Jeremy:
These episodes do a good job teasing you with hints of plot extension. The girl trapped in the robot hints that she might give herself away while the girl trapped in the game seems to elude all attempts at identification. Before the robot can free itself, however, it seems as though trouble with the parents may make it run away. While truancy in a 1-ton killing machine may not be the impetus behind it’s capture, it sure does extend the series past any hope of cylon uprising. This raises an interesting issue, do we watch prequels to fulfill an inevitable environmental creation or do we watch them so as to question assumptions seen in the original? In this instance, and the vast majority of others, we watch because they are available. Good cinema makes you want more at the end of a show, good marketing makes you look for it in different places.
Competing interests are arising between two factions within the terrorist monotheist organization. One led by a nun and another by a man named Barnabus. If you’re familiar with your biblical aetiology then you know this is stupid. These groups are able to sustain themselves with a grassroots bicycle mechanics consortium. This is because, in the future, bicycle mechanics will comprise the most critical of all the industrial sectors. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to buy stock in 3-in-1 and short pants.
An interesting thing happens in the second of these episodes: an action sequence. Before you get too excited it’s a car chase involving a Sienna. Counterpoint: it’s the most fuel efficient chase on the sci-fi channel. I’ve begun to realize that this is the halfway point in the series. At this point we’ve gone from daughter to computer program to daughter-controlled robot, daughter to computer program and son to thug. Where we need to be is robotS, robot and admiral, respectively. High hopes.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Episode #7: Limbo
Jeremy:
This episode introduces an alternate game-based reality called ‘new cap city’ wherein no rules apply. It’s telling that in a world mirrored on classical Greek society an alternate hedonistic society would develop – cue Dionysus. Is it a reaction to an overly orchestrated life or is it true desire? The answer, of course, is neither: ‘prevent nerds from positions of power.’ Unfortunately, if we follow through with this Alberta Liberals may struggle to find leadership necessary to falter. . . too soon?
It turns out that the professor’s wife’s breaking point for opium use is a single call from a girlfriend. This is interesting as her breaking point for denouncing her daughter as a terrorist was a single home movie. I wonder if it’s technically a character flaw if it’s necessary for the plot to move forward? Either way the conversation’s moot as it turns out that the professor’s wife suffers from severe psychosis. A good reminder both for the prevalence of mental illness and the danger of psychotropic medication. In her stupor she states that ‘surviving is the punishment for leaving things unsaid.’ I wonder how true that is? Do we create a world of limbo in order to live with past decisions? Do our actions predict our ability to see? Does this make third party guilt professionally unattainable?
On the robot front, progress is being made. . . hopefully no obstructive relationships will develop. In regards to the latter – it already has. Cue romantic robotic relationship. Shoot.
This episode introduces an alternate game-based reality called ‘new cap city’ wherein no rules apply. It’s telling that in a world mirrored on classical Greek society an alternate hedonistic society would develop – cue Dionysus. Is it a reaction to an overly orchestrated life or is it true desire? The answer, of course, is neither: ‘prevent nerds from positions of power.’ Unfortunately, if we follow through with this Alberta Liberals may struggle to find leadership necessary to falter. . . too soon?
It turns out that the professor’s wife’s breaking point for opium use is a single call from a girlfriend. This is interesting as her breaking point for denouncing her daughter as a terrorist was a single home movie. I wonder if it’s technically a character flaw if it’s necessary for the plot to move forward? Either way the conversation’s moot as it turns out that the professor’s wife suffers from severe psychosis. A good reminder both for the prevalence of mental illness and the danger of psychotropic medication. In her stupor she states that ‘surviving is the punishment for leaving things unsaid.’ I wonder how true that is? Do we create a world of limbo in order to live with past decisions? Do our actions predict our ability to see? Does this make third party guilt professionally unattainable?
On the robot front, progress is being made. . . hopefully no obstructive relationships will develop. In regards to the latter – it already has. Cue romantic robotic relationship. Shoot.
Episodes #5-6: Character development
Jeremy:
In these episodes a theme of adolescent angst seems to be pushing character development rather holding it back as per normal. One of the characters, still stuck in a robot, is now met by another adolescent stuck in a computer program. As with any internship, she finds herself at the mercy of a world stacked against her. Unlike an internship she seems to be able to find remuneration. These stresses have placed both of these stuck characters’ fathers into self doubt and guilt – pushing them, predictably, towards internet gaming.
The professor states that ‘I have agreed to give up my most profitable product but there’s a consequence’. Who knew. Notable quotations continue as one of the IT guys states that ‘[there are] twelve planets and nobody wants to go out with me’. Fortunately, this serves only to pander to the target audience.
In the meantime the nun’s mysterious actions seem to be hinged around a desire to immortalize herself. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that … Given that means and ends don’t seem to contradict she proceeds to inebriate the mother of one of the trapped girls in order to get information to that end. While she herself seems to be on the wrong end of an opium pipe. . . is there a right end?
These two episodes serve to introduce a not-too-subtle villain: a man who threatens the professor telling him that their competing interests make him angry and violent. Unfortunately, veiled threats such as ‘I’ll destroy your company’ and ‘I’ll take everything you love’ are unappreciated by the professor thus committing us to another malady-aux-cosby for the foreseeable future.
In these episodes a theme of adolescent angst seems to be pushing character development rather holding it back as per normal. One of the characters, still stuck in a robot, is now met by another adolescent stuck in a computer program. As with any internship, she finds herself at the mercy of a world stacked against her. Unlike an internship she seems to be able to find remuneration. These stresses have placed both of these stuck characters’ fathers into self doubt and guilt – pushing them, predictably, towards internet gaming.
The professor states that ‘I have agreed to give up my most profitable product but there’s a consequence’. Who knew. Notable quotations continue as one of the IT guys states that ‘[there are] twelve planets and nobody wants to go out with me’. Fortunately, this serves only to pander to the target audience.
In the meantime the nun’s mysterious actions seem to be hinged around a desire to immortalize herself. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that … Given that means and ends don’t seem to contradict she proceeds to inebriate the mother of one of the trapped girls in order to get information to that end. While she herself seems to be on the wrong end of an opium pipe. . . is there a right end?
These two episodes serve to introduce a not-too-subtle villain: a man who threatens the professor telling him that their competing interests make him angry and violent. Unfortunately, veiled threats such as ‘I’ll destroy your company’ and ‘I’ll take everything you love’ are unappreciated by the professor thus committing us to another malady-aux-cosby for the foreseeable future.
Episode #4: Gladiators and Facebook
Jeremy:
The episode starts with a statement from one of the protagonists: “people don’t want answers, people want contrition”. I guess that’s why we have gladiators and facebook. Other things learned include the fact that the word ‘street’ = cool. I’m street’s ahead.
The more that happens in these people’s lives means the less robot development that occurs. The denouement of this act came when they taught a robot to dance – unfortunately that too promoted a romantic relationship . . . between the robot girl and a programmer.
Flip phones, 2 cycle motorcycles and dot matrix printers – come on! You can’t just take the best parts of today and the worst parts of the 80s. That’s like putting an MP3 player in a Pinto.
Did you ever see an episode of the Cosby show where the complications could be avoided by one protagonist admitting the truth to another and being frustrated that that hadn’t happened. Imagine if that was stretched out over 4 episodes and prevented you from seeing more robots. This is a frustrating segue. Heathcliff!!!!
The episode starts with a statement from one of the protagonists: “people don’t want answers, people want contrition”. I guess that’s why we have gladiators and facebook. Other things learned include the fact that the word ‘street’ = cool. I’m street’s ahead.
The more that happens in these people’s lives means the less robot development that occurs. The denouement of this act came when they taught a robot to dance – unfortunately that too promoted a romantic relationship . . . between the robot girl and a programmer.
Flip phones, 2 cycle motorcycles and dot matrix printers – come on! You can’t just take the best parts of today and the worst parts of the 80s. That’s like putting an MP3 player in a Pinto.
Did you ever see an episode of the Cosby show where the complications could be avoided by one protagonist admitting the truth to another and being frustrated that that hadn’t happened. Imagine if that was stretched out over 4 episodes and prevented you from seeing more robots. This is a frustrating segue. Heathcliff!!!!
Episode #3: Paint Drying
Jeremy:
I’m starting to believe that my brevity re: actual plot content is less important now that both Steve and Scott narrate the shit out of each episode. This is good for two reasons: 1) sci-fi doesn’t do nearly as much educating as it used to and 2) this blog will never be printed. If anything, the disgust of the robustness of the other’s comments should convince nerds to plant trees.
Shocking revelations in this episode include a brief tutorial on how to turn your young nephew into a hooligan and the fact that, in the future, we will bring back videotapes and old russian cars. Is this a dystopia? Probably not, odds are that I don't know what that word means.
This might be nitpicking, but how hard is it to make a house look decrepit. I do know that If a nice motorcycle sans headlamp and gas tank were on my yard it would make my house look like it had potential.
The plot continues with the gradual initiation of a lawyer's son into the intricacies of an underground syndicate. The lawyer himself seems to have fallen into the same trap. I would have thought it would have been harder to corrupt a lawyer...
Unfortunately, this episode does not extend beyond setting the stage for the development of tension between the audience and the teacher, hidden child in robot, and the professor - something that was accomplished in the previous episode and something aspired to in any other soap opera. Come on robots, you don't have to build tension. You are robots, you can release it.
I’m starting to believe that my brevity re: actual plot content is less important now that both Steve and Scott narrate the shit out of each episode. This is good for two reasons: 1) sci-fi doesn’t do nearly as much educating as it used to and 2) this blog will never be printed. If anything, the disgust of the robustness of the other’s comments should convince nerds to plant trees.
Shocking revelations in this episode include a brief tutorial on how to turn your young nephew into a hooligan and the fact that, in the future, we will bring back videotapes and old russian cars. Is this a dystopia? Probably not, odds are that I don't know what that word means.
This might be nitpicking, but how hard is it to make a house look decrepit. I do know that If a nice motorcycle sans headlamp and gas tank were on my yard it would make my house look like it had potential.
The plot continues with the gradual initiation of a lawyer's son into the intricacies of an underground syndicate. The lawyer himself seems to have fallen into the same trap. I would have thought it would have been harder to corrupt a lawyer...
Unfortunately, this episode does not extend beyond setting the stage for the development of tension between the audience and the teacher, hidden child in robot, and the professor - something that was accomplished in the previous episode and something aspired to in any other soap opera. Come on robots, you don't have to build tension. You are robots, you can release it.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Scott: Episode 2
I’ve got an idea for the worst drinking game ever, every time someone smiles during a Caprica episode you drink. Not only would you never get to drink, but you would realize how painfully depressing this show is.
What constitutes a life? Is a toaster that feels a toaster? Can it be compelled to simply toast bread, or should it be allowed use it’s heating powers to heat other things. Is this a question of what fulfillment really is? These are the questions this episode poses.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Episode #2: Memorials and Parenting
Jeremy:
Thanks to the tardiness of the previous post the fans have been pre-baiting their breath for this definitive analysis of the second episode. While a late post has lead to a loss in regularity it has brought a fresh perspective from someone very regular. That’s right, Steve is full of shit. Or as they say on Caprica: 'shrat'. I don’t have any particular criticism of his remarks but it does seem like a good time to introduce animosity into the conversation. Peristaltically, in the vernacular, onwards and outwards…
Things in this episode I have learned so far: poor people are angry, Taurons go to Tauron-school, monotheists wear dresses and are polyamorous, and aliens from planets without flowers become criminals. This episode features the struggle of a girl trapped within a cylon body. Interestingly, the father (ignorant of this fact) chooses to work on the cylon thereby freeing her instead of going to the memorial of his daughter. This juxtaposition is only really interesting when one looks at it from a parenting position: repression and betrayal beget development. Take that freud.
At this point in the episode another interesting subplot is developing. The apparently monotheistic teacher seems to be seducing a student with one of her husbands. However, she is confronted by her family members and does what any reasonable high school teacher would do - falls off the wagon. To be fair, there's not much apparent wagon to start with.
What this episode does get across is that parenting isn't easy, the best parenting needs to be internalized into the child. Specifically, within a robot.
At this point in the episode another interesting subplot is developing. The apparently monotheistic teacher seems to be seducing a student with one of her husbands. However, she is confronted by her family members and does what any reasonable high school teacher would do - falls off the wagon. To be fair, there's not much apparent wagon to start with.
What this episode does get across is that parenting isn't easy, the best parenting needs to be internalized into the child. Specifically, within a robot.
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