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| {{disline|For information on the colony in the [[Re-imagined Series]], see [[Caprica (RDM)]]. For other uses, see [[Caprica]].}}
| | :''For information on the colony in the [[Re-imagined Series]], see [[Caprica (RDM)]]. For other uses, see [[Caprica]].'' |
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| {{Series Data | | {{Series Data |
| | image= Caprica_Title.jpg | | | image= Caprica Promo Shot.jpg |
| | title= Caprica | | | title= Caprica |
| | creator= [[Ronald D. Moore]]<br/>[[Remi Aubuchon]] | | | creator= [[Remi Aubuchon]] |
| | starring= | | | starring= |
| | composer= [[Bear McCreary]] | | | composer= [[Bear McCreary]] |
| | company= [[w:NBC Universal|NBC Universal]] | | | company= [[w:NBC Universal|NBC Universal]] |
| | seasons= 1 | | | seasons= 1 |
| | episodes= 18<ref group="footnotes" name="caprica_episodes">This number includes the 2-hour pilot, with 17 regular-length episodes.</ref> | | | episodes= 18 (two-hour pilot plus 16 regular episodes) |
| | episodelistid= Caprica | | | episodelistid= Caprica |
| | channel= [[Sci Fi Channel]] | | | channel= [[Sci Fi Channel]] |
| | US airdate= 2010-2011<ref group="production" name="pilot_dvd_release_advance">The two-hour pilot episode was released in advance of the series premiere on 21 April 2009.</ref> | | | US airdate= 2010<ref>Although an airdate for the series has yet to be announced, the two-hour pilot episode was released in advance of the series premiere on 21 April 2009.</ref> |
| | UK airdate= Spring 2009<ref group="external" name="sky_uk_rights_exclusive">{{cite_news|first=Chris|last=Aylott|url=http://www.skypressoffice.co.uk/SkyOne/news/showarticle.asp?id=2528&month=8&year=2008#:~:text=Sky1%20secures%20exclusive%20UK%20rights|title=Sky1 secures exclusive UK rights to Battlestar Galactica prequel CAPRICA|publisher=|page=|date=6 August 2008|accessdate=9 August 2008|language=|archive=Y}}</ref> | | | UK airdate= Spring 2009<ref>{{cite_news|first=Chris|last=Aylott|url=http://www.skypressoffice.co.uk/SkyOne/news/showarticle.asp?id=2528&month=8&year=2008|title=Sky1 secures exclusive UK rights to Battlestar Galactica prequel CAPRICA|publisher=|page=|date=6 August 2008|accessdate=9 August 2008|language=}}</ref> |
| | dvd= | | | dvd= |
| | exec producer= [[Ronald D. Moore]]<br/>[[David Eick]]<br/>[[Remi Aubuchon]] (pilot only)<br/>[[Jane Espenson]] (starting with "[[Rebirth]]")<br/>[[Kevin Murphy]] (starting with "[[Unvanquished]]") | | | exec producer= [[Ronald D. Moore]]<br/>[[David Eick]]<br/>[[Remi Aubuchon]] (pilot only)<br/>[[Jane Espenson]] (starting with "[[Rebirth]]")<br/>[[Kevin Murphy]] (starting with: TBA) |
| | producer= | | | producer= |
| | supervising producer= | | | supervising producer= |
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| | itunes= | | | itunes= |
| }} | | }} |
| '''''Caprica''''' is a television [[spin-off]] of the [[Re-imagined Series]] produced by [[Remi Aubuchon]], [[Ronald D. Moore]] and [[David Eick]] for [[Syfy]]. It is a [[Wikipedia:Prequel|prequel]] that focuses on the Adama and [[Graystones|Graystone]] families on the planet {{RDM|Caprica}} and the invention of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]. The [[Caprica_pilot|pilot]] is set 58 years before the ''Battlestar Galactica'' [[Miniseries]] and was released direct to DVD on 21 April 2009. The series was canceled after one season on 27 October 2010, with the remaining episodes airing first on Canada's Space channel and then on Syfy in a marathon on 4 January 2011.<ref group="external" name="ryan_caprica_canceled_syfy">{{cite_news|first=Maureen|last=Ryan|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/10/27/caprica-canceled#:~:text=Caprica%20Is%20Cancelled%20by%20Syfy|title='Caprica' Is Cancelled by Syfy|publisher=TV Squad|page=|date=27 October 2010|accessdate=28 October 2010|language=English|archive=Y}}</ref> | | '''''Caprica''''' is a television [[spin-off]] of the [[Re-imagined Series]] produced by [[Remi Aubuchon]], [[Ronald D. Moore]] and [[David Eick]] for the [[Sci Fi Channel]]. It is a [[Wikipedia:Prequel|prequel]] that focuses on the Adama and [[Graystones|Graystone]] families on the planet [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] and the invention of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] in the Twelve Colonies. The [[Caprica_pilot|pilot]] is set 58 years before the ''Battlestar Galactica'' [[Miniseries, Night 1|miniseries]] and was released direct to DVD on April 21, 2009. |
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| ==Production History== | | ==Overview == |
| ===Development===
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| Development of ''Caprica'' began as early as the [[Season 2 (2005-06)|2005-06 season]] of ''[[Re-Imagined Series|Battlestar Galactica]]'' according to an IFmagazine interview<ref group="development" name="ifmagazine_eick_caprica_development_early">{{cite_web|url=http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1487#:~:text=David%20Eick%20interview|title=David Eick Interview|publisher=IF Magazine|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> with producer [[David Eick]]. About the same time, ''[[Wikipedia: 24 (TV series|24]]'' writer [[Remi Aubuchon]] pitched a series to the [[Sci Fi Channel]] similar to the Cylon storyline. Realizing that they could not devote their full time to both ''Battlestar Galactica'' and a spinoff, Eick and [[Ronald D. Moore]] decided to team with Aubuchon: "We took some of what we had and some of what he had".
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| In a May 2006 interview<ref group="development" name="scifipulse_aubuchon_dreamwatch_slavery_robots">{{cite_web|url=http://scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/RemiAubuchon.html#:~:text=allegorical%20story%20about%20slavery%20with%20robots|title=Remi Aubuchon Dreamwatch Interview|publisher=Sci Fi Pulse|date=May 2006|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> with Dreamwatch Magazine, Remi Aubuchon stated that he originally pitched a series that was an "allegorical story about slavery with robots" when approached by Moore and Eick. Aubuchon elaborated on details about the ''Battlestar'' spinoff, saying that [[William Adama]] would be 11 years old when the series begins. Aubuchon described the series as meant to stand on its own from ''Battlestar Galactica'', but that "certain elements have been embedded into the first few episodes of [[Season 3 (2006-07)|season 3]]" of the current series.
| | Just as ''Battlestar Galactica'' is about a lot more than space battles, ''Caprica'' will be as much a family drama as a sci-fi tale. Remi Aubuchon (''[[w:The Lyon's Den|The Lyon's Den]]'', ''[[w:24 (TV series)|24]]'') wrote the pilot script with co-writer (and executive producer) Ronald D. Moore; "Galactica" veterans Ronald D. Moore and David Eick are the executive producers. The two-hour pilot was directed by [[Jeff Reiner]] (''[[w:Friday Night Lights|Friday Night Lights]]'').<ref name="release">Official Press Release: "SCIFI GIVES 'CAPRICA' THE GREENLIGHT". 18 March 2008. [[bsp:Caprica Press Release|Available exclusively on BattlestarPegasus.com]].</ref> |
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| On November 6, 2006, Moore updated Dreamwatch magazine regarding the new series:
| | == Plot summary== |
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| :"It's actually a prequel, and this would be a one hour pilot not a mini – series. It takes place 50 years before the events of ''Battlestar Galactica'' and it's essentially about the creation of the Cylons.
| | The ''Caprica'' pilot takes place 58 years before the ''Battlestar Galactica'' [[Miniseries, Night 1|miniseries]]. It follows the lives of two families, the [[Graystone]]s and the [[Adamas|Adamas]]<ref>"Adams" is the Caprican surname adopted by the Adamas, since Adama is a Tauron name. The name was changed due to anti-Tauron prejudices on Caprica at the time.</ref> (the family of [[William Adama]]). A startling development occurs by the end of the pilot — the creation of the first cybernetic life-form node or "[[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]]". |
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| :"It's a very different show; it's not action – adventure and it's not even in space. It takes place on the Planet (sic) Caprica and it's more of a family drama, with political and corporate intrigue. We're well into the writing of it actually; we're doing re-writes on the script right now and Sci Fi has been very happy so far. At the moment, we're just waiting to see if they greenlight it or not. Generally, there's always a two step process: there's ordering the pilot and then there's ordering the series, but because we're not designing it as a mini – series, I don't know that anybody would even see the pilot if they chose not to go to series with it.
| | The Graystone family includes the father [[Daniel Graystone|Daniel]] and mother [[Amanda Graystone|Amanda]], a computer scientist and surgeon respectively. When their daughter [[Zoe Graystone|Zoe]] dies due to the religious fanaticism of her boyfriend, [[Ben Stark]], her father manages to resurrect her — after a fashion. Already having acquired a [[digital clone]] of her personality developed by Zoe herself, he uses stolen technology to create a robotic version of his daughter, the first step towards creating the Cylon race. |
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| :"Tonally, it will be very different," promises Moore. "This is Caprica before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|fall]]. It's a decadent world, but also a world that's going at a very fast pace. It's a prosperous society that hasn't experienced the devastation of the first Cylon war yet, so this culture has really not been taken down a peg, and their hubris is getting the better of them. It's a go – go society that's teetering on the brink, so it's not that apocalyptic survival scenario of ''Galactica''. The whole thing is tonally very different." <ref group="development" name="cullen_moore_caprica_progress_report">{{cite_news|first=Ian M. |last=Cullen|url=http://scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/RDM_Caprica_Update.html#:~:text=Ron%20D.%20Moore%20Gives%20Progress%20Report,-For%20Caprica|title=Ron D. Moore Gives Progress Report For Caprica|publisher=Sci Fi Pulse|page=|date=6 November 2006|accessdate=10 November 2006|language=English}}</ref>
| | The same terrorist attack claims the lives of [[Joseph Adama]]'s wife [[Shannon Adama|Shannon]] and daughter [[Tamara Adama|Tamara]]. Together with Daniel Graystone he initially works on bringing back their children, but is appalled at his partner's methods and ethics. However, as a result of this tragedy, he grows closer to his eleven-year old son William. |
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| ===Development Hell=== | | ==Cast and characters== |
| By 26 April 2006, development of ''Caprica'' had stalled and the series was considered to be stuck in [[w:development hell|"development hell"]]. On 24 March 2007, Moore discussed the status of ''Caprica'' with Salon.com's Laura Miller:
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| :"It's possible [that the series will still happen]. It's been in development at Sci Fi for a while and they haven't picked it up. And I don't know if they're going to pick it up at this point. There's talk of doing it as a TV movie and seeing how that works, as a back-door pilot, much as we did with the "Galactica" [[miniseries]]. Right now there's nothing telling me that they're going to move on it anytime soon, so I'm starting to feel that it's going to remain on the development shelf.
| | * [[Eric Stoltz]] as [[Daniel Graystone]] |
| | * [[Esai Morales]] as [[Joseph Adama]] |
| | * [[Paula Malcomson]] as [[Amanda Graystone]] |
| | * [[Alessandra Torresani]] as [[Zoe Graystone]] |
| | * [[Magda Apanowicz]] as [[Lacy Rand]] |
| | * [[ Polly Walker]] as Sister [[Clarice Willow]] |
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| :"It was a different kind of show. Instead of an action-adventure sci-fi piece, it was more of a prime-time soap, a sci-fi "[[w:Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]." It was about a family, the Adamas, and [[Graystones|a company]], and it was about the creation of the Cylons 50 years ago. It was not going to be space-based, but set entirely on the planet of Caprica. But it would have sci-fi touches, and it would deal with issues like artificial intelligence and the various schemings and backbitings that you get in the traditional soap opera."<ref group="development" name="miller_moore_battlestar_galactica_man_behind">{{cite_news|first=Laura|last=Miller|url=http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2007/03/24/battlestar/index2.html#:~:text=The%20man%20behind%20%E2%80%9CBattlestar%20Galactica%E2%80%9D|title=The man behind "Battlestar Galactica"|publisher=Salon.com|page=3|date=24 March 2007|accessdate=25 April 2007|language=}}</ref> | | Additional cast include: |
| | *[[Avan Jogia]] as [[Ben Stark]] |
| | *[[Sasha Roiz]] as [[Sam Adama]] |
| | *[[Brian Markinson]] as Special Agent [[Jordan Durham]] |
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| On 18 September 2007, it was reported that with the end of ''Battlestar Galactica'' nearing and Moore poised to leave Sci Fi for [[Wikipedia: NBC|NBC]], Sci Fi executives were considering green-lighting the two-hour pilot for production as a means of keeping Moore with the channel. Contingent on the performance of the television movie "[[Razor]]," it was reported that ''Caprica'' might also see a release in the form of a direct-to-DVD movie to be simultaneously aired on television <ref group="development" name="hibberd_scifi_executives_weigh_battlestar">{{cite_web|url=http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/james-hibberd/2007/09/sci_fi_executives_weigh_battle.php#:~:text=Sci%20Fi%20Executives%20Weigh%20%E2%80%98Battlestar%20Galactica%E2%80%99%20Options|title=Sci Fi Executives Weigh 'Battlestar Galactica' Options|date=September 18, 2007|accessdate=September 18, 2007|last=|first=|format=|language=English|archive=Y}}</ref>. Following the [[WGA strike]], television networks were scrambling to stockpile finished scripts for various productions, placing the finished pilot script for ''Caprica'' as a front runner for production.<ref group="development" name="scifi_stockpiling_writers_strike">{{cite_web|url=http://www.syfyportal.com/news424175.html#:~:text=SciFi%20Channel%20Stockpiling%20For%20Writers%20Strike|title=SciFi Channel Stockpiling For Writers Strike|date=September 20, 2007|accessdate=September 20, 2007|archive=Y}}</ref>
| | Jogia was only credited as part of the main cast for the [[Caprica pilot|pilot]]. Roiz and Markinson were both upgraded to series stars for the [[Rebirth|second episode]] of the series. |
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| ===Production=== | | ==Production history== |
| On 18 March 2008, the Sci Fi Channel officially announced the [[Wikipedia: Green-light|green-lighting]] of a two-hour [[Wikipedia: Television_pilot#Backdoor_pilots|backdoor pilot]] for ''Caprica'' to be produced that Spring. The teaming of Moore, Eick and Aubuchon was confirmed by the press release, the pilot's director, ''[[Wikipedia: Friday Night Lights (TV Series)|Friday Night Lights]]'' veteran [[Jeffrey Reiner]] was also announced. <ref group="production" name="ryan_battlestar_prequel_friday_night_lights">{{cite_news|first=Maureen|last=Ryan|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/03/battlestar-ga-1.html#:~:text=Battlestar%20Galactica%20prequel%20has%20Friday%20Night%20Lights%20connection|title='Battlestar Galactica' prequel has 'Friday Night Lights' connection|publisher=Chicago Tribune|page=|date=18 March 2008|accessdate=18 March 2008|language=English}}</ref>
| | ===Initial concept=== |
| | According to an [http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1487 interview] with IFmagazine, David Eick said that they had been contemplating a spinoff prequel series since [[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]] began and were tossing around ideas. About the same time, ''24'' writer Remi Aubuchon pitched a series that had a lot of similarities to the Cylon storyline. Realizing that they could not devote their full time to both ''Battlestar Galactica'' and a spinoff, Moore and Eick decided to merge with Auchubon, seeing it as an opportunity: "We took some of what we had and some of what he had ". |
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| In April of 2008, character breakdowns were issued to casting agents describing [[Daniel Graystone]], [[Joseph Adams]], [[Amanda Graystone]], Sister [[Clarice Willow]], [[William Adams]] and [[Zoe Graystone]].<ref group="production" name="mcduffee_caprica_casting_info_exclusive">{{cite_news|first=Keith|last=McDuffee|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2008/04/03/exclusive-caprica-casting-info-revealed/#:~:text=Exclusive%3A%20Caprica%20casting%20info%20revealed|title=Exclusive: Caprica casting info revealed|publisher=Huffpost TV|page=|date=3 April 2008|accessdate=3 April 2008|language=English|archive=Y}}</ref> On 7 May 2008, [[Esai Morales]] and [[Paula Malcomson]] were announced in the roles of Joseph Adams and Amanda Graystone,<ref group="production" name="nordy_caprica_morales_board_scifi">{{cite_news|first=Kimberly|last=Nordy|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/caprica-one-morales-board-sci-111080#:~:text=Caprica%20one%3A%20Morales%20on%20board%20for%20Sci%20Fi%20spinoff|title='Caprica' one: Morales on board for Sci Fi spinoff|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=7 May 2008|accessdate=29 November 2012}}</ref> 12 May 2008 [[Eric Stoltz]] was announced in the role of Daniel Graystone.<ref group="production" name="ew_stoltz_battlestar_galactica_prequel">{{cite_news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20199223,00.html#:~:text=Stoltz%20in%20%E2%80%98Battlestar%20Galactica%E2%80%99%20Prequel|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|title=Stoltz in 'Battlestar Galactica' Prequel|date=12 May 2008}}</ref> On 19 May 2008, [[Wikipedia: TVGuide|TVGuide]] revealed [[Polly Walker]] had been cast as Clarice Willow, describing the character as "one twisted sister."<ref group="production" name="tvguide_caprica_casts_polly_walker_twisted">{{cite_news|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/Caprica-Casts-Polly-11835.aspx#:~:text=Caprica%20Casts%20Polly%20Walker%20as%20One%20Twisted%20Sister|title=Caprica Casts Polly Walker as One Twisted Sister|publisher=TVGuide|date=19 May 2008}}</ref>
| | According to a [http://mboard.scifi.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1818631#Post1818631 post] on the official Scifi.com messageboard by Ron Moore's wife [[Terry Dresbach]], executive producer Remi Aubochon will be the showrunner for "Caprica", in charge of the writing staff. Ron Moore will oversee and approve the story arcs, casting, sets, and read the scripts, though Moore will probably rarely write an individual episode for ''Caprica''. |
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| By Summer 2008, ''Caprica'' had begun principal photography, with photos of a [[Wikipedia: Vancouver, British Columbia|Vancouver, British Columbia]] restaurant dressed as a Caprican-[[Gemenon|Gemenese]] cafe appearing online on 18 June 2008. <ref group="production" name="thirteenth_colony_hungry_caprican_food">{{cite_news|url=http://13thcolony.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/hugnry-for-caprican-food/#:~:text=Hungry%20for%20Caprican%20Food%3F|title=Hungry for Caprican Food?|publisher=The 13th Colony|date=18 June 2008|archive=Y}}</ref>
| | In an [http://scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/RemiAubuchon.html interview] in Dreamwatch Magazine in May 2006, Remi Aubuchon said that he originally pitched a series which was an "allegorical story about slavery with robots", when approached by Moore and Eick. Aubuchon stated that [[William Adama]] will be 11 years old when the series begins. Aubuchon described the new show by saying, "This is a very human story about how our own hubris can lead us to disaster". He goes on to say that ''Caprica'' is meant to stand on its own from ''BSG'': while still addressing backstory issues from ''Battlestar'', it will not be required to have watched it to enjoy ''Caprica''. However, "certain elements have been embedded into the first few episodes of season 3" of ''Battlestar Galactica'', which might refer to things which will be further fleshed-out in the prequel series. |
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| ====Music====
| | On November 6, 2006, the Sci Fi Pulse website reported that Ron D. Moore updated Dreamwatch magazine regarding the new series: |
| Composer [[Bear McCreary]] approached the ''Caprica'' score with the goal of creating a sound that was "as different from ''Battlestar Galactica'' as possible" while still honoring the connection between the series.<ref group="production" name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot">{{cite_web|url=https://bearmccreary.com/caprica-pilot/#:~:text=as%20different%20from%20Battlestar%20Galactica%20as%20possible|title=Caprica: Pilot|author=Bear McCreary|publisher=Bear McCreary|date=22 January 2010|accessdate=6 August 2025}}</ref> McCreary eliminated the "urgent, tribal, primitive and mystical elements" that characterized ''Battlestar Galactica'', instead employing what he called "backwards logic" to make ''Caprica'' more "normal" by using an intimate, contemporary chamber orchestra.<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" /> The score was recorded at the [[Wikipedia:Warner Bros.|Warner Bros.]] Eastwood Scoring Stage in January 2009.<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" />
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| Director [[Jeffrey Reiner]] praised McCreary's work, recalling: <ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" />
| | :"It's actually a prequel, and this would be a one hour pilot not a mini – series. It takes place 50 years before the events of ''Battlestar Galactica'' and it's essentially about the creation of the Cylons. |
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| :"Bear sent me very complete demos against picture that worked great. But it wasn't until I sat in the scoring stage at Warner Bros., and heard the maestro conduct his orchestra, that I was blown away." | | :"It's a very different show; it's not action – adventure and it's not even in space. It takes place on the Planet (sic) Caprica and it’s more of a family drama, with political and corporate intrigue. We're well into the writing of it actually; we're doing re-writes on the script right now and Sci Fi has been very happy so far. At the moment, we're just waiting to see if they greenlight it or not. Generally, there’s always a two step process: there's ordering the pilot and then there's ordering the series, but because we're not designing it as a mini – series, I don't know that anybody would even see the pilot if they chose not to go to series with it. |
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| McCreary's harmonic language for ''Caprica'' was "far more lyrical and rich than the simple drones and dissonant clusters" of ''Battlestar Galactica''.<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" /> The composer noted that ''Caprica'' had such an influence on his work that when he began scoring the ''Battlestar Galactica'' finale "[[Daybreak]]" within days of finishing ''Caprica'', he applied the same lush orchestral sensibilities, calling it "the best score of my ''Battlestar'' career."<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" />
| | :"Tonally, it will be very different," promises Moore. “This is Caprica before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|fall]]. It's a decadent world, but also a world that's going at a very fast pace. It's a prosperous society that hasn’t experienced the devastation of the first Cylon war yet, so this culture has really not been taken down a peg, and their hubris is getting the better of them. It's a go – go society that's teetering on the brink, so it’s not that apocalyptic survival scenario of ''Galactica''. The whole thing is tonally very different." <ref>{{cite_news|first=Ian M. |last=Cullen|url=http://scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/RDM_Caprica_Update.html|title=Ron D. Moore Gives Progress Report For Caprica|publisher=Sci Fi Pulse|page=|date=6 November 2006|accessdate=10 November 2006|language=English}}</ref> |
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| The score centered around two main family themes: the Graystone Theme, which McCreary described as the "de facto ''Caprica'' theme," and the Tauron Theme, which connected [[Joseph Adama]] to his ancestral heritage and the [[Ha'la'tha|Tauron mob]].<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" /> McCreary also composed specific musical motifs for individual characters, including Amanda's Theme (featuring [[Chris Bleth]] on English Horn), Zoe's Chords (a progression that connected key scenes involving [[Zoe Graystone]]'s avatar), and the Daniel Ostinato (representing Daniel's growing obsession with resurrecting his daughter).<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" />
| | ===Development hell=== |
| | Since April 26, 2006, ''Caprica'' was in [[w:development hell|"development hell"]] (major rewrites and resubmissions to network executives), until it was seriously considered during the [[WGA strike]] of 2007-08. On March 24, 2007, Moore discussed the status of ''Caprica'' with Salon.com's Laura Miller: |
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| The score incorporated limited references to ''Battlestar Galactica'', most notably the appearance of "Wander My Friends" (the [[Adama Family Theme]]) when Joseph tells his son Willie of their true Tauron surname. McCreary hoped this musical connection would make audiences remember Lee, Kara, and Roslin while watching the scene, creating an emotional bridge between the series.<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" /> For scenes featuring the [[U-87 Cyber Combat Unit|U-87 Cylon prototype]], McCreary brought back the ethnic percussion ensemble from ''Battlestar Galactica'', but kept the cues intentionally small and raw to represent "prototype ''Battlestar'' music."<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" />
| | : "It's possible [that the series will still happen]. It's been in development at SciFi for a while and they haven't picked it up. And I don't know if they're going to pick it up at this point. There's talk of doing it as a TV movie and seeing how that works, as a back-door pilot, much as we did with the "Galactica" [[Miniseries]]. Right now there's nothing telling me that they're going to move on it anytime soon, so I'm starting to feel that it's going to remain on the development shelf. |
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| McCreary's long-term vision was for the ''Caprica'' score to "slowly devolve from the crisp, classical chamber orchestra" toward the "tribal percussion and ethnic soloists of ''Battlestar''" over the course of several seasons, so that "the last episode of ''Caprica'' may have a soundtrack that sounds like the first episode of ''Galactica''."<ref name="mccreary_blog_caprica_pilot" />
| | : "It was a different kind of show. Instead of an action-adventure sci-fi piece, it was more of a prime-time soap, a sci-fi "[[w:Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]." It was about a family, the Adamas, and [[Graystones|a company]], and it was about the creation of the cylons (sic) 50 years ago. It was not going to be space-based, but set entirely on the planet of Caprica. But it would have sci-fi touches, and it would deal with issues like artificial intelligence and the various schemings and backbitings that you get in the traditional soap opera."<ref>{{cite_news|first=Laura|last=Miller|url=http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2007/03/24/battlestar/index2.html|title=The man behind "Battlestar Galactica"|publisher=Salon.com|page=3|date=24 March 2007|accessdate=25 April 2007|language=}}</ref> |
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| ===Series=== | | ===New life=== |
| On December 1, 2008, Sci Fi Channel officially announced that Caprica was picked up for a 20-episode first season. According to the press release, production on additional episodes was to begin Summer 2009 with an expected premiere of early 2010.<ref group="production" name="frankel_scifi_greenlights_battlestar_prequel">{{cite_news|first=Daniel|last=Frankel|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117996647?refCatId=1236#:~:text=Sci%20Fi%20greenlights%20%E2%80%98Battlestar%E2%80%99%20prequel|title=Sci Fi greenlights 'Battlestar' prequel|publisher=Variety|date=1 December 2008}}</ref> The following month, on 23 January 2009, veteran ''Battlestar Galactica'' writers [[Michael Taylor]] and [[Ryan Mottesheard]] joined the growing behind-the-scenes staff of ''Caprica'', along with composer [[Bear McCreary]], production designer [[Richard Hudolin]], and VFX supervisor [[Gary Hutzel]]. [[Jane Espenson]] was also announced as show runner, taking over for Ronald D. Moore following the writing staff's assembly the following February.<ref group="production" name="ryan_battlestar_veterans_move_caprica">{{cite_news|first=Maureen|last=Ryan|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/01/caprica-battlestar-galactica-jane-espenson.html#:~:text=Battlestar%20Galactica%20veterans%20move%20on%20to%20Caprica|title='Battlestar Galactica' veterans move on to 'Caprica'|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=23 January 2009}}</ref> | | On September 18, 2007, it was reported that with the end of ''Battlestar Galactica'' around the corner and Moore poised to leave Sci Fi for NBC, Sci Fi executives were considering green-lighting the 2-hour pilot for production as a means of keeping Moore with the channel. Contingent on the performance of "[[Razor]]", it was reported that ''Caprica'' might also see a release in the form of a direct-to-DVD movie that is simultaneously premiered on television <ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/james-hibberd/2007/09/sci_fi_executives_weigh_battle.php|title=Sci Fi Executives Weigh 'Battlestar Galactica' Options|date=September 18, 2007|accessdate=September 18, 2007|last=|first=|format=|language=English}}</ref>. Furthermore, with the [[WGA strike|writer's strike]] (the first since 1988), networks scrambled to stockpile finished scripts for various productions, and thus ''Caprica'' became a front runner for production because its script had already been completed before said strike.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.syfyportal.com/news424175.html|title=SciFi Channel Stockpiling For Writers Strike|date=September 20, 2007|accessdateSeptember 20, 2007last=|first=|format=|language=English}}</ref> |
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| The DVD of the two-hour pilot episode was released on 21 April 2009, selling 130,220 units totaling $2,527,570 in its first week in stores. <ref group="external" name="numbers_caprica_dvd_sales_first_week">{{cite_web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2009/0CAPR-DVD.php#:~:text=130%2C220%20units%20totaling%20%242%2C527%2C570|title=Caprica DVD Sales Data|publisher=The Numbers|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The episode received generally positive reviews, with [[Wikipedia: Wired|Wired.com]] praising all aspects of the production, despite its "somewhat sluggish start".<ref group="external" name="wired_caprica_review_sluggish_start_positive">{{cite_web|url=http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/04/review-caprica/#:~:text=somewhat%20sluggish%20start|title=Review: Caprica|publisher=Wired|date=April 2009|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
| | In March of 2008, it was announced by the SciFi Channel during a news conference that ''Caprica'' will get a two-hour pilot episode<ref>http://www.syfyportal.com/news424829.html</ref>, the filming for which ended June 19th.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.straight.com/article-151166/its-a-bc-summer-stars-and-film-shoots|title=It's a B.C. summer of stars and film shoots|date=26 June 2008|accessdate=26 June 2008|author=Craig Takeuchi, R. Paul Dhillon, and Sean Minogue|format=|language=}}</ref> |
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| On 27 April 2009, [[Wikipedia: E! Entertainment|E! Entertainment]] reported that production on ''Caprica'' would begin in Vancouver in July 2009 with a "rigorous" eight month shooting schedule.<ref group="production" name="eonline_caprica_filming_vancouver_rigorous_schedule">{{cite_web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/120727/caprica-filming-in-vancouver#:~:text=rigorous%20eight%20month%20shooting%20schedule|title=Caprica Filming in Vancouver|publisher=E! Online|date=27 April 2009|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> The following day, [[Wikipedia: The Hollywood Reporter|The Hollywood Reporter]] announced that [[Sasha Roiz]]'s supporting role as [[Sam Adama]] had been upgraded to series regular. <ref group="production" name="hollywoodreporter_roiz_expands_role_series_regular">{{cite_web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sasha-roiz-expands-role-sci-83085#:~:text=upgraded%20to%20series%20regular|title=Sasha Roiz Expands Role|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=28 April 2009|accessdate=2024}}</ref> | | ===Series pickup=== |
| | On December 2, 2008, SciFi Channel officially announced that Caprica was picked up for a 20-episode first season. According to the press release, production is slated to begin in the summer of 2009 and the series is expected to begin airing in 2010. The reason for the delay is attributed to the fact that they are attempting to regroup the core staff that worked on the pilot and ''Battlestar Galactica'', as these persons have since found work on other projects.<ref>{{cite_news|last=Rosenblatt|first=Michelle|url=http://nbcumv.com/scifi/release_detail.nbc/scifi-20081202000000-scifigreenlights.html|title=Official Press Release: 'Battlestar Galactica' Prequel Gets 20 Episode Order |publisher=NBC-Universal|page=|date=2 Decmeber 2008|accessdate=2 December 2008|language=}}</ref> |
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| While the pilot episode was shot primarily on location in Vancouver, production of regular episodes required the construction of new sets. Sets representing the [[Graystone Estate]] and the Adama Family's [[Little Tauron]] apartment were built on a soundstage, replicating the real locations used previously.<ref group="production" name="hitfix_caprica_set_visit_soundstage_construction">{{cite_web|url=http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/set-visit-syfy-s-caprica#:~:text=built%20on%20a%20soundstage|title=Set Visit: Syfy's Caprica|publisher=HitFix|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref>
| | ===Analysis=== |
| | In the finale of ''Battlestar Galactica'', [[Earth (RDM)#A New Earth|our Earth]] was discovered 150,000 years before the present day. Therefore, unlike most science fiction series, ''Caprica'' is a tale of ancient history rather than future history. |
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| On 24 July 2009, Sci Fi Channel (now Syfy) issued a press release stating ''Caprica'' would premiere on 22 January 2010.<ref group="production" name="chicagotribune_caprica_gets_release_date_january">{{cite_web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/07/caprica-gets-a-release-date.html#:~:text=premiere%20on%2022%20January%202010|title=Caprica Gets a Release Date|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=24 July 2009|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> Two days later at the 2009 [[Wikipedia: San Diego Comic Con|San Diego Comic Con]], a panel comprised of Executive Producers Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson as well as ''Caprica'' star Esai Morales and ''Battlestar Galactica'' star [[Edward James Olmos]] discussed the series.<ref group="external" name="chicagotribune_battlestar_caprica_comic_con_panel">{{cite_web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/06/battlestar-caprica-middleman-san-diego-comiccon.html#:~:text=Comic%20Con%20panel|title=Battlestar Caprica Comic Con Panel|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=26 July 2009|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> At the panel, Espenson discussed her desire to bring "dark humor" to ''Caprica'' and the forthcoming television movie ''[[The Plan]]''.<ref group="external" name="slashfilm_comic_con_battlestar_caprica_qa_dark_humor">{{cite_web|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/comic-con-battlestar-galactica-the-plan-and-caprica-qa/#:~:text=dark%20humor|title=Comic Con Battlestar Galactica and Caprica Q&A|publisher=SlashFilm|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref>
| | ==Visual Cues== |
| | * The shape of the Graystone office building's tower is pentagonal, capped with two concentric pentagons -- the same pattern that was marked on original-series Cylon Raiders. |
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| [[File:Caprica Promo Poster 5.jpg|thumb|[[Syfy Channel]]'s promotion of the series, featuring star [[Alessandra Torresani]] as an "Eve" using provocative "apple and Eve" imagery.]]
| | * The monotheistic movement on Caprica uses an "infinity" symbol to represent itself. |
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| Syfy held press tours promoting its upcoming series, with several reporters visiting the sets of ''Caprica'' on 22 October 2009. The tour also included interviews with the cast as well as a glimpse at the practical [[U-87 Cyber Combat Unit|U-87 Cylon]] prop.<ref group="external" name="ugo_caprica_set_visit_practical_prop_u87">{{cite_web|url=http://www.ugo.com/tv/caprica-set-visit#:~:text=practical%20U-87%20Cylon%20prop|title=Caprica Set Visit|publisher=UGO|date=22 October 2009|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> VFX artist [[Doug Drexler]] elaborated on the construction of the U-87 prop in his blog saying, "Gary [Hutzel] knew that ''Caprica'' would have shots where the proto-Cylon would be deactivated and standing by. It made sense to have a real world version built for those, saving us from having to render and composite the CG version."<ref group="external" name="drexler_u87_keeping_it_real_blog">{{cite_web|url=http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/the-u-87-keeping-it-real/#:~:text=It%20made%20sense%20to%20have%20a%20real%20world%20version|title=The U-87: Keeping It Real|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=Drex Files Blog|date=11 October 2009|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref>
| | * The Mandala's colors can be seen in Zoe's V-Club room as light shines through the windows as well as on Zoe's wall when her mother visits her room. |
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| By November 2009, difficulties in the production of ''Caprica'' became public when Syfy's Mark Stern announced the series' episode order was reduced by one hour. Citing unexpected cost overruns, Stern said "We always knew it would be a challenge to bring it in on budget, and the deeper we got into it, the more we realized that if we [stuck to the budget too closely], it was not going to be satisfying." In order to reduce operating costs, a single episode was cut from the season. Show runner Jane Espenson also stepped down from her position but stayed on the writing staff. Former ''[[Wikipedia: Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]'' producer [[Kevin Murphy]] joined the staff as Executive Producer and show runner following the mid-season break. Stern attributed "creative growing pains associated with any first-year program" to the shakeup.<ref group="production" name="ign_caprica_episode_order_shortened_budget">{{cite_web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/11/13/capricas-episode-order-shortened#:~:text=episode%20order%20was%20reduced,-by%20one%20hour|title=Caprica's Episode Order Shortened|publisher=IGN|date=13 November 2009|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
| | * Daniel Graystone's personal computer has the same flowing glyphs that appear abord Basestars and Cylon Installations. In addition, at one point, it is possible to see the words "Datastream" on the screen. |
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| Other difficulties apparently arose earlier during production of the series' fourth regular episode. In the [[Podcast:There is Another Sky|podcast commentary]] for the episode "[[There is Another Sky]]," David Eick stated that Syfy executives asked for additional visual effects to be added to existing and future episodes. This required the creation of new establishing shots depicting [[Caprica City]] and additional monies to be allocated to the series which had hitherto relied on minimal VFX.<ref group="production" name="syfy_caprica_episode105_commentary_vfx_establishing">{{cite_web|url=http://www.syfy.com/_cache/assets/assets/caprica_episode105_commentary.mp3#:~:text=additional%20visual%20effects|title=Caprica Episode 105 Commentary|publisher=Syfy|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref>
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| ===Release===
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| Prior to airing regular episodes of ''Caprica'', Syfy released the pilot - edited from its DVD version for content - on [[Wikipedia: Hulu|Hulu]] and its own website for streaming. The multi-platform roll out garnered an estimated 1.5 million views before the series even premiered on televison.<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_1_5_million_caprica_views_multiplatform">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/01/18/1-5-million-have-already-seen-caprica-is-that-a-good-thing-for-ratings/39244/#:~:text=1.5%20million%20views|title=1.5 Million Have Already Seen Caprica|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=18 January 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, the two-hour pilot aired on Friday, 22 January on Syfy with additional visual effects and a re-shot sequence taking place at [[Atlas Arena]]. The episode was watched by 1.6 million households.<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_caprica_premieres_1_6_million_households">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/01/25/caprica-premieres-to-1-6-million-viewers-on-syfy/40083/#:~:text=1.6%20million%20households|title=Caprica Premieres to 1.6 Million Viewers|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=25 January 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| Syfy and television ratings analysts speculated that soft viewership numbers for ''Caprica'' were a result of the pilot's mutli-platform release. The following week, however, the first new episode aired on 29 January to even lower ratings, reaching 1.4 million viewers.<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_caprica_no_ratings_juggernaut_1_4_million">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/02/01/caprica-no-ratings-juggernaut/40776/#:~:text=1.4%20million%20viewers|title=Caprica: No Ratings Juggernaut|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=1 February 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Despite the series' positive (if guarded) reviews<ref group="external" name="ew_caprica_recap_rebooting_reboot_positive">{{cite_web|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/01/23/caprica-recap-rebooting-the-reboot/#:~:text=positive%20reviews|title=Caprica Recap: Rebooting the Reboot|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=23 January 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref>, questions quickly arose as to the longevity of ''Caprica''<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_syfy_long_haul_caprica_longevity">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/02/19/is-syfy-really-in-it-for-the-long-haul-with-caprica/42415/#:~:text=longevity%20of%20Caprica|title=Is Syfy Really In It for the Long Haul with Caprica?|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=19 February 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| With mild fluctuations from week to week, ''Caprica'' continued to under-perform in ratings. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Syfy VP of Development Mark Stern was bullish about the series' chances for renewal, citing the DVR data as "promising".<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_caprica_ratings_stern_lipstick_dvr">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/03/15/caprica-ratings-syfys-mark-stern-tries-to-put-lipstick-on-the-pig/45088/#:~:text=DVR%20data%20as%20promising|title=Caprica Ratings: Syfy's Mark Stern Tries to Put Lipstick on the Pig|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=15 March 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| [[Ronald D. Moore]] noted that the studio gave them a hard time about the ratings all the way through, and attributed the issues with acquiring viewers to the continual changes and hoops they had to go through.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_sswa_studio_ratings_hard_time">{{cite book/sswa|688}}</ref>
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| On Friday, 24 March 2010, ''Caprica'' finished its first run of ten episodes before its mid-season hiatus. The "mid-season finale" "[[End of Line]]" was viewed by 1.1 million households - among the series' lowest-rated episodes to that point.<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_caprica_nielsen_end_of_line_1_1_million">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/03/29/caprica-nielsen-ratings-for-end-of-the-line-mid-season-finale/46498/#:~:text=1.1%20million%20households|title=Caprica Nielsen Ratings for End of the Line|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=29 March 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Nearly five months later on 21 July 2010, Syfy announced that ''Caprica'' would return to finish out its first season in January 2011.<ref group="external" name="dogponyshow_caprica_finish_season_january_2011">{{cite_web|url=http://dogponyshow.com/caprica-to-finish-season-one-in-january-2011-seriously-wtf/#:~:text=finish%20out%20its%20first%20season%20in%20January%202011|title=Caprica to Finish Season One in January 2011|publisher=Dog Pony Show|date=21 July 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The delay caused both confusion and anger in fans, prompting producer David Eick to question the extended hiatus: "I've never understood the network programming rationale... I don't know why they shut the show down for as long as they did before bringing it back."<ref group="commentary" name="eick_dogponyshow_programming_rationale_hiatus_confusion">{{cite_web|url=http://dogponyshow.com/caprica-to-finish-season-one-in-january-2011-seriously-wtf/#:~:text=I%27ve%20never%20understood%20the%20network%20programming%20rationale|title=David Eick Questions Extended Hiatus|publisher=Dog Pony Show|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> On 23 July 2010, Ronald D. Moore stated that he "firmly" believed ''Caprica'' would receive a second season.<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_moore_thinks_second_season_firmly">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/07/23/capricas-ronald-d-moore-thinks-show-will-get-a-second-season/58040/#:~:text=firmly%20believed%20Caprica%20would%20receive%20a%20second%20season|title=Caprica's Ronald D. Moore Thinks Show Will Get a Second Season|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=23 July 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref> However, Moore later admitted that such comments stemmed from his frustration, and belief that, because they had "delivered the goods" by putting Syfy Channel on the map with the [[Re-imagined Series]], they earned the right to a second season for ''Caprica''.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_sswa_delivered_goods_earned_right">{{cite book/sswa|689}}</ref>
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| In response fan outcry, Syfy announced on 9 September 2010 that ''Caprica'' would return early - on 5 October 2010 - but at a new night (Tuesday) and time (10/9c): "We've been able to successfully re-work our schedule, and are thrilled to bring the show back during what is traditionally Syfy's most-watched time of the year".<ref group="external" name="tvguide_syfy_caprica_premiere_rework_schedule">{{cite_web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Syfy-Caprica-Premiere-1022806.aspx#:~:text=successfully%20re-work%20our%20schedule|title=Syfy Caprica Premiere Schedule Rework|publisher=TV Guide|date=9 September 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| ===Cancellation===
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| Despite Syfy's outward confidence in the series, ''Caprica'' returned to fewer viewers than ever; the first new episode in nearly eight months, "[[Unvanquished]]," being watched by fewer than 900,000 households.<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_tuesday_cable_ratings_teen_mom_unvanquished">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/10/06/tuesday-cable-ratings-teen-mom-tops-caprica-returns-small-sons-of-anarchy-flat-despite-dish-network-stargate-universe-much-more/66996/#:~:text=fewer%20than%20900%2C000%20households|title=Tuesday Cable Ratings: Teen Mom Tops, Caprica Returns Small|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=6 October 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The low ratings immediately prompted further speculation about the series' fate.<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_bye_bye_caprica_speculation">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/10/06/bye-bye-caprica/67023/#:~:text=speculation%20about%20the%20series%27%20fate|title=Bye Bye Caprica|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=6 October 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Theories about the show's imminent cancellation intensified when Syfy announced on 22 October 2010 that it was developing another, more action-oriented ''Battlestar Galactica'' prequel series, ''[[Blood and Chrome]]''.<ref group="external" name="tvbythenumbers_syfy_greenlights_blood_chrome_action_oriented">{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/10/22/syfy-greenlights-battlestar-galactica-blood-chrome/69283/#:~:text=more%20action-oriented|title=Syfy Greenlights Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome|publisher=TV by the Numbers|date=22 October 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref> In an interview with Maureen Ryan, Mark Stern stressed that the development of ''Blood and Chrome'' did not mean ''Caprica'' would be ending, saying "I don't know the fate of ''Caprica'' yet, but, if anything, ''Blood & Chrome'' going to series would only be a great opportunity to pair it with something."<ref group="external" name="aoltv_stern_adama_blood_chrome_fate_pairing">{{cite_web|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2010/10/22/syfy-adama-blood-and-chrome/#:~:text=great%20opportunity%20to%20pair%20it%20with%20something|title=Syfy: Adama Blood and Chrome|publisher=AOL TV|date=22 October 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| Five days after the announcement of ''Blood and Chrome'', Syfy officially cancelled ''Caprica'' on 27 October 2010 after pulling episodes beginning with "[[Blowback]]" from its schedule (despite advertising to the contrary). Maureen Ryan concluded that "''Caprica'' "began full of promise and boasted a fine cast, but when it returned this fall with new episodes, it remained frustratingly incoherent... The series had some good moments and interesting ideas, but let's hope the ''Blood & Chrome'' project contains both thought-provoking concepts and visceral tension. The latter quality was notably lacking in ''Caprica''."<ref group="external" name="ryan_aoltv_caprica_canceled_incoherent_lacking">{{cite_web|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2010/10/27/caprica-canceled/#:~:text=frustratingly%20incoherent|title=Caprica Canceled|publisher=AOL TV|date=27 October 2010|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> Following the announcement, David Eick called the cancellation "unfortunate - though not surprising". <ref group="commentary" name="eick_ew_cancellation_unfortunate_not_surprising_expected">{{cite_web|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/28/battlestar-galactica-blood-and-chrome-david-eick/#:~:text=unfortunate%20-%20though%20not%20surprising|title=Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome - David Eick|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=28 October 2010|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| In yet another press release, Syfy later stated that it would burn off the remaining five episodes of ''Caprica'' in a marathon set for January 2011. Canada's [[Wikipedia: Space (TV channel)|Space Channel]] continued airing episodes through 30 November 2010.<ref group="external" name="hitfix_syfy_january_burn_off_marathon_canada">{{cite_web|url=http://www.hitfix.com/articles/syfy-sets-january-caprica-burn-off#:~:text=marathon%20set%20for%20January%202011|title=Syfy Sets January Caprica Burn Off|publisher=HitFix|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref> The DVD release of "Season 1.5" - containing the unaired epiodes - was slated for a 21 December 2010 release.<ref group="external" name="buzzfocus_caprica_season_15_dvd_release_december">{{cite_web|url=http://www.buzzfocus.com/2010/10/28/caprica-season-15-dvd-release-date-announced/#:~:text=21%20December%202010%20release|title=Caprica Season 1.5 DVD Release Date Announced|publisher=Buzz Focus|date=28 October 2010|accessdate=2024|archive=Y}}</ref>
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| In a 15 November 2012 interview, David Eick - speaking about the recently premiered ''Caprica'' sequel ''Blood and Chrome'' elaborated on the series' connection to its predecessor. Along with other elements integrated into the sequel series as "Easter eggs," Eick stated that "We did ask Esai Morales, who played William Adama's father, to reprise his role, in some capacity, in a future episode."<ref group="commentary" name="eick_denofgeek_morales_reprise_role_future_easter_eggs">{{cite_web|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/battlestar-galactica-blood-and-chrome/23464/david-eick-sets-the-record-straight-on-battlestar-galactica-blood-and-chrome#:~:text=We%20did%20ask%20Esai%20Morales|title=David Eick Sets the Record Straight on Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome|publisher=Den of Geek|date=15 November 2012|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| == Plot summary==
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| ''Caprica'' takes place 58 years before the ''Battlestar Galactica'' [[miniseries]] and the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. Conceived as "television's first science-fiction soap opera"<ref group="external" name="examiner_caprica_first_scifi_soap_opera_television">{{cite_web|url=http://www.examiner.com/article/caprica-tv-s-first-science-fiction-soap-opera#:~:text=television%27s%20first%20science-fiction%20soap%20opera|title=Caprica: TV's First Science Fiction Soap Opera|publisher=Examiner|accessdate=2024}}</ref>, the series follows two families - the [[Graystone]]s and the [[Adamas]] - living in the corrupt and decadent [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprican]] metropolis [[Caprica City]]. While the creation of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] and the fall of Colonial society is the background for ''Caprica'', the series was compared by Ronald D. Moore to the nighttime soap ''[[Wikipedia: Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' and by David Eick to the film ''[[Wikipedia: American Beauty (film)|American Beauty]]'' and centers more on its characters than science-fiction elements.<ref group="external" name="airlockalpha_mad_men_american_horror_emmys_character_focus">{{cite_web|url=http://airlockalpha.com/node/4840/node/2133/node/914/mad-men-american-horror-story-lead-emmys.html#:~:text=centers%20more%20on%20its%20characters|title=Mad Men, American Horror Story Lead Emmys|publisher=Airlock Alpha|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| The [[Caprica pilot|pilot episode]] establishes [[Daniel Graystone]] as the brilliant inventor of the early [[U-87 Cyber Combat Unit|Cylon]]s, mourning the loss of his teenage daughter, [[Zoe Graystone]], in a [[STO|terrorist]] attack. So distraught over Zoe's death, Graystone enlists the help of [[Joseph Adama]], a native-[[Tauron]] lawyer with ties to that world's [[Ha'la'tha|criminal organization]], to steal technology that would resurrect both men's daughters. Though the experiment seems to fail, Zoe is in fact reborn inside Graystone's Cylon prototype.
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| As it progresses, the series inter-cuts between the stories of the Graystones and the Adamas, as well as the terrorist organization - the [[Soldiers of the One]] - responsible for Zoe's death, and the Tauron mob - the [[Ha'la'tha]] - and the [[GDD|investigators]] pursuing both entities.
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| Though ''Caprica'' was cancelled during its first season, some connections were established between it and ''Battlestar Galactica'' and some character resolution was provided by a five minute epilogue set several years in the series' future.
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| ==Cast==
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| ===Stars===
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| [[File:Cap-cast.jpg|thumb|Season One cast photo, excluding Brian Markinson as Agent Durham.]]
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| * [[Eric Stoltz]] as [[Daniel Graystone]]
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| * [[Esai Morales]] as [[Joseph Adama]]
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| * [[Paula Malcomson]] as [[Amanda Graystone]]
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| * [[Alessandra Torresani]] as [[Zoe Graystone]]
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| * [[Magda Apanowicz]] as [[Lacy Rand]]
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| * [[ Polly Walker]] as Sister [[Clarice Willow]]
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| * [[Sasha Roiz]] as [[Sam Adama]]
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| * [[Brian Markinson]] as Special Agent [[Jordan Durham]]
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| * [[Avan Jogia]] as [[Ben Stark]] (3 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_jogia_episode_count_three_episodes">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2240326/#:~:text=3%20episodes|title=Avan Jogia Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| :''Jogia was credited as part of the main cast for the [[Caprica pilot|pilot]] only. Roiz and Markinson were both upgraded to series stars for the [[Rebirth|second episode]] of the series.''
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| ===Co-stars===
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| * [[Jim Thomson]] as [[Serge]] (voice, 14 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_thomson_serge_voice_count_fourteen">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0861023/filmoseries#tt0799862#:~:text=14%20episodes|title=Jim Thomson Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| * [[Sina Najafi]] as [[Willie Adama]] (10 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_najafi_willie_episode_count_ten">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1859748/filmoseries#tt0799862#:~:text=10%20episodes|title=Sina Najafi Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| * [[Hiro Kanagawa]] as [[Cyrus Xander]] (13 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_kanagawa_xander_episode_count_thirteen">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0437032/filmoseries#tt0799862#:~:text=13%20episodes|title=Hiro Kanagawa Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| * [[Genevieve Buechner]] as [[Tamara Adams]] (8 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_buechner_tamara_episode_count_eight">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1068777/filmoseries#tt0799862#:~:text=8%20episodes|title=Genevieve Buechner Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| * [[Teryl Rothery]] as [[Evelyn]] (8 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_rothery_evelyn_episode_count_eight">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0745186/filmoseries#tt0799862#:~:text=8%20episodes|title=Teryl Rothery Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| * [[John Pyper-Ferguson]] as [[Tomas Vergis]] (6 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_pyper_ferguson_vergis_count_six">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0701561/filmoseries#tt0799862#:~:text=6%20episodes|title=John Pyper-Ferguson Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| * [[Peter Wingfield]] as [[Gara Singh]] (6 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_wingfield_singh_episode_count_six">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0935057/filmoseries#tt0799862#:~:text=6%20episodes|title=Peter Wingfield Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| * [[Alex Arsenault]] as [[Philomon]] (5 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_arsenault_philomon_episode_count_five">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1604007/#:~:text=5%20episodes|title=Alex Arsenault Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| * [[James Marsters]] as [[Barnabas Greeley]] (4 episodes<ref group="external" name="imdb_marsters_greeley_episode_count_four">{{cite_web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0551346/#:~:text=4%20episodes|title=James Marsters Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2024}}</ref>)
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| ==Aborted Second Season==
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| As ''Caprica'' was cancelled during the airing of the second half of its first season, what is known about the planned second season comes from the first season finale, "[[Apotheosis (episode)|Apotheosis]]" and its epilogue, "[[Apotheosis (episode)#Epilogue: The Shape of Things to Come|The Shape of Things to Come]]," and from official statements by the production staff. While canonicity of information contained in such statements is uncertain, and developments in the series ''[[Blood and Chrome|Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome]]'' may contradict unaired ''Caprica'' plans, they represent what the producers considered "to have happened" as of the ''Caprica'' cancellation.
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| "The Shape of Things to Come" was filmed before word of ''Caprica'''s cancellation and represented a "sneak preview" of Season 2, set fives years after Season 1.
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| Statements by showrunner [[Kevin Murphy]] in DVD commentaries on Season 1.5 episodes (recorded before the cancellation) reveal a number of Season 2 plot points:
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| *Jordan Duram survived the sniper attack and would have left the [[GDD]] and become head of a group called the Caprica Legionnaires, dedicated to destroying the Cylons before they rose up and crushed their creators.
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| *Zoe-A, in her new skinjob body, would have joined the Caprica Legionnaires, keeping her nature a secret.
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| *Zoe would have met one of the [[Final Five]] in [[V-world]], providing her with an element needed to create her skinjob body.
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| On April 29, 2011, Murphy conducted an interview with the online fan publication ''The Caprica Times'', in which he revealed several more details:<ref group="commentary" name="murphy_caprica_times_exclusive_interview_season_two_details">{{cite_web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201212745/http://www.capricatimes.com/the-caprica-times-exclusive-interview-kevin-murphy#:~:text=The%20Caprica%20Times%20Exclusive%20Interview%3A%20Kevin%20Murphy|title=The Caprica Times Exclusive Interview: Kevin Murphy|publisher=The Caprica Times|date=29 April 2011|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
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| *Flashbacks would have revealed that the Graystones had difficulty overcoming the "uncanny valley" problem when creating Zoe's body, until 3 years after "Apotheosis," when Zoe noticed something strange that she followed through interlocking V-worlds "like the White Rabbit" until she came upon [[Galen Tyrol]] fishing at a beach. After Zoe explained who she was and why she was there, he gave her a fishing lure that turned out to be a piece of code crucial in completing her skinjob body.
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| *Duram becomes aware of Zoe's nature and keeps quiet in exchange for her assistance.
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| *No one in the ''Battlestar Galactica'' era is aware that Skinjob Zoe existed because her father went to such pains to keep her secret.
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| *Clarice Willow is a wanted terrorist as well as a Cylon rights activist and operator of a church in V-world where Cylons can go when they "power down".
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| *Lacy Rand is seen by Capricans as a crazy, "toaster-loving" leader keeping the peace on [[Gemenon (RDM)|Gemenon]] through her loyal Centurions, who follow her because a part of Zoe's "soul" has been imprinted on them.
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| *Circumstances force Clarice and Lacy into an "awkward marriage of convenience".
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| *[[Mother]] - leader of the [[Monotheist Church]] - is still alive and interested in returning to power. Daniel Graystone reluctantly allies with her against the Clarice/Lacy coalition, which causes problems between him and Zoe when the latter finds out, as Lacy is her "once and future BFF".
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| *[[Bill Adama]] grows up angry at being named for his dead older brother.
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| *Joseph Adama carries on an extramarital affair with [[Fidelia Fazekas]].
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| *Tamara Adama serves as the basis for the [[Number Eight]] model and Zoe the basis for the [[Number Six]] model. Murphy was unclear on this point, however, and recommended asking [[Jane Espenson]] or [[Michael Taylor]] for clarification.
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| **On May 5, 2011, Espenson confirmed on Twitter that the writers discussed this point, but it was not set in stone.<ref group="commentary" name="espenson_twitter_number_models_not_set_stone">{{cite_web|url=http://twitter.com/#!/JaneEspenson/status/66023637202903040#:~:text=not%20set%20in%20stone|title=Tweet by Jane Espenson|author=Jane Espenson|publisher=Twitter|date=5 May 2011|accessdate=2024}}</ref>.
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| == References == | | == References == |
| | | <div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div> |
| === Footnotes === | |
| {{reflist|group=footnotes}}
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| === Production History ===
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| {{reflist|group=production}}
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| === Development and Creative Process ===
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| {{reflist|group=development}}
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| === Commentary and Interviews ===
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| {{reflist|group=commentary}}
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| === External Sources and Reviews ===
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| {{reflist|group=external}}
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|
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| [[Category:A to Z]] [[Category:Behind the Scenes]] [[Category:RDM]] [[Category: Series in the Re-Imagined Continuity]] | | [[Category:A to Z]] [[Category:Behind the Scenes]] [[Category:RDM]] [[Category: Series in the Re-Imagined Continuity]] |
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| [[fr:Caprica (série télévisée)]]
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| [[de:Caprica (Serie)]]
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| {{indicator|Caprica}}
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