The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Last week, one of my sisters called to ask me to tape a show for her. I was like: "No problem, what show?" And she was like: "I am too embarrassed to tell you!" Which is pretty rich considering all of the grief she gives me about my TV choices. BUT WHATEVER. Bygones! It turned out to be the Terminator show, which was funny because I have been meaning to watch that ever since it won my poll. She told me she'd bought most of the episodes from iTunes, and we agreed to get together and marathon them.
Things wot I do not care for!
1. It's such a total mindfuck, and not necessarily in a good way. If they prevent this Skynet thing from being built, won't John Connor cease to exist? Because his father wouldn't have been sent back in time? Is their goal to stop "Judgement Day"? Or just to keep John Connor alive so he can lead the resistance? The latter doesn't make much practical sense -- if you have a chance to stop it, of course you should try to stop it. But the former seems problematic, for obvious reasons.
2. The show is cracktacular in the sort of way that I have been trying to avoid. And not just in the sit-back-and-enjoy-the-ride kind of way that I've shied away from since The X-Files and Alias burned me so spectacularly. Like, in a crazy Prison Break kind of way. The sequence with the FBI agent and the doctor was particularly bizarre.
3. I am not sure what I think of the actress playing Sarah Connor. She is not terrible or anything. And I get that the role is a very demanding one. But... meh. I just cannot connect with her.
4. I never thought I could hate a voiceover more than I hate Meredith's, but MIRACLES HAPPEN.
5. What was up with that weird and random subplot about the girl who killed herself because of that bizarrely artistic graffiti?! I was completely certain that the guidance counsellor was the guy she'd slept with. When he was drilling Cameron about whether or not she'd mentioned anybody's name, I was sure that he just wanted to make sure she hadn't mentioned his. My sister says she doesn't think it's over, and I hope she's right. But unless it's related to why John's anti-social chem partner is doing such a convincing impression of a Princess Locked in a Tower, I am not as optimistic. Maybe they were just trying to give John a turning point at which he decides he does want to be a hero or something.
Things wot I like!
1. Cameron! (Who is named for James Cameron, yes?) She amuses me. I really enjoy her relationship with the Connors, which is difficult to define in certain terms. She's less than a friend, more than a body guard, less than a tem-member, more than an asset, etc. I think her relationship with John is especially interesting, since she can't be a friend to him. But at he same time, she's more of a friend than anyone else in his life. I'm really hoping their "friendship" doesn't turn out to be COMPLETELY TRAGIC, but I will take tragedy over the preachy fustercluck that is Helo/Sharon any day of the week.
2. The terminators are scary! (Well, they scare me. But everything scares me. I saw Tremors at a slumber party when I was in fourth grade and had trouble sleeping for a week. Sadly, not a whole lot has changed.) I hope they stay scary, because the cylons did not.
3. THE FAMOUS JETT JACKSON! I was so disappointed that he was only around for one episode. I hope that this travesty will be rectified next season! He can be the Scully to Robert T. Jones's Mulder! Except with less kissing.
4. I dug the ethical dilemma stuff, wrt science and computers, although I'm not sure how much of a thematic element that can be when you know that the computers are going to take over the world and enslave all of humanity.
5. I like Derek a lot! At first I was pissed that he'd killed Andy. But now I completely adore that Derek shares so many of the same instincts that John and Sarah find repulsive in Cameron. The indiscriminate willingness to kill for the sake of his mission, his single-mindedness, his lack of concern for collateral damage -- it all reeks of Metal. Only he's actually human, which makes it more interesting. Especially since he hates Cameron so damn much.
And, okay, I am sure there was more that I would have liked to comment on, but when I marathon TV (four episodes last night, four the night before), everything runs together. But good call, f'list! I enjoyed the show. I'm not sure I'll watch it in real time, but I'll definitely try and catch the next season eventually. If there is a next season! It sounds like there will be!
I think I will try to watch the Terminator movies, too. It is kind of crazy I've never seen them. I would not say that it is a gaping hole in my cultural knowledge or anything, but still. I should watch them, if only because I have a feeling that a lot of stuff from the show flew over my head.
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caitiedidit) wrote,
