CAPRICA - 1x10 "Unvanquished" - Episode Review
All terrorists go to Myst
Plot summary: The STO faces a crisis of leadership and Zoe attempts a daring escape.
Written by Ryan Motteheard. Directed by Eric Stoltz.
First things first, welcome back CAPRICA, wish you were better under the circumstances in whence you returned, but at least your main actor didn’t get cancer and had to withdraw from the series (get well, Andy!). SPARTACUS at least has a focus and drive that CAPRICA’s been sorely lacking, and “Unvanquished” was further sad proof of that. I’ll always be rootingfor the series to pull it together, but at this rate, it seems more likely than not that cancellation is a foregone conclusion. But stranger things have happened (after all DOLLHOUSE got an extra bonus season, as did FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS). On to dissection.
Episode 10 put what’s arguably the show’s weakest element front and center - the politics and machinations of Soldiers of the One -- while offering frustratingly elliptical resolutions to “End of Line”’s various cliffhangers, and in doing so, made for a typically confused show. The exploration of radical fundamentalism (and what people do in its thrall) should be more compelling than this (see, for example the scary-as-fuck documentary JESUS CAMP), but when we’re still trying to puzzle out what everyone’s base motives are, the drama goes right out the door. “Unvanquished” finally gave an extended glimpse of Gemmion, home of all the OTG cult members, and its visualization while often strking, seem at odds with the future tech-retro punk world of Caprica; its as if the Illumaniti set up shop in Rivendell.
(pretty establishing shots)
Sisters Clarice’s plan for “apotheosis” is seemingly revealed in full, and its not too much different from the whole “72 virgins in Heaven”; in this case, it’s the eternal “afterlife” in the company of The One True God, as provided by Zoe’s avatar program. And not only is she in conlict with the more radical groups (Barnabus and his knife-happy pals), but with the head of the Church as well (a curiously cast Meg Tilly). And having escaped one assassination attempt, Sister Clarice escapes yet another this week. What does it all mean? Damned if I know.
Meanwhile, Daniel’s in mourning over the loss of his wife and his company, with Vergis having taken over Greystone Industries in between this and the last episode. It would seem that the U-87s run for freedom wasn’t of major concern to the government contractors, but regardless, the Cylons are apparently now being rolled off the assembly lines by the thousands. Daniel goes the the Guatral with basically the same pitch as Sister Clarice’s in a ploy to regain his company, and gets a seemingly vengeful Joseph for a middle man (vengeful in the sense that he’s not very sold on what Daniel’s selling based on his less than fulfilling reunion with Tamara 2.0).
All this, and the revelation that Amanda survived her plunge and is living in a cabin in the woods with her new BFF, and its almost like the show’s reset itself back to square one. Could be good, could be bad, but let’s hope they get to the point sooner rather than later, for all involved.
Other notes:
• Hey it’s Ryan Robbins (the Armistice Officer and Connor on BSG) as Clarice’s would be assassin. Plus, we see that it was Vergis that coin the slur “toaster”.
• Among the unanswered questions this week: Why is Lacey voluntarily living with Barnabus’ crew? What happened to Nestor? How did Amanda survive her plunge? How did dying in the real world allow the Zoe avatar to respawn in New Cap City (although it makes sense that both she and Tamara would share the same powers? Is Cyrus Mr. Smithers to Daniel’s Mr. Burns? Who’s been watching A CLOCKWORK ORANGE on the costuming staff?
Episode Grade: C