John's big bluff (from Today is the Day 2)

[roxybisquaint]

I was never happy about the John retcon in "Today is the Day part 2". It just didn't add up. He never acted like he had a clue about Riley until "Ourselves Alone", but that didn't give him any time to follow her around, learn about Jesse or figure out the plot. So that's where I've been stuck for a long time. And believing he figured anything out

Comments

[equustel]

That definitely works, and well.

However, I had no problem buying the "John knew previously" reveal. There's been a lot going on with him this season underneath the surface; I've been routinely shocked at fans getting nothing but an "I want to be normal" vibe off him, because I've been getting so much more.

But it sounds like, for you, this mostly comes down to a frustration with things happening off-screen that the audience isn't privy to. I don't have as big of a problem with this, because I think when appropriately utilized, the knowledge that there's more going on with these characters than we see gives them a depth and a realism. On a much smaller level than the John reveal, the same thing happens in To the Lighthouse, when we find out Sarah's set up this elaborate safe house for Charley, and has been there more than once. It fits with her character, that she would not only do this but do it without telling anyone. In the same way, it fits with John's character that he would be, probably obsessively, analyzing Riley's

[roxybisquaint]

I don't mind some things happening off screen, but this was just too big of a leap for me. So yeah, it was a major point of frustration and I'm glad I was finally able to work it out for myself. John's a character who gives me a lot of trouble because I find him so hard to root for (the series finale didn't help, but I'll save that for my finale post).

Your Lighthouse example is a perfect example of the kind of thing I can accept off screen. because it's already well established that Sarah always has contingency plans. And while I don't think John spent the entire season wanting to be normal it's definitely been part of his journey since the beginning of the series. That pivotal scene with Jesse seemed to be the culmination of that, which is why I needed it to play stronger.

[equustel]

John's a character who gives me a lot of trouble because I find him so hard to root for (the series finale didn't help, but I'll save that for my finale post).

Yeah, that's understandable. I'll admit I'm hopelessly preoccupied with him; he's been my favorite Terminator character since I first saw T2. I'm a defender of his arc this season because I feel like it's a similar situation to how so many fans just did not understand the Earthlings - Some Must Watch Sarah arc (that you broke down so brilliantly). This show is sometimes too subtle when it comes to the inner life of its characters, to the point where it really depends on who your POV character is as to whether you'll get something out of a particular scene/episode.

[roxybisquaint]

One of the reasons I got off to such a rocky start with him this season is because I believed the dialog in Samson & Delilah that Sarah had killed Sarakissian. So then I spent the bulk of 5 episodes thinking he was angry at his mom for killing someone when only the day before he'd watched his uncle kill someone and it didn't bother him a bit.

Now that we're at the end of the season, I'm looking forward to marathoning the whole thing soon. I'm sure all the stuff that didn't make sense to me along the way will make more sense, knowing what lies ahead. I'm hoping John will make more sense to me when I do.

[barachiel]

Actually I'm rewatching Season 2 now, and I am seeing little teeny things that says John is suspicious of her. Now I haven't gotten far enough to say WHAT he's suspicious about, but every time he gives her a chance, I think he KNOWS what the answer is (or he thinks he does), and he's just hoping she'll open up enough to him to be straight. Or maybe I'm imagining it.

[roxybisquaint]

Well I think John was storing away the little odd bits about her as he noticed them, but none of it added up to future girl until he had the bleached skulls thing. Once that came into play, every little quirk he'd noticed suddenly had context and helped him figure it out. That's my take on it.

[zanpakto]

Anyone think of theory that John won't be back in season 3?

[roxybisquaint]

Um............

No.

[zanpakto]

In any sense, I think the only thing missing in that ending was SARAH...alive in the future. What does John have to do now? Cameron is waiting on that hard drive or resurrected as a present from Sarah herself. The dog shot means from Sarah, not Alison.

[schmacky0]

Yeah, I totally dig that explaination a lot more.

yeah. So like it better. I think it makes John.. cooler.

[roxybisquaint]

I'm glad so many people are liking it because I was really happy with it. I'm okay with some things happening off screen, but that was just too much for me. And this finally made it all work without taking anything away from what the importance of John in that scene.

[schmacky0]

You're right, it doesn't take anything away from John in that scene. I think it adds more so than anything.

BTW I friggin' love that icon hehe.

[garyinla]

Roxy, did you see the interview with BAG today? Good one.

http://digg.com/d1ojJv

[roxybisquaint]

Thanks for that, I hadn't seen the article until you linked me to it earlier. That was a great interview.

Maybe I'll finally sit down and write something about the finale tonight. It feels like it's time.