For many shows, the second episode after the pilot is usually the best indicator of what to expect on a weekly basis. Subscribing to that philosophy, I believe fans of Battlestar Galactica are really, really going to like Caprica.

Faux intimacy via cinema-vérité? Check. Original (and catchy) BSG vernacular, BSG universe continuity, attention to character and setting minutiae, no fear of tackling heavy issues, octagonal paper products? Check, check, check, check annnnnd check. The Ronald D. Moore cylon saga doesn’t miss a step during the jump to prequel form and sci-fi fans from any planet will surely feel right at home.

Instead of recapping, I’m just going to share my thoughts about the episode. I don’t think anyone is going to come to this blog to catch up on missing episodes. Really, we all know you’re here to see me make a fool of myself. On that note:

**** SPOILERS AHEAD ****

• I understand the humanizing of Zoe/cylon is necessary to make her an empathetic character. The cross-shots where the CGI robot is sliced with her allegorical avatar are simple but effective, but it certainly leaves me to wonder about cylon evolution. From BSG we know that the metallic type of cylons are generally silent and… well, robotic. If the original cylon was essentially a human trapped in a robot body, with emotions and all, then where does that diverge into the two types of toasters we are accustomed to? I assume the show will explain this in due time, but certainly this is one of the mysteries I was kind of stuck on.
• Still, I am thoroughly interested in what the hell original Zoe and Ben were trying to do. Why does avatar Zoe exist? What is she going to do once people find out she’s inside the cylon, and what good is it telling your 15 year old school girl friend? Are her parents going to accept her? Will her parents ever find out?
• The Greystone’s also have a (non-sentient?) robot who essentially acts as a housekeeper, and the concept of a robot army is realistic in the realm of the Caprica timeline. Does that make you wonder why robots aren’t more prevalent in everyday society? Fixing cars, doing construction, helping small children cross streets? Moreover, shouldn’t robots be even more prevalent by the time we get to the BSG era? Ok, I’m going to stop picking on cross-series continuity issues about the universe now. Non-sequiter apologies!
• I must admit although the strange pseudo-mormon family that cultist/teacher Sister Clarice invites Lacey to visit was confusing, the scene basically guaranteed I’d enjoy the episode by having Scott Porter play boy-toy Nestor. Any show that employs Friday Night Light’s alum is totally cool with me. Also, this episode did little to expand on this Sister Clarice and her motivations or character. All we know is she’s up to… something. And that she seems to like illicit drugs that can be bought from under the counter of a bar. Nobody ever looks under the counter!
• It’s interesting watching Little Admiral Adama and wondering if he’s ever going to cry, smash a toy boat then drool all over himself if anything really sad happens.
• Why is Little Tauren full of Asian people? Can you tell they shot this show in Vancouver?
• The entire storyline where the Greystone’s finally realize that their daughter was probably a terrorist who blew up a local subway full of innocent people is pretty hard hitting stuff from the show’s writers. Caprica is billed as “the beginning of the end of humanity,” but three hours in I’m still not completely sure what the series’ main thematic tones will be. Like BSG, which delved deeply into theology and the ethics/politics of war, Caprica clearly seems to be reaching deeper than discussing Asimov’s robotic laws. The final scene was pure BSG melodrama (wouldn’t a crowd be sympathetic to someone who just learned her daughter was a terrorist?) but I understand angry mobs are better TV. Moreover, the revelation was still effective in prodding the larger narrative along. I’m definitely curious where things are headed in that over lying arc. I also thought the show did a good job in exploring the ramifications of teen suicide, where parents wonder how well they did (or really did not) even know their child.
• Rebirth is definitely an appropriate name for this episode, referring naturally to Virtua-Zoe but also to the wonderful BSG world that many of us have loved and cherished. This was a great hour of television that gets the juices (and multiple twisty story lines going), and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’ll be following Caprica every week throwing these random talking points up here, so… somebody, please join me, or I’m just going to seem really sad.
• Bonus point: if Zoe eventually ends up being an angel, I’m going to murder someone.