Terra Nova

Professor Bear · 05 October, 2011, 10:27:08 PM

Checked out episode three. Bollocks, though there is actually a decent show in there somewhere if the writers could only take a writing class and get their themes together. The plot is a rip on Pitch Black, of all things, and on no less than three occasions builds up to a huge action scene [spoiler](dino-bird attack, an assault on the dino-bird nests, and a battle to lead the dino-birds away from the colony)[/spoiler] only to cut to an ad break and then when the ad break is over so is the action scene. I have a funny feeling that will get old pretty soon.

Quote from: pauljholden on 05 October, 2011, 09:44:53 PMIn episode 2 (or the part 2 of the pilot), Meera(?) says something about 'controlling the past to control the future' which, I think, is a very clear signal that the two time line theory may not be as straightforward as first stated.

For the viewer, yes, though this doesn't explain how, in-universe, no-one has thought this 'alternate timeline' thing through enough to ask if this probe/colony WHAT IS SITUATED IN DINOSAUR TIMES was simply destroyed by... oh, I don't know, some kind of massive extinction-level event or something. My theory is that because Brannon Braga is a producer, we'll be getting technobollocks somewhere down the line in lieu of sensible plots or satisfying answers to any questions asked along the way, even though 'alternate timeline' actually explains everything and lets the show get on with being about something other than yet another sci-fi conspiracy centered around technobabble. They should have aimed at being another Lost, but instead they seem to be aiming to be Threshold or Flashforward.

Devons Daddy · 10 October, 2011, 02:43:31 PM

This show could honestly be an american version of OUTCASTS, which was/is bloody awesome!
take all the good bits of outcasts, and then put in a yank production company and what do you get.

schools,walton family style get togethers,romance,and moments of laughter. its watchable but not unmissable.
monsters, reasonable acting, and specail effects.
ok for a show to watch on the way to work each day.

klute · 10 October, 2011, 07:06:20 PM

Just watched the first 2 episodes and thought of a bad avatar/lost mash up BUT enjoyed it worryingly there appear to be rumours of it being cancelled how true that turns out to be im sure we'll see.

I for one won't be happy if it is dropped as i think it has potential given the right direction and stories.

Devlin Waugh · 11 October, 2011, 02:46:50 PM

Enjoyed the first episode, it won't win any awards for the writing but still enjoyed it

Meathook · 13 October, 2011, 02:03:33 PM

Yes the scripts are appalling IMO, but I am sticking with it to see if it improves.

Professor Bear · 13 October, 2011, 03:10:12 PM

Just watched the third episode (technically the fourth) and you can go ahead and stick a fork in this one, it's done. Their third plot is basically an "everyone catches a virus that makes them act out of character" story even though this is only their third proper episode and these characters have not been established yet. There's a couple of McGuffins ([spoiler]wedding ring, character with a cold[/spoiler]) that are so clunkily dropped into place you will wonder how anyone could turn in such a script with a straight face. As a small press regular I see wannabe writers kicking the shit out of themselves about how they did something they reckon wasn't great and it's galling to see professional television writers turning in crap like this for a major tv series almost twelve years into the twenty-first century.

I know, I know - I'm basically getting riled up about the fact that the bar is so low for sci-fi writing when it's as much my fault for lapping up tosh like this indiscriminately because it has lasers in it or something, but damn it, there has been some great fucking telly in the last decade and I'm not out of order to expect better than Terra Nova - and nor is anyone else.

von Boom · 13 October, 2011, 04:24:43 PM

I have to agree completely. Terra-ble Nova is just shite. I've taken it out of my recording line up and won't be going back. Anyone sticking it out for some sort of improvement is in for a looong wait I'm afraid.

JvB

COMMANDO FORCES · 13 October, 2011, 04:34:07 PM

Bland and by the numbers. If only these gits would take a chance with scifi and use writers who love the subject and don't want to do a crap day time tv soap opera, for that is what this turd feels like.
I'm only gonna watch it in fast forward to see people get eaten from now on.

von Boom · 13 October, 2011, 04:41:33 PM

If they only SHOWED people being eaten it might have some redeeming value, but they never show the deed. Right now the show is only slightly less exciting than a Churchill advert. Oh yes.

JvB

Robin Low · 13 October, 2011, 07:12:31 PM

I still think the first two episodes suggested some potential, but based on the birdies and the plot of episode 4 it seems like we're looking at the sort of stuff we've seen on Star Trek time and time again. With only 13 episodes, it can't really afford wasting time on filler like this if it wants to do anything remotely interesting.

Regards

Robin

Meathook · 16 October, 2011, 10:24:39 PM

Let's have some on the toilet kills a la JP!!

COMMANDO FORCES · 18 October, 2011, 08:02:14 PM

That's it, I'm finished with this now. 4 episodes in and it's absolutely bollocks. Weak/bland characters, crap effects and storylines that would have been binned from the 3rd season of Star Trek (the original series).

This episode was absolutely ludicrous. I had to force myself to watch it as my brain fought back questioning my sanity. The things that happened on screen just made me wonder who on earth they had employed to write the script. I'm not going to go into the story, as I don't want to spoil it for the poor unfortunates who want to carry on.

It's now off the series record on my Virgin box

von Boom · 18 October, 2011, 08:20:58 PM

Braga should have to go the home of every person who has watched this turd of a show and apologize on bended knee.

JvB

Rog69 · 18 October, 2011, 09:31:07 PM

I've only watched the first two hours, I liked the first episode but the second annoyed the hell out of me because of that smug smart-arse teenage girl character who leads the son out of the compound.

Unless someone tells me that she gets eaten or used as a toothpick for a T-Rex in the third episode, I'm out.

Mudcrab · 19 October, 2011, 10:29:30 AM

Yeah, I'd like to see her get eaten too

I'm a big fan of scifi shows and I'm well used to the generic episode formula, but that really was terrible. I'd started off saying it was better than Falling Skies (or at least I enjoyed it more) but I would like to utterly recant that. There's a few likable characters and cool dinosaurs but really...

Never mind, Walking Dead on Friday.