At the beginning I was wondering in amazement, "What happened with Terra Nova?" At the end I found myself amazed, wondering, "What happened with Terra Nova?"
I wish it worked better for me. The opening was strong and promising, from Archer's comedic "Are we there yet?" to Tucker and T'Pol debating space history over dinner. (I like that these people eat regularly!) Mayweather's interest in the lost colony (a Trek staple) added a personal overtone to the anticipation.
The chronology of the Conestoga pioneers set up quite credibly - nine years of transit to reach a planet less than 20 light years away, going barely more than Warp 1. I liked that the show presented these humans as real adventurers. (Is Enterprise the first ship to drop by neighborly Terra Nova? I'm still confused by that part of the colony's mystery.)
Then came a sharp turn with the homage to "Miri" as Reed touched the old rusty bicycle. In that TOS episode (including McCoy touching an old rusty tricycle) all adults were killed off in a biological catastrophe long ago, leaving only dirty children speaking a strange cant. On this world the parents have all died from radiation long ago, leaving only dirty children speaking a strange cant. I'm not shaling to you.
But wait, it's another green planet with caves crawling with creepy things (though their make-up and hair distinguished the Novans well - and their guns were too cool). Then Reed got shot and taken captive, and the plot fell apart.
A leg wound could just take the eel, as we've seen. Yet in a stunning lack of bedside manner, Phlox abandons his patient. Why? Surely someone else could frighten an elderly patient, cure her lung cancer, but also miss the obvious effects of "irradiated water" on "macrocellular decay."
Is this a trend here? Dr. Phlox's first prognosis always (one act later) gets bollixed by a second "obvious" complication. Always get a second opinion, should the first come from a Denobulan!
On the bright side, it was good to ride a turboelevator again, even if it made no noise or motion. And we finally get a glimpse of the remaining bridge station (Engineering?). But they sure spend alot of time in that situation room. Wouldn't a briefing room of sorts - with seats - be more accommodating?
Further, for all the caves this crew gets into, and since "chain-saw" now accompanies phase pistol settings "stun" and "kill," can't we add a simple "light" function?
Finally ... I missed Porthos.