Our long wait is finally over! Team WHR has been in a state of avid anticipation ever since we witnessed the Caprica cast at Comic-Con reveal that a surprise was in store and now we all know what it is! Caprica is back!
The second half of the first season of Caprica returns tonight in the United States with the episode “Unvanquished” at 10 PM Eastern and Pacific immediately following Stargate Universe on SyFy for the second half of the first season.
Please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
The surprise announcement sent Caprica fans into absolute glee while it shocked others expecting Sanctuary to follow Stargate Universe, this after we confirmed same when we checked the previously published SyFy schedule for the return of Sanctuary on September 28, 2010. Well things do change in the world of science fiction and so do they in the real world at NBC Universal, parent company of SyFy.
Caprica will now follow Stargate Universe on Tuesday evenings beginning October 05, 2010 much to the delight of Battlestar Galactica fans who had wondered when the second half of the Caprica season would air. Although hinted at by the Caprica cast during Comic-Con 2010 that a “surprise” was coming. Today’s announcement is all that and more. This reporter finds this development most interesting from a programming perspective.
As most are aware, SyFy is building a new “anchor” night of science fiction, with the next cornerstone of their new foundation occurring on Tuesdays in the United States. The addition of Caprica to the Tuesday evening lineup will strongly solidify their plans for expanding their burgeoning array of science fiction offerings. We include the original SyFy Press Release courtesy of NBC for your edification including a few promotional images courtesy of SyFy and NBC Universal.
Fear not science fiction fans, our team will be covering all three series when they return to our screens with our typical detailed reviews. In closing for now, please feel free to leave a spam free comment here or by visiting the WHR Team or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or avatars herein.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 09, 2010
CAPRICA RETURN ON SYFY SHIFTS TO OCTOBER 5, 2010
NEW YORK – September 9, 2010 – The highly anticipated return of Syfy’s critically-acclaimed series Caprica will come even sooner than anticipated. The second half of season one will now premiere on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 10:00PM ET/PT, the channel announced today. Fans will no longer have to wait until January to watch the series exciting kick-off, as the citizens of Caprica deal with the chaotic aftermath of the mid-season finale’s harrowing events.
The second half of season one will transport us from stunningly vivid, twisted Virtual realities to the fascinating outer worlds of the 12 Colonies. Along the way, revolutionary tensions rise, family power shifts and our characters grapple with the physical and emotional consequences of their questionable decisions. As the season races towards its stunning conclusion, each episode lays the groundwork for the inevitable (and brutal) clash between the new Cylon race and its human creators.
“Though we initially announced the January return of Caprica, we still had hopes of finding a way to get the series back on the air sooner,” said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions. “We’ve been able to successfully re-work our schedule, and are thrilled to bring the show back during what is traditionally Syfy’s most-watched time of the year. The outcome should also please fans who expressed their wishes for a shorter mid-season hiatus.”
Caprica will immediately follow new episodes of Stargate Universe (Tuesdays @ 9PM).
The third season premiere of Sanctuary will now launch in its former time slot on Friday, October 15 at 10:00PM ET/PT immediately following Friday Night Smackdown on Syfy at 8:00PM ET/PT.
Produced by Universal Cable Productions, Caprica is a prequel to the award-winning series Battlestar Galactica, and is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick. Jonas Pate serves as co-executive producer and director.
Universal Cable Productions creates quality content across multiple media platforms for USA, Syfy and other networks. A leader in innovative and critically acclaimed programming, UCP is the studio behind USA’s Royal Pains, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Psych, In Plain Sight, Covert Affairs and Facing Kate, as well as Syfy’s Eureka, Warehouse 13 and Caprica. The studio also produced the long-running series Monk and Battlestar Galactica. UCP is a division of NBC Universal.
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
Please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
Breaking News BSG, Caprica, Stargate, Fringe, and Sanctuary Fans,
What new weekly episodic series has more StargateSG-1, SGA, and SGU , Sanctuary, BSG, Caprica and Fringe stars in roles and guest star appearances than any other series? Of course that would be Human Target brought to us by FOX Networks!
This series continues to deliver character-rich episodes week after week and what a cliffhanger w“Ghosts in the Machine” was the second-to-last episode of the front 10 episodes of the season. From tonight’s episode, the overall theme was the extremes Joseph and Daniel will go in order to achieve their goals.
Both are trying to find their daughters, but after tonight, I believe Daniel might care more about business than he does his daughter. An outstanding performance was given by Dmitry Chepovetsky, guest-starring as Cereberus in the Mysteries club in New Cap City, and our main actors, Eric Stolz and Alessandra Torresani.
Joseph has been connected to New Cap City for a while, judging from the condition of his self-care and immediate environment. Emmanuelle has changed his virtual look and introduces him to an “amp” which she describes “a hack that bypasses the holobands’ safeties, interacting with the visual cortex to heighten player’s senses and reflexes.” Joseph uses it in the virtual game, but you can see his physical body in the real world has a response to it, almost like a methamphetamine.
Daniel powers up U-87. He wants a sign Avatar Zoe is in there. Zoe, however, will not respond; U-87 does respond to Daniel’s command to look at him. At the Graystone lab, Daniel is trying everything he can to get a response out of Zoe. While putting U-87 through gun-assembly drills, he tries to agitate Zoe with things that she hates. First, he starts smoking. He talks in great detail about why Zoe hates his smoking. There was a fire when she was 5 in the home that Amanda told Clarice in a previous episode was Zoe’s favorite house. The fire started in Daniel’s home lab and had completely engulfed the house. Zoe was trapped in the attic. Daniel describes hearing her screams of her being trapped in a box (which would explain why U-87/Avatar Zoe freaked out when she was placed in a box for transport, as if it was a coffin), the fire making screams of its own, and those being the longest 7 minutes in Daniel’s life.
As he lights another cigarette, his lighter no longer works so he uses a match. Whether or not this is deliberate, I cannot tell for sure (I believe it was), he allowed the flame to burn his hand. When he screams, “Ow!”, it is then U-87/Avatar Zoe pauses in her gun assembly and then in another reflex that made the viewer believe that she realized that and that is the release we see in the second movement.
Amanda visits the site of the accident in which her brother was killed. As she looks up from the tree they hit, she sees her dead brother, Darius, driving in a car that passes.
Zoe is livid and vents to Lacy. Lacy ponders if Zoe should just let Daniel know she is in there. Zoe does not trust him. She says, “Business first, same old daddy.” She then realizes exactly what he was trying to do: Get her to react. Zoe tells Lacy she just needs to be the robot. Lacy laments if she can even do that anymore.
In New Cap City, Joseph and Emmanuelle stumble on to Joseph’s home. He wonders if Tamara is in there. A drug abuser is occupying the home (actor Stefan Arngrim, V, Fringe, BSG). The word “motherfracker” is finally used in the Caprica series at this time, which made me smile, having missed this term from Battlestar Galactica. He shows him a picture of Tamara. His character, credited as Amphead, says that she is the dead girl and may be at a club called “Mysteries.” Another character, credited as “Shotgun” enters (actor Ron Selmour, Stargate Atlantis, BSG), who wants some payback with Tamara. A shoot-out occurs. Thank goodness Joseph had Emmanuelle along because he had difficulty pulling the trigger. She was able to take all of them down, getting only grazed in the process. She tells Joseph to leave until he learns not to hesitate when shooting.
Clarice and Amanda chat about seeing her brother Darius and the exact car that was in the accident in the last episode, Imperfections. During their conversation, apparently Clarice got Amanda to ask Daniel about Zoe’s avatar and Clarice tells her that the program was unstable.
Finally outside the lab, U-87/Avatar Zoe is forced to listen to Daniel explaining to her that he saw her “tell”, that he knows she is in there. A very emotional scene ensues between them. He tells her no matter what she did or what she is, he still loves her. She still does not respond. Then in a moment that shocked me, he shows his dark side again. Exploiting her fear of fire, he encircles U-87/Avatar Zoe with gasoline. He tells her all she has to do is take 4 steps out to clear the fire. Then he orders U-87, however, to stay. He throws the cigarette on the ring and flames engulf U-87/Avatar Zoe. There is only one point in that where U-87 moves the hand slightly, but I do not believe Daniel sees it. Zoe, however, seems to be hyperventilating. Once the flames die down, she is pissed. Awesome special effects with U-87 and Zoe (the cut scenes between the two of them) with the fire, giving us a camera view from her perspective as well.
Sam visits a disheveled Joseph. Joseph shocks Sam when he asks him what goes through Sam’s head when he kills someone. Thinking it is important to what is currently going on with Joseph, he says that that he tells himself it is not real, that they are not people but targets, and the whole thing becomes a game.
I loved the subtle red in the monochromic theme in Emmanuelle’s dress that tied directly into the name of the place, “Mysteries” back in New Cap City. This place lives up to its name. Emmanuelle warns Joseph to steer clear of the person who asks riddles. Of course, the entertainer picks him right out of the crowd and brings him on stage to ask him a riddle, asking if the stranger is their new Prometheus. Throughout the scene, you do not know who the name of this character is, but when I saw it in the credits, it was perfect: Cereberus (played by Dmitry Chepovetsky, Stargate SG-1). There are a few actors here that play on other shows we follow: Bouncer #2 was King Lau (Human Target); Cigarette Man was Amos Stern (Fringe); Weasley Bouncer was actor Patrick Sabongui (Fringe, Stargate Atlantis as Kanaan).
This segment is so rich in mythology it is fascinating. Cereberus in Greek and Roman mythology is the multiheaded (most commonly depicted by three heads) guardian of the gates of Hades to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx (the river between Earth and Hades) from ever escaping. He was the son of Echidna, a hybrid half-woman, half-serpent, and Typhon, a fire-breathing giant. Each of Cereberus’ heads is said to have an appetite for only live meat and thus allows the spirits of the dead (perhaps Tamara) to freely enter the underworld, but allowed none to leave. Capturing Cereberus alive without using weapons was the final task assigned to Heracles (another character in Caprica, who helped Tamara and then helped Joseph try to find Tamara) by King Eurystheus for Heracles killing his own wife and children after he was driven insane by Hera (the first Cylon/human hybrid child in Battlestar Galactica). After being given the task, Heracles went to Eleusis to be initiated in the Eleusinian Mysteries (the club Mysteries in Caprica?) so that he could learn how to enter and exit the underworld alive. The Mysteries are possibly related to the myths surrounding Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility, which is known in the Homeric Hymns (around 650 BC). According to the hymn, Demeter’s daughter, Persephone, was gathering flowers (Tamara represents the letter “T” in her name with a sunflower), when she was seized by her uncle, Hades, with the consent of father, Zeus. Hades took Persephone to the underworld kingdom. Demeter searched everywhere for her daughter (perhaps this is represented by Joseph?). Another thought was that the Eleusinian Mysteries were begun around 1600 BC. Modern scholars believed “to elevate man above the human sphere into the divine and to assure his redemption by making him a god and so conferring immortality upon him.” (Reference: Nilsson, Martin P. Greek Popular Religion “The Religion of Eleusis” New York: Columbia University Press, 1947. pages 42 – 64).
Prometheus was a Titan, son of Iapetus and Themis. He was a champion of human-kind and known for his wily intelligence. He is also known for fire-stealing and giving it back to mankind. Again, Heracles is connected to this mythological figure. When Prometheus is chained to a rock where his liver is eaten out daily by an eagle only to to regenerate at night (because of immortality), Heracles shoots the eagle and frees Prometheus from his chains.
Now back to Caprica. The riddle is asked: “As the gods overthrow the Titans, so has man overthrown the gods, but when man visits his sins upon his children, how shall he be repaid?
There are two very rich things in just that simple sentence. First is from our own mythology: The Titans were the 12 supreme deities, sons and daughters of Gaia and Uranus. They were eventually overthrown by 12 younger gods, known as the Olympians (which includes, in Greek mythology, Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Ares, Demeter, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hermes and Dionysus; in Roman mythology, Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Minerva, Mars, Ceres, Apollo, Diana, Vulcan, Venus, Mercury, Bacchus). Secondly, is how it relates back to Battlestar Galactica, in the miniseries, where Commander William Adama gives his speech for the decommissioning of the Battlestar Galactica (before the Cylons attack): “The Cylon War is long over, yet we must not forget the reasons why so many sacrificed so much in the cause of freedom. The cost of wearing the uniform can be high, but…sometimes, it’s too high. You know, when we fought the Cylons, we did it to save ourselves from extinction. But we never answered the question, why? Why are we as a people worth saving? We still commit murder because of greed, spite, jealousy. And we still visit all of our sins upon our children. We refuse to accept the responsibility for anything that we’ve done. Like we did with the Cylons. We decided to play God, create life. When that life turned against us, we comforted ourselves in the knowledge that it really wasn’t our fault, not really. You cannot play God then wash your hands of that you’ve created. Sooner or later, the day comes when you can’t hide from the things that you’ve done anymore.”
Joseph cannot answer the question and begs to help him find his daughter. He is escorted out. He is about ready to leave when he sees the “T” that is similar to how Tamara used to write her name. Double-amping himself, he shoots the gun-check man. He goes back into the club and shoots many there until he gives them a chance to take off their holobands and leave on their own, after all, if you are shot in New Cap City, you can never come back again. Interrogating Cereberus, he finds out that Tamara was on the stage seeking answers to the afterlife. As Emmanuelle shows him the backway out, Cereberus smells a sunflower. The first thing I thought was that Tamara has changed the look of her avatar and that was actually her hiding from her father, just as Avatar Zoe is hiding from Daniel.
I love the small details they do not leave out on the show. Like on the backstage door, it says “Astra” which means stars, as in that was the stars’ entrance.
As soon as they walk out, Joseph sees a wall of the “T”’s that Tamara has written. The head is in the shape of a sunflower, which is symbolic for adoration and longevity, and let’s face it, Tamara’s longevity as a one of the two ghosts in the machine is guaranteed at this point.
Tomas Vergis visits the Graystone home to put his plan into motion of destroying everything Daniel holds dear. His target for this visit: Amanda. He shares what happened to his 2 employees and how the MCP was stolen, only for Daniel to have an identical MCP just a few days later. To her credit, she does not show any signs of knowing this information. She asks Tom to leave.
Setting up one more test in the lab for U-87/Avatar Zoe, you can see Daniel’s eyes are red and tired. He commands U-87 to shoot the dog. He loves the dog, but he loves his daughter more. I drew in a deep breath, not knowing for sure whether the writers would allow the dog to be shot. I thought certainly no, but…..? I have been shocked before. U-87 pulls the trigger, the dog winces, and my heart stops. Yes, I know the irony there that I am more upset about the dog being shot than the other characters in the show. But I am a big dog lover. I scream, “Holy frack!” And in a split second, Daniel informs U-87 that the robot did not miss; they were blanks. He then commands U-87 to shut itself down for the night.
Daniel comes out of the lab, grabs something to drink, and watches videos of Zoe on the window. Amanda is sitting outside, undoubtedly processing the information Vergis gave her. There is such beauty in the shot. There is a great divide between Daniel and Amanda, the void as big as the distance of where each were presently sitting. Also, I noticed that Daniel was “inside” while Amanda was “outside.” I am sure she was feeling very outside once Tomas Vergis shared with her that tidbit of information.
Back in the V-club, Zoe tells Lacy that the robot knew that the bullets were blank because of the weight. Had there been real bullets, she might have shot her father instead. Zoe tells Lacy she better get her out of there soon before something happens that she is going to regret.
In seeing the scenes from next week’s episode, I believe that unfortunately becomes reality for Zoe. Syfy promotes that someone is going to die. They show various scenarios of who that might be. I have not seen the actual episode so this is a 100% guess on my part based on watching the promo over and over again. I think Philomon dies next week. You see U-87 trying to get out of the lab, then you see U-87 driving the van (the lights from the helicopters following it shine through the driver’s side. It looks like Philomon might get whacked with U-87’s arm near his head. The coroner is at the Graystone’s house, what looks to be the lab, with Daniel and Cyrus present. Cyrus tells Daniel he is losing control of the project. Amanda looks like she is going to jump, but that could just be a dream she is having. Clarice has a gun to Barnabus’ head. Lacy joins STO, and Joseph and Tamara point guns in each other’s faces). This mid-season finale (the end of the first 10 episodes) is going to be a wild ride.
Thanks to Kenn for video embedding. Please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments!
We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future!
Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
This series continues to deliver character-rich episodes week after week and what a cliffhanger we had on Friday or what is coming next seen in the promo trailer.
Amanda Graystone is having nightmares surrounding a foggy male figure. When she wakes up, she takes out a letter from the Delphi Convalescent Center, 45 Terreo Avenue, Delphi, Caprica, D5287I (pictured below).
For Battlestar Galactica fans, this is the place where the Cylons held Kara Thrace (The Farm) where she escaped before they could harvest her ovaries. The Latin word “terreo” means to frighten, scare or terrify.
Rarely are things just placed in this series without there being a reference for it. The address of the Graystone Foundation is 5520 Via Appia, Suite 100, Caprica City, Caprica C2908P. In Latin and Italian, via Appia is “Appian Way”, a road in Rome, the first segment of which was started and finished in 312 BC that held great historical and military significance. In addition to the famous aqueduct system, Appius Claudius built this road which went across the Pontine Marshes to the coast northwest of Naples where it turned north to Capua. Two historical events along this road included the crucifixion of Spartacus and his army (6000 people), and the battle of Anzio during World War II. I Googled the zip code C2908P and it came up as a 2009 Toyota RAV4 stock number. An inside joke perhaps?
Olaf and Nestor found that the Zoe avatar program was on the wireless download device, but it was downloaded to some other device. Unconcerned Clarice declares that once they find it, they will have their resurrection. Amanda is going to the memorial site every day and Clarice plans to use her to locate the program.
Similar to the scene in New York City after 9/11, the memorial wall needs to be taken down to be relocated. Amanda is extremely agitated by this and Clarice comes to her rescue, Amanda not suspecting her ulterior motives. Amanda sees a young man in the crowd, the young man from her nightmare, but he disappears into thin air. It is her dead brother, Darius (actor Jesse Haddock).
Avatar Zoe calls Lacy to the V-world. In the room, the logo for the Soldiers of the One (STO) blinks on the lighted panels behind them. Avatar Zoe shares her concerns about Clarice at the home lab and whether Lacy is committed to their plan. Philomon is the key to getting U87/Avatar Zoe out of the lab; Lacy still has to get her to Gemenon with the help of Barnabus. Lacy reassures Zoe that she will not let her down, but Zoe has her doubts since she did not board the train with the human Zoe. Has Lacy developed a deeper bond of friendship with Avatar Zoe, or is this just survivor’s guilt that is propelling her forward?
At Amanda’s house, on a bigger version of an IPhone application that shines in her window, she tries to spot Darius on the pictures she took at the memorial. She admonishes herself for taking lousy pictures being a better photographer than that.
Equipped with two holobands, Joseph drafts Tad/Heracles to find Tamara. They walk down a long tunnel, a tunnel that looks like one I have seen in Stargate Atlantis but a different camera angle. He goes over the ground rules of New Cap City: Once you die in the virtual game, you can never go back because it is tied to your DNA; it is hack-proof. As they try to make their way out of a manhole cover, Joseph says something that reminded me of Mass Effect (Xbox 360): “We’re gonna need a bigger gun.”
Walking around Caprica City, Amanda witnesses an accident and begins to walk over to give her assistance as a physician. Approaching the scene with hesitance, she allows another physician who responded take over. She looks up and sees Darius. As he turns to walk away, she runs after him. When the trail of the hallucination ends, she sees a poster that has emotional significance for her. She pops a pill.
Clarice talks to Olaf. She says Amanda is the mother of Zoe and Zoe is the mother of life everlasting. Obviously this is corresponding to the story of the Virgin Mary in Christianity. Clarice says that Amanda sees dead people and to her it is a sign that God is using these women to speak to her.
Joseph wonders why they just cannot fly to their destination. Tad/Heracles plays along and gets Joseph to assume the pre-flight position. In a smack-up-the-side-of-the-head moment, Tad/Heracles says if you cannot do it in real life, you cannot do it in a nonfantasy game. Heracles is the Greek-mythology equivalent of Hercules, a god known for his extraordinary strength, courage, ingenuity (but not as clever as Nestor) and sexual prowess with both males and females. Joseph wonders where the fun is in this if it is like real life. Tad/Heracles goes through the list, but when Heracles, true to the name of the god he chose for the virtual world, he lists being able to have sex with 50 women without having to take Vinagro (Caprica’s version of Viagra), Joseph sees the immediate appeal. During an aerial bombardment, Tad/Heracles is killed virtually and now can never go back into the game. Joseph is now solo.
With Scorpion ambrosia in tow, Clarice calls on Amanda at her home. Amanda shares that she was a passenger in the car crash that killed her brother. She shows Clarice the poster she found, saying it was the exact place where the crash occurred.
Before passing out from the combination of the pills and the alcohol, she calls Clarice a friend. Polly Walker plays Clarice beautifully. One minute you hate the character for using Amanda Graystone and Lacy Rand to get to the Zoe avatar; the next minute you think that Clarice might actually care on some level about Amanda and all that she has gone through.
Tomas Vergis visits Daniel and Cyrus at a pyramid game. Word on the street is that Graystone Industries has only one working MCP (metacognitive processor) and Tom says that one he stole from the Vergis Corporation never worked. Graystone Industries is obviously going to need cash and he reminds Daniel he wants to buy the team. Cyrus wants him to sell, too.
Lacy and Keon meet at the park. Keon says Barnabus will not help her unless she is STO. Committed to Zoe, Lacy wants to sign up. Keon looks worried that she will get involved with this organization. Lacy kisses him on the cheek.
Meanwhile, love is blooming in the virtual world for Philomon and Rachel/Zoe. This date is a flight simulator. I think I would love this date, too, being the geek I am. The jets look like an older version of the Battlestar Viper. There are great special effects here as Rachel/Zoe spins out of control like a scene out of Top Gun. I wanted to scream, “GOOOOOSE!”
On land, Rachel/Zoe and Philo have a conversation about the V-world and she suggests the possibility of extending life in there. Philo is turned on by the geek tech talk and they kiss. Rachel/Zoe continues to give him advice which sparks an idea about his top-secret military robot. She tries to convince him that real-life experience might benefit the V-world and the robot, and Philo is stuck on the idea of it being a thing that would be unable to be copied.
Back at home, Daniel shares his day with Amanda. He notices the ambrosia and they tease each other, Daniel wondering if he should be jealous. Amanda takes another pill and calls Clarice. Clarice invites her to come down to The Dive. Daniel goes to his lab where he finds Philo using his holoband. Philo suggests that the part of the reason they have not been able to create another U87 is because part of it is analog. Daniel says he will take over and sends Philo home.
Amanda meets Clarice at The Dive. Sharing a key phrase from the Battlestar Galactica series, she says to Clarice, “All of this has happened before and all of it will happen again.” This phrase, according to Ronald D. Moore on one of his BSG commentaries, actually came from the story Peter Pan. Amanda was at the Delphi Institute for 2-1/2 years after having a nervous breakdown 3 years after the accident (a total span of 5-1/2 years). Amanda was seeing her brother everywhere. She says, “Surviving is the punishment for leaving things unsaid.” In her drug high, Clarice talks about God, that He does not want to punish her, that He made her in His image. ‘We have to trust in his wisdom.” I love this moment between the two women when Clarice asks Amanda to trust God. Amanda, in her drug high, does not catch on that Clarice is talking about one God. She responds, “Which god?” However, I think, her eyes tell that she knows Clarice is STO on some level.
Joseph goes back to New Cap City to look for Tamara. Tad/Heracles sends someone named Emmanuelle (actress Leah Gibson, Riese) to help, but this kind of help comes with a fee.
I loved the commercial tie-in here for a new Nintendo DS game called “Glory of Heracles.” See http://www.gloryofheracles.com for details.
While Daniel is going over data, Caesar, the dog, wants to play ball. When Daniel throws it, he goes to retrieve it, but instead of bringing it back to Daniel, he drops it in front of U-87/Zoe. This is not the first time he has done this. Avatar Zoe is trying to verbally shoo him away, and then kicks the ball.
Daniel thinks the dog brought the ball back and he throws it again. The dog continues to bark at U87 and wants U87 to play fetch. Daniel FINALLY makes the connection that the dog made a long time ago. In a fantastic camera angle from the Cylon’s eye point of view, he says, “Zoe?”
WHAT AN ENDING!!! I cannot wait to tune in next week!
Please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments!
We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future!
Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story.
The title, “Reins of a Waterfall” describes this episode perfectly. The noun “reins” as a means to guide, control, check or restrain. In tarot cards, the waterfall represents emotion and the subconscious. In Chinese symbolism, it represents the feminine. In dream analysis, waterfalls are a symbol of rebirth or can represent a form of baptism or initiation. Since the last episode was “Rebirth”, this episode would typify the guidance of that rebirth, the next step in the journey of creation.
Entering into this episode, we are sampling through Caprica television like a remote control, seeing the cultural aftermath of Dr. Amanda Graystone’s public statement that her daughter Zoe was a terrorist involved with the MagLev bombing and the Soldiers of the One (STO). Dr. Graystone has had to resign her position at the hospital. Lacy Rand’s classmates at the Athenian Academy ostracize her. Daniel Graystone’s company appears on the verge of collapse.
As Daniel lets off steam in the boxing ring, his colleague, Cyrus, pleads with him to hire Pryah (Luciana Carro, “Kat” on Battlestar Galactica) to the open public relations position to counter the negative press. Cyrus wants Daniel to go on television to speak out. Daniel refuses.
As he leaves the gym, Daniel’s driver relinquishes the keys quite quickly to Sam Adama, but Daniel does not realize exactly who he is. Daniel performs a pre-emptive first strike blow, but Sam quickly shows him who is boss in this encounter. Joseph Adama walks up and introduces Daniel to his brother, Sam. Joseph seems to be embracing his Tauron roots whole-heartedly. I have a feeling Daniel will no longer refuse a phone call from Joseph again.
I thought Sam’s statement to Daniel was ironic about his niece, Tamara: “She’s dead because you raised a terrorist and I frakkin’ hate terrorists.” Sam belongs to the mob and likely has inflicted terror into the hearts of many in addition to the routine assassinations he carries out for the Guatrau (the Godfather).
Joseph wants to see Tamara, his daughter, again in the virtual world. Daniel tries to explain the program is gone, but Joseph reminds him that he said Daniel “thought” it was gone. As Daniel walks out of the ally, a single crow or raven flies behind him. Crows are powerful symbols that can be associated as being messengers, and symbols of death, wisdom, communication and the underworld.
In a scene reminiscent of Goodfellas, Willie skips school again to hang out with his Uncle Sam at his off-track betting establishment, bringing food to the men in the back room, including Francis (Christian Tessier, “Duck” from Battlestar Galactica). Sam admonishes Willie, telling him he needs to wait until attendance is taken and THEN he can skip out. To cover his absence, Sam plans to call in and use a made-up Tauron holiday as an excuse because he does not think the school will know any better. While watching scenes with Sam and the future Admiral William Adama, I cannot help but wonder how many lessons he learned from Sam that helped in the salvation of the survivors in the Battlestar Galactica story.
A beaten-up Daniel comes home and rebuffs Serge’s desire to assist him medically. He walks down to his lab. Amanda comes home and they both shocked at each other’s wounds. There is a glaring medical error here in the script. Amanda is a neurosurgeon. Keeping a sterile environment becomes second nature to a physician. She goes over to the wound glue (which is known as Dermabond here on our planet) and applies it to her contaminated finger before applying it to Daniel’s facial wound. The normal procedure in a hospital would be to open a singly-packed cotton swab, apply the medication to the swab, and apply the swab to the wound. Being in the medical field, it was something that I noticed. Amanda apologizes for her public statement. Daniel chuckles that she would do it again if she could which she acknowledges. The range of emotions carried by these phenomenal actors in this scene is astounding. Eric Stoltz and Paula Malcomson are to be applauded. The love that exists between Daniel and Amanda is palpable. Daniel wants to bond her wounds with the glue; Amanda wants to bond in a different sort of way.
All of this is going on in front of U-87/Zoe. U-87/Zoe looks confused and alarmed that her parents think she was part of the bombing. Since this is Avatar Zoe in U-87’s body, I believe this would be news to her as well. Although Real Zoe and Avatar Zoe were in a biofeedback loop at the time of the explosion, electrical impulses and/or feelings were being transmitted, not actual documentation of seeing Ben opening up his jacket with the bomb strapped to Ben’s body, totally unknown to Real Zoe. When her parents start having sex in the lab, the poor soul cannot leave the U-87 body. The writing here gets quite clever as they show U-87/Zoe giving them as much privacy as possible. The robot’s red eye goes from the left mid center to the far left several times to avoid looking at her parents having sex to the right of her.
On January 22, 2010, the Syfy Channel will launch Caprica, its new drama set in a science-fiction world. Taking place 58 years before the fall of Caprica and the other colonies to the Cylons, one does not need to have watched any of Battlestar Galactica (BSG) to love this show.
Fans of BSG, however, will be rewarded in knowing the genesis of creative elements from that show. Writers Ronald D. Moore and Remi Aubuchon(Persons Unknown, Summerland, 24) do not shy away from the same social-commenting topics that earned Battlestar Galactica The George Foster Peabody Award for excellence.
The story focuses mainly on the Graystone family and the Adama family (known to us at first as Adams). The technology engineering genius, Daniel Graystone, is played meticulously by Eric Stoltz (Grey’s Anatomy, Medium, The Triangle). Esai Morales, of Jericho, Vanished, NYPD Blue fame, brings to us the complicated character of Joseph Adama. The SyFy video embed below also includes Zoe Graystone and other Caprica mini-clips.
Directed by Jeffery Reinerof Friday Nights Light, the pilot brought a new style and feel to Caprica to define it as its own series, apart from Battlestar Galactica. Released previously on DVD and digital download April 21, 2009, it will be this particular story that airs on January 22, 2010 to start the entire new series on SyFy (check local listings for times).
On-board as executive producers are Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, Jane Espenson and the main showrunner, Kevin Murphy. Bear McCready continues to provide the cutting-edge music that we have come to love on Battlestar Galactica.
Rounding out the main cast are Paula Malcomson (Deadwood, ER, Lost, Star Trek Enterprise), who plays Amanda Graystone, wife of Daniel; the fabulous Polly Walker (Cane, Rome) playing Sister Clarice of the Athena Academy; and Sasha Roiz (Lie to Me, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), as Sam Adama, brother of Joseph. Actor Sina Najafi plays William Adama, the son, the future Admiral of BSG, in the pilot episode. Science fiction fans will love spotting their favorite guest stars from other science fiction shows, like Brian Markinson who plays Jordan Duram, the investigator, who has been on Stargate SG-1, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek Voyager; Hiro Kanagawa, who plays Cyrus Xander (Sanctuary, Stargate SG-1); Panou as Olaf Willow (Sanctuary, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1); Terence Kelly, who played the mayor (Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1, Eureka among many others).
The DVD pilot opens in the Virtual Club where we are introduced to Zoe Graystone (Alessandra Torresani of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and CSI), her friend, Lacy Rand (Magda Apanowicz of Kyle XY), and boyfriend, Ben Stark (a relative newcomer, Avan Jogia). Much of the V-Club, I imagine may be edited from the broadcast pilot episode because of the graphic sex and violence. It is an important story element to note, however, that this virtual club is a place into where teenagers hack in order to do anything they want without limits or consequences. It reminded me a great deal of the movie Minority Report as did the holographic bands.
Circumstances bring Adama’s wife, Shannon (Anna Galvin, Stargate Universe, Stargate Atlantis) and daughter Tamara (Genevieve Buechner, Supernatural, 4400) together with Zoe Graystone where their lives are cut short by an extreme act of terrorism. Joseph and Daniel bond over their respective losses.
In just the pilot episode alone, we are introduced to themes of organized crime, monotheism, polytheism, prejudice, moral dilemmas of artificial intelligence, religious zealots and acts of terrorism.
Stylistically, Caprica City looks like any modern city of today. It is filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia where most of our beloved science-fiction shows now call home. I enjoyed the duplicity of having computers that were as thin as a sheet of paper, yet people were still driving in cars.
Having experienced the agonizing event of the death of a child, it is an intriguing thought that is voiced by the dialogue, “What would you do if you had the chance to be with your child again?” The pain is something I can only described as having the air being sucked out of your lungs while your heart is being sliced open by a sharp knife while some part of you dies with them; it is a piece of yourself you never recover. It is something you never “get over”; you just learn how to live life differently. I could see myself in both Daniel and Joseph, wanting to do anything I could for even just one last time to say things unsaid, but ultimately realizing, like Joseph, that it was an “abomination” of the circle of life. People go through great lengths to keep that attachment to their loved ones. Some individuals are cloning their beloved pets. Many seek the guidance of mediums to contact their loved ones on other planes of existence. In Caprica City it is no different.
As with the Catholic faith doctrine, belief in evolution of mankind’s body, but believes the soul is eternal, the thing given to us by God in our evolved bodies. The pilot produces a question for me: Can you reproduce or clone the soul? The people cloning their pets would have you believe that it is indeed possible; they will swear their pet is exactly the same. One hundred years ago, however, the technology was just not there to make it happen. Will our technology some day catch up to the point where we can download our consciousness into new bodies?
Another theme I took away from this pilot was the recurrence presence of love and devotion. It is extreme love and devotion of one’s religion that drives a character to their act of terrorism; that same love and devotion to religion leads another to create rather than destroy. It is extreme love and devotion that drives Daniel Graystone to finish what his daughter started, not only for love of daughter but for love of his company. It is love of heritage that makes Joseph Adams want to be Joseph Adama once again. It was the love and devotion of a friend who heals the virtual body of a virtual character with a simple hug. As with Battlestar Galactica, it leaves the viewer to decide for themselves what is right and wrong and in between those polar dichotomies.
The pilot episode ends with a tantalizing cliffhanger that lives up to the jaw-dropping disbelief for which Ronald D. Moore has become famous. The DVD viewers have had to wait 9 long months for this story to evolve. Those watching on January 22 will only have to wait until January 29 for the next episode. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments!
We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future!
Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
second half of the first season. 
Please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
The DVD pilot opens in the Virtual Club where we are introduced to Zoe Graystone (
