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Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

(Rated TV-14, Science fiction , Starring Lena Headey, Summer Glau, Thomas Dekker, Where to watch: Fox, DVD, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Exciting sci-fi saga has fewer chases, more drama.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Sarah Connor and her son, John, are fighting to prevent a future apocalypse that nobody else really believes will happen, and they're willing to break the law to accomplish their ends if necessary. Those ends could include murdering people to prevent them from inventing dangerous machines, stealing to support their guerilla efforts, or robbing a bank. The Connors are fugitives, forced to live underground using fake identities and fake papers and often must lie to the authorities who think their wild tales of unstoppable machines are simply symptoms of mental illness. The show features two strong female characters.
  • Violence:

    The Terminators are plenty tough, and it gets pretty rough when two machines go at it. Expect some serious brawling, shown in explicit detail -- though, since they're indestructible, there isn't much gore. When humans take on the Terminators, expect lots of big explosions as they try bigger and bigger guns, usually with little effect -- and sometimes followed by the unnerving sight of a robotic skeleton rising from the wreckage of a blast that seems like it could have destroyed anything. When a Terminator has the upper hand, it's ruthless and aggressive, killing quickly and efficiently, and leaving corpses in its wake, sometimes in a bloody mess. Some of the robots' wounds appear bloody temporarily, but they don't feel pain.
  • Sex:

    No sex, but teen John Connor certainly seems to have some chemistry with his attractive robotic protector, Cameron (and she shows a little bit of cyborg skin, but nothing sensitive). Characters sometimes travel through time and must be completely naked for the trip, but there's no explicit nudity.
  • Language:

    Includes words like "hell," "crap," "whore," and "bitch."
  • Consumerism:

    Part of the successful Terminator movie franchise.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some background/social drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Parents need to know that this series picks up right where the first two Terminator movies left off, centering on the never-ending conflict between Sarah Connor and her son and the indestructible robotic assassins that want to kill them. There's plenty of action, including car chases, explosions, fistfights, and gunfights. But it's not just mindless violence; because the show focuses on Sarah's efforts to protect her son at all costs (so he can grow up to lead the human resistance), it has a strong narrative framework to support all the smash-'em-up scenes. Plus, with her take-no-prisoners attitude, Sarah is one of Hollywood's most interesting female characters; here, she's joined by Cameron, a tough female terminator. By contrast, teenage John is still unformed, and, though earnest, he can also be rash and immature. This series, as the name says, is all about the women.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the media's fascination with time travel. What other movies and TV shows can you think of that revolve around time travel? How is this one similar or different? Also, this series takes place after the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Why do you think the show's producers have chosen to ignore the events that occurred in the third film, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines? Does it help the series better fit into the overall Terminator storyline?

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See all 17 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Good for people 9 and up

    LOVED IT!! It was too awesome! Sarah and John are the BEST!

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 5.0

    BEST SHOW EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    this show is the best show in the history of shows! great for preteens and up! MY FAVORITE SHOW EVER!

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 4.0

    must see tv series!!!!

    not that bloody.really good

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    This is a great show

    Kids get more violence than this on their video games. I think it is a great show.

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