A pint-sized she-spy infiltrates Terra Nova as Maddy gets awkwardly courted and a feathered dino attacks
Welcome back!
Gave the dino show another shot, huh?
We open at night.
Credit: Fox
A couple Terra Nova lookouts work the watch-tower, keeping an eye out for carnosaurs and icebergs.
They spot somebody a Sixer.
Theres a lot of rushing around in the dark foliage chasing a mysterious hooded figure.
At any rate, to their surprise they find the attacker is a grubby little girl.
Medlab: The wildling girl kicks at the nurse and hides under a table.
Shes all traumatized and doesnt want to talk, acting like shes been abused by dinosaurs or something.
The girl says her name is Newt Leah.
We learn she used to live at camp Terra Nova, but her family left with the Sixers.
Leah is introduced to Zoe and seems to despise her on sight.
This helps us relate to Leah because we dont like Zoe either.
Outside: Terra Nova troopers hunt for Leahs lost backpack.
They get ambushed by Sixers and what follows is actually a pretty respectable chase-n-fight rumble-in-the-jungle scene.
Alicia gets caught and out comes the Sixer queen Mira.
She takes her rifle and strikes Alicia in the head.
Terra Nova: Leah gets a makeover and looks almost ready for the next episode ofToddlers & Terra Novas.
Zoe shows her a sunny drawing of the Shannon family.
The picture looks all warm and loving, but it notably doesnt include the new girl.
Leah quickly recognizes Zoes brand of passive aggressive b.s.
and scowls at her.
NEXT: Sixer showdown; Farmers market courtship
Outside: Sixers want Leah back.
They ride up to the camp in their tumbler vehicles.
Leah is reassured that the Sixers futuristic weaponry cannot possibly penetrate Terra Novas wooden Lincoln Logs gate.
Just be honest and ignore the fact everybody is pointing guns at each other.
Leah says she wants to stay at Terra Nova.
Taylor warns her if the Sixers ride up on Terra Nova again, Im going to war.
Farmers market: It just wouldnt beTerra Novawithout a farmers market date!
Mark is shown trying to court Maddy as formally and awkwardly as possible.
For Maddys sake, lets hope the Commander isnt also the source of Marks sex advice.
Meanwhile Leah: Is a Sixer spy.
You figured that out I bet.
She ditched school and dug up some secret object from under one of the cabins.
Shes making her escape when Jim spots her.
Whats going on here kiddo?
he asks, and doesnt that line give you the grade-school Im in trouble feeling?
Meanwhile Alicia nearly runs Leah down in a rover to stop her from walking a few feet.
Taylors cabin: The object Leah stole is a weird blueish cylinder box key in thing.
They cant open it.
Young enough to be sympathetic, old enough to be capable.
Now its Taylors turn to break out the kiddo, telling Leah to take a seat.
Playing good cop, bad Commander.
They want to know how to fire up the box and Leah doesnt know.
This explains everything nobody could possibly resist the charms of joining the Shannon family for reals!
Taylor orders Leah taken to pod zero …. whatever that is, sounds unpleasant.
Back at home: Jim frets about Leahs little brother being hurt.
He finds a drawing left by Leah that says shes sorry, that she had to betray them.
Therefore, Jim concludes, she was telling the truth.
Except couldnt the drawing have been part of Master Spy Leahs contingency plan in case she got caught?
If Mira is that much of a psychopath, Taylor should shoot her on sight.
Outside: More motorcycle nighttime action.
But Jim gets literally snared and finds himself suspended high above the ground.
Best of all: We get a terrestrial dinosaur sporting some feathers on his head.
This was a big point of discussion in the early development ofTerra Nova.
They pull it off here, this nasty creature is not something you want snapping at your head.
A Sixer helpfully shoots the Nykoraptor.
Is all the blunt force head trauma really necessary to subdue a prisoner?
Sixer camp: Jim awakens in Miras cabin.
I really wanted Mira to ask Jim, What were you doing kiddo?
Instead she explains the boy was never in danger (duh).
Maybe Jim has a concussion, I dunno, but I liked him in this scene.
He seemed drunk and surly.
FINALLY: Whats Terra Nova really about?
Taylor has pissed off some very powerful people in 2149, Mira says.
They want him gone.
Mira then teases at some great truth behind Terra Nova.
Apparently theres a big secret purpose behind the colony; its not just about establishing farmers markets.
Whats Terra Nova really about?
We stop fidgeting and lean forward…
Youll see, Mira says, annoyingly.
CmonTerra Nova, you guys sawLost, you gotta tease us a little better than youll see.
Terra Nova: Jim returns with Leahs brother.
Meanwhile Taylor darkly grills Jim about what Mira told him.
Theres a tension in this final beat I like.
So what did you think about this week?
What do you think is in the box?
What is Terra Nova really about?
Again, the show seems to be getting a little better.
(And no, I didnt write about the subplot with Maddy being her moms squeamish surgical apprentice.
I suspect youre OK with that).
