LIAR, Liar

Article first published as TV Review: LIAR on Seat42F.

Sundance has a new drama premiering tonight called LIAR. It’s actually a co-British program that is being aired here on Sundance at the same time it’s still running across the pond, albeit viewers in the UK are a few weeks ahead of us in the story. In LIAR, schoolteacher Laura Nielson accuses surgeon Andrew Earlham of rape after a first date. The audience is left to wonder which one of them is telling the truth as Andrew insists the intercourse was consensual, and Laura apparently finds forged evidence. So it’s a psychological thriller mystery.

The lead performers, Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) as Laura and Ioan Gruffudd (Forever) as Andrew, are excellent. We’ve seen Froggatt play a rape victim before and Gruffudd do creepy and mysterious, so they do feel very familiar in the parts. But there’s also new ground here, with the slow pacing and the surprise reveals, each sticking very firmly to their own version of events. For much of the first hour, I wavered back and forth over who was telling the truth.

I do think society influences our impressions and how each person would approach this. My instinct is to trust the woman making the accusation, and others will, too, although some will fall on the other side, especially when Laura’s mental stability is called into question. Part of the value of LIAR is making us think about our preconceived notions and evaluate them, as well as call attention to some of the complex issues and difficulty building a case in situations like this. For that, it is invaluable.

In terms of storytelling, I’m not sure about this show yet. By the end of hour one, I felt like I had a plenty good idea of what happened, and was no longer on the fence. Reading a review of hour three, which aired this week in Britain, it seems viewers that far along are all falling on one side. Though, I expect there are still some twists to come that may shift things back the other way, or further explain what’s been revealed. This is the kind of thing you’d really have to watch all six parts of before deciding if the tale was well done or not, the conclusion mattering as much as the journey.

There are some very positive signs, besides the excellent acting. For one, the series is by Harry and Jack Williams, the brains behind The Missing, another excellent, twisty thriller. For another, the production is high quality, looking fantastic and grounded, paced pretty good, no obvious plot holes, fine scoring, terrific directing, all pluses. Some of the characters have major possibility, like Andrew’s son, who is Laura’s student, and Laura’s ex-boyfriend who is not what he initially seems. The supporting cast, including Zoe Tapper (Mr. Selfridge), Warren Brown (Luther), Shelley Conn (Terra Nova), Richie Campbell (Eve), Jamie Flatters (So Awkward), and Danny Webb (Humans), seem solid, too.

On the negative side is how every character seems to have their secrets, not just the leads. This can be all right, and may still be here. But other shows have fallen into the trap of making every single other person the leads cross paths with too shady or untrustworthy. I hope LIAR doesn’t fall into that trap. I don’t think it will, despite a couple things that seem a bit forced in the premiere, but that’s something to be careful with.

Having only seen a single installment, I am willing to tentatively recommend it. My feeling is that it will be worth your time, although, as I’ve cautioned, I can’t guarantee it at this stage. However, if you like a good British mystery-thriller, this will probably be right up your alley, and the pilot is already better than most others in the genre I’ve seen.

LIAR airs tonight at 10 ET on Sundance.

Extinct Terra Nova found on DVD

FOX's Terra Nova was a bold experiment. Beginning in the pollution-ridden future, groups of men, women, and children travel back in time to settle the past. There is adventure, action, conspiracy, and pretty good looking CGI dinosaurs. Sort of a family-friendly version of Jurassic Park, with a preachy twist, it should have provided viewing fun for years. Except, most of the episodes weren't very well written, which led to its quick cancellation after a mere 13 episodes. Now, the entire series has been released on a four-disc DVD set.

In the premiere, "Genesis," Dr. Elisabeth Shannon (Shelley Conn, Mistresses) is recruited as part of the "10th wave" sent back in time to the settlement, but she is only allowed to bring her two eldest children, Maddy (Naomi Scott, Life Bites) and Josh (Landon Liboiron, Degrassi: The Next Generation). This is because, in 2149, having three children is illegal, leaving out Elisabeth's youngest, Zoe (Alana Mansour). So Elisabeth helps her husband, Jim (Jason O'Mara, Life on Mars), break out of prison, where is serving a sentence for assaulting the police officers who discovered Zoe's existence. Together, all five Shannons make it through the rift.

Once the family has arrived at the new settlement, Commander Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang, Avatar) allows the Shannons to stay together, since he needs Elisabeth, and doesn't care about laws that have not been invented yet. Jim, a former cop, is assigned to the agricultural team, but soon proves himself more than capable to join Taylor's security force. This comes in handy when Josh, upset at his father for being gone all this time, meets an attractive girl named Skye (Allison Miller, Go On), who leads him outside the compound gate. The teens are attacked by dinosaurs and robbed by members of The Sixth, rebels who have split away from the main group. Jim sets out to rescue his son.

Each episode after that is mostly stand alone, with a few broader arcs. There is mystery in why The Sixth split off, and why Taylor's son draws pictures on rocks. The leader of The Sixth, Mira (Christine Adams, The Whole Truth) seems devoted to some cause. Skye and Josh have the beginnings of a teen romance, and dinosaurs aren't always predictable. Trying to add a more procedural element to some episodes, Taylor and Jim solve crimes, while Elisabeth faces medical cases.

One problem with the show may be that it tries to satisfy everyone. Attempting to balance crime drama and medical mystery with sci-fi innovation and some fun dinos means that none of those things get adequate attention. Not knowing which writers to hire to really capture all of these different elements, a great story is often slogged down by bad dialogue. The special effects look fantastic, and there's an exciting adventure present. If only the writing didn't frequently rip off installments of classic Star Trek, there could have been something interesting here.

Bottom line, Terra Nova delivers in action and special effects, and does a pretty decent job in the acting department. It just lacks a cohesive story and smart lines for its characters.


Be warned, Terra Nova ends on a cliffhanger. Nothing is neatly tied up, and this single season does not stand on its own. Within the DVD set, someone wisely included an access code to continue the story online in an interactive program, so that fans can get some sort of closure. But, of course, that's not the same thing as more episodes.

It would be hard to complain about the special features on this set because, despite Terra Nova's early cancellation, the studio seems to have been kind in allowing the development of extras. This DVD set includes deleted scenes and a gag reel. Audio commentary is provided for the two-part season finale, which is also presented as an extended episode.

Additionally, there are several featurettes. One delves into the making of the pilot, while another explores the mysteries of the show. "Cretaceous Life: The Dinosaurs of Terra Nova" gives viewers more of what they want, and that's the creatures that inhabit the world.

The biggest flaw in this release is that it is not available on Blu-ray. Given the amount of money spent on developing the dinosaurs and building this beautiful world, why not show it off in the best quality picture available? DVD does a pretty good job, but it can't compare to high definition. This show, more than almost any other, screams for a Blu release, though none has been announced at this time.

If you are so inclined, Terra Nova The Complete Series is available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Terra Nova The Complete Series on Blogcritics.

"The Runaway" comes to Terra Nova

     On last night's episode of FOX's Terra Nova, "The Runaway," a young girl (Emelia Burns) is found in the jungle. She is an orphaned Sixer who has run away from camp. Elisabeth (Shelley Conn) and Jim (Jason O'Mara) take her into their home. Soon thereafter, Alicia (Simone Kessell) is captured by Sixer leader Mira (Christine Adams). Strangely, though, Mira allows Alicia to return home, and the girl to stay in Terra Nova.

     Taylor (Stephen Lang) grows suspicious, and they catch the girl trying to smuggle a box back to Mira. She claims Mira is holding her brother hostage, and that's why she has betrayed them. Jim disobeys Taylor's orders to try to rescue the girl's brother. He is captured by the Sixers, but Mira lets Jim and the boy go, after telling Jim that some people from the future want Taylor taken down, and he should switch sides. The girl and boy find a new home in Terra Nova, and Jim has something to ponder.

     "The Runaway" attempts to present the Sixers as something other than flat villains. Of course this is a welcome development, but it would come across a little more effectively if their actions matches Mira's words. For example, though Mira assures Jim she isn't a threat to him, Jim tells Taylor he isn't swayed because the Sixers injure his ribs. Also, if one stops to think about it, anyone who manipulates a child, sending them into harm's way as Mira does with the orphan girl, cannot be all that altruistic. Mira may be commended on her dedication to her mission, but her methods keep her from being anything more than evil.

     The information Mira presents, however, is interesting. Whether Taylor is a good guy or a bad guy remains to be seen. He has sacrificed much for Terra Nova, and spends his life trying to make the settlement work. But there are obviously things in his past he is ashamed of. The fact that someone from the future wants to take him down is not surprising. What is unknown is what anyone has against Taylor, specifically, and why they are using the Sixers to do so. If it was the people in charge of the portal, there would be easier ways to replace Taylor. It must be someone working behind the scenes.

     In a side plot, Maddy (Naomi Scott) interns with Elisabeth in the hospital. She soon finds it not to her liking. Maddy has the brains to be a physician, but not the stomach. This is not an uncommon problem, and surely Maddy can put her talents to use in the field of science without having to peer at gory injuries. What's a little weird is that Elisabeth seems to have no inkling of Maddy's weak constitution ahead of time. It seems like this would have come up before this internship arises, sometime in Maddy's life. Instead, not only does Elisabeth not see this coming, nor notice as it's happening, she appears to have no opinion one way or the other about it. This is a chance for some great character development, but it's wasted.

     The really strange part of the episode is when Taylor and Mira have their standoff at the gate. Jim asks a soldier if he has a spare rifle, and lo and behold, the man happens to have one slung over his shoulder! That's a bit odd, isn't it? Who carries two rifles?

     Terra Nova continues to be an interesting and visually stunning series with credible actors. The issue is the writing and depth of the characters, which are still too shallow to set it apart as an amazing series. Given time to work out the kinks, it is possible that Terra Nova can reach a much higher potential. However, at least during "The Runaway," greatness is out of reach.

     Terra Nova airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

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     Catch up with streaming episodes of Terra Nova.

The "Genesis" of Terra Nova

     FOX's Terra Nova premiere, "Genesis," begins in 2149, with the Earth dying because of human mistakes. Mankind has begun a new colony 85 million years in the past, in an alternate timeline. Dr. Elisabeth Shannon (Shelley Conn, Mistressess) is recruited as part of the tenth wave of settlers, but she is only allowed to bring her two eldest children, Maddy (Naomi Scott, Life Bites) and Josh (Landon Liboiron, Degrassi: The Next Generation). This is because in 2149, having three children is illegal, and this applied to Elisabeth's youngest, Zoe (Alana Mansour). Elisabeth helps her husband, Jim (Jason O'Mara, Life on Mars) break out of prison, where is serving a sentence for assaulting the police when they find Zoe. Together, all five Shannons make it through the rift.

     Once at the new settlement, Commander Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang, Avator) decides to allow the Shannons to stay together, since he needs Elisabeth, and doesn't care about laws that have not been invented yet. Jim, a former cop, is assigned to the agricultural team, but soon proves himself more than capable to join Taylor's security force. This comes in handy when Josh, upset at his father for being gone all this time, meets an attractive girl named Skye (Allison Miller, Kings), who leads him outside the gate. The teens are attacked by dinosaurs and robbed by members of the Sixth, rebels who split away from the main group. Jim must rescue his son.

     Terra Nova is a family friendly show that should appeal to a broad base. There is the sci-fi aspect of time travel and alternate universes. There is mystery in why the Sixth split off, and why Taylor's son draws pictures on rocks. The leader of the Sixth, Mira (Christine Adams, The Whole Truth) seems devoted to some cause. Skye and Josh have the beginnings of a teen romance. There is a group of teens that live apart from their family. Little Zoe is cute as a button. Taylor and Jim will have to solve crimes, while Elisabeth will face new medical cases. Plus, dinosaurs and involvement by Steven Spielberg! Which should satisfy just about everyone.

     Which might be the problem with the show. Don't get me wrong; Terra Nova is certainly one of, if not the, best fall premiere so far. But its widespread tone means none of those things get primary focus. Not knowing which writers to hire to really capture all of these different elements, a great story is slogged down by bad dialogue. The special effects look fantastic, and there's an exciting adventure present. A little tweaking on some lines, and Terra Nova could quickly set itself apart from the pack.

     That's why I recommend you keep watching. The actors are good, and the plot is fairly original. Until proven otherwise, Terra Nova is new and different, and thus, worthy of viewership. The best elements involve the family trying to settle in, finally back together, and the mysteries outside of the settlement walls. These would be good to focus on, as well as revisiting the future, shown too briefly in the beginning, considering how intriguing this time and place are.

     Oh, and it would have been nice to see Jim escape from jail. Yeah, there's a lot to cover in "Genesis," but it feels like a little bit of a cheat to have Elisabeth visit Jim, and then suddenly he has made it to the transport station. Might there be a few things missing in there?

     Anyway, be sure to watch Terra Nova Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

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