Cheaper by the Dozens
So, before I tackle Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' season (and hopefully not series) finale, I just have to get a couple of stupid jokes out of my system regarding last night's excellent Dollhouse episode. Count me in as happy to have stuck around.
...okay, I'm out of steam already. Suffice it to say, it's going to be strange watching a love triangle where two of the angles aren't even aware that a triangle exists.
Terminator
You know, I've loved this series from the beginning, but the last couple of episodes have really outdone themselves. They've managed to create an episode that both works as a series cap and HUGE MOTHERFUCKING CLIFFHANGERS for a follow-up season. And I don't mean the Veronica Mars "Who's at the door?" kind of cliffhangers, I mean total game-changers. I mean, that last scene was some "YOU MANIACS! YOU BLEW IT UP! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!" shit right there. I mean, here we were, operating under the concept that the reason John was never shown was because he was a mythical figurehead for the Terminators, when in reality it turns out that it was because despite being the person best trained to take down SkyNet, this John Connor is a TEENAGER. He probably needed to conceal himself simply because nobody would believe a kid could be such a master strategist/tactician. And Cameron's chip goes into the future for John to implant it into Cameron so he can send it back to protect himself and ow feedback loop.
My brain, it hurts with delight.
Let's not forget the Cameron/John diagnostic sex scene, which I don't know why it was so hot but damn. Up until now it seems like Cameron has been building up emotions, particularly towards John, and the diagnostic was the closest thing they'd ever get to consensual man-on-machine action. The final Cameron scene with the repeated, "I'm sorry John" was just as effective for me as "I now know why you cry" was in T2, and a proper farewell to everyone's favorite robogirl. She's tight. Also, you can't go wrong with an episode which includes both naked Shirley Manson and topless Summer Glau.
Also, fighting SkyNet in the present to prevent Judgment Day would've been a lot easier had John Henry stuck around. I think. Maybe. Does John Henry become a major officer in the Resistance as well, or do you think they'll go back in time after they retrieve him? How long do they plan on staying in the future, and is that another reason the Resistance fighters don't see John too much? Does he show up out of nowhere, stick around a while to become a legend and prepare Cameron to be John-by-proxy, fetch John Henry, and then jump back in time to be reunited with his mom? What the hell happens next?
Also also,
"Ask to speak to Manny."
"I want to speak to Manny."
"Call the number first, then ask." *eyeroll*
Whoever is playing the Triple-8 this episode must play a good game of poker. That such an intimidating character could sell the delivery of that line completely straight-faced is classic. That they slapped it into an otherwise completely serious and "this could be serious trouble for our heroes" scene makes it that much more hilarious.
Also also also, getting back to the whole "robot hormones and emotions" thing, do you think Catherine Weaver developed genuine feelings for Savannah, the way Cameron apparently did for John? I'm wondering if that's the kind of difference Ellison made by teaching John Henry about morals and ethics: the ZeiraCorp Terminators actually instill the values of human life into the machines, as opposed to the Coliba Terminators. However, between John Henry and Weaver "parenting" Savannah, John Henry saving her from the Triple-8, and Weaver's last words to Ellison being about Savannah, I'm beginning to think that somewhere along the line, they actually start caring about individual people. Which brings us to the whole "can machines have a soul" question that science fiction has been asking us since the word "robot" was first used.
My jaw, she is on the floor. I sincerely hope this series gets picked up for next year, but if it doesn't, it ends on such a wonderful note.
- "I'm not only the President, I'm also a client!"
- The Dollhouse is apparently the one place where sleeping with the boss doesn't get you promoted.
...okay, I'm out of steam already. Suffice it to say, it's going to be strange watching a love triangle where two of the angles aren't even aware that a triangle exists.
Terminator
You know, I've loved this series from the beginning, but the last couple of episodes have really outdone themselves. They've managed to create an episode that both works as a series cap and HUGE MOTHERFUCKING CLIFFHANGERS for a follow-up season. And I don't mean the Veronica Mars "Who's at the door?" kind of cliffhangers, I mean total game-changers. I mean, that last scene was some "YOU MANIACS! YOU BLEW IT UP! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!" shit right there. I mean, here we were, operating under the concept that the reason John was never shown was because he was a mythical figurehead for the Terminators, when in reality it turns out that it was because despite being the person best trained to take down SkyNet, this John Connor is a TEENAGER. He probably needed to conceal himself simply because nobody would believe a kid could be such a master strategist/tactician. And Cameron's chip goes into the future for John to implant it into Cameron so he can send it back to protect himself and ow feedback loop.
My brain, it hurts with delight.
Let's not forget the Cameron/John diagnostic sex scene, which I don't know why it was so hot but damn. Up until now it seems like Cameron has been building up emotions, particularly towards John, and the diagnostic was the closest thing they'd ever get to consensual man-on-machine action. The final Cameron scene with the repeated, "I'm sorry John" was just as effective for me as "I now know why you cry" was in T2, and a proper farewell to everyone's favorite robogirl. She's tight. Also, you can't go wrong with an episode which includes both naked Shirley Manson and topless Summer Glau.
Also, fighting SkyNet in the present to prevent Judgment Day would've been a lot easier had John Henry stuck around. I think. Maybe. Does John Henry become a major officer in the Resistance as well, or do you think they'll go back in time after they retrieve him? How long do they plan on staying in the future, and is that another reason the Resistance fighters don't see John too much? Does he show up out of nowhere, stick around a while to become a legend and prepare Cameron to be John-by-proxy, fetch John Henry, and then jump back in time to be reunited with his mom? What the hell happens next?
Also also,
"Ask to speak to Manny."
"I want to speak to Manny."
"Call the number first, then ask." *eyeroll*
Whoever is playing the Triple-8 this episode must play a good game of poker. That such an intimidating character could sell the delivery of that line completely straight-faced is classic. That they slapped it into an otherwise completely serious and "this could be serious trouble for our heroes" scene makes it that much more hilarious.
Also also also, getting back to the whole "robot hormones and emotions" thing, do you think Catherine Weaver developed genuine feelings for Savannah, the way Cameron apparently did for John? I'm wondering if that's the kind of difference Ellison made by teaching John Henry about morals and ethics: the ZeiraCorp Terminators actually instill the values of human life into the machines, as opposed to the Coliba Terminators. However, between John Henry and Weaver "parenting" Savannah, John Henry saving her from the Triple-8, and Weaver's last words to Ellison being about Savannah, I'm beginning to think that somewhere along the line, they actually start caring about individual people. Which brings us to the whole "can machines have a soul" question that science fiction has been asking us since the word "robot" was first used.
My jaw, she is on the floor. I sincerely hope this series gets picked up for next year, but if it doesn't, it ends on such a wonderful note.