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PremiereWatch: 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles'
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles perplexes me to no end. I like some of it so much, but there's also so much there that seems ill-conceived or ill-executed. Tonight's premiere showed both the good and the bad.
Last season ended, as you may recall, with Cameron getting herself blown up. It was supposed to be a cliffhanger, and if the show hadn't been renewed it could have been a good one. A renewal however ensured that Cameron was in fact alive (fine, she probably would have lived through the explosion anyway, even without a renewal, as we've seen Terminators take a lot more punishment than that). So, thankfully, they didn't have us wait long tonight before making it clear that she was alive.
You might think that John would have been quite relieved at that turn of events as he and Sarah were taken hostage by Sarkissian and an evil henchman. You'd be wrong however. Sure, Cameron took out the henchman, but she also accidentally (no, really, it was an accident) started a fire with a lighter and some gasoline. The real problem though was that the car bomb had apparently erased her "be good to John" programming and she was looking to terminate the young Connor. She might have succeeded too had the house not exploded just as she was about to unload her gun into Sarah who was playing human shield for her son.
Cameron, John, and Sarah all made out of the house but Sarkissian and henchman had no such luck. Well, I guess they did make it out, but only because the firefighters pulled their charred remains out of the place rather than leaving them behind. I guess that's one way to tie up some loose ends from last season.
No sooner did Derek and Charley learn that Sarah and John were alive than we found out about some new enemies this season. Sitting in a car with the Turk was a gentleman named Mr. Walsh. He was on the phone talking to a redhead who was bossing him about and whose look just screamed "I'm a Terminator!" I'm thinking it was the really high ponytail and the almost wall of hair on top of her head, or perhaps it was the fact that she had an accent. Whatever it was, any "surprise reveal" later was not really going to be very surprising.
But, back to our story… John and Sarah must have been hurt worse than I thought in the explosion (and subsequent fender bender during their flight from the house), because they confused the rules of Terminator with those from Highlander and sought sanctuary in a church.
They must have known that Cameron would find them, because they left a trap in the church for our not-so-friendly neighborhood Terminator. Cameron played right into their hands, reaching into the holy water to fish out an oddly placed alarm clock. I had no idea it was so easy to trick a Terminator, all John and Sarah had to do was put an alarm clock in some holy water and then flip the switch when Cameron reached in. I can't pretend to understand why Cameron went for the clock, I would have expected her to be smarter than that, but go for the clock she did.
The little plan John and Sarah had cooked up to rip the computer chip out of Cameron's head failed though and they were quickly on the run again. Fully rebooted, after a short chase, Cameron flung the SUV John and Sarah had stolen onto its hood. With Sarah still trapped in the car, John, on his mother's orders, ran. Cameron passed on her chance to terminate Sarah (I understand that she had to do that because the show is focused on Sarah, but plot-wise it made little sense) and went after John who was trying to hotwire a truck in a conveniently placed nearby warehouse. Because she didn't kill Sarah, Cameron quickly found herself pinned between the truck John was in and the one Sarah rammed into her back. John went after Cameron's chip and despite Cameron's protestations that she was "all better" and that she loved John, John shut her down.
Thank goodness he did that, because if he had believed for a minute that Cameron's whining was real I would have been hugely disappointed. Cameron was on the verge of tears, which seemed a wee bit over the top for a Terminator. Yes, John did want to repair her (you knew he would, just as you knew that Sarah would be against it), but at least he had the sense to shut her down at that moment.
In a pretty weak, and yet wholly obvious, turn of events, John spent some time cleaning Cameron's chip and then right before the rest of the clan were about to burn her, slapped the chip back into Cameron's head. Was she evil? No… and yes. Her computer brain did initially call for her to terminate John, but some other circuit overrode that order and stopped her from going on a killing spree. Frankly, turning Cameron back on was a stupid move on John's part, and even Cameron said so later.
Elsewheres tonight, Ellison's story began where it ended last season – with Cromartie allowing him to live after taking out Ellison's FBI squad. Unfortunately for Ellison, Cromartie had stashed the body whose look he had stolen in his apartment and the FBI found it and assumed the gunman who had taken out 20 of their own was gone. Poor Ellison ended up getting six months paid leave due to what transpired. Like that was going to make him stop looking into the case this season.
Questions, thoughts, and goodness knows what:
- Why, after the SUV had flipped, did Cameron insist that Sarah call to John to get him to come back? Couldn't she just have faked Sarah's voice?
- Am I the only one out there who doesn't buy the emotional Terminator thing? Cameron may have been faking the emotions the first time around tonight, but when she overrode the terminate order she certainly seemed emotional again. I'm not liking that.
- I guess it's something of a spoiler to say this (let's face it though, this is a recap, the point is to say what happened), but I'm pretty happy that our redheaded lady did turn out to be a Terminator, and not just a Terminator, but a liquid metal one. It seems like a fun addition to the show, doesn't it?
The TV and Film Guy's Reviews - There can be only one.
I did enjoy the shocking/not-so-shocking twist about Red being a mercury-imbued Terminator. What struck me as funny, though, is that the technology that was revolutionary nearly two decades ago seems old hat now. Still cool, though. The sight gag of Red hiding in plain sight as a urinal tickled me, while at the same time seriously grossing me out. Fortunately, he hadn't started going yet. Otherwise, the scene would have devolved from semi-humorous to just plain ewwww.
So now we'll have both Summer Glau and Levin Rambin (late of All My Children) to watch on TTSCC. I'm a happy man. I'll be interested to see what the ratings were, because a move to Monday could be problematic once all the other networks get their shows up and running. We'll see.
Revenant | Sep 8, 2008 10:44:26 PM | #2 corrections.
1.she didn't kill sarah conner after the suv crash because she is only programmed to kill john connner, and killing sarah would serve no purpose, as she was not a threat.
2. she did not reach for a clock radio in the holy water, it was a piece of clothing (or rag) presumably used to clean their wounds, that was covering the clock radio.
Everytime I change pages on this site it takes me to a dumb Fringe ad.
I expected better from zap2it.com
edgar | Sep 8, 2008 11:29:16 PM | #Yeah, that Fringe ad is driving me nuts too. Makes me want to read less stuff on this web site since it keeps popping up every time I try to move to another page.
IggyPop | Sep 9, 2008 2:19:12 AM | #The "call to him" was a reference back to T2 the movie.
I also had flash backs to T1 when Sarah was pinned under the flipped truck and the Terminator was stalking her. It was nice to see John taking charge this time and waking her up, though, rather than the other way around.
I think we finally see John starting to take charge and live up to what we know is his future self. And, Brian Austin Green seemed to really grow even more into his character last night. It was good to see him really interacting with someone other than Sarah or John.
"The move to Monday night"? Hasn't it always been on Monday night?
LiasMom | Sep 9, 2008 5:17:51 AM | #Okay, maybe it's just me, but my immediate impression was that John killed Sarkissian to save his mom, and that it was the first time he'd killed someone (not a terminator) one-on-one like that. He certainly seemed more than a little freaked out, and it was a really oddly cut scene when Cameron opened the door to the room. Would John really be that freaked out by seeing his mom kill someone? She's done it before.
Donna | Sep 9, 2008 5:38:44 AM | #I generally liked the premiere but am concerned about the T-1000 chick. I didn't like the liquid metal terminators because I thought they were SO HARD to kill that the writers were forced to do something really contrived in order to actually kill them.
Donna: A plausible reason why John would be upset is that it was his birthday and they were getting ready to celebrate, when all hell broke loose. Recall that Cameron was supposed to be getting John a birthday cake.
Outlander | Sep 9, 2008 5:54:24 AM | #why didn't evil cameron kill sarah connors? well, i agree that it wasn't in her programming. if you remember in T2, the T1000 didn't kill Sarah Connors either, it just injured her and then pretended to be her. so that part didn't bother me so much.
i agree about some of the plot holes but i'm kind of getting used to it when it comes to this show. such as the body found in the apartment, if the did any forensics they would realize the body had been dead for several days and he couldn't have been responsible for all those FBI deaths.
i was really surprised by the reveal/twist at the end! i did not see that coming and i for one am glad as it gives a really tough villain for cameron to face. to this day i still watch T2 and just marvel at how tough it was to actually kill the T1000.
i am also getting upset about how this site takes us to an ad EVERY SINGLE FRIKKIN TIME that we click on a link. i understand the realities of online ads but this is ridiculous.
joits | Sep 9, 2008 6:41:26 AM | #I liked the episode a lot.They're really ramping up the Biblical analogies, which is interesting. I had no problem with scenes like Cameron going emotional - perhaps the reviewer hadn't seen the first episode? Her programming was reverting to what it was. On the DVD Summer Glau and the writers confirmed that the humanlike Cameron was only for the initial part of the mission, and she clearly went back to that. Perhaps had events in the pilot not transpired Cameron was programmed to try and become his girlfriend. I had suspicions about Shirley Manson's character being a terminator, but I'm glad she just didn't end up being a clone of Nana Visitor's character from Dark Angel; and the fact she's the same type of terminator Robert Patrick played in T2 had me cheering.
A very good start to the season. I just hope the show doesn't get too deep into the religious metaphors; American audiences don't seem to want their TV to be that deep.
Alex | Sep 9, 2008 6:41:34 AM | #I thought Shirley Manson's acting was terrible all during the episode. Then when she turned out to be a T1000, it made sense.
I liked the episode, I'm glad it's back.
Siansonea | Sep 9, 2008 8:11:27 AM | #Well, it was an action packed first night. Hell of a day for John's birthday. I think most were yelling for Cameron to hurray up and get the house and save the day only to have her go rogue. I agree these Terminators aren't Arnie. Arnie's T-800 doesn't go down with an alarm clock. Honestly can a strong stun-gun take one down?
I didn't see the T1000 coming, mostly because the t-1000 from T2 was suppose to be a prototype, one of a kind, type of thing. A T1000 changes everything, they don't have chip to take out, interesting to see how it plays out.
I hope they also don't go into the religious metaphors to heavy, we get enough of God and Robots on BSG.
Plenty of emotional and tech breakdown ahead. Since it appears that John was the one who killed Sarkissian and must deal with it. And Cameron tried to upgrade to Vista and is having all sorts of problems.
Main problem, that Sarkissian broke in and started kicking Sarah's butt so quickly. I thought Sarah was a bad ass who hides guns and weapons everywhere and could hurt someone with her pinky.
jbw | Sep 9, 2008 9:09:24 AM | #I totally saw Shirley Manson being a Terminator too, but was pleasantly surprised that she was a T-1000. I was also a little shocked that they showed the metal going through the guys head in the 8 o'clock hour. Maybe they are soliciting a response from the PTC to try and garner some ratings.
I am most interested in why Ellison was allowed to survive. Do we think that he ends up working on the side of the Terminators in the future? Also, I think his paid leave is only 6 weeks, not 6 months.
Overall, good episode and I am looking forward to next week.
Blue Sean | Sep 9, 2008 9:58:52 AM | #I had the exact same first thought when Shirley's first scene came....Nana Visitor from Dark Angel....But I love Shirley, and I'm expecting that she'll be wearing a lot of short skirts and four inch heels, and she's a fantastically wack character in real life, she could play herself, and I'd be happy.
I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing actors from Dark Angel and BSG showing up cameo,too. After watching some old DA, I noticed how many cameos and featured characters ended up working on BSG, and I thought, maybe once you're SciFi, you're in, forever.....
The "call to him" part was indeed a throwback to T2: Judgement Day. So was the redheaded company lady being a T-1000. I guess they figured they needed to throw the fans a bone because the show was getting stale.
However, that brings up the whole "emotional robot" thing. There was a line in the pilot where John and Cameron were talking and he said "you're not like the rest of them" and she said "maybe I'm not" or something, and then eats one of his potato chips to prove it. I think what they're building up is that we're starting to see the Terminators become more and more advanced, like in the case of how the redhead lady can become so good at infiltration as to become the head of a corporation. We're supposed to believe that their computer brains are so highly designed that they can learn from their surroundings and grow, to the point where they can simulate emotions or form bonds with humans.
Sean | Sep 9, 2008 11:18:30 AM | #What was the song that play during the first scene?
Sue | Sep 9, 2008 11:18:38 AM | #Also, I didn't see it in the credits but I think one of the background songs in this episode was from Garbage/Shirley Manson - would explain why she was so inexplicably on this show at all.
Sean | Sep 9, 2008 11:20:37 AM | #Shirley Manson did a cover of Samson and Delilah, which was recorded by many other artists, but most notably by The Grateful Dead (Wikipedia already has the citation noted...fast work there).
Revenant | Sep 9, 2008 11:49:16 AM | #The liquid T1000 lady also sings the song during the opening scene. But can't find any info on who is the original singer.
Sue | Sep 9, 2008 12:08:17 PM | #This was such a lame show last season. Is it better this season? Mindless action not needed. I want some terminator story line.
aloyelshaw | Sep 9, 2008 1:41:09 PM | #If Emotional Terminator is bugging you, you haven't been watching the show. Cameron's been evolving throughout the series....the ballet, watching the seduction scene on Vick's Chip...growing for whatever purpose Future John sent her to the past for. (Presumably not because Future John was a Firefly fanboy).
One of the later episodes last season was the first time Sarah killed a human. Derrick references it. So this could be John's first time seeing her..could be his first time killing someone. He's supposed to be a savior, not a killer.
I'm hoping this season doesn't just drop the school stuff. It appears with the new blonde girl coming in, the subplot with the girl from school is gone. And then there's Cameron's date with Morris, who was a fun sidekick.
VideoBeagle | Sep 9, 2008 2:08:03 PM | #While it was a good cliffhanger conclusion/season two set-up type of episode, when it comes to this show, it appears you must not only suspend your disbelief, but also try not to nit-pick the various plot holes and inconsistencies. I'll take any prime time network sci-fi I can get so I'll try to avoid asking myself 'why this' and 'why that' and just enjoy the show.
We may have to accept the fact that perhaps show runner Josh Friedman isn’t as detailed oriented as a James Cameron or maybe just doesn’t sweat the small stuff for television.
That being said, there were a few big "umm, what... huh?" moments last night.
- I thought Derek was in the house with Sarah and John when Cameron went to get the cake and triggered the Jeep explosion? Was he out running an errand? Even though I just watched last season’s finale the previous week, I still don’t recall.
- Between the Jeep/house explosions and then getting smashed and pinned between two large trucks, Cameron seemed to be in pretty good shape at the end of the episode. You’d think there would have been more hair, skin and structural damage. Maybe this is where her model differs somewhat from a standard T-800 series terminator.
- Why did Cromartie go to the burned out house with Ellison already standing there? Does he not care if anyone sees him? Was he following Ellison and eventually hopes to use him to find Sarah and John? Is that why he didn’t kill Ellison during the raid? I always thought terminators are programmed to first seek shelter and repair any noticeable damage (usually skin) so they can continue to blend in with the masses undetected?
- How does a T-1000 become so socially evolved to be the CEO/head of a large corporation and possess enough knowledge, ability and business savvy to actually run it? In T2, the T-1000 was fairly similar to Arnie’s T-800, programmed with a single mission to carry out. Sure, it was a more technically advanced model (shape shifting, etc.) and much harder to kill, but still somewhat one-dimensional when it came to its personality and human interaction skills. She must have been sent back to the present timeline long enough to acquire and learn human communication and social skills, plus earn a masters degree in business administration. Maybe we’ll get a flashback on her character’s origins and development in a future episode.
Other thoughts:
- Poor Sarah and John… they just can’t get a break, can they? They already have to deal with 1) a very crafty and resilient T-800/888 (Cromartie) tracking them with a specific mission to kill John; 2) Cameron’s programming being all screwy and problematic; and now 3) there’s a ultra smart/diabolical T-1000 looming in Los Angeles with (it seems) a primary mission to build Skynet. Hopefully, the T-1000 is not even aware of John’s presence in the current timeline. At least not yet.
- I wonder if we'll learn more about what happened in the first scene with Sarah, John, Sarkissian and his henchman later on. Whatever really went down (they did make it appear that John was able to cut his hand binders loose and kill Sarkissian), it must have been pretty traumatic stuff for John.
- Good to see Derek and Charley working together. When needed, they make a good team.
- You have to give props to Friedman’s crew for making the actors appear exactly the same – hair, clothing, beard, etc. – as they were when the show left us in early March (but probably filmed way back in late 2007).
- I also wonder if John and Cameron will return to school
Overall, despite the larger plot holes, inconsistencies and the occasional use of artistic license, I’ll continue to watch this season to see how the show evolves.
Great to see the show return, it was my favourite new series last year. A decent opener. I liked that first scene, playing out the pretty crucial action with no dialogue and the song (didn't realise it was Shirley Manson singing) brought to mind the brilliant botched SWAT attack to the Johnny Cash song last season.
Shirley Manson looked cool, but I was convinced by her acting either. I loved that ending and her being a T1000, but how is she there? The whole sending people back in time is getting confusing. If it's so easy (and quite a lot of people and terminators have been sent back now) why does Skynet need to be so sneaky?
Of the leads, I find Thomas Dekker as John the LEAST interesting. Yes, we need to see something of the leader he is to become, but I do hope we don't spend too long focussing on him. I find the adults a lot more interesting!
RicK:
re: T-1000 We've seen further advancements in the socialization abilities of the Terminators since the T-800 Arnold line. Vick had a wife, after all. Even the T-1000 prototype in the movie could feign social interaction when needed.
Derick had stayed at the park to watch himself and his brother (or at least that's where we last saw him...John tells Sarah that the 2 of them had gone out and you could infer Derrick hadn't come back yet).
VideoBeagle | Sep 9, 2008 4:45:19 PM | #Most really intense series like this use a two hour opener, this was only one hour. For a simgle hour's limitations, this was a really, really well created season opener. The writing was really good and the acting was way above the norm for TV. A great many points have been created to build the rest of the season's episodes on. Something I'm now really looking forward to more than ever!
Regarding the occasional glossed over irregularities in the story and scenes, this is a part of ALL fictional video creation. It isn't real, it has to be watched with suspended belief. After all, the Terminator story is a completely fictional, sci-fi fantasy!
I really enjoy this series and feel that with the high quality of this season opener, there is the hoped for probability that the entire season will be exceptional and highly enteraining. After all, that is what it is about: entertainment!
Sandy | Sep 9, 2008 6:27:43 PM | #I have the feeling the school will not be in play as much (if at all) because their semi-permanent residence burned to the ground, so John would be in a different school (possibly a different district) anyway. Maybe that's where Levin Rambin's character comes in. Either way, she'll bring in some soft femininity to counterpoint Cam's tough-as-nails-and-I-can-bench-press-Shawn-Johnson-and-the-balance-beam-too otherness. Plus, she's damn cute.
I'm going to try and turn a blind eye to the various plot inconsistencies, because they do tend to water down an otherwise fun show. I'm guessing that the female T-1000 has either been in place for a number of years (perhaps during the jump forward interval when Cam took John and Sarah to 2007), or her version is a quicker study and can blend in better and more easily. Whatever the case, she/it has a truly twisted sense of humor. I can't imagine Robert Patrick's T-1000 character in T2 disguising himself as a urinal. A bidet, maybe...:P
Revenant | Sep 9, 2008 7:54:47 PM | #
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