In Terra Nova, Earth in the year 2149 faces environmental collapse due to overpopulation and pollution. The government discovers a one-way time portal leading to a prehistoric version of Earth, 85 million years in the past, and begins sending people back to establish a new colony called Terra Nova. The show follows the Shannon family, who are chosen to join the colony and help humanity start anew. As the settlers strive to survive in a world dominated by dinosaurs and other prehistoric dangers, they also face internal conflicts, rival factions, and mysterious threats to their new society. Central to the narrative are questions of time travel’s consequences, alternate timelines, and humanity’s attempt to correct its future by living in the past. The colony’s actions may affect this alternate timeline’s development, raising ethical dilemmas and the potential for paradoxes. The show blends action, family drama, and sci-fi concepts, though it leaves some narrative threads unresolved by the end of its single season.
Terra Nova
Gravity Index: 6
Terra Nova offers a blend of science fiction adventure and family drama, with a focus on survival in a prehistoric alternate timeline. The show takes its high-concept elements of time travel and dystopian future somewhat seriously but balances this with action-packed sequences and lighter moments. While the scientific and philosophical depth isn’t highly complex, the series does explore interesting moral questions about humanity’s responsibility to the future and the consequences of colonization in a new time period. Expect a fun, adventurous narrative with moderate depth.
Tone: 6
Terra Nova maintains a balance between serious, high-stakes drama and moments of lightheartedness or family dynamics. The tone reflects both the adventure of colonizing a prehistoric Earth and the moral complexities of escaping a dystopian future. While the show takes its core concepts of time travel and survival seriously, it also incorporates action, family bonding, and some humor to lighten the overall tone.
Consequence: 7
The consequences of traveling back in time and establishing a colony in prehistoric Earth are significant but often reversible within the scope of the show’s episodes. The potential for altering history is a constant concern, though the series establishes that the time travel involved is into an alternate timeline, reducing the risk of catastrophic paradoxes. However, the actions of the colony, interactions with prehistoric creatures, and threats from outside forces have long-lasting and profound effects on the characters and the future of humanity.
Depth: 5
Terra Nova touches on some scientific ideas, particularly with regard to time travel and alternate realities, but it doesn’t delve deeply into these mechanics. The show focuses more on the survival aspect and the societal implications of creating a new civilization in the past. Philosophically, the series explores themes like environmental degradation, societal collapse, and second chances for humanity, but it doesn’t reach the complexity of more scientifically rigorous or existential narratives.