And so Terra Nova debuts with a two-hour pilot introducing us to what producer Steven Spielberg probably hopes will become TV's next big hit. Terra Nova starts in the future with a dying Earth and an oppressive regime (particularly with population control). To save itself, humankind begins sending people 85 million years into the past, where they keep a colony called Terra Nova in an alternate time line.
With the jungle atmosphere, the band of survivors, the monsters (ie., dinosaurs), an opposing band of Others (here called the Sixers) and a number of mysteries (writing on the rocks? The leader's missing son?), this all feels very much like Lost. However, the drama isn't as good as Lost's. The acting and writing don't help the familiar themes (the father has been away, the son hates him for it, the son doesn't want to go and the mother is unsure). The whole opening where the father goes to prison for having and hiding a third child and then breaking from the prison is immaterial. Why he attacked his fellow-police is a mystery when he would have simply gotten away with a fine. In either case, all is forgiven after the father illegally enters Terra Nova. This beginning could have just as well not happened. Anyway, in part 2 we naturally have a first attempt at adventure and suspense when the son goes outside the gates and is threatened by dinosaurs.
In defence of the show, people have been asking why we should go back 85 million years when the planet will just be facing extinction 20 million years later. But let's put this in perspective: 20 million years is a long time. Human civilization now isn't anywhere close to being that old. The nerdy daughter is awkward at times, explaining what's going on, but that seems to be intentional. Will the show be a hit? If Lost could make it big, surely this show can too. Flawed shows can still become beloved by the masses. However, personally I don't think I'll be a regular viewer.
With the jungle atmosphere, the band of survivors, the monsters (ie., dinosaurs), an opposing band of Others (here called the Sixers) and a number of mysteries (writing on the rocks? The leader's missing son?), this all feels very much like Lost. However, the drama isn't as good as Lost's. The acting and writing don't help the familiar themes (the father has been away, the son hates him for it, the son doesn't want to go and the mother is unsure). The whole opening where the father goes to prison for having and hiding a third child and then breaking from the prison is immaterial. Why he attacked his fellow-police is a mystery when he would have simply gotten away with a fine. In either case, all is forgiven after the father illegally enters Terra Nova. This beginning could have just as well not happened. Anyway, in part 2 we naturally have a first attempt at adventure and suspense when the son goes outside the gates and is threatened by dinosaurs.
In defence of the show, people have been asking why we should go back 85 million years when the planet will just be facing extinction 20 million years later. But let's put this in perspective: 20 million years is a long time. Human civilization now isn't anywhere close to being that old. The nerdy daughter is awkward at times, explaining what's going on, but that seems to be intentional. Will the show be a hit? If Lost could make it big, surely this show can too. Flawed shows can still become beloved by the masses. However, personally I don't think I'll be a regular viewer.