Terminator: The the one who's name we shall not say Connor Chronicles

[LillyKat]

So, I believe I have found my new show! Wow, I really LOVE this one. I was a huge Terminator 2: Judgment Day fan back in the day (the nerd in me saw the thing 9 times in the theatre - LOL!). So, to have the television series pick up right where T2 left off is just awesome - especially when it maintains so much of what I loved about T2 (characters, backstory, score).

But it's funny ... I'm not used to watching an "action" primetime series. Car chases, fight sequences, guns blazin' ... it's a nice switch from the procedurals!

I'm reviewing it for Pass the Remote for anyone interested.

[riche]

Saw the "feature length" version that got release last year and was undecided. I was trying to cut down on my TV viewing. But I find myself with a bit of a TV vacuum to fill...

I've got the 1st two episodes and will try and watch them in the next few days. I gather they are much the same as the previous release but with some changes.

[boxman]

Ah, yess! I was about to not watch this show until I learned last week that Summer Glau was playing the new Terminator. I completely love her from the "Firefly" series (and it's movie "Serenity"), so I tuned in just for that! She's so cute! It was so hilarious (in a very good way) to see her in her new role as a cyborg. Summer was also on Cold Case, playing the role of Paige in "Love Conquers Al". I haven't seen that episode yet, though. Bummers...

I was also surprised to find that the new the one who's name we shall not say Conner is played by the British actress Lena Headley, who played the Spartan Queen in "300".

I'm very happy that this show is going to be on Monday nights instead of Sundays!

[LillyKat]

boxman said:

Ah, yess! I was about to not watch this show until I learned last week that Summer Glau was playing the new Terminator. I completely love her from the "Firefly" series (and it's movie "Serenity"), so I tuned in just for that! She's so cute! It was so hilarious (in a very good way) to see her in her new role as a cyborg. Summer was also on Cold Case, playing the role of Paige in "Love Conquers Al". I haven't seen that episode yet, though. Bummers...

I was also surprised to find that the new the one who's name we shall not say Conner is played by the British actress Lena Headley, who played the Spartan Queen in "300".

I'm very happy that this show is going to be on Monday nights instead of Sundays!

I wasn't familiar with Summer Glau before seeing her in this series, but I am so impressed by her protrayal of the "good" terminator. The idea of having the protector take the shape of a younger teenage girl this time around plays against the type of the previous versions, which is such a great twist.

I also do really like Lena Headley ... I think she's doing Linda Hamilton's version of the one who's name we shall not say Connor justice in her own right.

The show had around 18 million viewers for it's premiere - strong showing!

[boxman]

Did the two episodes inspire you to work out just a little bit harder at the gym?? It did for me, and at work yesterday I started saying to the other guys, "Are you the one who's name we shall not say Kahhnn--nahh???" in my best "Ahhnald" voice. But I did stop myself from walking around the office and gym like a robot, though. ;D

[riche]

boxman said:

Did the two episodes inspire you to work out just a little bit harder at the gym??

Well if it is the same as the preview show then I can see me getting a bit of a sweat on

[coldboneslove398]

I'm not going to be watching this show, trying to cut down on FOX shows. I only watch "Bones" and "House" on FOX now. I don't want this show to get cancelled and then be disappointed again, so i'm going to wait for it to be around for a few more seasons then I will watch.

I mainly want to watch it because it has Summer Glau in it xD. I loved Summer as Tess Doerner in "The 4400"(sad that got cancelled, you can see my rant in the 4400 thread.)

So yeah, I'm being really cautious now in what I'm watching. This is my new stragety. No more watching news shows that I want to watch unless a couple of seasons pass by, because I don't want to watch another show that's just going to get cancelled by season 3 or season 4.

FOX has a track record of cancelling the best shows prematurely, while, it leaves on crappy 24 and American Idol

[LillyKat]

boxman said:

Did the two episodes inspire you to work out just a little bit harder at the gym?? It did for me, and at work yesterday I started saying to the other guys, "Are you the one who's name we shall not say Kahhnn--nahh???" in my best "Ahhnald" voice. But I did stop myself from walking around the office and gym like a robot, though. ;D

Good one, boxman. LOL! Can't say I was doing any Terminator impressions this week, but T2 was on the STARZ! movie channel Tuesday night. It was cool to see it again having just watched the premiere of the series ... now, seeing Linda Hamilton again ... hmmm, maybe I'll workout harder next week. LOL!

coldboneslove459 said:

I'm not going to be watching this show, trying to cut down on FOX shows. I only watch "Bones" and "House" on FOX now. I don't want this show to get canceled and then be disappointed again, so i'm going to wait for it to be around for a few more seasons then I will watch.

I mainly want to watch it because it has Summer Glau in it xD. I loved Summer as Tess Doerner in "The 4400"(sad that got canceled, you can see my rant in the 4400 thread.)

So yeah, I'm being really cautious now in what I'm watching. This is my new stragety. No more watching news shows that I want to watch unless a couple of seasons pass by, because I don't want to watch another show that's just going to get canceled by season 3 or season 4.

FOX has a track record of cancelling the best shows prematurely, while, it leaves on crappy 24 and American Idol

That's a bummer cbl (or are you JMDB, now? ). I'm sure you'd like the show ... especially if you are a Summer fan. Have faith ... Fox has a lot riding on this show. I read recently they're likening the buzz and/or interest in the show to what the The X-Files was able to accomplish, so it may not fall into the typical Fox cancellation pattern. Then again, I don't watch any other Fox shows, so I may not be as familiar with the network's tendencies. But given the writer's strike at the moment, I think anything goes right now, so ... there may even be less similarities from what Fox (or any network) has done in the past to what it will do now and going forward.

In the meantime, it's definitely fun to watch!

[boxman]

coldboneslove459 said:

So yeah, I'm being really cautious now in what I'm watching. This is my new stragety. No more watching news shows that I want to watch unless a couple of seasons pass by, because I don't want to watch another show that's just going to get cancelled by season 3 or season 4.

FOX has a track record of cancelling the best shows prematurely, while, it leaves on crappy 24 and American Idol

LOL!! You feel that way about Fox too, huh?? I know what you mean!! I've pretty much boycotted Fox since they cancelled "Firefly" at the end of 2002. I quit watching "The Simpsons", even though I'm a long-time fan of the show. I've never watched "24", "Bones", "Family Guy", nor "American Dad" for that matter either, even though they're my type of shows. I also happen to like reality shows, and I quit watching any on their network too. For the past five years, I've pretty much limited myself to watching NFL football and the local 10:00pm news on Fox. (They're the only local station that broadcasts news at 10.) But I think because so much is going into this show, that Fox is probably not as likely to pull the plug. It would be an incredibly stupid thing for them to do, especially since one of the lead characters of T:TSCC (Summer Glau) was also a main character from one of their canceled shows.

lillykat said:

...but T2 was on the STARZ! movie channel Tuesday night. It was cool to see it again having just watched the premiere of the series ... now, seeing Linda Hamilton again ... hmmm, maybe I'll workout harder next week. LOL!

I bought the "T2" DVD last night at Wal-Mart..... It was a special for only FIVE BUCKS!!! I was surprised that in this version sixteen minutes have been added! Was this the version that Starz is playing now?? My DVD was released in 2003, and it includes some added scenes of John Conner trying to teach the Terminator how to smile...

[riche]

lillykat said:

That's a bummer cbl (or are you JMDB, now? ).

Yeah, what's that about? I can guess (based on the sig) who JM is, but DB?

I'm sure you'd like the show ... especially if you are a Summer fan. Have faith ... Fox has a lot riding on this show. I read recently they're likening the buzz and/or interest in the show to what the The X-Files was able to accomplish, so it may not fall into the typical Fox cancellation pattern.

I do fear a little for a show like this (and bare in mind that I haven't seen the 1st two episodes yet, but I did see the preview last year) that the complexity of the special effects and car chases etc. may render it more expensive to make than some other more pedestrian fare. This would mean it would have to be a big hit to be considered a success and will always count against it if cost cutting across the board is required. CC is the same in its need to have extra cast members and sets needed for the flashbacks.

The X-Files suffered delays (probably around the middle of its total run) due to the time taken to make what was nearly a movie every week. But that did survive a long time.

Of course TTSCC may benefit from being one of the few new shows on at the moment. Did Fox delay it deliberately to help fill the void if the writers strike continued? Or was it planned to appear now? Do we know the number of episodes planned/made?

[LillyKat]

boxman said:

I bought the "T2" DVD last night at Wal-Mart..... It was a special for only FIVE BUCKS!!! I was surprised that in this version sixteen minutes have been added! Was this the version that Starz is playing now?? My DVD was released in 2003, and it includes some added scenes of John Conner trying to teach the Terminator how to smile...

Right on, boxman! That's a nice deal on T2! I am ashamed to say as much as I love this movie, I do NOT have it on DVD. I need to go get it, now.

But, I have heard about some sort of newer "extended" version that came out a couple of years ago, which sounds like the one you just picked up. The STARZ! version is the theatrical version - as in, no extended scenes. I'd be curious to know what the uncut/extended scenes are on the DVD.

riche said:

I do fear a little for a show like this (and bare in mind that I haven't seen the 1st two episodes yet, but I did see the preview last year) that the complexity of the special effects and car chases etc. may render it more expensive to make than some other more pedestrian fare. This would mean it would have to be a big hit to be considered a success and will always count against it if cost cutting across the board is required. CC is the same in its need to have extra cast members and sets needed for the flashbacks.

The X-Files suffered delays (probably around the middle of its total run) due to the time taken to make what was nearly a movie every week. But that did survive a long time.

I am sure TTSCC is expensive. If I remember correctly, I think XF eps were upwards of a million per ep to make. Ouch. So, expectations are high all the way around. I guess if TTSCC does deliver in the ratings, though, they may keep it. Who knows ... I have totally given up trying to figure out the networks at this point. LOL!

Of course TTSCC may benefit from being one of the few new shows on at the moment. Did Fox delay it deliberately to help fill the void if the writers strike continued? Or was it planned to appear now? Do we know the number of episodes planned/made?

Yes, Fox did delay this premiere until now so it would have enough episodes to carry the show to what would normally be the "end' of the regular fall season (May). They've got around 12 done, I believe. The thinking is, I'm guessing, is that TTSCC will seem like its having a full season even though it's only half given they didn't start it out the gate in September. I have to say that was a smart call on Fox's part as TTSCC is now one of the only new things on at the moment.

However, they did cut way back on a lot of the promotional campaign, etc., due to the strike and the push-back of the premiere. Fox is obviously trying to ride this one out in the best light possible given the stakes are so high both for its success and because of the strike. I hope it does well. It's just such a cool show.

[coldboneslove398]

riche said:

lillykat said:

That's a bummer cbl (or are you JMDB, now? ).

Yeah, what's that about? I can guess (based on the sig) who JM is, but DB?

and you call yourself a "Bones" fan . How can you not sit and stare at the screen whenever Booth is on? Booth is played by David Boreanaz xD. Very hot and funny hehe . Although, DB might not be enough for me to continue to watch "Bones" unless the writers get their acts together and bring back the stellar writing of late season 1/early season 2.

Hmmmm....I'm still going to wait a couple seasons before watching. I just cannot be upset about another favorite show getting cancelled. Practically everything I watch now is cancelled or getting cancell. Bad Luck? Bad Karma? Is "God" trying to punish me because I don't believe in a "God"(yeah, kind of contradicting myself I know)?

[riche]

coldboneslove459 said:

and you call yourself a "Bones" fan .

I do, I just hadn't made the mental leap as to what DB meant. If I'd considered your previous pseudonym a little more I might have got it. But then JM is not related to CC or Bones. I only know him as Cash, the mad man that takes unborn babies on ferries, from an episode of Friends.

How can you not sit and stare at the screen whenever Booth is on?

Again, I do, but only because that makes watching the show easier. Staring at the ceiling makes it much more difficult. Also, we clearly of think of David in very different ways

[coldboneslove398]

What is Summer Glau's character like on the show? I'm presuming that maybe some of the characters are a little bit different from the movie.

[LillyKat]

coldboneslove459 said:

What is Summer Glau's character like on the show? I'm presuming that maybe some of the characters are a little bit different from the movie.

Summer plays the terminator (named "Cameron") sent back to protect young John Connor and/or help the Connors stop the re-building of Skynet, etc. So, funnily enough, in T2 movie terms, she's actually like the Arnold terminator. LOL!

In any event, she's great. Really enjoy the twist with the whole young teenage girl protector termintor thing ... so different from the film. And her deadpan delivery on some of the lines are too funny!

[riche]

From seeing her in Firefly/Serenity and the preview of this show it is clear that Summer is very good at quite inert characters. For much of Firefly she's almost catatonic, and in TTSCC she's playing a robot. However, she does give the characters an intensity, a sense that there is more going on underneath the surface.

[coldboneslove398]

Lol. She's playing yet another inert character? xD LAWL!!

[boxman]

1x05 "Queen's Gambit"
Wow! That was an awesome episode!

[coldboneslove398]

*peeks at thread*

you guys make it so tempting for me to want to break my rule....

*I will not heed to temptation*

[LillyKat]

boxman said:

1x05 "Queen's Gambit"
Wow! That was an awesome episode!

It was so good. I'm really loving the intricacy of how they are weaving the best elements from the film(s) into the show whilst simultaneously expanding on and/or taking them in entirely new direction(s). It's just fantastic!

And Cameron's one-liners ... too.darn.funny. I am becoming a Summer Glau fan by the minute!

Write-ups on the already-aired ep(s) are over at Pass the Remote

coldboneslove459 said:

*peeks at thread*

you guys make it so tempting for me to want to break my rule....

*I will not heed to temptation*

Jump on in, cbl ... it is a great show.