Terra Nova (Spoilers Likely)

[Thomkal]

Starting a new thread for this show so we don't clutter up the general TV thread with it.

[spleen1015]

I forgot to DVR this last night. I will get the encore telecast on Saturday and talk about it then. I am hoping it is pretty decent.

[stevew]

I like the part how they digitally removed the scars and edited Steven Lang's dialogue from Avatar.

[DanGarion]

Spoiler

How do the colonists communicate with the Earth of 2149?

Echevarria said they can only communicate with the Earth of 2149 when the portal is open and new colonists are coming through. They can order supplies and relay information during those periods, but whatever the colonists ask for, they have to wait eight months to get it -- supplies only arrive with next group of settlers.

[Julio Riddols]

I wasn't very impressed with it. It came off as cheesy and overly sentimental. I was looking for something that brought a level of excitement and intrigue comparable to the first episode of Lost, but really all it amounted to was a totally unlikable family being stupid and breaking laws, then going back to the age of Dinosaurs to escape the prison they built for themselves. The only character I liked at all was the boss guy with the gray hair at Terra Nova. Neat effects, no substance IMO.

[Draft Dodger]

yeah, didn't really inspire me on any level. And some of it was just downright dumb (prison break?) or incredibly cliche (pretty much every character). and the dinosaurs were meh.

[Raiders Army]

My youngest son said it the best: "Why would they go back in time to before the dinosaurs were wiped out by something?"

He's 10 years old.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

My youngest son said it the best: "Why would they go back in time to before the dinosaurs were wiped out by something?"

He's 10 years old.

I think the idea is that they couldn't pick the time because the crack in time wasn't controllable. They could have thrown in 10 seconds about that though - it would have probably been a good idea.

[RainMaker]

Was excited about this but my biggest fear seems true. They made it incredibly generic to try to appeal to a larger audience. The result is something that doesn't seem to appeal to any particular audience. I do know shows sometimes struggle to get out of the gate so I'll continue watching.

I'm also sort of surprised they put it up against DWTS and Two and a Half Men. At least for the pilot when you are trying to attract a new following.

[Thomkal]

<---answering HiFiRevival's question from the Fall schedule thread.

"I still want to know, if the portal is one way only, how do they know that people are successfully making it through? I did stop paying close attention with the football game last night, but I didn't see anything to explain that point."

They apparantly sent a probe through first-the three kids find it when they are on the way to orientation-the probe is part of a memorial now in a little park like area.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

My youngest son said it the best: "Why would they go back in time to before the dinosaurs were wiped out by something?"

He's 10 years old.

good question from your son But remember this is an alternate timeline so they may not get wiped out. And perhaps maybe that's why they are there? to prevent it if does happen?

[Lathum]

Just watched it, I really liked it. Just a good turn your brain off and enjoy it show. I don't tend to think to much about these shows anyway. No offense meant to people who do, people watch TV in different ways.

I think the son could get annoying, and there are lots of cliches, but there is enough to keep me interested.

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by HiFiRevival

I'm still hoping they give a plausible, within the context of course, explanation of how those in the past can communicate with those in the future. Otherwise, it's just a blind trip and they think something is happening. If travel is only one way, and that seems firmly established, then how is communication two ways even during times that the portal is open?

I think the ending was supposed to make you question whether it is a blind, one way trip. The whole "control the past, control the future" line.

I also like how they sent back all kinds of high tech medical equipment and trucks, but then they use trees to build the perimeter.

[whomario]

I can´t yet decide if i find Taylor great or annoying, but despite him looking different and me not knowing him i immediately thought "the bad guy from Avatar !", not really much variety between the 2 roles so far (and the dad played in another series with time travel as well)

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

My youngest son said it the best: "Why would they go back in time to before the dinosaurs were wiped out by something?"

He's 10 years old.

well, i kept thinking "why go where dinosaurs are" in the first place, but after thinking about it i actually couldn´t find any perfect time to go to. It´s not like earth was docile all that often i admit.

As for that "being wiped out thing" : We are still talking a 20 mio year time frame until that event, so i guess that´s a decent window of oportunity to screw up in other ways before that happens

But yeah, like others said i also got the impression that it wasn´t a choice but an accidental thing (sounded different in the previews), i.e. they couldn´t go anywhere/anywhen but there.
Question : They sent the probe and then the geeky sister said that "they knew it was an alternate timeline because they couldn´t find it anywhere in the present", correct ? Someone explain to me why a probe would stay in place 85 mio years ? What´s the theory here ? Or did i understand the girl wrong ?

Overall i find the whole concept weird and am curious what the larger goal is beyond having a couple hundred people live in a confined and shut off area and get some fresh air for a change while trying to not get eaten or get killed by the rebel group.

I´m not sure i like the mathematic-symbols thing, had actually hoped it wouldn´t go the mystery-route all that much but would keep it simple.

I also thought the mother looked like a 25 year old at times, very weird.

[Easy Mac]

It had a lot of the same beats as the Lost premiere. Anyone else get the Lost vibe during the shot of the dad lying on the ground once they got to Terra Nova? A lot like Jack in the woods. A lot of other things gave me a Lost vibe. Dinosaurs = smoke monster. weird writing = hatch/numbers. Portal = dharma drops.

Also, the trouble making girl... hot. She was smoking in Kings, and she's a pretty solid actress.

[CrimsonFox]

Didn't they already do this before? It was called Dinotopia.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Didn't they already do this before? It was called Dinotopia.

I was thinking Land of the Lost.

[CrimsonFox]

Marshall, will, and Holly....on a routine expedition...
*banjo pickin'...*

[Schmidty]

Everyone keeps asking why they went back 85 million years instead of a better time, but they stated definitively in the show that there was a tear in time/space that lead there. They didn't have a choice. That argument's starting to get old because all you had to do was watch the show and pay attention.

Having said that, I thought the show was just ok. There were a lot of potential plot holes (such as the above-mentioned wooden perimeter), pretty poor CGI, mediocre acting, and some really unlikable characters. I hoping the entire episode that the angsty, whiny older brother would get eaten.

All in all, I'll watch it again, but I'm not ready to put it on my season pass list.

[Thomkal]

So thoughts on the second episode? Slightly better I guess with the reptile/bird migration (but seriously they didn't try to date the eggshells they found to see when they were left there?). All the family storylines including the addition of the head of science as a romantic rival are still just blah to me. But glad they followed up on the teenagers acting up storyline showing their punishment. Preview for the next episode looks more "sciencey" than the first two, so probably will like that more.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Everyone keeps asking why they went back 85 million years instead of a better time, but they stated definitively in the show that there was a tear in time/space that lead there. They didn't have a choice. That argument's starting to get old because all you had to do was watch the show and pay attention.

Having said that, I thought the show was just ok. There were a lot of potential plot holes (such as the above-mentioned wooden perimeter), pretty poor CGI, mediocre acting, and some really unlikable characters. I hoping the entire episode that the angsty, whiny older brother would get eaten.

All in all, I'll watch it again, but I'm not ready to put it on my season pass list.

Only seen the first two, but similar to the above - very cheesy, formulaic.

Reminded me of FlashForward as much as Lost - neat concept seemingly ruined by poor acting and characters that like Schmidty says you'd rather see get killed than rescued.

I'll give it a couple more shows: for me the first one was poor, the second was less so, so at least there's an upward trend there

[dubb93]

I heard it retained 100% of it's viewership from the first episode. Ratings haven't been great but that can't be a bad sign.

EDIT: As far as ratings are concerned.

[Lathum]

I really like it even though the second episode was a rip off of Pitch Black

[Atocep]

I've watched the first two episodes and I'll keep watching for now, but I don't think this is going to stick with me. The 2nd episode felt like a mid-season filler episode that doesn't drive the plot anywhere in particular. That's a bad sign to me. I really hope the show gets better because I like the idea, but my expectations have dropped quite a bit.

[Draft Dodger]

this has moved firmly into "only if my watch is watching" category.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

this has moved firmly into "only if my watch is watching" category.

I've read this about 6 times and have no idea what it means.

wife?

[AlexB]

I've just finished the third episode, and I'm done - shallow pap.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I've read this about 6 times and have no idea what it means.

wife?

lol, I'm a maroon. yep, that's what I meant

[Thomkal]

well sadly the third episode wasn't any better for me. The old "a simple cold (that he got in like two seconds from his daughter) will prevent me from getting the disease that's killing everybody else" plot is just that, old. Really did expect more "meat" on this show given who was behind it, so disappointed with the show in general. Will still watch it, but can't really see it surviving past this season without some major changes.

[whomario]

anybody still watching ? I have caught up over the weekend and sadly haven´t been impressed ... There have been a few interesting pieces of information, a couple good scenes and now even a semi-promising cliffhanger/plot at the end of the last episode with some planned counter-espionage.
But it´s just so far and in between, i found myself fast-forwarding quite a bit ...

[Rizon]

Yeah, this show is poorly written. I wanted to like it and it had so much promise.

[RendeR]

Wow, what a bunch of prima donnas. Seriously, you expected an oscar winning TV show or what?

Its good fun entertainment, with some angst issues.

Its also a "look at how humanity keeps ruining itself" mirror, not unlike Gene Roddenberry's creations 50+ years ago.

Its not supposed to make you think, its not supposed to create analytical think tanks of people pouring over every detail. its a fucking hour long TV drama.

Sometimes you people just scare me with how fucking serious you are about insipidly silly things.

Its fun to watch, i love Dinasaurs and time travel sci fi crap, I've got this recorded so I can watch it again. Entertainment without brain trauma. Good times.

[Julio Riddols]

That is like getting mad at someone because they dont like 'White Chicks'. But when a show gets hyped to the level Terra Nova was, the expectations should be high. What has been delivered is something no better than an average throwaway drama with sci-fi elements. People want to watch something because it is compelling or unique or funny or relatable, not just a new setting for poorly rehashed cliches.

[RendeR]

It hasn't been hyped any more than any other show. I see far less ads for it than most others to be honest. The commentary here makes it seem like they promised you guys a solid gold butt plug and your pissed because it was only a latex.


Sheesh

[whomario]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Its fun to watch, i love Dinasaurs and time travel sci fi crap, I've got this recorded so I can watch it again. Entertainment without brain trauma. Good times.

My problem with the show is that it´s trying to be serious and wants to come across as a "deep" show with mythology and stuff but it seems they are just making stuff up as they go along.
It also wants to be a "show about a family" (stated in various interview with the creators) but doesn´t establish any sort of family dynamic. Take the awkwardness between the parents, which aparently just goes away between episodes.
Or in the "sonic wave/EMP/Parasite" episode (which i thought was propably the best yet) where that one kid and Skye have this deep talk about him being in love with her but knowing that she loves Josh. First off he had like 2 minutes of screen time since the pilot and the next episode there´s nothing of the whole thing (i realize the point was to tell her that she´s in love with Josh, but still)

It also creates relationships between the roles at an absolute snails pace, even abandoning them for episodes.

I´d be happy if they actually concentrated on isolated but fun/action packed plots, but that´s not what they do most episodes. That is my problem with the show.
Heck, there aren´t even all that many dinosaurs

I love a ton of shows aren´t nescesserily "deep". For example i think that the longterm-plots in "Sanctuary" aren´t worthwile, but still enjoy the episodes itself a lot.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by RendeR

It hasn't been hyped any more than any other show. I see far less ads for it than most others to be honest. The commentary here makes it seem like they promised you guys a solid gold butt plug and your pissed because it was only a latex.


Sheesh

That would piss me off. Wait. I said too much.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

That would piss me off. Wait. I said too much.

Glass always makes me nervous.

[RendeR]

I Heart you guys! =)

[Radii]

I just watched the finale, I didn't start the series right away but had it all recorded. By the time I started watching it a few weeks ago I knew not to expect too much, and perhaps that difference in perception allowed me to enjoy it just fine. I hardly have anything to say about the plot at this point really, but I enjoyed the season as light entertainment.

[Radii]

dola, a lot of the characters are pretty straight forward and obvious, but for the most part I just found them to be fun, again nothing deep, this isn't the show to go to if you want deep development, but if you can ignore some flaws its a lot of fun.

The one thing I will say is that I am surprised during the finale that no one ever seriously "changed sides", I expected Mira at some point to join up with the good guys once it was clear she wasn't getting back to 2149 to see her daughter, and there were a couple moments where Lucas was clearly unhappy at the disregard the mercenaries had for harmless creatures, I thought that might go somewhere.

I have no idea if this is cancelled or if there's going to be another season, but I kinda hope there isn't. They had a setup in place that made this season work well enough for what it did, but I would expect it to go completely off the rails with the stuff introduced at the end of the episode that seemed like they'd be setup for next year.

[RainMaker]

Sounds like renewal will be up to how other shows like Alcatraz do. Also whether House comes to an end.

[Noop]

I like the show. I thought the finale was very good and I hope they bring it back for another season.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Sounds like renewal will be up to how other shows like Alcatraz do. Also whether House comes to an end.

I have the season recorded and sitting on my hard drive waiting for other shows to end their seasons and fill in. With any luck I'll know if they renew it or not before I start so I know if I should even bother.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

I have the season recorded and sitting on my hard drive waiting for other shows to end their seasons and fill in. With any luck I'll know if they renew it or not before I start so I know if I should even bother.

Trust me, don't even bother. It's awful. Like impaling yourself on a rusty pole in the middle of a frozen forest awful.

Or at least fast forward to all of Odette Annable's scenes.

[DeToxRox]

Terra Nova goes extinct

Terra Nova won't be back for a second season, at least not on Fox which has decided not to renew the show for a second season. Unsurprisingly, the studio (Twentieth Century Fox Television) is keeping hope alive saying it will shop the show to other networks. I'd be surprised to see another network pick up the show, but not surprised to see any crazy fans divert their plastic dinosaurs from Fox to Syfy. Perhaps Netflix is a better target.

[sterlingice]

Unfortunately, with SyFy going all cheap reality tv, it's unlikely to find a home there.

SI

[Lathum]

boo

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Terra Nova goes extinct

Terra Nova won't be back for a second season, at least not on Fox which has decided not to renew the show for a second season. Unsurprisingly, the studio (Twentieth Century Fox Television) is keeping hope alive saying it will shop the show to other networks. I'd be surprised to see another network pick up the show, but not surprised to see any crazy fans divert their plastic dinosaurs from Fox to Syfy. Perhaps Netflix is a better target.

Great news. That opens up a 1 hour spot to keep Fringe!

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

Great news. That opens up a 1 hour spot to keep Fringe!

+1

Terror Nova went from 60 to 0 in less than 2 seconds. Great concept, but executed as poorly and cheesy as possible. Keep an eye on Naomi Scott though.