10 TV Shows That Wasted Brilliant Concepts
3. Terra Nova - Saving The World By Escaping To The Past
The pitch for Terra Nova makes it sound like an obvious hit: In a future where overpopulation and climate change has ruined the planet, many are given a second chance at life by travelling through a one-way portal to a large colony that's been set-up millions of years in Earth's past.
It sure sounds epic, especially when you add its family drama and a brewing civil war to the mix, but right from the get-go Terra Nova lost its way.
From its astoundingly poor special effects, cheesy dialogue, indulgent exposition and weak characters, it makes sure to set-up some big things going forward, but does it in such a ham-fisted and alienating way that it's almost impossible to be interested in the payoff.
Though a bigger budget and more planning could have helped it down the line, Terra Nova was mercifully cancelled after one season, its potential well and truly wasted.