“Like you said: in here, you’re either quick or you’re dead. I’ll be quick.” — Joseph Adama
I think I said this before, but one of the things I like about each episode is hearing each character’s thoughts at the opening. At first I thought it was pretty weird, but now I feel like it actually clears things up. For example, I wasn’t all that sure why Zoe wouldn’t “come out” to her father before hearing what she said in this opening, though she did give more clarity to that later in the episode, and she definitely has good reason: her dad’s a kook.
By the way, what the frak was up with those “look ahead” moments before the commercials? I know for a fact that there are a lot of people who hate any sort of spoiler or teaser at all, so they must have REALLY hated these. I don’t get what they did to improve the viewing experience. In fact, they were just annoying. And I usually like teasers!
When Daniel was using the dog to get Zoe to reveal herself, was anyone else reminded of the notorious National Lampoon magazine cover? Hey, it’s the same sort of dog, right? Anyway, at first I wasn’t really thinking Daniel was completely wrong to be testing U-87/Zoe to get her to react, but then I thought: if he’s so sure Zoe is in there, how can he live with knowing he mentally frakked with his daughter’s mind? Like I said: a kook.
Speaking of Daniel, I wasn’t really aware that he went ahead and used the stolen MCP only days after it was taken. Wow, was that a boneheaded move. Vergis definitely has good reason to want to ruin his life, and that seems to be coming to a head very quickly. Either Vergis really is going to ruin the Graystones or some kind of “accident” is going to put an end to Vergis. I could picture Vergis doing something to cause the U-87 to appear to malfunction, thereby ruining the defense contract for Graystone. Not only would Vergis love that, but Zoe would as well.
Was anyone else completely frustrated with Joseph Adama in this episode? Well, maybe you are frustrated with him in every episode, but tonight he was exceptional. What really got to me was his refusal to answer the riddle on that bizarre stage at Mysteries, as it looked pretty clear he should have been shot for not answering. Lucky for him that didn’t happen … yet. He redeemed himself quite a bit in the gunfight at the club, with that sweet quote I added at the top of this post. And who is paying the Nicky Casino chick to help Adama? Unlikely to be someone we’ve met already, but I’m curious to see what she looks like outside of V-World.
As for Amanda Graystone, I still cannot get into that part of the story at all. Amanda seems very easy to manipulate, so the question is why and to what end?
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Mar 19, 2010 @ 22:16 EST5EDT
How can you tell who is a bigger kook between Daniel and Zoe?
The only thing more terribly annoying than the simpering Adama character would be he and Amanda simpering together. They need to do something to bring Joseph back around.
Have I already said Emanuelle is Tamara or did someone say that to me? Can’t recall.
Great Episode. The ring of fire, and psych dog shoot were really exciting to watch. Eric Stoltz is waaaaaaay better at his craft than I ever gave him credit for in the past.
*POST AUTHOR*
Hm I didn’t hear it’s Tamara, but did she really go so far as to fake almost de-rezzing to Joseph to throw him off?
Well of course you are right in that, when Tamara was shot by one of Boss Hog’s dirtbags there was no hint of de-rezz.
Why would it be someone we don’t know? There’s no fun in that, I think. So for dramas sake, I’m hoping it’s Tamara (somehow, and I get the de-rezz argument), or Evelyn. Who else might it be? Little Bill?
I looked up the names of the female characters on Caprica and found some interesting things. Names have meaning and it seems like these names were specifically chosen for these characters.
Zoe: (Greek) Meaning: Life. Zoe is a direct transliteration of the ancient Greek word ‘zoe’ (written ‘zeta-omega-eta’). It is usually listed as meaning ‘life’, but it can also mean ‘a (means of) living’, ‘subsistence’, ‘goods’ or ‘property’. Zoe was the name of several Byzantine empresses.
To Clarice the Zoe avatar is the afterlife she seeks. The Zoe avatar is also ‘a (means of) living’ for the real Zoe, and in her current state inside the U-87 robot she is the property of Daniel. As the first Cylon she can be called their empress.
Tamara: (Hebrew) Meaning: Palm tree (Indian) Meaning: Spice. Tamara de Lempicka was a Polish art deco painter. Tamara or Tammy Faye was an American Christian evangelist.
The palm branch is a symbol of triumph and victory. “Early Christians used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul” “in Judaism, the palm represents peace and plenty” “the palm may also symbolize the Tree of life in Kabbalah” Tamara has won the game in that she cannot die. To see if she gains peace and plenty in V-world we have to see.Tamara is certainly adding spice to V-world. She is putting her art on the walls She may turn out to be leader and evangelist that other V-world people respect. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_tree#Symbolism
Emmanuelle: (Hebrew & French) Meaning: God is with us.
If God is Tamara, or Zoe or ‘the one true god’ of the STO working through them then V-world is key and this character’s name is a hint.
Clarice: (Latin) Meaning: Clear; bright; famous
We will have to see if her view of things is the clear and correct one. She wants to gain approval and rise up in the ranks of the STO, to be the one to find Zoe (Life) and that is a kind of fame.
Amanda: (Latin) Meaning: She who must be loved. (Sanskrit) Meaning: Active; bright. Amanda is the feminine gerundive of the Latin verb ‘amo’ (I love) and thus literally means ‘she who must be loved’. Amanda’s Pennant or Celithemis Amanda is a type of dragonfly.
Amanda’s insanity past and present seems to center around her loved ones, and losing them. If she must have love then loosing a loved one would be a big shock to her. Her mind is active now with all her visions of her brother. She could be like a dragonfly in that she is flighty and quick to change her mind.
Shannon: (Hebrew) Meaning: God is gracious. (Gaelic) Meaning: From Seanan meaning Old River. The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland.
We never get to know her but maybe that is something good, something gracious, because the Adamas only have good memories of her and not new stuff from a virtual Shannon to confuse things. She passed from this life across the river and went on.
Names info https://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/