Speculation - No Spoilers

[tzigone]

allergygal said:

I think it's almost too safe of a plan for John Connor. We're learning that he's a risk taker and we also know he doesn't want people to die. So I'm much more inclined to think that he would try to change the past to prevent j-day completely or at least lessen the length of the war.

I agree. And I love that description of John.

Also, I think that was a big problem with T3. It stole defeat from the jaws of victory shown in T2. Gave us years of believing they did it, and then said "oh no, forget that happy ending - the great victory of T2 was pretty much useless." If we hadn't had the T2 ending, then T3's ending wouldn't have bothered me nearly as much. As it was, it was just so contrary to the "The future is not set" and "No fate but what we make." It made the characters powerless, took control of their own destinies from them, essentially said that nothing they did mattered. At least that's what it said to my bitter little heart.

I think that we can look at where the movies failed/succeeded to try and give us some meat for speculation for how this series will go. Along with looking at the themes of the movies.

Unfortunately, I've never been part of the greater Terminator fandom, and so don't know what was most popular/unpopular with the majority of the audience. So I'll post what I've heard said and what I think others might think and anyone else who'd like to jump in should do so. Anyone who knows the response of the greater fandom to various aspects is doubly welcome.

T2 is definitely the favorite of the movies for most fans. What made it so great, that this show may wish to emulate or be inspired by? Excluding the special effects, since the show most likely doesn't have the budget for some of that.

• Terminator ally - we already have this, and she's very popular
  
• Sarah kicking butt - action sequences are more limited in the show, and Cameron gets most of them. Only she can fight Terminators. Definitely think we need to see humans physically fighting back more and not leaving it all to her.
  
• That the heroes were proactive and were fighting back - entire theme of the show.
  
• John's displayed potential. My favorite part of the movie, though likely low-priority for others
  

Unpopular for T2? The only things I've ever seen cited is that Sarah doesn't have a larger role and the "pet robot" aspect with John teaching one-liners and such. If anyone has any ideas here, I'd love to read them.

T3 has always seemed mostly disliked by fans to me. I'm not sure how it was viewed by those who weren't fans of the first two movies, though.

Unpopular aspects

• Reprogrammed Terminator who doesn't hurt any humans at all - I never really noticed that in my one-and-a-half viewings, but I've seen it referenced. - They are definitely not going this route with Cameron
  
• John Connor is a mess. Not half the man he was at 10. He's a loser. He's not strong. He's not at all what T2 led me to expect from him. He's not even bright enough to figure out this isn't the same Terminator he saw melt.
  
• John wasn't 10 in T2. T2 didn't happen in 1995. Sarah wasn't 18 when he was born. He wasn't born in 1985. He was 13 and in eighth grade in during T2, which was seemingly in 1994. - Unfortunately, SCC did not keep to the T1/T2 timelines. I find that a real shame, because it mucks things up, essentially for no reason since I haven't seen the changes as contributing to the show so far. Alas, they seem to have a general "it's not important" attitude in regards to movie-continuity.
  
• No Sarah Connor - Well, no fear of that here
  
• Patents that spell everything out in detail - Plot contrivance that SCC doesn't seem to be leaning on
  
• The somewhat defeatist ending that is so contrary to the message of T2
  
• The incredibly not-funny "talk to the hand" type lines. Awful. The humor in SCC tends to be much better.
  

Now this one is out of the list, because I've never heard anyone else comment on it: The T-X. Not a good Terminator to me. I found the simple bladed weapons creepier than her arsenal. Also, needlessly overdone sometimes - one killing in particular was gorier than was practical. Much better/quieter/quicker ways to kill the guy. Also, more sexualized and not as robotic, in a way. More Borg Queen than Terminator, at times. I like the Borg Queen, but I don't think Terminators need to act like that.


Popular things in T3

• As I understand it, the prototype Terminators that killed people in 2004 were popular. No difference to me either way.
  
• The ending, with J-Day coming. Much as some hated it, some loved it.
  

I liked seeing some of John's future lieutenants as fast-food workers and the like. I don't expect we'll see any in SCC, but if we do, they should be along varying lines. Some high-ranking military officials, and some high school kids working at McDonald's and a few in between.

I think we're seeing some things utilized now. A Terminator as a good guy in the mix, but they aren't forgetting that she's a Terminator. She kills. And the guilty/threatening aren't her only targets. The Terminator learning the value of life was a big them in T2, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it repeated in SCC, but very slowly, because fans like aggressive Terminators.

So far, they seem to be going with organized crime instead of a corporation or the military in regards to the beginnings of Skynet. I don't really agree with that one, to be honest. I wonder if it isn't being done just so it's "okay" to kill the people on the other side. I hope not. But maybe it's being done to be creative, to not retread old ground. In any event, the mafia thing isn't really my thing. But I expect them to get rid of Sarkissian fairly quickly (he knows where they live) and it's quite possible they won't get the Turk back then and will have to follow it to it's next owner. Or perhaps they will get it back and follow another lead. Either way, mafia doesn't really have to stick around, though it may.

I do see a "killing innocents is bad" message in this show. I wish Sarah would be more forceful about it, but that's a separate issue. I know Derek and Cameron are phenomenally popular. But I think we, as an audience are meant to condemn killing Andy and Cameron's willingness to kill almost anyone. Especially with the Terminator VO for Andy's murder.

I guess that depends on how you see John, though. Do you think he needs to learn to be harder, more "gray", more cynical, more realistic or do you think he needs to keep his views on right and wrong, keep valuing individuals, needs to be the one learned from? Should he accept that horrible things are necessary or should he condemn those things? I tend to go with the latter. As I've said, I loved T2 John, so I'm hoping we go more in that direction, too.

What this shows allows for, that we never saw in any of the movies, is for us to see the evolution of Skynet. We either came in before it was done (T1 and T2) or after it was too late (T3). We never got to see the technology finalized, see the government make the decision to pursue it, any of that. And that could be very interesting. At the same time, we can't see too much of it, because too much information as to how/when/where it happens makes it too easy for our guys to know how/when/where to strike.

Lastly, what has been popular/unpopular about SCC in it's first season?

Popular:

Derek and Cameron have been very popular. Gray sells, I guess, because most people seem to like them. Expect to see more of them, and see them very prominent next season.

Unpopular:

Ellison - so far I haven't seen anyone that's really enjoyed his storyline. Either they ramp him up next season and get him more involved with the other characters (or some other angle regarding Skynet) or they relegate him to a smaller role, or they kill him off. I find option #1 most likely.

Split:

I've seen several posts that say Sarah is not getting enough prominence and would like more focus on her. I like an ensemble cast. I like heroes not to do it alone. But definitely showing her doing some more fighting and showing her pursuing more leads would be good.

John - his more hero-like v. more I-don't-want-to attitude. Some people love the reluctant, not ready kid and think he should not be a leader/fighter (until the very end of the series) and some people feel he's very regressed and not nearly as cool as he was in T2 and want to see more sooner. I frequent 3 boards for SCC and each of the three is more likely to have fans of a certain opinion. Not at all surprisingly to me, TerminatorSite seems to have a larger percentage of people who prefer T2 John and are not happy with a fair bit of his characterization here. It could be, though, that I just notice it more there. With different opinions at different places, though, it leaves me unsure what the fandom as a whole wants.

The high-school subplot. Some fans like it, some hate it. I'm middling there. There hasn't been enough to the plot to fascinate me. I have no interest in routine teen drama. But if we're going to see John learning hero-stuff from that or see it tie in to the Skynet plotline, that's great. If it's Cameron learning about humanity and how people relate, that could be interesting. If it's just who John wants to date and John trying to balance having a "real life" with his saving-the-world duties while Cameron gets hit on occasionally, I'd rather skip it. I really don't want "two separate worlds" going on long-term. One more season of them being completely separate, but that's enough.

[rossbondreturns]

For the T2 John.

You know how big a fan I am of all things Terminator but one of my biggest gripes about T2 is that we are supposed to buy this John as lready something of a leader...and I just didn't see it...at all. Except in the deleted CPU smash scene.

To me John does not come off as well trained. He does not come off as prepared. Nor does he really come off as believing in anything about Terminators until T-800 saves him. He seems for almost the entirety of the film to be jerk kid with pretty leet hacking abilities and an attitude to match.

Some folks see this attitude as somehow showing him to be grown up- an adult or at least beyond his years. I knew many like this at school...and all they were to me were know it all jerks- the crowd followed them because they were cool not because of any true leadership ability.

Yes he showed some knowledge of weapons and handed some tools and bolts to the Terminator but if that's supposed to sell me on the fact that he's already a leader. It fails miserably.

I've said as much to Camerons face. I mean it's clear he's trying to sell that John is already a leader...but he doesn't go far enough- not nearly far enough. When you have a 10 YO supposed to be a leader you have to show something extraordinary to have most folks really believe that he is any kind of leader.

So T2's John...just came off as a Hacking- tying oh so hard to be cool- wisecrack artist to me.

At least in T3...we see him gradually accepting the reality of his position and wiring up bombs. And then finally accepting his role- when he keyed that radio I thought...this is a John Connor who I can see growing up into the leader.

No longer a show...but an accepting of reality.

Just my take.

[tzigone]

rossbondreturns said:

For the T2 John.

You know how big a fan I am of all things Terminator but one of my biggest gripes about T2 is that we are supposed to buy this John as lready something of a leader...and I just didn't see it...at all. Except in the deleted CPU smash scene.

Oh, I see tons of it. I'm not talking about his smart-alec comments, either. That's nothing to me but a cover for how angry he is with his mom and stuff.

For my leadership perception (and I agree on the CPU scene) see here


But really, here, I'm trying to get what is generally held popular/unpopular by the greater audience. I mean, I don't like Derek. But he's loved and well-received by the audience and that's what's important in trying to find out what direction the show will take with him.

Generally speaking, I've not seen flattering comments regarding T3 John.

[rossbondreturns]

In reguards to T3's Connor...most hate him becuase they hate T3...some haven't even seen it yet feel their take on John in T3 holds creedance.

People just go...Ugh I hated T3...and just lump everything into one big hatefest.

They don't take or invest the time into really studying or taking a decent look into what makes John how he is in T3. Simply because they have a very simplistic way of looking at Terminator.

One of the most common and I think sad reflections upon Terminator fandom is the group that says "If it's not Cameron it's not Terminator"

It's that sort of thinking that not only make me frustrated but also makes J.C. pretty disgusted with some of Terminator Fandom.

The simple fact it that if you invest the time into looking what made John in T3 what he is it reveals far more of a logical and thought out conclusion of why he would go off the grid and the fantastic tactical advantages of it for the upcoming war. And reveal someone who is thinking in a very tactical manner in everything he does. That's why I Love the planning stages for my projects because one gets deep into the character and his reasons and motives for the choices he has made.

One of the things I'll look for and share here is a pseudo creative interview of myself talking to John Connor and asking him questions about the whys whats and are you sures of his choices. It brings a whole new level to Johns character that a Film script set over the course of LESS than 24 hours could never hope to accomplish...nor should T3 ever have tried to accomplish such a thing.

[allergygal]

tzigone said:

I think we're seeing some things utilized now. A Terminator as a good guy in the mix, but they aren't forgetting that she's a Terminator. She kills. And the guilty/threatening aren't her only targets. The Terminator learning the value of life was a big them in T2, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it repeated in SCC, but very slowly, because fans like aggressive Terminators.

So far, they seem to be going with organized crime instead of a corporation or the military in regards to the beginnings of Skynet. I don't really agree with that one, to be honest. I wonder if it isn't being done just so it's "okay" to kill the people on the other side. I hope not. But maybe it's being done to be creative, to not retread old ground. In any event, the mafia thing isn't really my thing. But I expect them to get rid of Sarkissian fairly quickly (he knows where they live) and it's quite possible they won't get the Turk back then and will have to follow it to it's next owner. Or perhaps they will get it back and follow another lead. Either way, mafia doesn't really have to stick around, though it may.

I'm not sure how I feel about the organized crime plot, either. It felt strange to have the Connors up against people instead of an entity. But it could just be a single link in the Skynet chain, just like the government was with the traffic system. Sarkissian no doubt has his own evil plans for The Turk, but I doubt it involves building an angry computer brain to destroy the world in which he lives. So I agree with you that his story will probably wrap up within a few episodes and they'll move on to the next lead.

I do see a "killing innocents is bad" message in this show. I wish Sarah would be more forceful about it, but that's a separate issue. I know Derek and Cameron are phenomenally popular. But I think we, as an audience are meant to condemn killing Andy and Cameron's willingness to kill almost anyone. Especially with the Terminator VO for Andy's murder.

I guess that depends on how you see John, though. Do you think he needs to learn to be harder, more "gray", more cynical, more realistic or do you think he needs to keep his views on right and wrong, keep valuing individuals, needs to be the one learned from? Should he accept that horrible things are necessary or should he condemn those things? I tend to go with the latter. As I've said, I loved T2 John, so I'm hoping we go more in that direction, too.

I like that there is gray area. It's a theme that began in T2 with Sarah trying to Kill Dyson. The terminator said it might actually be a good idea, but John was strongly opposed. So continuing with it now, especially with the clock counting down to judgement day is realistic. So far, though, I'm not sure they've done a good enough job with the issue. I'm hoping that's just because of the shortened season, though. This is something Sarah has already struggled with and come out the other side on. So, as you said, she needs to be more forceful about it.

I'm not even sure where they're going with John. What I'd really like to see is more depth. I feel like he's the least developed character of everyone. Sure, he's changed since the pilot, but the change feels forced, like they jump him from one personality to the next without a logical progression. So maybe some gray area will help; let's see him struggle with right and wrong a bit. That'll build his character and give him the heart I think he's lacking right now. I'd thought for a while that's what they were going to do with John -- have him sort of caught between Sarah and Cameron. Now that Derek seems to have taken over as primary killer, though, maybe it'll be Sarah and Derek that pull John in different directions. I don't like that as much, but I suppose it'll do.

I've seen several posts that say Sarah is not getting enough prominence and would like more focus on her. I like an ensemble cast. I like heroes not to do it alone. But definitely showing her doing some more fighting and showing her pursuing more leads would be good.

Everyone has their favorite character and they want the episodes to revolve around them. Sarah is my favorite character, so unless every episode was like Gnothi Seauton, I don't think I'd ever be completely satisfied. I do like the whole cast, though, and it works well as an ensemble show. Sarah just needs a little more presence. Sometimes it's the acting, sometimes it's the writing, but I think she tends to get overshadowed in group scenes.

The high-school subplot. Some fans like it, some hate it. I'm middling there. There hasn't been enough to the plot to fascinate me. I have no interest in routine teen drama. But if we're going to see John learning hero-stuff from that or see it tie in to the Skynet plotline, that's great. If it's Cameron learning about humanity and how people relate, that could be interesting.

Middling here, too. Some of the high school stuff is amusing, but if that's all it's going to be, then a few minutes of it every few episodes is plenty. I tend to think it's going to have more significance, though, like what you suggested. I'm sure the Cheri storyline, at least, is intended to go somewhere involving Skynet.

[ReeseDN38416]

Great posts everyone!

I think it's almost too safe of a plan for John Connor. We're learning that he's a risk taker and we also know he doesn't want people to die. So I'm much more inclined to think that he would try to change the past to prevent j-day completely or at least lessen the length of the war.

I agree. And I love that description of John.

Also, I think that was a big problem with T3. It stole defeat from the jaws of victory shown in T2. Gave us years of believing they did it, and then said "oh no, forget that happy ending - the great victory of T2 was pretty much useless." If we hadn't had the T2 ending, then T3's ending wouldn't have bothered me nearly as much. As it was, it was just so contrary to the "The future is not set" and "No fate but what we make." It made the characters powerless, took control of their own destinies from them, essentially said that nothing they did mattered. At least that's what it said to my bitter little heart.

I think the biggest problem with T3 was that John Connor was not the star of the film. It was not John Connor’s story. It’s was Kate what’s her name’s story.

“The Terminator” is my favorite of the films. It stands alone. The time loop is perfect. Also, the first film is really the birth of the Sarah Connor Chronicles. Finally, with the deleted scenes, it is the beginning of Sarah Connor challenging her fate. She convinces Reese to help her blow up Skynet.

T2 is definitely the favorite of the movies for most fans. What made it so great, that this show may wish to emulate or be inspired by? Excluding the special effects, since the show most likely doesn't have the budget for some of that.

• Terminator ally - we already have this, and she's very popular
• Sarah kicking butt - action sequences are more limited in the show, and Cameron gets most of them. Only she can fight Terminators. Definitely think we need to see humans physically fighting back more and not leaving it all to her.
• That the heroes were proactive and were fighting back - entire theme of the show.
• John's displayed potential. My favorite part of the movie, though likely low-priority for others


Unpopular for T2? The only things I've ever seen cited is that Sarah doesn't have a larger role and the "pet robot" aspect with John teaching one-liners and such. If anyone has any ideas here, I'd love to read them.

Some fans argue that T2 is a retcon of T1. They should not have successfully ended the war as they did in that film. To make it so that they didn’t prevent the war is to create a cycle of continual retconning for the purpose of cashing in.

There were some good things about Terminator 3. I liked seeing the beginnings of Skynet and the beginnings of the war. John Connor’s unorthodox relationship with Terminators was explored a little, and was his eventual downfall. I like the idea that John had lieutenants. I’m not so fond of the wife thing… but I like for John to have a little happiness. I also like how they weaved her into John’s earlier life in T2. The speech John gives with the gun to his head is powerful. But… again…

The problem was that John Connor was sidelined so that Kate could be the star of the film. If you listen to the commentary, the director was completely blinded by his love of Claire Danes. LOL! If Claire had been playing John Connor I’m sure the director would have churned out a fantastic film. John’s character is pretty much lost in that film. The problem is the script and perhaps… the casting a little.

I like that the war happens. I think it would hurt less if we got to see the journey first. They can’t prevent the war but they go out clawing and kicking and biting… not just sitting around off the grid moping and having dreams getting drunk and riding their motorcycles. YUCK! I like that THIS (The Sarah Connor Chronicles) is John’s training: he fight before the fight. The fight is now because once Judgment Day hits… both the Terminators and John knows what happens. The humans win, the machines lose. In a sense the machines are trying to make Judgment Day happen without a John Connor. So they are forcing the fight across time to occur as much as John is prompting Sarah to fight it and prevent the war. John was not General John Connor in the Pilot but… this show… is going to show how he becomes the General. And once Judgment day happens, he’ll be ready. It’s kind of bleak but…

Maybe they’ll prevent the war. Maybe more people will be ready when the day comes. I don’t know. The future is not set.
I just had another thought. What if the machines are taking actions to try and improve their initial attack on the humans? That would be interesting. If they are trying to make the first attack more successful.

I initially hated the T-X but then I got over myself and enjoyed the fireworks. The actress did a fantastic job. There are some fabulous moments.

I liked seeing some of John's future lieutenants as fast-food workers and the like. I don't expect we'll see any in SCC, but if we do, they should be along varying lines. Some high-ranking military officials, and some high school kids working at McDonald's and a few in between.

I love this too. I think we are seeing that just as there are people unaware of how important they are to the future, there are people who don’t know that they’ll destroy the world… like Andy Goode. So I’m loving how the show continues this.

I agree with you about Cameron. I would like to see her grow and as time goes on, kill less casually.

So far, they seem to be going with organized crime instead of a corporation or the military in regards to the beginnings of Skynet.

I disagree. The line between organized crime, government and military can be very thin. The Turk was about to win the game and be used by the military. The organized crime thing is just a bend in the road. Once the military gets a hold of the Turk the clock to Judgment Day really starts ticking.

I do see a "killing innocents is bad" message in this show. I wish Sarah would be more forceful about it, but that's a separate issue. I know Derek and Cameron are phenomenally popular. But I think we, as an audience are meant to condemn killing Andy and Cameron's willingness to kill almost anyone. Especially with the Terminator VO for Andy's murder.

Oh yes. I completely agree. Andy’s story was really beautiful and I think it really cements Sarah’s out look. I like the way they connected it to Miles Dyson. Nicely done.

I guess that depends on how you see John, though. Do you think he needs to learn to be harder, more "gray", more cynical, more realistic or do you think he needs to keep his views on right and wrong, keep valuing individuals, needs to be the one learned from? Should he accept that horrible things are necessary or should he condemn those things? I tend to go with the latter. As I've said, I loved T2 John, so I'm hoping we go more in that direction, too.

I am very happy with John. I think… at age 10… that’s before the awkwardness of puberty. I honestly don’t think he’s regressed from the films at all. He’d been stationary for a year with no sign of anything like the events of T2 which… what was the duration of that movie? A week? A month at the most. So one month BAM! A whole lot of stuff happens and then… 2 years… nothing. It makes sense that John would be afraid and not want to experience all that again. He hoped they prevented things. So to me that explains the lag.

Then, I feel that I’ve gotten a lot of hints of John’s future self. His chumminess with Cameron is very T2. His impulsive rebellion is also very T2. Here and there John will say a line or give a look and it’s totally future!John. I’m very happy about the pace of John’s development.

“You can trust me.” YES!

What this shows allows for, that we never saw in any of the movies, is for us to see the evolution of Skynet. We either came in before it was done (T1 and T2) or after it was too late (T3). We never got to see the technology finalized, see the government make the decision to pursue it, any of that. And that could be very interesting.

I agree. I really love this opportunity. That was really fun, watching Cromartie get new flesh. It was wonderful to hear about the science behind it. I’m enjoying that aspect also… we are getting a lot of questions answered.

[qutoe]At the same time, we can't see too much of it, because too much information as to how/when/where it happens makes it too easy for our guys to know how/when/where to strike.[/quote]

I think there are ways for the audience to know more than the resistance. We can have an inside look at Terminators. I can’t wait to see interactions between evil Terminators.

Lastly, what has been popular/unpopular about SCC in it's first season?

Popular:

Derek and Cameron have been very popular. Gray sells, I guess, because most people seem to like them. Expect to see more of them, and see them very prominent next season.

I’m nervous. I can’t hang with Cameron/John romance. This isn’t blade runner. Nor is it Battlestar Galactica.

Unpopular:

Ellison - so far I haven't seen anyone that's really enjoyed his storyline. Either they ramp him up next season and get him more involved with the other characters (or some other angle regarding Skynet) or they relegate him to a smaller role, or they kill him off. I find option #1 most likely.

I kind of wish he’d died in the finale. Ouch. It pains me to say that.

Split:

I've seen several posts that say Sarah is not getting enough prominence and would like more focus on her. I like an ensemble cast. I like heroes not to do it alone. But definitely showing her doing some more fighting and showing her pursuing more leads would be good./quote]

I agree with you. I think they are doing a great job with the ensemble cast.

The high-school subplot. Some fans like it, some hate it. I'm middling there. There hasn't been enough to the plot to fascinate me. I have no interest in routine teen drama. But if we're going to see John learning hero-stuff from that or see it tie in to the Skynet plotline, that's great. If it's Cameron learning about humanity and how people relate, that could be interesting. If it's just who John wants to date and John trying to balance having a "real life" with his saving-the-world duties while Cameron gets hit on occasionally, I'd rather skip it. I really don't want "two separate worlds" going on long-term. One more season of them being completely separate, but that's enough.

From what I’ve read of the interview Erika posted with the… creators? Producers? of the show… we missed out on the payoff for the high school drama. The 13 episodes would have explained. So I forgive them. I hope next season explains it all and it turns out to be really cool.

rossbondreturns I also loved the scene from T3 where John takes up the radio. Never did I feel that T2 was offering up a finished, ready to lead, 10 year old John Connor. That’s like saying Little Orphan Annie from the 80’s film was ready to be a government spy. LOL! Yeah she did a lot of things that might lend themselves to that profession in the future, but she’s a little girl! A very brave and tough little girl but… So that’s how I feel about John. He uses his computer savvy and technical ability to fix his bike and be naughty and rebellious. I love the introduction of the way he interacts with Terminators. He’s very at home with them in an odd, very interesting way. He’s a little boy. I like that too. He’s not the finished man yet. Not even close. What’s great is that he saves his mom from becoming even worse than Derek in T2. The really reminds her of her belief that innocents should not die. Sarah becomes human again by the end of that film.

I love the pace of John’s development so far on the show. It feels like a continuation from the film. I was worried while watching the Pilot… and was pleasantly surprised by all the little hints and glimpses of Future!John.

Tzigone, I don’t think that John felt the weight of the world in that film. He never came face to face with the T2. He was constantly sheltered and protected by his mother and the Terminator. Their whole mission in that film was to prevent the war. I think John’s speech at the beginning of the show was blind fear. It was his knee jerk reaction to his fate looming over him like death. I think his behavior in Heavy Metal was very like T2 John Connor. His reaction to the girl jumping from the building was exactly like T2 John Connor. In a lot of ways he is much more mature than that kid from T2.

The only thing I hate is the whole subplot of the tape of Sarah giving John away. All of that… didn’t happen as far as I’m concerned.

I think pacing is important. When push comes to shove and Sarah or Cameron clash with John’s core values, with what’s in his gut, he will pull a Heavy Metal and do what he thinks is right. I think John is older and he understands better what his fate means. As a 10 year old kid… I don’t think he grasped the weight of it as he does now. I like the pace. I don’t think he’s regressing. Except in regards to the tape. *rolls eyes*

I agree again rossbondreturns that T3 is full of some great writing… but it’s fatal flaw is it’s focus. To skip over John’s development and develop his girlfriend? Fatal. They could have done better.

I think the show is a little Cameron heavy. If anything they could lay off of Cameron in favor of Sarah. But honestly I’m enjoying the show. I think they balanced the characters very well. The episode where Cameron does ballet was a little lopsided… it was not very well done. Now with all the writer’s strike craziness over, the next season will have a whole team and… hopefully it will just… be fantastic.