User reviews

So good and easily the best sequel to terminator and T2 we ever got. Can't believe it ended so soon. Lena heady and Summer Glau in particular killed it but everyone was great.

I admit I was skeptical when I saw the promos for Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles. I was prepared to not like the show.

Fortunately I gave it some time to develop itself and find its way. Dumping the T3 time line was brilliant because, as someone who has seen all the Terminator movies..T3 was junk.

Some people seem disappointed because TSCC is not one long constant chase like the movies. They are misguided and unsophisticated. One could not sustain that kind of tension over a TV season. Instead, what we have in TSCC is actual plot lines and character development! Thomas Dekker appeared ineffectual early on until the viewer realizes that we are watching a 15 yr old boy who thought he had escaped the horror of the machines for good, only to find "they are back". He is fearful, and feels incapable of leading an army. Some people criticize that portrayal. Yet, how should a 15 yr old feel in that situation? Exactly like that.

As the series progresses we see John Connor progress and become more like the leader he will some day be. One could make the comparison to Greek tragedy and the concept of fatalism where the hero can embrace his fate or try to avoid it. He begins to take chances and use initiative. This is quite entertaining to watch once the viewer begins to understand the process.

Frankly the show is wonderful. It exists on so many levels. And, to dismiss this as merely an action and explosion show is incorrect. This show is first and foremost about people. And, the interactions between cast members are refreshingly real. All the cast members give wonderful performances, even down to the lesser players. Summer Glau, a principal, is fantastic. She supplies just the right recipe of killer instinct and "ingenue" as an infiltrator terminator and the balance keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat as they watch the "machine" take on human behavior..but perhaps, not quite.

I have never purchased a TV show on DVD before and seldom have I purchased movies. But, I have purchased TSCC season 1 and have preordered the season 2 DVD. If anything, rewatching episodes, allows one to appreciate the series even more. With each reviewing, subtleties and nuances are revealed that were overlooked on first view. Try it yourself. Cue in on Hedley's one on one scenes with Dekker. They have an excellent rapport. You will see a single mom who is tightly bonded to her son and torn between the need to protect the child she loves and fostering the development of the leader of the resistance. Watch the subtle interactions between the principals when they share a scene, small glances, expressions and body language are so wonderfully communicative. The camera work takes you right into the Connors kitchen to sit among the Connors and observe the family's interaction. By the end of the first season, you will think you actually *know* the Connors.

Some here, complain that the TV show is not "like the movies". Celebrate that. This TV series blows the movies away. Because, it is the story that counts not the special effects. T3 and T4 are especially over shadowed by the excellence of TSCC

I have never gone out of my way like this to defend, of all things, a TV show for heaven's sake but, this show richly deserves the legions of fans it has created.

If this show goes away, we may never see TV this good again.

It's a GREAT pity this show has been canceled just as it was really gathering momentum. I found Season One a little hard to get into but season two had me chained to my chair every Friday night (last episode screened on Fox in Australia last night - 07AUG2009).

In Season Two the characters began to really develop and the interplay between them was becoming more and more intriguing. Apart from the three main actors, who are now excelling in their roles, the support cast is equally strong.

The story lines were developing faster and kept you guessing where the show would lead, with a twist every now and then taking it in an unexpected direction. The Season Two finale was excellent and gave the impression Season Three would open up a new swathe of story lines and begin to answer some of the lingering questions from the first two series.

This show is a winner with a great (and attractive!) cast and great story lines - which it makes it so hard to understand the shortsighted approach Fox has taken. It has plenty of legs in it and is begging for someone with some business nous to pick it up for a third, fourth and maybe fifth season! I remember how years ago Buffy was in trouble after only it's 2nd or 3rd season, yet someone was fortunately smart enough to realize the huge fan base that had developed and it went on to run for 7 seasons (and also spin-off Angel) - no doubt lining some executives pockets rather nicely.

TSCC is another one of those shows that has struck a chord with it's viewers and developed a loyal fan base which continues to grow as more and more people discover it.

One can only hope those smart executives are still out there.

Don't get why they just shut it down. Well make another try, it's been years. The creators should bring som new eyes to get more motivated with new ideas! This series was to good to end just like that. It's a "TERMINATOR" series. Terminator the moust loved action / Sci-fi movies in the hole world. Just bring som new people in on this, new writers. There are much ideas to this series to bring! Don't give up on this series!

Yes, this show ends after two seasons on a cliffhanger, but it is the best fiction that ever cast in that universe. Sensitive, sad, and tragic - over of my favorite shows ever.

Yeah, I am still bitter that they canceled this.

But, I guess the good things never last. I am going to blame marketing for this, given that I remember hearing about them making a series...and then I didn't even realize what channel it was on until almost the end of the second and final season. So that could be why, but who knows.

The good news is that Sarah Connor completely and totally disavows T3. The story starts with T2 ending the movie canon and believe me we are all greatful for that.

The fact is that Lena Headey pulls off tough really well in this, almost better than...I feel so dirty saying this...but almost better than Linda Hamilton. At least, I liked Headey more in the role. She seemed to balance the mother and the soldier a lot better than Hamilton did--though she had scarce opportunity to do it in the movies.

Summer Glau is the new good Terminator and, for those of you that haven't seen it, she is threatening in this. She is small and thin and really very ominous in her role and given her size, being as believably threatening as she was is just pure talent. There is no way someone with her figure could pull that off without really knowing how to act.

And the cool thing about this is that John Connor--Thomas Dekker--isn't the savior of humanity yet and that was a big draw because even though the movie focuses on his mother, had the series lasted longer we could have seen how he developed into the man that saves humanity form the machines and I really would have loved to see that.

Alas all we have are two awesome seasons and a lot of angry fans and even though it is incomplete, it is something that is worth watching, it's fantastically entertaining and everyone does a great job.

It's worth your time, despite the disappointment of an early demise.

I read all the bad reviews, and watched all the episodes. Trust me, the people giving it bad reviews watched only the pilot or two episodes and gave up too quickly. The show evolves and gets much better than the first few episodes. The plots are exciting, much more than Fringe (which can be disgusting and predictable) or even Dollhouse (which can be too unrealistic), two shows that I also really like this season.

I'll tell you something, I never bought a DVD for a TV show in my life, this is the first time and I've watched every popular show imaginable. This show has great plots, dialogue, and layered meanings and themes hidden within the show. If you liked any of the terminator films, you'll absolutely love this show. If you like any scifi or action TV shows, you'll definitely love this show. Just don't expect it to be like the Terminator movies with humongous budgets and explosions (yet it has quite a lot in each episode).

The Terminators portrayed in the series are amazing. The evil terminator seems so robotic and yet its ability to trick humans is wonderful. The complexities of the terminator characters are very entertaining.

Summer Glau is probably the BEST terminator ever. I love Arnold but she really makes the terminator seem realistic (why would a genius AI infiltrating humans send a bodybuilder? They'd send a little girl!!!).

The AI development storyline for Skynet is intense, alluding to chess was a great idea.

Sarah Connor played by Lena Headey, is very realistic. A very imperfect but tough woman who is on the verge of insanity--yet still tries to behave like a mother. She goes through some tough struggles.

John Connor sucked in the first few episodes, I'm sorry, but resistance are not "laid back, mellow, irrational, teenage delinquents"-- Don't worry though the character evolves into a fearsome resistance leader and engineer. He also struggles with trying to be a normal person and accepting his destiny (quite realistic).

Cromartie, the terminator who tries to kill John, played by Garret Dillahunt is an excellent actor (you probably seen him in Last House on the Left).

Important: The season finale of the second season was probably one of the best season finales I have ever seen in any TV show. It's definitely worth every penny, I really think you will be entertained, especially if you loved Terminator films.

This show is brilliant. The writers and cast have all done an amazing job in creating their view of the Terminator series. It is like an on going 5/5 star movie. Amazing effects, plot and actors!!! It contains all the elements of great entertainment- action, romance, drama, psychological insight and a bit of comedy even!! If you want to start watching it now, I recommend to buy the first season and watch it all and the previous episodes of season 2 because this show is deep and has much character background and development to truly understand and love it.

Definitely worth watching!!!

After Terminator 2,the quality of the movies have gone downhill. This series was a sequel to Terminator 2,showing John and Sarah trying to escape from new terminators and the government as well. This series did right everything the sequels failed to do. A serious plot with John and Sarah being persecuted not only by the terminators but the government as well,amazing villains like Cromartie, good female Terminators like Cameron and Weaver. They should have given this series a last season instead of cancelling it,such a wasted potential.

Sorry, I'm from Russia, I write through a Google translator. This series is a great continuation of the legendary films. He closes many questions thanks to the long airtime, unlike films. It is unfortunate that it is closed on such a note. I would like to continue.

I just discovered this series and was completely obsessed!! Im so heartbroken that it just ended after season 2 like that. How did this show not get enough popularity?!? I believe its my favorite yet!!!

This show is the best story advancement of the Terminator franchise since Cameron's Terminator 2 in terms of quality and plot development.

The plot of this series is set after the events of Terminator 2.

Most of all Summer Glau is the sexiest and most mysterious Terminator ever and Lena Headey really cool as Sarah Connor. Also Shirley Manson as Terminator with very mysterious mission and loyalties are so thrilling interesting ... but we will never know ... too bad!

I love the plot and the development of the Terminator story in this show.

And it's really a shame that the show got canceled (and Fox preferred the lame Joss Wheadon show Dollplay instead).

One of the best sci fi television shows to come along in years, particularly if you are a fan of the Terminator movies. It takes place in the time between the second and third Terminator movies, and it is obvious that efforts have been made to respect the source material. The pilot episode was a little weak, but for those who stay with the series, the payoff is big. The FBI raid scene in the final episode of Season 1 was a masterpiece - the music perfectly complemented the action. While the tone of the show is serious, the writers manage to infuse a little humor at the right times. This is definitely "must see TV" for me.

The first Terminator is my all time most favourite movie and I really like T2: Judgment day & T3: Rise of the Machines. I never imagined that there would ever be a series based on the films but when I heard about it I thought that it was another terrible spin off but when I saw the first episode I was completely wrong. Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles is an absolute amazing and outrageously entertaining TV series of the decade. They time travelled to 2007, and that is the time the series takes place. Skynet is rebuild after T2 and that is the major plot of the series to show how without Miles Dyson and why.

It takes place after T2 and shows what happens before T3 and has a good balance between story and action. Every single episode has more than enough to keep you glued to your seats and I never miss a single episode. The pilot episode was so good that it keeps me watching the rest of them and that is a good thing because the first episode is the most important. It answers every question about Sarah Conner because she suddenly vanished after T2.

Both Lena Headey & Thomas Dekker are brilliant Sarah & John Conner, they act really well and I have crush on Lena although she is mush older than me. Most people's favourite TV series is either Doctor Who or Prison Break but mine is The Sarah Conner Chronicles. Other than this I only watch The Simpsons because most of them are not really that good since the 90s. It is definitely worth watching especially if you are Terminator fan but if you want nothing but brainless action then its best avoided.

I have always been a big fan of the films and was delighted to hear about the TV adaptation, I thought if it was done well it would be great but I didn't expect (or hope) it would be this good.

I considered that Lena Headey was an odd choice for the role of Sarah Connor although after seeing her other work I had no doubt she could pull it off. As good (and iconic) as Linda Hamilton was in her movie (albeit mostly in Terminator 2) Lena has made this character her own and excels in showing Sarah's strengths and vulnerabilities. The rest of the cast is excellent too, I liked Summer Glau's performance in Firefly were she played a character with all of her emotions on show to now playing a terminator with nothing showing, a nice switch for her and superbly done.

I was surprised by some of the vitriol raised by fans of the films. The three movies always left me wanting more and now we are getting it. The writing is very good, they are doing some intelligent story lines with the terminators.

This is on my must-buy on DVD list, cannot wait for that to come out.

More please!

This is one of the best shows in the history of television. How any network could cancel it after only two seasons is just plain insanity.

I don't really know what to say except watch it. Forget any Terminator movie after T2 and then just watch this series. There is more in these little screen shows than any movie made after T2.

While I loved Linda Hamilton in T1 and T2, my favorite Sarah is this one. Also even the young John Conner in the TV series is equal to or better than the movies. The cool, sexy chick terminator is fun, but I do miss Arnold. Just something that can never be replaced. Other than that, the plots are great, acting top drawer.

If you miss this series only have only seen 2/3rd of the Terminator cannon.

This is a great show, highly recommended. Very true to the Terminator universe, great continuity and superb acting. No plot holes, great writing and great effects. Cameron is a total babe, her beauty leaving me open mouthed at times, Sarah and Riley also gorgeous. Highly recommended. Summer Glau must be given a role in T6!

For those who saw the original pilot, leaked quite some time ago, you may have experienced a level of disappointment in terms of the quality of the show. I thought the pilot was uninspired, but at least entertaining. I supported the show and looked forward to it mostly out of loyalty to Firefly alum Summer Glau, who was excellent even in the pilot. The writing was poor with numerous logic errors, silly lines, and a simple rehashed plot taken directly from T2, but with less special effects. I admittedly did not have high hopes for a long running Terminator series.

Oh, but, was I delighted when the show started! Immediately from the first regular episode I realized the quality of the writing had absolutely skyrocketed. The plot took a huge twist into new territory, unexplored by previous films. Thank god it didn't devolve into silly "terminator of the week" robot fighting nonsense. Even the acting had improved! Lena Headey is very tough and very believable as Linda Hamilton's old character Sarah Connor. Thomas Dekker is much less annoying (no Anakin Skywalker wannabe here) as an adult playing an angsty teenager, and playing it well. His character is actually important and plays a real role in the plot, as opposed to a VIP to be hidden in a basement.

Supporting roles in the characters of James Ellison and Charley Dixon are also very well played and compelling. Best way to make a sympathetic, heroic character without giving him hardly any screen time or lines: make him an EMT! Seriously, though, Dean Winters does a great job with the small amount of screen time he is given. I'm sure he will be a fan favorite. Richard T. Jones takes the Ellison role, originally written as the generic "good guy cop who figures it all out" guy, and expands and layers it into something much more interesting. Can't say enough for how much these guys contribute, with their few key scenes.

The quality of the show continued to improve throughout the series. At about the halfway point we get a new regular character, played by Brian Austin Green. If you haven't read spoilers yet on his character, don't! He is fantastic and really adds to the dynamic between the characters. He gets a handful of truly mesmerizing key scenes, especially in the season finale, which cannot be missed. We also get a new (old?) character played by Garret Dillahunt. Again, don't want to give anything away here: watch the show! Overall my opinion of this show is that it is quite excellent and cannot be missed. Watch the pilot but do not be deterred by the errors and other problems. Watch the first season all the way through to the finale and be blown away. I can't say enough for the writers and actors for their work on this great piece of TV.

It was stupid to cancel. The execs just wanted the money and the views didnt have enough to support it. Glau, stated there was a movie to tie up loose ends, hopefully theyll get that started . The show left at a cliff hanger.

They need to bring back the tv show, either one final season to tie everything up or a movie, direct to DVD or something.

Its ridiculous why they would cancel right at a cliff hanger and leave everyone on edge about how it ended...or the lack there of. Bring it back.. Bring the characters back, bring everyone back. We need answers and we need data, we need to know about skynet and others.

When Terminator 3 came out, it was good. Lots of people enjoyed it. I watched season one of TSSC and was blown away. Thomas Dekker's portrayal of John Conner is spot on, Brian Austin Green, is actually great. Summer Glau is a great replacement for Arny, Lena Headey does a great job.

I was talking to a friend about Terminator series, he was telling me he had never seen them. So I told him about them and how T3 sucked. One day we watched T3, and it didn't suck. After that I re watched TSSC and, compared to this series it sucked.

I recommend this to everyone who liked the Terminator series.

I found this show to be quite enjoyable. I can not wait for it to come back on. Although I made not be a fan of some of the actors it is still a strong story and one that can be built upon on so many levels. The depth this story can have is endless. Letus only hope that the writers are that good. Sometimes it is hard to make a show from a movie because you can not give it all away in a 1 hour show, you need to drag out the storyline so that the season will go on and keep the viewer tuning in week after week. So far they have achieved this in the nine episodes. Sadly it has only been nine so far and it looks like they are already to start the war. If they do that the series will not last long at all.

While the action scenes are great, these series clearly lacks more of it. But for the lack of action it delivers way more with fantastic writting. The storyline is very intense, complex and completely unpredictable. The cast is amazing, I loved the actors and characters, they were very interesting and memorable, all of them had strong distinguishable personas. It's so sad that it was discontinued, I wish there was more of it.

I thought the show's an absolutely nice breath of fresh air compared to the overrated shows we're watching these days. The pilot episode was really great, and I thought everyone really performed very well. It took some getting used to the new Sarah Connor (Lena Headey), but at the end of the day, by the season finale, it's hard to disagree that her acting is anything short of awesome The rest of the cast is simply brilliant. Richard Jones does his job well as an FBI agent, and his character is surprisingly very likable. Summer Glau is the star of the show, without a doubt, as the female terminator who will protect JC. And Thomas Dekker...well, this being his first major role in a TV series (not counting Heroes), he really fits into the role as John Connor very well. I think he's a great successor to Edward Furlong. He's scared, defiant, playful, yet he knows he has an ambition to fulfil.

The plot thickens as the season plows through. There are so many cliffhangers, and there are so many subtle details, yet it's hard to fault the show because they're not totally ridiculous or overboard (with the exception of the time travelling paradox, which I agree is very confusing). The action sequences are enough to keep Terminator fans happy, yet it's not so rife that it spells overkill.

TSCC also manages to avoid the "enemy of the week" problem that plagues many shows. Not to name any shows here, but it's one major turnoff imho with a lot of serials. A lot of them have this "enemy of the week" feature, and the plot is often thrown in as an afterthought towards the end of the episode. TSCC manages a constant pacing and flow, and still manages to kick in hot adrenaline-pumping action without the need to feature a new enemy every single episode.

As for being faithful to T2, you can bet that this show is one heck of a companion. Sure, there are many references to T2 that a lot of people will roll their eyes at eg. the quote "come with me if you want to live". However, keep in mind that T2 also has a lot of references to T1 ("come with me if you want to live" was from T1 as well), so I think it's quite ridiculous to shoot down the series just because of this. Also, take note that there are a good portion of the Terminator movies' crew is working on TSCC, such as Gale Anne Hurd and Mario Kassar. Yes, you can probably expect TSCC to be a much more faithful sequel to T2, than T3 ever was. If you were disappointed with T3 because of a lack of continuity in many aspects, TSCC will most probably be a pleasant surprise, no less considering it's a TV series Besides obvious references, the flow of action, humour and drama in TSCC also match that of T2 (and somewhat in T1). There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek humour, though they're all played out very seriously so they don't look 'forced'. The action sequences follow T2 and T1's very closely (lots of stuff breaking, including human bones). The art direction is also very close to the movies. If you didn't like T3 because the colours and artistic direction didn't seem to fit that of a movie discussing the impending doomsday, then yes TSCC may satisfy you All in all, I'd say that the show's a really pleasant surprise for me. I watched the first episode, thinking I'd hate it, no less because the entire cast was now different (and the fact that our new 'good' terminator looks even more frail than Kristanna Loken). However, the show got me completely hooked, and it was one heck of a thrill ride to blast through the entire season in one day (watched online hehe). Simply put, it's the best serial IMO to be released in recent years. Give it a chance if you haven't. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised.