Watch and discuss with me and Roth about the 2nd episode of Caprica. While the ratings have been low for the show, the actual quality of the series has been great so far. Let us know what you think!
- Dennis
13 Responses to “Caprica “Rebirth” 102 (VIDEO REVIEW)”
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Totally with you guys on this. A strong new series and I'm already well and truly hooked. Really love what you guys are doing with your reviews, the relaxed episodic discussion rather than the heavy review of stock-standard critics. Think Hero is now one of my fav sites!
Thanks! Glad you are enjoying our reviews. We like discussing these shows with each other and with everyone else online as well. Don't mind different opinions either as long as its civil and not cray cray, hahaha
Dennis
Thanks Darren! I really enjoy this show and hope it can make it. Hope people give it a bit more of a chance!
All The Best!
Roth
I found the cross cutting between Zoe and the robot to be annoying and unnecessary. I’ll admit that in a few scenes (like when they strapped her down) it was highly effective but I think you and the show producers are really under estimating the audience. Human beings are able to empathize with and become attached to just about anything. One of the most effective shots (IMO) was of the robot slamming the back of the truck trying to escape – it looked vulnerable and afraid without any cross cutting. In fact, cutting back to Zoe in that moment ruined it.
I do agree in that certain scene in the back of the truck, it wasn't completely necessary for the cut and the robot pulling on the lock was good enough. However I did find it effective in all the other scenes.
Dennis
The show has a great deal of potential. The acting and the directing is top notch but the story telling and script has a long way to go. I try to look at it as a standalone series but they have already ruined a few BSG mysteries for me. I thought the Cylon’s were way more interesting as AIs that evolved than as literal copies of humans. Also, I thought the idea that the centurions invented the one true god was one of the better tidbits in Cylon lore that is now completely ruined. Before they had they own separate culture, completely independent of humans, now they are just humans in artificial bodies. I do love the human stories, especially Bill’s mobster uncle. How awesome was it that Bill immediately used his uncle’s advice to guilt his father and thereby escape punishment for skipping school? Love that relationship.
Hey Elizabeth,
I can understand where you are coming from – but the minute something is a fully realized self contained Avatar – that can be transferred from one form to another – it is AI. Even if it is based on a human personality. All AI would be based on human traits as we are the creators. I don't think the rest of the cylons will come directly from human personalities – but in a sense they will. Zoe will be the one to create the next incarnation of cylons – in that way they do evolve in and of themselves. Cylons were always sort of half human half machine in a sense. I actually really like this genesis and I also really like the actress. I works for me – but like I said can totally see your point of view! Also who knows there may a lot more to there evolution yet to be revealed!
Good to hear your thoughts!
Roth
So I tried this episode too, feeling maybe I wasn't fair to the premiere.
I just can't wrap my head around it.
Cross cutting ruined it for me. I found it highly annoying and worse still, I did find it very cliche and over worked. I agree with TxGirl entirely. I thought the scene with it trying to escape the back of the van worked entirely, right up until they cut to Zoe banging her petite wrist inside the manacle. I also agree that I think I liked the original Cylon culture more, or rather what we were given in BSG as the culture.
Then the episode was filled with very interested world building as you guys put it and I agree, that seems top notch. I like the whole 40's gentleman motif mixed with high tech in certain places. It has style and that I can appreciate.
Didn't care for most of the dialogue in the entire episode though, I found it overly contrived and drab. Maybe even predictable. Which leads me to my final peeve . . .
Stupid people moments. You know those moments in TV when the writers decide to insult the entire human race by having someone do something so entirely stupid that it defies all reality. Like you know, ditzy college girl who runs upstairs to trap herself in an inescapable position when running out the front door and to the neighbors' is faster, easier, and will probably net better results (except when living in the countryside). The Amanda moment at the end of the episode was so horribly stupid that her character is beyond saving in my opinion (and it stinks I know). Stupid people moments always ruin everything for me though. I understand panic. I even understand schizophrenia. But blatant stupidity? Nah.
I thought I was kind to kind the cross-cutting to be cliche and annoying but found that it worked for me except for the truck scene, and that was because it wasn't necessary and her hand was so small that it didn't work visually. However I still think it is necessary in other instances, especially with that scene with her mother Amanda, you wouldn't get the same empathy with Zoe if you didn't see her reaction to her mother's comments from the robotic form.
The Amanda thing at the end was really out of left field and feel like they did it as a plot device versus actual character development.
Though I do have minor criticisms of the show, I'm still enjoying it and have found most of the acting, production, etc to very good.
Dennis
I really hated that moment with Amanda as well – and it is going to be almost impossible for them to redeem her character for me at this point. I know they did it as a plot device and clearly they do not give care about her character – or they would not have done that to her.
These men do not seem to make thier wives a huge priority though – or Greystone would have told his wife what was happening/what he had discovered and Adama would have revived his wife AND daughter not just his daughter. But – clearly that is not the focus of this show.
I agree about the truck scene – but for me the cross cutting is working.
For me in general I really am liking this show and taking it as a separate entity.
Thanks for commenting!
Roth
I don't mind when characters do stupid things – after all humans do – but the scene with Amanda wasn't stupid, it was completely incomprehensible. There was no indication of her motivation, no reason at all why she would do that.
Can’t wait to see what you think of episode 3. I think the show is getting better with each episode. So, far, with only three episodes, I’ve like each one better than the last. The acting and directing continues to be top notch and the story is getting better.
Thank frakin god some decent Sci Fi has returned, leave it to creators of BSG. I agree with many of the points and critiques made here. The cross-cutting was hard at first but, yes, it does more easily allow us to empathize. It just wouldn't have worked without it. Agreed, it will be pretty hard to redeem Amanda after this. Overall I'm thus far hooked and looking forward to seeing where they go with this.
i just realized, i know where they go with this. i meant how do they get to where they go!