The Sarah Connor Chronicles Creator Reflects on Terminator Series’ Premature Cancelation

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As a lifelong cinephile who’s seen my fair share of shows that were cut short before their time, I can empathize with John Friedman’s feelings about the cancelation of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. It was a series that had the potential to keep unfolding captivating stories for years to come.

Although a series might end after just a few seasons or episodes, it can continue to leave an enduring impact for many years afterward. Such is the case with “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” which spanned two seasons (2008-2009) and 31 episodes in total. This series was a spin-off from the Terminator films, following the storyline after the events of “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Despite not being a ratings success, it had a dedicated fanbase who advocated for another season before the network ultimately decided to cancel it. Now, more than a decade since its final episode, “creator John Friedman is looking back on the show’s cancellation and pondering whether he feels content with its ending.

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In a recent conversation with Empire Magazine, I was queried about my readiness should our beloved show get the axe. While there’s certainly more tales to spin, the Season 2 finale was penned in such a manner that it could serve as a satisfying conclusion, all while maintaining an option for a potential third season if we were given a new lease on life.

In penning the finale for season two, I had a strong feeling it might be our last installment. I aimed to create an episode that straddled an ending emotionally yet still offered possibilities if we were granted another season. I wanted to write a tale with the essence of ‘be careful what you wish for.’ John harbors affection for Cameron, but she’s like Pinocchio – not truly human. So, what if he met the real person that the Cameron Terminator was modeled on? John often dislikes being John and resents the weight of his role. Therefore, what transpires when his wish comes true? He steps into the future, meets his father, encounters the woman he couldn’t have – in human form. Yet, nobody recognizes him, so there’s no pressure. This storyline felt like it could conclude things, but not necessarily.

Season 2 of Terminator: The Sarah Chronicles Didn’t End on A Cliffhanger

The TV series, titled “The Sarah Connor Chronicles“, primarily centered on the lives of Sarah Connor (Lena Headey) and her son John Connor (Thomas Dekker). Their narrative followed their mission to prevent the emergence of Skynet, a potentially catastrophic AI system that could trigger a nuclear war. In the second season, events unfolded leading John and Weaver (Shirley Manson), who disguised herself as the CEO of ZeiraCorp, a shape-shifting Terminator, to travel through time. Their goal was to locate John Henry (Garret Dillahunt), a T-888 sent back in time earlier in Season 1, with the intention of eliminating John. This role was previously played by Owain Yeoman at the start of the season.

In the course of time, John interacts with multiple iterations of Derek Reese (played by Brian Austin Green), Kyle, and Allison (Summer Glau). Interestingly, Allison is recognized as Cameron and a Terminator sent back from 2027 by John to safeguard his younger self. Initially, none of them recognize John when they meet him. The series concludes with John acknowledging that the timeline has been altered, meaning he didn’t spearhead the resistance in this new reality. Despite feeling there was room for further development, Friedman felt content with the ending on a personal note.

Initially, I was disappointed that our plans got canceled. Despite this, I found a sense of fulfillment within myself. I didn’t want the cancellation to feel abrupt or as if a record skipped suddenly. Instead, I wished for it to feel like the song had naturally come to an end, even though the entire album wasn’t over yet.

The Sarah Chronicles received positive reviews from critics, earning a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes for its debut season and a remarkable 94% rating for its second. The series made a strong start, attracting 18.3 million viewers and eventually becoming the highest-rated new TV show of the 2007-2008 season. Originally, 13 episodes were planned for Season 1, but due to the Writers Guild of America strike, production was cut short to only nine. The series averaged around 10.8 million viewers at its conclusion, a respectable figure, however, a sequence of events caused setbacks in Season 2’s progress.

Due to multiple adjustments in Fox’s broadcast schedule, the second season debuted on September 8, 2008; however, it took a two-month break starting in December of that year, which significantly affected its momentum. Initially airing on Mondays, the program resumed after its prolonged absence in February 2009 but was shifted to Friday nights, a time slot often considered a death sentence for most network TV shows. Consequently, ratings dropped even more to an average of 5.37 million viewers following the change, and given the high production costs, according to the network, Fox decided not to proceed with a third season.

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2024-10-26 19:39