Those of us who made it to the CAPRICA panel event at the New York Paley Center tonight got an unexpected treat: advance screenings of both this week's new episode and next week's mid-season finale! Unfortunately for me, I was late and only got to see the latter (written by BSG alum Michael Taylor btw). It was... astoundingly action-packed, with cliffhangers galore! Also, you get the unique joy of seeing James Marsters say the words: SO SAY WE ALL. Frak yeah.
The Q&A panel after the screening with Ron Moore, David Eick, Syfy's Mark Stern, and castmembers Esai Morales, Sasha Roiz, Alessandra Torressani and Magda Apanowicz was a lot of fun and quite informative. Those Adama brothers are a hoot...
A couple of highlights gleaned at the panel:
- No one would say exactly when the second half of CAPRICA season one will air (although SyFy has apparently told the press October 2010). And despite the rumors from earlier this month, no one mentioned CAPRICA getting renewed, or any other new BSG spinoff ideas. Keep your fingers crossed.
- Ron Moore confirmed that we will visit two other colonies in the next set of episodes after the hiatus: Gemenon and Tauron.
- When asked if an ending has already been worked out for this series, Moore and Eick say they have not done that yet, it is too soon. They see around six organic endpoints, each is a landmark event within the timeline between the current present on the show through to the events of the BSG miniseries.
- Esai Morales says that big changes are afoot for Joseph Adama in the back half of the season, following some crucial developments we saw tonight in the mid-season finale.
- Sasha Roiz got his role as Sam Adama after auditioning for the role of Tomas Vergis (Graystone's business rival). James Marsters was being considered originally for the role of Vergis as well... but his unique talents seemed much more suited to Barnabus.
- To answer a question I got this evening: NO, Michelle Forbes does not have a cameo in CAPRICA 109. That's just someone who looks like her a bit.
OK I'm tired. Goodnight for now -- meanwhile, for the rest of you who attended tonight, please leave your (NON SPOILERY) thoughts in the comments. Did you enjoy this week's new episode? Did anyone post panel video on youtube yet? Etc.
ETA Thursday AM:
The Paley Center did a great livetweet of the event last night.
At the Syfy upfronts this week, Esai Morales elaborated further to io9 about "the wringer" Joe Adama will go through in 1.5, and says that CAPRICA's renewal is still up in the air:
We don't know when we're going to get picked up, so my choices are limited – I can't go out for pilots, but I don't want to because I really enjoy [Caprica]. I enjoy doing television for people with brains. ...I like that the show makes you think, and it sells ideas. It sells questions. It sells perspectives. Do you believe in one god or many or none? There's no good or bad – there's good or bad deeds. As they say in the Bible, God loves the sinner, not the sin. ...This show makes you think. If you want to scratch the surface, you'll get something more than backdrop.
The Paley Center in New York City has just announced a CAPRICA panel! Finally something for us folks on the East Coast. Here are the details:
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
6:30 pm ET, New York
Appearing In Person:
Ronald D. Moore, Co-Creator and Executive Producer
David Eick, Executive Producer
Paula Malcomson, "Amanda Graystone"
Alessandra Torresani, "Zoe Graystone"
Magda Apanowicz, "Lacy Rand"
Sasha Roiz, "Sam Adama"
Syfy’s new Battlestar Galactica prequel—more futuristic family saga than space opera—is a provocative, superbly crafted drama that, like its predecessor, tackles complex, highly resonant themes, such as religion, race, terrorism, technology, love, and the very nature of humanity. Like all quality drama, Caprica is not just emotionally and intellectually gripping, but also compels viewers to confront their own reality, even as they are swept up in this visually arresting, preapocalyptic world of sentient robots, avatars, and interplanetary travel.
The Paley Center will preview an upcoming episode from Caprica’s first season, followed by a discussion with members of the cast and creative team.
Paley Center Members: $15, tickets on sale now.
General Public: $25, tickets on sale Wednesday, February 24 at noon.
