Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

[Allan]

As many of you are no doubt aware, Summer Glau has a new role - that of a Terminator (aka Cameron, in respect to James Cameron) in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

I watched the first episode, and enjoyed it. It takes place between Terminator 2 and Terminator 3, with Sarah looking after her son, John so that he may lead the resistance against Skynet in the future. Summer's great in the role as the Terminator, charged with protecting John.

John Connor is played by Thomas Dekker (best known as Zach from Heroes), and was surprisingly good in the role. Lena Headey (Queen Gorgo from 300) plays the title role, and is great - the producers resisted the temptation to have a glamourous actress in the role.

The first episode is great, and thoroughly entertaining. It looks like the series will be plot-driven over action-driven, which is always nice to see. It also looks like it'll be far better than Terminator 3.

A couple of things struck me as weird, though. John is 15 in the show, and Sarah is 33, meaning the character was only 18 when she gave birth to John. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I was certain that Linda Hamilton played her as older than that in the original two movies.

Secondly is the title, and how it fits in with the film (spoiler below for Terminator 3 and a bit from the show's first episode):

SPOILER: Click to show

Sarah Connor was dead at the start of the movie, having died in 97 due to leukemia. The series kicks of in 1999, and she should already be dead, before they time travel to 2007.

So Sarah should already be dead, or they could be pushing the years back for the purpose of the show. Either that, or with the focus on time travel, they could return to 97 at some point and have Sarah die. But if they do that, it seems odd with her being the title character, as if they're not expecting a very long run. And I'm fairly certain that this is supposed to keep with the film franchise's continuity.

So, has anyone seen the show? If so, what do you think? Or are you planning on watching it?

[Bre]

I've been watching it. It's pretty decent so far. Summer Glau is awesome, for sure.

The first episode is great, and thoroughly entertaining. It looks like the series will be plot-driven over action-driven, which is always nice to see.

I thought the first episode was more action-driven than plot-driven. But the second episode was more plot driven.

I haven't seen any of the Terminator movies so any of the continuity errors don't phase me. Anyway, I'll keep watching the show. I hope it lasts and stays plot-driven.

[Allan]

Well, I was talking about how I think the series will turn out. I thought the first episode was about 50-50, going for the big start and introducing the various threads throughout it, which look like they'll dominate it.

Generally speaking, as a movie to film comparison, I'm not phased. It's only because I was under the impression that it was supposed to be tied in tightly, rather than another "interpretation" (especially given the recent push to reignite the entire franchise).

And is it just me (and keeping in mind that I haven't seen the second episode yet), but are John's "feelings" for Cameron a little icky?

[Bre]

My theory, and maybe I'm totally wrong because I haven't seen the movies, is that she's half human. I am more creeped by John's and Sarah's relationship. When they turned up naked, they didn't try to cover themselves up or anything. It's like it was all natural.

[Allan]

Yeah, that was my initial theory from the first episode, too. She said she's "different" so that is a possibility - especially given the differences we've seen so far is that she seems to have more of a grasp on emotion than the Terminators in the movies.

I thought John and Sarah did cover themselves up and looked a little embarassed. Cameron didn't - she just stood there with everything out and ready to be seen (Terminators aren't so shy), but I really thought John and Sarah were a little more modest. I guess it's hard to tell, since the show wasn't "displaying" anything, and it was kind of difficult to show exactly how they reacted with the camera angles.

[Allan]

ariensun said:

My theory, and maybe I'm totally wrong because I haven't seen the movies, is that she's half human. I am more creeped by John's and Sarah's relationship. When they turned up naked, they didn't try to cover themselves up or anything. It's like it was all natural.

I rewatched the episode last week, and you're right about that. John seemed a little shy, but Sarah was definitely strutting her stuff. Maybe because she's such a "no-nonsense" woman and focused on the war?

And I watched episode 2 this evening, and thought it was great. It definitely moved the story forward and built up the characters. If the quality of this episode continues, it could be a great series.

[Paul]

i watched the first episode last week and thought it was awesome, im so glad that they are using traditional terminators instead of the liquid metal types, but then again i may be wrong because cameron did seem a bit different "blue eyes" unless terminators eyes are like the sith and jedi lightsabre thing, red bad blue good

[Allan]

Hmm...that's an interesting thought. Cameron definitely is different, but time will tell how she's different, I guess.

Watched episode three last night, and the show is already becoming a favourite. It's great, and so far, it really puts Terminator 3 to shame.

[Amber]

I haven't actually really watched this (I did have it on the television a few times, but I wasn't paying attention), but I love in on of the previews where...

GUY: (talking about getting in a car) I call shotgun.
SUMMER GLAU'S CHARACTER: I call nine millimeter.

[Lizzie]

Ohh man allll I saw in the US was that ad! I got so sick of it!

[Allan]

Cameron really gets some great lines in the show. They play up her being a robot and not "getting" what people mean.

[Paul]

i only just realised that the guy who plays john was cheerleaders friend in heroes ""

[Allan]

LOL, Paul. I noticed it, and really disliked him in Heroes - he bugged me. But I've actually come around and have decided that he is a decent actor.

[Forsaken]

I've been really enjoying the show so far, despite reservations that the high budget puts it in danger with the networks (flashbacks to Firefly). I've been pretty impressed with the actors and the storyline is holding up better then I really expected. The time travel to put them in the future was a little lame but I suppose it was a necessary (and lazy) plot device so hey. I'm glad we've gotten the odd flashback to the future (?) and I find the characters to be interesting too. Although Sarah and Cameron more so then John.

[Allan]

John is quite bland, but hopefully he can develop into the hero nicely. As for the budget, I don't think it's a huge concern at the moment, considering the number of people watching it.

[Amber]

Any clue when the season ends so I have an idea of when the boxset comes out so that I can rent it over Blockbuster or Netflix? I don't wanna jump in so late in the season, you know?

[Allan]

No idea, sorry. I think they got through 8 or 9 episodes before the WGA strike, but I don't know when it'll return after they run out of episodes, or how long the season will end up being.

[Bre]

So I heard somewhere this got canceled. Not sure how true it is, but honestly I wouldn't be surprised.

[Allan]

I heard it was at risk of getting cancelled, which surprised me. I haven't seen any of the second season, but I was under the impression that season one (which I enjoyed) rated really well.

EDIT - Looks like it's getting a full second season now, at least. The article.

Back-nine order was far from certain ad the show has been struggling in its Monday night timeslot. But "Sarah Connor" has developed a fan base and some positive critical attention along the way.

[Beck]

I watched the first two episodes last night and quite enjoyed it. They changed the time a little meaning that Terminator 2 would have happened in 1997 (two years before the show kicks off) and they didn't have a continuity error with Sarah dying of cancer - she just died later of cancer in 2005. I understand why they pushed the timeline forward a bit, they wanted to set the show in current times.

Re the turning up naked, after everything Sarah and John had been through what is a little nudity? They were also "time lagged" as John put it. So I didn't find that strange.

I like the casting of all the main roles, and I am interested to see how the show pans out