Cranky Buffyverse Villian Poll

In a crappy mood. The weather mocks me with its beauty. So a poll about villianous acts in the Buffyverse. The worst ones. The best villians. The lamest villians. And villianous or indefensible acts by favorite characters or what we think are indefensible acts, everyone's mileage varies on this, I'm certain. Actually the biggest flamewars online have been over the indefensible acts of popular characters and whether they are redeemed. I'm curious to see where the vast majority of the Buffy lj fandom that happens to read or occassionally read my journal falls on this point. Course the fear of doing polls is no one will respond, memes are easier in that regard. The other problem with polls is you can't edit after posting and there are just so many ticky boxes. So if not on the list, provide a comment. But remember to
be respectful of other's views, particular those that make you scratch your head and go, huh?

[Poll #1488559]

Caprica - The Pilot - Review

I am going to try to keep this review free of spoilers. Just finished watching what may well be the best science-fiction series pilot that I have seen. (And considering how much sci-fi tv shows I've watched in my lifetime - including ones released in the 1970s, that no one remembers such as Space 1999, and a sci-fi show that starred Ike Eiseman and Roddy McDowell, this is saying something. Sure Lost had a good pilot, but I saw flaws. BSG's mini-series pilot drug in places. If you count 33 as the pilot - yes that ranks up there with this baby.)

Caprica - written by Ron Moore and Remi Aubuchon, directed by Friday Night Lights veteran Jeffrey Reiner, and starring Esai Morales as Joseph Addams (Adama) and Eric Stolz as Daniel Graystone...is the prequel series to BattleStar Galatica. It takes place 58 years prior to the fall of Caprica and the events of BSG.

The themes covered in the pilot reminded me in some respects of similar themes that Joss Whedon has attempted to cover in Dollhouse and the creators of V are trying to address - in fact Caprica is covering a combination of those themes, but in an innovative and far less didatic, clumsy and confusing manner. This movie had me riveted. And the twist, blew me away, even though I saw it coming - actually because I saw it coming. It is a frightening film. And it addresses the themes of ethnicity, racism, identity, religion, souls, worship, and arrogance or "god-syndrom" in a way that is rarely done, and hardly this well. The last show that came close was possibly Torchwood: Children of the Earth.

Much like BattleStar Galatica before it, the themes were addressed in a manner that left more questions than answers. The moral lines here are blurred.
( extreemly vague spoilers - if you've seen the trailer - you already know )

I can't say much more without giving too much away and this is a story that you really should not be spoiled on. It would remove some of the delight of discovery.

The pilot is due to air in January on SyFy, but it may be cut, so if you can rent the DVD via netflix or you may be able to find it online. The series will be run by Jane Espenson, but according to ImBd - Ron Moore and Aubonouch wrote the first 3-4 episodes. I pretty much know from the pilot who Marsters is likely to play now - and it will be interesting. Caprica like BSG plays with the moralities of science, and the conflict between science and religion. Where do we draw the line? It also plays with the moralities of warfare, violence and defense. Racial conflict. Ethnicity. How we identify ourselves and much like Star Trek DS9, Babylon 5, Farscape, and Torchwood Children of Earth - does it in a manner that does not always provide clear answers so much as more questions.

If you love science-fiction, you owe it to yourself to give this one a shot.