The Terminator TV Series is the Result of Devoted Fannish Love

Okay, time to level - I’ve never really seen a Terminator movie. I think maybe I saw part of one, once. But I fell asleep watching it (which tells you just how good I thought it was). But Summer Glau (Angel, Firefly, The Unit) is in the new show: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and to me that made it worth watching tonight.

For anyone who is like me, and knows next to nothing about all of this, let me share my knowledge. Sarah Connor is a character from the first two Terminator movies - which of course I had to Google to confirm. In the movies she was played by Linda Hamilton. On the show she is played by Lena Headey. Though it has no significance, I think it’s neat that their first and last initials are the same.

One thing I understand and admire are people who become fully invested into a show or a movie franchise to a devoted degree. The reason this show came about was because of love - and… money probably helped, too. But, again, it was love. James Middleton, consulting producer on the show, realized how much he missed the character of Sarah Connor. By then, the last Terminator movie had come out. And they’d scripted Sarah as dead. But love defies that kind of restriction.

So, now we get to know what could have happened to Sarah. The show focuses on Sarah and her son, John Connor (played by Thomas Dekker), as they realize there’s no safe haven for them. The writer of the pilot, and the executive director of the show, is Josh Friedman. That’s not a name I know, but maybe it’ll be one I come to remember. Not only has he mapped out the entire plot for the first season, but he has specific ideas for where he wants to go for the next three seasons.

Perhaps because of the success of the movies - Friedman feels secure enough to plan ahead. And I’m glad. Too often someone has a great idea, but the show suffers because there is no follow-through after a first season. (Although, for someone to script and make just one season of a TV show happen - that takes a lot of energy. I suspect Friedman was aided by the facts that some characters were already developed, and the mythology of the show already has a lot of footing. I also suspect Friedman had Propel water. It’s tasty and energizing! )

I believe that unlike newcomers like me, fans from the movies will find more immediate gratification from watching the show. They’ll also know what terms like Skynet are. But these factors didn’t too greatly detract from my viewing enjoyment.

I missed a bit of the beginning, but near the start - we saw John Connor in a high school, alongside Summer Glau’s character, Cameron. Summer seemed eerie being happy and looking so polished since I am so used to seeing her as the distressed genius, River, on Firefly.

A substitute teacher showed up and he pulled a gun from his leg - his robotic leg. What unraveled from there was the basic premise of the show: Cameron is a Terminator from the future, sent to protect John. This also involved some time travel which I really liked. I’m not always one for liking this device. But it was done in an undeniably cool way, using the elements of special effects as well as the character’s personalities to contribute to the oddness of the situation.

(Above) Summer Glau has studied and performed ballet, helping her to do amazing action shots.

I also want to mention that I heard some really good score music in this pilot episode.

Because I haven’t seen the movies, I can in no way compare the show to the movies. I don’t know if I’ll be a long-term watcher, but I’m intrigued so far. The second night of the two part series premiere is on tomorrow night at 9 EST. Considering there’s so little fresh TV content airing right now because of the strike, and this show has enough episodes to air until early March, you should give it a try.

For what the future holds for the show, or the characters - I can only hope it’s fitting.

Until later,

Jessica for Sofachip.com

For more on the show, see: Sirlinksalot.net - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

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