Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is an American science fiction television series created by Josh Friedman which revolves around the lives of the fictional characters Sarah and John Connor, following the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
The series aired in the USA on FOX from 13 January, 2008 to 10 April, 2009. It was officially cancelled by FOX on 18 May, 2009. There are 31 hour-long episodes in two seasons.
The series originally premiered in South Africa on M-Net on Tuesday 6 May 2008, 20h30. It later aired on DStv's M-Net Action channel and on SABC3. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles premiered on SABC3 on Monday 16 August 2010, at 22h15. New episodes air from Mondays to Thursdays at the same time. There are nine episodes in the first season, which was followed directly by Season 2.
Season 1
At the end of the 1991 feature film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Sarah Connor vanquished the Terminator sent from the future to kill her teenage son, John.
Sarah and John now find themselves alone in a very dangerous, complicated world. Fugitives from the law, they are confronted with the reality that still more enemies from the future, and the present, could attack at any moment.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles reveals what happens when Sarah stops running and goes on the offensive against an ever-evolving technological enemy bent on destroying her life, and perhaps the world.
Her son, 15-year-old John Connor, knows that he may be the future saviour of mankind, but is not yet ready to take on the mantle of leadership that he's told is his destiny.
John finds himself inextricably drawn to Cameron, an enigmatic and otherworldly student at his high school, who soon proves to be much more than his confidante - she assumes the role of Sarah and John's fearless protector.
On their trail are not only threats from the future, but an intelligent and tough FBI agent, James Ellison, who soon becomes a powerful ally.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles represents an exciting reinvention of the "Terminator" franchise, in which the strong and intrepid Sarah discovers that protecting her son and stopping the rise of the machines is more difficult than she had ever imagined.
Produced by C2 Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is executive-produced by Josh Friedman and John Wirth.
Toni Graphia serves as co-executive producer and James Middleton and Natalie Chaidez serve as consulting producers for the series.
The pilot was directed by David Nutter.
Season 2
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles picks up its second season with Sarah Connor (Lena Headey) hunting the future in present day Los Angeles, hoping to stop the impending apocalypse and change fate for her son John (Thomas Dekker).
While the ever-evolving technological enemy grows stronger, 16-year-old John begins taking the steps necessary to embrace his destiny as the savior of mankind.
John finds himself caught between his fearless protector, the beautiful but potentially dangerous cyborg, Cameron (Summer Glau), and his new friend, Riley (Leven Rambin), who represents freedom but also a potential risk to his safety.
John's uncle, Derek Reese (Brian Austin Green), continues to fight alongside the Connors, but has he overstayed his welcome?
After Cromartie (Garret Dillahunt), the T-888 sent from the future, spared FBI Agent James Ellison's (Richard T. Jones) life, Ellison has become a believer, accepting that "no one is ever safe."
Agent Ellison is now bent on understanding his role and his purpose. Catherine Weaver (Shirley Manson), CEO of Zeira Corp, may just know where to find the answers Ellison is looking for.
In Season 2, life for the Connors intensifies as their relationships are challenged and the present and the future begin to become one.
How long can Cameron protect them before they're discovered by Skynet? How will the Connors keep their family intact?
Main Characters
Sarah Connor
A mother, warrior, and the guardian of our future. Her fate was to fall in love with Kyle Reese, the time traveling resistance fighter and the biological father of her son.
Together, Sarah and Kyle vanquished the Terminator that was sent to assassinate her. But Kyle paid the ultimate price, dying in the battle. Nine months later, Sarah gave birth to John Connor – the future saviour of mankind.
Sarah struggles to balance her role as a single mother with her duties to prepare John for a future in which mankind is threatened with extinction by an artificial intelligence called Skynet.
Sarah clings to the hope that she can prevent Skynet from killing billions in a nuclear attack that will be known as “Judgment Day.”
But as Sarah is assaulted by enemies from both the present and the future, she realises that protecting her son and stopping Skynet will be much more difficult than she ever imagined.
John Connor
Fifteen years old, guarded, courageous, and rebellious. He’s the son of Sarah Connor.
All his life, John’s had to keep his true identity a secret. In the future, he will lead The Resistance against the machines. But today, he must survive high school and follow his mother’s orders.
In that respect, he’s not unlike any other teenage boy.
The future weighs heavy on John’s shoulders. Will he, can he, become the soldier, the leader, the saviour that mankind so desperately requires?
Cameron Phillips
A reprogrammed Terminator, she poses as a student at John’s high school. Cameron’s model number is unknown; however, she is an advanced cyborg unlike any we have seen.
With uniquely human characteristics and drop-dead looks, she is the most lethal and
convincing infiltrator yet.
Relentless in her mission to protect John Connor, Cameron absolutely will not stop.
Ever.
Agent James Ellison
Highly intelligent, doggedly determined. Ellison was once one of the FBI’s top agents until he was assigned the seemingly simple task of hunting down and bringing to justice a dangerous fugitive - Sarah Connor.
When his pursuit of Sarah Connor went awry, Ellison’s stature was diminished in the eyes of his fellow agents.
He now has an unrelenting resolve to apprehend Sarah Connor to exonerate himself.
Seasons
Season 1 (9 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 6 May 2008 | Finale: 1 Jul 2008 | Tuesdays, 20h30
Channel: M-Net Action | Premiere: 9 Jul 2008 | Finale: 3 Sep 2008 | Wednesdays, 20h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 9 Aug 2010 | Finale: 23 Aug 2010 | Mon-Thu, 22h15
Season 2 (22 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Action | Premiere: 11 Sep 2009 | Finale: 5 Feb 2010 | Fridays, 19h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 24 Aug 2010 | Finale: 29 Sep 2010 | Mon-Thu, 22h15