Terminated Too Soon: The Ultimate Terminator Sequel That Deserves More Attention

The Terminator franchise started out strong with a few iconic films, but subsequent sequels failed to capture the same magic. It's been over 30 years since a universally beloved Terminator movie was released. However, the franchise has found success in other formats. The Sarah Connor Chronicles, the only Terminator TV show to date, successfully recaptured the essence of the first two films that fans love.

Back in 2008, the television landscape was vastly different. While options were more limited, shows were also more prone to being cancelled quickly. The end of the Writers Guild of America strike permanently altered the direction of network television, making it easier for networks to pull the plug on shows than ever before.

What is The Sarah Connor Chronicles About?

What Made The Sarah Connor Chronicles So Good?

After the events of T2, Sarah and John believed they had prevented the creation of Skynet by destroying the T-1000 and the reprogrammed T-800. However, their hopes are shattered when a new Terminator is sent back in time to kill them. The resistance sends a new reprogrammed Terminator, Cameron, to protect them and they are taken to the year 2007 to evade future threats. But the transition to a new era is not easy and John and Sarah struggle to adapt to their new life on the run.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles delves deeper into the life of Sarah Connor, the woman who would give birth to humanity's savior. The original concept of Terminator revolved around the fear of a machine relentlessly pursuing a person for a crime they have yet to commit, a dangerous monster seeking revenge for something as unpredictable as fate. The Sarah Connor Chronicles builds on this idea by exploring Sarah and John's struggle with the notion of destiny. These characters are remarkably well-developed, even more so than in the original films and subsequent adaptations.

The success of the show can be attributed largely to its exceptional cast. Lena Headey, known for her role in Game of Thrones, delivers an incredible performance as Sarah Connor. Thomas Dekker, who takes on the role of John Connor, successfully portrays a more mature version of Edward Furlong's iconic performance. Despite the challenge, Dekker outshines Nick Stahl's performance in Terminator 3. In line with the plot, a friendly Terminator accompanies the Connor family, played by Summer Glau of Firefly and Arrow fame. Glau's portrayal of Cameron is a more nuanced character compared to other Terminators in the franchise. Fans of the T-800's emotional journey will appreciate Glau's skillful performance, especially when the show introduces the human who inspired the machine. The cast's textured and sincere performances elevate the show's decent sci-fi action series into a realm of genuine human drama.

Why Was The Sarah Connor Chronicles Canceled?

The Sarah Connor Chronicles was a TV show on the Fox network that suffered the same fate as many other original series on the channel. Despite enjoying an average of nearly 11 million viewers per episode during its first season, the show suffered a significant decline in its second season, with only an average of 5.37 million viewers per episode. Unfortunately, the network president announced its cancellation less than a month after the second season finale, leaving fans disappointed and wanting more.

Despite numerous campaigns and petitions by fans to bring back The Sarah Connor Chronicles for a third season, its creator Josh Friedman has acknowledged the slim chances of its return. Although there have been rumors of pitches at the studio, the rights ownership has made crowdfunding impossible and a film to finish the show's story never materialized. With Terminator Salvation ending the franchise soon after the show's cancellation, The Sarah Connor Chronicles remains a missed opportunity for a new direction in the beloved sci-fi concept.