Well, the producers promised us one heck of an episode and they certainly delivered. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles went out with a big bang tonight and leaves lots of unanswered questions. Will we get answers next season?
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (TSCC) continues the ongoing saga first started in 1984 in the original Terminator movie. This particular piece of the puzzle follows the travails of freedom fighter Sarah Connor (Lena Headey), her teenage son (humanity’s future savior) John (Thomas Dekker), and his Terminator protector, Cameron (Summer Glau). Others in the cast include Richard T. Jones, Brian Austin Green, Garret Dillahunt, Shirley Manson, Leven Rambin, Dean Winters, Stephanie Jacobsen, Mackenzie Brooke Smith, and Sonya Walger.
The FOX series premiered on January 13, 2008 — in the plum spot following an NFL playoff game. Over 18.6 million viewers watched with an impressive 11.1/16 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic. However, without the benefit of a football lead-in, only 10.1 million returned to watch the next day, with a 6.2/9 in the demo. The third installment dropped again, to 8.66 million and a 5.3/8. Despite the vast decline, FOX opted to renew the series for season two.
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When TSCC returned last September, it drew its worst numbers to date — 6.33 million and a 2.4/7 in the demo. Things got worse immediately and the series hit a dismal low of 4.57 million and a 1.8/5 in November. The show went on hiatus for two months starting in December. When it returned in February, TSCC served as a Friday night lead-in to a new sci-fi series, Dollhouse. The hope was that the pairing would be mutually beneficial but it didn’t work that way and many believe that TSCC has actually been hurting the Joss Whedon series. TSCC’s audience ended up dipping below three million in early March.
While many moviegoers are greatly anticipating the new Terminator movie, the TV series just hasn’t attracted enough interest. With ratings like these, it’s impossible to think that the series will return for a third year. That’s a huge shame because, after an episode like tonight’s, we’re left with a lot of unresolved plot points.
Tonight, we saw John Connor leave his mother behind and time travel to the future. Once there, he meets Derek (who doesn’t know him yet) and his dead father, Kyle Reese (who hasn’t fathered him yet). Reese is accompanied by very version of Cameron.
It’s obvious that the series is poised to take off in some interesting directions and is really hitting its stride. The fact that the last few episodes have been so strong make the show’s prospects all the more disappointing. It’s a shame that the writers didn’t get to this point sooner.
If the show doesn’t come back next season, and it looks like it won’t, are you upset with how the show has ended?
Image courtesy FOX.
It’s one of my favorites. I’d hate to see it go. I agree that the ratings are out-of-whack. We can’t all be sitting in front of our tvs in the evening like in the 50’s. People work all hours. Plus, the internet allows us to watch online. Is that even taken into consideration? My tivo is very busy every day recording what I want to see when I can’t be home.
Please save this show.
This is the best show on television right now and unfortunately is broadcast in some seriously sh1tty time periods. It needs another chance and if Sci Fi had any brains they’d pick this up to replace Galactica on their schedule.
I think it would be a shame to cancel the series. I still remember the first episode and have seen every one up until last night. Like stated above, a lot of things are still unanswered and I think the start of a third season could prosper greatly.
If FOX doesn’t want to continue airing this show because of the ratings, why doesn’t the SciFi channel pick it up? If TTSCC gets canceled before they do a third season, I’m going to be really pissed. I’m sick and tired of all the copycat spin-off forensic/police procedurals and reality TV shows. Also, when will the TV networks wake up and realize that the current Nielsen ratings system is stupid and needs to be junked??? The TV networks aren’t accurately measuring the true audience of a show, especially a show like Terminator:TSCC. Are they measuring DVR viewings? Purchased downloads from… Read more »
As a cliffhanger to another season- great show. As a series finale- a so-so show. Too many questions not answered (Who is the other Terminator? Where is Cromartie? How did he get Cameron’s chip? Is Sarah gone for good?). The writers did an admirable job in trying to wrap up the story in a short period of time (since they expect there not to be a 3rd season) but you could tell they were rushed to tie up all the loose ends (the SkyNet flyer; the 3 dots seen by Sarah; T1000’s real intent). I am sad that its done… Read more »
Hey maybe the show can be picked up by another network….. maybe someone like the CW
Love the show…would hate for it not to come back…i was hooked after the first show…durin the season 1 reruns…my husband happen to catch the pilot…and loved it…after that he had to watch them all….we dvr it to make sure we dont miss it…hope to see a season 3…. would love to know if john falls in love with the real version of cameron…think he will…
Love the show, please keep it going…I can’t wait to see how things continue. Give them another season for sure.
I agree with “Jack’s” post. I also hope they take into account downloads and viewership through hulu and itunes. Viewership changes: We want shows at the convenience and time that we can watch them – not limited to prime weekend times on Friday or Saturday, when a guy can step out. Plus, it’s worth an extra penny to be rid of all of those ANNOYING and frequent commercials.. I can barely stand TV anymore.. As for Terminator, this is a quality, well-written and entertaining show – with some excellent story arcs. It would be a mistake to dismiss this show.… Read more »
first of all this is a spectacular show, i am a huge fan of the terminator franchise and after seeing T3 i kinda lost faith in the franchise but then one night i decided to watch a repeat of the Pilot of TSCC and wow, i was blown away. sure there are parts that i cant get my head quite around, namely the timeline. but this show is fantastic none the less Acting Great! Script Great! Effects Great! FOX knows how to cancel good shows, and frankly they do it too much there is obviously much much more potential following… Read more »
I certainly do wish the show will return for another season. The problem today is that networks expect a show to pull over 10 million viewers on average. The reason that no longer works is because we have more channels than we have had ten years ago, causing the viewership to spread overall. Another reason is that we are living in a “I want it now and I want it fast” nation, where we think everything should happen in the speed of light. If we used today’s standards 20 years ago, we would not have the hit shows we enjoyed… Read more »
this show is great
we want a season 3
pleeeeeeeeeeease
who wouldn’t be upset. the show is a huge hit in my country, although it’s not really airing on tv. still there is a large community here quite fond of this terminator spin-off / side-story. if it would eventually air i can say with no doubt that everybody would watch. i don’t get why the american ppl are immune to good shows like this. hell i know i speak for the community in saying that if we got tscc on tv and wouldn’t have to download it off the internet a day after it aired, we would be a lot… Read more »
I thought the ending was GREAT…especially when the “plane” came thru the window and the true chrome lady spread her wings…loved it earlier too when she put her chrome arms thru the cyborg and fried him with electricity too……Shirley Manson sure adds to the show…as well as Summer Glau…she is so cool to watch…Please bring the show back FOX…and put it somewhere safe. Not Friday and Not Saturday…the kiss of death for any show. Just keep it alive….the movie should give it a boost anyway.
I really hope Fox doesn’t pull the plug on the show. Right now there are really just three or four shows that I watch during the week; 24, Lost, Terminator:TSCC, and the office. Lately, in my own mind, TSCC has been my most anticipated show. And I still love the others, but I find myself looking forward to the Sarah Connor Chronicles more than anything else. I think they have done an excellent job with developing the characters, and making the show about more than just special effects and action. They really do a great job of delving into the… Read more »