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I bet Terra Nova caused Hitchcock to turn in his grave

Apparently, the writers have come up dry already on this fledgling science fiction series, choosing to resurrect a classic 1963 horror film and work horizontal mambo magic into the story line instead of go forward with the show's mythology.

- Season 1, Episode 2 - "Instinct"

*sigh*

Apparently, it’s not just me having problems with Terra Nova – it’s the writers who are having them as well.

I wish I was a fly on the wall at the writer’s meeting for this episode. Because I think it may have gone something like this:

Sitting around the table, no one has a clue where to take the show after the premiere:

“Nah … working the mythology of it seems too pushy, like we’re trying too hard.”

“No … playing up that father/son dynamic will feel hokey — it’s supposed to be a science fiction vehicle, not Ordinary People … !!!”

“Word around cyberspace is we really need to get crackin’ on the probe question! Let’s go there!”

“No! Wait! I got it! Let’s recycle Hitchcock’s classic The Birds into the mix, just with dinosaurs, and work mom and dad into a hot, horny lather by trying to ‘get jiggy with it’ in the midst of all the mayhem! Whaddaya say … ?!?”

Brilliant. My senses are all a-tingle.

Seriously. This is what we we’re treated to on Terra Nova? A generic story about flying, pissed-off “pterasaurs” — *cough* — and a secondary plot about the frustrations of not gettin’ lucky 85 million years in the past? *cough, cough* (To be fair, the last time Jim “got any” was 85 million years ago … in the future, I mean. Oh … and add a couple years to that for good measure because he was in prison, remember.) Just shoot me.

Everything — and I mean everything — was ripped straight out of Hitchcock’s classic. Dead soldiers attacked and killed by birds … err … I mean flying pterasaurs. Jim and Elisabeth getting “interrupted” by annoying pterasaurs. The obligatory crowd scene (the Terra Nova marketplace) being swarmed by pterasaurs. The Shannon Family (most of them, anyway) hold up at home while being attacked by pterasaurs. Zoe holed up under furniture while being dive-bombed by pterasaurs.

And the solution to this flying prehistoric problem? Pheromones.  The stink of the call of the wild to attract the annoying little buggers out of the compound and far, far away. (I sighed already up there … didn’t I? Okay … I’ll refrain from sighing once again.)

I thought my issues from the premiere 2-parter were pesky enough … but now The Powers That Be have inflicted this drivel on us, wrapping it in pretty bows and trying to slough it off at us as viable storytelling. Holy crap.

Is this anyway to treat a (once) promising science fiction series?

Surprise! Michael has issues:

  • I know! Let’s go outside at night in a prehistoric world of unknown to check out strange noises barefoot … and without any weapons! *yeesh*
  • “Dad … how do you know if a boy likes you?” Really? That’s the kind of dialog we’re treated to on Terra Nova?
  • Brilliant: Finally, The Shannons get things in order, all is calm and quiet and they get to reward themselves with a little “one on one” time at the show’s conclusion. We see the shadow-outlining doors to their room close as they presumably “get down to business”, knowing all the kids are passed out from the day’s antics with the bir … I mean, pterasaurs. Think one or more of them could possibly wake up seeing undulating shapes coming from mom and dad’s room? *eyesh*
  • Dead bodies of soldiers are returned from outside the compound for examination, having been in the wild overnight. What are the chances they weren’t picked clean by the local fauna of Terra Nova leaving Dr. Shannon the opportunity for easy examination of the bodies? (Warning: Blatant, dripping sarcasm headed your way. Come on … say it with me.) “Pretty damned good, Michael!”
  • Is Zoe always going to get into some sort of life-threatening situation episode in and episode out?
  • The Terra Nova marketplace: Best place for a young love date ever. Ever.

 

 

Photo Credit: FOX

16 Responses to “I bet Terra Nova caused Hitchcock to turn in his grave”

October 4, 2011 at 10:45 AM

Haters gonna hate.

So, you’re saying that the homage to The Bird wasn’t respectful enough?

October 4, 2011 at 10:59 AM

. . . . .

“Homage” … ???

I have no problem with paying homage to a classic. And this episode of Terra Nova paid plenty of homage. It tipped it’s hat to Hitchcock all over the place. Grovellingly so. But, just like Hitchcock’s spurnment of Du Maurier’s original novel, I think the writers could have done a better job at the episode without making it so cheesy cakey. That’s the big problem I have with it

What I am saying specifically is: This is the 3rd freakin’ episode of the show … and, instead of getting into the inner workings or the mythology or the intrigue of this new and wonderful land, they’re paying homage instead … ?!?

Your “haters gonna hate” statement isn’t justified in my opinion.

I want this show to work. It’s not going to if they don’t get to gettin’ and stop dicking around …

*grumbles at the stupid blue Jello balls in the laboratory Shannon and others were pushing around to come up with a solution to the bir … er, I mean … pterasaur problem*

October 4, 2011 at 11:10 AM

The haters comment was in jest my friend.

I actually like that they did a self contained episode in their third time out. It all can’t be mythology, and I think this show in particular has to find a way to balance both.

And I thought the jello was pretty cool.

October 4, 2011 at 11:15 AM

. . . . .

My response to your “haters” comment was sarcastic. (Sarcasm fail.) You know the only thing I really hate is Oprah.

Now … I’m off to the store to pick up some Monster energy drink with “sarcasm booster” to get back on track …

October 4, 2011 at 11:14 AM

And just how many people watching are even going to realize it’s completely ripped from something else? *cough cough blue Pocahontas cough*

October 4, 2011 at 12:02 PM

And Avatar was lifted from Furngully and Dances with Wolves.

But, honestly, I’m not seeing Terra Nova as an Avatar rip off just yet.

October 4, 2011 at 1:28 PM

The only thing I felt that could be considered similar to Avatar was Stephen Lang’s welcome to Terra Nova speech last week.

October 4, 2011 at 9:54 PM

I wasn’t implying Nova was like Avatar, I still have yet to see Nova. & I did watch Dances after how many people likened Avatar to it; it really is less Dances, more Disney’s Pocahontas.
I simply meant the same John Mass Public won’t see the difference.

October 4, 2011 at 11:26 AM

Thank God I was watching a current century baseball game and missed this little missive.

Once again Michael and CliqueClack save me from an hour of my life lost, never to be returned ….. but wait, maybe if I can go back 85 million years I’ll get that hour back eventually :-) What do you think?

October 4, 2011 at 12:10 PM

Hmm … I enjoyed the episode. Did I think of The Birds while watching — yes. But, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment.

We learned more about the environment where their compound was built and we got to see some of the technology that they have to protect the colony.

The probe? I’m still in the camp that I don’t want it to overtake the story. I want this to be a story of the colonists.

October 4, 2011 at 1:24 PM

- I felt bad for Stephen Lang while watching this.

– I don’t mind self contained episodes early on that help establish the world and characters, but this episode wasted it by continuing to simply have the most wooden basic character constructs and never bothering to flesh them out.

– Really we need a love triangle on a show that has dinosaurs?! Forget the stupid “Oh no our sex time keeps getting interrupted” side plot that belongs on a crappy sitcom, but we need to thrown in another tired romantic plot device on top of that?

– It didn’t feel like a homage, it felt like a ripoff of The Birds. Except with crappy CGI flying reptiles.

– Yes I hated it, because they wasted whatever potential this show had and its only week two.

October 4, 2011 at 3:16 PM

I agree with you, this episode was crap.

I have never been bored with a show or movie that had dinosaurs in it in my life!

I can’t see how this show will get a second season with it’s huge budget and clearly no plan. It’s horrible. I feel like I’m watching season 2 of Seaquest.

October 4, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Great episode? Nah, but for a show I can watch with my kids, I give it a far lower bar to hurdle. Still looking forward to more.

October 4, 2011 at 9:28 PM

well you are right it’s A BIRD! I mean cmon now can they come up with better bir… I mean flying dinosaur. I actually also get annoyed with the little girl. I meant all the smartness must have get into the older daughter because the little one well… Ok maybe because she’s little uhmmm not I think my daughter will act better than she is.

October 8, 2011 at 9:33 AM

After Falling Skies and Voyager, I can’t see how you would have ever considered this show to be “promising.” And I actually enjoyed this episode, minus creepy dissembling stalker ex. Terra Nova is pretty much exactly what I was expecting, only a little stupider.

October 9, 2011 at 11:21 AM

Yeah… this one kinda blew… however… I’m not giving up!!! There are so many good things that could be done with this show.. it’ll probably take a season of clunkers to make me go away :)

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