We’re almost halfway into the first (and possibly only) season of the FOX television series Terra Nova. Critical and viewer reactions have been mixed, but one thing is clear–this big-budget show about time travel and dinosaurs is reaching for an intergenerational audience.
It’s one of the hallmarks of a Spielberg production, of course–to explore societal values not just through adult characters but through the lens of children, too. At the center of Terra Nova is the Shannon family, parents Jim and Elisabeth, and three children, Zoe, Maddy, and Josh. They’re unusual in that they’ve violated the strict reproductive laws of their dystopian society by having three children, but otherwise, we’re meant to believe that they’re fairly normal.
On the surface of it, the Terra Nova writers do a passable good job of giving us believable teen characters in Josh and Maddy. Seventeen-year-old Josh loves music and the girlfriend he left behind when his family crossed through the gate to enter the Terra Nova colony. He’s much more complex than the wooden and flatly dumb character of Tyler on the recent V-reboot, despite the fact that their physical similarities have raised comparisons. Of course, Tyler’s plots were consistently idiot plots. Though Tyler similarly rebelled against his cop-Mom (as Josh has against his cop-Dad), he repeatedly played into the hands of some really obviously evil plots because, like, alien chicks are hot, or something. But Josh has more valid complaints; his sometimes-violent dad had long been absent when the family was uprooted and moved to Terra Nova. And Josh’s rebellion manifests itself in more understandable ways, too: hanging out with some cool kids drinking hooch by a river might seem stupid to adult viewers, but at least it makes more sense than shacking up with a lizard.
I’m not quite so confident about the character of fifteen-year-old Maddy Shannon. Sure, in the pilot, she was my favorite character–an undeniable geek,who spouts bits of Terra Nova lore like a Trekkie might wax poetic about the Ferengi. But her character has been woefully underutilized since. Through the first handful of episodes, she was frequently forced to babysit for her little sister for no reason other than that she happens to be a teenage girl. Now the writers are giving us a milquetoast romance between Maddy and a young soldier who has no personality at all, much less one that seems to click with her geek-girl ways. The only conflict we’ve seen between Maddy and her parents is a moment of shock when Jim Shannon realizes that she’s old enough to date. Meanwhile, her brother Josh gets a ton of interesting plot lines, featuring guitars and girls and dino danger.
It’s a pretty common problem with shows with family appeal. Television writers seem to have few problems accurately writing teenage boys, but when it comes to teenage girls, they default to a dad’s-eye view. That’s too bad. Approached with a bit of sensitivity and empathy, I could easily see Maddy increasing Terra Nova‘s appeal to the hordes of teenagers who already enjoy reading about adventurous, real girls in YA novels like The Hunger Games. As it stands, I have trouble imagining teen girls–or those who enjoy fiction featuring complex adolescent women– bothering to stick it out through the rest of the season.
All that being said, I am completely lusting after Maddy’s boots.
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I initially read that as ‘I am completely lusting after Maddy’s boobs’.
(Which would be odd, because it’s not like you can even see them in that screenshot…)
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That discussion is for a different website.
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I think you’re crediting emo-boy with more personality than he actually has (he has rather fabulous eyebrows, but I no longer mistake eyebrows for personality. I used to, though). I found them both kind of equally cardboard, even if he’s handed a few more things to do. (but I still haven’t watched the pilot – I expect that establishes some background I’ve missed).
I’m not that impressed with the show so far, although my 8-year-old seems to like it.
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You’re right–I might be a little generous, here. Still, much of the character building did happen in episode 1, particularly establishment of angst. Also, I’m comparing him to Tyler, which is damning him with faint praise. I mean, Tyler was one of the worst characters on television, ever.
I wish I could watch TV with the wide-eyed enthusiasm of an 8-year-old!
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Everything’s more awesome when you’re eight. It’s all still pretty new, right? He doesn’t see a dozen different Star Trek episodes in his head when there’s a disease that makes people act weird — he just wonders whether they’ll find a cure in time (and doesn’t consider it “hitting the reset button” when they do…).
It’s one nice thing about having kids, frankly. They let you borrow their eyes sometimes. Not during Terra Nova so much, though.
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Wow, you raise some really good points here. I’ve been watching Terra Nova and didn’t pick up on some of these issues, but you are so right. Maddy could be such a cool character, but instead they give Josh all the action. Dumb. I’m still hoping that will change, though. I agree about Tyler from ‘V’ too — what a total doink.
Sad, but I will probably continue to watch Terra Nova for one main reason and it’s not the plot: Jason O’Mara’s abs. Nuff said
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I’m a big Jason O’Mara fan. He’s a solid actor, and it’s too bad that he’s gotten roles on shows that seem doomed to fail after only one season.
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I haven’t watched this show, and probably never will, which is why I briefly thought the picture of what’s-his-name up there was of Robert Pattinson.
Or maybe I just think of him every time I see pictures or really pale guys with floppy hair.
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I would like Terra Nova far more if it was about exploring a strange world, instead of teen boy having trouble with his Dad. [Or Dad having marriage issues.]
If they combined exploration and Maddy I’d like it even more.
I only gave it a couple of episodes, though, and then my attention drifted elsewhere.
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My attention is definitely starting to fade, too. I wouldn’t mind either of those plotlines if they gave any of the plots featuring female characters equal weight. I’m not even sure what they’re doing with the mom and her ex, but whatever it is, I don’t like it. Seems to be focused more on his feelings than hers. The whole show seems like it’s cast through a very male lens.
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Interesting! I’ve been watching Terra Nova because I’ve kind of been enjoying the unbelievable science/cheesy plots. But in my case, I’ve found Maddy much more convincing as a teen than Josh. I thought the story line of Josh sneaking off into the jungle to hang with the other teens/make hooch/play rock star was a bit too stereotypical “teen” even for this kind of show. Also, I admit Josh annoys me — it’s that Tyler-like haircut!
I like that Maddy’s spunky and smart and I hope she gets more airtime, but it doesn’t seem likely given the direction of last night’s episode. But you never know!
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I might be more tolerant of Josh than most since I’m familiar with the actor from Degrassi.
I really hope they develop Maddy more. Seems like so much wasted potential.
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The thing I think they’re doing really well with Maddy is her interactions with her crush. It is always adorable awkward (both her & him) and strikes me realistically. (I mean, obviously, in real life, people are not as universally attractive as they are in Terra Nova, but you know.)
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Yeah, they’re pretty good. I just wish the boy made more sense as a match for her, other than the fact that they’re both stunningly beautiful.
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Yeah, I agree. I think the potential is there, but we don’t really know much about him yet except that he is very polite.
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