TV Barn and TeeVee.net nutshell guide to the Fall 2007 premieres

Sarah Connor Chronicles

One of our Top 10 new series.

Terminators want to kill John Connor (Thomas Dekker), because in the future he sort of prevents them from ruling the world. Which is ironic, because without the Terminators his father would never have met his mother (Lena Headey) and he wouldn't exist. But in the meantime, he's a high school student. With a Terminator on his tail, and another helping him survive. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, look away. If you loved "Terminator 2," well, this is the TV version.

Full Review

The governor of my home state of California does not appear in a single frame of "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," but his presence looms over the entire production. This series is a faithful, reverent sequel to "Terminator 2," the blockbuster summer movie from 16 years ago. It's been years since I saw "Terminator 2," but the series' first episode uses every opportunity possible to jog your memory. The opening shot is identical to the last shot of "Terminator 2," an unexpected Terminator utters a classic bit of dialogue, and there's even a reference to Arnold Schwarzenegger's "I'll be back" catchphrase.

For those of you not up on your early '90s action movies, all you need to know is that young John Connor (Thomas Dekker) is destined to become the savior of humanity after a future revolt by all the world's computers. The clever machines don't want to lose, so they've built a series of Terminators -- killing machines -- and sent them back in time to kill John before he can grow up to be the guy who defeats them. (If your head is already hurting, you might not want to know about the fact that John's father is actually a soldier from the future who came back in time to protect John's mother from the first Terminator. It's time travel. Go with it.)

In the aftermath of "Terminator 2," John and his mother Sarah are on the run from from both the law and an endless series of robot killing machines. They move from town to town, using assumed identities. It's a lousy life, and just when John meets a girl and thinks he might have a chance at some temporary happiness, they're spotted and have to take off again. But fleeing federal authorities is easy. It's the arrival of a new Terminator on the scene that causes trouble, in the form of explosive violence.

Mixing realistic characters with wild sci-fi concepts can work, as Joss Whedon proved in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." And by the time the first episode of "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" reaches its conclusion, it's got some promise. The lead trio of characters (John, Sarah, and a girl with unexpected depths played by "Firefly's" Summer Glau) has an interplay that vaguely reminded me of the old Kirk-Spock-McCoy trio of "Star Trek."

"The Sarah Connor Chronicles" showcases massive action sequences and sets up interesting character relationships with ease. At least, in the pilot episode. The real question is, can this show keep presenting dynamic fights and explosions every week? And if not, will the characters be able to carry the load when there's less running and shooting and more talking? As half an action movie, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" delivers. But if the show devolves into a latter-day "Incredible Hulk," with the show's trio traveling from town town, righting wrongs and then remorsefully moving on, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" won't survive long enough to discover if Arnold is willing to do a cameo once he's out of office.--JASON SNELL