For weeks Caprica has been juggling its myriad subplots and characters to mixed results, but "There is Another Sky," simplifies both elements and finds a harmonious balance of both character and plot development. Instead of frantically inserting characters into bits and pieces of fragmented subplots, the episode focuses on three characters -- Joseph, Daniel, and Tamara -- and creates a separate subplot for each. Not only does this limit the focus of the narrative, eliminating pesky and inconsequential scenes (like last week’s Zoe dance sequence), but it also allows for a few characters to develop more fully, unlike previous weeks, where dozens of characters are clamoring for the audience’s attention with only occasional success.

Most surprising was the heavy focus on Tamara here. Her journey through a virtual Caprica, dubbed "New Cap City," is a refreshing break from the familiar Caprica we have been accustomed to over the last several weeks. I liked the look and feel of New Cap City. The noir style truly fits the dangerous world that Tamara finds herself in, and in terms of relaying a sense of wonder that virtual reality can create, it is a definite step up from the “virtual nightclub” we have seen in previous episodes. Tamara is forced to accept her life as an avatar among this virtual world, learning along the way that she cannot be harmed, as she is not attached to a holoband like the other users are. Her transformation at the end of the episode -- from scared girl to gun-toting, one-woman wrecking crew -- was desperately needed since the show currently lacks a female character whose convictions and motives are clear. Forget Zoe. I want to see more of this new survivalist Tamara.

As much as I dislike Amanda Greystone’s character right now, I am liking the person that she is making Daniel become. Last week her sudden appearance on the Baxter Samo show during Daniel’s interview allowed Daniel to transform into a smooth-talking dynamo, cleverly spinning his negative publicity into something positive. That is the Daniel we should be seeing more of, and in this episode, thankfully, we did. Amanda is relegated to one scene in which she offers her husband an anecdote about how he single-handedly founded his company -- a fitting parable considering Daniel had just found out that he was about to lose his job. Amanda’s words of encouragement (though somewhat ironic since it was her blabbermouth that gave rise to Daniel’s mess of troubles) eventually lead to a brilliant scene in which Daniel marches into a shareholders meeting with Cylon in tow and convinces the board to keep him on. Also, the Cylon's ripping off of its own arm per Daniel’s instructions and subsequently throwing it on the table of businessmen provides the perfect demonstration of Daniel's power over his own creation, and the momentary hesitation of the machine (as it is still Zoe, after all) is quite powerful in its own right.

After the recalled assassination of Amanda and the apparent conflict between Joseph and Sam at the end of last week's episode, I thought "There is Another Sky" was going to to be furthering that tension between the two brothers. Joseph finally discovers that his son, William, has been skipping school to hang out with Sam and his gangster friends, but there were none of the fisticuffs that I expected between the Adama siblings. Instead, the episode remains focused on Joseph’s relationship with his son. Ever since the bombing that took his wife and daughter, Joseph has been focused solely on vengeance against the Greystones and has thus forgotten his aim to be a good father for William. Sam summarizes this perfectly when he tells Joseph that he needs to learn how to be a father and ends with, “When you can manage that, maybe I’ll introduce you to your son.” It's all too fitting that Joseph’s portion of this episode ends with a Tauran ceremony that allows for the purging of grief of lost loved ones. When Joseph kneels down with his son and pays his last respects to his wife and daughter, we see that he has finally let go and can reconnect with his son.

Of course, the end of “There is Another Sky,” Joseph finds out about Tamara’s existence in the virtual world. This might change his character once again, but I am hoping that in the coming weeks, his desire to locate his daughter is to help her find her own closure, not just to see her again for his own satisfaction. Perhaps she’ll wind up assimilating into the virtual world so fully that she won’t want to leave. William will be a wildcard in this whole equation. In this episode we see him beat up a kid in a fit of rage likely caused in some way by the death of his mother and sister. Although he has now seemingly put away that hostility at the Tauron ceremony, William could revert back to skipping school and hanging out with Sam if Joseph is going to go looking for Tamara. Or, will Joseph take his son along? I’m hoping for the latter myself so that we can see William learn the heroics that he will take with him into his military career.

Caprica is in need of more episodes like “There is Another Sky.” It presents three straightforward stories that could have been their own separate episodes and still been worthy of praise. Although the episode lacked several of its more important characters (Zoe, Sister Clarice, Lacy, etc.), the characters that were featured tonight had universal concerns. It is easy to relate to all three of the plights present here, whether it be Joseph's reconnection with his son, Daniel's last ditch effort to save his job, or Tamara's longing to find her home. Not since the pilot episode have I been able to say something so positive about the show and with such conviction, but with "There is Another Sky" I begin a transformation into a Caprica believer.