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Category: Terra Nova

Terra Nova “What Remains” and What To Do With It!

Hi Terra Nova fans,

Are you enjoying our weekly time travel? I know I am! I love this show a lot!

Well, this is pretty cool, looking back 85 million years and seeing all the 22nd century advanced technology at work. The dinosaurs could feed the colony for a month and houses are quite beautiful.

I am liking this series more with each week, but at first I was doubtful. I had visions of another “Jurassic Park” but this is very different in that THIS “park” you cannot leave if you wanted to!

Before beginning my and analysis review, we include below the fantastic sneak peak of the next episode “The Runaway” courtesy of FOX Broadcasting. Enjoy!

“What Remains”

We open in a scientific studies outpost and a man is playing with a giant green bug, like a child with a toy. The big bug escapes from the man and scurries out of camera. We see the man coming outside and he looks around in amazement at the scene of the unfettered wilderness with an expression of “Where the heck am I?”.

Then he is walking along through the greenery and comments on the flowers and is seemingly in wonder at this beauty. But the sound of a deep growl wakes him from his reverie and he sees a huge Dinosaur looking down on him. He continues to stare up at the gigantic Dino as if he is a five-year-old boy, and unfortunately, becomes the Dino’s snack.

Reports have come to the Colony about a standard Scientific Field post. Elisabeth Shannon (Shelly Conn) and Jim Shannon (Jason O’Mara) are walking through the outdoor market talking about it and Jim asks “Then, why hasn’t anyone heard from them in the last 72 hours?” His wife, Elisabeth replies “That is what we are going there to find out” Assuring him to stop worrying, she tells Jim that Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang) said they would probably be back before dinner. Well, I think we all know how THAT is going to work, hmmmm?

Commander Taylor leaves others in charge and Elisabeth goes with him off to the outpost. Dr. Malcolm Wallace (Rod Hallet) wants to go, but Taylor said no. …I think we also know how THAT will work out, the dude will most likely show up, despite orders.

Commander Taylor and Elisabeth show up at the outpost, seeing the gate left open and Elizabeth hops out of the rover, ready to go in. Taylor stops her… “That gate should not be open.” he says. Another man who is with them sees damaged cables and said it looked like the Oversaurs might have been at the cables.

When the trio enters the outpost building, they find some odd messages and Elisabeth asks “What kind of research did you say they were doing at this outpost?” Taylor replied “Wetland research” Someone yelling from another section and the trio walks in to see two very disoriented researchers laying on cots. Hands in the air and jabbering. A woman researcher startles everyone by suddenly appearing at the window of the door. Taylor says “Let’s get this door open.”

The researchers apparently have suffered memory loss to such an extent that they believe they are back in 2149 or in the 22nd century and in different locations. As if they never heard of Terra Nova! A message from Dr. Wejente on a video log tells our trio this pathogen has affected all of the other researchers.

Back at the Colony, Zoe Shannon (Alana Mansour) has been sent home from school with a cold. Meanwhile in the Youth house, something like a commune for the working ‘teens, they are having drinks and a guitar plays softly in the background.

They chat a bit about Outpost three. “Yeah, my mom’s out there now” Josh Shannon (Landon Liboiron) says. He plays the guitar and stops, but Skye (Allison Miller) tells him to go ahead, he is good.

Back at the outpost Dr. Wejente’s boots were found and it was delicately said he was wearing them. “Did he got out there barefoot?” Asked Elisabeth, Taylor said “No, his feet were still in them.”. Elizabeth …. fully comprehending what Taylor meant said “Oh.” softly. Taylor orders the outpost to be under general quarantine.

Elisabeth is then talking to Jim via their video com telling him about pathogen and she will not be coming home yet. As they hang up from this, Jim sneezes. “What was that?” Elizabeth asked “A cold” Jim replied. “Well, Elisabeth says “Fluids and bed! I don’t want to get your cold!” She ordered. He said “It’s not my cold, I borrowed it from Zoe.”, Elisabeth goes to another desk, and lifts a small vial and looks bemused for a minute…”Who’s Zoe?” she asked aloud to no one in particular.

Back at the colony, Maddy Shannon (Naomi Scott) has her first date with Mark Reynolds and made dinner for them both. He asked if she enjoyed cooking, and she replied “Yeah. It’s like chemistry, but at the end, you get a treat.” After the boy leaves, father and daughter have a chat about what it was like when he dated her mother.

Next day, Jim walks into the security center and asked about Outpost three. Lt. Washington tells him it is under general Quarantine and this upsets Jim. Nest he has gone to the Malcolm “I need your rover!” he says. Of course Malcolm is flippant and says no until Jim mentioned the quarantine. Suddenly, Malcolm bolts up, grabs his jacket and is ready to take off.

Jim goes with him. As they start to leave, Jim sneezes again and Malcolm throws something that looks like a root, or corn cob. “Here, chew on this!” “Ugh! It tastes awful!” Jim exclaims. “Chew on it anyway, you’ll be good for 12 hours.” he is instructed.

Skye comes out to Josh who is relaxing in a hammock and Josh mentions the drawings out by the falls. “Don’t you think we should…..tell someone?” he asked her. “Who?” Skye asked, and Josh shrugs it off saying “I dunno… I forgot what we were talking about” They kiss, but Josh remembers the girl he left behind in 2149, Kara. He is remorseful, and Skye actually offers an option to bring Kara here to Terra Nova!

Jim and Malcolm arrive at the outpost to see two Oversaurs chewing at the cables outside. Seems these dinos like the nickel in the cables, it is like catnip is to a cat. The guys shine lights onto the Dino-Duo and the Dinos look up, startled and run away.

They enter the outpost, they find no one inside right away, but as they look around, Elisabeth shows up with a gun. She does not recognize Jim- her own husband, but knows Malcolm. In her mind, she thinks she is back in University. She has lost about twenty years of her memories.

Now, it is on! They must find a cure or a way to bring the infected back to current memories. Skye is at Tom’s Bar and asks to speak to him. Josh and she explains what they would like. Tom says it is expensive to bring people back and will be difficult.

Josh says they have time because they would have to send a message to 2149 and then the pilgrimage after that Kara could come back. Tom says yes, least that is what Taylor says… OK, WHAT? Does he have another hack for this? Tom likes Josh being a cop’s son. he may be able to use this for his own means.

Back at the outpost, Malcolm shows Elisabeth the video log about the pathogen. She is amazed but is now calmed down enough to reason. They are interrupted by Oversaurs chewing on the cables again. As Jim goes about the outpost to investigate, he finds Brady, laying in another room. He then proceeds around the outpost, to be confronted by Taylor, who has no memory of Jim. Taylor shoots and comes through the top port hole and is standing, holding a weapon on Jim: “Move a muscle and I’ll blow your head off.”

Commander Taylor also does not remember Terra Nova! Taylor thinks he is in Somalia in the year 2138! He also forgot that his wife is dead. He is told by Jim what has happened, but Taylor thinks Ayani is still alive in captivity. Taylor threatens Jim and punches Jim unconscious.

Elisabeth and Malcolm are in the outpost and Elizabeth sees something on her monitor, calling Malcolm over to it. “Look at the DNA sequencing on this blood sample! This isn’t a Pathogen, someone in this lab was experimenting with gene Therapy.”

Malcolm is dubious “Anything involving genetic manipulation has to be cleared through me…” Malcolm then becomes rather….romantic to Elisabeth. Jim put a stop to that real quick!

Now, Elisabeth notices that Malcolm and Jim, exposed at the same time, are different in being symptomatic. Jim has no symptoms yet Malcolm does. (Note: Jim has a cold. Is chewing on that root or whatever and the others are not.)

Mark arrives at the Shannon home back in the colony. Maddie is worried that the “Sixers” may have gotten to the outpost, but Mark knows something. “Maddie, I’m not supposed to be talking about this…”, “Mark.” Maddie looks him straight into the eyes “It’s my parents!”

Taylor is out in the wild on a motorcycle and sees a rather large Dino. Looks like a Brontosaurus. He looks up at it and laughs “No way!” and as the beast passes by, Taylor drives off.

Jim and Malcolm are carrying Brady to the infirmary as they talk. “Out of all the times you could’ve gone back to, you go to where you were dating my wife” Jim says as they carry Brady. “No, I was somewhere in my laboratory and my mind must’ve filled in the rest. What do you want me to say?” Malcolm said.

Then, quite suddenly, Malcolm asks “Wait… Who’re you?… Did we…Kill this man?” Malcolm is severely impaired now. Jim shows Malcolm that Brady is still very much alive. As the two men start to argue, Oversaur comes into the scene, Jim saves them and slams a door shut between the beast and themselves. The Oversaur runs to the cable. Malcolm is bordering on hysterics now, so Jim subdues him with a knockout punch.

Now, Jim and Elisabeth are back in the lab area Jim tells her about her life, Terra Nova, her family. They are now trying to figure out who was doing the gene research. Outside of Terra Nova Taylor is scoping out the compound and takes out a guard. He is one sick puppy right now.

Back at the lab, Jim and Elisabeth find out a Dr. Douglas Joslyn was doing the gene research. Dr. Joslyn carries the latent gene for German’s disease. which is similar to Alzheimer’s but only worse. He must have been trying to figure a way to stop the progression or cure the disease. The sequencing misfired and blocks the neuro-pathways instead of opening them up. He must have used a virus as a delivery system and that is how it became contagious.

Elisabeth is at 39 hours now, and catatonia can set in as early as 36. Elizabeth finds the names of her children and does not remember writing them. Jim places her wedding ring back onto her hand and said “you will remember’. Now, he sneezes again, Elisabeth remembers he has a cold and is taking that root for a remedy. She says they must figure out what it is in the root that has the medicinal qualities which seems to be arresting the virus.

Back at Terra Nova, Maddie Shannon and Mark go to the Security officer Lt Washington. As they walk in Washington is trying to order them to leave, but… Too late, Taylor has mark in a headlock with a knife to Mark’s neck. “You’re not too good at followin’ orders, are ya, soldier?” Taylor drawls.

Lt. Washington now plays into Taylor’s memories and says “This is one of your soldiers. Mark Reynolds. He came to Terra Nova on the Fifth Pilgrimage, he came here because of you! Seven years ago, YOU led us to this place, so we could have a second chance!” Through denials, Taylor now understands his wife is dead. He starts to become agitated again and is rendered unconscious by a shot from Lt. Washington..

Back at the lab, Elisabeth realizes it is not the root, but it is Jim’s Cold that is knocking out the virus!! Things are going to go back to normal…. Elisabeth starts to figure out a delivery method for the cure, but Jim has an idea about that, A cold is usually spread by proximity or …Kissing. He takes the kissing method.

Back at Terra Nova, Elisabeth created a vaccine out of an inactive virus so people will be cured without the cold. jugging by the success at the outpost, they should all be back to normal by dinnertime.

Commander Taylor, in the infirmary, remembers Terra Nova. Elisabeth is there in white coat and says he will be fine. “You SHOT me!” He says to Lt. Washington. “Yes, Yes, I did.” She admitted. “Good work” Taylor grinned at her.

After Jim and Elisabeth get back home, and Malcolm is fine, Mark and Maddie are courting on the porch and Jim goes to see Zoe. She has made a little group of Dinosaurs, Playing with them and her parents look on.

Out in the wild, we now see Tom dealing with Mira and the Sixers. Tom tells Mira about Josh wanting to get Kara back. Mira plans to take advantage of this “Opportunity”!

So, what’s next??? Tune in to Terra Nova on FOX TV next week!

My Take…. For what it is worth…

Loyalty is only as good as the mind it is held within. One may have fierce loyalties to a side in war, or people, or anything, really. But if the mind is compromised, be it in injury or disease, What then? What good are loyalties so easily destroyed?

Be sure that loyalty is also accompanied by the heart. We saw that emotion and true love was a large help in Elisabeth’s recovery.

Thanks to Angela and Kenn for completing the staging of the the images and the links, and thanks to you for reading my review and for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency.

Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit the WHR on Facebook or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story and or we will See You on The Other Side“!

Until next time,

Regards,

Celtica

October 13, 2011
Terra Nova: “Instinct” Pays Homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”!

Welcome back Terra Nova fans!

This week’s episode “Instinct” was filled with big prehistoric flying reptiles called pterosaurs , and it proved again that it is one of the top science fiction shows that we science fiction fans have seen in a while.

Jim Shannon (Jason O’Mara) and Commander Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang) have to pull together and find a way to save protect Terra Nova citizens from this swarm of reptiles that are attacking them. Elisabeth Shannon (Shelley Conn) and a former boyfriend Dr. Malcolm Wallace (Rod Hallett) work together to find out what kind of reptiles these are and how they can stop them.

This is an interesting relationship because these two dated in college. Josh Shannon (Landon Liboiron) is left at home to protect his sisters Maddy Shannon (Naomi Scott) and Zoe Shannon (Alana Mansour). There is a relationship brewing between Josh and Skye (Allison Miller) and she is at the house with Josh and his sisters when the reptiles attack.

Before beginning, we include the promotional trailer for the next exciting episode “What Remains” airing October 10, 2011 in the United States. Enjoy!

I wanted to touch on the science of Terra Nova before I review this week’s episode. Is it possible for us to travel back in time to any given point? Believe it or not, we already have a sort of time machine. The LHC at CERN in Geneva Switzerland is believed to be our first time machine.

Professor Irina Arefeva and Dr. Igor Volovich are mathematical physicists at the Stklov Mathematical Institute in Moscow. They believe that the LHC can produce enough energy to distort space time so much that it loops back on itself. This is known as a closed time-like curve. They also believe it is possible that it can produce wormholes.

The closed time-like curve sets limits on our ability to travel back in time. We can only travel as far back as when the time machine was built. This means that we could only travel as far back in time as 2008 when the LHC was built.

Traveling backwards in time was thought to be impossible because of the paradoxes it could create. If you travel back in time and meet your mother and she falls in love with you, then how could you be born. Looking at time travel on a large scale has its problems. However, if you look at time travel on the quantum level then it becomes possible.

Time is like a river according to Albert Einstein, but with quantum theory scientists believe the river can branch off. This branching off creates 2 rivers or in this case 2 separate timelines. In quantum theory anything that can happen does happen. So if you travel back in time and meet your mother it really is not your mother. Therefore, solving the paradox problem.

In episode one,“Genesis”, the writers make it clear to us that they are traveling back in time 85 million years, and they are on a different timeline. I am very pleased that they addressed this issue early on so I could sit back and enjoy the show without worrying about paradoxes.

There is also the fact that dinosaurs were wiped out because of an asteroid that hit the Earth millions of years ago. 65 million years ago to be exact. This means the colonists of Terra Nova have 20 million years before they are brought to extinction by an asteroid. If you apply the parallel theory that everything that can happen does happen, then we could assume an asteroid might not hit this parallel Earth. Let us not forget that the colonists traveled from the future. They have future technology that could possibly handle a large asteroid hurling towards Terra Nova.

Have you noticed how big and bright the moon is in Terra Nova? This is because shortly after the moon was formed it was very close to Earth. It was estimated to be about 19-30 thousand kilometers from Earth, and now it is 384,000 kilometers from Earth. The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth and it is estimated that in about 15 billion years its orbit will stop growing. The visual effects team has done and excellent job in showing us how big and bright the Moon would have looked from Earth 85 million years ago.

The episode starts with a group of colonists in the jungle who are attacked by some unseen animal when their vehicle strands them. Then we are quickly taken back to Terra Nova to see Josh taking survival training. This was an interesting but necessary concept for the writers to introduce into the story. The colonists came from a future world 85 million years in the future where dinosaurs did not exist. Humans would have to have some form of survival training to assimilate into their new prehistoric world safely.

This episode we are introduced to a new character Dr. Malcolm Wallace. Dr. Wallace is Terra Nova’s chief research scientist. Commander Taylor has asked Jim to get a medic to assist in finding the missing group. Dr. Shannon and Dr. Wallace were classmates at the university, and Jim finds out later in the episode they were a couple. In this episode you can see the tension that is going to surround this relationship in the future. I feel that this is a great dynamic to add to the Shannon marriage because Jim had been in prison and the marriage is already strained.

As Commander Taylor and Jim are searching for the missing soldiers Taylor asked for Jim’s assistance. He said there is a Sixer mole inside Terra Nova. He thought that because Jim was a cop he would have a better chance at finding the mole because he is trained for it. Commander Taylor informed Jim that he was “just a soldier”. That is another interesting observation I made about Terra Nova.

There is a strong military presence there. Most every culture in the world has some form of order. Without a force to oversee rules and regulations there would be complete anarchy. The fact that they point out the difference in a soldier and a cop is a point I believe they were making. This relationship between Commander Taylor and Jim Shannon will have its trials this season you can count on it. The group found the missing soldiers and it was apparent that “it wasn’t sixers” Commander Taylor said.

Josh and Skye have formed a friendship that appears as if it is going to blossom into a relationship. They were walking through Terra Nova when Josh picked up a guitar and started to play. The man told him he could buy it for 60 terras. Josh looked happy to have found something that he could relate to in 2149. Josh passed on buying the guitar because he did not have 60 terras, but he spent the episode trying to get the 60 terras to buy that guitar.

Dr. Wallace and Dr. Shannon are given the task of finding out what type of animal killed the soldiers. She assessed the wounds on the soldiers and said they were attacked from above. She will have to do an autopsy on them to find out what killed them.

She asked Jim to look after the kids for the night. She also asked that he make sure Maddy wore her retainer. Jim had to ask Elisabeth if Maddy wore a retainer. This is important to the story. Jim has been in prison for so long he does not know his children well enough. There is also tension at the end of this particular scene when Jim looked at his wife and Dr. Wallace working as a team. There is suspicion and perhaps jealousy in his eyes.

Jim had been given the task of taking care of his kids for the night. He was obviously having difficulty cooking because Maddy had to take over and cook. She asked her father “How do you know if a boy likes you?” This took Jim by surprise because he reminded Maddy that she was only 16. He became flustered and Josh replied “welcome back to the family dad.”

In the first episode “Genesis” I was not so sure that Josh was thrilled that his father had come along on their journey. In this episode we see Josh opening up to his father more and Jim beginning to find out who his children have become. Terra Nova has action and dinosaurs, but as we see in this scene it also puts a lot of emphasis on the family relationship.

I wanted to capture a picture for the ladies. I want to see if you are thinking the same thing I am. Jason O’Mara has the most gorgeous smile of any man I have ever seen! I know this is not relevant to the story but I could not help but point that out. In this scene Elisabeth is asked if she and Dr. Wallace had a relationship and she replies yes.

For the second time this episode Elisabeth and Jim are interrupted during a romantic moment by a loud screeching what appeared to be a bird. When Jim went to take a look outside he and Josh found more than one. Josh threw something at the animal and they in turn attack them. Jim and Josh both agree that they have found their assailant.

This next scene sets the mood for the relationship between Jim, Elisabeth, and Malcolm. Jim informed Commander Taylor and Dr. Wallace that he knew what attacked those soldiers. Malcolm identified them as pterosaurs or prehistoric reptiles that fly. Commander Taylor ordered a curfew and all field research suspended until further notice.

Malcolm objects but Commander Taylor lets him know that he is in charge and that is an order. After Malcolm leaves the room Jim asked Taylor about recruitment and how Elisabeth was chosen to be a part of Terra Nova. Commander Taylor explained the process and that Dr. Malcolm Wallace had been the one that requested Elisabeth be recruited.

Malcolm showed Elisabeth around his research center. He reminisced about their time in college. Elisabeth responded to him in a way that looked like she was flirting. Maybe she was not. I am interested in finding out where the writers go with this relationship.

Josh and Skye were sitting on a bench in Terra Nova talking about a girl that Josh liked that he left behind. They saw sitting on the fence the same reptiles that attacked Josh and Jim the night before. Just as they realize this the reptiles start to attack everyone. This scene is straight out of the Alfred Hitchcock movie “The Birds”.

Commander Taylor, Dr. Shannon, Dr. Wallace, and Jim go over holographic imaging of the forest around the colony. They came to the conclusion that these reptiles had came to Terra Nova to spawn. There were millions of them in the tree canopy. Elisabeth fired a sonic blast into the trees and the reptiles scattered. Elisabeth and Malcolm inform them they will need a male and female of the species. They intend to produce pheromones that would lure the species away from the colony.

This next scene is the one I had been waiting for the entire episode. Jim and Malcolm are gathering the arms they will need to find their pair when Jim confronts Malcolm about Elisabeth. He told Malcolm that he knew Jim was in prison and that is why he had Elisabeth recruited. Malcolm denied having a purpose other than Elisabeth was the best person for the job. I do not believe this conversation is over.

Jim found the two specimens they needed and Elisabeth and Malcolm extracted pheromones from the animals. They then devised a plan to use the pheromones to lure the birds away from Terra Nova. Jim and Colonel Taylor were going to take the mixture into the forest in hopes that the birds would follow.

Jim and Elisabeth went back to their house and told their children what they would be doing. There was a soldier that would remain with them and Josh was in charge of his sisters. Skye was also there with him. She tried to leave but Josh said “I want you here”. Skye’s face lit up when Josh said this to her. There will be trouble in paradise if his girl from Earth 2149 comes to Terra Nova because these two appear to be in love.

There was a soldier, private Jenkins, that was in charge of the guarding the Shannon household. Reynolds, Maddy’s love interest, came and relieved him of duty. He asked Jim “do you mind if I check the windows” and Jim replied “Be my guest”. Maddy was standing in the doorway and Jim looked at her and said “That’s how you know a boy likes you.” This was my favorite scene in this episode. It showed Jim growing and acting like a father to a teenage girl.

Jim saw Elisabeth back to the lab and he turned around and in the jungle millions of pterosaurs swarmed above the trees. From afar they look like a swarm of black birds which, unless you are Alfred Hitchcock, are pretty harmless. However, when you know that each one of them is a killer in its own right it makes them more ominous.

Back in the lab Elisabeth and Malcolm are producing enough pheromones to lure the pterosaurs away from Terra Nova. The device they are using is some sort of holographic machine. I could not find any reference to this machine, but I hope if they use it in the future I will be able to find out more about it.

Josh has his hands full at the Shannon house. The pterosaurs have found a way to get inside the house. Skye bet Josh 60 terras that they would not make it. I thought it was odd that she did that but in the end she had a reason for doing this. Reynolds got hit on the head and Josh had to take over protecting his sisters and Skye. Zoe got trapped under a table and Josh saved her by killing the pterosaur.

This is a great scene. In the first episode I was worried Josh was going to be a teenager with an attitude, but in this episode I can tell he is going to be heroic and likeable. Josh radios his father to let him know they are ok. Jim told Josh “take care of your sisters.” Josh did a great job at protecting his sisters and Skye.

Jim and Colonel Taylor load the pheromone filled drum into the vehicle and lead the pterosaurs away from Terra Nova. The pterosaurs swarm around the vehicle and follow it out of town. Their plan had worked and Terra Nova was saved!

Josh and Skye talk outside and Skye told Josh she owed him 60 terras. She said she would give him the 60 terras he needed to buy the guitar. She then leaned forward and kissed him. These two actors have a wonderful chemistry onscreen. They have no trouble convincing me that they like each other.

I am convinced that Terra Nova is a show that I will continue to watch this season and for future seasons. The visual effects of Terra Nova are stunning and life-like. Writers Kelly Marcel and Craig Silverstein delivered a well written story for the second week in a row. I look forward to tuning in Monday night at 8pm est on Fox.

I trust you have enjoyed this review of Terra Nova? I sure hope so! And as always we here at the WHR Terra Nova team thank you for reading and visiting WormholeRiders News Agency.

Please feel free to share this news article by clicking one of the social media icons below. You may also leave a comment here, and you may desire to visit me on Twitter by clicking my avatar

Thank you,

Redone68 (Sandra – WHR Falling Skies Team Leader)

October 8, 2011
Terra Nova: “Genesis” – “Each One Of You Has Taken a First Step with a Chance To Get It Right”

Welcome future citizens of Terra Nova!

The team at WormholeRiders News Agency is proud to announce that we will be writing detailed analysis and reviews for this Fall’s brand new and exciting new science fiction series, Terra Nova! Featuring a robust team many of our most experienced writers as previously announced on Twitter, we are hopeful you will be pleased!

Terra Nova is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Chernin Entertainment, DreamWorks Television and Kapital Entertainment. Steven Spielberg (“Saving Private Ryan”), Peter Chernin, René Echevarria (“Castle”), Brannon Braga (“Star Trek” and “24”), Jon Cassar (“24”), Aaron Kaplan, Katherine Pope, Justin Falvey (“Falling Skies”), Darryl Frank (“The Borgias”), Craig Silverstein (“Nikita”) and Kelly Marcel serve as executive producers. Alex Graves (Fringe) directed and serves as executive producer of the series premiere.

Terra Nova is set in the future in the year 2149. Humans had almost made the Earth uninhabitable. It was overpopulated and overdeveloped. The majority of plant and animal life have become extinct. People have to wear masks in order to breathe, because the air was too thick and full of pollution. Due to overpopulation, the government had enacted a law that stated a couple can have only two children per household.

In my opinion, Terra Nova had somewhat of a Blade Runner feel to it. Scientists discovered a fracture in time that allowed humans to build a portal so that they may travel back in time. They traveled back 85 million years for a chance to rebuild our civilization in an attempt to get it right this time.

I was excited to watch another Steven Spielberg production after enjoying his Summer hit, Falling Skies. With Terra Nova, we have the similar type family interaction and bonding within a community as seen in Falling Skies. The Terra Nova landscapes were stunning to say the least! It almost reminded me of Lost, but instead of black smoke and polar bears, we had Carnosaurs! It also had abundant sunlight, food and fresh air. Surrounding the settlers was a super sonic gate to keep out the dinosaurs and contain a mysterious group of settlers known as the Sixers.

The series followed the Shannon family as they join the Tenth Pilgrimage of settlers to Terra Nova. The two main characters are Jim Shannon (Jason O’Mara), a devoted father and Elizabeth Shannon (Shelly Conn), a trauma surgeon. Dr. Shannon was the newest member of the medical team within the Tenth Pilgrimage. Their children were 17 year old Josh Shannon (Landon Liboiron), 15 year old Maddy Shannon (Naomi Scott), and 5 year old Zoe Shannon (Alana Mansour). The Shannon family have many obstacles to overcome before they can even set foot on Terra Nova.

Terra Nova started off at the middle of the 22^nd century. The Earth was on the verge of environmental collapse. Jim and his wife, Elizabeth had been keeping their youngest daughter, Zoe, hidden from police because of the overpopulation law. Police stormed the Shannon’s home in an investigative raid and found little Zoe hidden in an air vent. After scaring her, Jim took a swing at the police officers which unfortunately landed him in prison.

After two years in prison, Elizabeth told Jim she had been chosen to leave with the Tenth Pilgrimage that was headed to Terra Nova. She gave him her oxygen mask, because the air was not filtered in the prison. Hidden inside the mask was a laser scalpel that Jim could use to break out of prison. The family stood waiting for Jim hoping that he would be able to break out and make it to the portal in time. Secretly, Zoe was hidden inside the book bag. Making it just in time, the family jumped through the portal to safety. Jim knew if he got to Terra Nova they would not come for him, because it was a one way ticket.

The landscape of Terra Nova was remarkable. Fresh air, trees and plenty of exotic foods. It was a paradise for the settlers of the Tenth Pilgrimage. Little huts were powered with solar panels. Upon arrival everything looked tranquil. Was it truly peaceful or just what they can see for now? The youngest of the Shannon children, Zoe, was very interested in the Brachiosaurus, which inadvertently lifted her in the air when she fed it a branch with leaves on it. It looked as if the settlers had nothing to worry about with such tame dinosaurs.

Commander Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang) was the first pioneer and leader of the Tenth Pilgrimage. Commander Taylor seemed to be the practical character that reminded the settlers that even though Terra Nova appeared as a utopia, with its waterfalls and blue skies; it was also a place with danger. There were man eating dinosaurs! What storyline is complete without an antagonist but of course? There was also a splintered off colony of renegades led by Mira (Christine Adams), called the Sixers. The Sixers were certainly opposed to Commander Taylor and his leadership. The nickname of the Sixers originated from them being from the Sixth Pilgrimage. This was another welcome element to Terra Nova.

Commander Taylor decided not to punish Jim for his crimes committed in 2149 of breaking the population law, but instead he assigned him to agricultural duty. Which let me tell you, seeing Jason O’Mara shirtless and working definitely had my attention! He was working very hard to prove his worth to Taylor. Elizabeth had already proven her worth with being a trauma surgeon in the year 2149. Taylor knew she would be needed by the Tenth Pilgrimage.

The teens from Terra Nova were your typical teenagers: sneaking out and being in places they know they were not supposed to be. The big difference was that Terra Nova was not safe to be wandering around, unless you knew where you were going. Josh met a girl named Skye (Allison Miller). Skye was a part of the Fifth Pilgrimage.. Josh was supposed to be at orientation, but instead had decided to hang out with Skye and her friends; Tasha (Aisha Dee), Max (Eka Darville), and Hunter (Sam Parsonson).

Commander Taylor took Jim on a hike through the jungle to explain some things about Terra Nova. Commander Taylor had said a fellow from another colony had tried to shoot him once before. The Sixers had separated from the others, because everyone started noticing how different they were. The Sixers were curious about the security at Terra Nova and questioned the rules. Finally, Taylor found their contraband of weapons and cash. It was then apparent that they had an agenda. Who sent the Sixers to Terra Nova? What was their purpose? These are questions that I cannot wait to have answered. Taylor told Jim that he was not sure who he could trust in the future. He gave Jim a new job, an official badge, and made him part of his security team.

While Jim and Taylor were guarding the perimeter, they noticed the Sixers were headed towards the camp. He alerted his security team to stop them. Taylor noticed that the Sixers were not shooting at them, but something else. A Carnosaurus! The Carnosaurus’ were chasing the Sixers right into camp. After running the Carosaur off, we then got to meet the leader of the Sixers; Mira, played the talented Christine Adams (Adams was best known for her role as Claire Atkinson in Tron: The Legacy). Mira demanded that Taylor release Carter (Damian Walshe-Howling) from the brig and tells him that the Sixers still have friends in Terra Nova. Mira asked for Carter’s release along with some ammo and medical supplies. Taylor was willing to hand over Carter and the medical supplies, but not the ammo. Mira agreed.

Later, Taylor opened up to Dr. Shannon about his son that had came over on the Second Pilgrimage. His son worked in the science department and had went missing. Taylor said he has not given up hope and maybe one day he will find him. Josh and Skye got some bonding time while cutting up strange fruit. After talking to Skye, Josh realized that he was more like his father than he had realized. I hope Josh comes out of this rebellious teenage stage and fast!

Back to the Sixers though, they were seen headed back to their camp when they stopped in the middle of the meadow to check on the car. After hearing something in the bushes, one of the men was stabbed by a slasher tail. In the distance, the teens had heard the slashers and decided to leave, because it was getting dark. Meanwhile back at the camp, Commander Taylor noticed a vehicle missing and caught the teens taking it from the camp on tape. He organized a search party to reach them before something else did. The teens found themselves stranded OTG (outside the gate), because their power cells had been stolen from their vehicle.

Skye noticed that there was a Sixer’s vehicle parked across the creek. She went over to get their power cells back, when she noticed the blood on the ground. Opening up the vehicle, they find a frightened Sixer hidden inside that she remembered was named Drake. The teens locked themselves inside the Sixers’ vehicle while the slashers tried their hardest to get in. The slashers circled the vehicle til well after dark. Finally, Commander Taylor and his security found the teens and got rid of the slashers. Tasha was badly wounded while trying to run from the slashers. Jason O’Mara said, “Slashers are a different kind of raptor. They’re kind of like the crazed, methadone addicts of the dinosaur world.” and also said, “These raptors are like mangy, smelly creatures. Some of them have feathers sticking out of them in funny, weird angles, nasty rows of teeth and unexpected colors. Pretty cool stuff.”

Josh got a nice, big ‘welcome home’ from his mother, while Skye went to Commander Taylor and apologized for what had happened that day. Taylor had looked after Skye ever since her parents died. She told him she hated to disappoint him. Of course, Taylor quickly told her the reason that area was off limits was because it was slasher territory. Skye gave him a wary look as if she did not believe that was the only reason. Was it? He asked her had they gone down to the falls. Even though they had, Skye lied and told him no. He told her the falls could be treacherous waters. Did he not want her to go down there, because that was where his son went missing or was it because, he did not want them to find out some big secret?

Mira and another Sixer were by the falls looking at the equations that Skye and Josh had found earlier. Mira said Taylor would not be happy that the teens had been there, because he had wanted to keep this from everyone. When asked why he had not just blasted them from the rock, Mira said it was because that was the only connection Taylor had left of his son. Mira said his son painted those equations there to remind his father that every time he got close to an answer, it was posted there for his father to see. It was to remind him of the real reason for Terra Nova’s existence. Mira said, “control the past, control the future.” She said the equations were the key to everything.

Terra Nova ended with the Shannon family enjoying the night sky. The pollution in 2149 had kept them from seeing the stars and moon. It was beautiful how close the Moon was to the Earth.

Terra Nova touched on the very thing scientists have been saying for years. If we have not taken an active role in our environment, the Earth will have indeed become uninhabitable. There was also something in the show for kids. There are dinosaurs. The characters are sent back 85 million years into the past when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. A little inside information for you, but it was because of the dinosaurs that pushed back the original air date of Terra Nova. The CGI departments had to make the dinosaurs believable enough for Spielberg.

This was certainly a highly anticipated television show. I invite you to watch every Monday night at 8 p.m. East coast time on Fox and join in our tweets as we watch the show. As always, TeamWHR will be providing detailed analysis and reviews. See you on the other side!

I would like to give a special thanks to Wyldceltic1 for providing the pictures for this review. She did an awesome job!

Terra Nova returns Monday October 03, 2011 8 PM E/P 7 central time in the second episode “Instinct”. In the meantime please enjoy the entire pilot episode “Genesis” here courtesy of FOX via Hulu. Enjoy!

Thanks to Kenn for video embedding and as always we appreciate your visiting our news sites at WormholeRiders News Agency. Thank you.

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In any event I will look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side” to tweet about Terra Nova!

Thank you. xoxo

Dragonbayne (Angela)

September 29, 2011

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