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« Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Episode recap: "Dungeons and Dragons"
While Derek is being treated for the gunshot wound he sustained from the Terminator in the previous episode, we are presented with a serious of flashbacks (flashforwards?) of his experiences in the future that led up to his teleportation to this time period. During this series of flashbacks, we meet Derek's brother, Kyle (for the first time in the series); Derek, Kyle and crew are captured in a failed mission after witnessing Terminators and later Hunter Killers transporting what appear to be aircraft engines; after being held captive, they are mysteriously allowed to escape and discover that their base of operations was destroyed; it is revealed that future Andy Goode was in fact responsible for the creation of Skynet and Derek was the one responsible for present-day Andy's murder; and finally Derek and Cameron did meet in the future (following along so far? Whew!) Back in the present, Charlie finally finds out the 'truth' about Sarah, John and much to his chagrin, Cameron.
Commentary:
My goodness but what an interesting episode! Although not perfect, I've been waiting for an episode like this: action... or rather.. post-Judgment Day action, intriguing plot twists, and they actually dealt with some of my nitpicking from the previous episode.
Where to begin?
OK, first, Kyle Reese is introduced! Through the grapevine, I had heard that the character would be making appearance and I was really afraid that he'd show up as a new character. “Hi Sarah! Remember, me? I didn't die” or “That was another me that died.” Thankfully that was not the case in the episode (although, one never knows... it could still happen). What did happen to him in that weird prison/house anyways?
Speaking about that 'prison,' what was the deal with it? Skynet (we assume) capture Derek, Kyle and party, transport them apparently some distance away in the back of a futuristic paddy wagon, chain them down (and barcode some or all) in a room of a house (possibly implied that it's the same house that the present day Connors now inhabit), escort them one at a time into the basement of the house for some unknown reason (music, dark room, possibly a Manchurian Candidate scenario?), return/chain them back up again, finally, allowing them to escape. Huh? I'm not really complaining, just not understanding... yet.
So Andy Goode did create Skynet and Derek did end up killing him (in present day). Does that mean that future Andy ceases to exist or is it an endless loop? What about Miles Dyson? Was his death really meaningless or does it mean that no matter who the present day Connors eliminate, Skynet will always find a way to come into existence? Argh! Paradoxes again hurt my brain!
Kudos to FOX for the surprising levels of gory graphic scenes! Kudos indeed! I was especially impressed by the carving up of the previous episode's Terminator and with the blood that Derek spewed up at one point. Being a horror film fan, seeing anything like this on broadcast television (within context of the story) brings a wicked smile to my face and makes up for the lack of gore in some of the previous episodes. Before anyone complains, those who are easily offended by such visuals can easily take advantage of the V-Chip in their TVs (that FOX promotes all the time). Also, one would question why are you even watching a television show based on the Terminator films in the first place? Heh.
I thought it was pretty cool seeing the future time machine that resistance fighters and John Connor had at their disposal. Curious that John didn't send Kyle back using that machine rather than the one in the Skynet labs...
Where those my beloved phased plasma rifles in a 40 watt range?
When they are teleported back to the present, I like the fact that there is a truck present at their location as well as a piece of paper/newspaper that flutters by.
I agree with Derek that it's kinda wiggy to see Kyle stare at Sarah's picture (hey! That ain't Linda Hamilton in the picture! Heh).
Billy Wisher? Yet another reference to T1 and T2. For those who may not be aware, William Wisher Jr. helped write/co-write the first two movies.
Wait a second! Reprogrammed Terminators can go 'bad?” Interesting... Hey, what exactly is Derek's beef with Cameron? She saved him after all. Then again, are we not seeing the full story or is it that he thinks that she could turn on them?
Nice also twist by tricking me into thinking young John was in the future!
Finally, thanks to the show's creators for not forgetting about the cyborg's missing hand from the previous episode! I take back my nitpick from last time. Which leads me to...
Nitpicking:
Derek is AB-Negative, needs a transfusion and Sarah is O-Negative, the universal donor? Flashbacks/flashforwards? There's a freaking hatch? Is it just me or does this sound strangely familiar?
Although I really shouldn't expect much considering television budgets and such, the resistance's various bases did look kinda cheesy as well as those skinless Terminators pulling the large engine.
I enjoyed seeing the post-Judgment Day scenes, however, as in the first two films, I wanted to see more! That being said, what's the deal with the bright, sunny skies? I thought the world was always dark because of the nukes Skynet launched or could it be I'm just thinking about The Matrix?
Even though I do like all the reference to the previous films, I just didn't like Charley saying “There's a storm coming” so I will not include it below. Then again, since I already mentioned it, does it not mean that it was listed as a quote by me? Argh! Paradoxes again hurt my brain!
Quotes:
Cameron: “You look nervous. There are sedatives in Charley Dixon's bag.”
Charley: “And, you're a...”
Cameron: “Yes, I'm a...”
Sarah: “You need a...”
Charlie: “A minute?”
Sarah: “I was going to say, a drink.”
Charlie: “Is that a complicated way of saying 'robot'?”
Cameron: “Cybernetic organism. Living tissue over a metal endoskeleton.”
Charley: “OK. 'Scary robot.' And her you are carving up this guy into chum.”
Cameron: “He's not a guy, he's a 'scary robot.'”
Charley: “OK, he's a 'scary robot?' You, you are a 'very, scary robot.'”
Until next time... I'll be back!
Check out more of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles in our Online Video Guide.
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Feb 19, 2008 3:17 AM
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Any soap fans out there recognize who played Kyle Reese? None other than the orignal Lucky Spencer from General Hospital, Jonathan Jackson. Haven't seen him in a while so it was really nice to see him again.
Robert, you may want to fix that 1st sentence. Serious=series. Just FYI.
I don't think that Kyle was with them in the prison house. He disappeared in the attack.
I have to admit being very confused about what went on in that room downstairs. Hopefully we'll find out in a future episode. And why were they just let go? Strange.
Ok, the skinless terminators looked like the ones from T2 to me. Special FX has advanced so much since T2 came out, so even though those were pretty mind blowing in early 90's, not so futuristic now.
Poor Andy Goode, damned all the way around. I wonder why Derek lied about killing him. But apparently he didn't take the Turk as well.... so who did?
What the heck is going on with Cameron, keeping that chip or whatever it is? Makes me nervous she seems to have a hidden agenda. I wonder if there was some programming from Skynet in her that couldn't be erased? Or some ultimate programming form future John Connor that supercedes protecting John and Sarah?
A really good episode, but it seems a lot of infomation is still murky. Scenes from next week looks pretty good!
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Feb 19, 2008 7:06 AM
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I did enjoy this episode, and the series as a whole, but like some of the stuff you've already nitpicked, I'm also nitpicking...
First, can someone explain to me why a nearly universal recipient like Derek (AB-neg) can't take blood from a universal donor like Sarah (O-neg)? That's certainly counter to what I've learned in high school biology. This is not the first time I've heard something like this mentioned from something coming out of Hollywood, so either all these writers are just plain wrong, or there really is a medical explanation. Can someone please enlighten me?
Second, being that Sarah's blood type is O-negative, again going back to high school biology, there should be no way that she bear a child whose blood type is AB -- Her biological children could be type A, B, or O, but never AB. And if Kyle Reese was also AB-negative, then John could only be type A or B, but never O or AB.
Third, Cameron mentioned that Kyle was sent on a mission to protect Sarah in 2027. In other words, 20 years from "now" (now being 2007 in the series). Since Derek's "flashback" (and our "flashforward") took place merely days before Kyle was sent back, it also had to have taken place in 2027. Then how is it that future Andy Goode didn't seem to have aged 20 years, or even 10, with the exception of growing a thick beard?
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Feb 19, 2008 7:09 AM
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Though a bit confusing, I love this show. And I love Cameron (Summer). Summer plays the role pretty good. She's sweet too.
That is my biggest question too. Why is she keeping all these parts? Is she just pretending to protect John so she can secretly hide parts for the future? Or is she building another of herself to program in case something happens to her? Just a thought.
I just hope that they keep this show around so we can get the answers. The Networks have a habit of sucking you in then pulling the plug.
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Feb 19, 2008 7:53 AM
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Very good episode. I still have no idea what Cam is up to with her collecting cyborg parts, but only some cyborg parts. I guess they can't reprogram the T-888 because they don't have the correct technology to interface with it since they have to do a full wipe...or else. They must have gotten hold of an entire Terminator programming device in the future because if they have to do a full memory wipe, then how does Cam (or Arnold) know so much about everything unless they had the full program and then they must have modified it to program them to help humans and not kill them (well, not most of them.) I had another question that popped up in my head during the week, if the good guys were able to go back in time to 1963 to help construct the bank in order to place the time machine and other items into the vault, then why didn't Skynet just send a Terminator back to kill Sarah Conner as a child, or her parents? Nobody from that time would have been able to stop a Terminator. Just saying.
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Feb 19, 2008 8:10 AM
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I loved this episode! Regardless of all the inconsitancies of certain time lines and years not calculating correctly. It is Terminator of course so I just enjoy the show. Well, I know it is the Sarah Connors Chronicles but the whole time travel is always tricky. We saw it in movies like Back to the Future, Deja Vue, and T1, T2 & T3.
I loved that they showed Kyle Reese. It was weird seeing the picture and it wasn't Linda Hamilton but this is a TV show and they have to adjust to the current actors. I want to see some more flasbacks of post Judgement Day and possible flashbacks of the time Kyle and Sarah had together. It took me back remembering when Sarah was describing Kyle. His kind eyes!! Yeah! It was great to see Kyle. I love that the current actor playing John looks like Kyle (the original). They have done a great job in casting the actors. I had no idea that Brian Austin Green was that versatile in his acting abilities. He has impressed me greatly. I hope he sticks around for a while and isn't killed off soon. He adds a complexity to the story which I like alot.
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Feb 19, 2008 8:27 AM
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"Any soap fans out there recognize who played Kyle Reese? None other than the orignal Lucky Spencer from General Hospital, Jonathan Jackson. Haven't seen him in a while so it was really nice to see him again."
Yep I sure did notice it was Jonathan Jackson! I didn't recognize him at first because I was distracted but as soon as I heard his voice I knew it was the one and only Lucky! I'm a huge fan of JJ and I hope that they are able to show Kyle again in other types of flashbacks/forwards.
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Feb 19, 2008 8:36 AM
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Ok, it was a very good episode, although thinking about the whole time paradox thingies makes my head hurt, but gory? You thought that was gory? I guess with watching Supernatural I'm just inured to it - after tablesaw in the back, and carving fork through the throat, cutting up a cyborg just ain't that gross.
Anyway, gotta agree that Brian Austin Green is doing a great job - I'm so glad he's back on tv.
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Feb 19, 2008 8:55 AM
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Curious that John didn't send Kyle back using that machine rather than the one in the Skynet labs...
I think that was an attempt to keep continuity with the movies. In T1 I remember Kyle telling how he came back in time after they broke into a Skynet facility and used the time machine. That was also why he was the only one, after he went through they were going to destroy it so no other terminators could come through.
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Feb 19, 2008 9:05 AM
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I'm not up to speed on my Terminator movies like I should be, so just let me clarify to make sure I'm on the same page: When Kyle disappears in the flashback/forward and Derek is hunting for Kyle, Kyle is actually being sent back to meet Sarah for the first time, and that's when they sleep together, yes? And then shortly after Kyle leaves, Derek and his crew are sent to 2007? I too wondered about the disparate technology used to send them through time, why they were chained in the house, what was in the basement - and I sure didn't recognize Andy until he admitted who he was.
I loved Charley and Cameron's exchange - I might have trimmed some of the dialogue to give it more heft, but I really enjoyed Charley's reactions throughout the whole episode - he obviously trusts Sarah so he's more willing to accept what she's telling him than the average Joe might - but he's just as obviously flummoxed by the whole thing, which I would expect. I'm glad John got him to operate on Derek and I like his role in the show.
I agree too that future-Kyle looks a lot like present-John. Good casting, and it was nice to see Jonathan Jackson again. He always was my favorite Lucky. Hope we see more of him again.
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Feb 19, 2008 10:06 AM
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Nitpicking some here but I definitely like the show.
I seem to recall from the first movie (but I could be wrong) that Reese said that the time machine was blown up right after he came through and that he was the only one coming. If that is correct then they either have more than one time machine for all these "fighters" to keep coming through or they didn't actually blow up the machine but only told Reese they were going to.
Also I'm interested also to see what's up with the dark room in the house & why all the humans were kept chained up & given the bar code tattoo. In the movies the Terminators have one mission. Kill humans & that's it. No pity, no remorse they just keep coming & coming until theres nothing left of them. Capturing humans wasn't really part of the plan. They just wanted to wipe us out. I'm curious how they developed the idea of capturing us & what scheme they might have in mind.
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Feb 19, 2008 10:24 AM
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I really like this show. I find myself actually looking forward to it on Monday nights. I love Brian Austin Green. Good to see him back on tv.
That said, as someone who hasn't watched the movies very closely, I am following along without thinking too hard about it. I think I might have missed an ep, but did Sarah get rid of her cancer? I can't think of the paradox effect too much or I do get a bit confused. John in the future still looked young.
I sure hope this show sticks around.
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Feb 19, 2008 10:38 AM
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I didn't even recognize Jonathan Jackson until I was reading about "Kyle Reese" online. They did a great job casting. His voice also reminded me a lot of Michael Biehn's slightly raspy but kind voice from The Terminator. It wasn't too much of a stretch for me to imagine him as being the same Kyle.
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Feb 19, 2008 11:01 AM
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I loved the bunker that Kyle and Derek were hiding in, and looked to me an exact replica of the bunker that was shown in T1 complete with the people with the dog and everything. I also loved the reaction of the four resistance fighters when they were teleported back to present day and they saw the standing buildings, instead of rubble.
I found it curious that everyone knew of John Conner at that futuristic point in the show, but at one point, one of the fighters said that John kept to himself.
The whole scene at the house in the future kind of reminded me of Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The terminator that led them down to the basement had some stuff wrong with his skin. My guess is that they were drawing blood from them so they could eventually regenerate skin for their exoskeletons. Also, it wouldn't suprise me if John was somehow responsible for any of that, or at least giving them the ax to let them escape.
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Feb 19, 2008 12:09 PM
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Best episode so far!
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Feb 19, 2008 12:10 PM
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