Critique: Dinotopia Night One (Channel 4) 1/2

Brothers David and Scott crash their plane in the sea during a storm, washing up on this island called Dinotopia. Scott was unable to free their father Frank from his seat belt.

 

*****SPOILERS*****

 

Story

 

The first dinosaur the brothers sees is an ankylosaurus rampaging through a market. A woman, who Crabbe calls Marion, calms the dinosaur down.

Oonu, Captain of the Skybax Riders, saves the group from t-rex at the decimated outpost. Marion thinks the t-rex are attacking because the sunstones are failing.

Zipeau thinks the Temple is the entrance to the World Beneath, the sacred place where dinosaurs sought refuge and survived the mass extinction event. This is because this temple is surrounded by predators and the World Beneath is said to be guarded by predators.

 

 

Clever

 

Playing with expectations.

David is an obedient bookworm with a shaved head. Usually, shaved heads are associated with rougher characters who don’t enjoy literature, so this was a great creative choice. Also, shaved heads are associated with the army and army personnel follow the rules, just like goody two-shoes David. So having a shaved head despite his personality both went against, and supported, expectations.

David says that because there’re no telephones, “the rules are different.” Karl declares, “Screw the rules.” This is useful character info that shows rather than tells their personalities. Also, they’re using ‘rules’ in different ways, a bit of word play I always enjoy: David means ‘rules’ as in what’s normal whilst Karl means it as in behavioural expectations.

When the bus kiosk hatch is shut, David’s the one who banged on it. When David is the rule-follower and Karl is the wilful one, it’s almost like the wrong character banged on the hatch. However, David is the nervous one: if he’s stranded in a new place and delayed on his journey, of course the nerves would get the better of him.

 

There were a bunch of small yet positive details.

After Marion pulled out the ankylosaurus tooth, the dinosaur started to pant. Also, the breath of the t-rex comes out their nose at night.

David and Karl spend their first night on top of a roof. This seemed odd: why wouldn’t there be a place for new arrivals, considering new arrivals happen throughout Dinotopian history. However, there is a sign on the roof that faces inwards, not outwards, hence the sign is meant to be read from the roof. This indicates that the roof is a public space.

 

Humans and dinosaurs are considered equal on Dinotopia.

Karl says that humans are superior.Marion says humans are recent guests on Earth. Plus Marion points out the dinosaurs aren’t slaves but instead they work, just like people.

A dinosaur called Zipeau is housing the brothers. Karl says, “We’re staying with a dino-” at which point Zipeau interrupted, “Librarian.” The most important part of his identity is his job, not his species. If species isn’t the most important part of someone’s identity, of course Dinotopians wouldn’t view dinosaurs as lesser beings. Although Zipeau demonstrating this is amusing, considering he’s obsessed with mammals.

 

The brothers quarrel a lot.

Being on Dinotopia has put the brothers on edge. David says something wonderful has happened to them to which Karl replies, “seeing Dad ruined it for me.” David talks about how they should embrace Dinotopian life and Karl says, “That’s because you don’t have a life back home.” Karl takes every opportunity he can to take shots at David.

At one point, Karl says David is coming with him when he leaves and then in the same breath says, “I can’t believe I’m stuck here with you.” Despite arguing and conflict, there’s still obligation and love.

All the bickering and conflict does escalate. David says he’s “almost glad he’s [their dad] gone.” This causes the boys to have a rough and tumble, falling into the river.

 

 

Humour

 

This show was by no means a comedy. However, the use of humour throughout keeps on re-engaging the audience.

Marion says, “Only one in five convoys across the Rainy Basin get attacked.” She said this in such a cheerful tone, so at odds with the substance of what she said, that it made me chuckle.

On their way to Waterfall City, they check out an outpost decimated by t-rex in which the sunstone had failed. The brothers joke about how silly it is David thinks there’s a t-rex out to get him. Then one crashed through the roof.

Marion is disgusted to find out Karl eats meat. She asks David if he does it, too, and David lies because he wants Marion to like him. Karl rolls his eyes.

David, explaining how Karl is his half-brother, says, “Dad had an active social life.” That’s a polite way of putting it, sure.

Mayor Waldo asks David for an update on world history. David mentions the Berlin Wall being knocked down and, confused, Waldo asked, “Why, was there something wrong with it?”

Seeing a portrait of Zipeau’s dead human life partner, Karl calls her a babe. In a forlorn voice, Zipeau says, “I’ll bever find another like her. Babe.” The word and the tone of voice are so opposite that being together is hilarious.

During class, Karl does graffiti of stegosaurus mating. Marion calmly announces, “That’s not how stegosaurus reproduce.” This is funny in and of itself. But this implies she’s watched stegosaurus go at it.

By far my favourite moment was when a mosasaur bites off Zipeau’s tail and Zipeau shouts, “I hope you choke on it!”