The original post: /r/television by /u/RPGPC on 2024-05-26 19:57:51.
I have both seasons on my Apple TV and watch a random episode every now and then. I’ve always been a big fan because I haven’t just seen it as a ‘monster of the week’ type thing but have really paid attention to the subtle story lines as well as the brilliant story archs. Just watched season 2 episode 5 and the way the show weaves in and out the future war with the past/present, really developing the characters in nuanced way, whilst keeping an action-packed episode is sublime.
Spoilers of course, but the episode is about skynet sending back in time a T888 to terminate a “Martin Bedell” working down a hit list similar to Arnie’s Terminator 1’s ‘phone book’ process. Theres two targets left and John and Derek decide to go to a military prep school where one of the targets resides. Sarah and Cameron go protect the other target. The T888 proceeds to do his handiwork, attempting to terminate both targets, and there’s some terrific action sequences here. The ending of the episode leads into an ambush (disguised as a training drill for the students) set up at the prep school to kill the T888. At the end, John is taught that the reason Martin Bedell must be kept alive is because he is instrumental in winning a battle which saves 40 human prisoners from Skynet; one of the prisoners being John himself. This is shown in flash forward scenes of the future at throughout the episode.
The premise of the episode is fantastic, akin to strategic warfare with skynet sending back terminators to eliminate key targets that will be decisive in the future war. And then supplement that with great character development with John (Thomas Dekker) almost being an anticipatory war vet by realising he just saved some guy only to sacrifice himself to save John’s own ass in the future.
For a filler episode this was great. Wish we had more of this show!