1.16 – The Heavens Will Rise – Caprica Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

“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.

The episode’s signature moment comes courtesy of Lacy and the Cylons which had been delivered to the STO on Gemenon. Lacy’s character has been one which has struggled to find any measure of relevance to the overall plot of Caprica. But here, we get a genuine payoff. During a training lecture, Lacy notices that one of the STO operatives is about to be executed because of an argument (the rationale behind this development makes no sense, but hey, why should that matter anyway). The operative’s superior decides to order a Cylon to carry out the execution. Lacy, in a fit of conscience, shouts at the Cylon to stop.

And it obeys her.

Seeing the Cylon yield to Lacy’s order, acknowledging her with the iconic “By your command,” is a fascinating moment. Finally, Lacy’s long (mostly boring) history provides a legitimate moment of drama and suspense. How much of Zoe’s consciousness is left imprinted in the Cylon code? Why is it reacting to Lacy? What will Lacy do with this revelation? Interesting questions explode as a result of this development.

But the episode almost entirely ignores them.

First, Lacy has a chat with an STO commander who asks her to explain what happened. She refuses then debates the rationale of killing soldiers so indiscriminately (she has a point). But the scene is, simply, boring. It completely avoids most of the truly engaging elements of Lacy’s connection to the U-87 Cylon. Worse yet, after Lacy unsuccessfully tries to find out if Zoe is still within the Cylon’s consciousness, she heads off to frak one of the other STO recruits.

So much for exploring the meaningful implications of one of the best moments in the series thus far. And this, really, is a microcosm of Caprica. Introduce something interesting, then compulsively ignore it. For once, it’d be refreshing to see this show actually focus on a story development for more than a handful of scenes in an episode.

Daniel’s story follows the same pattern. After yet another batshit crazy Amanda moment, he’s off to find Zoe. She kills him (virtually speaking, of course). But not until Daniel learns that Tamara is also there. Daniel seeks out Sam, informing him that Tamara is alive. And this triggers the second-best scene in the episode: the debate between the two men about whether or not Tamara is actually alive, and whether or not she’s actually the Tamara Sam once knew. Daniel even mentions trying to build artificial skin (precursors to skinjobs). It’s a brief outburst from them both, but the implications of their argument speak to the heart of this series: just what is the nature of this “life” that Zoe and Daniel have created?

Sadly, though, this moment isn’t sustained throughout the episode. Instead, we get a lot of Daniel wringing his hands with Amanda. Sam argues with Evelyn and Willie. And we never learn anything about Zoe and Tamara — what their ultimate goals are now, what their purpose is (to themselves) and so on. As the episode portrays it, they hang around in warm coats on a balcony doing … almost nothing. It’s not even creation for the joy of creating, because even the one moment where this is hinted at (from Tamara in the opening scene) is never expanded on.

The rest of the episode is spent between more GDD and STO machinations. Duram continues to push Amanda to get information — until he’s shot by an unidentified sniper (who inexplicably leaves Amanda unharmed). Clarice is busy trying to manufacture a miracle — but actually trying to blow up the pyramid stadium. Blowing up the stadium is a thoroughly preposterous idea. Honestly, how can a building be wired with THAT many explosives without raising any suspicions whatsoever? Hopefully this is mostly bluster.

The only marginally interesting development from Clarice is when she realizes, finally, that Amanda was the mole and that Marbeth was innocent all along. I find it interesting because Clarice and her family are scandalized that the innocent Marbeth is dead … all while plotting to kill thousands of innocent people, and glorifying the mass murders as martyrdom. Honestly, I can’t figure out if it’s meant to be an ironic commentary on Clarice’s character — or if the writers are just too obtuse to notice.

I’ll give the writers the benefit of the doubt for now.

Overall Grade: C+

“The Heavens Will Rise” is a title that is meant to relate to Clarice’s attempts to create apotheosis and to Zoe’s world-building. But for an episode with such a grand title, the events seem altogether pedestrian. The inconsistencies — within the series and within the episode — are a real problem. One gets the sense that there’s a slow drift toward a more tightly focused narrative. But Caprica isn’t there yet.

Topics: Sci-Fi, TV Reviews
Filed under: Caprica Reviews