When Jurassic World arrived into theaters in 2015, it wasn’t perfect, but it had enough awe, nostalgia, and teeth to win audiences over. But with each sequel, the franchise’s score — and storytelling quality — has taken a noticeable dive. By the time Dominion arrives, the dinosaurs are still running, but the plot feels like it’s out of breath. The premise of humans and dinosaurs coexisting had real potential, but Dominion squanders it with disjointed storytelling, hollow villains, and the baffling choice to turn a once-promising character like Maisie into little more than a tool to move the story along.
It’s always sad to see a beloved franchise lose its way. So instead of dwelling on Dominion’s missteps, let’s imagine the story it could’ve told — one that honors the legacy and gives the dinosaurs (and especially characters) the spotlight they deserve.
For example, let’s center it around the classic girl-meets-boy dynamic, which I don’t think we’ve seen yet with the dinos.
Lose the opening data dump
First of all, lose the data dump the the beginning. Nothing kills momentum faster than front-loading a story with walls of exposition. Trust the audience to catch up — let the world unfold naturally, through action, tension, and character. If you have to explain everything upfront, maybe the story’s not ready to be told.
Ramp up the intensity
The idea of giant beasts roaming freely through cities completely kills the tension the franchise built up. Instead, imagine dinosaurs contained in secure reservations, with tight monitoring and red alerts blaring whenever one gets too close to humans. That controlled danger keeps the stakes high without turning the story into a chaotic free-for-all.
Split the world in two camps
One pushing for strict restrictions and safety protocols, and the other—think Greenpeace-style activists—fighting to give the dinosaurs more freedom. This clash creates real conflict and raises ethical questions, grounding the story in something meaningful instead of just random chaos.
Increase the debate
A dinosaur, finally freed by the activists, accidentally stumbles into a town, destroying houses and tragically killing some people. Suddenly, the debate isn’t just theoretical — it’s urgent, messy, and heartbreaking. This forces both sides to confront the real consequences of their choices.
Give us protagonist who is human/flawed
Which means starting out fearful. Someone who flinches at every roar, hides when danger comes, and wants nothing more than to stay safe. Maybe because of some bad experience in the past. But slowly, moment by moment, they grow. Not because the fear disappears, but because they learn to move through it. By the end, they don’t just survive the world of dinosaurs — they earn their place in it. A teenage girl would make that part most appropriate with her archetypal scream.
Make protagonist live her normal life
Since the premise is a world where humans live alongside dinosaurs, let the protagonist actually live in it. Let her go to school, deal with curfews triggered by a nearby raptor sighting, complain about dino-proof lockers, and maybe awkwardly meet a crush while ducking behind a reinforced bus stop. Show us the everyday normal in this new world — the blend of awe, fear, and routine. That’s where the story starts to feel real.
The magician archetype
Although fearful, she’s still magical, like the magician archetype. Have her stand in the middle of Grandma’s doorway with a big gift for her birthday. She smiles sincerely, heart in her eyes, sparkling with potential. She is the gift.
Grandma: “What’s in it?”
Her: “It’s the dino radar. ‘Cause you live out here…”
Also, what’s a more commonplace event than dinner at Grandma’s, complete with an intense debate about the new circumstances?
Make her boyfriend the opposite
Her crush? He’s the opposite — bold, fearless, the kind of guy who sneaks into restricted zones just to get a little closer to the dinosaurs, grinning the whole time and take selfies. But it’s not just for show. He likes them — really respects them. Behind the daredevil exterior is someone who feels connected to these creatures, and that’s what draws him toward the environmentalist camp.
Mirror their differences on the world stage
The divide between her and her boyfriend is echoed on a larger scale — the government is split too. One side pushes for aggressive control: culling populations, tightening borders, treating dinosaurs as dangerous pests. The other argues for coexistence and protection, pointing to the black market and poaching as the real threat.
In his eyes she should see who she is
She takes the cautious path, pushing for stricter control over the dinosaurs. But the harder she fights, the more she sees it’s hurting him — and, in turn, hurting her.
Have them try to make love in the reinforced cabin in the middle of woods, while she jumps at every little sound outside.
She’s also too controlling in their relationship, which pulls them further and further apart.
Introduce the villains, her shadow self
He spots a small, untagged dino in the woods and convinces her to follow. She’s tense, urging caution, but he’s curious. Suddenly, a tranquilizer shot rings out — poachers. They watch, hidden, as the hunters capture the dino and load it into a truck. He insists they follow them to the conceiled black market.
The break up
He expects her to help him free the animals. But she hesitates — it’s too risky, too reckless. They argue. He accuses her of being afraid to do what’s right; she says he’s too impulsive to see the danger. Neither backs down. The tension snaps, and they go their separate ways.
The break down
She tries to return to normal—school, curfews, routine—but can’t shake what happened. One day, she quietly tells her friend everything. As she talks, the weight of it hits, and she breaks down. Her friend just listens. It helps, a little.
Government wins culling legislation
The control side wins — legislation passes to begin widespread culling. Officials call it a safety measure. News outlets celebrate stability, others are appalled. To her, it feels hollow. A pyrrhic victory. The fear won, but at what cost? The guilt sits heavy: she argued for control, and now it’s happening — not with caution, but with force.
Then she meets him – the dino
One day, after some sobbing she is sitting alone near the woods. From the trees, a dinosaur steps out, slow and cautious. She freezes, unsure, but doesn’t scream. The creature doesn’t threaten. Instead, it stops, watching her. Then, almost impossibly, it lets out a gentle compassionate sound.
She looks up, meeting its eyes. She doesn’t feel afraid. And she loves what she sees staring back. The sparking eyes of her new best friend.
The sense of freedom and the contrast
One day, the dinosaur seems unusually calm, almost waiting. She climbs on its back, and it gently carries her to a hilltop. They watch the sunset in silence. It’s peaceful, but the new culling law hangs over her. She’s grateful for the moment — and quietly unsure how many more there will be. They fell asleep with his head in her lap.
Collapse the world on her head
Government agents discover she’s hiding the dinosaur. Suddenly, her quiet world collapses — they’re hunting her now, and so are the black-market hunters. She’s caught between two dangerous forces, forced to run and protect the one creature she cares about most.
She’s determined to fight back
Determined to fight back, she teams up with her dinosaur companion. Along the way, they gain the unexpected help of a nearby T-Rex, whose presence turns the tide in their favor. Together, they sneak into the black market to free the captured animals — all while staying hidden from government agents. At the last minute her boyfriend magically joins her to help with the efforts.
Let the dino go, also her boyfriend
At the end, she knows her dinosaur friend can’t stay—too dangerous for both of them. With a heavy heart, she says goodbye as it prepares to run off with the herd. It’s not just a farewell, but a release.
She says goodbye to her boyfriend as well, giving him complete freedom with no heavy heart at all.
She gets arrested and held at the police station for a while.
They both come back
One day, government agents search her apartment for evidence of the dinosaur. Suddenly, her dino friend appears in the backyard. The agents raise their guns, but she steps in front of the dinosaur to protect it. They threaten to arrest her. Just then, her boyfriend arrives with legal papers granting her an exception, forcing the agents to back down.
Meanwhile, back in the government, the appeal succeeds—officials agree to postpone the culling. It’s a temporary victory, giving her and the dinosaurs more time, and a sign that change might still be possible.
She and her boyfriend might then just for what it’s worth – optimistically ride the dinosaur into the sunset.
Ira
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