Syfy’s 19-Part Cyberpunk Series Is Criminally Underseen

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There’s a short-lived but excellent cyberpunk series from Syfy that more people should check out – it only had 19 episodes.

Following the end of the Battlestar Galactica reboot in 2009, the cable network launched Caprica in 2010. Set almost 60 years before the original series, Caprica tells the story of how the Cylons were first created on the planet Caprica, one of the twelve original human colonies.

As a big fan of the series, I always thought the prequel really deepened the story of the Cylons. It wasn’t just about robots built to serve us; there was so much more going on. And honestly, watching the first season of Caprica, you could really feel it – it was like the beginning of the end for the Colonies. We all know from Battlestar Galactica that the Cylons eventually turned on humanity, and a long, brutal war followed. But it wasn’t just a war; decades later, they broke the peace treaty and basically wiped out the Twelve Colonies, leaving only around 50,000 people alive. It’s a really powerful setup.

Ronald D. Moore, who created Battlestar Galactica, teamed up with Remi Aubuchon (Falling Skies) to create Caprica. The show starred Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson, Alessandra Torresani, Magda Apanowicz, Sasha Roiz, Brian Markinson, and Polly Walker. Sadly, Caprica didn’t attract enough viewers, leading to its cancellation by Syfy. The network didn’t air the last five episodes on TV, but they were later made available on DVD.

Even though it only lasted one season, Caprica is a well-made show that deserved to run longer. Fans of cyberpunk will especially enjoy it and should make time to watch it.

Caprica Is Great Even If You Know Nothing About Battlestar Galactica

As a fan, I always understood that Caprica was meant to really build on the story we loved in Battlestar Galactica. Specifically, it showed us how the Cylons – the ones who lived in the Twelve Colonies, and were different from those on Earth in the original series – were first created and what led to their development. It gave us a lot of background on their origins.

Even if you haven’t watched Battlestar Galactica, you should still give Caprica a try. Besides the Cylons, the main connection between the two shows is the Adama family. While fans of Battlestar Galactica might enjoy seeing the history of William Adama’s ancestors, he doesn’t really appear in Caprica’s story until the very end.

Many prequel series cater specifically to existing fans, but Caprica is different. While Battlestar Galactica was a highly praised show, you don’t need to have seen it to enjoy Caprica. Caprica stands on its own and can be appreciated for what it is, regardless of your familiarity with the original series.

Caprica Adds More Cyberpunk Elements Compared To Its Parent Series

At first glance, Caprica doesn’t seem like a typical cyberpunk story – it looks really polished and optimistic. It’s set when the Colonies are thriving and everyone believes technology is making life better. But if you look closer, I think it actually has more cyberpunk themes than Battlestar Galactica does. It’s hidden beneath the surface, but it’s definitely there!

Each episode of Caprica shows the breakdown of its society, a process that speeds up as the Cylons gain influence. Although it doesn’t have the immediately recognizable, bleak future feel of well-known cyberpunk stories like Judge Dredd, Blade Runner, and Total Recall, Caprica still captures a similar mood, particularly in a powerful speech delivered at the end of the series.

Beyond being a prequel, Caprica is a compelling story in its own right, delving into the consequences of over-reliance on technology. Even without knowing the fate of the Twelve Colonies, it’s obvious that the rise of the Cylons will ultimately be harmful to humanity. Like many cyberpunk narratives, Caprica effectively warns us about the potential risks of artificial intelligence and robotics.

It’s a shame Caprica didn’t run as long as Battlestar Galactica, or even longer. Despite its shorter run, it was a good addition to the sci-fi series and deserves more attention as a strong cyberpunk story.

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2026-05-09 17:59