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Terra Nova S01E01 "Genesis" OAD 9/26/11

19K views 217 replies 90 participants last post by  Rob Helmerichs 
#1 ·
"Welcome to paradise"


I liked the first episode, but with it costing 4 million an episode it's not going to last at all.


I did like the point about placing Terra Nova in a different time stream as to introduce dinosaurs that never existed and hopefully other things.
 
#27 ·
Like jsmeeker I didn't record it either so I'm curious too. I'm really not interested in a Jurassic Park type show. Are there T Rexs around trying to eat the people, etc.? Is that the main focus of the show? I'm wondering if I should bother trying to catch the replay Saturday.
There are definitely predator dinosaurs in hour two and they play a major point in the plot but I think there is much more going on than simply surviving the wilderness.

There is a splinter group of survivors who are in opposition to the main settlers. They all arrived in the same group so I assume there is going to be some plot down the line exploring the whys of that.

There is some writing on some rocks that is apparently from the Terra Nova leader's missing son. What it is we are not sure yet.

So I think they have enough to explore and keep things interesting for awhile. And I am guessing these other plots will a llow them to have epiosde where they don't need to stretch their budget on CGI.
 
#28 ·
I'm generally not one to get into the "reality" or the science of this type of show, but a few things were annoying:

1) If this is a one-way trip, and if the probe was never found because it's a different time stream, how do they even know what the "fracture" even is or that it leads back in time?

2) Along the same lines, how would they know this leads to what they are referring to as Terra Nova - 85 million years in the past (or whenever)? It seems everyone is prepared for the dinosaurs and prehistoric times.

3) Taylor said it took 119 days for the person right behind him to arrive. Why would that have changed now (why does everyone arrive at the same time)?
Other than bad writing, my guess would be that a lot of the truth is being withheld from the general populous by the people in the know.
 
#29 ·
I'm generally not one to get into the "reality" or the science of this type of show, but a few things were annoying:

1) If this is a one-way trip, and if the probe was never found because it's a different time stream, how do they even know what the "fracture" even is or that it leads back in time?

2) Along the same lines, how would they know this leads to what they are referring to as Terra Nova - 85 million years in the past (or whenever)? It seems everyone is prepared for the dinosaurs and prehistoric times.

3) Taylor said it took 119 days for the person right behind him to arrive. Why would that have changed now (why does everyone arrive at the same time)?
#1 and #2 are the two things that bothered me the most, at least in terms of logic. The Hallmark Channel family was too much for me to take. Like almost all of Spielberg's efforts, I'll pass.
 
#31 ·
I spoiler tagged the information below because it is all a guess of mine on the future plot twists of the show. I have no idea if I am right, but if I am I don't want to be blamed for spoiling the show for anyone.

Am I the only one who suspects some kind of Planet of the Apes like twist down the road. I think that eventually we will find out that they are not in a different time stream and that the reason they couldn't find the probe wasn't that it was a different time stream, but that they went forward in time to a time where humans are extinct and dinosaurs have reemerged. I also would guess that the writings are some sort of message by the last humans who created the crack in time to save the human race.
 
#32 ·
Another technical question: They mentioned not being able to travel back, but Taylor implied being in two way communications with the future. I wonder if that was just an inconsistency, or if that's going to become a plot point in a future episode?

I also wonder what the long term plan here is. Just keep sending people and supplies back, until they're self sufficient? That thing is bound to need a lot of energy. There's no portal end point that the main base controls, so it looks like they may have to send people across every time they send supplies, unless they just want to toss stuff into the middle of the jungle and hope for the best.

That's another reason they must have at least some way to communicate back: Otherwise, it would be an ongoing gamble that anyone was arriving and surviving.

Any bets on how long until the girlfriend that got left behind makes the trip over? That's after he hooks up with Sky of course.
 
#33 ·
I'm generally not one to get into the "reality" or the science of this type of show, but a few things were annoying:

1) If this is a one-way trip, and if the probe was never found because it's a different time stream, how do they even know what the "fracture" even is or that it leads back in time?

2) Along the same lines, how would they know this leads to what they are referring to as Terra Nova - 85 million years in the past (or whenever)? It seems everyone is prepared for the dinosaurs and prehistoric times.

3) Taylor said it took 119 days for the person right behind him to arrive. Why would that have changed now (why does everyone arrive at the same time)?
Maybe it's kind of like Stargate, where they can communicate through the fracture with radio etc, but the trip is one way for material objects. But yes, I have the same question s.
 
#34 ·
Why does every kid in every show have to have the same teenage problems? Can't a show just have some normal kids without any real problems and a family that can function just fine. I get it you had to leave your girlfriend, you hate your dad for going to jail, ect.. Just tired of shows having to use the same kids story lines over and over again.
 
#35 ·
Who said Stephen Lang wouldn't be typecast as a hard nosed military colonel?

Who said Jason O'Mara wouldn't be typecast as a cop who time travels to the past?

I also thought that some of the writing was weak, especially concern the characterization.

The main characters seem pretty typical:

Good hearted cop father who plays fast and loose with the rules.
Check.

Healer mother trying to keep her family together.
Check.

Rebellious son lashing out at his father.
Check.

Awkward, geeky daughter that spouts technobabble.
Check.

Hard nosed military commander with family issues.
Check.

That said, I think that there are some interesting plot elements going forward.

The conspiracy in the future and what role Taylor's son plays in it look to be interesting.

I'm ok with the fact that they journeyed to a parallel timeline but if the transport is one way, how do they communicate with the 22nd century?
(Maybe it's like the Stargate where radio signals can travel both directions.)

I think that this show has potential.
We'll see if Braga goes off the reservation or not.
 
#36 ·
should be interesting when she gets a look at the writings on the rocks

A Dozen Big 'Terra Nova' Questions (With Some Answers from a Dino Drama Insider) Maureen Ryan

some spoilers

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/26/terra-nova-questions-dinosaurs-sixers-spielberg/
Interesting

ugh, Brannon Braga? I wish I didn't know that

also about the communication with the future

"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."
 
#37 ·
vertigo235 said:
Maybe it's kind of like Stargate, where they can communicate through the fracture with radio etc, but the trip is one way for material objects. But year, I have the same question s.
Yes, the article above, linked by cherry ghost, indicates that the people in Terra Nova can communicate with the future only when the portal is open to order supplies, etc. So that would answer questions 1 and 2.
 
#38 ·
What were the oxygen levels during the period this takes place in? There were times in the earth's history when it was higher than now and the planet was plagued with forest fires etc. It would alter the way people would use technology because fires would be easier to spark.
 
#41 ·
Every character seemed like they were straight out of central casting.

Everybody was too clean and well coiffed to be living a zillion years in the past.

And what was with the lie at the end? "No, we didn't go near the falls."

I hoped every one of the idiot kids had gotten eaten.

I'll practice my guitar chords during this show since it looks like I won't need my brain much.
 
#42 ·
I give it a beg "meh". Was decent, but soooo cliche.

Dangerous situation + teens who pretend it's not and get into trouble? check.
Angsty teen boy who will inevitably get caught up in the bad crowd? check.
Know it all but charming teenage daughter? check.
Soldier boy making eyes at said teenage daughter? check.
Friendly giant animals who could crush you like a gnat but would rather just eat out of your hand? check.
Hero badass leader guy who's not quite all he's made out to be? check.

Or, I could just call it "Lost 2.0" and be done with it.
 
#44 ·
To me, calling Terra Nova "Lost 2.0" is a compliment.

Preliminary numbers from Fox indicate about 9 million viewers for the pilot last night. I was hoping it would be higher.
and a 3.0 in 18-49. Given the cost to make this show, I don't think that is good enough to keep it around which sucks because, even though I haven't watched yet, this was THE show I was looking forward to.
 
#47 ·
Another technical question: They mentioned not being able to travel back, but Taylor implied being in two way communications with the future. I wonder if that was just an inconsistency, or if that's going to become a plot point in a future episode?
The commander had a ipad or whatever it was which had the information saying the cop should still be in prison for the next x amount of years. I'm sure it isn't a priority to update Terra Nova with the prison population when they open the time rift. Therefore you might be right that there might be some sort of two way communication. Unless that is just a mess up by the writers.
 
#48 ·
The commander had a ipad or whatever it was which had the information saying the cop should still be in prison for the next x amount of years. I'm sure it isn't a priority to update Terra Nova with the prison population when they open the time rift. Therefore you might be right that there might be some sort of two way communication. Unless that is just a mess up by the writers.
Although that information might be in his wife's personnel file...
 
#49 ·
jeepair said:
The commander had a ipad or whatever it was which had the information saying the cop should still be in prison for the next x amount of years. I'm sure it isn't a priority to update Terra Nova with the prison population when they open the time rift. Therefore you might be right that there might be some sort of two way communication. Unless that is just a mess up by the writers.
There is two way communication through the portal when it is open.
 
#51 ·
What were the oxygen levels during the period this takes place in? There were times in the earth's history when it was higher than now and the planet was plagued with forest fires etc. It would alter the way people would use technology because fires would be easier to spark.
I am not sure that the oxygen levels were higher back then, but rather than in the future Earth, the air was so full of crap that the oxygen concentration was less.
 
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