Terra Nova

This is one of the few sci-fi TV series produced in recent years that deserved a better fate (it was cancelled after the season 1 finale). 
In the year 2149 mankind has abused of Earth so much that the quality of the planet resources , and therefore life itself, is declining rapidly. As a window of hope a rift in time is discovered and groups of people are sent 85 million years into the past to the time of the Cretaceous period. These "chosen" ones are people carefully selected because of their abilities so for example Elizabeth Shannon is chosen for being an outstanding doctor. She is sent with two of her three children while her husband, Jim who is a former police, remains in prison and her little daughter whose conception was considered a crime in a time when only two children are allowed per couple is left alone. But the Shannons have a plan and  Jim manages to escape and bring their little daughter with him the day they are sent to the Cretaceous, a non-return trip because the rift allows to go into the past but not to return to the present. There, the Shannons are introduced to the community called Terra Nova and their leader, commander Taylor. Their adventures facing this new life and the enemies of Terra Nova which are many is the core of the series. As usual a good sci-fi series has a lot of mysteries that  are presented and revealed as the series progresses. The plot is good and though there a lot of new faces in the cast I would say the acting is quite acceptable and consistent. I also liked how family conflicts become central in this show and how they are treated so carefully. The special effects are just perfect and rival those of the Jurassic Park films. Big names such as Brannon Braga and Steven Spielberg were attached as producers of the series and that makes for me harder to understand why such a good show was not given a second season which perhaps was part of the original plan since the finale of the only season leaves with some loose ends that promise for more but in the end did not see the light.
Since it has only one season, go buy it and get entertained for a weekend.

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