Well, finally something new hit television land Sunday night. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles made it’s premiere on FOX Sunday night, with the second episode to follow tonight after an all-new Prison Break.
The story is this:
Sarah and John Connor are still on the run after the events in Terminator 2, trying to stay hidden from society so that there is no way they can be found. Apparently the things that happen in Terminator 3 wont be taking into account during this series, which is fine with me because I tend to forget it ever happened.
In the pilot, Sarah fears that they are in danger and leaves a guy whom she loves and has just asked her to marry him. Whether she really feels that, or more exactly fears being tied down and unable to move at a moments notice, she takes John and they head to New Mexico.
The man she was with takes her picture to the police, which puts her into the system. Somehow, this alerts an FBI agent named James Ellison, who recaps the stuff that happened in Terminator 2 for those that forgot.
Along with the FBI, the entering of Sarah Reese into the system also alerts an evil terminator on the hunt for John. With Sarah making a mistake of not changing her alias, it was easy for him to find them in New Mexico.
On his first day of school, John meets a cute girl named Cameron, who we all know is a good terminator sent to protect him. She seems way more human than any we’ve seen before and all we get from her is that she’s “a new model.”
With the news that Skynet was somehow not destroyed with Miles Dyson from T2, the go to his wife’s house to find out if she knows anything, which she doesn’t. Cameron has no idea who built Skynet, and apparently no one does in 2027, which is where she is from.
So they decide that instead of running and running, they’ll try to find out who built Skynet after Miles Dyson died.
Cameron ends up taking them to a bank that was built in 1963. She reveals that John sent someone back in time to 1963 to build the parts for the time machine that they use to send people back. That person also left the parts for a frakking awesome gun, which can be used to destroy terminators.
Sadly, it only got used once as the terminator arrives at the bank where they are constructing the time machine device and Sarah blows it away while the time warp encompasses them.
You cannot take anything with you across time, which is why the parts had to be built.
The trio lands in the middle of a freeway in 2007 with their new mission to find Skynet’s creator. Of course some dopey kid catches Sarah on camera, so James Ellison sees it and so does her long lost boyfriend, who is now married.
Whew, that was a lot to go over and digest.
I have to say, I really liked it. I thought Summer Glau was pretty solid as Cameron. Obviously the creators want to give her more of a human feel, otherwise she’s going to get boring after awhile.
But Lena Headey (from 300) was one of the best parts I felt. She has a great voice, which was used at the beginning and end as a narrative means. But she’s got determination and grit, and is a great casting choice. She’s probably who they could have used in Bionic Woman and made it a little bit better.
John Connor, played by Thomas Dekker, seemed to grow up by the end and I have hopes that he will be a good character eventually, but I really feel the two women are the stars here.
The special effects were on par with anything on TV right now.
The only thing that really didn’t “grab” me was their mission to find Skynet’s creator. This is supposed to be their “mythology” thread in the series, which will give us new information here and there and be a mystery that they’ll solve over time.
I felt a better hook could have been given, but we’ll see how it goes.
What did you think? Did you like it? Hate it?
The Cap’n recorded this last night since he went to see Blue-man group (which was REALLY AWESOME), so I’ll have to check this out when I get home. Looking forward to it..
I only had one real issue with this one: really…a podunk, hick town were everyone wears boots, and the terminator had to cut his leg open to get the gun? Really??? I mean in that kind of town, even as a teacher he could have walked in with two 6-shhoters on his hips and a rifle in his arm and no one would have flinched.
Although I have to admit it would be cool to cut my leg open and whip out a Beretta 9MM
I agree Kat, although I think it’s a plot device so that the FBI detective will start believing Sarah Connor and end up helping her somehow.
Absolutley, after he had 19 out of 20 witnesses say they saw a robot type leg…sure, he’ll eventually start to believe it all.
Ok, so how carzy was it that they spent all that time in the vault putting the gun together when they could have just beemed themselves right into 2007? I know, I know – then they wouldn’t have gotten to use the really cool gun. Am I right?
Good first episode…finally something not reality TV to watch.
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Kat, that gun ROCKED though, it was so worth putting it together…
But I agree, it was a bit contrived to make the weapon go off and still use the time machine, considering you can’t take any of it with you.
Sure leaves some nice evidence for that FBI guy to gather up though from the vault.
Hmmm, wonder if he’ll find any of it?
I missed it, and yet, somehow I don’t feel like I MISSED it. Hmmm…
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I had been looking forward so much to this and missed what a df now I have to wait till next week.
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So shocking that you could subscribe to this blog and miss out on this kind of stuff
Hey Vic, get yourself healthy my friend and keep up the good work.
That is what happens when you do not pay attention to the reader just email subscribed this is not happening again. Thanks Mike
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Actually, now that the Cap’n has seen both episodes of it, so far I think the Terminator series is…AVERAGE, at best. It lacks…intensity, I think thats the word. It doesnt have me believing it, or really routing for anyone. It seems like you are viewing it from afar, and its…eh…thats nice that anything happens. It doesnt have you captivated like a 24, or LOST, it doesnt have you saying WOW (not even the future gun part). River as a female protector is not selling me at all. She’s way too short and against all of the other big terminators, I’m just not buying into it yet. The story is slow and will be a constant “we are running ” series. eh… so far I could take it or leave, but will continue to give it a shot. The premise is BIG, and so far the show doesnt deliver that…
Cap’n, good analysis, I pretty much agree with everything you said, even if I’d rather not admit it.
Cameron would be a better Terminator if she had some cool qualities. Like in T2, the newer Terminator was liquid metal…well, why isn’t she? Or do we just not know yet?
I think if she were more bad ass and could kill the other terminators easier, it would seem like she was more of a protector.
yeah and she never answered John as to what model she was… also all terminator actors are over emphasizing the Mr. roboto movements… I keep wanting to bust out into a Styx song…
I’ve been a little let down with the series. I definitely agree that the petite female protector was a HUGE mistake. I wanted a John Connor that had the same qualites that eddie furlong brought to T2, a crazy punk kid. I thought Nick Stahl blew in T3, and now this kid sucks too. Did John Connor’s Balls ascend back into his abdomen when he hit puberty? I will admit that the woman playing Sarah Connor was a good choice, but she needs more edge. What happened to the whole tough woman, almost lezbianesque image she had two years prior to this? The terminators themselves are ok with me. I want more grit and cliche semi chases. Did you notice the terminator lost the usual half of his face in the first episode? And wheres all the crazy hand gadgets like the robot in T3 had. See THAT one was a tough female cyborg. Now we just need those qualities in the protector on this show. And Sarah Connor should not be able to outsmart her like when sarah said “shouldn’t you save those shell casings?” and the robot said “oh, yeah..”. hmmm. I’ll give it one season..then I’m sure it will be cancelled…unless all the HEROES nerds get tired of waiting for the writers strike to end.
Indeed, Interesting post. I really enjoy reading. Thanks.