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The Last Stand of Sarah Connor?

The end of the road for another genre show?

By Rob Vaux     April 06, 2009


Lena Headey stars as Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
© Fox TV

 

This week marks the likely end of another genre show: not in triumph like BSG a few weeks ago, but with the sad, quiet certainty to which the vast majority of television succumbs. The road for Sarah Connor Chronicles was never an easy one--and indeed, there's been no formal announcement yet, so renewal may still be possible--but with Friday's episode marking the end of its troubled second season, it behooves one to ask how the show reached this state. Supporters like to cite its unfavorable time slot, or complain about how Fox never gave it a chance. Fox makes for quite the fanboy boogeyman these days, and certainly it bears some responsibility for backing the show into a corner. But the writers and producers knew they were in a tough spot. They knew they couldn't afford any missteps. And yet the middle third of the season sunk into a morass of repetitive soap opera theatrics, alienating a number of fans and quickly squandering its accumulated goodwill.
 
Things picked up again in the final few weeks, returning to the franchise's roots and enjoying a modest up-tick in viewers as a result. But the damage had been done. The show needed to be great when the chips were down and it wasn't. Combined with its unfavorable time slot, its lengthy hiatus and the sky-high expectations that come with the word "Terminator" in the title, and that extended bout of mediocrity became the straw which broke the camel's back.
 
There's still a little hope. The McG movie could reignite interest in the franchise if it does well this May. DVR viewings are reportedly quite high and DVD sales hold some promise (something Whedonites cling to like a drowning man as they watch Dollhouse go through similar throes). But if Friday's episode turns out to be the end for SCC, the quality of the show itself bears at least some responsibility for its final fate.
 
Monday
24 (Fox, 9:00 PM EDT)
Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) and the FBI seem to have patched things up, but we're a long way from dawn and that whole "unspeakable corruption within the administration" thing looks ready to turn around and bite them in the ass yet again.
 
Chuck (NBC, 8:00 PM EDT)
Chevy Chase guest stars this week. Before you panic, so does Scott Bakula, playing Chuck's (Zachary Levi) estranged father. (Presumably, he's just here to make things right before leaping into another body.)
 
Heroes (NBC, 9:00 PM EDT)
The Petrellis introduce a new member to their clan with Angela's (Cristine Rose) sister, while Hiro (Masi Oka) and Ando (James Kyson Lee) work to keep little Matt Parkman safe. Also, if HRG (Jack Coleman) is buying that snow job Danko (Zeljko Ivanek) and Sylar (Zachary Quinto) handed him, I'll eat my hat.
 
Medium (NBC, 10:00 PM EDT)
A missing mom has decidedly unusual children… meaning, of course, that they're the prime suspects when Allison (Patricia Arquette) comes calling.
 
CSI: Miami isn't airing because of the NCAA Championship. It's also opening day for Major League Baseball today: hope the steroids thing hasn't killed the buzz for you the way it has for me.
 
Tuesday
Fringe (Fox, 9:00 PM EDT)
Good news everyone! American Idol has decided to share Tuesday nights again, which means Fringe is back with all-new episodes. This week entails a voiceless child living under a condemned building, whom Olivia (Anna Torv) tries to help.
 
The Mentalist (CBS, 9:00 PM EDT)
We're off to Hollywood--a place that really puts the "art" in con artist--when a movie producer is found murdered. Nicholle Tom--who was the voice of Supergirl in Bruce Timm's great Justice League cartoon--guest stars as Marilyn Monroe.
 
Reaper (The CW, 8:00 PM EDT)
We're going all H.P. Lovecraft this week when the gang pursues an escaped soul to a small town where a Hideous Thing Which Should Not Be is apparently calling the shots. Stay out of tentacle range, boys.
 
Wednesday
Lost (ABC, 9:00 PM EDT)
How twisted is Ben Linus (Michael Emerson)? Apparently, he's decided that the only one who can pass judgment on him is the smoke monster--possibly because it’s the only one who won't put a bullet in his head on general principles.
 
CSI: NY (CBS, 10:00 PM EDT)
A murder in an empty theatre was apparently staged to hide the truth, which Lt. Dan and his pals pursue with their usual methodical aplomb.
 
Ghost Hunters (SciFi, 9:00 PM EDT)
A ghost in a bowling alley? Sounds like one of those awful live-action Disney movies from the 1970s starring the likes of Don Knotts or Tom Bosley. But apparently, it's for real, which is why the team is taking a look.
 
UFO Hunters (History, 10:00 PM EDT)
Taking a cue from James Cameron's The Abyss, the possibility of aliens based under the sea is examined this week, with a focus on the waters off the coast of Florida.
 
Thursday
Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire (Comedy Central, 9:00 PM EDT)
I won't say it's good and life will certainly go on if you skip it, but Comedy Central is premiering a new series tonight that satirizes fantasy shows like Hercules and Xena. There's some legitimate guilty-pleasure chuckles in there; the question is whether you're willing to fight past the misogyny and gay jokes to reach them.
 
CSI (CBS, 9;00 PM EDT)
It's not the fall, it's the sudden stop--a truism impressed upon the team when they investigate a skydiver's death.
 
Smallville and Supernatural are reruns this week. Eleventh Hour is off.
 
Friday
Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox, 8:00 PM EDT)
End of the line for the Connor team as Cameron (Summer Glau) busts Sarah (Lena Headey) out of jail and Catherine Weaver (Shirley Manson) makes her move. See the top of the article for more.
 
Dollhouse (Fox, 9:00 PM EDT)
Fox's other Friday night life-support patient focuses on the search for the turncoat in the Dollhouse organization. Word is the show is finally starting to get better; ask the Sarah Connor people how well that's working out for them.
 
Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 8:00 PM EDT)
Jennifer Love-Hewitt returns from her basketball-enforced hiatus to help a ghost deal with a possible murderer played by Hilary Duff.
 
Brave and the Bold and Wolverine and the X-Men are both in reruns this week.
 
Saturday
Thor: Hammer of the Gods (SciFi, 9:00 PM EDT)
Not the actual Thor, but an incredible simulation as a Viking warrior and his cohorts fight all manner of evildoers. What will it take to sic them on the people who thought a name change for this station was a good idea?
 
War Wolves (SciFi, 11:00 PM EDT)
John Saxon hunts a group of soldiers who sprout hair and fangs during the full moon. Yeah, it's probably dreadful, but it is keeping Tim Thomerson employed. On SciFi's Saturday nights, you take your silver linings where you can find them.
 
Sunday
Kings (NBC, 10:00 PM EDT)
King Silas (Ian McShane) presides over Judgment Day, an annual holiday wherein the fate of 10 criminal cases rests in his hands. Former wunderkind Macaulay Culkin guest stars as his evil little nephew.
 
The Curse of King Tut's Tomb and Legion of the Dead (SciFi, 7:00 PM EDT)
SciFi unwraps a passel of mummy movies for your viewing pleasure, starring the likes of Malcolm McDowell, Bruce Boxleitner, Casper Van Dien and Zach Galligan. Don't-miss cheesefest or crime against television? You be the judge.

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

Showing items 1 - 10 of 25
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LooneyBinJIm 4/6/2009 3:32:24 AM

From the commercials I've seen, they advertise this as the season finale instead of series finale (if that means anything). Also with Salvation coming of in May, they could use SCC to tie in to it for Season 3.

While I do agree some of the stories were slow, that does seem to be a common thing with a lot of other shows as well. Given the fact they can do only so much on Friday night at 8 (when kids are still up).

Not blaming Fox (much), but it seems that unless they put in a quirky doctor/mechanic to find out what is wrong with Cameron or give the crew real time missions (with a countdown clock), the show was doomed to failure anyhow.

karas1 4/6/2009 4:13:39 AM

According to TV Guide, Primeval is premiering on SciFi (or is that SyFy?) this Friday.  Looking forward to finally seeing this British show about dinosaurs in London. 

Dazzler 4/6/2009 4:46:18 AM

Terminator should have been more violent and action packed.  Work with whatever budget they had to do it, even cheesing it up if they had to.  They should have used more flash forwards to the future action stuff.  They did drop the ball on this show.  I will watch it out of course. 

hanso 4/6/2009 5:22:05 AM

I done told & warned you guys since the beginning of the season when Shirley Manson was coming out of urinals looking for golden showers.  Now the show is probably gonna end up canceled cause Season 2 is on the decline.

What does Season 2 have that Season 1 doesn't?  That's right, Shirley Manson.  And what does Shirley Manson do?.........

alphan 4/6/2009 5:45:08 AM

Terminator cancelled? As much as I wanted it to continue I think it's their own fault. There were too man boring episodes at the end if this season. I think a 13 or 15 (good)-episode season would have been much better.

Wiseguy 4/6/2009 6:32:32 AM

I don't think it'll be cancelled nor should it. I enjoy even the slow episodes. Sure Shirley Manson sucks balls  but she alone won't bring the show to an end. And we can't have a 13 or 22 episode season full of action ala Terminator 2, the show has to have its slow moments and balance it out with story. Maybe it's wishful thinking but I think it's coming back.

Now Dollhouse they can cancel

I'll give Krod Mondoon a look. Afterall Thursdays is Smallville only for me, nothing else interests me.

Glad to have Fringe back. The best new show of the year.

scifiwriter 4/6/2009 6:33:29 AM

T:TSCC is a thinking person's sci-fi show, and as such I can understand why so many don't like it. God forbid they be challenged to watch something without endless explosions and bullets.

ddiaz28 4/6/2009 6:38:14 AM

I for one disagree with all the negative critiques this show has gotten this past season.  I have loved it and will be upset to see it get cancelled if that is indeed it's fate.  People keep saying it got slow and boring but since when is concentrating on good stories rather than tons of action a bad thing.  The last 4 or 5 episodes have been especially great.  Specifically the one where Jon confronts Jessie.  I've enjoyed the entire season so far and I hope with the great episodes of the past few weeks, the uptick in viewers, and the coming movie all give Fox the incentive to stick with the show at least one more season and then end it properly. 

Hobbs 4/6/2009 7:09:38 AM

LOL!  yeah scifiwriter, THAT'S the reason why we don't like it.  lol  I'm sure it has nothing to do with the actual stories, inconsistent plots, lack of plots, soap opera stories, bad writing, bad acting, Shirley Manson, etc, etc.    What exactly makes you think the stories are "thinking persons" show?

The show has been good the last few weeks but has had the whole middle of the year of worthless stories to nowhere.  If it is cancelled go back to the middle of the season for about 9 episodes to see why.  The only thing that can save it is the new Terminator movie.  It sure the hell isn't ratings which have been dropping at huge rates.  Also putting the season final on Good Friday isn't going to help the ratings.

At least the Fringe is back this week and I think this has been a good season of 24 thus far.

In fact after writing this I need to pop in a DVD of some explosions so I can get my fill.

Bryzarro 4/6/2009 7:14:23 AM

Wiseguy:  Your telling me you don't watch Supernatural on Thursdays!?!  Man you don't know what you're missing!  Thursdays are the worst for me because of my loyalty to genre shows Smallville and Supernatural, but then I gotta stay up for timeshift to catch The Office and 30 Rock.  I really gotta buy a PVR.

For SCC I got into the show the last few eps or season 1 and liked it.  Season 2 has been okay.  I don't need big action all the time but I think by linking it to Terminator people have just associated Action with that title.  Sure they need to build things up but the masses don't care.  I'll miss it when it's gone.  Really good stuff with John Henry and his brother.  Would have been nice to build more on that and see which one is who in the end.

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