DVD Reviews

Caprica: Season 1.0 – DVD Review

By June L. Oct 7, 2010, 15:07 GMT

The "Battlestar Galactica" phenomenon continues with this undeniably compelling look at where the real conflict between humans and the Cylons began... in a vibrant world remarkably like our own: "Caprica". Fifty-eight years before "Battlestar" takes off, two powerful families - the Graystones and the Adamas - find their destinies irrevocably intertwined after a devastating explosion. As both houses struggle with the line where humanity ends and artificial intelligence - the ...more

Last year I had the pleasure of reviewing the DVD of the pilot episode of Caprica.  It is a worthy successor albeit a prequel to its parent show Battlestar Galactica, and even better it is an entirely new entity for fans to enjoy. 

The first half of Season 1 is now on DVD, and the episodes are living up to the promise of the pilot.

The resident scientist and I were skeptical when I received the pilot to review, but fifteen minutes into the story, we were hooked and couldn’t wait to see what was to follow.  This is Caprica 58 years before the fall that sent Galactica and others fleeing across the universe to escape the cylons. 

This Caprica shares a lot with 1950’s Earth, it is a boom time, a society based on Caprican standards and woe to the ethnic groups who are “different.”  Two families in particular are the center of the story, the wealthy Graystones whose brilliant daughter and her friends were apparently responsible for the act of terrorism that killed a commuter mag-lev full of people. 

On that train were Shannon and Tamara Adams (Adama, but the name has been Capricanized to the more acceptable form.)  The Adams or Adama family are Taurons, an ethnic group who has a strong cultural heritage, and have made their way in Caprica with some shady dealings.  We see the young William Adama who will later be Commander Adama in the Battlestar series, and learn of his family life and where his heritage may take him. 

Although the story is on a planet rather than in space, there is a rich weave of mythology, culture, personalities, class struggles and philosophy, punctuated with intense drama and some very funny moments.  It is addictive to watch, as the story unwinds blending high tech brilliance with human emotions and creating a thought provoking and entertaining saga. 

With the number of young teens in the cast, I was afraid there would be an abundance of angsty scenes and that the adults would be pushed to the fringes of the action.  This is not so, these are teens like no one has ever seen and yet their struggles strike some chord of familiarity. 

All the cast is of equal importance to the story, moving from expensive homes to tenement buildings, to high priced laboratories and more than scummy courts of law.  Violence is just under the surface of everything, Caprica may be in a golden age in the minds of some, but there are others whose dissatisfaction is about to blow up the world.
 
Caprica: Season 1.0 DVD set is presented on four discs with the unrated and extended version pilot and the remaining 8 episodes.  The discs are housed in a cardboard folder illustrated with stills from the production, and episode notes. 

There are a variety of special features that enhance the understanding and the knowledge of the series.  The rated television version of the pilot is included, and there are deleted scenes for every episode.  A Behind the Scenes featurette shows fans the work with cgi to fill in some of those wonderful machines. 

Video blogs take a look at what is happening during production, and several episodes have cast and crew commentaries available.  It is hard not to tell the story, but that would ruin the fun. 

If you like well thought out drama and the ideas of other planets having developed on a path similar to Earth, there is much to enjoy in Caprica.  Well cast and beautifully produced, it belongs in every science fiction and good drama collection.

Visit the DVD database for more information.