TV Review: Terra Nova Episode 1.03

Last week I gave FOX’s new show Terra Nova a look. And while it had promise, certain areas left a lot to be desired. Will Episode 3 be a step in the right direction or more of the same? Let’s take a look and see!

Quick ‘n’ Dirty review:
Jim Shannon is doing a bangup job as the newest member of Commander Taylor’s Terra Nova security force, yet is having problems getting some alone time with his wife Elisabeth for one reason (their youngest Zoe got used to sleeping with her mom while Jim was imprisoned in 2149) or another (rude screaming nocturnal dinosaurs).

The next morning, Jim and Taylor find some security officers who had been on patrol but were brutally murdered. The first suspects are the Sixers, but closer inspection reveals that it was some type of dino predator.

In another area, Elisabeth meets up with Malcolm Wallace, Chief Science Officer of Terra Nova and old flame of hers from college (or ‘university’ as the Brits call it). Jim is rather suspicious of Malcolm when after finding out who he is. He likes Malcolm even less after doing some digging and finding out that Malcolm, not knowing that Jin would be coming, got Elisabeth recruited onto the Terra Nova project. Why would Malcolm do this, you ask? For her scientific acumen of course…and so he could win her back.

Meanwhile, Josh, Maddy and Zoe are taking prehistoric survival classes from one of Taylor’s security officers. And in a nice touch of continuity, we find out that Josh and Skye are being punished for their little joyride stunt from last week. Josh also sees a guitar that he’d really like to buy, but doesn’t have the funds for. But when asked to trade a necklace he got from his ex, who’s still back in 2149, he refused to part with the former.

But back to the main plot, which involves a subspecies of the airborne pterosaur. These creatures have started attacking residents of Terra Nova in increasing frequency, to the point that Commander Taylor suspends all scientific research missions.

Jim and Taylor work with Elisabeth and Malcolm to discover that Terra Nova was actually built on these pterosaurs old hatching grounds, and the flying reptilians are migrating in the millions back to make some babies of their own. In short, the Terra Nova residents are screwed when the rest of the pterosaur flock arrives!

The solution? Jim and Taylor capture two live pterosaurs, a male and a female respectively.  Elisabeth and Malcolm then use those two pterosaurs to create 50 liters of a synthetic pheromone that Jim and Taylor use to lure the rest of the pterosaurs away from the Terra Nova compound. Once at a safe distance, Jim and Taylor then jettison the pheromone container far, far away from the compound.
No, I did not make that up. Don’t you just love sci-fi shows?

But of course, just to ratchet up the drama, the Shannon home is attacked by pterosaurs that break through their windows and Zoe gets separated from her older siblings. During this, Josh and Skye grow closer. The tension. Was. Gripping. Seriously.

But all in all, Jim saved the day and with the kids asleep, he finally gets it on with his wife.  Nice!

My thoughts:
An improvement from last week. In retrospect, I might have been a bit hard on the Terra Nova pilot. TV pilots get the unenviable task of having to not only introduce a viewer to a new world, but also tell a self-contained story, explain a lot of crap that’s happening or has happened in the show’s fledging mythos and then hint at what’s to come. Some shows do it amazingly, but end up tanking within the first 13 episodes. Other shows have had terrible pilots, but end up being fantastic long running series.

Tonight’s episode was more self-contained but at the same time expanded the show’s mythology just a bit. We’re introduced to a new character in Malcolm Wallace that will clearly  be a thorn in the side of  the Shannon marriage, We also meet a new dinosaur species, which had much better animation than those in the pilot. I like the idea of mixing it up each week between a threat from Mother Nature and then one from the Sixers. Speaking of the Sixers, they are mentioned but not seen this time around. Taylor thinks there’s a traitor in the Terra Nova ranks feeding the Sixers info. Could be a cool storyline the show can drag out a bit during Season 1.

The family stuff wasn’t as insufferable as in the pilot, but still felt a bit forced at times. All in all, I liked it more. Hope Terra Nova’s improvement continues next week.