What It's About: A sci-fi drama based on the Terminator movies, following a fugitive mother and son on the run from cyborgs sent from the future. At the end of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Sarah vanquished the Terminator sent from the future to kill her teenage son, John, but Sarah and John now find themselves alone in a dangerous, complicated world. Fugitives from the law, they are confronted with the reality that still more enemies from the future, and the present, could attack at any moment.
Origins: This new incarnation is based on the three Terminator films. The original films, Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), were written and directed by James Cameron. (The third and fourth films, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) and Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins (2009), were developed by others based on Cameron's films.) The new series is being developed by Josh Friedman, a screenwriter best known for War of the Worlds (2005). Fox is calling it an "exciting reinvention" of the franchise, which may or may not reflect its respect for established continuity.
Popular Characters: The central figure is of course Sarah Connor, played so indelibly in the films by Linda Hamilton that it's a wonder anyone would dare essay the role. In this case it's established British actress Lena Headey, last seen before this as Queen Gorgo in 300. (This, after Bionic Woman, is really making me wonder why we are importing British actresses for all our sci-fi heroines). We can also expect lots of brooding teen action from 15-year-old future savior John Connor (Thomas Dekker, who was Zach, Claire's gay best friend, in early episodes of Heroes).
Flavor: Action-packed. Sarah and John are on the run from everyone, past and future, and both blend-in terminators and other menaces are likely to crop up constantly, mixed in with the present-time hunters. Good thing they've got a couple of mysterious helpers -- John's strange fellow student Cameron (Summer Glau), and the requisite tough FBI agent, James Ellison (Richard T. Jones).
Network: Sarah Connor Chronicles is shown on Fox. For showtimes see When It's On.
