Seriously: Where has any semblance of an episode like this been over the last few weeks? Couldn’t “Vs.” have been done a month ago to throw us a bone?
Terra Nova has been a mess for a long time, beginning directly after the promising pilot started things off. Ever since the premiere, we’ve been subjected to the dopiest of episodes: “The Runaways” was a lame Andromeda Strain ripoff and “Instinct” a cheesefest sophomore effort directly lifting from Hitchcock’s The Birds to barely comedic effect. From those chapters until the present? Uneven fluff has ruled the weeks. At least “Nightfall” left us with something to chew on, but it was a glimmer of an idea that wasn’t followed up.
Finally, though, we got some dirt on Commander Taylor and a glimpse into his past along with what his deal is with his son Lucas and The Sixers. It was refreshing.
Oh … we still got a dose of eye rolling, though. Things like Malcom’s chiding of Shannon’s intelligence and the incomprehensible tale of Harvest Festival keep the dippiness plodding right along down the road to … somewhere. *sigh*
I want so much more from this series, really I do. But it’s just not happening. The writers continue to baffle us with supposed family fare story lines that either don’t make sense or are so ridiculous you wonder who’s buying the schlock. Am I right? Yes, I’m right.
I even tried to get the CliqueClack team to chime in on what could be done to fix the series going forward. The response was lackluster at best. (I got one response.) So I’ll throw some of my gripes out there for you to consider. Things bothering me include (but are not limited to):
I’d like to hear what you have to say to get Terra Nova on track. Is it fine the way it is, a light and fluffy family program with occasional dinosaur sightings to please the kids, some absurd action to keep dad interested, teenage shenanigans for the youth set to enjoy mockingly and a little vapid eye-candy to tie mom over? Or would you like to see some meat and potatoes, something akin to a modicum of story intelligence in the hour?
Talk to me, Johnny. Give me a reason to care.
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Nov 22, 2011 @ 11:29 EST5EDT
I cannot accurately answer this question, because last night I feel asleep about half way through the episode.
Unless that IS the answer to the question.
The skeleton for some great story-telling is there but the execution — as you said inconsistencies, wishy-washy continuity, juvenile story-telling with irrelevant & unnecessary asides. One of the problems is that I don’t think they know what kind of show they want to do–straight up family drama, or action adventure. The result is, well, the mess we’ve been getting. Seriously, I groan every time we get the teenage son; yet, I see intriguing story possibilities with the teenage girl who befriended him. (yeah, I can’t remember names).
I haven’t watched last nights episode yet. I’ll watch when i get around to it which tells me a lot as this kind of show is *so* up my alley–I was a fan of Earth 2, Outcasts, & read dystopian/apocalyptic/space pioneer fic a lot. In fact some of the YA/juvenile fiction I’ve read still isn’t as juvenile as some of what Terra Nova has offered up.
I think it *is* possible to get “some meat and potatoes, something akin to a modicum of story intelligence in the hour” while also including some of those family moments. However, I doubt the ability of the current writing staff to find the balance or some of the common sense.
For example, go back to the pilot. Regardless of how established the colony is, it is still a dangerous environment with their very survival dependent upon *everyone* working. The teen son should have been placed in a work group if he’s not in school. Faced with not knowing how to farm vegetables or being used to clean air & physical labor, he struggles to fit in…. *Show* us that they’re still struggling a little bit to survive, & that every pair of hands must work–that’s common sense.
Kill off the Shannons?
….stupid things continued:
Tough girl black eyeliner
New World chic attire
Living conditions seem toooooo comfy
Too many red bowtie endings
After the pilot, never the feeling that there was any actual danger
I think they need a new pilgrimage. A game changer pilgrimage that sets everything on it’s head. Yes, life can be beautiful in this land, now let them fight for it!
Thank god they didn’t conjure up a turkeysaurus for that thinly veiled Thanksgiving episode. I think the problem is Spielberg …he always wants to do the cute family thing when the show should be TV-14 or TV-MA. There isn’t any danger and there should be since man is on the bottom of the food chain back then (or would have been if we lived back then)