DVD Review: Sarah Connor Chronicles Season One
The Popular Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Actioner Carries Over Well to TV
Oct 31, 2008
For a certain number of years, it seemed unlikely that a TV series based on one of the most F/X-laden movie franchises, would ever see the light of day. However, with today's technology making leaps in bounds, racing to keep up with the ever-evolving computer equipment available to sci-fi wizards, it was only a matter of time before robots on screen went from Stan Winston made puppets, to freakishly realistic CGI imagery, all on your TV screen.
This is possibly a positive force in the making of the Fox TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Though its first season only lasted 9 episodes (thank you, WGA strike), the producers found enough momentum in the freshman season about the plight of John and Sarah Connor in preventing the invention of Skynet, to elaborate on their character background, and what happens between the first two films, and the future as it is explained to them (apocalypse, killer robots, etc...). Currently airing its second season, here is a review of Season 1.
Characters of The Sarah Connor Chronicles
All of the elements of the movie franchise are there: audiences still get that fast paced action, born from a sense of urgency, and of the impending danger in the form of an unstoppable enemy, who literally is single-minded in his/her/its purpose: Kill John Connor. While this threat isn't constant in every single episode, the audience knows just as well as the main cast of characters, that an unstoppable killing machine may just drive a car through the front of the house, in the hope of achieving its mission.
Lena Headey (300, The Brothers Grimm) struggles at times with the Sarah Connor character, but manages to bring more emotion to the role than Linda Hamilton did in the first two movie installments. One hopes she will find herself more comfortable within the role, should the series survive the ratings war, and subsequent seasons.
Young Thomas Dekker isn't exactly the best of John Connors (the role having also been best played by Edward Furlong in T2, and to a much lesser extent by Nick Stahl in T3), but he manages nonetheless. Sadly, he comes off as a brat more often than not, but a brilliant one at that. We also hope he finds sure footing with the role, in coming seasons.
The standout in this show, is the charismatic Summer Glau (known to sci-fi fans as River Tam, from Firefly and its movie sequel, Serenity). She is a treat to watch, as the waifish yet effective deadly terminator Cameron Phillips. A reprogrammed killer terminator from the future, she takes her place alongside John Connor, as his protector, and ersatz sister figure. Using just about the same dynamic which had a previous John incarnation (Furlong) explaining the finer points of human behaviour to Ah-nuld, many situations arise from Cameron's continuous learnings, in becoming the human being she can never be.
Richard T. Jones is a decent addition as FBI investigator James Ellison. A Mulder-like outcast within the Bureau, he relentlessly pursues a plausible resolution to the unexplained dissapearance of the Connors years prior (watch the show, see what is meant by this --- time travel is involved). To many sci-fi fans, his Inspector Javert-type role is similar to that of Jack McGee, of Incredible Hulk fame: on the right track, but always two steps behind.
Last but certainly not least, is former 90210er Brian Austin Green, who portrays future resistance fighter Derek Resse (note to fans of the franchise, there's no coincidence with this character's last name matching a certain other fighter's, from the first film) who appears late in this first season. His turn as a man of action with much in the way of survival skills, makes one wish he'd give some action series a try, as a lead actor. His presence on the show added much needed adrenaline into the show, after a slow start filled with much rhetoric, and little action.
DVD Features of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season One
Other than the episodes as aired on Fox this past year (with the notable exception of episode 7, "The Demon's Hand", which has extended scenes), the DVD has the usual assortment of extras, including commentaries from key production folks, a mildly amusing gag reel (mostly blown lines), cast auditions, and some minor behind the scenes featurettes.
This DVD set is recommended to both fans of the film series, and completists who can't abide not owning this, the latest chapter in the Terminator mythos.
7.5 out of 10, for solid action and suspense, especially within the TV format
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