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Riley
Oct 8, 2008 22:17:43 GMT -5
Post by jdub87 on Oct 8, 2008 22:17:43 GMT -5
I don't mind Riley, but when she's not on I don't miss her. It's a love/hate thing for me. Maybe if her character was altered a little bit (less cat fancy), I would miss her when she's not on...
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Riley
Oct 8, 2008 23:01:49 GMT -5
Post by richardstevenhack on Oct 8, 2008 23:01:49 GMT -5
Oh, I think clearly Josh is using Riley to show the "push-pull" John is going through between trying to be a "normal human" and growing into being "the leader of mankind". I think Josh has said as much.
How the character's personality was developed, however, I think, might have been either a bit accidental - or intended to make the fans not really care when she does get killed off or written out once her "mission" to influence John's development is accomplished.
So far, she hasn't done much more to change him than Cheri Westin did.
Unless of course something went on the night they spent together in his room. ;D I'd say if that were true, it establishes that Riley is pretty forward or John is a lot better PUA (PickUp Artist) that he's shown so far. (Although any of you ladies like John's quirky grin when he asks her to come over to his house? Riley's face showed she definitely thought that was a come-on.)
Riley's a regular, normal human. John does need to be able to relate to people, but in the end he can do better than her - or in the end he needs to just put that aside.
Unfortunately for that concept, in the end I think he ends up with the Caminator as his only love - at least, if you ignore T-3.
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Riley
Oct 8, 2008 23:12:17 GMT -5
Post by Derek Reese on Oct 8, 2008 23:12:17 GMT -5
I do agree with many of your points, Rich, and actually wish they would put in some effort and fleshing this particular character out.
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Riley
Oct 9, 2008 7:11:46 GMT -5
Post by jdub87 on Oct 9, 2008 7:11:46 GMT -5
I do agree with many of your points, Rich, and actually wish they would put in some effort and fleshing this particular character out. Anything that explains her backstory would greatly improve my opinion of her.
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Riley
Oct 9, 2008 12:48:28 GMT -5
Post by rove3 on Oct 9, 2008 12:48:28 GMT -5
But does his need to interact with other "normal" people outweigh the danger he places those same people in? Again, consider Derek's chilling line to John that "we all die for you." Heck, even people who haven't chosen to die for John have died...just ask those 20 dead FBI guys or Charley's wife or the other Martin Bidell. John knows this all too well. The machines will never stop coming for him so for him to try to have a normal life and have girlfriends just seems selfish. I agree that is normal for a boy his age to want to experience life and all that that entails, but he's not a normal boy. He doesn't get a normal life as long as J-day looms. That's the bottom line; it sucks for him no doubt but there it is. If being the saviour of mankind were easy anyone could do it, but apparently not just anyone can. It has to be John and that involves sacrifices.
And if I'm supposed to believe that John values human life so much then, to me, there is a disconnect with him wanting a girlfriend to pal around with...because the mere act of doing so places her in danger. A danger that has been pretty well hammered home in the last few episodes. So, for me, if he values Riley's life then he needs to cut her loose.
Unless of course it turns out that she's really some type of kick butt ninja... ;D
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Riley
Oct 9, 2008 21:30:15 GMT -5
Post by Derek Reese on Oct 9, 2008 21:30:15 GMT -5
Unless of course it turns out that she's really some type of kick butt ninja... ;D Now you're making me dream
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Riley
Oct 10, 2008 7:47:10 GMT -5
Post by richardstevenhack on Oct 10, 2008 7:47:10 GMT -5
Well, you know what they say: If you love someone, let them go.
If they don't come back, hunt them down and kill them! John better hope Cameron doesn't think like that!
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highonpie14
Refugee
Looking for my purple leather jacket
Posts: 5
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Riley
Oct 15, 2008 14:42:08 GMT -5
Post by highonpie14 on Oct 15, 2008 14:42:08 GMT -5
rove3: You definetly have a point there. My thoughts are that John has been keeping away from these kinds of relationships due to hearing over and over how it would put the other person in danger. But John is realizing that as he is growing, he has more freedom to do what he wants, and that Sarah can't control him as much. We all understand why she shelters him and that her intentions are good - but at this point John is fed up with being sheltered and wants to live a normal life. Riley is that sort of escape to a normal life that John has been looking for. It's one of those things that John has to learn on his own - he can't have normal relationships because he is *not* normal. Ninja? I don't know about that but something was definitly up with the lego robot she made John...I wonder if she knows about the future...or if I'm dreaming now too. ~HOP
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t101
Major
Posts: 716
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Riley
Nov 8, 2008 14:29:10 GMT -5
Post by t101 on Nov 8, 2008 14:29:10 GMT -5
I just realized we know more about Jodie than we do about Riley who's supposed to be a regular. We only know that she likes food and John. That's really all there is to her character so far.
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terrasj
Sergeant
Rossbond Connor Crew
Posts: 445
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Riley
Nov 8, 2008 15:25:31 GMT -5
Post by terrasj on Nov 8, 2008 15:25:31 GMT -5
I just realized we know more about Jodie than we do about Riley who's supposed to be a regular. We only know that she likes food and John. That's really all there is to her character so far. What about also being impulsive? And kinda stubborn. When John immediately said they should run- now. Riley said no, she'll send him away at the door. John had no choice but run for the shotgun under the sink as there was no time to convince her otherwise. That could've turned out pretty bad if you think about it.
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Riley
Nov 8, 2008 22:25:32 GMT -5
Post by vicheron on Nov 8, 2008 22:25:32 GMT -5
I think Riley has ulterior motives. The way that she comes and goes without any restrictions is very suspicious. The relationship seems pretty one sided. It's mostly focused on John. Riley may want something from John or the Connors.
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Riley
Nov 9, 2008 1:06:02 GMT -5
Post by sarah on Nov 9, 2008 1:06:02 GMT -5
Unless of course it turns out that she's really some type of kick butt ninja... ;D Hey! You called it! Personally, I immediately liked/related to Riley's cheerful wackiness so I was open to her character from the get-go. After the latest episode, seeing her skill at making John smile -and at staring down a Terminator- I like her even more. I will say that there's still room for lots of suspicions re:her story. Her background has been a blank so there's loads more to learn. Frankly, my first thought when I heard that food had been stolen during the robbery was that Riley had been a cohort! It seemed to fit yet John laughed it off at the grocery store and Riley seemed completely unselfconscious. I do think she's a normal human being so I'm not worried about time travel or robot stuff. But while her personality seems pretty open, the direction the show will take on her character is still very much unclear. But yeah, I'm probably the first tscc fan to say that from now on I'll miss Riley in episodes! I'm really curious about her and I like the cool Connor she brings out in John during their interaction. She taps into his boyishness unlike any of the other characters but at the same time, her contrast with John is more flattering to him than any other character too since he knows a lot more than her etc.
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terrasj
Sergeant
Rossbond Connor Crew
Posts: 445
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Riley
Nov 9, 2008 1:07:43 GMT -5
Post by terrasj on Nov 9, 2008 1:07:43 GMT -5
I think Riley has ulterior motives. The way that she comes and goes without any restrictions is very suspicious. The relationship seems pretty one sided. It's mostly focused on John. Riley may want something from John or the Connors. I posted a reply to your post in the 2x08 "Mr. Ferguson is Ill Today" thread, but an iteration of it adequately belongs here also: I'm guessing that either Riley's got career parents, in which they're more involved with their work than being at home to raise a child. That would mean she's well clothed, but little money to spend. While the trade-off is she's got little to no restrictions or rules at home to be home by. So she's got almost unlimited freedom - she goes where she wants, when she wants. But since she's got very little allowance to spend, she's not the high-strung upper-class stuck-up rich kid, but more the down to earth personable type that you'd expect from a not-rich working class type upbringing. When she approached John, she wasn't to prideful to ask him if he's got anything to eat. OR she's a foster child. Either her parents can't control her or don't care to try to set any limits or curefews on her outgoing activities. That ironically would mirror the younger John Connor from T2 Either way, John's got a fairly new set of wheels (the truck, jeep, etc) so she can see John's doing alright as far as wealth is concerned. Opposed to driving a rusty old beater on 4 wheels. :edit: added one more reply / quote Unless of course it turns out that she's really some type of kick butt ninja... ;D Personally, I immediately liked/related to Riley's cheerful wackiness so I was open to her character from the get-go. After the latest episode, seeing her skill at making John smile -and at staring down a Terminator- I like her even more.[/quote] I'm still mixed about liking Riley. From a character perspective, her personality is the sort of girl i'd like to know. Though for her character in the show - it grated me just how forced she was brought in, and was an instant hookup to John. Like the expression goes 'from 0 to 60 in 1 second'. I still think she's been a bad influence on John, just from the way he's been ditching Cameron and being reckless just to be alone and spend time with her. And as others have said - she just might be the accident thats waiting to happen - not in the pregnancy sense, but the innocent victim that'll get killed and be the hard lesson for John. Btw, welcome to the SCS
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Riley
Nov 9, 2008 3:20:35 GMT -5
Post by sarah on Nov 9, 2008 3:20:35 GMT -5
Thanks, terrasj Interesting theories about Riley's household. Sadly, it's not so surprising to me that a girl is so unsupervized. As far as I've seen moving around, there's generally one "free" or open household to be found in a given neighborhood. Not all parents put in the effort necessary to monitor their kids --especially teenaged ones. The contrast between Riley's seeming free mobility and John's paranoid restrictions is quite stark. Re: John, I just don't see his rebellion being Riley's fault at all. (If anything, IMO, it's the fault of Sarah's chipped armor, JD, and Cameron's constant tease) John manifested some pretty severe rebellion in the premiere before Riley was introduced -and that rebellion centered around one terminator and the advice of his surrounding adults. Even if Riley didn't exist, IMO John would continue to find ways to rebel. It's just where he's at emotionally/psychologically what-have-you. Riley does indeed seem to be a lesson-in-the-making for John. I wouldn't be surprised if Riley was killed off soon enough or banished forever. (What does surprise me is that she's a supposed season regular, given that she hasn't had much scenes so far.) I think there's lots of potential for John to learn from the experience of befriending Riley: on the one hand, the dire consequences of enlisting the innocent; on the other, the confidence in gaining a level of independance. Btw I can't overstate how important I believe it is for a developing young man to be allowed to interact (not necessarily romantically) with peers and females beyond the claustrophobic n domineering dynamic of his grim mother & devoted fembot before the world blows up and goes to hell anyway. *wry* I understand that there are quite a lot of John/Cam shippers and I'm trying to keep myself open to such a relationship but even with that being the endgoal for the show, I believe that John has to be allowed to make/reach a decision in the matter (limited though his choices might be) rather than doomed to only knowing a synthetic companion. Re:Riley being forced right away, I think I would've resented that more if 1) I'd actually been anticipating the introduction of her character by following spoilers whereas I only knew about her because she showed up onscreen one day :lol: or 2) Riley was a different kind of girl. If she was just some "hot chick" a la Cam in the pilot, I'd've been like "here we go again. do we need this?" rather than being amused and caught off-guard by a fresh character. Because Riley has been characterized as so wacky and stubborn and bold, the forced intro IMO translates as fittingly spontaneous. I continue to feel that the only forced intro this season is Jesse's. That intro really grated on my nerves because it didn't make any kind of sense to me. Riley's forceful intro makes sense in a real-world highschool normalcy perspective. Sorry for talking ad nauseum.
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Riley
Nov 9, 2008 6:32:01 GMT -5
Post by vicheron on Nov 9, 2008 6:32:01 GMT -5
John probably sees Riley as a kindred spirit. Riley does act a lot like John did in T2. She definitely has that irreverent attitude. It's even possible that she's in a situation similar to John at the beginning of T2.
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