‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’: Fox’s Potential Gold
Rumor is abound that Fox are on the verge of canceling Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Airlock Alpha report that they’ve learned Fox is looking to renew Dollhouse and replace TSCC with House on Friday nights.
There is good reason why Fox should seriously rethink any plans to cancel Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Despite the series suffering from slow and uneventful story telling it has finally found it’s feet. TSCC has continued to improve out of sight in the latter half of season two and no-one could reasonably argue that its recent episodes have not been continuing a trend of excellence.
Obviously the difficulty for Fox comes down to the justification of cost versus reward, where the reward is of course ratings that translate into advertising revenue. Ratings are almost entirely dependent upon TSCC meeting viewers expectations and by failing to meet those expectations we now have the issue of potential cancelation.
But the truth is the issue of cancelation has arisen at a time when those expectations are finally being met. The series has even engineered itself to a point where some reviewers are referring to it as potentially “the next BSG”. If the most recent episode, ‘Adam Raised a Cain’ is anything to go by, then this is not such a way out statement.
Fox have a potential hit on their hands if only they can recognize it. Even more so if you factor in the viewer gain that is sure to occur post release of Terminator Salvation.
Recent episodes have certainly shown that the series is shaping up to become one of the best science fiction series currently on television with the potential to become one of the best ever. I say this not because I’m a blind fanboy – I too have been critical of earlier episodes. But at this juncture, the series is far too entertaining to hold past performance grudges – and it would be a shame not to give it the chance to realize what is obviously an expanding and developing greatness.
Many reviewers are agreeing but in the same breath adding that ‘it may be too little too late’ – but is it really? Just as any series can lose viewers they can also pick them up again – and then some. At the rate TSCC is improving, surely improved ratings are virtually a foregone conclusion. Word is already spreading amongst fan sites how good the series has become in the latter part of season two. It is just a matter of time before this word influences those who are not die-hard week to week watchers to tune in, or to give the series another chance.
It takes time for word of mouth to spread beyond the fan community to a point where it influences non-die-hard genre buffs, but this is inevitable for TSCC as long as the series continues on the path it is on – and there’s no reason to suspect it won’t given that it has reached a pivotal point of story telling depth. Depth of story and character development combined with regular Terminator based action is what is craved from those who are willing to tune in to TSCC and now, finally, the series is at a point where it has begun to deliver on these elements in droves.
The lesson for Fox is in the Terminator franchise, not the ratings of the series to date. The Terminator franchise is massive, and this in turn will be reiterated by the monumental box office takings that Terminator Salvation will undoubtedly deliver. Let’s not forget that the first three movies exceeded $1 Billion dollars in box office earnings. There is a real, profitable industry behind Terminator. This can be capitalized on by Fox on the small screen too, if only they allow TSCC to continue from where it has built itself up to.
It would be wrong to base cancellation solely in consideration of present viewership, for it is flawed to expect new and old viewers to instantly embrace the series just because it has suddenly become exceptional. Likewise it is short sighted to assume that ratings won’t hit an upward trend once word travels and, given we are now at the final episode of season two, the only way that word can travel is between seasons.
If TSCC maintains its present greatness, by mid season three it has the very real prospect of becoming a huge ratings success. And that will in turn translate to advertising revenue AND increased product sales revenue.
Yes, I concede it is a risk for Fox to take based on the show’s past performance. Yet there is a sound argument that the biggest risk could be to ignore the potential that the series’ is clearly demonstrating that it offers. Fox is sitting on a gold mine with TSCC. The question is will Fox Executive’s be willing to take a risk and see? For fans present and future, cast and crew, and Fox itself, let’s hope so.
April 7th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Yeah I gotta agree. The last episodes have been great. The show was losing me at one point, but now I’m finding I’m keen for the next episode like never before. It’d suck if it was canceled now.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I stopped watching Sarah Connor a few eps into season 2 I think it was. A friend told me a few weeks back it was getting good. I tuned back in and he’s right. The show is no longer how I remember it.
I agree with this article as I’m one person who has come back.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I completely agree with the article. TSCC is a great show that has shown it’s potential to be an excellent one. It would be wrong to cancel a good show because of ratings when the fault lies primarily, in my opinion, w/FOX. They have failed to capitalize on the vast following of the Terminator franchise, lack of promotion comes to mind. And though some episodes were lacking, so do all of One Tree Hill for example, and they got renewed!!! The tragedy!. So, please powers that be, give it a valid chance to find it’s audience, be a nice daddy and you may find gold.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
The problem is you’re never gonna get back the scores of us who watched the first six and were soured on it.
Even the first five of Dollhouse didn’t sour me as much as the initial eps of TSCC.
Too many people miscast, especially Dekker and Heady.
April 7th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Theres just no way in a billion realities the first 5 Dollhouses’s are as good as the first 5 Terminator’s…and present Dollhouse isn’t a touch on present Terminator…I so can’t agree on that and also “scores of us left?” Who say’s scores of us left after specifically 6 episodes? I call exaggeration. Dekker has proven himself a great John Connor lately, Summer Glau is great, Brian Austin Green was great, John Henry (whatever his real name is) is outright superb, the show is great. If you’ve only watched 6 episodes more than a year ago, then how can you even comment when the point of scoops article is about how good Terminator has become, as opposed to what it was??!! If you’re so not watching it ever again, why are you even reading about the show? We are expected to believe you won’t ever watch it again but you’ll take time to read and write about it? I call bs but if true, the absolute bs part is that you don’t speak for “scores of us”. But I’ll say “scores of critics” are now saying the show has gotten good which is something that can be checked by reading latest reviews.
“There’s some terrific stuff in this episode – and it’s only making it harder to eventually say the final goodbye to one of the coolest shows on television.” – http://au.tv.ign.com/articles/970/970093p1.html
“So, like other recent episodes of this series, the shows have gotten better” – http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/tv-for-movie-lovers/tv-review-terminator-scc-221-%E2%80%93-adam-raised-a-cain.php
“This is, most likely, the second to last Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles ever. If so, it will be a shame. Not because it is the only show I cover for Blend Television and I will be out of a gig, but because this Terminator:TSCC has been gaining steady steam for the last five episodes.” – http://www.cinemablend.com/television/TV-Recap-Terminator-The-Sarah-Connor-Chronicles-Adam-Raised-a-Cain-16680.html
“I’ve kept up with watching the shows and in my opinion, it’s been a fantastic season.” – http://www.televisionzombies.com/2009/04/06/review-terminator-the-sarah-connor-chronicles-221-adam-raised-a-cain/
“It was the first time I really thought this show might go down in history as one of the best science fiction shows of all time. We’re approaching Battlestar Galactica/The Prisoner levels of greatness.” – http://io9.com/5198533/sarah-connors-worst-nightmares-all-come-true
“The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2, Ep. 21 – Adam Raised a Cain was one of the best episodes of the season.” – http://film-book.com/tv-review-terminator-the-sarah-connor-chronicles-season-2-ep-21-adam-raised-a-cain/
Google these later episodes and its clear Terminator should be renewed, it is a great series now. I too agree word of mouth takes time, that’s all.
Sorry bout the length, peace out.
April 7th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Thomas Dekker miscast? Are you kidding? He has done an outstanding job of portraying John Connor’s growth from the guarded outsider teenager prepared for a horrific potential future to a young man realizing the actuality of his situation and his role in a larger world beyond his mother’s protection. He has taken a role previously played by others and made it his own. If anything, I may have a hard time watching the second and third movie and seeing the previous young John Connors after seeing Dekker develop the character so much more deeply over the length of the series.
Lena Headey has accepted the very challenging task of stepping into an established role already well-played multiple times by Linda Hamilton and given us a deeper Sarah Connor than the movies were able to develop in their few short hours. She has portrayed Sarah Connor’s emotional, physical, familial, and strategic journeys skillfully and emotionally.
You are, of course, free to like or dislike what you will, but you should understand what it is that you like or dislike. “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” is a superb drama that manages to be both character-driven and plot-driven simultaneously. Every episode is part of the larger story, in which each of the component parts can be seen in its relation to the whole rather than as mere one-off weekly diversions. And when some episodes have seemed to contribute less to the main ongoing plot than others, even they have contributed to the development of complex characters.
As far as I am concerned, the whole cast is doing a great job. Summer Glau, Shirley Manson, and Garret Dillahunt each portray a terminator of more depth than any other we have seen and they do so in three different ways—all three compelling and all three great. Richard T. Jones is absolutely solid as James Ellison; stoical and somewhat secretive yet somehow warm in his own way.
And what can I say about Brian Austin Green that will be sufficient? He started out as that guy from that Beverly Hills rich kid show and delivered some of the strongest performances I have ever seen on a television series. It didn’t even feel like he was an actor; when he was on the screen he WAS Derek Reese. He rocked and he rocked it hard. He would have been right at home on Ron Moore’s Battlestar Galactica. For that matter, he probably could have made an outstanding adult John Connor and done so with a more believable voice than we’re hearing in the trailers for “Terminator: Salvation”.
It may have taken this series a while to find stable footing, but I think it has done so now and it has become one of my favorites.
April 7th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Great comments Lizacamellia/Jaycie/Brian.
I completely share your collective viewpoints and in particular yours Brian regarding the characters – especially Brian Austin Greens portrayal of Derek Reese.
When I first heard he was cast, unpleasant memories of Beverly Hills 90210 flashed through my head. But Brian Austin Green has stolen the show on TSCC (although it’s a tough battle against Garrett Dillahunt). Either way, he shines as an actor and has completely won me over and yes, he would have fit right in on Battlestar Galactica. I’ll watch anything with him in it now.
It’s an interesting scenario the present state of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. When the season paused for a hiatus mid way through I was kind of half-hearted about the show. I always enjoyed it but I was never deeply involved in it. This article would never have arisen had the first half of season 2 been the last half.
But now there’s really no debating that the show has turned the corner and has the very real potential to become one of televisions best. To cut it short at this pivotal moment in its development would be a sad thing indeed.
April 7th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Yeah that’s a good point you know. I reckon Brian Green would hypothetically have been quite a good John Connor himself. I’m hoping that the reason he departed the series so quickly is that we are about to see him in another quality production. He was a pleasant surprise in this series and I’ll be looking forward to his next work.
April 7th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
He’s the lead in an action movie due out this year called ‘Fast Track’ (no release date yet).
He’s also now trying his hand at directing with a movie called ‘The Vines’ which tells the story of a vampire hunter who is trying to stop Vampires from obtaining an elixir that will allow them to walk in sunlight – and rule the world. Sounds interesting.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:57 am
I can predict that if this season finale will be as powerfull as “Adam raised…” was, the show became a legend. It will be a huge mistake if it won’t get the next season. I’m sure the creators have learn their tactical mistakes. The last four episodes are just awesome.