Episode: “Pilot” – DVD
Release Date: Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
Rating: 3 out of 4 Stars
Quick Synopsis: What, no Vipers?
Long Synopsis: The story follows two families from different cultures and backgrounds that become joined by a tragic event that rocks the peaceful planet of Caprica. They become entangled in the growing field of artificial intelligence and robotics, where a breakthrough in artificial intelligence may bring big and unforeseen consequences. The two families deal in with questionable ethics, corporate espionage, personal ambitions, and the tragedy that brought them together.
Review: Caprica is from the executive producers of Battlestar Galactica, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, and set some 50 years before the events of the miniseries that started that series. Yet, if you’re looking for epic space battles, you’ve come to the wrong place.
On the other hand, if what you really enjoyed from Galactica was the thought provoking storylines, interesting characters and the great actors portraying them, then you might enjoy traveling back to Caprica before the fall.
Moore has said that “if Battlestar Galactica offered us a way to shatter the conventions of space opera, Caprica will be a show which will challenge the conventions of science fiction storytelling as a whole.”
In that many people associate sci-fi with spaceships and aliens, I do believe this does challenge those conventions.
Eick has said it will be “part sweeping soap, part meditation on the dangerous moral ramifications of artificial intelligence, this is a truly unique opportunity to continue telling stories which will be as daring and shocking as the best of Galactica — and yet will be altogether different from Galactica.”
While this first foray into the world of Caprica doesn’t quite measure up to the best of Galacitca, it is very good. Also, you can see the potential for interesting storylines when the show goes to series, which begins production this summer, 2009, and will hit the newly branded Syfy in early 2010.
Stories revolving around the advancement of technology are rife with dramatic and interesting angles to pursue. While some things may be better understood in the context of Galactica, I don’t believe you need to have watched any of it to enjoy Caprica.
Caprica stars Esai Morales (NYPD Blue), as Joseph Adama, and Eric Stolz (Chicago Hope), Daniel Graystone. The patriarchs of the two families the stories will revolve around. Other recognizable faces include Paula Malcomson (Deadwood), Polly Walker (Rome), and Magda Apanowicz (Kyle XY).
Caprica is being released on DVD and via digital download on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009. It runs 93 minutes, a few of those that are more Sci-nemax than Sci Fi. Special features include some deleted scenes, video blogs, and a feature commentary with the director, Jeffrey Reiner, as well as executive producer/writer Ronald D. Moore and executive producer David Eick.
Overall, It’s worth checking out, but probably not worth the $15-$18 or so it will cost. Especially, since it will inevitably end up as part of the season one DVD set down the road. I’d rent it via Netflix or wherever you get your DVD rentals. If you must have it, it will be available at Amazon on DVD
