From Friday’s The Oklahoman:
The nine-episode strike-shortened first season of “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” kicks in a year after the events of “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Sarah Connor (Lena Headley, “300”) and her son John (Thomas Dekker, “Heroes”) have been hiding out, but decide it’s time to move on. They are aided by a new Terminator, played by Summer Glau.
Glau first came to prominence in the television show “Firefly,” created by Joss Whedon, playing the unbalanced psychic River, who stowed away on the spaceship Serenity. She’s excellent in her role, except in the pilot, which has a few issues. The new Terminators are supposed to better be able to mimic human emotions — Cameron (Glau) does that at first, when John doesn’t realize she is a Terminator. After she’s revealed, however, she has a much more “robotic” performance.
Still, as the series goes on, Glau’s the highlight of the show, and should be a breakout star. Headley doesn’t have the toned, steely presence of Linda Hamilton, but she does have her moments. Brian Austin Green (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) shows up about halfway through the season as John Connor’s uncle, and immediately sparks up the series.
If the series fits in with “Terminator 3,” I’m not sure how, exactly. Still, time travel allows for some leeway in events, doesn’t it?
Extras include commentaries, cast auditions, storyboard animatics, featurettes, and a director’s cut of the episode “The Demon Hand.”
– Matthew Price
August 29th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
There was an interview on Newsarama this week with the producer of this show, and he stated they’re ignoring everything about the 3rd movie, and just building on the mythology of the first two.
I actually found myself really into this show. The Pilot had some cool moments: skipping ahead into the future, Cameron’s time machine built into the bank, etc.
And I agree, Brian Austin Green lit up the second half, and I’m glad he’s on board for the second season.
It’s interesting when they go and play with moments and characters from the first two movies… scenes set around scenes in those movies. it’s fun, and it just builds.
And then there’s the terrible C plotline involving John at School. Gimme a break.
But overall, enjoyable, entertaining, and pretty exciting to watch.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
At first I was having trouble getting into it, but it does pick up as it goes along. I guess it makes more sense just to ignore T3. Alternate timeline or something.
- Matt
September 1st, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Except that the characters do completely implausable things in every other episode the series is great. I agree on that C plotline, like we’ve argued, “Why is John even going to school?”. Why are they putting him out there like that. How many Terminators have they faced down and yet they still put him in regular society? I want to see John learning resistance from rebel leaders in Nicaragua, firing guns, and building bombs. Maybe doesn’t make the best show, but if they can get away with some of the strange stuff they pulled off last season I’ll be pleasantly surprised to see what they try next.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I think if I was having to fight Terminators on a regular basis, I could at least get a pass from going to school.
- Matt