but for what it’s worth, Caprica does seem to be finding a bit more consistency with its storytelling.

1.09 – End of Line: C+

With “End of Line” the first half-season of Caprica comes to a fateful and melodramatic ending. In many respects, this episode embodies the entire series, featuring an expansive narrative that attempts (with varying degrees of success) to weave plot threads from several characters into a grand tapestry. Along the way, there’s a bit of intrigue and drama, science and mysticism. But, more than anything, what this episode will be known for is its operatic final scenes in which characters confront potentially deadly destinies.

1.10 – Unvanquished: B

I don’t know how viable Caprica will be in the long term, but for now, “Unvanquished” managed to create legitimate drama and tension between the characters and thematic elements of the series. Not all is perfect, and the episode isn’t quite exceptional television, but it does represent a clear and focused narrative which explores the depths and consequences of hubris.

1.11 – Retribution: C-

“Retribution” epitomizes the problems with Caprica. Put simply, this is a series that is unable to create stories that are as fascinating or as in depth as its premise. This particular installment has almost no focus on the science fiction or thematic concepts which separate Caprica from any other television series out there. Worse still, the story elements are either pedestrian or simply misguided in their execution. The result is a decidedly substandard episode.

1.12 – Things We Lock Away: C

Caprica continues to struggle with “Things We Lock Away” — an episode rich with interesting development, but empty of any craft in storytelling ability. The problems therefore, aren’t with what happens so much as they are with how they transpire. And that’s been Caprica’s problem since Day One, hasn’t it? Fascinating and often captivating story ideas that just aren’t presented with any nuance, subtlety or entertainment value. The result is, at best, an average installment.

1.13 – False Labor: D+

Caprica’s story becomes even more diluted with “False Labor,” an episode which adds more plot lines and characters, without resolving previous conflicts or even exploring already established ideas, concepts or characters. If there’s one thing the series needs more than anything else, it’s to streamline the plot and conflicts to really hone in on what matters most to its central themes: The consequences of trying to create artificial life. Instead, this episode is only tangential to such important ideas. The result is yet another meandering, nearly pointless offering.

1.14 – Blowback: D

No wonder SyFy pulled this installmet of Caprica from its timeslot. “Blowback” is the kind nonsensical approach to storytelling that has literally sabotaged what could otherwise have been an interesting and compelling series. Once again, instead of focusing on the primary conflict of Caprica — that is, the creation and subsequent abuse of the Cylons — the vast majority of this episode focuses on a minor character, whose conflict is … almost entirely fabricated. The rest is a hodgepodge of subplots that generate little, if any, real interest. The only interesting elements come from Daniel’s continued attempts to recreate a resurrection program. But even these moments are mired in inexplicable conflict.

1.15 – The Dirteaters: C-

Focusing heavily on the Brothers Adama, “The Dirteaters” is perhaps the most character-centric episode of Caprica to date. In that respect, there’s some value to the story. But it’s heavily flawed. Once again, Caprica resorts to extreme violence as a means to an end and, once again, the overall narrative is too awkward and unwieldy to allow for deep, meaningful explorations. The end result is a slight improvement, but one that clearly demonstrates the flaws of the series.

1.16 – The Heavens Will Rise: C+

“The Heavens Will Rise” is inconsistent. It features one of Caprica’s best payoffs. But it’s poorly paced thanks to scenes which sap much of the episode’s momentum. Whenever the plot moves forward, the gains are offset by characters or circumstances that do little more than stagnate. It’s a pattern that’s indicative of Caprica as a whole.  And, in this case, the result is an offering that is only slightly better than average, despite some very strong individual elements.

1.17 – Here Be Dragons: B-

“Here Be Dragons” is, arguably, the most eventful episode of Caprica thus far. Several very important plot and character developments occur over the course of the episode, leading to a heart-stopping conclusion. It’s important to acknowledge the positive aspects of the episode because, like so many others during the course of Caprica’s run, the pacing and plotting are awkward at best — leading to an installment that, while often tense, simply isn’t exceptional.

1.18 – Apotheosis: B+

With “Apotheosis,” Caprica comes to a stunning, eventful resolution — a conclusion that was as impressive as anyone could have hoped for. The final act of the episode is thrilling and suspenseful. And its coda, titled “The Shape of Things To Come,” works brilliantly as a five-minute mini-movie, portraying all of the important character and thematic elements of the series — not to mention the connections it makes to Battlestar Galactica. In typical Caprica fashion though, its successes are tempered by imperfections. The result is an episode which, while still embodying many of the flaws that have been a hallmark of Caprica, is clearly the best in the series.

Plot

Overview (according to eonline):

The Graystones include father Daniel, a computer genius; mother Amanda, a brilliant surgeon and unfaithful wife; and their daughter, Zoe, who is martyred to her boyfriend’s religious fanaticism—but not before she installs the rudimentary elements of her personality and DNA into a machine, creating a digital twin of herself, Zoe-A.

After the human Zoe’s death, Daniel uses these raw materials, some stolen technology and his own grief to cobble together “a robotic version of his dead daughter.” This robot version, known as Zoe-R, is a Cylonic Eve, the first of her kind.

Cast

• Joseph Adama – played by Esai Morales
• Daniel Graystone – played by Eric Stoltz
• Amanda Graystone – played by Paula Malcomson
• Zoe Graystone – played by Alessandra Toressani
• Sister Clarice Willow – played by Polly Walker