This review may contain spoilers

What does a car crash, a train wreck, and Amanda Graystone (Paula Malcomson) have in common? The answer is that they are all things we want to turn our head away from but cant help but watch.

Although it seemed as if the Graystones were managing to handle things together, we finally see the pain that has been suppressed blow up in a massively predictable yet poignant way.

The other predictable yet interesting partner to Amandas pain was how Sister Clarice (Polly Walker) weasels her way into Amandas life. Yes, shes a zealot who will do absolutely anything to find avatar Zoe (Alessandra Torresani). But the absolute devotion to the sympathy and compassion she shares with Amanda was between being cringe-worthy because you just wanted Amanda to figure it out and walking a thin line of surprising truth.

Amandas statement in the drug den that, All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again, was important not only to her own connection of the visions of her dead brother to her pain over Zoes death, but also to the overall shows mythos. We cant help but remember what the ultimate consequences of everybodys pain and struggle will be.

Amandas spiral into raving hysteria medicated by prescription drugs, booze, and other inhaled drugs was inevitable, but masterfully portrayed.

Although Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) tried to let go of some of his pain through a Tauron memorial ceremony, the suggestion that Tamara still existed in V World as told by the mysterious Heracles/Tad (Richard Harmon) sent him on an obsessed quest into virtual New Cap City looking for her. Some of the new rules about this Matrix-like world include that it doesnt deal in fantasy, so no superpowers. Also, if one is killed in V World, his or her code is dead which will prevent him or her from ever returning.

While Heracles acted the best he could as a guide, his death in V World killed his ability to return forcing Tad, his name in reality, to have to live the life that Tamara begged him to in a previous episode. Josephs quest did not end, which promises more fun in V World in the near future.

Daniel Graystone continued to be threatened by several inconvenient factors. Vergis (John Pyper-Ferguson) persisted in intimidating Daniel. His own wife was falling apart, and he offered no respite to her pain this time. Cyrus (Hiro Kanagawa) told him that they need money as they might lose their government contract because the prototype Cylon cannot be replicated.

Showing his original obsession shown from the beginning of the series, Daniel spent most of the episode trying to figure out why the one Cylon works but cannot be replicated. Surprisingly, two people (and a dog) help him start putting the pieces together.

Vergis, while threatening him, revealed that the MCP chip that he stole actually didnt work - except that it does in the cylon. The second person to help him was Philomon (Alex Aresenault) who told him about the idea of generative processing, although technically it was through Zoe and their virtual date.

Clearly an intelligent scientist, at the end of the episode Daniel stood at the edge of the precipice as he stood in front of avatar Zoe in the Cylon.

There were several aspects to this episode that were predictable. Amanda was going to fall apart in traditional fashion. Clarice was going to scheme and lie. Josephs obsession to find Tamara wont stop until he finds her. Daniel is way too smart not to figure out that Zoe still exists within the cylon.

Despite the expected outcome of these three main characters, the way in which each of them unfolded was captivating. There are storylines that need to be returned to quickly, such as Lacys loyal mission to get avatar Zoe to Gemenon and the involvement of Barnabus. But seeing the underbelly of these main characters makes them more believable with every passing episode, but especially with this one.

What Worked

With all of the darkness and depression, the interaction between Zoe and Philomon is a breath of fresh air and comedy that is much needed as a balance. Philomon plays as a great foil to Zoe, and we can see how they could really have been a great couple in real Caprica.

Also, there are no words to the childhood glee in seeing vipers, albeit only in V World. Giving us a little crumb of the former shows is greatly satisfying.

Much praise should be given to Paula Malcomson in her portrayal of Amanda Graystone and her visible, palpable pain. It must be hard to have to play such a manic character that is constantly crying, but Malcomson does it with grace and eccentricity. She just adds to the outstanding stable of actors who portray the main characters.

What Didnt Work

Not to reiterate a point from a prior review, but the pattern of opening a door or asking a question and waiting two episodes to respond is getting harder to handle. Of course, there are those of us who like immediate gratification.

In that vein, where was Barnabus? With such a mysterious introduction in the previous episode, it was a letdown not to get more of the character in this one, not to mention a gaping hole of no James Marsters.

Bring on more Barnabus soon, please.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Caprica stars Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson, Polly Walker, Alessandra Torresani, Magda Apanowicz, and Sasha Roiz. The Imperfections of Memory directed by Wayne Rose and written by Matthew B. Roberts.

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