"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Monday, February 25, 2008

The Sarah Connor Chronicles 7

Episode 7 of The Sarah Connor Chronicles on Fox tonight was mostly about the education of FBI agent James Ellison - well played by Richard T. Jones. He started the evening in possession of a Terminator hand and some doubts and suspicions. He ended being rescued by Sarah from a blaze - a blaze set by Sarah's psychiatrist from the mental institution in which she had been held in the 1990s. The psychiatrist - also well played by the perennial Bruce Davison - didn't believe her then. But he believes it now. So much that he doesn't trust Ellison with the hand, and wants to kill him and take the hand himself.

But, he doesn't lend himself a hand at all - sorry - because Sarah frees Ellison, who puts the psych in a mental institution in a nice nasty bit of poetic justice. And Sarah takes the Terminator hand and destroys it.

So where does that leave us? Ellison could think the shrink was just crazy all along, including when he was raving about the attack from the future. But a part of him was suspicious already....

It may hinge on how much of his ordeal will he remember. In a scene near the end, he seems to be conscious when Sarah rescues him. Will this make him Sarah's ally? Will he buy her explanation about what happened to the hand? Will Sarah tell him?

I'm sorry that the two-hour finale is coming up next week, though it looks to be good and I'll certainly be watching it. But there's a lot more that could be developed in these intriguing chronicles ... including John's relationship with his uncle, which is just getting started, and, of course, the ultimate loyalties of Cameron...

See also: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 1 and 2 ... 3 ... 4. A Robot Primer ... 5 ... 6 ... 8-9: Terminate with Puzzles, Surprises, and Soul







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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

My comment doesn't have much to do with this episode. But, I *really* like this cast. All of the main characters are strong actors and add credibility to the storyline (compelling in its own right).

I've been enjoying your blog for the last year and a half, Paul. Thanks for the updates and analysis. Always a pleasure to read.

By the way, I was caught off-guard by the announcement that the season finale is next week. Honestly, I had no idea it was coming so soon. Talk about being out of the loop...

Damon

Paul Levinson said...

Thanks, Damon - it's gratifying to know Infinite Regress has readers like you.

(And thanks, too, to everyone else who graces this blog with their comments.)

I was surprised at the sudden ending, too - I don't know about it until last week.

I agree with you completely about the cast and the storyline. I suppose there is some chance that the series will be renewed - but, so far, there is no word. But I'm always an optimist...

James F. McGrath said...

I just discovered your blog, and thought I'd share my own most recent blog post with you, which is also about the most recent episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (it focuses on the religious imagery).

Paul Levinson said...

Thanks, James - I very much enjoyed your theological analysis of this episode. It's another measure of how rich this series is in ideas.

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