“Pilot”

Caprica hits you right in the gut with the first sequence depicting all the horrors and self destructive (although some would say fun) tendencies of a depraved humanity. One reason it went directly to video and was rated R. We were told this would be a departure from BSG. It would be less action and have a more personal and socially charged dynamic.

On that end it certainly succeeds although it is hard to say it is for the better. It is certainly more comfortable in this role than it was forcing it’s way into BSG towards the end of that run. There are certainly connections to BSG, how could there not be, but the connections are done vaguely enough (besides the obvious Adama family) that it is not necessary at all to have seen BSG.

But it doesn’t hurt, especially for the reveals of the first robotic Cylon and of course the “By your command” line.

The tale focuses on Zoe, a rebellious teen who happens to be a computer genius with a chip on her shoulder about the state of the world and her rich parents. She has created a virtual version of herself that it is so complete that it actually a separate personality capable of living and growing. After getting involved with a religious cult, she decides to leave their homeworld of Caprica and travel to Geminon to start anew, when she falls victim to a terrorist act perpetrated by her best friend. The train she is on is destroyed, killing Zoe and also Bill Adama’s mother and older sister.

What’s left are the survivors and how they cope. There are three sets of survivors that eventually interact.

The Adamas – Bill and Joseph Adams (later Adama – note a recurring theme of racism between Capricans and Tauron’s specifically – almost overdone by public officials to be honest but I can live with it)

Lacy Rand – Zoe’s best friend who backed out of the Geminon move and now lives guiltily trying to reconnect with avatar Zoe. It is her continual visits that lead Daniel Greystone to discovering his daughter’s avatar.

The Greystones – Zoe’s parents and new catalyst for the creation of the Cylon as it would be Daniel Greystone who would take Zoe’s notes and work to eventually create what we know as the Cylons. At first though he is just interested in finding this virtual Zoe, but then he realizes he can actually download the avatar into a physical body.

There’s a lot to ponder. Although nothing is highly original, contemplating on what exactly life is…what a soul is…is always a worthy journey to make. Racism also interesting to see take hold in a science fiction setting.

It’s a little difficult to see where the show will go from the ending we see. It seems it will first be a chase sequence as robot Zoe will escape. But beyond that, the development of the technology will only take the show so far, so something further will have to be established.

Overall the show looked good, the acting was well done, especailly Eric Stoltz as Daniel and Paula Malcomson as Amanda Greystone. The show has potential to be great and potential to be trash. It just depends on how consistent it can be.

B-

Next – 1.02