Terra Nova
By grandpa_lash
@grandpa_lash (5225)
Australia
October 4, 2011 2:55am CST
We saw the premiere here in Australia a couple of nights ago, and I've had time now to digest it. We will probably continue to watch, it wasn't bad writing, although it did sort of make me think of Lost crossed with Jurassic Park. There's only one thing about it which really griped me, and I had a little of the same gripe with Lost.
WHY HAVE THEY CAST IT FROM THE RANKS OF THE AFTERNOON SOAPIES?????
Beautiful women, beautiful children, handsome men, not a fattie or an ugly in sight, I mean, what's that all about? But then the biggest thing on TV these days seems to be "Reality" TV - which is about as real as World Championship Wrestling. So I guess if "reality" can be defined in those terms, then we can put up with the fantasy cast in TN.
Lash
2 people like this
5 responses
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
4 Oct 11
G'day Lash. You might have seen my discussion about Terra Nova the other day. I have been working on the show as an extra and you are right. Even all the extras are reasonably fit and thin. There are a few extras who are middle aged and not exactly thin or buff, but they are not terribly overweight either, just average I guess.
The whole thing about the show is that the world is dying off in 2149, so my guess is that only the fittest and healthiest would have survived to live up to that point. The same goes for who they pick to start over as a new community in Terra Nova. Realistically, they would only be choosing the fittest and healthiest people along with the most skilled in order to get the place off to a smooth start in the rugged new world.
As for the looks, yes, the majority of the cast I have seen are pretty good looking. There were a few average looking extras (Like me...lol) but most would be in the high percentage in terms of good looks.
I never saw Lost and only ever saw Jurassic Park once when it was first released, but I can imagine it would be a cross between those two. There seems to be some pretty good story lines coming up from what I have seen and heard. One Assistant Director told me that it is the best thing he has ever seen filmed in Australia. 
2 people like this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
4 Oct 11
A nice rationale, Bill, but come on .... it's because TV producers in America think everyone has to be beautiful or it won't sell. They're quite wrong, a large number of people prefer reality to Playboy Fantasy. But that said, I look forward to seeing more of the show. Good plotting can make up for a lot. And thank God for the BBC or we wouldn't even bother with TV at all.
Lash
1 person likes this
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
6 Oct 11
You are forgetting the whole premise of the show. They are choosing people to go through the time rift to the past of, in effect, an alternate time line to start the human race over. They are going to choose the best they can to serve this purpose and to survive. So this would tend to eliminate the fatties(also don't forget on Lost they had Hurley, Rose and her husband, the teacher who blew himself up, etc. who weren't exactly slim). Also, the time and problems from which they are being sent back from present such hard living and scarcity that there are probably few fatties. Looks are of course what every show goes for, though I would disagree that everyone on Terra Nova is so great looking. I agree about the reality shows and don't watch them.
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
6 Oct 11
You can rationalise it as much as you please, but I have never seen any definition of "superior human beings" that included "beautiful". Any group of highly intelligent/skilled/adventurous humans will have the same spread of physical attributes as any comparable group of ordinary people. I am making the point that most modern media continuously bomards us with beautiful people as our roles models, desoite the fact that they make up such a small proportion of the human race. It is fantasyland.
I did say that my issue with Lost was somewhat less than with this one. And you may have a point about the fatties, although some of us have strong genetic tendencies to bulk, even if not overfed.
Lash
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
9 Oct 11
All the beautiful people may be fantasy land but most of them, men and women, would not be nearly as beautiful without all the professional makeup and hair styling. Many of them would be like people we know. I know I have dated, in my younger days around my late twenties and early thirties, several women who could rival the actresses on many shows even without all the extra professional makeup.
@sender621 (14889)
• United States
4 Oct 11
I have ben heqring a lot about the new show Terra Nova lately. it really likes it would be an interesting and exciting show to watch. i m looking forward to hetting a chance to see it for myself.
@Rosa26 (2616)
• United States
4 Oct 11
I watched last night and it was fantastic!
There like dinosaurs birds that were attacking the people.
Was very interesting!
I think I will continue watching it.
Is a good movie.
I didn't notice what you say, just now I am thinking about how good all of them look like.
@Amfyre (512)
• Canada
5 Oct 11
I posted a discussion about Terra Nova a few days back. I have now seen two episodes. Its fun and Jurassic park like too, there is nothing like sci fy where you go through to a time loop/gate etc and play with the future even if it brings you to the past.
As for the "fatties" well they needed to be healthy to go to travel to the past and as for the ugly... give it time sooner or later they will be chewed on and given scars.
Hope you enjoy future episodes!
Fyre
