Archive for television

What I’m Watching: Terminator TV

Posted in scifi, television with tags , , on January 19, 2008 by theavroom

lenathomasscc1So, I watched the premier of TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES’.

I have to admit that I’m not a fan of the movies. I think their ok but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see them. That said I did like ‘TTSCC’. The writing was tight, the actors were very natural in their roles and, most importantly, the story made sense. The writing team, UNION YES!, is using the slower pace of television to their advantage.

Thomas Dekker make us feel the frustration of being John Connor future leader of humanity who just wants is to be the one thing most teens wish they weren’t; normal. FBI agent James Ellison is the soul of a professionalism, but will the mystery of Conner’s 8 year absence crack that starched exterior as Richard T. Jones hinted at the LACON. Ah, Cameron who I’ve dubed the ‘Model T’ unit, Summer Glau’s scene stealing droid is just the right touch of naive and ruthless in delectably sexy package. But the writers gave their all the title character.

Lena Headey needs all her thespian skills to juggle the complexities of Sarah Conner. She id called on to be strong, loving, suspicious, cold blooded, vulnerable… etc… etc… This is a dream role for any actor and Leana seems to have put it on like a favorite old coat. I think the line the sums up her character the best was when she told Cameron that she didn’t know her because she was not the same person she was in the past. I feel she was speaking to the audience letting them know that this show will follow it’s own path and not be a slave to the continuity of the movies. To which I say, Good! I can think of few shows that held so close to the original material while fully breaking from it.

But I fear this great writing may be their downfall. Which I will explain in my next install meant.

-CJ

Terminator – TV2

Posted in scifi, television with tags , , on January 19, 2008 by theavroom

terminatorI was speaking with coworkers about TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES’ Tuesday. What you thought I did this for a living? I take the old axiom ‘don’t quit you day job’ to heart. Any way, these two fellows, one a rather macho conservative mundane and the other a very narrowly focused fan of ‘Nightmare before Christmas’, both said they didn’t like it because there was to much dialog. They said they wanted an explosion every two minutes like the movies. I don’t remember there being that many but as the conversation progressed I found out the first didn’t watch past the opening credits and the latter saw the last 20 minutes.

People please watch the show before forming an opinion. These same two are ‘Great Race’ fanatics. I have never and will never watch the show but I’m quite familiar with it from there long recaps they give after each airing. From what I’ve heard it’s the definition of visual pabulum. It saddens me how well written shows get cancelled because the average Neilson viewer seems to be a lazy half-whit who needs the laugh track to know when some thing’s funny.

People can you do this for me, please. If you haven’t seen a show; say so and shut-up. If you’ve seen it and don’t like it, be informed enough to say what you don’t like in an intelligent manner, other wise; shut up. The same goes in reverse. Don’t gush over your favorite show unless you can sell it! I’ve met many people turned off by the fans long before they had a chance to see what all the fuss was about.

And don’t get me started on, reviewers those waists of space. Another time. I need have a beer and lay down. Later folks.

-CJ