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Feb 24, 2009 01:30 PM
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Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles producer Josh Friedman went online to address fans' concerns about the show. The spoiler-averse creator even ventured into spoiler territory, assuring fans the season's final episodes will pack a punch.
In his new post at the show's official blog, Friedman says fans seem to be "stressed," both about the show's direction and about its chances for survival. And he tried to offer fans a bit of digital valium. As far as the show's ratings go, Friedman says, everyone expected it to have a drop-off when it moved to Fridays, and nobody can really tell how much of a drop-off is too much. At least the second Friday episode had the same ratings as the first. How does Friedman handle the uncertainty? Here's how:
Every day early in the morning I drive my car to the Warner Bros lot. I approach the security guard and hold out my employee ID. He runs the scanner over it. If I hear the beep and the gate opens I say to myself: "So far so good" and go to my office. I will continue to do this until the gate does not open and I suggest you do the same. The show is on until it is off and while that could be next week, next season, or years from now, try to enjoy it while you can (assuming you enjoy it).
And then Friedman addresses your (and our) concerns about the show's creative direction — and it's very illuminating. For example, he says the two most recent episodes are part of a "trilogy" examining Sarah Connor herself, which concludes this Friday with "Some Must Sleep..." Friedman explains that he made a deliberate decision "some months ago" to start focusing the show more on Sarah Conner herself, and what the fight against Skynet is doing to her.
I wanted to explore not simply the idea of chasing Skynet and all that that entails, but also the psychological effects of doing so. It wasn't enough to just hunt/fight/protect; I wanted to see what was going on inside her head, especially when those around her doubted her. Now some of you find that interesting, some of you don't, some of you probably would but don't think I've done a good job depicting it. And most of you are just pissed there's not enough Cameron.
Is it difficult starting up with dark, psychological episodes after being gone for two months? Seems that's the case. People are worked up about the Friday night thing and the ratings and I probably underestimated that microscope in my desire to explore Sarah and her demons. To be completely honest, the network warned me not to do it but I felt (and still feel) these stories (and I consider the upcoming Some Must Sleep… as the third part of the Sarah triptych) were/are vital parts of the show. But that's coming from the guy who believes that if you enjoy watching Weaver slaughter thirty people in one episode you're obligated to go to their funeral in the next.
And then he lists all the stuff we're going to get a degree of closure on this season, and it all sounds pretty fantastic, including a future storyline about Jesse's Terminator-piloted nuclear submarine, which explains how she got back to the present, and what it means for John Connor. There will be more John/Cameron (or "Jameron") shippery stuff, but not too much. Catherine Weaver will fight another Terminator and have a "faceoff" with Sarah Connor. Agents of Skynet will mount a "deadly" attack on the Connors, and Cameron's chip malfunction will reappear in "new and deadly ways." Savannah will be in "mortal danger." Plus there'll be final closure for Jesse and Riley, an explanation of Catherine Weaver's backstory and mission, an explanation of the three dots, and loads and loads of death.
Reading Friedman's blog post, I felt a tad guilty that I was a bit harsh about last Friday's episode, which is growing on me. In general, I feel as though the show's second season has been way stronger than its strike-blighted first, and I'm always in favor of introspection and character study, along with the boom-booms. In any case, Friedman says the show is just about done shooting, so it's too late for anybody's back-seat writing to make a difference. Here's hoping the show pulls off a miracle and gets a third season — I suspect that upward trajectory in the show's quality would continue in year three. [Fox Blogs via Sarah Connor Society]
Send an email to Charlie Jane Anders, the author of this post, at charliejane@io9.com.
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