I wish the difference between Mad Men and Caprica to be that Caprica had meaning and Mad Men was just time filling, otherwise, in both shows almost everyone smokes, drinks and frakks (to use the already established denomination for the urban four letter word). Oh, they also have Brian Markinson in common, the cuckold Dr. Rosen from Mad Men. This was just a joke. I think that even if you can hastily judge Caprica as corny, the series is remarkable. Remarkable, but not enough loved by public at the time. I also think that the network (SyFy) is responsible for the outcome.
The first cylon – Caprica
[source: imdb.com]
Caprica – Plot
Caprica is a prequel to the absolutely fantastic Battlestar Galactica, a show already reviewed here. First, what is actually, Caprica? It is one of the twelve planets in the Cyrannus Star System which were settled by the Twelve Colonies. The colonies were the Twelve Tribes which left the planet Kobol in another star system, following a disaster – the nature of which is unknown. As you will notice, the planets bear names of Astrological inspiration, like: Aerilon, Aquaria, Canceron, Gemenon, Leonis, Libran, Picon, Sagittaron, Scorpia, Tauron, Virgon. The action happens mostly on Caprica and partially on Gemenon and Tauron.
Eric Stoltz and Paula Malcomson in Caprica
The central character is Zoe Graystone, whose father is Daniel Graystone, the inventor of the Holoband and the creator of cylons. If you have watched all the four seasons of Battlestar Galactica, preceded by the 2003 miniseries, you know the outcome. Doesn’t matter, they finished the season in haste, revealing things far from the show’s beginning.
Esai Morales and Sasha Roiz, the Adamas in Caprica
Zoe is a member of a monotheist sect with the base on Gemenon. Unfortunately, they act very violently on other planets, mostly on Caprica, which seems to be the richest of them all, something like Canada or the United States where third world people immigrate for a better life or for escaping oppression. Tauron is such a world, the brothers Adama, named initially Adams, Sam and Joseph, were born there. They’re sort of gangsters, Sam is a killer, and Joseph is someone Law schooled by the Guatrau, their Godfather (something like in The Departed plus Godfather).
Jorge Montesi, the Guatrau in Caprica
The Holoband, a device giving users access to a virtual world, is worn around the head and eyes much like a pair of glasses. When activated, it projects an artificial virtual world which can be limited to singular programs or to a much larger massive online virtual community as limitless as today’s Internet. Zoe created and updated her persona on a virtual space which couldn’t be accessed by everyone. Every user has an avatar on the V-World, but Zoe’s was different. You’ll see how when you’ll watch the show. I have recently re-binged it just for the old time’s sake. Before ending with the plot, notice that Lacy Rand, Zoe’s friend, has a very interesting character to define.
Something More
Some critics say that what happens in Caprica is impenetrable for the non-initiate. This is lame, a science fiction hater should restrain himself from reviewing the genre, because obviously he doesn’t understand more than the comics level from Avengers. Caprica was cancelled from production because of the low ratings. I can say that the low ratings happened due to studio’s marketing executives’ incompetence. Also, the plot wasn’t simple, it was compelling, the stories were inspired from spirituality, the filming had heavy Godfather and Sin City touches, with something from the HBO’s Rome. The acting was impeccable, with an accent on Poly Walker’s and Eric Stoltz’s.
Caprica was made very Canadian style, with great tolerance for some exotic aspects of human behavior, disguised in “customs” in a fantastic environment, and I like that; on the screen it looked normal, not like in real life. In real life they crucify you for not embracing, loving and praising them, for being more conservative, I mean.
Cast
Eric Stoltz is Daniel Graystone, a scientist, businessman, Zoe’s father, this show’s star, because he’s the creator of what will be called cylons. Esai Morales is Joseph Adama, William’s father, a gangster, a Consigliere. Paula Malcomson is Amanda Graystone, Daniel’s troubled wife, Zoe’s mother. Alessandra Torresani is Zoe Graystone, Daniel’s daughter, a genius, an avatar. Magda Apanowicz is Lacy Rand, Zoe’s best friend. Sasha Roiz is Sam Adama, Joseph’s brother, Will’s uncle, the family primordial gangster. Polly Walker is Clarice Willow, an ambitious priestess, goddess, not far from her famous Atia of the Julii, making her more important than the stars (Stoltz and Morales), in credit terms, of course. Jim Thomson is Serge, a home appliance. Brian Markinson is Jordan Durham, a Global Defense agent, inspector, whatever, wow wow wow! He’s gonna play “Silas Nash”, a sort of a Fleet Admiral in Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, a prequel featuring the young pilot William Adama. Hiro Kanagawa is Cyrus Xander, the loyal Daniel Graystone’s employee at the Graystone Industries. Panou is Olaf, one of Clarice Willow’s husbands.
Caprica Poster – Alessandra Toressani
Sina Najafi is William Adama, the future commander’s brother (I guess). Here, the character played by Eduard James Olmos appeared in the last five minutes of the last episode, as a little boy named Bill. Genevieve Buechner is Tamara Adama, Joseph’s daughter, an avatar as well. Teryl Rothery is Evelyn, Joseph Adama’s assistant, confident, and eventually lover. Jorge Montesi is The Guatrau, the equivalent of The Godfather.
Trailer
Games were open for fans. The following is a trailer encouraging talented science fiction lovers to continue Caprica, this prematurely cut off series.
This video is better than the trailer itself. Caprica’s official trailer is too revealing, but let’s hope this doesn’t bother you.
Trivia
Alessandra Toressani has a blackbelt in Taekwondo. The show has been filmed mostly in Vancouver, Canada. At the time, despite having still five episodes to air, Syfy came out with a press release putting the cancellation upfront, complete with a frustrated quote from executive Mark Stern, who noted, “Unfortunately, despite its obvious quality, Caprica has not been able to build the audience necessary to justify a second season.” Frustrated Lost fans, who were displeased by the finale, were equally displeased by Battlestar Galactica after a finale that was heavy on spirituality and light on concrete explanations to various pieces of the show’s mythology. What have I said earlier, they need comics! I have had a look at a novel adaptation named Battlestar Galactica, written by Jeffrey A. Carver. I learned it’s called “novelization”. I read something like that made after Rain Man and I found it better than the movie. I also want to remind you that from the very first Battlestar Galactica episode, you notice that cylons believed in God, not in gods. By watching Caprica, you’ll understand why.
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