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« Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Episode recap: "Queen's Gambit"
“To win you must be patient, bold, calculating. And most of all: willing to sacrifice.”
—Sarah Connor
Andy Goode contacts Sarah to invite her to a computer chess tournament that he has entered. Andy's new version of The Turk, the chess computer that Sarah destroyed when she burned down his house, is entered into the competition —the grand prize being is lucrative military contract. Chromartie, under the guise of Special Agent Kester, contacts Charlie Dixon to see if he has any information about the Connors. John and Cameron deal with the aftermath of the suicide at school. John again encounters Cheryl Weston whom he is told is “damaged goods.” Back at the chess tournament, Andy's computer loses the match much to the relief of Sarah, who was mulling over killing him. Shockingly, Andy is later found dead by Sarah in his hotel room. She is able to chase down the possible killer but the police arrive and apprehend him before she can interrogate him. After deducing that he is the remaining (and missing) resistance fighter, Sarah tracks down and visits him in prison. She gets two surprises: he claims that he did not kill Andy (or steal The Turk) and that he is... Derek Reese, Kyle's brother. The group hatches a plan to rescue Derek while he is being transported but the Terminator that was originally hunting the resistance fighters has other ideas. Cameron is able to deal with the enemy cyborg, but it still ends up shooting Derek. They transport the wounded man back to their house and deal with his injuries; however, the wound is too difficult to treat. John fetches Charley Dixon to help save Derek.
Commentary:
Finally, we get some action or rather the action clips we all have seen in the previous previews. I guess the show is still trying to find it's legs because to me, that truck sequence was just a but underwhelming, except that I did enjoy the “Triple 8” (heh) getting it's hand ripped off and head all battered. Later, I felt a certain glee as Cameron battered it with that pipe. Did the production designers keep with continuity with the look of the chip that she removes?
So did Sarah have/developed feelings for Andy? Who killed Andy? Cameron? John?
I didn't get a close look but were those vitamins or a possible anti-cancer/health food pills that Sarah took?
Loved the scene between Cameron and the guidance counselor, although based on his reaction, it appeared that he was more interested in getting info out of Cameron about Jordan rather than helping her “grief.” Can we now assume that the guidance counselor was why Jordan killed herself? (side note: why is this even a subplot?)
I didn't recognize Brain Austin Green at first and ended up being fairly impressed by his performance. I guess I was wrong about Cheryl being the missing resistance fighter, but I sure didn't expect it to be Kyle's brother either. Oh, what's Cheryl's deal anyway?
I liked the way the Terminator got itself into prison, but it turned out to be rather pointless as it was unnecessary to the plot.
Penny!!! Sorry, I meant Michelle!!! Of course, you all know what other television show I was thinking of when she says “Charlie.” Did you notice her accent slightly slipping when she raised her voice?
Tin Miss! Tornado! Ha!
Nitpicking:
How could John be great at computers and hacking but need help with math?
I believe I saw that remote control robotic dog at Toys R Us for $39.99 a few years back. Guess they couldn't afford getting (the discontinued) Sony Aibo.
Realistically, why would Sarah even bother to ask Cameron about her feelings towards Andy's death? She's a machine, after all (obviously, the real reason is to help drill into the audience that Cameron isn't human and to set her up as a suspect in Andy's murder... but still... too in your face for me).
Is it just me or was it a little implausible that that Sarah automatically believed that Derek was who he claimed he was? I guess we are meant to assume that Cameron was able to confirm who he said he was off-screen (based on what Cameron said earlier).
Did I miss it or did they explain how they got rid of the Terminator's body (I don't include it's hand in this question as that could easily been assumed to have been destroyed)?
Those city streets during the chase/action sequence at the end where barren except for one or two cars... and the Connor's Jeep.
Chess? In the jungle? Taught by the crew that Sarah hung around with? Come on now!
Quotes:
Cameron: “It could become Skynet.”
Sarah: “It could also become 'Pong.”
Cameron: “I am done with grief counseling and I feel much better.”
Derek: "I won't be the bastard who brings metal down on the Connors.”
Sarah: "Field trip."
John: " I call shotgun."
Cameron: " I call 9mm."
Till next time... I'll be back!
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Feb 12, 2008 2:53 AM
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What did John say when the Japanese computer shockingly won the chess match? "they didn't lose the queen, they sacrificed it" Is that line a foreshadowing of how this show will ultimately end? (hopefully many seasons from now) This show just gets better and better, and one of the biggest reasons is the character development. Sure, the Terminator movies are all about rock 'em/sock 'em action of man vs. machine, but if the show is mostly action and little character development, we lose the "man" half of the equation.
Another foreshadowing was Sarah's monologue about the difference between war and chess juxtaposed with Ellison's discovery of 888's hand. Ellison would almost have to transition from foe to friend. Anyone so single-mindedly dedicated to this case would realize that there's just too much bizarre stuff going on: why can't the FBI labs figure out what exactly this synthetic blood is? how the heck did John and Sarah Reese/Conner set off an explosion when the security cameras show them carrying nothing into the bank? you'd need a truckload of C4 to blow that bank vault door off. And now, what the heck is this prosthetic hand made of some unknown metal and covered with human skin?
I love the chemistry between the Conners and Charley. Charley and John are obviously very close: you can tell from their chemistry; no scriptwriter has to fill in the gaps for you. Sarah and Charley were very much in love, and Charley's new fiance has figured out as much. In next week's preview, when Sarah argues that she doesn't have to and can't (tell Charley), you gotta think that it's not a rational decision but a desire to protect him.
Does Derek Reese survive his injuries? Hope so, because his character would be a terrific addition to the rather spartan Team Conner. If Charley joins Team Conner, does he just up and leave his fiance, house, career, everything to live off the grid and fight in the resistance? Pretty major league lifestyle change. Obviously Cameron plans on building another robot with last week's coltan and this week's chip, but how does she reprogram the chip? And who is John's mysterious chem lab partner? BTW, I don't find it odd that a bunch of Central American guerrilla fighters were very intelligent chess players. Nor is it odd that John doesn't particularly care for math (it's not that he finds it difficult; math just doesn't turn him on) but gets totally jazzed by computer programming.
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Feb 12, 2008 6:58 AM
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"How could John be great at computers and hacking but need help with math?"
I don't believe they said he needed help with his math, he just didn't want to do the homework.
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Feb 12, 2008 8:37 AM
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My nitpick was the way Derek just kind of stood there when T888 was shooting the gun. Wasn't he there to protect someone? Shouldn't he have been trying to get John to safety?
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Feb 12, 2008 8:42 AM
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OK, the whole BAG is Kyle's bro had my jaw dropping - LITERALLY. It was THAT shocking!
That said, it was revealed in the TVGuide interview with him yesterday that whoever he was, he was here to stay, at least through the end of the current season.
I'm interested in seeing exactly how the various subplots work themselves out. Who killed Andy? (The obvious answer to why is now that The Turk becomes Skynet.) What does this counselor have to do with the Connors? Does John tell Derek that Derek is his uncle? What is Cameron up to getting the pieces to build a Terminator? (I still say it is possible that she may be an Infiltrator style machine.)
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Feb 12, 2008 8:48 AM
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I was bummed to see Andy go; I like cute nerdy types like him, and I'm bummed he had to die.
I also liked Brian Austin Green's performance. Unlike some former stars of teen-esque shows, they didn't try too hard to make him look tougher, and thus, it worked. A few tattoos, a little scruff, and off he goes - and he almost underplayed the role, but it totally worked for me. I only wish for his sake he had a deeper voice, but anyway, I'm glad he's sticking around.
I like Ellison and I hope he ends up in on it at some point because he's been portrayed so sympathetically - a man whom no one else believes, but who knows he's right. I too missed how the 888 was disposed of. Anybody catch that?
The guidance counselor was so sleeping with Jordan. That whole sequence was funny, especially when Cameron repeated the conversation she'd had with Jordan. (I do hope Summer Glau eventually gets a role that lets her emote normally though.)
I also wanted to holler "Penny!" at the screen. Or actually, what I was thinking was, "Not Penny's Boat!"
And that Charlie's awful cute. I'm just sayin'.
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Feb 12, 2008 9:20 AM
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Something I just thought of for the Connors regarding Cameron:
They could tell the school she has Asperger's Syndrome.
As a person who has it, TRUST me, it fits for a good Terminator to pass off any idiosyncracies as this, particularly in a school setting.
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Feb 12, 2008 9:27 AM
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Robert, let me ask you a question. Why are you recapping this show if all you can do is tear it down? It is a show about future machines coming back to 2007-2008. You know, Sci-Fi. Go with it.
To me it is pretty entertaining. Lots of action. It needs subplots. I hope it gets picked up.
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Feb 12, 2008 9:42 AM
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I have been figuring the school subplot might be connecting to the fact that Cameron appears to be collecting Terminator body parts (i.e., that metal last week, I don't think she shared the computer chip this week) and that makes me nervous. I am not sure, but those are both random and seem like they connected Cameron up with the bad guy (the guidance counselor) and John with one of his victims (that girl), maybe? I am assuming Ellison is four or five episodes away from figuring out the robot thing, but probably a season away or so from joining the team. He found an arm or something of the T88 that the Connors forgot this week, and I am guessing he has a run in or two with Cromartie (that's his name right, because isn't that a football player?). However, perhaps he shares Sarah Connor's experience by being locked up in a mental institution for a bit, afterall he will start raving about robots.
I thought Brian Austen Green might be our next forced acceptance of a casting change from the movies and actually be Kyle Reese, if for no other reason than there is a bit of resemblence between him and Thomas Dekker. I am guessing, though, while John might not look exactly the same as the adult Derek knows, Derek seeing him as sixteen year old John, might just make him say, wait a second, he looks a lot like what both me and Kyle did when we were teenagers.
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Feb 12, 2008 9:43 AM
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While it's not in the category of, say, "Lost," it is holding its own and I still look forward to it on an otherwise dismal Monday night schedule so I have to count myself as being a fan. I care about the characters and think the special effects are on the up and up so I'm interested in seeing where they take this thing.
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Feb 12, 2008 10:32 AM
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I guess the show is still trying to find its legs ...
:o)
(Great recap, though!)
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Feb 12, 2008 10:32 AM
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I'm with you, ajc_jeff, about wondering why TV Guide has Robert recapping this show since he doesn't seem to have much positive to say about it. I've considered not reading his review anymore because it makes me reconsider what I thought was a great episode.
Hey, TV Guide, maybe you can round up a recapper who likes the show or is willing to pretend that they do?
I really like the show so far... I like the cast a lot. Brian Austin Green - yummy!  I can get past the continuity problems because I went in to this show knowing it might have difficulty because of T1, T2, and T3.
By the way, Robert, at least one of the bottles of pills that Sarah took was Echinacea which can be used to stimulate the immune system.
Looking forward to next week!
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Feb 12, 2008 11:34 AM
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The show is great! With a story line that involves time-travel, robot domination and 100 pound cyborg body guards that look hot, how factual and believable do you need?
I agree about this blog. It does seem that Robert does not enjoy the show much! It is reflected in his writing.
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Feb 12, 2008 11:59 AM
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sorrels19, you've reconsidered reading Ivins' recap because he actually made you think? Oy!
I don't think it'll hurt his feelings if you disagree with him.
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Feb 12, 2008 12:10 PM
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I didn't find Robert's commentary to be too negative - the problem was I didn't find it on Monday night. Don't write a novel, just get the thing up on time so we can get the conversation started.
I don't think Cameron killed Andy. I'm leaning towards the partner.
A lot came together in this episode, I think our FBI guy is starting to see that this case is outside his scope of reality (time ot open a X File).
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Feb 12, 2008 12:53 PM
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