Here’s what I learned from this past week’s Terra Nova, one really big and important lesson that will completely blow your mind week after week going forward. Terra Nova is not a good show, nor will it ever be as good as its pilot episode.
I’m not knocking Terra Nova for what it isn’t. In fact, coming to that realization meant that I was able to actually enjoy myself while watching it. No more expectations, no more disappointments; just accepting Terra Nova for what it is, strapping in my seat, and enjoying the ride.
In ‘Vs.’ we actually got answers to some lingering questions and expanded character development dropped eight minutes into episode number two. It turns out there’s a murder mystery at Terra Nova and Taylor is at the crux of it. Through some interrogation between Jim and Boylan, Jim learns of a body buried at the base where Taylor lived when he first came through the portal.
Actually it was the General who sent Taylor through the portal to begin with, and then came back to relieve him of his duty in order to get the ball rolling on a machine that would make the portal go both ways and enable the big bad evil people in 2149 to rape the pristine land for their own benefit. At the center of the big bad machine is also Taylor’s son, Lucas. And we’ve now also learned the big fallout between Taylor and his son.
Aside from nobody caring about Zoe’s Harvest play and finding out that the Sixers have been communicating with their “mole” by way of a homing dragonfly, this was the major plot of the episode. I have to say, even had I not completely given up on this show ever realizing its original potential, this was a pretty good entry in the season. Taylor’s acting was over the top as usual, and I still really can’t stand Zoe, but it hit all of the major episode beats and the pacing was consistent. I do like that darker elements are manifesting themselves in the main characters and the Lost-esque plot themes being teased are starting to play out.
I’ve been pretty hard on Terra Nova week after week. Mostly the venom is the result of wanting the show to be incredible and live up to the preconceived notions I had of what it was going to be. So, like a parent whose child has decided to take up stand-up comedy instead of taking the bar exam, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the absurdity.
– James Zappie
