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« Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Episode recap: "Heavy Metal"
“If you're gonna be a hero, you gotta learn how to drive stick.”
—Sarah Connor
While John laments over the death of Jordan Cowon, Cameron discovers that Cromartie was able to make the trip ahead with them into the future via news footage from a cell phone camera (she doesn't sleep, after all). With a newspaper reports of an arson at a dock and the re-routing of coltan, a 'key element' in the construction of cyborgs, Cameron deduces that Cromartie is attempting to reconstruct or repair himself. The group decides to be pro-active, instead of running like John thinks his mother always wants to do, and intercept Cromartie as he picks up the coltan. At the docks, they discover that it is not Cromartie, who is busy getting some plastic surgery done, but rather another model Terminator that is programmed to stockpile the element for Skynet's future plans. John forces Sarah and Cameron's hand into helping secure the element and effectively dealing with the new Terminator. Cromartie assumes his new identity and Special Agent Ellison continues to deal with the trail of bodies and inner FBI rivalries.
Commentary:
I didn't really like this episode as much I as wanted to. I was expecting a little more action, especially after last week's episode, but got more of the same: exposition and character development. I seriously hope this is leading somewhere. Obviously, there can't be huge action/CGI sequences every week but I did expect a little more than what was presented here (the cyborg fight in the bunker was cool, but too abrupt). The idea that Skynet is preparing for the future in such a manner is great; however, at present, it seems a little out of place. My fellow gamers out there will probably agree with me when I state that this episode seemed more like a “side-story/mission” from a video game.
Totally didn't like the whole, let's fake out the audience into thinking the George Lazlo in the FBI holding cell was in fact Cromartie! Bah! It was semi-cool to see the real George Lazlo and Cromartie in the mirror, with Cromartie imitating George for a second or two before... SMASH!
Did anyone else think of C3P0 when the Terminator shut down? “Sir, if you won't be needing me, I'll close down for a while.” OK, OK. That's a stretch. I did expect the key's removal to reactivate him. Now we know that these model Terminators have a 15 second reboot time.
Besides the mirror smash, I was fond of the Cameron effect shot when she jumped off the back of the truck. They even matched the panel that flew off the back of the truck! Cool!
So is Cameron thinking of using the coltan she took to fashion a cyborg baby for herself (I jest) or for spare parts? Why is John's hand shaking whilst we hear the Terminator theme in the background? I'm sensing that Ellison will eventually find out the hard way that Sarah has been telling the truth all this time and will team up with the Connors plus one (like the way Spike and Principal Wood joined the Scooby gang... sort of)
Nitpicking:
Odd how the drivers in the truck filled with stolen coltan didn't see or hear the commotion between Cameron, Sarah and the security guard? How come the new Terminator didn't see John climb in through the window, Sarah frantically reaching in the window after him or at least hear Sarah call after her son (“John! Damn it John!”)? Sarah effectively killing the guard by having Cameron leave him in the mine field (doesn't this go against the whole 'not killing humans' mantra she now has —then again, I guess it does leave his fate in his own hands). Mike seemed a little too friendly to John, especially after being hit in the head and seeing his buddies lying on the ground, dead. That's some crazy & quick plastic surgery that Cromartie got done (could be explained away because of his futuristic flesh).
Quotes:
Sarah: “Get the shotguns... and the C4 from the bathroom under the towels.”
John: “That's coltan. That's what you're made of. No wonder that you're so dense.”
Cameron: “Not density. Heat resistance.”
Sarah: “You know what I love about you guys? Even when you've evolved into the ultimate, indestructible killing machine, you are not above self examination and improvement.”
Cameron: “Thank you.”
Sarah: “Please shut up.”
Sarah: “If you die, they win.”
Sarah: “Tell me where they went or I'll beat you to death. And don't call me lady!”
Till next time, I'll be back! (ya know I would have to start using this eventually)
Check out more of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles in our Online Video Guide.
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Feb 5, 2008 2:21 AM
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Loved the scene of Cameron calmly walking off the back of the truck as it went over the bluff.
Another major nitpick: if you're transporting valuable cargo in a small convoy, you put a vehicle behind the truck so you notice someone trying to open the door from the inside. But then maybe that's what the guy Sarah knocked out was supposed to do ("One of our vehicles is missing, but we'll keep one going, 'cuz we're the bad guys and that's what we do!")
And didn't FBI guy notice that Lazlo had suddenly gotten about 4" taller?
Next week's preview definitely has the lines of the season:
"I call shotgun."
"I call 9mm."
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Feb 5, 2008 4:36 AM
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Maybe it was just me, but I thought Cameron said the coltan would be used to make her and others like her. Wouldn't the coltan she took be saved to make sure she is made in the future and therefore doesn't disspear in the new order of things?
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Feb 5, 2008 7:48 AM
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If the Coltan was removed from the factory where Cameron was made, then she would never have been made. The piece she took was probably intended to insure that she herself gets built, sometime in the future.
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Feb 5, 2008 8:33 AM
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Just wanted to comment on how KEWL it was to see Brian Bloom. He made a great terminator.
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Feb 5, 2008 9:30 AM
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I wonder if Brian will be a regular.
I can't imagine him JUST doing 1 episode.
He was very good as a terminator with those clear blue eyes 
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Feb 5, 2008 9:39 AM
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I am total into this show. Even with the nick picking you all mentioned, it didn't deter me from enjoying it. My fave scene by far was Cameron leisurely walking off the top of the truck as it was making it's Thelma and Louise escape. Loved it.
And for those wondering about if Cameron will be made in the future if they destroyed the coltan needed to make her. Don't think about it too much. Time travel is hard to understand in concept and much harder in tv show reality. If she had stayed in the future she might not have been made but since she is in the past she is okay? Who knows?
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Feb 5, 2008 9:42 AM
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Was that Brian Austin Green in the previews for next week?
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Feb 5, 2008 9:52 AM
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Unlike the reviewer, I actually liked the direction they took on this ep in that they started to veer away from the "let's make sure we wrap up the transition from the films" storyline and into new territory. And Sarah's character showed a little more determination, I thought.
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Feb 5, 2008 11:08 AM
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Don't think about it too much.
Exactly what I was gonna say. It's just a tv show and time travel isn't real any way so just enjoy it for what it is, entertainment. Don't over think things, it ruins the show.
Was that Brian Austin Green in the previews for next week?
YES
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Feb 5, 2008 12:18 PM
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I agree that Brian Bloom made a great terminator; I think the last time I saw him was on Without a Trace or some such show, and I remember thinking, "Nice to see he's still around." And he really has been working a lot, hasn't he? So that's good to see.
I wasn't able to sit down and focus on the show until about 15 minutes in - it was on, I could hear it - so I didn't catch what was up with the young FBI upstart in the beginning, but I was about ready to give him a smack for interrupting repeatedly and showing up the older agent in the later scenes.
Nice to see Garret Dillahunt again (last time I saw him he was getting offed on The 4400) although I did like the old Cromartie - he was kinda hot.
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Feb 5, 2008 1:26 PM
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I liked the episode in that it was setting up for upcoming episodes, as opposed to being some huge action sequence. There's plenty of time for those eps, and next week looks like one of them. I too want to know what was up with John's hand shaking. Was he finally losing it over the girl dying and that he wasn't able to try to save her, and he caught himself and got himself together? Was it all the stress getting to him? Does he develop some kind of condition that I don't recall him having in the Terminator series? Anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller?
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Feb 5, 2008 2:16 PM
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So far I am loving this show. I do hope it is given time to truly develop and not yanked prematurely.
I too was a little distracted by the inconsistencies, but on the whole I like the direction it's taking.
I try to remember that it is just a TV show and not get too nitpicky about time travel and the endless 'what ifs'...I'd give myself a headache
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Feb 5, 2008 2:18 PM
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The only thing I was disappointed with was we did not get to see the fight when Sarah cut the guard's bonds and told him he could go if he could get past Cameron. Other than that, it was a good episode.
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Feb 5, 2008 3:19 PM
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Robert & Charliy, Thanks for your "Nitpicking" comments, so I don't have to mention them. I got one more.
Cameron was FIGHTING with the terminator, who suddenly appeared in front of the truck with Sarah and John in it. They manage to run over the terminator and drive away. Then, Cameron walks out UNINJURED, UNSCRATCHED and as though see just walked out of a Ladies' restroom.
I felt that I missed a scene or two. However, I did enjoy the episode. I give it 3 stars.
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Feb 5, 2008 7:09 PM
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