Last night's Caprica gave Sam Adama, the thuggish brother of Joseph Adama, time to shine as he got his first story line to display how far he will go for his Tauran roots. Meanwhile, Daniel works on tweaking the Grace program and Amanda continues to get in good with Clarice's family to suit Agent Durham's needs.

"I Envy You"

Amanda continues making her attempts to get to know the House of Willow by befriending the so-called head of household Marebeth, who is pregnant and planning a water birth. She is a complete and utter wench to Amanda, which would be valid if she truly knew Amanda's intentions. Her cold demeanor comes from Amanda being "Terror Mom" to Zoe, which she feels will bring danger to her family. The 'true' head of the Willow household, Clarice, stands by her faith in Amanda and tells Marebeth that it's best if she did the same.

While the power struggle continues at Casa Willow, Amanda meets with Agent Durham who tells her time is running out and any information on the Willows will be of some help in the investigation.

When Amanda gets back to the house, she is shocked that Marebeth is throwing her out due to questioning Marebeth's birth methods. This is clearly why Clarice is the leader, because anyone could tell through that lie that Marebeth hates Amanda and just wants the woman out of her house. Amanda, not to be deterred, gives a postpartum depression sob story about how she wishes she can be in Marebeth's shoes and experience actually wanting a baby since Zoe was actually a mistake. Wow.

Marebeth lets Amanda stay and help in treating the baby after the birth. While Clarice gives a prayer over the newborn, Amanda returns to Agent Durham who asks how did she get back in with the Willows.

"I lied," Amanda simply states.

Boy, did she...

Tweaking The System

Daniel has a nice breakfast discussing his latest issue tweaking Zoe's program with Amanda. Wait. With who?! The sunny exterior and Amanda's miraculous recovery from her limp was all I needed to know that Amanda was a hologram avatar, which Daniel is using as a prototype to help perfect Zoe's program. Unfortunately, time is running since the Guatrau wants the program up and marketed soon and has already had a commercial done without Daniel, but using Daniel's avatar in place of it.

Later Daniel tries again to use the Amanda avatar to remember things on her own through Daniel and Zoe's old journals. After some prodding, Amanda 2.0 remembers an event that wasn't logged in the journals, which is a breakthrough in his research.

At Graystone Industries, Cyrus brings to Daniel's attention the Ha'la'tha adding a third shift to the company's schedule and disappearing merchandise, which means that they are bleeding money from Graystone Industries. Daniel orders Cyrus not to say anything to the mob, but to install cameras to catch them in the act.

Daniel runs into Joseph Adama and ponders how did he get in the position he's in now and yearns to get back to the man he was pre-bombing. Joseph smoothly advises that Daniel needs someone who knew him when he was that person to help resurface the attributes that Daniel wants back. Daniel asks Joseph if his wife was his person to do just that, and Joseph answers she was until Zoe blew her up. Ouch!

Daniel talks with Amanda later that night at their house and decides to come clean about the atrocities he's committed as of late. He claims that losing Zoe put him on the path of destruction and ends it with killing Vergis, which he really didn't do. After he's laid out "the truth" to 'Amanda', it is revealed that Daniel is talking to Amanda 2.0 again and the conversation begins to go down hill when Amanda 2.0 forgives him for his actions, which is something the real Amanda wouldn't do. He angrily shouts at the avatar for saying "I love you", which is impossible to Daniel, because it is incapable of loving anyone. Frustrated, Daniel exits the program to find out that his breakthrough was not up to par, in more ways than one. Back to the drawing board, Daniel...

Civil War on Two Worlds

Sam Adama is highly upset with the civil war happening on Tauron, which has his husband Larry worrying about Sam's life. Why is that? Because Sam has been not only sending more money to Tauron, but he's also been sending guns to help in the war over there as well. Meanwhile, Joseph is back on his feet due to the help of his secretary Evelyn, which Ruth takes note of and pushes Evelyn to snag Joseph while she can.

Sam and another Ha'la'tha member are about to transport more guns to Tauron, when they are ambushed by another Tauron gangster who is the only person in the gun trade business. After killing Sam's accomplice, the thug sends Sam running back to the Guatrau. But Sam is shocked to find that the Guatrau wants no part of this and pretty much says that Sam must deal with this mess on his own by the end of the day. Uh 0h...

Sam runs to find Joseph, but finds another tough ally instead. As the thugs party it up in their hotel suite, Sam sends a Cylon droid to decimate the party before taking pleasure in killing the head thug himself.

Later, Sam tries to explain to the Guatrau how the Cylons would benefit their people back home, but the Guatrau is not hearing it, because what's going on in Tauron is not affecting him on Caprica. He reminds Sam of what the Ha'la'tha stands for (which is basically "from the ground") and informs Sam of how much his obsession of maintain the old culture is hindering him from thinking straight. I have to agree with the Guatrau on this one.

A solid episode which showcased the first ever use of a Cylon in the field of "battle, which was basically an one armed fight all day long. Glad to see Sasha Roiz shine last night and equally glad to see Joseph moving on from his mourning and embracing life through the arms of Evelyn. I'm kind of worried about the entire "Guatra controlling Graystone Industries" bit, because it can end just as badly as it started. Nothing good ever comes out of embezzlement, so I wonder who will fall in the end... Daniel? Or the Ha' la' tha'? Enquiring minds want to know...

See you all next week!

Caprica 1.13 "False Labor" Recap

It's that time of year again. The ghouls and goblins are roaming the streets again, and porches are littered with pumpkins carved into the horrific visages of--

Dwight Shrute? The Doctor?

Not every pumpkin you carve for Halloween has to have triangular eyes and jagged teeth. People have been carving their pumpkins into totems of pop culture for years; with the advent of the Internet, talented carvers have begun to show off their gourdish creativity. For those who aren't as good with freehand, they've even offered up stencils of their fantastic carvings, which have delved into the realm of television. Ever wondered what Greg House would look like carved into a pumpkin? Hurley Reyes? Dexter Morgan? How about that lead trio from The Vampire Diaries?

The gallery below has twenty terrific pumpkins for you to ooh and ahh over, and cringe with jealousy. Some of the images below are actual pumpkins, while others are just patters for you to try out yourself.

Are you feeling the Halloween spirit? Well, keep your television sensibilities alive with the wonderful selections below.

Special thanks to Mark O. Estes, who contributed to this article, as well as to PinkRayGun.com, who created many of these fantastic designs.

Dexter Morgan

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This creepy serial killer from Showtime's 'Dexter' is perfect pumpkin material, and will scare off your neighbors.

20 Pumpkin Carvings for the TV Fanatic

The title of the midseason finale of Caprica could stand for not only the characters' fates, but the patience of a viewing audience as well.

Don't get me wrong. I am not in the crowd I mentioned above, but if someone wanted to bow out now, I would understand their reasoning for doing so. "End of Line" lost me during the 'previously on...' segment when we see a scene with Clarice and Olaf fussing over a flyer for a missing bike that ties into Barnabas' terrorist cell. I can't recall that scene, but if anyone else can, please give me the episode in which it was featured.

Some of the story lines came to a head on collision (pun intended), while others just fizzled into the ether. While most of the aforementioned story arcs meshed or crisscrossed each other, it was like some strings ran short and left a messy crochet project in the process. So instead of just wondering what is going to happen next, I can't help but wonder how will they build upon this shaky base, despite the intriguing preview for the fall episodes. Let's do a quick recap.

Journey's End

Joseph Adama is a mess. Sam is pissed, but Evelyn tells him to let Joseph be. Meanwhile in the V-World, Tamara is approached by Emmanuelle, who tells Tamara that Joseph is practically killing himself looking for his daughter. She asks Tamara for her help. When Joseph finally does find Tamara, she begs her father to let her go, because it is not healthy for him. He refuses, which forces Tamara to shoot herself. Before Joseph can react well, Tamara turns the gun on him and shoots his avatar out of the game. Joseph awakes in the real world crying when he realized what just happened. In the V-World, Emmanuelle watches the entire incident in a corner. After Tamara leaves the room, Emmanuelle removes her holoband to wake up in the real world as... Evelyn! She consoles a distraught Joseph and I am left wondering who the hell sent Evelyn to guide Joseph in the first place? Tad?

That's What Friends Are For

Clarice and Nestor, with other men, approach Barnabas and Keon about the bicycle poster that I had no clue existed. They have some words and guns are drawn. Obviously this is a struggle for power within the S.T.O.

Later at a S.T.O. meeting, the group says a prayer and ends it with "So say we all...". Lacy somehow has gotten on Barnabas's good side, because not only has she been invited to pray with them, but Barnabas has a box big enough to ship the U-87 droid to Gemenon. Again, what did I miss? But Barnabas's generosity comes with a price. He wants Lacy to plant a tracking device on Clarice by switching her car alarm remote to prove her loyalty to his S.T.O. faction. She accepts cause not only is she trying to do everything in her power to help Zoe 2.o, but because she is Lacy, the Naive Princess of Caprica. Lacy manages to complete the switch, but Zoe 2.0 puts the pressure on her after hearing that her identity might be wiped. When Lacy tells her friend to hold on for a week, Zoe 2.o flips and calls Lacy a coward. Then Zoe 2.0 pleads for Lacy to do something before de-resing back to the U-87 bot. Hmmm....

The Walls Are Closing In

Daniel has finally met his greatest fear: he has to sell the Caprican Buccs to save his company and help with production of the Cylons to maintain the military contract, whose due date is approaching rapidly. And it doesn't help that the trades are reporting this move is a solution after word has leaked about Daniel 'possibly' stealing the MCP and killing to get it. Later, Daniel talks with a Colonel, who doesn't waste time undermining Daniel's 'achievements and throwing the theft of the MCP in his face. She then moves up the deadline for the 100,000 machines to 7 days from that exact moment, because if Daniel is telling the truth then it shouldn't be a problem to produce such a big order in that time. Daniel balks. I roll my eyes at the logic.

Daniel then orders for Philomon to erase the MCP chip and to copy it so they can start production. Of course, Zoe 2.0 is tripping at this suggestion.

Meanwhile, Amanda is in turmoil over Vergis's revelation and is beating herself up over it by drinking, chain smoking, and taking meds, all not in that exact order mind you. After being unintentionally blown off by Clarice, Amanda only has her illusions of her time in the hospital after her brother's death as company. Said illusions feature suicide attempts and I know this is not going to end well for our once strong minded Amanda Graystone.

While Daniel makes dinner, Amanda comes out and asks him about Vergis's claim and asks if it's true. Daniel says not really and that it's complicated. He might as well had stabbed Amanda in the chest with that answer. She leaves while he still preps dinner, but not as 'chipper' as before.

Meanwhile, The Colonel and Vergis are finishing up a dinner date where it seems as if it is a surefire deal that Vergis's promise to Daniel is rapidly coming true.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

Philomon discusses 'Rachel' to the asshole who got his finger chopped off by Zoe 2.0 early this season. He mentions how he told 'Rachel' that he would like her no matter what she looked like and I nearly vomit at this blatant lie. Anyway, Zoe 2.0 and Philomon has another date where they ooh and aah over each other, but the real drama starts when Philomon begins to carry out his orders of erasing the MCP. Zoe 2.0 decides to reveal herself to Philomon and plead her case for why she did what she did and that he needs to help her escape. The techie freaks and tries to run, but is blocked by the U-87 and Zoe 2.0 tries again at winning over the techie's allegiance. Philomon says that he did say that he would love 'Rachel' no matter what, but he uses this ruse to hit the security button. Zoe 2.0/U-87, in a fit of rage, throws Philomon across the room where he hits a pillar and dies on impact. After seeing what she has done, Zoe 2.0 makes a run for it.

Daniel and Cyrus look at the scene of the crime and know good and well that the proverbial crap is about to hit the fan.

The Cliffhangers

- Lacy tries to get Barnabas to get the droid out tonight, but to her horror she finds out that she has been duped into planting a bomb detonator on Clarice, who is on her way to a transport to Gemenon with Nestor to talk to some S.T.O. officials about Barnabas's plans of domination and impending destruction of the S.T.O. Lacy doesn't want any part of it, but Barnabas proposes that either she presses the detonator or both she AND Keon will die. Lacy choses the button and presses it, but she doesn't kill Clarice. She had stepped out the car to see who is about to jump from a bridge they were about to pass under. The person on the ledge? Amanda Graystone. The woman places her wedding ring on the ledge before she makes her supposed leap. Poor Nestor, by the way looks like a goner when the car explodes.

- As Zoe 2.0 drives through the city and into the country, she has visions of pretty much all of Zoe's memories and cries profusely. The police are all on the van Zoe 2.o is driving with orders to not ruin the prototype. The cops build up a road block to stop the van and when Zoe 2.0 reaches the barricade, she stops, but only to have a few moments of images flash through her head. Then she floors it head on, smashing into the barricade and crashing the truck, which explodes.

- Back at the Graystones, the phone rings and Daniel answers it. We don't know which news he got, but it wasn't one suitable of a happy ending.

The Caprican

The cliffhangers felt rushed, especially the Barnabas and Adama ones. With the former one, the Barnabas incident came out of left field, because of that scene that was left out of previous episodes and tacked onto the previouslies as if we forgot about it. The latter cliffhanger was sort of a let down given that Joseph has spent three to four episodes in New Cap City only to get a rushed solution. It was still effective, but after last week's epic revelation of Tamara's influence in the game, it felt like it was finished in some sense, because who else can enter New Cap City with connections to Tamara?

As for Zoe 2.0, I wonder how she will survive the crash? I felt as if she was either having second thoughts about everything as she drove, given the flashbacks and all. I also wonder if the machine was destroyed will Zoe 2.0 remain in the V-World afterward?

But the bottom line is that for a mid season cliffhanger, "End of the Line" was subpar. Maybe one more episode could have set up some of the story lines better, I don't know. What I do know is that I will be here when it returns and I hope you will be as well.

Caprica 1.09 "End of Line" Recap/Review

Is Amanda losing her mind? Will Joseph find Tamara? Will Daniel buckle under the pressure? What about Clarice and her quest for Zoe's Holy Grail? And can Lacy give us something to care about tonight? These are some of the questions presented to us to last night on Caprica, and while all of them weren't necessarily answered they did push character motivations forward a little, which was great.

The Set Up

Amanda dreams that she is running after a man. After she wakes up, she reaches for a book that contains an envelope that is from the Delphi Convalescent Institute. She clutches and lays back down. Meanwhile, Clarice is woken by Olaf, who explains to her that even though they found the avatar program, Zoe's avatar was no longer in Daniel's CPU. We, the audience, knows that this is because the avatar is now in the U-87 MCP, which in Clarice's mind means resurrection is possible. She then decides to become even more buddy buddy with Amanda in order to find the avatar.

A little bit later, Amanda shows up at the MEGLEV Bombing memorial site, where workers are moving the contents to another location. As onlookers pile up, Amanda appears and causes a scene that forces the workers to leave. Clarice shows up as well and helps in the protest. But Amanda spies the guy in her dream in the crowd and proceeds to take pictures of him until Clarice drags her to her car. In the car, Amanda reveals to Clarice that the guy she thinks she saw was her brother Darius, who is dead. Whaaaa???

Zoe 2.0 meets Lacy in the V-Club and tells her about Clarice's snooping in the lab. She then senses that something is up with the plan with Barnabas that Lacy isn't telling her. It seems that Zoe is working on Philomon to package the U-87 droid, while she needs Lacy to help deliver it. Lacy swears her allegiance, but I don't think Zoe buys it.

Tad, aka Gamer from New Cap City, is found by Joseph who demands that Tad takes him to Tamara. Tad doesn't want to do it and talks about how dead people shouldn't have avatars, which prompts Joseph to correct Tad in saying that Tamara isn't dead. Cuckoo, anyone? Tad relents and takes Joseph into the game of New Cap City.

Boys on the Side

Amanda has another vision of chasing her brother through a hospital. We then flash to Amanda looking at the blurred photos that she took. She has nothing to go by.

Later, Amanda witnesses a car accident on the street and sees her brother in the crowd. He runs when she spots him and she takes off behind him. She follows him into a dead end, but there is no Darius. She does find a Caprica City Museum flyer with the painting of a bridge on there. The bridge reminds her of an actual place. Amanda sadly takes the flyer with her. She takes a pill and wraps up the flyer, clearly disturbed.

At the House of Willow, Olaf chastises Clarice for wrapping a bottle of expensive Scorpian wine for Amanda, while she claims that since Amanda sees people that aren't there, that there might be a connection and that the Graystone women are agents of God. Okay then...

Clarice brings Amanda the wine and Amanda reveals the mystery of her brother.  Darius died in a car crash (she saw him at a car crash) and the picture of the bridge is the same place that Darius died at. Amanda says she knows, because she was in the car as well. She mentions that therapy and all that didn't help, but the drugs did. She starts to feel vulnerable and Clarice promises not to tell, which prompts Amanda to ask is it because they are friends. Clarice, smiling cryptically, doesn't answer. Wow. What the frak is going on with Amanda?!

Daniel returns home and after discussing his day with Amanda, notices the bottle of wine. Amanda says that it's from a friend and when Daniel asks if he should be jealous, Amanda says she's not sure. Huh? After Daniel leaves, Amanda takes a pill and calls Clarice for a girls' night out. Clarice is at the opium bar. This doesn't seem like it will end well.

The two women light up and are high as two clouds on a clear summer day. After saying the BSGverse phrase of "This has happened before and it will happen again," Amanda claims that she is bracing herself for a return to the Delphi Convalescent Institute, because that's where she stayed for two and half years to cope with reality. When Clarice stares on, Amanda continues saying that she lost her mind chasing after her brother in all types of places and that by not saying how she felt when she had the time, he was taken from her. And that it's her punishment to be left behind with things unsaid. In other words, this happened before with Darius and it might happen again with Zoe. Clarice then tries to convert Amanda into the monotheistic belief of the one true God, but by the look on her face and Amanda's question of "Which god do I trust?", she failed miserably.

Joseph and The Technicolor Nightmare

Tad gives Joseph the story of New Cap City and the rules, especially the dying part. Once they get in, the place is rocked by bombings on the streets.

The city looks like it's in ruins, people are running all over the place, and bombs are blasting just about everywhere. After having his emotions ridiculed for wanting to fly in the game, Joseph learns more about NCC from Tad. Even though it's set in the real world, morals don't exist here, but a Caprican version of Viagra does. I don't know if that was necessary info, but...

As they continue to walk, a dirigible starts firing at them. The thing eventually shoots Tad and he 'dies' in the game and de-rezzes out. In the real world, Tad is beyond pissed and curses Joseph for his 'death', telling the disillusioned father that he is on his own now.

Joseph returns back into the game alone, but someone is stalking him and it's a female. The woman eventually catches up with him and introduces herself as Emmanuelle, his new guide. But for her services there is a price... Joseph worries about getting killed and Emmanuelle tells him simply don't get killed. They then start their journey into the almost war torn Caprica City.

Lacy and Keon

Lacy whines about not getting Barnabas to help her, which Keon says would be easy if she would become S.T.O. and Barnabas would have no problem helping her then. But I thought Lacy was already... never mind. So Lacy says she will become S.T.O., as if it is easy peasy. She can see the look of worry in her eyes, but she says that she will be fine as long as Keon is beside her.

Zoe's Plan

Philomon engages in a date with 'Rachel' in the V-World. The setting is them flying Vipers, which 'Rachel'/Zoe 2.o (and I) think is completely dorkish. After Philomon tells 'Rachel' to take off auto pilot, the Viper loses control and starts to go down. Boring...

After the 'crash', the two sit on the side of a cliff and Zoe goes in for the kill. She starts talking about how V-World is a waste of good technology and that it should be used for good, not for demoralized fantasies. She suggests that they extend life in the V-world instead of faking it. She goes on to say that living systems use generative algorithms and with those they can create actual trees. Philomon responds on how he works with top secret military bots, which Zoe says is sexy before she kisses him.

She then starts sprouting techno-babble about robots and modulatory stuff that prompts Philomon to solve realize something about the U-87 droid. Zoe's plan of getting Philomon to release the U-87 into the world backfires as he grasps the concept of the problem with the MCP. As he kisses Zoe, he is actually kissing air in the real world and Daniel wakes him up. Philomon gives his theory on the robot, saying that they have been treating the robot as if it was digital, which would allow them to copy it. But if the MCP is analog, then a generative process like a human system is key to making more. Except each machine would have its own personality of sorts. If I got this wrong, PLEASE correct me. Daniel asks if Philomon seen anything to make his theory true, which the young scientist says he hasn't. Daniel is on to something and by the look on Zoe 2.0's face, it can't be good... for her.

The Ball Is In Daniel's Court

During a pyramid game, Vergis makes an impromptu appearance in Daniel's skybox, which infuriates the Graystone CEO. After some initial bickering, Vergis releases a bombshell that the MCP Daniel stole from him never worked to begin with so all the talk that Daniel only has one MCP working is a 'lie'. Wow... Vergis then demands that Daniel sell the team, because his options are limited. Cyrus doesn't get why Vergis would say that since the MCP is, in fact, working. In other words, Daniel has the upper hand and Vergis just revealed his hand of cards, which contains nothing.

Cyrus, as usual, doesn't get it. He still thinks that Vergis's money will help them buy time on the military contract that can be revoked if they don't meet the scheduled demos. Daniel, on the other hand, feels that he has ammunition now and will go down fighting if need be and the selling of the Caprican City Bucks is out of the question.

After dismissing Philomon home after he revealed the digital vs. analog theory, Daniel ponders over the newfound knowledge, while his dog wants to play catch. Daniel absentmindedly throws the ball and the dog then takes it to the U-87 machine, expecting it to throw the ball. Zoe 2.0 tries to shoo the dog away, but it's too late. The dog starts to bark and whimper at the machine, which gets Daniel's attention. When he stares into the machine he only says one thing:

"Zoe?"

Loved it.

The Caprican

- I wonder if Daniel really think Zoe is in the machine or if it's 'wishful' thinking? This would be great to speed up the process on things, because I really thought it would be a season ender before someone realized Zoe 2.0 was in the U-87.

- Lacy's part tonight was pointless, but OK, I guess.

- "This Has Happened Before And Will Happen Again" reappeared last night and I had to remind myself that it was part of the sacred scrolls, specifically the Cycle of Time scroll, but could it also be like a proverb of some sorts?

- Amanda's past added extra layers to an already complicated character, which makes her even more intricate and fascinating. For the writers to introduce Darius and the implications of his death to that of Zoe's and the proverb of history repeating itself makes me think that 1) Amanda might become a Soldier of the One and 2) that the history repeating phenomenon is not just on a cosmic scale, but a microscopic one as well. Amanda is also a repeat victim who managed to come out on top. Maybe when she comes back on top again (because it will happen again), she will be a powerful soldier in the S.T.O., probably more powerful than Sister Clarice.

- Thank God the only Adama we got tonight was Joseph. I found it ironic that he said that Tamara was a smart girl, because she is an Adama. I couldn't help but laugh at that little joke. Oh, it wasn't one? My bad. :(

- I think Vergis is gettin way too cocky. He thought he had a trump card in is reveal, but I mean the entire entrance was too much. He will soon turn out to look like a mad man if he keeps this up. But on the flip token, I have the strangest feeling that Cyrus is going to fold and jump ship from Graystone Industries and join Vergis's company. If Cyrus does that then that would be a major blow to Daniel's defense, which will make me want his head on a stick afterwards.

- Kinda felt bad for Tad the Gamer, but then again, I don't. The whole thing I didn't get about his story was why get wrapped up in a game that resembled reality in almost every aspect if you hate your own reality so much? In other words, it's the same thing. If you were a badass in the game, why not in real life? I don't get it and I hope he takes Tamara's advice and "Be Something" like yesterday.

I don't have anymore thoughts right now. Kinda sick and out of it so please excuse me if The Caprican section was not up to par. See you next week!

Follow Me On Twitter: @theanticritic or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/moestes

Caprica 1.07 "The Imperfections Of Memories" Recap

The latest episode of Caprica was a mixed bag in the sense that it started out being somewhat of a filler episode, but quickly evolved into either a 'game-changer' or just another huge piece to the ever growing puzzle that is becoming the Caprica universe. Either way, I am so ready and strapped for the rest of the ride.

Do NOT Frak With Daniel Graystone...

After announcing to the worlds that Graystone Industries will not be gaining profit from their Holobands, Daniel faces opposition from the board of directors of his company. I stress "his" company. The group of assholes want to vote Daniel from being the CEO of his own company and he gets a heads up on the shenanigans from Cyrus. When asked if he has the votes to maintain his position, Cyrus simply looks worried and walks off.

Daniel, feeling like his world is slipping through his fingers no matter what he does or say, gets a motivational boost from Amanda who reminds Daniel that he is one of the most oratorically, astutely business men that she has ever known who doesn't let small things cloud his overall vision and beliefs. In short, she pretty much says that Daniel is basically Bill Gates, but the next scene suggests that maybe he is a hybrid of Gates and Steve Jobs.

As Cyrus and Pryah try to fight off the members of the board, Daniel walks into the boardroom with U-87/Zoe 2.0. He explains to his board members that the Holoband is a hollow sinking ship and that they need to let it go and focus on the future. And what does the future entail?

The Cylon.

As the scene cuts between U-87 and Zoe 2.0,  who mocks the board members, Daniel explains that while U-87 is aware of things like a human would be, it can serve man without any questions or hookups (rights, pay grade, employment, etc...). When Daniel commands for the machine to rip it's arm off to prove his point, Zoe 2.0/U-87 both look as if Daniel lost his damn mind, but does it anyway. Daniel, meanwhile, reminds the board members that they were about to have a vote on whether he is competent enough to run his own company.

Daniel gets his votes, but Cyrus warns him that he better be right. Oh, man how 'right' Daniel will be...

Tamara in Wonderland

Tamara has been wandering throughout the V-World and making a name for herself as "the girl who can't get out", which is like pathetic to most V-avatars. But Tamara got a tip that someone named Vesta (Camille Mitchell), who can help her "wake up".

After witnessing a warped version of Russian roulette, Tamara wants a try at the game when she finds out that the losers of the game de-res and wake up in the real world. But when Vesta shoots Tamara, she doesn't wake up, she just simply lies there in pain. This freaks everyone in attendance out, but Vesta's mind starts calculating up a scheme. Uh-oh.

Vesta thinks that Tamara is a mythical legend in the V-World called a "Sleeper", someone who either fell asleep with their Holoband on and can't wake up. Vesta barters with Tamara that if the girl plays a game for her then she will help Tamara get home. She pairs Tamara with one of her followers/co-players, whose name wasn't given so we will call him "Gamer", who fills Tamara in on the deal at hand. The game is called New Cap City, a virtual-version of Caprica that is a mix of Grand Theft Auto, The Godfather, and Blade Runner all in one. The game is a noir mystery with the elements of 1940s Earth as the backdrop. The object of the game? Finding out the object of the game. I'm as confused about that bit as the next person, but the jist is that Vesta wants to use Tamara as a ruse to steal the virtual cubics from THE best player in the game, Cairon. The only downside of the game is that if you die in the game you can NEVER return to it, which sucks even for me and I am not playing the game. In the midst of this we find out that not only has Tamara been lost in the V-world for a month, but that she has NO clue at all that she is dead.

So tragic.

The heist goes as planned and Tamara and Gamer manages to cop Cairon's avatar, which is more valuable alive than dead, because Gamer can manipulate the code to his liking and mask himself as Cairon to use in the heist. Gamer tells Tamara that this game means a lot to him, because it gives him a purpose and a chance to be something. Tamara remarks that maybe if he didn't spend so much time in the V-World then he could probably "be something" in the real world and she quickly becomes my favorite Adama family member.

The heist goes as planned with Gamer disguised as Cairon to gain access to the cubics. But some guards spot them and start shooting and this is when things get really interesting... Tamara, who can be shot and heal herself, shields Gamer and takes the barrage of bullets. But instead of falling down and crying, she eradicates the guards' avatars! As if she was the New Cap City version of Stephen King's 'Carrie'.

The duo makes their way back to the club that Cairon ruled and where Vesta has taken up shop. She asks for the money, but Tamara demands to go home in exchange of the cash. Vesta then drops the bombshell of Tamara being dead and that she can't go home. Gamer feels bad Tamara, but she snaps and shoots away all the guards Trinity-style before telling Gamer to find her dad and tell him that she is still in there. Gamer doesn't want to leave the game, but Tamara tells him to be somebody on the outside and that he can return whenever. Gamer signs out and Tamara makes her way to Vesta who is cowering on the floor. Vesta asks Tamara, "What are you?" And Tamara, a new favorite character on Caprica, simply responds:

"I'm awake."

Then she shoots Vesta, whose game is soooooo over.

Nature vs. Nurture vs. The Tauron Way

If only the Adamas would take a lesson from their dearly departed daughter, then I would maybe be able to look at them with disdain and eye-rolling.

Sam shows up at Joseph's to find him passed out on the couch and Willie playing computer games when he is supposed to be in school. Sam berates Willie for not being in school and gets even more in Joseph's ass for not being a good father, which I think is a crock of crap coming from Sam, even though his statement is true. Later Joseph gets a call from the school about Willie's "sick days" and he goes straight to the bar where Sam has Willie working. When Joseph demands for Willie to leave with him, Willie defies him until Sam gives him the OK. Sam comments that Willie is lost and that on Tauron, when someone loses something in the desert and someone else finds it, then it belongs to the new owner. So Sam, Willie is an object now that you own now? What the hell?

While working on his books, Joseph comes across a photo that he, Shannon, Willie, and Tamara took while on a fishing trip. He gets an idea. He takes an extremely reluctant Willie to the same place to play father, but Willie isn't having it, especially since people are taunting them from afar for being Tauron. When one of the other kids gets bold and starts screaming racial slurs at them, Willie takes a rock and knocks the hell out the kid before beating the crap out of him.

Later, Willie is being a little brat and Joseph doesn't know what to do. Sam stops by with his husband and they both tell Joseph that Willie needs closure and so does Joseph. The only way they can achieve this is if they conduct a Tauron ritual that let's recently deceased Tauron's cross over in peace. But Ruth said last week that a life for a life is the only way a Tauron can pass on to the other side in peace. See where I stand on my issue with The Adamas?

The ritual is had and there are a lot of tears and what not. Willie seems to be happy that he is learning about his culture and it seems as if all is OK in the kingdom of Adama of Tauron, especially after both Joseph and Willie let go of their loved ones.

Then there is a knock on the door. Joseph answers and there stands Gamer with the message from Tamara. Tauron ritual be damned! Joseph wants to be taken to see Tamara, but Gamer, who is freaked out that Tamara actually is dead, runs away with Joseph close on his heels. But Joseph collapses and all of that hard work was for naught. Tamara is still in the V-World and he  can't get to her.

Meanwhile, a new badass Tamara walks the streets of New Cap City, gun in hand and a new attitude to boot. She has truly been 'awakened'.

The Caprican

- Three best scenes from this episode: Daniel's brilliant board meeting smackdown, Willie knocking the hell out of that racist snot, and Tamara's take down of the club guards/followers and Vesta. Eric Stoltz's Daniel Graystone kicks ass, hands down. Even though he is kinda the man responsible for the fall of man, there is an exuberance when he speaks that I have no choice but to turn up my TV and listen intently. Two weeks in a row and Stoltz/Graystone has delivered the goods and I really can't wait to see how he would hold up to his past transgressions with Vergis.

- Tamara started off as whiny and so irritable in the first couple of minutes, but quickly won my ass over when she started spitting knowledge on the idiots of V-World. Then she literally started kicking ass later and I hope to see more of bad ass, truth spewing Tamara soon. And keep it coming please.

- But while Tamara excelled in excellence this week, her family took a nosedive in tomfoolery. I can understand that Willie is suffering through two devastating losses, but is it just me or does it seem like he's either been keeping it to himself this long or that it just came out of nowhere? I can recall him and Joseph conversing about the deaths, but I didn't know that he was that troubled about them. I mean, yea, the kid was devastated, but it always seemed to me that he had put it past him and was moving forward while the adults were the ones torn up to pieces. My theory? Sam and Ruth are planting anger and revenge in the young man's mind, which in my opinion is not a good way to deal with your grief, let alone teach it to a kid. Sure, Joseph's self-wallowing is not helping Williw, but neither is taking him out of school, away from friends and activities to show him the underbelly of organized crime. In short, Sam is NOT an ideal candidate as stand-in father for a troubled kid so when he told Joseph that he was being a bad father, I was like kettle meet black. Sam claimed that Willie would be a man on Tauron, but he (and Ruth) need to realize that they are NOT on Tauron anymore. Plus, again, I would love to see one Tauron that is NOT involved in organized crime or shady under dealings. I am sure that one of those who attended the ritual held at the Adama residence was one of those people, but I hope that we see one prominently soon, because this is ridiculous.

- Continuing on the last subject, watching BSG and seeing that everyone put their different races, religions, and other contrasts to the side to maintain survival goes to show that most of what Sam and Ruth are planting in Willie's head doesn't really matter. You can celebrate your heritage, your religion and so on as much as you like, but in the end we are all the same. We are human and that's all that matters.

-One last bit: I thought this episode showed that the Holoband for the mysterious character Gamer is the equivalent of the proverbial 'rose-colored glasses' idiom that is rampant in our culture. He finds solace, hope, and a meaning in the game and that's kind of the problem with a lot of people in our society. We find meaning in the wrong things and it hurts us dearly. Tamara's words of wisdom should be on a ticker at the bottom of the TV screens across the worlds. But if that was the case then we wouldn't have BSG, so...

I will see you guys next week!

Caprica 1.05 "There Is Another Sky" Recap

On January 16 Battlestar Galactica will return with a fresh string of new episodes that will complete the 4th season and the series. Probably one of the biggest questions on all of our minds is, just who is the fifth cylon? All of us, that is, except for Michael Hinman over at the SyFyPortal.com.

Hinman has mentioned several time that the identity of the fifth and final cylon has been revealed to him, but it's a secret he's taking to the grave with him, or at least until the show decides to let us know themselves. I, for one, applaud him for keeping what even he describes as one of the best kept secrets of the sci-fi universe. But in a new article posted on his site today, he does give us a glimpse into the possible identity of the last cylon. The article reveals 5 characters that are all the most likely to be the fifth cylon, and he guarantees us that one of the names he mentions in the article WILL BE that cylon (unless of course the creators and writers change their minds, or lied to him). Please remember that this article could contain major spoilers for the final episodes of the series. Follow the link below for the entire article.

source: SyFyPortal.com

Wanna Know Who The 5th Cylon Is?