Sarah and Cameron head off to the plant where they are able to acquire temp jobs with ease. Once inside, they need to find out what and who they are supposed to stop. This leads to a knock down drag out between Cameron and a Terminator duplicate. With the end of the night revealing another step to world domination by the T-1001 that was revealed last week, played by Shirley Manson.
In my eyes, this is another winning episode. While it did not further the bigger picture story in a large way, it was filled with more character moments. I believe these character moments and the building of conflicts are what the young series needs. Make us care for the characters, draw us in and you will have plenty of time to allow the big picture to unfold. With the Terminator franchise to draw upon, there is a gigantic big picture from which to pick and choose elements from in order to grow something truly spectacular.
I love the conflict brewing between Cameron and John. There was a scene in this episode between the two where Cameron says John can no longer be trusted because he fought to save her, despite what she could mean to him. Clearly John has developed some sort of bond with the machine. That brings up another side-note -- 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.
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?
Meanwhile, Cameron seems to be developing in ways we have never seen in a machine before. She may not be programmed for feelings, but can they be developed? We've seen the "I love you" moment from the premiere and coupling it with the more motherly way she protects John. 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?
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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.