Thoughts on Caprica - which I am enjoying quite a bit at the moment

[shadowkat]

I'm rapidly falling in love with the new series Caprica - which next to BSG, may well be the best sci-fi series on television. I'll also most likely get my heartbroken again. Dang it. Because knowing Syfy - it won't get high ratings and we'll get more of the same..episodic monster/sci-fi weirdness of the week shit they love to produce.

Each episode is more layered than the next, and it expands on its cast slowly as opposed to throwing ten new characters at us all at once. We are sticking fairly closely to three points of view - Lacey/Clarice, Adama, Graystone. And there are no good guys or bad guys here. They are all rather complicated. Plus the science-fiction component is rather topical, not to mention well written. It's believable in other words as opposed to fantastical. You can envision this world - which is rather interesting dark mirror of our own.

What I admire the most is the pacing and plot, tight, character driven, and moves quickly.
My attention doesn't waver and I find myself watching in real time. Haven't seen that done in a sci-fi show since well Torchwood:Children of the Earth.

The religion theme appears to be slightly controversial? I've noticed a few of the reviews I've read on lj are struggling with the soliders of the one god - or the fact that the monothesists are a bit of a fanatical cult, which contains terrorists? This doesn't bug me - because I see it as a rather dark reflection of our own world and religious issues. Christianity started out as an apocalyptic cult before it was instutionalized around 323 AD.
The first Christians believed they were the last generations of humans. I don't know if they were into killing people - history tells us they were rather peaceful and I haven't seen any documentation to state otherwise. While the polythesists were rather violent, sordid, decadent, and into excess - or so we are told by the stories that have survived. What Caprica proposes much like BSG before it - is does the religion really change who we are?
We learn in BSG that the differences between the polythesist humans and the monothesist cylons aren't that huge. And in Caprica - we see much the same thing. The two groups are far more similar than they'd like to admit. The question seems to be - does it matter who or what we believe in? And if so why? And most of all - why must everyone else share that belief?
Why are we forcing them to? These questions fascinate me - because I believe they lie at the root of the violent cultural conflicts that continue to shake our world. The fight over gay rights isn't really about gay rights so much as it is about a blatant intolerance for people who do not share our beliefs and values. Who do not believe as we do. Caprica kicks the gender issue to the curb, and focuses on what lies behind it. Focuses on the consequences of having to be right regardless of the cost.

Zoe. May I just say that I adore the actress playing Zoe. She's so perfect in this role - the exact opposit of the robot she's stuck inside. I know mileage varies on this quite a bit - But I think she's wickedly good in the role. And it is a difficult role. The role requires her to play three people simultaneously. Zoe - the human, the bright little girl, who aspired to change the world - who wanted to feel special and felt ignored and overlooked by her ridiculously successful parents. Who flirted with danger. And developed a computer avatar program which was almost an exact replica of herself. Zoe - the avatar - the computer program that the human version created. And the robot - the skeleton body, capable of ripping a human to shreds. Amazing character. Takes the cylon concept in BSG and ups the ante. We see the birth of the cylons - the creation of a new life form, who is struggling with the concept of god, or who it is. And the notion of parents. How to relate to them.

The scene in this week's episode where Zoe, watches as a silent robot sentinal, unbeknowest to her parents who believe her to be gone - argue about her involvement with the terrorists,
both banged up, and bruised because of it, and clinging to each other in grief and love and anger...to endure it - is brilliant. You watch Zoe, in pain, traumatized, quivering, while her robotic body doesn't move. The ghost inside the machine. Last week we watch her try to sit on her bed, and desperately ask her best friend Lacey to hug her. Hug me. And Lacey does.

Adama - who feels Tamara's presence, and then discovers that Graystone or rather Graystone's daughter was responsible for the deaths of both his wife and daughter. Plus Graystone brought Tamara back, only to scare her, then to lose her in the virtual reality zone which Joseph Adama does not understand. Overwhelmed with anger - he asks his brother to make them even.
Take out Graystone's wife.

We realize in the space of three episodes that Adama is by no means on the moral high-ground here. He is fairly corrupt. And there are clues in each episode. In the pilot - he orders a hit on a politician who does not do as he commands. And then in the third episode, we see that he bribes a judge, and has his brother beat up Graystone to get his way.

Eric Stolze's Graystone is a battered and pained genuis, rich, successful, yet struggling with what he's built and done. Clearly his daughter was his world. His wife, Amanda, is fascinating as well, no fragile weakling, tough as nails, railing at her daughter for her decisions and at herself for not doing a better job.

I have no idea where this story is going, which is a welcome change of pace. And I have no desire to be spoiled. I find it highly character driven, the themes to be thought-provoking,
and the metaphors layered and unobvious. It is a series that resonates with me on a level that neither Dollhouse nor Lost quite managed to. I think because it is more "initimate" less action based, less violent (which is odd to state since violence is in the tale but more restrained), and more dialogue driven. It also, unlike most shows on tv, explores gender issues and cultural orientation in a subtle intricate way...without too much or too little emphasis. The fact that Sam is gay and living with a male partner is handled no differently than if he were heterosexual with a female partner. It's not an issue. While Clarice's group marriage is discussed a bit more, yet it also is not a huge issue. The fact they aren't issues makes a much bigger statement than if they were.

I honestly think based on just these three episodes this is by far the best show I've seen this year. I even got my mother to watch it - which was a small accomplishment.

Comments

[candleanfeather.livejournal.com]

J Espenson's interview about Sam and Caprica has already made me eager to see this show. What you're saying totally reinforces this impatience. But I'm pretty sure, Iwon't be able to see it, because as (almost) always with interesting and creative series in France they'll broadcast on the cable. Sigh!

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Have you tried downloading online? It may be available somewhere online?
I wouldn't know because I haven't been able to do it - with comic books let alone tv shows. But I'm guessing you might?

It is quite good. At least so far. ;-)

[ann1962]

I've got to start watching this, for no other reason than Esai Morales who was amazing in Jericho. I've just got to remember...

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

It's on Friday nights...here on Syfy. Not sure about elsewhere.

I think you'd like it. It deals with grief in an interesting way.
And Esai Morales and Eric Stolze are wickedly good in it. Polly Walker is also in it - the British Actress. The production value is also amazing. Feels like watching a movie. And it's not as dark, violent or grim as BSG - so I think more accessible to a lot of viewers.

But the writing...whoa.

[ann1962]

I wondered how it compared in bleakness to BSG. Good to know. I didn't watch BSG for very long for that reason. Thanks.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Mileage varies of course. But Caprica appears to be the opposite of BSG in tone. Also the fact that the head-writing duties have been handed to Jane Espenson - is interesting to me. Finally a female head-writer/executive producer on a sci-fi series - that's rare.

It's more about a society on the brink of dystopia - it can either way, than one that has been ruined and is racing to avoid extinction.

It happens 58 years before the events of BSG occur.

Last night's episode also had a few comical moments - that made me giggle. Granted I have a dark sense of humor, but there were a few scenes that were sort of funny.

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

I'm falling in love with Caprica too.

My problem with the STO has more to do with the writing than with the topic. I don't know but so far the scenes don't work for me.

The first Christians believed they were the last generations of humans.Yep hence the Book of Revelation.

I don't know if they were into killing people - history tells us they were rather peaceful and I haven't seen any documentation to state otherwise.

I assume that you haven't seen Amenabar's Agora and haven't heard of Hypatia of Alexandria, have you? Cf http://frenchani.livejournal.com/380489.html#cutid1

The first Christians only started killing people as soon as they were numerus enough to get away with it!

While the polythesists were rather violent, sordid, decadent, and into excess - or so we are told by the stories that have survived.

I wouldn't say that. Fanatism and violence run in both polytheist and monotheist crowds or individuals. They still do nowadays. It's a human thing, I guess. It is also a group thing.

But let's go back to the show. I forgot to mention it in the review I posted earlier, but the way Daniel talked about his daughter, in the scene with Cyrus and the woman whose name eludes me(the actress played Kat on BSG, sort of echoed Bill Adama's talk about his ship: "she was my girl" he said.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I was having an argument with my mother regarding the whole history of polytheism and monothesim regarding Caprica. And I could not for the life of me remember if historically the monothesists/Catholics in Ancient Greece and Rome were as violent? I think they were once enough of them got together. You're right - once you get enough people together...things tend to be a bit more violent and fanatical.

I don't understand why the STO bugs people. You aren't the only one.
herself_nyc didn't like Caprica because of it. Made no sense to me whatesover. Because I rather love it and find it really intriguing - mostly because it is demonstrating the self-righteousness - that I've discovered exists at the heart of if. Wonder if that's what is turning people off? It is rather critical. But keep in mind the writers are to a degree commenting on the right-wing fundamentalism and mega-churches that have sprouted up around the US - with speakers like Joel Olsteen, and have an almost cultish aspect to them. I guess this is something that really has to do with personal experience.

On your last point - yes, the scene between the marketing/image expert and Daniel was rather interesting. And reminiscent of Bill Adama and his ship. I'm also finding the insight we're getting into Bill Adama's educational background and family, fascinating.
We're learning why he felt the way he did about certain things.

Ghod I love this show.

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

I wish I were more articulate about my problem with the STO scenes.
Again it isn't the theme per se, it's just that I don't find them well executed/written/acted. Most of the time it's either clumsy or cheesy (like Clarice meeting the mysterious Avro in the holoband world)so it doesn't ring true––while the family stuff rings soooo true–– and I end up wanting to skip those STO parts. Also the actors are not convincing in those scenes, especially the young actors. I found them to be terribly acted in the pilot and they still don't quite deliver; the scenes lack something to work so the whole thing feels off.

I guess it's also because the STO stuff is more connected to the teenagers and I much prefer the adults on Caprica. I'm trying to keep an open mind though, and the character of Lacey has potential.


I agree with you, young Bill Adama's background is perfect. I totally buy it.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I've come to the conclusion that regarding whether or not we like or appreciate a particular actors ability is highly subjective. ;-)

Didn't use to feel this way. But now? Very much so. I, for example,
believe that one of the reasons Dollhouse couldn't hold an audience was it had Dusku and the guy who played Paul as its protagonists, and I found both actors fairly weak and stiff. But, you love the guy who played Paul and I know of people on my flist who adore Dusku.

So...(shrugs). And I remember having long pointless arguments with people over who was the better actor David Boreanze (who I found incredibly stiff and at times cringeworthy bad on Angel and Bones) vs. James Marsters (who I adore, but others feel over-acts and chews the scenary.).

I don't think we know why we like or dislike a particular actor.
I think it is a personal thing and subconscious thing - they remind us of someone or something that bugs us.

It may well be something as simple as this: ex: You're with teenagers all day long - it may well be that you look at these kids and their interaction with the people at the school and think - ugh, that's not real. But the girl playing Lacey? I know that girl! I've been with that girl! That's amazing. While I've dealt with criminals, cops, FBI agents, engineers, scientists, and lawyers and military guys, so I am more critical of the adult performances? (again I don't know, I just find it fascinating how one person can absolutely love a particular actor's performance and another completely despise it).

So far, all the actors in the series are working for me. My only quibble was Esai Morales' Joseph Adama, whose performance felt a bit too understated, awkward and restrained - as if he didn't quite have a handle on the character...but I think he is gradually getting better with time. (See, more of critical of the adult performances.)

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Yep, I'm falling more and more in love with it too.

It's quickly becoming the most interesting show on tv, same as BSG was during the first two seasons.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I just saw 1.03 yesterday and while it's a well-made series with some interesting points, I remain unconvinced so far. Maybe it's a personal thing, but so far I think the whole STO thing feels pretty... "duh." Religious fanatism=bad? I already kinda knew that. IMO it would have worked a lot better if they'd spent more time setting up why the STO are so unhappy with the situation as it is, what it is about their society that's so repulsive that it makes children turn to terrorism.

That said, the parallel with the early days of Christianity (and today's society as well) are interesting, there's room for improvement, and I'm by no means giving up on the series yet, which means it must be doing something right considering how disappointed I was with the BSG finale.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

IMO it would have worked a lot better if they'd spent more time setting up why the STO are so unhappy with the situation as it is, what it is about their society that's so repulsive that it makes children turn to terrorism.

Yes, we are to a degree coming into the middle of it.
It feels like the writers are exploring what lay at the root of the 9/11 sitch and the current cultural wars =terrorism. At least that's my impression, felt much the same thing happening with BSG, and it is by no means a new theme with Ron Moore - he played with this as well on DS9 - what is it about religion that leads to fanaticism and violence?

I think what is driving the kids to STO is a reaction to the meaninglessness and decadence/corruption of their current society. Adama - the crooked lawyer, the vids that focus on the sacrificing of hot virgins and group orgies, drunkeness, and a high - with nothing deeper. Zoe talks about getting bored of all of that rather quickly and hunting for something more.
While her Avatar is horrified by all of it. This God, they seem to believe will grant them a more meaningful life, one that has something more to it. Which is the reason most people give for going to megachurches or seeking out religion. So I think and I may be wrong, but that this what the writers are exploring with Caprica. The fact that there really isn't that much difference between one religion over another, one doesn't necessarily provide more substance or meaning.
There's debauchery and violence and meaninglessness in both. It feels like an extension of the theme in BSG..which was highlighting more or less the same thing regarding cylons and humans.

That said...I agree the set-up for the STO is a little flimsy at the moment and urksome. Religious themes can, if the writer isn't careful, get preachy and cliche.