The new Fox series "Terra Nova" — think "Avatar" (2009) meets "Jurassic Park" (1993) — takes viewers into a fight−or−flight journey through time. The show features a futuristic human civilization looking to relocate from a now−inhospitable planet Earth.
The series begins in the year 2149, when humankind is collapsing under the pressures of overpopulation and pollution — sound familiar? Sunlight, fresh air and fruit are extremely rare finds on this dark, devastated Earth. The government has mandated that each family have no more than four members and penalizes anyone who breaks that law.
"Terra Nova" centers on the Shannon family's struggles. Jim (Jason O'Mara) and Elisabeth (Shelley Conn) are married with three children, the youngest of whom, Zoe (Alana Mansour), is now an illegal child. The show begins with a raid on their household as Jim is jailed and brutally assaulted by cops for illegal overpopulation. Things continue to get worse for civilians as life on Earth becomes to be too much to handle.
The only escape from the nightmarish present is to travel back in time. Scientists discover a rip in time, allowing them to colonize the Earth 85 million years ago. Elisabeth, a trauma surgeon, has been recruited to travel back with her son, Josh (Landon Liboiron), and her daughter, Maddy (Naomi Scott). Determined to bring his youngest daughter to safety, Jim devises a plan to escape and get Zoe on to the time travel line, even if he has to bash a few cops along the way.
The colony itself is mesmerizing. If there's one thing producer Steven Spielberg does right, it's employing the awe factor at its greatest capacity — that, and shooting stories that take place in prehistoric times. "Terra Nova" offers an epic display of colors, dinosaurs and vegetation that could only exist millions of years before humankind arrived. The futuristic homes are fascinating, yet strangely simplistic.
Though the script is peppered with outdated and overused dialogue, the pilot still succeeds reasonably thanks to its exciting music, its actors' expert delivery and the viewers' itch to learn more about its new−old world.
But what will keep "Terra Nova" afloat after viewers become accustomed to the digital animation and artistic direction? A two−hour movie can certainly keep an audience's attention with beautiful graphics, but a television series with a minimum of 13 episodes will need to dig a bit deeper.
Also, why would an entire civilization — filled with scientists who can manipulate time — go back to an era that results in the catastrophic annihilation of the entire dinosaur population? That's not to say that all good television needs to be firmly grounded in reality, but this decision is too ludicrous to ignore. Hopefully, further episodes will offer a solid explanation.
However, some storylines have the potential to keep the series afloat, assuming they develop further. One of the pilot's ambiguous arcs revolves around the overly−masculine Commander Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang), who played Colonel Quaritch in the movie "Avatar." If the writers choose to pursue this thread, it could create some exciting dramatic tension.
Skye (Allison Miller) also holds a key to the show's success. Her character guides Josh through the wild new world and brings refreshing energy to the screen in the process. It's clear that a foreboding love triangle is already in the works between Skye, Josh and Josh's girlfriend, who he conveniently left behind in the present day.
The two−hour long pilot of "Terra Nova" premieres on Fox tonight at 8 p.m. Hopefully, legend Steven Spielberg won't let viewers down. At least it can't be worse than "Cowboys & Aliens" (2011).
