Obviously, Sarah doesn't want John to know she is going to help Charley. Why? Not exactly sure, but I would assume because it could be a trap. Sarah charges Cameron with keeping an eye on John. Problems arise when John exhibits a knack for eluding pursuers, slightly reminiscent of the arcade sequence in T2. He runs off to meet Riley for a day like a normal teenager. Cameron, however, is pretty good at tracking, too.
Both stories converge as Cromartie closes in on John. Meanwhile, there is one more thread in this episode. James Ellis gets a call from Catherine Weaver (Shirley Manson) with an offer to meet. We all know Weaver is another Terminator... sorry, machine. She is in a position of power and seems to be in the process of getting things in place for the future, while also wanting to eliminate John. Ellis is wary, but definitely curious.
This series continues to do a great juggling act of keeping the energy high while also delivering strong characters. Sarah's arc continues to show her toughness, but also a vulnerability when it comes to people she cares about, needing to help at all costs, although she continues to mask her feelings. Derek, always at her side, is the weakest link at the moment, although I am sure he will get a focus episode in the next few weeks to help beef him up.
John continues to be a sullen teenager, destined for greatness in the eyes of humanity, but struggling to accept what he is destined to be while trying to retain some of his youth. This makes his relationship with Riley an interesting one. She is vibrant, blissfully unaware of what is to come and more than willing to challenge John to be a kid and enjoy life. This is a relationship to keep an eye on. I am still wondering how far it will go before she begins to suspect something bigger about him and his weird extended family.
Cameron is a good focal point for the comedy of the series, owning the episode's biggest laughs, for example her early scenes discussing the movement of the house ("Next year we will have to re-paint") and the presence of the bird in the chimney ("I'll kill it before it flies away"). At the same time, watching her try to understand the human condition through her closeness to John will be something to keep an eye on. Next week's episode was revealed to be a Cameron-centric one; looks like some big revelations are afoot.
Article comments
1 - Film-Book dot Com
Loved this episode but I am really looking forward to next weeks' where Summer gets to really act.