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Thread: Caprica

  1. #1
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    Caprica

    Is anyone giving this show a shot. Its a spin off from BSG. It is set on the planet of Caprica before the time of BSG. It seems to be centered around the time of the creation of the cylon. I saw the 2 hour premiere the other night on SyFy channel. I will say it seems to be as dark as BSG. The characters seem to be good but I'm not sure how I rate it up against BSG.

    Instead of being set in outer space it deals more with AI. Brain scans that can be converted into an artificial online entity that can then be downloaded into an artificial physical body.

    They seem to tackle that moral realms of the science along with its effects on human families. There is good and evil, terrorists, organized crime, mad scientists and religious cults. Its all there.

    The premiere was ok. I will give it another couple episodes to let it play out and see how it shapes up. The show does contain some good elements, I just have to see how they are used.

    Caprica on SyFy

  2. #2
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    Here is a review I found on I09

    This Friday brings the first episode of Battlestar Galactica spinoff Caprica, a noir-scifi drama set on the planet Caprica 58 years before the cylons nuke it into oblivion. Based on the pilot, we think this series could become a classic.

    Of course there are many reasons Caprica might fail, not the least of which would be poor audience ratings. Many fans of BSG are still smarting from that series' disappointing conclusion, and are predicting that Caprica might take an abrupt nosedive into lameness. But the current facts are these: Caprica is a completely different series, and based on what we've seen so far, it is the coolest new SF show on the air. Here are five reasons why.

    1. Intriguing, thoughtful worldbuilding
    As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, the worldbuilding that went into creating Caprica City and the culture of Caprica is simply superb. We're introduced to a culture where paganism is mainstream and sexual mores are extremely liberal, but immigrants still suffer discrimination and monotheists are outcasts. Unlike most SF shows, where worldbuilding is often something like "everything is the same except the technology is better," Caprica challenges us to imagine a society radically different from our own. Also, the concept design of the city - which was shown off to great effect in the broadcast version of the pilot - is breathtaking. The futuristic technology isn't bad either.

    2. A "birth of AI" story that feels original
    A lot of contemporary science fiction, from the Terminator franchise to Star Trek: The Next Generation, deals with what happens when we finally create AI. Will it rise up and destroy us ala Skynet or will it nerdily attempt to fit into human society ala Data? We've seen dozens of vengeful bots and dorky AIs, but a virtual religious zealot computer genius teen trapped inside the body of a killing machine made by her manipulative zillionaire father? Not only is the premise fresh, but so are a lot of the emotional and ethical issues it stirs up.

    3. The Adama family
    Rarely has a family unit in science fiction been as interesting as the Adamas seem to be in Caprica. Trapped between two cultures, straddling the line between criminality and respectability, Joseph Adama is a character who has problems I want to know more about. Plus his brother Sam, a smalltime gangster with a heart of gold, is another guy I want to know better. I'm sold on the idea of gangsters on another planet.

    4. Excellent acting
    With Essai Morales and Eric Stolz as our leads Joseph Adama and Daniel Graystone, it goes without saying that the acting in this show is going to rock. (There was also a lot of terrific acting in BSG, so Caprica maintains the quality of this aspect of the franchise.) Sasha Roiz as Sam Adama is already terrific, as is Magda Apanowicz as Zoe Graystone's friend Lacy. Alessandra Torresani is probably the weakest link as Zoe - she's a little one-note - but she could improve over time. Given that this show hinges on personal drama as well as epic SF storytelling, it's crucial that the leads be able to show us subtle emotion and conflict - and damn, they are delivering. In the pilot, Stolz does a perfect job embodying a guy who is incredibly manipulative while also being sincere.

    5. Drama that depends on science fictional plot points, but isn't completely focused on them
    I already suggested that drama is one of this show's strong points. One of the ways Caprica has already become a standout this season is that it manages to give us human drama of the sort we might expect on The Wire, while also never losing sight of the fact that its plot arc is centered on something basically science fictional. This is a series about how two new technologies - the holoband and the cylon - come together to create artificial life. And much of the human drama hinges on these technologies as well. In other words, this is fiction fueled by drama and science, which is a rare and awesome thing.
    http://io9.com/5456805/5-reasons-cap...yline=true&s=i

  3. #3
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    I plan on watching it - I was a BSG fan... well I was a 6 and starbuck fan...



    but the show held my interest for most of the run, so I'll give it a proper shot at not sucking.

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    Waaaay to early yet, but ..... it better get better. That review pushes much too hard.

  5. #5
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    started watching... made it about 15 minutes in... turned off
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  6. #6
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    is it fucking bizarre and weirdo like most SyFy fare?

    I didn't get into nBSG for that reason.

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    When is it on? I recorded the 2 hr premier, didn't see another episode listed, so I figured the 2 hr show was it. I watched about 1/2 that first show so far. I liked what I saw.

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    I saw the premier and thought it was pretty good. Needs more hot chicks though.


  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elkhound Odin View Post
    When is it on? I recorded the 2 hr premier, didn't see another episode listed, so I figured the 2 hr show was it. I watched about 1/2 that first show so far. I liked what I saw.
    Fridays at 9pm eastern on SyFy

  10. #10
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    cant believe this is actually on already. seems like they have been talking about it for years.. got no real hopes for the series but ill give it a go as I enjoyed 90% of BSG.. especially when Cally got airlocked. That was a highlight IMO.

  11. #11
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    i saw the pilot movie a while back and while i loved BSG, i had to force myself to sit though Caprica. it was a bit slow and pretentious imho. i'll give the series a try but it better pick up steam quick.

  12. #12
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    wiki made a parallel between caprica and dallas. that didnt read too well for me..

  13. #13
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    I didn't realize the first episode I watched wasn't the actual show. It was just an introduction I guess --- a matching timeline of Battlestar via the robot point of view. That show was very much like Battlestar.

    I watched the 2 hour first episode last night, and it is totally different. Not even close to the original. Way to touchy feely and very boring at times. It's nice to see the back story about how the robots came into existence, but the story is so slow.

    I'll stick with this for a few more episodes, but the pace needs to pick up. Get to the war already.

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    Second episode: improvement. Nastiness has potential.

  15. #15
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    I didn't have cable when BSG came out and never really caught on to it when it when I did. But I loved the old one when I was a kid.

    Anywho, I liked the first one, and thought the second was much better, threw some fun turns into it. The whole Cylon development is pretty cool. I also like the spin on the era they are in, kind of reminescent of the look of Bladerunner minus Daryl Hannah and Rutger Hauer's outfits. The blend of the new and old as well as the old school gangster of the brother is interesting.
    Lots of potential from the teacher, to the assistant (kid who isn't a dick and keeps his digits), the mom on the deep end, etc.
    Skiing, where my mind is even if my body isn't.

  16. #16
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    I had a good watch while I was recovering during the evening from a day in the St Anton backcountry. I think it bettered my expectations (heh both.. the backcountry as well!)

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    Show has been canceled. I think we have seen everything we are going to get.

    bummer. We will never know how the Cylons became the power they were.

  18. #18
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    I'm not surprised. They were dragging those story lines out like it was going to be a 20 year daytime soap show. All touchy, feely, emotional. People wanted to see killer robots creation and then revenge on humanity. Instead we get some junk about religious terrorists and the mafia. We have enough that in reality. BSG had plenty of robot space porn. Caprica rarely had sex. boring

  19. #19
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    I'm a hudge BSG fan, but Caprica lost me after 3 episodes.

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