I was sitting at a table outside of a local restaurant listening to philosophers talking about philosophy-y things when one of them mentioned the new series Caprica. My ears perked because, suddenly, they were speaking my language. After hearing them go on and on about whether the mind was a function of the brain, or if the mind can exist outside of a carbon based person with what we understand to be a brain, it was a bit refreshing to know that I had been exploring, along with the writers of the show, this exact thing.

Well, not exactly. Since I’m not a philosopher by trade and rather enjoy the escape of television, even knowing that research says it may end my life sooner, I was watching the next incarnation of a world that could not have been dreamed of back in the 70s when the original show was on. The most recent Battlestar Galactica took us on a mind bending ride where some viewers weren’t always sure which side they were on. The final two episodes were in part fantastic and disappointing, but the series itself was very satisfying.

There are a few things I would change about Caprica. First, I would change the theme music. Battlestar Galactica’s music was awesome. Haunting, beautiful, energetic, you connected the sound with the show and it made you excited to watch. In my real, non-online life, only a couple of people understand this, but the sound of the T.A.R.D.I.S. does something fantastic to my insides. I become very excited for the show. It means another hour of fantastic. I don’t feel that when I hear the Caprica music. I just think, wow, this is a really crappy opening theme for a really great show.

I would also change the robotic interaction. I mean, we’re six episodes in already. Let the damn robot do something. Also, why is Sister Claire so creepy. I know I’m not part of the writing staff and I don’t know what’s coming up, but, I mean, come on! With the complexity that was the Cylon’s version of God, Sister Claire does not exactly make me confident that it will get it’s due diligence.

There are a few things I love about the show. Esai Morales as Papa Joseph Adama. He perfectly fits the character that we’ve come to know as Bill Adama’s dad. It’s nice to see him fleshed out and Esai Morales brings to mind the best that was Edward James Olmos as William Adama, another man struggling with his past and present, and one can see why he was picked to be the Papa. Also, William Adama started out a bit milquetoast, but has shown some of the fire that is the Bill we grew to know and love from 4 seasons of BSG. I also wasn’t sure what they were going to do with the daughter character, Tamara Adama, but I think I may like the New Cap City/Grand Theft Auto/ mob boss thing they’re going for with this very emotional and virtual world powerful avatar. It remains to be seen…

Another thing I love about the show is Sasha Roiz as Sam Adama. I’m not one to like dangerous men. I like my men smart and nerdy and not afraid to be so. There is something about a man that knows who he is and what he thinks. That is present in the character of Sam Adama. He’s smart. That’s what makes him a good assassin. The hot bod, the AWESOME Tauron tattoos, and those beautiful, piercing eyes – yeah, I don’t care that his character is gay. I would totally do an “April” (from Parks and Rec) with him and his partner.

So, yeah, I’m in love with the Adama family (although what is up with the grandma?) but I also find Graystone fascinating. He appears to be very down to earth, a good guy who was smart enough to find a way for his family to do better in Caprica. That doesn’t take away from the decided menace that lies just underneath his surface, just kind of makes you still cheer for him even though it looks like he will be the one that causes the sentient Cylons to hate humanity. I like the hint of the “former” life of the Graystones before everything gets big. The strained relationship that begins to get better following the death of their daughter is also interesting as the Graystones try to put their lives back together. Also, the addition of Vergis and his need to destroy Graystone will make the remaining season very interesting.

Finally, the first Cylon… With the avatar of Zoe Graystone, killed when her boyfriend sets off a bomb on their way to Gemenon, alive and well and a little confused. The need, by Graystone, to get his daughter back results in the theft of a device that will animate the robot. It works, though as of the sixth episode, Daniel Graystone does not know that she is there. I like how the show goes between Avatar Zoe and Cylon Zoe. I’m also a fan of her going to the virtual world to hang out with her new friend, Dr. Philomon. That was a well done way of integrating the Zoe character, the virtual world, and Caprica series reality.

Despite not being a philosopher, some of the questions of mind, reality, humanity, etc. that Battlestar Galactica asked are also interesting questions asked in this series. It will be interesting to see where the show takes these questions and how our own minds validates, or reject, the answers they come up with.