The second season of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles aired its second episode this week. I have to say that for a series that I liked but was not immediately wowed by during its first season, it has really gotten off to a great start this year. Last week's premiere, "Samson and Delilah," was spectacular, from its explosive stunts, to the groundwork for the big story to the smaller character driven moments. If they can keep up that quality, who knows how far this will go? If the second episode, "Automatic for the People," is any judge, we are in for a wild ride.
Now, I am going to assume that anyone reading this has already seen the episode, as there will likely be spoilers as I share my thoughts on the show.
This episode picks up with our dysfunctional, non-traditional, family unit still in the church where they found sanctuary in the premiere. The group leaves and finds a home for rent where they take up shelter and attempt to present themselves as normal, although we all know this quartet will never be normal.
As the story moves forward, John is sent off to school -- don't want to be seen as a delinq
uent, you know. While at school, he skips class to sit outside, trapped in his mind, captive to his thoughts of what has happened — the return of the machines, the reprogrammed friendly Terminator, the subsequent malfunction that almost led to his death, his fight to save the Terminator. This has left him seriously conflicted and distracted. However, he still manages to make friends with a girl from school named Riley.
Meanwhile, the episode's bigger story kicks off when a man crashes through a glass door at the new Connor residence. The man is bleeding and on his way towards death. The man falls to the ground clutching Sarah and Derek, imploring that they stop Greenway at the nearby nuclear plant. I must admit, at this point I had to wonder how this guy knew where Sarah was, as he was obviously there for her, then it dawned on me. Duh, if he was sent by the future, he likely was told by John where they would be at that point. Damn the nuanced tales of time travel! (if you could see me, I am shaking my fist indignantly as I look to the sky, Wrath of Khan style)
Article comments
1 - Uncle Shocky
This show is simply brilliant. You can go to fansites and find blind fanboys of the movies that do nothing but over analyze and attempt to rip this series to shreds, but if they actually shut up and watched, they would see a good show beginning to unfold.
The obvious conflict is brewing between John and the rest of the family. He is becoming more isolated from the rest of the family, but doing what he needs to become the future leader of mankind.
I'm terrified though at the ratings this week, a significant drop off from the premier week, and Fox's itchy trigger finger on shows are not a good combination. Hopefully that has more to do with Houston and much of the midwest without electricity and recovering from the remnants of Ike as opposed to a bad trend. Monday Nights are difficult nights in that time slot for the key demo, and I really think that Fox is dropping the ball with the show on that night and at 8.
2 - Film-Book dot Com
"-- they do not refer to the Terminators as Terminators, rather they are always called "machines." I wonder why? Not that it matters, but it is curious."
I didn't even notice this but your right. Maybe they are thinking about T2 and how John said the Terminator wasn't a Terminator anymore. "You can't just go around killing people." "Why?" "What da ya mean why? Because you can't." "Why?"
"John has the weight of his future upon him as he sees his childhood and freedom slipping away, leading him to try and make a connection with Riley. It will be interesting to see where this relationship leads, how far down the rabbit hole will she be allowed to go?"
If Judgment Day comes, he'll never have a life to himself. It will belong to The Resistance. He knows that. Good point.
"And then there s the moment in this episode as we near the climax when Cameron, rather than acting, does nothing, telling Sarah instead that she's thinking. What? Since when do they take time to think? Could the damage she has taken be affecting the way she operates?"
I never thought I would hear a Terminator say that either. If its thinking, it may be becoming an individual. "I think therefore I am." I assume its chip is set to write and not just read and the damage to it may have had a evolutionary side-effect no one can calculate.
I wrote a story about the end of the first season of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and the beginning of the second season.
3 - Film-Book dot Com
Chris, you'll love the poster of Glau I have up. :)
4 - Johnny on the Spot
I think the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is the best show on television these days!
Every episode is exciting and thought-provoking.
As to the character of Cameron: I see her as a Little Mermaid, at heart. She wants a soul, and seems to think that the character John is the key to her obtaining it, just like the Little Mermaid in the Hans Christian Anderson story thought that winning the love of the human Prince, would give her a soul. In the end, she discovered that she has a soul through her own efforts--and by developing a sense of compassion.
I particularly loved the scene where Cameron is dancing ballet in her room, and Derek Reese, the freedom fighter who says that cyborgs can never have feelings, souls, etc. catches sight of her from the doorway--and stands watching in amazement. There's a voice-over by the character of Sarah Connor, about this issue, playing during this scene. TV doesn't get much better than this, folks.