Battlestar Galactica: Caprica

Folloiwng Battlestar Galactica came Caprica, which following the trends of the time, was a prequel series, that is- the storyline predates the 2003 series.

The action unfolds almost 60 years before the Cylons attack on the Twelve Colonies on a peaceful planet called Caprica. This show deals more in relationships than an unfolding space opera, and follows the Graystone and Adama families, and what happens when the human race invents a series of intelligent machines called Cylons, or Cybernetic Life-Form Nodes.

Caprica Season 1 Trailer

The action unfolds 58 years before the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, where hedonism reigns on the peaceful planet of Caprica. The depravity is interrupted by terrorists who go by the name of The Soldiers of the One who begin a bombing campaign.

Meanwhile, at Graystone Industries , Daniel and Cyrus Xander watch their latest robot prototype, the U-87, fails on its latest test. He is under pressure from the government who are considering canceling their contract with Graystone. The U-87 is the pre-runner to the Cylons, of course, and as the series develops, you gain an understanding of how the human race almost wiped themselves out with their own invention.

Caprica is a completely different series to Battlestar Galactica. Ronald Moore wanted to start afresh, and not to go over old ground. He tried to bring in more female viewers with a story-line that was based more heavily on the relationships of the characters, and since the series focuses on events that happen before the two Cylon Wars, the series feels markedly different both in content and style.

Caprica relates a peaceful world blinded by its own success, and that has somewhat lost its way (similarities here to the fall of the Roman Empire and what is happening in the US?). Caprica is running wild, Caligula style, and the Twelve Colonies are at their peak: and are being ever more sucked in by the potential of their technology. The series explores the ethics around the development of ultra intelligent machines and robotics.

As such, the show feels more like a high quality soap (think Dallas) than Battlestar Galactica. We prefer the Space Opera, but we can understand the appeal and the idea.

Religion plays a big part in the show. Again, there are shades of the Roman Empire here, as Colonial culture is based on a worship of multiple gods, whereas monotheism (belief in one god ) is practised by a fringe cult from the planet Gemenon.

Joseph Adama future Battlestar commander Bill Adama's Dad. Joseph loses his wife and daughter to terrorists, and his remaining family: his son, Bill, his brother, Sam, and his mother-in-law — have to come to terms with their loss.

An act of religious terrorism brings together Adama, a lawyer with ties to The Mob, and wealthy Daniel Graystone, who is developing ultra-intelligent machines. They both lost family members in the bomb.

Our verdict? Not as good as Battlestar Galactica, but a compelling series all the same and worth a watch. We've seen a lot worse on the TV, and you have to remember that it is up against a formidable competitor in Battlesta Galactica.