Common Sense Media Review
Exciting sci-fi saga has fewer chases, more drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
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?
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
- Premiere date : January 13, 2008
- Cast : Lena Headey , Summer Glau , Thomas Dekker
- Network : Fox
- Genre : Science Fiction
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 26, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate