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.

Terra Nova responds to "Occupation" with "Resistance"

     To end the freshman run of Terra Nova, FOX presents "Occupation" and "Resistance" last night. Lucas Taylor (Ashley Zukerman) leads some greedy miners into the past, and they take control of Terra Nova. When Jim (Jason O'Mara), who is injured in the initial confrontation, wakes up, he seeks a way to communicate with Commander Taylor (Stephen Lang), who is outside the walls of the settlement with a handful of soldiers. Together, they plot to stop their conquerers. Jim travels back to the future, and gets home just before destroying the portal. Then, mysteriously, the bad guys pack up and go, heading into the Badlands where the bow of an old sailing ship is discovered.

     "Occupation" and "Resistance" call to mind other TV shows and movies pretty heavily. There's an Avatar-esque battle with a company who just wants to make a profit (though Lang is now on the right side). When the characters gaze at pretty dinosaurs, who Lucas casually murders, the parallel is even stronger. There's also an aspect of Lost, in the mystery of the sailing ship, and some of the musical score plays up this well. It's a smart move for Terra Nova, given that Avatar did well in theaters, and Lost is one of the greatest series ever made.

     But execution falls short, as it has continuously done over the season. Things are too easy, and leaps are made without explanation. Jim can run faster than the explosion destroying the Hub? Really? It's understandable that Terra Nova, being in part a family drama, doesn't want to lose its patriarch, but his mission is a suicide one. It would have been far more interesting to have Jim trapped in the future next season, seeking a way home. Or anyone in Jim's place, for that matter. Also, Jim just pretends he is confused wandering outside of the compound's walls, and the soldiers take him home? And he travels to a packed bar after curfew, where occupiers and colonists alike are drinking, and no one gets in trouble?

     The thing is, though, Terra Nova does know how to deliver a killer action sequence. And it also can tug a few heart strings. Credit should be given to Washington's (Simone Kessell) heroic sacrifice, made all the more moving as she struggles with the guilt of surrending Terra Nova to save innocent lives. In "Occupation" and "Resistance," she is a complex character with good motivations and a compelling story. Which saves the season finale from being a total bust. It's also hard not to get excited when the various members of the colony, who don't always get along, come together to fight back, even as the scenes lean a bit towards the cheesy.

     In a similar vein, Lang delivers a fantastic performance, even as the story between Taylor father and soon veers between unrealistic and ridiculous. Lucas is single-minded and evil, rather than layered, making their confrontation silly. But Lang still manages to evoke some strong emotion at his son's betrayal and death, and that says much about his acting skills.

     Dinosaur sightings are light, especially in the first half, but then, that's not really what Terra Nova is about. More disappointing is not seeing the colony fall, only hearing about it from Jim's perspective, as he slept through the whole thing. However, this is likely because of budget concerns, and because "Resistance" later gives a massive explosion and dinosaur chase, that kind of makes up for the skimping earlier.

     Does Terra Nova deserve a second season? Well, people will be upset if the ship's bow isn't explained. But it's hard to argue for more installments when, despite some wonderful moments and great special effects, the stories and dialogue just are not up to snuff. There are plenty of better shows that have been cancelled quicker. The deciding factor will likely be ratings, which have been good, but not great, given the massive budget of the series. Word may not be handed down for months, and there's nothing to do but wait and see.

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"Now You See Me" on Terra Nova

     In "Now You See Me," the latest installment of FOX's Terra Nova, Taylor (Stephen Lang) heads off into the jungle to look for his son, Lucas (Ashley Zukerman, Rush), only to be captured by Mira (Christine Adams) instead. Taylor turns the tables on Mira, but soon both must work together to escape a deadly prehistoric predator. Back at camp, Jim (Jason O'Mara) grows closer to uncovering the Sixers' mole, who viewers learn is Skye (Allison Miller). Not to worry, though, as the sweet young girl is only feeding the bad guys information so they will continue to care for her ailing mother.

     There is no doubt that the Sixers are bad. They stop giving Skye's mom her medicine when communication breaks down, and Skye is a little late feeding them the latest intel. This is not the act of someone who has any compassion at all. So clearly, the vast majority of the Sixers are one-dimensional villains that fans of Terra Nova will not be sad to see killed. It certainly makes things simpler when they are black and white, but far less interesting to the viewer.

     Skye's decision to help out the Sixers is predictable as soon as the facts are in, and of course she's not a bad guy. After all, she has been shown to be helpful and caring towards Josh (Landon Liboiron), so the series writers won't write her off quite so easily. Honestly, though, it would be far better if the mole were a complicated character whose loyalties are truly in question, rather than a scared little girl hoping to help her mother. Thus, another failure in "Now You See Me." And now, no one really wants Jim to catch the mole, and the urgency for him to do so is gone, making the plot kind of moot.

     In fact, the only really good part of "Now You See Me" is Taylor and Mira's interaction. It's totally stale and done before that two enemies can find common ground in the field of battle. Still, as the two discuss how, under different circumstances, they might be allies, it's hard not to appreciate it. Adams is a terrific actress, and giving her character a sympathetic little back story goes a long way towards making her likeable and intriguing. Now the only question seems to be, what will it take to convince Adams to switch sides, possibly against her own, evil group. Though, she could lead the others Sixers to reconciliation, if she is as strong a leader as she appears to be, and they are the sheep they come across as.

     The other subplot in "Now You See Me" involves the youngest Shannon, Zoe (Alana Mansour) wanting to keep a baby dinosaur as a pet. Everything about the story, from her sneaking it very obviously under her shirt, to the far-too-perfect reunion of baby and mama, or a dinosaur that is willing to act as its mama, is over the top sappy.

     Yes, Terra Nova wants to be a family show, along with its other qualities, but does it lack all originality? Every thing the series does so far has a rote feel to it, as if it's copying everything else in pop culture. It is enjoyable enough, sure, but it's fluff, rather than serious drama or deep story. It needs to take chances and try something new! There are a lot of really cool ingredients being used here, but it feels like the show gravitates to the lowest common denominator in an attempt to appeal to everyone. Which will backfire by appealing to almost no one. Considering the budget required, Terra Nova would be wise to try to make itself something special soon, if it's not already too late. Hopefully, this is possible.

     Oh, and Reynolds (Dean Geyer) is already declaring his intentions to marry Maddy (Naomi Scott). Seriously?! They just started dating! Ridiculous!

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

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"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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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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FOX announces next season's schedule

     Right in the middle of season finale madnesses, the networks are releasing their fall schedules, handing down decisions on what goes and stays. FOX is the second network to do so, and next season will be a mix of returning favorites and risky new ventures.

     Monday nights will see Dr. House move to 9pm following new series Terra Nova at 8pm. In Terra Nova, producers Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park), Jon Cassar (24) and Brannon Braga (Star Trek: Enterprise) take us back in time to meet dinosaurs! Jason O'Mara (Life On Mars) plays a dad from the year 2149 whose family is lost in the past. Stephen Lang (Avatar) leads a settlement that has already been built there, and Christine Adams (The Whole Truth) leads a group of people jumping in time. Sounds action packed! But Terra Nova only runs through mid-season, when House reclaims the 8 o'clocl hour, and Alcatraz, a new mysterious drama from J.J. Abrams (Lost) starring Jorge Garcia (Lost), Parminder Nagra (ER), Robert Forster (Heroes), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) and Sarah Jones (Sons of Anarchy) premieres. Apparently some prisoners and guards who have been lost for thirty years suddenly turn back up.

     Tuesday returns Glee at 8pm, while Raising Hope gets pushed to 9:30 so New Girl can slide in the middle of the successful sandwich. In New Girl, a poor elementary teacher played by Zooey Deschanel (500 Days of Summer) moves into an apartment inhabited by three men. Damon Wayans Jr. (Happy Endings) and Max Greenfield (Greek) are attached to star, though Wayans is signed to Happy Endings, which has been renewed, so he will likely be replaced.

      Wednesday night is all new with Simon Cowell's much anticipated reality competition series The X-Factor, followed up by I Hate My Teenage Daughter. Starring Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl), Katie Finneran (Wonderfalls), Chad Coleman (The Wire), and Kevin Rahm (Desperate Housewives), Pressly and Finneran will play mothers raising mean girl daughters, despite the fact that the pair hated mean girls growing up. Oops! X-Factor will only be on in the fall, to be replaced by American Idol, of course, in the spring.

     Thursday finds The X Factor results show at 8pm, followed by fan favorite Bones at 9pm. Come 2012, X Factor is replaced by Idol, and Bones will take a hiatus, to be replaced by its spinoff, The Finder, based  on the characters introduced in a Bones episode last month. Bones will return later in the year and finish out the spring.

     Friday has no shakeups, as Kitchen Nightmares and Fringe have both been renewed, and will retain their current timeslots.

     Sunday continues to begin at 7:30, with The Cleveland Show, The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad and Allen Gregory, which is an animated show starring Jonah Hill as a young boy leaving home to begin elementary school. Bob's Burgers is slated for mid-season, while American Dad! and Allen Gregory get benched, and an animated version of Napoleon Dynamite, featuring the movie cast, premieres. Knowing how FOX Sundays currently go, any one of their seven animated sitcoms could air on any given week, depending on whim, so keep an eye on listings.

     Given the lineup above, this does mean that Human Target, Lie To Me, Traffic Light, The Chicago Code, The Good Guys, Breaking In and Running Wilde are all officially canceled. The axe came down hard on FOX this year.

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