Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles 1x1

[vaznetti]

The pilot was shown in a special early Atlantic time slot; right now I'm watching it in the regular Eastern Time slot, too. It is just that good. I have to admit that I went in with fairly low expectations, but I really enjoyed this.

I really have missed seeing women do things on my television set. And yes, by doing things, I really do mean driving cars and trucks, shooting villains, and blowing shit up. And I am so pleased that the meaty interaction is all Sarah and the Terminator (and really, I can see Sarah/Terminator with no trouble at all! The little smile on her face, when the terminator is fighting? very nice!), and that John is such a reluctant hero. And I love the way they fixed the time lag between the original setting and the filming. That was very, very clever.

Scenes I particularly liked:

1. Chief among these, the Terminator stitching up Sarah's shoulder. Even though she appeared to be doing it through her sweater, which cannot possibly be hygenic.

2. The whole bank robbery sequence -- very clever, very well timed. I love the idea of the bank vault as time-travel machine, of sending an engineer back to build the time machine and the weapon.

3. The first day of school stuff -- especially the homeroom scene, with the roll-call and then the attack.

4. The opening, with Sarah's dream.

5. All of them turning up naked in the middle of the freeway. (Which... they tore down the bank and built a freeway? ::handwave::)

6. The recall, not so much "come with me if you want to live," but the "no one's ever safe," at the end.

I like Summer Glau in this a lot, but I also like the woman who's playing Sarah Connor -- she's not Linda Hamilton, OK, but I like that she can be a little vulnerable, still, despite her toughness.


In conclusion, two thumbs up. The next episode is on tomorrow at 9 pm, as I understand it -- that's the regular slot. If you like femslash, you should definitely give this a try.

Comments

[vee-fic.livejournal.com]

I liked that the naked stuck with continuity, and that it wasn't for an instant played for laughs. It was deadly serious nudity, without a hint of titillation.

[vaznetti]

Hm. What about the scene where the terminator (whose name, apparently, is Cameron? whatever) kicks those three guys around and steals their clothes -- precisely because they see the nakedness as a sign of vulnerability, but also, as titillating?

[vee-fic.livejournal.com]

I don't know -- it's a direct gloss on the same scene in the first movie. Which is played for nervous-laughter, I guess, since it was clear the characters were going to give up their clothes, but not clear till Arnold speared one on his own fist that they would be giving up their lives too.

So the three guys jumping out of a car seeking titillation -- I jumped back instantly to the "speared on a man's fist" imagery (yes, that tends to stand out, in the mind), and knew they were goners. Harder to identify with their point of view, when you know it's their point of view that to blame for their imminent mauling.

[vaznetti]

Harder to identify with their point of view, when you know it's their point of view that to blame for their imminent mauling.

Yes, I see this -- the show seemed to me to be admitting that titillation was a possible response, but then punishing the viewer who was, at least symbolically.

(I was struck by the little smile on Sarah's face, as she watched the Terminator fighting there.)

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

Isn't it great? I can't wait for tomorrow night!

[vaznetti]

Yay!

[bathsweaver.livejournal.com]

::giddy::

Yes to everything.

Also (because this is how I roll) I'm craving the fic where Sarah and John Winchester meet at a bar and bond over law-evasion and parenting methods.

What I'm especially liking is how John is the heralded child and yet it's Sarah, his mother, who's the main character. The moms of prophecy-moppets always seem to be pushed to the sidelines as soon as their children are born, and it's so wonderful here to see that Sarah is the prime mover. Hoorah!

[vaznetti]

Also (because this is how I roll) I'm craving the fic where Sarah and John Winchester meet at a bar and bond over law-evasion and parenting methods.

I had this thought as well. Also, it would be hot.

I agree about liking the way that Sarah is the protagonist -- that John is still very much subordinate to her. She shoots thing, and he runs away from danger; he tells her that she's the hero, not him. Of course, I expect that over the course of the series he'll become a more active hero, but I really like the way it's set up right now.

[(Anonymous)]

Now, see, maybe it's just because I've already read John W./Sarah fic, but the Supernatural crossover I thought of immediately was Agents Ellison and Henricksen (T1 shoutout to our boy Lance) bonding over their crazy-ass fugitives.

--Jessica

[vaznetti]

I would certainly read your crossover, as well. I think that would be an excellent idea.

[(Anonymous)]

I'd read my crossover, too, except for the fact that I don't like my writing. Maybe I could knit one? :)

--Jessica

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

I'm in. (and I was just bitching today that I needed a new fandom - what with all the stuff people are pitching at me) like I need a hole in my head.

I *adore* this Sarah - no, not Linda Hamilton - this one is wiser and older and not as freaking terrified all the time.

I want fic about that engineer.

The 'tore down the bank' thing threw me for a mo, too, but still - to have the neekid gate-transient (although why does dead hair cells transfer, and not woolen clothes? (/overthinking)) and the Sarah/Terminator stuff, yeah, I can deal.

And the way this is still Sarah's story...I like that a lot. Plus! Explosions!

- hg

[vaznetti]

I agree with everything you say here. Although I think this Sarah is terrified, as well, at least when she stops to think about it, but she's become better at hiding her fear. I really like the way this characterization has built on the way movie!Sarah changed over the course of the movies themselves.

The engineer -- yes. Human? I think so.

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

This has received a thumbs-up from everyone on my flist who has seen it so far. I loved it, for all the reasons you list. Definitely going to be watching tomorrow.

[vaznetti]

It was a lot of fun -- I really hope they can keep it up, and don't get canceled right away!

[jood.livejournal.com]

I am optimistic about this show's chances at hooking me.


5. All of them turning up naked in the middle of the freeway. (Which... they tore down the bank and built a freeway? ::handwave::)

I am choosing to believe that the rotation of the earth had something to do with their location upon arrival. Like maybe the makeshift time machine wasn't perfect and got a fraction of a degree off over a period of 8 years.

I AM BACKSTORY QUEEN. BOW TO MY BACKSTORY GENIUS.

[vaznetti]

I do in fact bow to your backstory handwaving genius. Although you have not addressed HG's question about why your wool clothes don't travel but your hair (same stuff!) does.

It was a lot of fun. And you know, I really do like SPN, but it's so nice to have the story be about women for a change.

[jood.livejournal.com]

When it starts programming itself to shift you in time, it locks you down based on your genetic code. So your body hair gets to go along for the ride, but your scratchy alpaca poncho remains behind, to baffle (and give a minor rash to) the FBI's best forensics experts.


Bow to me. BOW!

[vaznetti]

::grovels::

[ide-cyan.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of the bank vault as time-travel machine, of sending an engineer back to build the time machine and the weapon.

And sending them back to 1963!