I Guess That Would Be a Pre-Existing Condition

[snurri]

You know that thing where bright lights make you sneeze? Well, either you do or you don't. It happens to me all the time, and it turns out there's a name for it: the photic sneeze reflex. (Via My Elves Are Different, which also lists some other interesting reflexes.)

I watched the Terminator show last night (I am not sure I will ever remember the actual name, even if it stays on for years). I will watch it again tonight. I'm not sure about it, but it had its moments. I thought Summer Glau was great (I actually cheered for her when she delivered the immortal "Come with me if you want to live" line), but the woman playing Sarah Connor isn't doing much for me. My Sarah Connor is buff, crazy (and not-teenaged) Linda Hamilton from T2; I can't picture this woman doing hundreds of pullups in the mental hospital. The kid is eh. I wonder if Dean Winters will show up again; I like him as an actor, but I'm not sure why he's there. I liked the bank not-robbery, with the time machine; it was an interesting twist. But I didn't so much like the dodging-and-outrunning-every-bullet-ever-fired phenomenon.

Check these out: Swordspoint/Fall of the Kings/Privilege of the Sword shirts for the Ellen Kushner fan in your household. I'm getting the green.

That's only three, but it'll have to do.

Comments

[gregvaneekhout.livejournal.com]

My reactions to The Terminator Show (they should really just call it that) pretty much parallel yours.

This version of Sarah Connor is more interestingly written than acted, maybe. In T2, she had to go from being a crazy machine woman to remembering her humanity. In the show, it seems her humanity has eroded a bit, but it remains close to the surface, so when she has to hurt John to protect him, it's hard on her. The dynamic has potential, at least, to be interesting.

Summer totally rocks, of course. I'm guessing she's been programmed with the personality of someone close to John in the future. Also could be interesting.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I was totally wondering about the psychology of Dirty Old Man John Connor sending his teenage self a hot bodyguard. That could go to a really weird place.

Agree that the dynamic of protect/hurt is interesting; I like that she worries that he will just leave rather than put up with her tough love. But isn't that something that was explored in T2 as well? I dunno. I'm also concerned that SkyNet and the Terminators will turn into Boss Hogg and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane if they don't find some other sources of conflict to drive the plots.

[gregvaneekhout.livejournal.com]

I think the plot is going to go Incredible Hulk. Summer and Sarah and John go from town to town, Bill-Bixbying their way through menial employment, befriend someone who needs help, conceal their specialness until Act 3, at which point Summer and Sarah shoot up the room, and then they bail just as the tabloid reporter Skynet/FBI shows up. Cue sad piano as they walk down the lonley road to their next menial job.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Oh god I remember that sad piano. It played while he walked along the dusty highways, holding out his thumb for a ride . . .

[gregvaneekhout.livejournal.com]

The Incredible Hulk "Lonely Man" Closing

It alarms me to realize how much this stuff informs my artistic sensibilities.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you remembered that. I had buried it so very deep. THANKS I THINK.