Sarah Connor Chronicles: Heavy Metal

The writers have clearly spent a lot of time thinking about terminators. This gives rise to the show asking questions such as "If they were badly damaged and lost their skin (as we've seen in the movies) – how would they continue their mission?" There's also "If a terminator completed its mission, would it just go into standby?" And in this episode I saw answers to both of these questions and the mythology of the terminator expands and deepens.

Meanwhile, John Connor runs into something of a "catch-22" situation. He's supposed to stay alive to become some great hero and leader in the future war against the machines. However, if Sarah is going to shelter him and keep him close at all times to keep him safe – how will he ever learn and achieve the things he needs to do in order to become that leader? It seems possible that they'll keep him alive, but he simply won't be ready to face Skynet. As Cameron puts it, when Sarah says it's too soon to let him go, "Is it? The world ends in 4 years." Sarah is facing the frightening prospect of having to fight her instincts so that John can finally do what he was meant to do.

Lena Heady also shows some of her action chops in this episode. When she ties up a man who is (though unwittingly) collaborating with a terminator – she really doesn't mess around. There's a ferocity that comes out as she wails on the guy and is perfectly prepared to torture him. However, she decides instead to use Cameron as her ace in the hole. The show continues to find new and interesting ways for Sarah and Cameron to work together as a team.

Agent Ellison continues his seemingly foolish pursuit of Sarah's case, much to the amusement of his colleagues. While it does seem that these events are far removed from the rest of the show (because they are), it does do a good job of providing exposition for the audience that John and Sarah simply aren't privy to. It's making the prospect of his finally meeting up with Sarah and the others all the more interesting.

The show closes on the great moment of Cameron sending the truck full of terminator alloy into the sea. It's a terrific shot, with Summer Glau climbing through the windshield and riding on top of the truck just before leaping to safety before it goes over. The show really isn't cutting corners on its effects budget, which is appropriate since the Terminator films have always been about spectacle. This show is much different, more cerebral and deliberately paced. As the show progresses, it's getting tighter, smoothing out the edges, while better defining its characters and mythology.