Watch The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 1, Episode 3
Introduction to The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 1
It’s no secret that American TV series and Hollywood have been mutually influential and borrowed from each other. Many popular classic TV series have been adapted into films (just a few examples: *Charlie's Angels*, *Mission: Impossible*, *Bewitched*), but the adaptation of movies into TV series is still quite rare. *The Sarah Connor Chronicles* is one such series.
The name of the series translates directly to "The Legend of Sarah Connor." Clearly, the main character of the series is not the future leader John Connor or the robot Terminator, but John's mother. In the first two *Terminator* films, we’ve seen how formidable Sarah is—strong, independent, and decisive. In the *Terminator* series, if Governor Schwarzenegger is the leading man, then Sarah is undoubtedly the leading lady. The third movie removed Sarah as a character, so *Rise of the Machines* had all the trappings of a "robot war" but lacked the depth of its characters.
At the start of the year, *300* not only showcased 300 half-naked warriors but also made us remember Lena Headey’s enchanting face. In the poster for *The Sarah Connor Chronicles* episode 3, Lena Headey, who has been running bit parts in movies, finally soared to fame through her portrayal of Queen Gorgo in *300*. In *The Sarah Connor Chronicles*, Lena Headey as Sarah Connor is undoubtedly the biggest star of the entire series and the show’s biggest selling point.
The story is set between the second and third films in the franchise. The main storyline follows Connor and his mother as they continue to evade the pursuit of robotic assassins. After the events of the second film, Sarah has completely transformed into a strong woman. With the help of T-800, she destroyed the nascent “Skynet,” seemingly allowing them to live a peaceful life. But how could the writers leave them alone? They’re not just two ordinary people; they're a massive goldmine waiting to be tapped! The killer robots quickly find their whereabouts, and the protective robots are swiftly in place, making the start of the series action-packed. However, if we look beyond the immediate "excitement," there are significant underlying issues with *The Sarah Connor Chronicles*.
The story of *Terminator 3* takes place in 2011, while the second movie happens in 1997. The series begins in 1999 and, through the help of time-traveling robots, moves forward to 2007 (American TV shows generally run parallel to real-time). Watching *The Sarah Connor Chronicles* episode 3 online reveals that 2007-2011 suggests the series might last for four seasons at most, though I suspect *The Chronicles* won't endure that long. Such a short timeline offers little room for the series to expand. Even more fatal is the fact that Sarah Connor dies before the events of *Terminator 3*, so the series essentially tells the story of a "dead person." *Terminator 3* is undoubtedly the biggest obstacle for *The Sarah Connor Chronicles*. The essence of American TV lies entirely in the script, and the key to the script is suspense. The existence of *T3* eliminates this suspense, meaning that *The Sarah Connor Chronicles* is, in a sense, already over. FOX Network has currently only purchased the rights to air 13 episodes. Once these 13 episodes are over, it remains uncertain whether the series will continue. In reality, the higher-ups are well aware of the weaknesses of the show, but seeing that their flagship shows *24* and *Prison Break* are showing signs of decline, they can only use *The Sarah Connor Chronicles* to bolster ratings. Despite its inherent disadvantages, *The Chronicles* has clear advantages. Generally, new shows take a long time to build an audience. However, *The Sarah Connor Chronicles* can leverage the "star effect" of the *Terminator* franchise to quickly attract attention and viewership, cultivating a loyal fanbase. As long as it looks authentic (the first episode of *The Chronicles* indeed achieved this), the "Terminator fans" will naturally rally to support and buy into the show.