Review: Terra Nova “Nightfall” (Watch the Lights Go Out and Nothing Happens)

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Air Date: Monday, October 31, 2011, 8/7c on Fox

Everyone’s got secrets in “Nightfall.” But I think I’ve figured something out: the mole is Commander Taylor’s (Stephen Lang) son. Who else would know the ins and outs of the Terra Nova colony? I’m thinking there are cameras hidden out of sight he’s able to tap into (don’t ask me how). He doesn’t show his face in the colony because he’ll be recognized, and he doesn’t want his father to know he’s around. He’s the one to blow the lid off the origins of Terra Nova and I’m still curious to know what they are. He snaps at Mira (Christine Adams): “Thank you for finally getting your act together and doing what you were sent here to do.” What exactly does he mean and just what is the “work” he speaks of?

“Nightfall” could be so much more interesting. The good parts are cut short and mostly contain the Sixers and their secret dealings within the colony. They slip in and out easily and without much notice (or explanation). Forget the diversion they set off before entering Terra Nova (loved the Spinosaurus by the way), how do they get by Taylor’s guard unnoticed? Doesn’t someone was always watch the fence? Does this guard only keep watch over the areas where dinosaurs are more likely to approach? That seems a bit stupid.

The premise of this episode deals with the colony losing all power and its lack of preparation for handling the situation. I’ll give them some slack for not having a backup power source because they are in prehistoric times, but there’s no alternative weaponry (you don’t take knives to a dino fight), lighting (where are all the torches?) or anything from the future that doesn’t need electricity? I’m shocked. I understand the convenience of modern technology, but the fence surrounding the colony is made from wood. I’m so confused.

Observations and thoughts:

I almost think Elizabeth (Shelley Conn) won’t be able to remove the parasite from Hunter (Sam Parsonson) without modern methods. But she shocks me by using a scalpel to open him up. At least they aren’t completely inept in the infirmary. But is she the only capable doctor there? That worries me. Everyone runs to her with medical emergencies. I know she’s good, but I’m beginning to think she’s the only doctor in town which could present problems in the future.

Jim (Jason O’Mara) needs to touch up on his parenting skills. I’m not sure how he convinces Zoe (Alana Mansour) to crawl through a tunnel to get them out of a locked room, but my five-year-old would need a hell of a lot more convincing. I would have made it into a game just to get her interested, and then bribed her with candy for a job well done. Granted, there’s probably no candy available to Jim, but he could have thought of something other than a tuneless spider repelling song—that was pure torture. I just wasn’t convinced with the way the scene plays out. There’s no way Zoe should have been able to pull a manual override handle down. Nothing’s that easy.

Why is it the only person who wonders about the safety of her family is five-year-old Zoe? I get that the others are busy with more important things, but I notice in every other episode the entire Shannon family inquires about each other just about every five minutes. It’s one of those things that annoy me, which is why I’m amazed they don’t bother to wonder over one another’s whereabouts until the next day. Very odd.

Maddy (Naomi Scott) and Mark’s (Dean Geyer) day out is cute. Maddy tends to annoy me and doesn’t fail to disappoint this episode. Why on earth does she scream when there are dinosaurs around? Bring more attention to yourself, why don’t you? Oh, and I can’t forget the amazing dialogue between her and Mark when she asks if they will die in the woods.

Maddy: “Because I was this close to asking you to kiss me so that I’d know what it was like before I died.”

Mark: “Well, maybe I should. You know, just, just in case.” [He kisses her]

Maddy: “Now I can die.”

Gag! Really? That’s the best they could come up? Talk about cheesy.

Funny line:

Mark to Maddy about her dad looking for her: “He’s probably gonna kill me and ground you until the Ice Age.”

**

Taylor to Jim after fighting a football player sized Sixer: “He’s a big bastard, isn’t he?”

**

It’s a shame the commercial breaks were more interesting than the actual show. I especially enjoy the one where everyone’s batteries are dead at an inconvenient time. It made me think about the status of the colonists and how ridiculous it is they depend on electronic everything.  That should give you some indication of my love for “Nightfall” and the parasite which clings tighter to Hunter’s insides than my attention to Terra Nova. Mira definitely knows more than we do about Terra Nova and its inhabitants, yet we see less and less of her as the season progresses. I think the writers are missing a big opportunity with her story arc and I’m still waiting for something to bring this show back from its slow decline into Boringashellville.

Tune in to Terra Nova on Mondays at 8/7c on Fox. For more on the show, visit http://www.fox.com/terranova/.

Review: Terra Nova "Nightfall" (Watch the Lights Go Out and Nothing Happens) 1
Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle
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