Terminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesArnold must be rolling in his grave (or political grave anyway).  Because, according to him, as long as “The Terminator” franchise has the action and effects that audiences love, it will be successful.  “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” lacks both of those factors.  And, if this article is anything to go by, it’s been terminated.

Take for instance, the scene in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” where Sarah Connor comes about the knowledge that a CyberDyne Systems programmer Miles Bennett Dyson is primarily involved with the chain of events leading to the destruction of mankind.  With this knowledge, she goes about almost shooting Dyson in his home before being stopped by her own conscience and her son, John.  She is then consoled by her son for a moment until the story moves forward with the Arnie model doing what he does best, not talking much and shooting/punching something.  Now, in the movie, this emotional scene with Sarah is only a bit part of the movie.  Imagine if someone decided that this scene alone was enough material to stretch out into a three or four episode arc on a television series.  Then, on top of that story arc, Sarah decides to seek therapy for such a decision.  And, even on top of that, Sarah tries to reconnect with her son after the ordeal, but he chooses not to speak to her because he is also depressed and emotionally unavailable.  Add in the fact that John has a pet female robot that he wants to bone and future TechCom uncle who spends most of his time driving the truck, you have yourself “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” (SCC).

More after the jump.

Summer GlauThe show itself started as an idea by screenwriter Josh Friedman, whose previous credits include mediocre to so-so efforts “War of the Worlds” and “Chain Reaction”.  Apparently unhappy that “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” was missing the character of Sarah Connor, Friedman presented his own concept to franchise producers Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna.  It seemed like a good idea, a television series focusing on Sarah Connor, dealing with her inner demons, her training/raising of future human resistance leader John Connor, and unraveling the mysteries of Skynet.  Kassar and Vajna themselves were trying to get “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins” off the ground (at the time being merely an outline), and SCC seemed like the perfect opportunity to utilize the franchise.  Friedman wrote the character of Cameron, a machine sent back from the future to protect John Connor, for former “Serenity” actress Summer Glau.  While “The Terminator” franchise offered suspense, three dimensional characters (even Arnold to some extent) and an emotional story to the action, SCC infrequently gets that same formula right.

The show premiered in mid-season with higher than expected numbers, due to the Super-Bowl lead in, and quickly tapered off.  The viewership was high for most scifi, genre shows, but the writer’s strike had just hit, meaning most shows were in reruns.  Better put by Sarah Connor lead actress Lena Headey in regards to these circumstances, ”That’s sort of like saying, ‘You’re the prettiest girl in the bar.”’  The second season was renewed to many critics surprise, but lacked what geeky sci-fi fans wanted most, Summer Glau…the show suffered by cutting down her screentime.  Well, looks like they shot themselves in the foot folks.

UPDATE: Want more evidence the show has been cancelled?

According to TV Guide, Brian Austin Green (Derek Reese) has been cast in the CW’s new drama pilot “Body Politic” as an adviser to the president of the
United States.

Lena Headey has also signed to star and direct “Drug Kill” prepping for January 2010 that would have directly conflicted with Season 3 shooting (should it have happened).

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