I think they were hoping to lure people in with a sort of "hey look, Battlestar Galactica : the early years", but it's clearly a different show.

I decided to give it a chance and i've been really entertained, I spose SyFy [godawful name] decided from the start to let it flounder.

I guess at the very least they are shoving it aside for other BSG projects.

 

The show is brilliant. it's so stylized but relevent and real feeling. The pacing is so slow but it's...comfortable... like real life. They don't want to rush it... it needs this sense of grace and... respect... and syfy never accepted that.

 

But we will get CAPRICA back... I'm addicted to twitter now watching Allisandra Torresani hehe... "momma cylon" as we call her. hehe

 

 

I was utterly despondent when the news broke (I had been expecting it but the dropping the show after airing such a strong episode and withholding the last five episodes seemed unusually cruel).

Here's my personal take on the saga (I've no insider information but it's just my conclusion based on the observable facts and I've seen it mentioned elsewhere too).

Caprica was commissioned before the full scale of the financial crisis hit.

It's a very expensive show, with a large ensemble cast of established actors, filmed on location and on sets and it became obvious around the time of broadcast that they couldn't afford a second series. The decision was probably made to switch to a small cast green screen based series almost straight away.

Rather than admit this and create a negative buzz in business circles they deliberately scuppered Caprica using the bizarre promotion and broadcast methods they used and announcing Blood And Chrome around the time of broadcast of the second half of the series.

This meant the few people who realised the show had come back would stop watching as it was pretty clear that it was going to be canceled and hardly anyone watches a story based show where the story isn't concluded.

They could then point to the low ratings to justify the cancellation and hope that the new series will pick up some of the disappointed viewers who followed Caprica.

I fear however that people will not trust SyFy after all this fannying around to support even a cheap green screen space opera show.

The show was in my opinion unique and a bit too clever for it's own good.

Despite being set in the same universe as NuBSG it told a very different kind of story and kept it free of spoilers for the other series so people who enjoyed it could later move on to the earlier show set further along the timeline (something Lucas should have done with the PT).

The writing and acting were very impressive and it took chances with story telling (to the point where it alienated some BSG fans who preferred the combat lead earlier seasons of that show by being at odds with their expectations).

It just had the bad fortune of being handled in the way it was at the time it was by the increasingly ironically named SyFy.

Agred. Absolutely. The odd thing is look at the original pilot. They tre to use locations a lot. Theb syfy went to series and said "redo te establishing shots" and create a whole other expence. Just seems strange to make it more expencive lol. But god its gotta come back.

I can't see it happening, it's possible that they may re-tool the final five (tee-hee) episodes to tie them in with Blood And Chrome (which would explain why they are holding them back and delaying the release of the DVD sets).

The whole thing reminds me of Parliamentary Trains, it goes back to the 19th Century. When a train company wanted to close a line but avoid the expense of closing the line so deliberately made the service unworkable to justify the closure.

The BBC used the same tactics to get Doctor Who off the air in the eighties despite it's continued popularity (running it against soaps, cutting the budget etc, until the viewing figures dropped low enough to justify the cancellation...but ironically not the loss in VHS and DVD sales which made more money for the BBC than foreign broadcast sales).

SyFy will probably not last out the next few years, possibly NBC have been using the same tactics with SyFy as a whole (what with the re-branding and diminishing amount of science fiction on the channel, it's brand identity is so watered down that it's ripe to be turned into a totally different channel and/or sold off).

Agred. Absolutely. The odd thing is look at the original pilot. They tre to use locations a lot. Theb syfy went to series and said "redo te establishing shots" and create a whole other expence. Just seems strange to make it more expencive lol. But gods its gotta come back!!

I think Caprica's problem was BSG. I got into BSG late and watched it all on DVD, so I was used to quick resolutions since I got to see them all back-to-back. Then we watch Caprica's pilot, then months later the beginning of the season, then months later the rest of the season, now months in the future the end of the season. The show needed a full fleshed out, all-in-a-row season, but still I feel like they squandered the shows they were able to air. Everything took so long to get moving. I guess what we really wanted was a Cylon uprising, but the writers were planning so far in the future they took for granted that they might not last that long. I could see where they were headed and I liked where it was going, but it took so long to getting there that it started losing viewers, including my wife. I had to beg her to watch 1.5 last weekend, then two days later they cancel it.

Anyway, I think Blood and Chrome will be closer to what the general public who watches SyFy will want, Cylons. And I think its what I wanted too.

Personally I didn't like Caprica. The story felt like a whole group of emo kids in a room cutting themselves because, mommy didn't get them a car they wanted. I mean mabye some episode cleared things up that I didn't see but, I watched the majority of it. From what I saw some kid with zero motavation blew up his girlfriend on the train and, the religous organization just kills... to kill. I mean was there some kind of oppresion I missed? Sure there was a bit of hate but, from what I've seen it was justified. The only two members I saw not be gung ho about killing people were Clarice and, Zoe. Even then the other members just wanted to kill them. It was a failed allagory for opposing religous beliefs. They wanted death at the hands of the seen by majority "bad" religous group but, didn't give us much of a reason to see their side. By making the majority of those within the organization killers who plant bombs everywhere it's hard to see their side of the issue.

Further, Joe's quest to see a digital file created by Daniel through a google search was just depressing and, suffered an anti-climatic end.

Plus, the v-world was poorely handled. I mean an underground, hacked, virtual reality has the following stupid rules. 1 you die once your blocked from re-entry. 2 you apparently have to hold a job in this thing. 3 it's too damn real. They go through this trouble creating this video game that's illegal so that the majority of it you're just sitting around looking at "guns" your holding for your "boss". Sure there's the sex part but, why the fuck would you stick around after that? Most people would realistically jack in go to the sex rooms. Then go back out into another game where they can kill and, be killed and, respawn. Then if they wanted to chat they'd go to a game where they can chat without getting blocked by some troll who decided to go on a shooting spree. Sex aside it didn't seem fun to be in at all.

Super genius kid story. Yeah an emo rich girl Wesley Crusher basically. Who we barely get to know before she's killed. In her few minutes of screentime she's a brat who doesn't at all appreciate the work her parents do to keep a roof over her head. I know it's not unrealistic but, my gripe about this is this character's death was the anchor for the entire series. It's the motavation for Zoe-A, Lacey, Daniel, damn near everyone. From what little was shown she's an unlikeable brat who just wanted to run away. I mean at least Wesley used his smarts to save the ship several times. Zoe? Oh, "I don't like my life despite being a healthy born rich person with intelligence and, several options available to me being a Caprican native. My life fucking sucks 'cause I believe in one God. Run away time!!!!"

I personally won't be an active part in getting Caprica back on the the air because, I didn't like it.

That said there were positives to the series. Good performances, well written dialogue overuse of "frack" aside, and gave Eric Stolz a paycheck. Apart from that I didn't like it. The pacing was poor and, too many story points were just dropped.

If anyone does want to save the series an apple send campaign is unlikely to work. You'd have to do something big. Get a few hundred fans and, a star of the series to go to a store with you and, buy the DVDs. Record it and, post it to Youtube to get it viral. The Subway campaign worked for Chuck. Want to save Caprica? Do something akin to that.

twister111 said:

Personally I didn't like Caprica. The story felt like a whole group of emo kids in a room cutting themselves because, mommy didn't get them a car they wanted. I mean mabye some episode cleared things up that I didn't see but, I watched the majority of it. From what I saw some kid with zero motavation blew up his girlfriend on the train and, the religous organization just kills... to kill. I mean was there some kind of oppresion I missed? Sure there was a bit of hate but, from what I've seen it was justified. The only two members I saw not be gung ho about killing people were Clarice and, Zoe. Even then the other members just wanted to kill them. It was a failed allagory for opposing religous beliefs. They wanted death at the hands of the seen by majority "bad" religous group but, didn't give us much of a reason to see their side. By making the majority of those within the organization killers who plant bombs everywhere it's hard to see their side of the issue.

Further, Joe's quest to see a digital file created by Daniel through a google search was just depressing and, suffered an anti-climatic end.

Plus, the v-world was poorely handled. I mean an underground, hacked, virtual reality has the following stupid rules. 1 you die once your blocked from re-entry. 2 you apparently have to hold a job in this thing. 3 it's too damn real. They go through this trouble creating this video game that's illegal so that the majority of it you're just sitting around looking at "guns" your holding for your "boss". Sure there's the sex part but, why the fuck would you stick around after that? Most people would realistically jack in go to the sex rooms. Then go back out into another game where they can kill and, be killed and, respawn. Then if they wanted to chat they'd go to a game where they can chat without getting blocked by some troll who decided to go on a shooting spree. Sex aside it didn't seem fun to be in at all.

Super genius kid story. Yeah an emo rich girl Wesley Crusher basically. Who we barely get to know before she's killed. In her few minutes of screentime she's a brat who doesn't at all appreciate the work her parents do to keep a roof over her head. I know it's not unrealistic but, my gripe about this is this character's death was the anchor for the entire series. It's the motavation for Zoe-A, Lacey, Daniel, damn near everyone. From what little was shown she's an unlikeable brat who just wanted to run away. I mean at least Wesley used his smarts to save the ship several times. Zoe? Oh, "I don't like my life despite being a healthy born rich person with intelligence and, several options available to me being a Caprican native. My life fucking sucks 'cause I believe in one God. Run away time!!!!"

I personally won't be an active part in getting Caprica back on the the air because, I didn't like it.

That said there were positives to the series. Good performances, well written dialogue overuse of "frack" aside, and gave Eric Stolz a paycheck. Apart from that I didn't like it. The pacing was poor and, too many story points were just dropped.

If anyone does want to save the series an apple send campaign is unlikely to work. You'd have to do something big. Get a few hundred fans and, a star of the series to go to a store with you and, buy the DVDs. Record it and, post it to Youtube to get it viral. The Subway campaign worked for Chuck. Want to save Caprica? Do something akin to that.

The teen characters were only in it for about a ninth of the screen time...you seem to be describing the pilot episode, where they feature more prominently because the MAGLEV bombing is a major plot point in the pilot and first few episodes.

It's clearly explained that the whole of Caprican society is so hideously jaded and apathetic (using technology to play out human sacrifice, crime, rape, robbery fantasies etc) that this horrifies a minority drawn from a broad cross section of their culture (the teens are teens because Sister Willow is using her position as a teacher to spot potential converts and get them primed to blow up stuff there are STO members of every age and class and they are only it when the plot demands it).

I can see the appeal of New Cap City in V-World (and Caprican society as a whole).

In V-World anything is possible and so it's boring as hell, in New Cap City there is virtual danger and the rules are not defined (you could get locked out of a game you are really enjoying) it has some of the freedom of V-World with some of the consequences of the real world. The mysterious designer of the game seems to have a bit of a God complex (though I'm sure it doesn't like being called that). It made me wonder if the God thing saw our reality in the same way that Capricans saw New Cap City.

The bulk of the plot concentrates around the adult characters as you say we hardly get to see Zoe-A because the character is redundant, Zoe-B is much more important as she has to break away from being just a faded photocopy of the dead girl and become herself.

When a series is split up like this one was first impressions probably count more than they normally would.

 

^ Looks like Jeditray has been canceled too.

SPACE in Canada is apparently showing the missing episodes.

I've got to wait for the delayed DVD release which I might get second hand just to smite SyFy.

Bingowings said:

^ Looks like Jeditray has been canceled too.

Poor ratings.

Do you have a source for that Ash as I've not seen that mentioned anywhere as yet?

It probably won't effect me now, I might have been lucky to receive the collected series for Christmas or purchased it in the new year but after the mess up SyFy made of this (which doesn't effect myself but is a slap in the face to fans following the show on that channel) I will make a point of purchasing any of their shows second hand (recycling is good for the environment and my method of purchase will put a little sand grain sized ding in their profits as a protest).

CAPRICA is such an amazing show. To describe it in singular words is simply diminishing the impact and the strength the show as a whole had.

 

You had a cast of characters who had strengths, quirks, and personalities that are firmly outlined in the series.  With each episode, we learn more about the characters.

 

For example: Daniel Graystone seemed like an ok dad in the pilot. The story progresses and we learn that he has a pension for working very hard. That he is a self built man. We learn how his love for his wife (and see as well) has truly made her a stronger woman and capable of being "normal."

 

Then we start to see the darker side of him. Because of his power, he feels he can do as he pleases and because of the success he's had in his company, he feels vindicated that his persistence and determination are what truly made it what it is today. He then uses that idea to convince himself he should do all he can to win: steal from Vergis corp the device he needs and then steal his company back from Vergis himself.

He will obviously stop at nothing. His coy lie about "having seen [Zoe's] drawings and getting them stuck in his mind," to then design a robot based on them is another sad ploy. I don't truly believe it.

 

Then we have his wife who is a "weak" woman. I say weak but she really isn't. I mourn the loss of this character the most as her evolution...watching her act... was perhaps the most easiest thing for me to do. She is so gifted. Her love for her husband and the loss of her brother seem to have been some of the largest things that shaped her. The amazing thing is that despite her weakness, she is strong. The problem with accepting one's strengths is also accepting one's darkness and she has feared this. The loss of a daughter she had no good relationship with broke her psyche. Not to mention her stint in a psychiatric ward was only ended by the strength of her husband and now that he's betrayed her by being a man she never imagined he could be...well... her life fell apart. 

She finds solace and strength in the guidance of Clarice who uses Amanda, but on some level, genuinely loves her. She finds that strength she had lost and begins to betray herself by spying on Clarice.

 

The strength of all the characters was so infinately fascinating to me. Each week we learned tidbits more of each...fleshing out the characters and their world. I mourn the loss of an entire civilization now. A great gap has been created in what we will know about the worlds of BSG and the great human drama seems to have simply been lost entirely.

 

If SyFy can't afford it, they should shop around.

 

Bingowings said:

The teen characters were only in it for about a ninth of the screen time...you seem to be describing the pilot episode, where they feature more prominently because the MAGLEV bombing is a major plot point in the pilot and first few episodes.

It's clearly explained that the whole of Caprican society is so hideously jaded and apathetic (using technology to play out human sacrifice, crime, rape, robbery fantasies etc) that this horrifies a minority drawn from a broad cross section of their culture (the teens are teens because Sister Willow is using her position as a teacher to spot potential converts and get them primed to blow up stuff there are STO members of every age and class and they are only it when the plot demands it).

No, I'm describing what the entire thing felt to me. A bunch of emo kids is an analogy.

Bingowings said:

I can see the appeal of New Cap City in V-World (and Caprican society as a whole).

In V-World anything is possible and so it's boring as hell, in New Cap City there is virtual danger and the rules are not defined (you could get locked out of a game you are really enjoying) it has some of the freedom of V-World with some of the consequences of the real world. The mysterious designer of the game seems to have a bit of a God complex (though I'm sure it doesn't like being called that). It made me wonder if the God thing saw our reality in the same way that Capricans saw New Cap City.

The bulk of the plot concentrates around the adult characters as you say we hardly get to see Zoe-A because the character is redundant, Zoe-B is much more important as she has to break away from being just a faded photocopy of the dead girl and become herself.

When a series is split up like this one was first impressions probably count more than they normally would.

 

Huh? I think you misread my post entirely. I used "Zoe-A" as short for "Zoe's Avatar". Also, "v-world" in reference to "new cap city" please re-read my post with that in mind.

GoodMusician said:

If SyFy can't afford it, they should shop around.

Won't happen. BSG and, Caprica respectfully are owned by Universal who owns Syfy. Glen A. Larson owns the movie production rights to BSG and, any subsequent spin-off. It's Universal who's putting an end to this series. Glen A. Larson has only wanted to do a continuation of TOS for about a decade. Ron Moore and, company are merely employees who own very little in the grand scheme of things. They are the ones likely to want to shop around to other networks but, it's like expecting JJ. Abrams to shop around for more Star Trek. So, unless fans of this series can prove it'll be profitable to continue the series it'll never be ressurected. It's not impossible though. If you're able to gather a mass of fans buying the DVDs at once, post it to Youtube or, otherwise draw attention to yourselves. That'll show them it's worth continuing. An apple send campaign just shows your willing to buy apples. Unless they litterally get more individually sent apples then Nielson ratings I doubt it'll make much of a difference.


All in all my biggest dissapointment with BSG and, Caprica is that in 2007 Ron Moore really had a better idea then what eventually came out into episodes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9op6PC03LRA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w-9NglSNG0

Ron Moore said:

I sort of developed this idea that the Cylons had as they and, their as their development grew, grown. Sort of you know their beings what it meant to be sentient and, self aware and, to be a thinking uh, person. They developed a theology. That they'd developed an idea in one true God. That spoke to them and, was a God of love. And that essentially in, in their view looked upon the Cylons as the next step in evolution. That their God had created Man. Man was a flawed creation. Man creates Cylon. Cylon is a perfect, more perfect creation. Then the Cylons need to destroy the old bad creation. To, to uh, fulfill God's plan and, that was essentially what the Cylons were about.

Cavil's parent issues, STO on Caprica before the Cylons go to war, even the final five backstory takes away from this. This idea he had in 2007 is far better in my oppinion then what we got. It sounds more like a plan too then what was eventually revealed.

Every NuBSG Opening said:

And they have a plan!

Yeah, what was that plan again?  I already forgot.

to kill all humans!

Really?  Maybe I should watch then.  I sure enjoyed that plot point in Futurama.

^ heh, I sorta feel the same way about season 4 episode 17. I loved it, I think i'm the only one.

I appreciate season one now but it didn't really grab me at the time.

As much as i love various bits here and there Season 2 is pretty solid.