Parents' Guide to

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

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

TV Fox Science Fiction 2008
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles TV Series: Scene #1
  • Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles TV Series: Scene #2
  • Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles TV Series: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

TiffanyKWM
TiffanyKWM Parent of 4, 11, 13 and 18+-year-old
October 5, 2010
age 13+

Okay if you're watching with your teen

My thirteen year old daughter began tuning into this old series after watching an episode with her dad. I watched a few prior to letting her continue to view them. My main concern was that they're pretty violent. There always seems to be a murder, gunshot wound, etc. It's sometimes peppered with a bit of colorful language, but I wasn't overly offended. It's very much a futuristic sci-fi show and that's the sole reason I've given it the go-ahead, despite the violence. It's not remotely realistic and I think a teen can easily discern that. Thankfully there were only a few seasons made!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
popcornpop1997
popcornpop1997 Parent of 1, 4, 6, 11, 16 and 18+-year-old
March 13, 2009
age 10+

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

this show is the best show in the history of shows! great for preteens and up! MY FAVORITE SHOW EVER!
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES picks up the Terminator story a few years after the events of the second movie. In the show, Sarah (Lena Headey) and her now-teenage son John (Thomas Dekker) are on the run from both the authorities -- who think the Connors are responsible for several deaths -- and from the Terminators, which have never stopped hunting them. With the help of Cameron, a Terminator sent back by the future John to protect them, they decide to stop running to prevent the creation of Skynet, which launched the war on mankind in the first place.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (4 ):

One of the most fascinating mysteries of the Terminator stories has always been how Sarah Connor raised son John, who is destined to lead the human resistance in the future after humanity loses its war with the murderous machines. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fills in that gap, showing how she taught him the skills necessary to fight back and win against a seemingly unbeatable enemy. This chapter of the Connors' life is much better fodder for a TV series than a simple rehash of the films' standard chase format would have been -- the result is smart, nuanced, and very satisfying.

That said, this is a Terminator show, so there's still plenty of action and excitement. Cameron (yes, her moniker is a shout-out to James Cameron, who created the franchise) regularly ends up duking it out with her robotic counterparts. The interactions between Sarah and Cameron (Firefly's Summer Glau) are especially fun; these two powerful women dominate the show. By contrast, John is young and unformed, and though he's the focus of the storyline, he's the least interesting part of the show.

Talk to Your Kids 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 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles similar or different?

  • 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?

TV Details

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