This review may contain spoilers.

The Winter Olympic opening ceremonies caused a break in running Caprica episodes, but it is worth reviewing the third episode to remind viewers why we should tune in to the shows regular time slot and continue to follow it for the rest of the season. With Reins of a Waterfall, the show is finally hitting its stride as a standalone from its parent show by allowing for better fleshed out characters and complex conflicts.

After the bombshell of a confession from Amanda Graystone (Paula Malcomson) at the memorial, Daniel (Eric Stoltz) tried to deal with the aftermath in both his business and personal lives. Assuming your daughter was a major cause of such a tragedy would be enough to upset anyone, but having an emotional breakdown in front of the entire population that brings ridicule, scorn, and the downfall of the family business should have been enough to break the relationship. However, in a very touching moment, the couple was brought even closer together with the realization that they could not face the tragedy of the loss of Zoë (Alessandra Torresani) on their own. Ironically, the entire family was closer together than they thought as the bond was witnessed by avatar Zoë.

Prior to this touching moment, Sam Adama (Sasha Roiz) accosted Daniel and bludgeoned him before Joseph (Esai Morales) demanded that they check whether or not the avatar of his daughter Tamara (Genevieve Buechner) still existed. Throughout the episode, Joseph embraced his Tauron background more and more including changing his Caprica name from Adams back to Adama. The acceptance of his own race also caused him to fully open the door to his darker side, especially at the end.

Zoë and Lacy (Magda Apanowicz) still attempted to find a way for Zoë to find and complete her purpose, or the one that she thinks that the original Zoë Graystone had for her. She managed to hack herself back into the virtual life program where she could be seen in her true form. While in Zoës virtual room, they found the avatar of Tamara lost and scared. Before they finished making plans for Zoës future on Gemini, they helped Tamara leave the room and virtual space.

In the end, Lacy was left to try and find a way to help Zoë fulfill her purpose by going to Gemini, even if that means having to steal and move the metal cylon. Joseph and Daniel were unable to find Tamara leading to wrong assumptions. The Soldiers of the One and their true purpose for mankind and more specifically for the use of avatar Zoë in what Sister Clarice (Polly Walker) called the apotheosis continues to be a mystery.

What Worked

Seeing the major characters of Daniel and Joseph become bigger and more rounded in their psyches and dramatic roles pays off in stronger storytelling. In the past couple of episodes, Daniel Graystone was a flat, one-dimensional character. Seeing his vulnerability and reliance on his already emotionally compromised wife makes him more sympathetic and allows for a better connection with him, although we cant decide if that connection is love or hate.

However, the gold star of the episode needs to go to Esai Morales as Joseph Adama. The potential of this character to be incredibly pivotal has only been hinted at until now. As he embraces his darker side, the depth of his cruelty shadows the depth of his compassion that he has already shown. How the character will reconcile the disparities of his soul can only lead him further down the rabbit hole, making him a character we love to follow.

What Didnt Work

The show relies a bit too much on stereotypes to support main parts of the story. Corrupt law enforcement officers who seem a bit too stock feels like a cop out to quickly push the plot forward. From the beginning, the racism towards the Taurons felt again like a facade. To have a minority immigrant culture who are clearly mobsters feels again like a quick solution to a story problem. Sasha Roiz is excellent as Sam Adama, and it was great to see the softer side of Uncle Sam with his partner. But in many scenes, he seems a little too Edward G. Robinson when he could be used for so much more.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Caprica stars Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson, Polly Walker, Alessandra Torresani, Magda Apanowicz, and Sasha Roiz. Rein of the Waterfall was written by written by Michael Angeli and directed by Ronald D. Moore.

Caprica airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Syfy.