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(the pilot) had everything we love about the Terminator series: breathtaking action, tongue-in-cheek humor, family drama, and plenty of "oh damn!" moments.

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Terminator

The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Review by Matthew Anderson

Pilot Episode

TV Network: FOX

Company: 20th Century Fox

Running Time: 45 minutes (1 episode)

Rated: PG-13: Violence, partial nudity

EXTERNAL EXAM

It is the year 1999. Sarah Conner and her son John Conner are two fugitives being hunted by the FBI. Their crime; the destruction of Cyberdine, a US defense contractor, and the murder of their lead scientist, Myles Dyson.

The truth is far more dangerous. In reality, Sarah and John are on the run because cybernetic organisms from the future called "Terminators" are trying to kill them. If John dies, he will not be able to lead the human resistance movement, and humanity will be rendered extinct by the terminators' master, Skynet.

While hiding out in a new town, John befriends a beautiful young girl at the local high school named Cameron. The two have in instant connection, and she seems ready to accept him for who he is.

It isn't long before a terminator finds John, and attacks him at the school, shooting Cameron in the process. As John is chased by this ruthless killing machine, a truck rams the cyborg, sending him flying. Inside the vehicle is Cameron, who it turns out is a terminator, sent to protect him.

With the terminator in hot pursuit, Cameron takes John and Sarah to a time machine she has been building since 1962. Her reason is simple, it is time for Sarah and John to to stop running. It is the time for them to stand and fight. She then transports them to the year 2007, giving them five years to stop the development of Skynet before the end of the world.

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY: The writing is pretty tight, full of action and excitement, with plenty of connection to the original movies to help you forget it's a different cast. Once things are set up, the writers kick things into high gear, not letting up until then end.

ACTING: The casting was well done. Summer Glau is perfect casting as a Terminator. She can go from seeming human one minute, to hell bent killing machine the next. Thomas Dekker does the torurchered teen well, and Lena Headley was the right choice for the tough as nails Sarah Conner.

FAN SERVICE: There are several refrences to the first two Terminator movies, with some possible links to the third movie. The "good" terminator "Cameron" is an obvious refrence to the creator of the franchise. You also get to see the sexy Summer Glau and Lena Headley is some pretty sexy, almost nude, shots.

FINAL EXAM

Like most fans, the thought of a Terminator TV series filled me with dread. Would it be action packed like the moves, or would it be long bouts of dialogue used to cover up a limited budget.

Well, I am please to announce that this pilot was like watching a mini-terminator movie. It had everything we love about the Terminator series: breathtaking action, tongue-in-cheek humor, family drama, and plenty of "oh damn!" moments.

The cast was top notch. Lena Headley (Queen Gorgo from 300) has slipped in to the Sarah Connor role practically created by Linda Hamilton with zero effort. She was tough, driven, and terrified all at once. Boy, she looked good with a gun.

"Heroes" alum Thomas Dekker is also a good fit for John Connor. You can really feel his frustration at not being able to live a normal life. He plays John as a kid who wants to be more than he is, but at the same time, wishing it could all go away. His good looks and visible teenage angst will make the ladies swoon.

For all you "Firefly" fan boys, Summer Glau is back in all her ass kicking glory. At first she appears as the girl next door, all sweet an innocent. When she switches into Terminator mode, oohhh baby, it's on. She is all intense and focused, and she plays it to the hilt.

Behind the scenes, the writing is decent, with plenty of references to the first two Terminator movies to keep the fans happy. The pacing is spot on, with enough breaks in the action to help you catch your breath. The special effects are top notch, and the CG is blended seamlessly with the life action elements.

I only hope that if they redo the shoot out at the school, they switch it to a mall or something. While the fight can be replaced, the fall out of the battle does affect how the rest of the episode, and the series, plays out.

I was exceptionally pleased with the quality of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. If the entire series is as intense as this first episode, this series will be one of the best shows of the year.

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