MovieChat Forums > Terra Nova (2011) Discussion > They should have done a series of tv mov...

They should have done a series of tv movies for S2


I think Terra Nova was starting to find its feet at the end of its first (and only season). Yes the show had some less than stellar episodes, but if you look at most sci-fi shows that go beyond one season those first season episodes rarely make it on the Top lists for that series.

I think Terra Nova had a hard time finding a consistent audience week in and week out which made Fox nervous about committing to a second season.

I think the producers should have done a series of three made-for-tv movies. They could better control costs, put the attention on getting the effects to look good and tell focused stories that played to the character's strengths. The story could have followed the basic trilogy structure with an overriding story arc or they could have been three separate stories focusing on different aspects of this world and the characters who inhabit it. The network could have spread them out over a season to build up interest for each broadcast.

My point is that the major networks have traditionally been very fickled when it comes to genre shows. If it is not a runaway hit right off the bat then it isn't going to last long. There are exceptions to that. Other networks on cable have done it right, like TNT and "Falling Skies," where they have 10-episode seasons and then they are off for awhile.

I think tv movies is an option. Look at the number of shows that had previews months in advanced that had a strong premiere and then suffered declining ratings. With a series of three MfTV movies. You can hype the premiere of one and then build up to the debut of the next. I think that could generate interest and stronger ratings.

Also, it was done successfully in the past. "Alien Nation" was a show that ended after one season, but fan support allowed the makers of that show to make a series of five made-for-tv movies. They spread them out and were able to build up interest. Now those movies are part of its own DVD box set that fans can pick up.

I think it should have been considered.

Of course, I could be wrong. None of the movies could generate anything and it could be a waste of time and money. However, is that any worst than doing a 10-episode season and have it go nowhere? The worst case, the company releases the set on DVD and the people who want it can have it and those who were interested can check it out. I think I saw where pre-orders for the Terra Nova DVD set are strong.

I think tv producers need to think more outside the box. I think a series of Made-For-TV movies has possibilities in giving shows, like Terra Nova another chance. (I know it is too late to save TN.).

What do people think?

reply

I just got the DVD set for the show and still think a series of Made-For-TV movies would have been a good way to go for additional stories.

reply

I don't think that it's too late to save Terra Nova. Fans of the show agree with that and there is a movement to get either a tv movie or a second season made. Anyone who is interested in signing the petition can find it on Facebook at saveterranova.com. The sets for Terra Nova have been dismantled and sold, but that happened with "THE LORD OF THE RINGS" movie sets, even though director Peter Jackson begged the studios to save them for a future "THE HOBBIT" production. The sets had to be built all over again from scratch. It can be done if there is enough fan interest in the project.

I think that a Terra Nova tv movie could be filled with possibilities. It could tie up loose ends in the story, or it could be a bridge to a second season. I did read an article that alleged that one of Fox's problems with renewing Terra Nova was it's lack of stories that were original or different enough to justify the cost of the series. Fox wants something special in the way of future story lines, and that just wasn't available. Dear Hollywood, perhaps you should start looking for new writers in places and people that you consistently overlook and undervalue. Like people who read actual books instead of those who write a story based on a video game, or blatant plagiarism of old movie scripts like the new "STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS" seems to be.

reply