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  • TV Series: Caprica
  • Episode: Reins of a Waterfall
  • Starring: Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson, Alessandra Torresani, Magda Apanowicz, Sina Najafi, and Polly Walker
  • Written By: Michael Angeli
  • Directed By: Ronald D. Moore
  • Network: Syfy
  • Series:

Caprica: Reins of a Waterfall Review

She Said What?!

By Rob Vaux     February 08, 2010


Caprica
© Syfy/Bob Trate

 

Series guru Ronald D. Moore takes the helm this week in a developmental episode intended more to get us from Point A to Point B than repeat last week's feat of blowing our minds. It focuses primarily on the growing schism between Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) and Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz). The former, unable to get the thought of his replicated daughter out of his head, has been pursuing the latter in an effort to see her again. When Graystone attempts to blow him off, Adama turns to his brother (Sasha Roiz) for more substantial leverage, mainly by beating the crap out of Graystone in the gungy alley behind his gym. (Graystone eschews the upscale workout scene in favor of a ratty little hole in the wall, a bit of contrivance which works thanks to Moore's careful set up.)
 
An ongoing feud between these two promises great things--Adama with his Tauren gangster connections behind him, Graystone with higher-end political friends upon which to call. There are benefits and drawbacks to both sides. Adama, never entirely comfortable with his criminal link, runs the risk of sinking hopelessly into corruption… and worse, of tainting his son (Sina Najafi) in the process. (Willy's well on his way to a criminal's life, skipping school to serve food in an underground club at his uncle's behest.) Graystone, for his part, needs to exercise his power without appearing to exploit it. His wife's (Paula Malcomson) public outburst has cost his company dearly, and with a burgeoning police investigation still poking into his daughter's terrorist connections (not to mention a ravenous media watching his every move) he can't afford a misstep.
 
Moore revels in pushing the pair ever deeper into their mutual trap, demonstrating the cost not only to themselves but to their nearest and dearest as well. Stoltz and Morales have both taken to their roles like fish to water, and though they only share a few scenes together, their rivalry seeps into every corner of the episode.
 
"Reins of a Waterfall" compounds their folly with a new development in cyberspace. Zoe (Alessandra Torresani) has found a way to escape her Cylon body and return to the virtual world. She and Lacy (Magda Apanowicz) soon find Tamara Adama (Genevieve Buechner) lurking in the same dark corner where her father left her, then set her free into the dance floors and snuff clubs just beyond her empty room. The interplay between Zoe and Lacy doesn't hold the same juice as the remainder of the episode; they're plotting to get Zoe's Cylon body to Gemenon, and while the mystery of what lies on that distant planet bears watching, the logistics of sneaking a 2-ton Killbot there feels leaden and dull. Tamara, on the other hand, holds much more potential: a wild card in the duel between her father and her creator with the potential to ignite the situation in any number of devastating ways.
 
Moore possesses the strength of his overall concept beneath the various dramatics. Colonial society has been so well developed that new and interesting twists on our culture appear in almost every scene. Sam's open and casual homosexuality, for example, brings a fascinating new dimension to his character while demonstrating Caprica's social awareness and ever-so-slight distinction from Earth. One wonders if other Colonies are so open, and if not, what sort of differences one might find if one travels there. Moore knows how to dole out such tidbits in ways which don't undermine the narrative. On the contrary, they add a refreshing sense of creativity to elements which might otherwise succumb to stereotypes. I seem to recall BSG doing much the same thing, further cementing Caprica's status as a worthy successor to its legacy. "Reins of a Waterfall" takes that responsibility seriously, and the results keep this first-rate show solidly on track.
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Hobbs 2/8/2010 7:46:10 AM

I enjoyed the episode as well...agree with the grade.  It flowed better than last week.  I just hope they don't cheapen the theft of the Cylon....seeing how Lacy is a kid that is seeking help from another kid.  How they pull of the theft better be easy to beleive.  I would think as much as Greystone company is sinking he is staking a lot on the Cylon robot and I'm sure its going to have some big time security.

isgrimner 2/8/2010 7:58:07 AM

So, I've been watching this show having never seen a BSG episode.  I do have the first season of BSG in my Blockbuster queue, but I have other items ahead of it.   Don't know if watching this will ruin anything when watching BSG.

So far, I'm not a big fan of Adama.  He seemed to be a good guy in the pilot, but his loss has had a real negetive impact on his character. 

The acting of the main characters has been pretty good. 

Rheul_home 2/8/2010 9:06:23 AM

@isgrimner

I dont know if Caprica will have any impact on your watching BSG but if I were you I would get caught up an BSG ASAP. It was a fantastic series and will definately enhance Caprica for you.

swisshammer 2/8/2010 12:08:51 PM

I can't see them making the heist without involving (maybe even accidentally) the Soldiers of the One. This is my guess to how Cylons spin quickly out of control.

Either way, I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season. This is a good show.

LadyBrowncoat 2/8/2010 1:24:32 PM

 I'm still figuring out what Sister Clarice thinks the apotheosis is.  The very term apotheosis seems to contradict the idea of One True God.  Does she think that Zoe's avatar will be raised to the status of deity?  That one nagging detail is the only thing that bugged me about an otherwise awesome episode.

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