Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Network: FOX
Status: Returning Series
Timeslot: Mondays 8 PM EST
Premiere: September 8th
Website: www.fox.com/terminator


This pleasant surprise from last Spring returns to FOX after a shortened inaugural run to carry on the adventures of Sarah and John Connor as they try to avoid assassins from the future while attempting to stop the rise of Skynet before it can subvert the human race. Carrying on where the big screen franchise left off (not counting the upcoming T4 movie), The Sarah Connor Chronicles continues the story of the titular character and her son John as they try to avert the future holocaust of which they have been forewarned. Sarah, John, and the female Terminator from the future, Cameron, must face morally questionable choices as they try to save the world from a greater evil.

The first season, which only ran nine episodes because of the writer’s strike, definitely took viewers on a rough ride with relentless, action-packed stories. However, the series also focused on the human elements as we saw the conflicts that the Sarah and John were forced to deal with. The second season promises to continue this trend as John Connor will begin to feel the pressure of his predicament. Actor Thomas Dekker who plays the character has said that in the second season Connor will become tougher and will break away from relying on his mother. He will start to venture out on his own more and begin to find his place as a warrior against the future.

Two new regular characters will be introduced as well. Shirley Manson of the Alt-Rock group Garbage will step in as Catherine Weaver the chief executive of Cyberdine Systems, the company that develops the computer which eventually turns into Skynet. While she will act as a foil to the main characters, her character is not necessarily cast as the villain of the series. In addition to Manson, Leven Rambin will come onboard to provide a love interest for John Connor.

Executive producer John Wirth has also stated that one of the main characters will die in the second season. I’m guessing it won’t be Sarah Connor since she is the title character or John Connor because that would pretty much wrap up the series. That leaves Cameron (Summer Glau), Derek Reese, John’s uncle from the future (Brian Austin Green), F.B.I. agent James Ellison (Richard T. Jones), the Terminator from the future hunting John and Sarah (Garret Dillahunt), or one of the new characters introduced this season. Or they could just cheat and kill Cameron off then rebuild her in a later episode (no one really dies in Science Fiction television, anyway).
The Sarah Connor Chronicles got off to a really strong start last season, and I am definitely looking forward to its return in Fall. While it could be exhausting at times because of its intensity (much like Battlestar Galactica), it definitely offered some engaging episodes and good drama. I worry about how long FOX will stick with it, though. It premiered to strong ratings in its first season, but those tapered off quickly. FOX still gave it the greenlight for a second season, but if it stumbles out of the gate in its sophomore run, the network (never known for its patience with Science Fiction and Fantasy shows) pull the plug on it quickly. I’m also not to thrilled about its earlier timeslot which could lead to the network pressuring the creative team to tone down the intensity of the series. Still, I think the show has a lot of potential and I will definitely be along for the ride.

Update 9/17/08: Series creator Josh Friedman discusses the upcoming season in an interview with Sci Fi Wire.

Update 10/20/08: Despite the poor ratings that The Sarah Connor Chronicles has seen early this Fall, FOX went ahead and picked up the back nine episodes for Season 2.

Buy Season 1 of The Sarah Connor Chronicles at the Axiom's edge Webstore