New Terminator Series Gets it Right, Definatly Worth Watching
I keep a busy life, so TV time is something I choose not to squander. If I watch something, it's going to be good. And if what I'm watching starts to suck, it gets bumped. The fourth season of Lost fell victim to that philosophy. So did the 4400, which I was hooked on enough to actually buy a season.
Battlestar Galactica and Heroes are my current fixations. That is if you don't count Naruto and Bleach, two shows I routinely download in their uncut, subtitled Japanese formats. Now I'm adding Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles to my list. I've only watched the first two episodes online but it looks to be an amazing series. The writing, acting and presentation are all great. Plus, it's nice to see a non-Arnoldesque terminator. Summer Glau, of Firefly fame, plays Cameron. While still emotionless, Glau's terminator seems more adaptable than previous models. She's not so awkward in social situations and can learn without having to be taught. One thing I found funny is how the Cameron character takes particular offense at being called "tinman" by Sarah Connor, played by Lena Headey (King Leonidas' warrior bride in 300).
And speaking of Sarah Connor, Headey does a good job of continuing the hard-ass-mom role started by Linda Hamilton in 1984. When future John Connor, the savior for all mankind (sorry J.C.), says you're the toughest fighter he knows I'm pretty sure that's a good thing. Because of that, future John Connor has sent Cameron, Sarah Connor and little John Connor (his teenage self from the past played by Heroes actor Thomas Dekker) to 2007 in an attempt to destroy Skynet. This 3-man cell's got one hell of a job to do.
It's easy to tell good TV from bad TV. If you watch a show and it leaves you thinking long after it's over, that's good TV. If you finish watching and find your mind needs to "adjust" back to normal life, that's good TV. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles does a great job of doing both. It pulls you into the story. Sure, there's a lot of terminator-on-terminator fighting, pretty gals and massive explosions, but this show's more dynamic than that. The emotion you see between the characters is believable. It's that same human connection that makes a sci-fi show like Battlestar Galactica feel real, despite the fact it's a post-apocalyptic space fight for human survival.
What I'm trying to say is watch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and don't watch other, crappier shows with poor writing and no story. Lets give the writers their reward, excellent ratings.
