Recap: Terra Nova, Season 1, Occupation/Resistance

"Terra Nova's" final episode of the season, and perhaps of the series, "Occupation/Resistance," suggests that in the 22nd century, mercenaries are pretty good at taking things, but pretty poor at holding them.

Spoilers follow.

The Phoenix Group mercs proved to be pretty ruthless and clever by sending a forced suicide bomber through the time gate to take it out as well as some of Taylor's men. The portal therefore opened, in a stroke of luck for the mercenaries, right outside the Terra Nova colony, which was overwhelmed in short order.

Here is where bad luck, a lack of ruthlessness, and gross incompetence began to take its toll. The time portal that the Phoenix Group brought across was damaged by one of the local predators. The Phoenix Group did not bring their own engineer, so they have to rely on Malcolm to fix it, which he does -- slowly and with sabotage in mind.

The Phoenix Group allows everyone on the colony, even dangerous people like Shannon and Washington, to walk around pretty much at liberty. This costs them in the end. Finally, they allowed Taylor and the survivors of his people to remain in the bush. This really costs them.

The guerrilla war that ensues causes Lucas to descend into an even deeper madness. True, watching one's mother be raped to death can unhinge any man. But taking out one's daddy issues on an entire world, albeit one inhabited by reptilian predators, is a bit much.

Mining techniques in the 22nd century seem a bit crude. Apparently the technique is to level an area with a bomb and then move in with the strip mining equipment. This reliance on blow up and strip mining also costs the Phoenix Group and its employers.

The upshot is that when the Phoenix Group people finally reopen the gate to 2149, Shannon managed to slip across with a bomb stolen from them and a T-Rex. After inflicting havoc, Shannon returns just in a nick of time after blowing up the link between Terra Nova and the 22nd century.

Taylor and his men liberate Terra Nova. Lucas, Mira, and the Phoenix Group decamp to some place called "the Badlands" where an expedition found the prow of an 18th century sailing ship, suggesting that there is another time bridge. Josh's girlfriend is dead, so he is free to be comforted by Skye.

Until Season Two. Or maybe not, because as of this writing that is up in the air.

Sources: Terra Nova, Occupation, TV.Rage

Terra Nova, Resistance, TV.Rage