TERMINATOR: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

[zillabeast]

Well. I liked it. They basically cloned T2 and decided to make a television run out of it.

Yeah, they completely retconned T3 (which I enjoyed the hell out of), but I am willing to give this thing a chance. Bear McCreary's score alone is worth watching the show for.

[Shan]

I think the Terminators and Skynet are going about this all wrong. They need to think outside the box and experiment with less typical models.

You know, like insects and stuff. You could have swarms of killer Terminator wasps. No-one'd expect that the first time and if done right, there wouldn't need to be a second time.

You could go even further, since you'd need some sort of carrier, well maybe a dog or something. The Simpsons might have been onto something there with the guard dogs that shoot killer bees from their mouths ...

[Theta]

All in all, I thought the episode was meh. The termintors are too soft in this show. I remember in the original Terminators, all you had to do was look at a terminator funny, and he'd end ya. Ol' Johnny boy didn't even have to tell Glau to spare the banker, she just did. If Arnold was around, that bitch who tripped the silent alarm would have her index finger blown off after the alarm button was blown away with a couple of bullets.

Not the Arnold from T2. No killing because Cameron became a wimp after "The Abyss" tanked. Now, granted, he would have kneecapped her, but still.

Personally I hope the show sticks more to "Terminator" than T2, if for no other reason than "Terminator" was a much better movie.

[ThisIsTheGirl]

Personally I hope the show sticks more to "Terminator" than T2, if for no other reason than "Terminator" was a much better movie.

Seconded - I friggin love the first one! I haven't caught this on UK tv yet - I remember hearing that it was going to be on Virgin - any UKers know if it's started here yet?

[Spifftacular SquirrelGirl]

Well. I liked it. They basically cloned T2 and decided to make a television run out of it.

Yeah, they completely retconned T3 (which I enjoyed the hell out of), but I am willing to give this thing a chance. Bear McCreary's score alone is worth watching the show for.

Ohhh, I thought it sounded kinda Firefly-ish. Now it all makes perfect sense. ^^

[CeeBeeUK]

The show premieres on Thursday 21st February, 10pm according to this.

[ThisIsTheGirl]

Cheers CeeBee! I'll definitely check it out when it starts, but I don't have massively high hopes, I must say!

[Retardo_Montalban]

All in all, I thought the episode was meh. The termintors are too soft in this show. I remember in the original Terminators, all you had to do was look at a terminator funny, and he'd end ya. Ol' Johnny boy didn't even have to tell Glau to spare the banker, she just did. If Arnold was around, that bitch who tripped the silent alarm would have her index finger blown off after the alarm button was blown away with a couple of bullets.

Not the Arnold from T2. No killing because Cameron became a wimp after "The Abyss" tanked. Now, granted, he would have kneecapped her, but still.

Personally I hope the show sticks more to "Terminator" than T2, if for no other reason than "Terminator" was a much better movie.

You're right about Terminator 2. At least there was a plausible explanation as to why Arnold wouldn't kill. John Connor told him not to. In this T.V. show, the Sub Terminator just walked past a whole bunch of armed SWAT guys and broke it down to shitty guns = no threat. That was bullshit. The Terminators have no problem killing people, even unarmed people, as is evidence of Connor's foster parents in T2.

[CeeBeeUK]

Cheers CeeBee! I'll definitely check it out when it starts, but I don't have massively high hopes, I must say!

I watched the leaked pilot, and was quite impressed. I'll check the pilot when it starts...

[ThisIsTheGirl]

What - there are two pilots???

[CeeBeeUK]

There was a screener version leaked months ago, It doesn't sound like much was changed for the broadcast.

[RogueScribner]

Given that this is a TV show, I make allowances for onscreen violence and the amount of mayhem they can show. I can also buy that as long as anyone doesn't directly interfere with the mission, they can live. The bad Terminator did kill those two cops because they drove up in front of him. He was later able to just walk into the bank, so those cops lived. Makes sense to me.

[Cha-Ka Khan]

I did get a little chuckle out of the name "Cameron." Nice tip of the hat. I also thought Summer did a good job of doing the Terminator "stare" during the fight scenes. I think back to Robert Patrick and Arnie (moreso Patrick) just doing that unblinking, steely gaze into the T-800's face as they threw each other around and into walls. Glau had that down pat.

I also don't have many major qualms with T3. I thought they did well enough at wrapping up a story that James Cameron seemingly had no desire to revisit. T3 seems a bit like Godfather 3 to me... a necessary part of the story, but with a tone much smaller in scale than the first two movies that preceded it. And as such, it won't be nearly as great, but it's nice to have the complete story.

[havocSchultz]

I also thought Summer did a good job of doing the Terminator "stare" during the fight scenes. I think back to Robert Patrick and Arnie (moreso Patrick) just doing that unblinking, steely gaze into the T-800's face as they threw each other around and into walls. Glau had that down pat.

Isn't that how Summer always looks...?

[godzillasushi]

I am so confused about where in the overall timeline this takes place and how that affects everything else. Like, say Conner likes this terminator chick....why doesn't he remember her at all in the third movie. If that makes sense. Like everything that happens ignores the third movie maybe. So in Rise of the Machines, he doesn't look like he's been running from 5 seasons worth of terminators or whatever. I'm sure someone will have it completely wiki'd by the end of the day anyway.

The action rocked though. For a TV show.

And the way it's filmed, it just doesn't look right. Like, Lost has a distinct style that makes it feel like a movie almost. This should look the same way but it doesn't.

But whatever, it's still way better then I thought it would be. I rolled my eyes the first time I heard about it.

[Evil Hobbit]

This is filmed just like any other Fox show. High contrast, super slick, choppy editing and over saturated colors. Was an ok pilot to me. Nothing special so far but pretty good action scenes and fx.

[Cha-Ka Khan]

Isn't that how Summer always looks...?

Hence the brilliant casting decision!

[Cha-Ka Khan]

I am so confused about where in the overall timeline this takes place and how that affects everything else. Like, say Conner likes this terminator chick....why doesn't he remember her at all in the third movie. If that makes sense. Like everything that happens ignores the third movie maybe. So in Rise of the Machines, he doesn't look like he's been running from 5 seasons worth of terminators or whatever. I'm sure someone will have it completely wiki'd by the end of the day anyway.

That was the whole "gimmick" though... Cameron coming back and transporting them to the present day (2007) has mucked with the entire timeline, thus making the events of T3 null and void... and also it means that Sarah Connor may not die after all as she was dead in T3. (Or, she may die, just not in the same way at the same time).

[godzillasushi]

I am so confused about where in the overall timeline this takes place and how that affects everything else. Like, say Conner likes this terminator chick....why doesn't he remember her at all in the third movie. If that makes sense. Like everything that happens ignores the third movie maybe. So in Rise of the Machines, he doesn't look like he's been running from 5 seasons worth of terminators or whatever. I'm sure someone will have it completely wiki'd by the end of the day anyway.

That was the whole "gimmick" though... Cameron coming back and transporting them to the present day (2007) has mucked with the entire timeline, thus making the events of T3 null and void... and also it means that Sarah Connor may not die after all as she was dead in T3. (Or, she may die, just not in the same way at the same time).

Oh I see. Well, they didn't have to do that. RotM isn't like an absolutely awful movie that everyone needs to ignore. It was pretty good. I don't get those decisions.

[RogueScribner]

Well, they were limited in what they could do prior to the T3 timeline. Now, they can go almost anywhere.

[Vegeta]

Well, they could always go back in time as well, fixing the timeline... ect.
With the way this show has started out, I think there will be a lot of... "we sent some guy back to 1963 to build this weapon from scratch..." type of stuff. No matter what in the end they will be able to use that as a reason for skynet exisiting... "Someone found a computer from the future who wasn't supposed to...ect.".

[Spifftacular SquirrelGirl]

All in all, I thought the episode was meh. The termintors are too soft in this show. I remember in the original Terminators, all you had to do was look at a terminator funny, and he'd end ya. Ol' Johnny boy didn't even have to tell Glau to spare the banker, she just did. If Arnold was around, that bitch who tripped the silent alarm would have her index finger blown off after the alarm button was blown away with a couple of bullets.

Not the Arnold from T2. No killing because Cameron became a wimp after "The Abyss" tanked. Now, granted, he would have kneecapped her, but still.

Personally I hope the show sticks more to "Terminator" than T2, if for no other reason than "Terminator" was a much better movie.

You're right about Terminator 2. At least there was a plausible explanation as to why Arnold wouldn't kill. John Connor told him not to. In this T.V. show, the Sub Terminator just walked past a whole bunch of armed SWAT guys and broke it down to shitty guns = no threat. That was bullshit. The Terminators have no problem killing people, even unarmed people, as is evidence of Connor's foster parents in T2.

I just thought that the bad terminator didn't kill those SWAT guys because it'd take too much valuable time killing them instead of going after it's main objective.

[instant_karma]

I always thought that the Terminators indiscriminately killing anybody that got in their way back in the past was weird.

I mean, how did they know that the person they just killed wasn't in some way pivotal to Skynet's creation?

I mentioned this to a friend when we were watching T2 one time and he told me to shut the fuck up and enjoy the mayhem. It was good advice....

[Vegeta]

I always thought that the Terminators indiscriminately killing anybody that got in their way back in the past was weird.

I mean, how did they know that the person they just killed wasn't in some way pivotal to Skynet's creation?

I mentioned this to a friend when we were watching T2 one time and he told me to shut the fuck up and enjoy the mayhem. It was good advice....

HAHAHAHAHAHA! It's better not to question.

[Fievel]

This show was okay. Not the worst thing on TV and far from the best.
It's definitely benefiting from the writer's strike.
Meaning that if the strike hadn't happened, there'd likely be some better options.
But since there aren't too many options, I'll watch.

[Will Scarlet]

Saw the pilot last night. Apparently there is a second episode tonight? Part 2 of the pilot I guess....

With the writers strike there isn't much to on to pass a cold winter evening. The show wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Have to admit my attention was fading by the end when the time travel bit came into it. Is this going to be the big plot point? When life gets crazy and the robots show up to blow us up we jump in the time machine?

"River" from Firefly looks decidedly older than the boy, and the robot her isn't much of a stretch from the psycho her. It was strange to see a familiar face from Roswell show up in the form of a cop. Nick Wechsler. We'll just add a mustache and that will make him look 30 instead of 18...

I'm willing to give it a few more episodes to develop, but I'm not overly excited. Sorry Lena....

W.S.

[Retardo_Montalban]

I always thought that the Terminators indiscriminately killing anybody that got in their way back in the past was weird.

I mean, how did they know that the person they just killed wasn't in some way pivotal to Skynet's creation?

I mentioned this to a friend when we were watching T2 one time and he told me to shut the fuck up and enjoy the mayhem. It was good advice....

I doubt a herd of pork is going to have a hand in the invention of the most sophisticated AI in the world. The Terminators are sentient and seem to know a lot about their origins, so they'd probably use their infrared computer deal to make sure no super geniuses are harmed. I'm still disappointed at the overwhelming amount of compassion these terminators are showing. My cat is more hardcore.

[Leckomaniac]

Can't believe how much this dominated in the ratings. I guess the Terminator franchise still has some serious pull.

[instant_karma]

I always thought that the Terminators indiscriminately killing anybody that got in their way back in the past was weird.

I mean, how did they know that the person they just killed wasn't in some way pivotal to Skynet's creation?

I mentioned this to a friend when we were watching T2 one time and he told me to shut the fuck up and enjoy the mayhem. It was good advice....

I doubt a herd of pork is going to have a hand in the invention of the most sophisticated AI in the world. The Terminators are sentient and seem to know a lot about their origins, so they'd probably use their infrared computer deal to make sure no super geniuses are harmed. I'm still disappointed at the overwhelming amount of compassion these terminators are showing. My cat is more hardcore.

Yeah, but what if one of the cops saved the life of one of the inventors, but wasn't around to do that, because he'd been killed or kneecapped, etc etc. I'm just saying the terminators don't seem to have much regard for the possability of making things even worse for their cause by making big impacts on the past.

[Lady Sheridan]

I didn't remember the dialogue being quite so cheesy--but we were in the coldest room in the entire convention center, and I was in that Gorgo gown. I claim hypothermia.

But Lena looks pretty. And there's nothing else on right now. Apparently she's gotten few offers after 300, so Lena Headey needs to eat.

[Retardo_Montalban]

and another thing, I demand more blue gels on everything. Terminator should always be tinted blue.

[Vegeta]

2nd episode wasn't too bad. The headless terminator is kind of, meh. Apparently the main circiut board isn't in the head.

[RogueScribner]

I really hated the headless Terminator. WTF? Aren't the CPUs in the head? Since when can they remotely manipulate their bodies? And how does someone throw away a Terminator endoskeleton? That shit should be in a lab!

[King Psyz]

I'm wondering, I have yet to see tonights, but do they explain the possible cluster fuck of leaving an advanced time machine in the hands of some san fernando valley bank?

did it have a self destruct?

did it nuke a neighborhood after it was used?

I know it's only a show, but a hole that big makes Heroes look like a documentery.

[Lord Voldemoo]

No 2nd ep here yet, so I'll stop reading now, but I just watched the first ep on tivo. I've been avoiding the thread so as to avoid spoilers, so let me catch up by first saying:

On the subject of Terminator 3 and how did Arnold get to be the model for the T-800 series 101, go to youtube and look up "Terminator 3 extra" as your search term (or Teminator 3 deleted scene).

It's compellingly awful, like a train wreck with body parts everywhere (metaphorically) and yet you can't look away ...

oh. my. christ.

Ok, on to the show. I am as decidedly "meh" as everyone else. Not horrible, not fantastic. I'll keep watching for awhile, especially with (as everyone has noted) the writer's strike. It's that or fucking American Gladiators.

Glau was good, Lena was good. The kid was pretty ok too, actually. I KNOW that acting is not what the Terminator is about, but the dude who played the Terminator looked like a slightly beefed up version of this accountant I work with. Not intimidating or scary in the least. He's got that ghey ass fucking robot head tilt down though. What a stupid cliche...but i guess they need to allow him to emote somehow. He's like Data on steroids. Worst part of the show.

The writing was pretty hokey in parts...but it's not meant to be shakespeare. I kinda wish Whedon were doing this instead, though. They did the "comie with me if you want to live" line, which was fine, they needed some throw backs to link you to the films. At least there was no "I'll be back" by Cameron (was there?? If so I missed it. I kind of expected it to happen).

I like the timeline twist. One thing I hate about prequels, you always KNOW where you'll end up...now it's all up in the air.

I'd give the Pilot a 6/10...just enough for me to tune in for a bit.

[Bob Samonkey]

fucking American Gladiators.

FICKING!! I can not stress this enough....

[Lord Voldemoo]

fucking American Gladiators.

FICKING!! I can not stress this enough....

we need a new word filter.

[Bob Samonkey]

OMG! We so do...

[Vegeta]

fucking American Gladiators.

FICKING!! I can not stress this enough....

we need a new word filter.

I said that like Friday night... geez, no one ficking listens to me

[Lord Voldemoo]

fucking American Gladiators.

FICKING!! I can not stress this enough....

we need a new word filter.

I said that like Friday night... geez, no one ficking listens to me

that's because we're distracted by your av you freak.

[Bob Samonkey]

Knowing Dino he will change the word Fick to the other word...

[Vegeta]

fucking American Gladiators.

FICKING!! I can not stress this enough....

we need a new word filter.

I said that like Friday night... geez, no one ficking listens to me

that's because we're distracted by your av you freak.

The new Buffy one? Yeah, it's a "stroke" of genius on my part...

[Fievel]

Watched the second episode.... I'll watch the series now. I'm semi-hooked. I like the actors, I like the characters (although Sara Conner seems a LOT weaker now), and I like the Terminator world. I hope it stays at least decent.

[Lady Sheridan]

Watched the second episode.... I'll watch the series now. I'm semi-hooked. I like the actors, I like the characters (although Sara Conner seems a LOT weaker now), and I like the Terminator world. I hope it stays at least decent.

Yeah, it's really hard to believe she's the one who was stabbed repeatedly by Robert Patrick and smashed out of a mental institution. Maybe all of that is causing her to break down emotionally. She can't handle it anymore!!

Come on Lena, be Queen Gorgo and kick some Terminator ass.

Incidentally, I had a real brain dead moment. I thought "Oh, 1999 to 2007, they didn't miss much at all." And then the 9/11 thing came up. Ohhhhhh.

[Fievel]

Incidentally, I had a real brain dead moment. I thought "Oh, 1999 to 2007, they didn't miss much at all." And then the 9/11 thing came up. Ohhhhhh.

I did the EXACT same thing!!!
All I could think about was technology - bigger/thinner televisions, faster computers, cars pretty much look the same, clothing style hasn't changed a whole lot.... didn't even think about current/recent historic events.

[Shan]

We have a programme called "The Chaser" in Australia which is a comedy show of sorts (though with biting political satire) and one of the things they did was go around the US recently and interview a lot of people and ask them questions.

Amongst the ones people frequently got wrong were:

When did 9/11 happen?
Which year/month/day did it happen?
Which cities were attacked?

So even though Pierce Brosnan got pilloried for it at the time for saying that given time, the event would start to fade from the forefront of people's consciousness; he was right. Mind you, it probably would have been better for him if he didn't bring it up at the time as it was rather close to the event.

[CeeBeeUK]

We have a programme called "The Chaser" in Australia which is a comedy show of sorts (though with biting political satire) and one of the things they did was go around the US recently and interview a lot of people and ask them questions.

Amongst the ones people frequently got wrong were:

When did 9/11 happen?
Which year/month/day did it happen?
Which cities were attacked?

So even though Pierce Brosnan got pilloried for it at the time for saying that given time, the event would start to fade from the forefront of people's consciousness; he was right. Mind you, it probably would have been better for him if he didn't bring it up at the time as it was rather close to the event.

Worrying, very worrying!

Ninth month... October?

[Lady Sheridan]

While I am amazed people have forgotten the precise date, I think making 9/11 into a catchphrase had a lot to do with it. When the media pounds that kind of short-hand into people's brains, the details get lost. Although they say "September 11th" often enough that NO ONE should forget the damn month! Argh!

I honestly can't think why it didn't occur to me during the show, except I keep forgetting it "began" in 1999, and they made such a huge deal out of "into the fuuuuttreeee!" as if they'd be super disoriented and lost. If they really wanted to do that, they should have started it the same year T2 took place. 1999 is just a cop-out...now I see it as a cheesy excuse to work 9/11 in at all.

Still, I bet John Connor thought we'd have flying cars by 2007. He seemed so disappointed the future held only I-Pods.

[Al Shut]

Still, I bet John Connor thought we'd have flying cars by 2007. He seemed so disappointed the future held only I-Pods.

Aren't we all?

Where is my jetpack?

[Shan]

I forgot to add one other question I'm sure they asked people a lot and which many got wrong:

What happened on 9/11?

I think people got that one wrong a lot as well.

I'm sure they're just showing the people who got it wrong, I would imagine some people got it right but I guess the mere fact they could find so many people who could get the answers wrong is just a bit troubling.