As I noted in my thoughts on the Fall's new shows, this the biggest disappointment for me this season, mostly because it was one of the ones I thought had the most potential. I cited Avatar in my prior post, but now that I've thought about it, a better description of TN would be Avatar without the fantastic special effects to hide the crappy plot, though that may be unfair to Avatar since it was at least consistent and cohesive ...
So what's wrong with Terra Nova? My take:
The main problem is that the show does not know what it wants to be or where it wants to go. For example, after sugar coating everything for most of the season, the final episodes try to be edgy by introducing a point-blank murder, explosions, a dinosaur wipe-out attack (finally), and a Lost-wannabe mystery that could change the playing field (I'm thinking Bermuda Triangle and discovery of some people akin to the Tailies). Not that such efforts are not appreciated - they at least made the finale relatively (and only relatively) better than the rest of the season. However, after all the excitement and darkness and the chilling new twist, the show suddenly reverts to its "family friendly" motto and ends the season with a whimper - in the form of an utterly anti-climatic meteor shower being witnessed by the Shannon family ... because that is SO much more poignant than, say, a funeral for Wash would have been (I'll take back this statement if it turns out Wash is actually alive and being kept as a bargaining chip by Lucas and the baddies - but I"m not holding my breath).
This lack of identity perhaps contributes to another major problem - weak characterization. The characters come off so black and white - the heroes/Terra Novans/people on Taylor's and the Shannons' side are good, and the corporation and its minions are bad. The writing is not very deft at conveying the motivations behind the characters (still not sure what the big deal is that caused Lucas to hate Taylor so much, because the reason given is pretty lame - this could've been a WAY more complicated and intense relationship than the show made it out to be), and the "good guys" become ultra-preachy when justifying their actions (except telling the audience what to believe almost never works out well - Elizabeth Shannon's speech about blowing up Hope's Plaza to ensure their second chance just seemed selfish to me - what about the rest of humanity! Never mind the fact the Shannons violated the rules in the first place to get there!). The good guys would actually be more relatable if we saw the struggle behind what should be a tough decision - focusing on just one side of the argument just makes the elephant in the room that much more obvious.
Speaking of the Shannons, I still don't understand what is so special about this family, and I don't find their "so long as we are together and have a future screw everyone else" attitude endearing at all. Focusing the show on this family of self-righteous rule breakers was a big mistake in my opinion. They each have a few redeeming qualities but are generally useless and pointless. I actually like all the actors just fine too, but the characters are so bland and in some cases (*cough*Josh*cough*Zoe*cough*) a nuisance.
Finally, the characters are written out of character to suit the plot so often I wish I'd made it a drinking game when watching. Case in point, I find it hard to buy that a genius like Lucas getting played by the Shannons and Skye the way he did in the finale or that the mercenaries could be so dumb - why would Jim Shannon not be locked up or at least watched 24/7??? I kept waiting for twists that never came - that Lucas was hitting on Skye to provoke Josh so Skye would lead the baddies to the rebel council (but no that'd mean all the good guys on the inside would be caught in one swift blow) or at least to expose Jim, and then failing that, that the baddies would use the transponder they found to set a trap for Taylor and his crew (but again that'd mean the good guys would lose). I just didn't find the Terra Novan's triumph all that believable, given it was more a result of a plot device - i.e. the bad guys not thinking or being remotely prepared (like bringing their own medical staff and engineers).
I could go on and point out more loopholes, inconsistencies and nonsensical actions, but will instead just sum up by saying, if there is another season, the show has GOT to get some better writers!
Side note: I did laugh out loud at the corporate guy's scream before he was snapped up by the Dino (but I'm oddly sad that he's gone - dino-killing aside, he contributed to some hilarious moments in the finale).
Side note 2: Despite the creepiness, the tension between Lucas and Skye was inexplicably hot and entertaining.
Side note 3: I really hope when the baddies left Terra Nova they had taken supplies and meds from the colonists. Otherwise it'd be another unbelievable plot device.
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