T:SCC Season 2x07: "Brothers of Nablus" (spoilers)

[Thanas]

After a week of no robotic killer machines, T:SCC returns today.

Sarah, Derek, John and Cameron find themselves burglarized after returning home. While they pursue the culprits in an effort to reclaim their stolen property, Cromartie - with the help of Cameron's friend-turned-enemy Jody - stalks John and Riley, which results in Riley learning John's secret. John must also protect her from a threat which was meant for him. Elsewhere, Ellison is attacked by a Terminator in his home intending to steal his identity. Meanwhile, Derek and Jesse continue to bond.

Discuss.

[Peptuck]

I'm pretty interested in seeing this episode, though I predict it will probably be a three or four at best.

As an aside, we know that at least John, Sarah, cameron, and Derek will survive this and next week's episodes, based on the plot summaries of upcoming episodes. I know sarahconnorscoiety.net has an extremely spoilery pic on it that shows who dies, but I'm not a member there, so I couldn't access it >.> I'm 95% certain its Cromartie, though.

[eyexist]

Sarah done fucked up again. First not killing Andy when she had the chance, and now letting that sk8ter boi live to tell Cromartie where Sarah and Co. reside.

[Burak Gazan]

Ho lee Frak

For all the talk, and bullshit, when Conner , Senior fucks up, the certainly hits for the fences, dont she?

This is not going to be pretty

[Peptuck]

Sarah done fucked up again. First not killing Andy when she had the chance, and now letting that sk8ter boi live to tell Cromartie where Sarah and Co. reside.

Uh, isn't it a big part of Sarah Connor's character that she refuses to kill anyone in the first place?

[Thanas]

Well, the characters have been struck with the idiocy curse again.

Like I said before, Riley is one dumb twat and is in need of getting a lesson in security risks stat. Not leaving the alarm on - nice move there. Connor junior is also still acting like an idiot - but since he is suffering from depression, I am willing to cut him some slack. Derek is also an idiot - getting sidetracked from his mission....nice.

Weaver spins her web. Interesting. Also, either she and Cromartie are working together or her goals are not consistent with Skynet (future vers.).

Cromartie, as usual, is very impressive - as was Cameron in this episode. Sarah is pretty much in character, so no issues there.

Overall an average episode. 3.

[Thanas]

Also, I assume the retards of the board strike again with the two "1" votes.

[charlemagne]

3-4, but I rounded up and votet 4.

The beginning scene was nicely done, at first I thought Weaver impaled Jimbot, but then it was Cromartie with a sharpened stick.

One thing that struck me as odd: some guy recognises alleged Ellison on the street at night, but no one recognises Cromartie walking around in broad daylight all the time. We've seen quite the media buzz about not only the sole survivor, but also the alleged actor that took out the 20 FBI agents, but no one goes "hey, isn't that that dead actor dude over there".

[eyexist]

Also, I assume the retards of the board strike again with the two "1" votes.

I haven't voted yet

Uh, isn't it a big part of Sarah Connor's character that she refuses to kill anyone in the first place?

Sarah: Cameron, finish the job.
Cameron: With pleasure.


I know, I know, it'l never happen. Sarah valuing human life etc.
Spoiler

Promo for next week's episode. I guess we find out why Cameron was given the ability to swallow Oh, and I think Cromartie is toast.

[charlemagne]

Spoiler

Promo for next week's episode. I guess we find out why Cameron was given the ability to swallow Oh, and I think Cromartie is toast.

Spoiler

WTH? I just see them lying in bed, and you are implying John gets a blowjob? I'm confused. I agree on Cromartie, though.

One more thing about this episode: Derek's girlfriend, I don't trust her. I didn't trust her before, and now I trust her even less. I wonder what her agenda is. I strongly believe the whole "living the life as long as it's still possible" is a charade.

[eyexist]

Spoiler

Promo for next week's episode. I guess we find out why Cameron was given the ability to swallow Oh, and I think Cromartie is toast.

Spoiler

WTH? I just see them lying in bed, and you are implying John gets a blowjob? I'm confused.

Spoiler

It was just a failed attempt at humor

I agree with you though. I don't trust Jesse. At all.

[Solauren]

For some reason, I keep thinking Jesse is a model of Terminator. The question is, who is she loyal too, and how if Cameron not detecting it?

[Shroom Man 777]

What the fuck did Cromartie do to Robot Ellison? How the HELL did he use that... pointed stick to remove the Terminator's still-beating heart?! What the hell?!

[Anguirus]

This was like a 3.5...and I think I'll round down to a 3 for once. Good TV but average for this show. However, the opening scene supplied like a whole point of this score. Basically, Cromartie is awesome. "Screw Skynet, I got this." He even learned how to smile like Arnold-Terminator.

[Shroom Man 777]

I'm still asking: What the HELL did Cromartie do? Seriously, that was pure (awesome) bullshit - as in "Let off some steam, Bennett" bullshit. What he did, not even the T-1000 did. I mean, crap, he could kill Cameron and basically ever other Terminator short of the T-1000s with his dumbass pointed stick.



I found the episode to be rather good, actually. I like how the seasons always start off slow but steadily increase in pace and frantic-ness.

[Anguirus]

Well, Robert Patrick-1000 did incapacitate Arnold-800 in the exact same manner in T2. He was just less thorough, and left the body to pursue the Connors without inflicting further damage that would prevent him from finding an alternate power source.

[Peptuck]

Okay, finally got around to catching the episode proper (Thank Buddha for DVR)

This episode's needs a seriously non-pretentious rename to "Cameron and Cromartie Beat Up LA" because that's pretty much what they did. Especially Cameron, because holy shit she is a cold bitch. Even after seeing her callousness in "The Demon Hand" I was a bit caught off guard when she gunned down the three robbers without hesitation.

Also, Cromartie rocking SkyNet's own plans to kill John Connor just screams badass.

I actually hate Riley a little less in this episode after she ran Cromartie off. I'm willing to cut her some slack on the alarm issue, as she doesn't have any idea how serious things are (until this episode) John gets badass points simply for walking around with that shotgun. John also gets some more with that bit of a speech at the end where he basically says "fuck you, Mom, I can handle myself" and pretty much answers the whole "security risk" issue by pointing out that he's living with someone who tried to kill him.

Additional high points: Cameron likes the story of the Brothers of Nablus. That is all manner of creepy, and coupled with her affection for Chopin it definitely hints at a much deeper persona past the part of her that is Allison. Also, the part where she casually punches the diamond fence's goon across the room was so awesome.

Cromartie's investigation, particularly the part where he backhands Jodi out of the car, was hilarious. As an aside, Cromartie has a pretty sweet ride.

I was surprised Cameron didn't just kill the other kid in the bowling alley. She had to know that there was someone else and that Sarah can't exactly be trusted to kill someone if the necessity arises.

Minor detail I noticed: I may be wrong, but isn't the detective in this episode one of the guys who played the Hands of Blue in Firefly?

[Shroom Man 777]

Well, Robert Patrick-1000 did incapacitate Arnold-800 in the exact same manner in T2. He was just less thorough, and left the body to pursue the Connors without inflicting further damage that would prevent him from finding an alternate power source.

No way. The T-1000 had to pry Uncle Bob's back open repeatedly before shoving the rod through him. The T-1000 did this slowly and painfully and with visible effort.

Cromartie did that and ripped the Terminator's powerplant out of his chest in a matter of seconds, before Ellison even knew what the hell was going on. Before the audience even knew what the fuck was happening. Seriously, he better rename himself into David Cromartiefield and set up a magic show for Resistance fighters, pulling rabbits out of asses and power cells out of Terminator chests.

He's so awesome. He totally bitchslapped Jodie, that whore. He totally MUST NOT die.

And yeah, Weaver totally murdered and doppleganged that Hands of Blue! Heheheh... not that Robot River would have to worry about them, this time round.

The humans in this episode were stoopid. Sarah for being a shitty mom, John for being a moron, and for Derek for thinking with the CPU between his legs. That, and his resemblance to Jayne, might lead to Robot River deciding he'd look better in red.

They better work out their dramas before Cromartie ruins their shit with that pointy stick of his.

[charlemagne]

Also, Cromartie rocking SkyNet's own plans to kill John Connor just screams badass.

I don't think that Skynets attempt to replace Ellison has anything to do with finding John. I think the reason for the Ellison doppelgänger is that Skynet wants to infiltrate Weaver's little operation, which would mean that Weaver is not there on a mission from Skynet. Cromartie just stopped that because his priority is finding John, and he decided that his best chance lies still with Ellison.

[Anguirus]

No way. The T-1000 had to pry Uncle Bob's back open repeatedly before shoving the rod through him. The T-1000 did this slowly and painfully and with visible effort.

IIRC he pounded on Arnold-800 until he was barely able to fight back, then stabbed him twice with the rod. The second time impaled him. T-1000 missing the first time and Cromartie hitting the first time isn't THAT big of a discrepancy...think of it as Sneak Attack damage. It's actually weirder to me that Cromartie knew exactly when and where to be to stop the assassination, although certainly not impossible to explain (he may simply have had access to a plan to replace Ellsion before he himself was even sent back).

Also Arnold is much bigger than...whoever plays Ellison. He could have had more armor in the way, or simply more muscle.

I concur that Jodie getting shoved out of the car was hilarious. Though I must say, she recovered extremely well from Cameron's assault on her.

[Lancer]

Cromartie has expressed an interest in keeping Ellison alive to use him to track Sarah Connor (and by extension, John). He probably set up some sort of surveilance around Ellison like he did to the Connors in "The Mousetrap," and something Robo-Ellison did tipped him off.

[Crazedwraith]

Why were the first words out of John's mouth not: "Cromartie was here"?

Why have they dropped any kind of code over the phone?

This episode was distinctly below average for me. I'm voting at a 2.

[Thanas]

Okay, finally got around to catching the episode proper (Thank Buddha for DVR)

This episode's needs a seriously non-pretentious rename to "Cameron and Cromartie Beat Up LA" because that's pretty much what they did. Especially Cameron, because holy shit she is a cold bitch. Even after seeing her callousness in "The Demon Hand" I was a bit caught off guard when she gunned down the three robbers without hesitation.

That scene works

I actually hate Riley a little less in this episode after she ran Cromartie off. I'm willing to cut her some slack on the alarm issue, as she doesn't have any idea how serious things are (until this episode) John gets badass points simply for walking around with that shotgun. John also gets some more with that bit of a speech at the end where he basically says "fuck you, Mom, I can handle myself" and pretty much answers the whole "security risk" issue by pointing out that he's living with someone who tried to kill him.

And whose fault is that?

Additional high points: Cameron likes the story of the Brothers of Nablus. That is all manner of creepy, and coupled with her affection for Chopin it definitely hints at a much deeper persona past the part of her that is Allison. Also, the part where she casually punches the diamond fence's goon across the room was so awesome.

Heh. Yeah, that made me chuckle. Also, notice how she really wanted her leather jacket back. Attachements to possessions - another sign of her evolving. However, if the story of Nablus is somewhat to go by - rape, murder, revenge and love - I am not sure if it is necessarily a good thing. Cameron going all Jahwe on their asses...worth seeing, but not a really good thing.

I was surprised Cameron didn't just kill the other kid in the bowling alley. She had to know that there was someone else and that Sarah can't exactly be trusted to kill someone if the necessity arises.

"Nobody likes a nag". Cameron is quite willing to let Sarah make her own decisions when it comes to security risks this season. In fact, she has done so since Sarah pistol-whipped her in episode 2. Otherwise Derek, Charlie and Andy Goode would have been killed and would have been joined by Riley this season as well.

Also: Derek seems to be doing some thieving on the side as well.

Another observation: John Connor is an idiot for not telling his protectors immediately about Cromartie showing up. I do not care how pissed he is at his mom, when cromartie shows up, you tell them.

[Gerald Tarrant]

I don't think that Skynets attempt to replace Ellison has anything to do with finding John. I think the reason for the Ellison doppelgänger is that Skynet wants to infiltrate Weaver's little operation, which would mean that Weaver is not there on a mission from Skynet. Cromartie just stopped that because his priority is finding John, and he decided that his best chance lies still with Ellison.

In conjunction with that, I've been wondering about some of Cameron's behavior in ep 4, "Allison from Palmdale". When she was interrogating the "real" Allison, she claimed to be part of a group of AI's with different goals from Skynet (more or less). She also exhibited un-robotlike behavior, killing the "real Allison" in what looked like retribution for being lied to. It really makes me wonder if there aren't factions among the AI's in the future, certainly I'd expect a Skynet led interrogation to be more clinical and patient. And now we get even more robots working at cross purposes. I'll be interested to see how all the seeming infighting ends up playing out.

As for Jesse? I'm suspicious of her too. I'm entertaining the notion that she's just given up and gone Nihilist.

[Strider]

You guys are all pretty down on the Jodi-ster, but you gotta give her one thing, she's a fuckin survivor. She's been in two situations so far that I would classify as a Death Sentence (Cameron pissed at her and *actively* choking her & Cromartie bringing her along to actively assist in an investigation), and she's come out with nothing worse than scrapes and bruises. And in addition to that, she totally screwed over Cromartie in the supermarket with her distraction, completely by accident, in such a way that he didn't kill her for it. She's the luckiest girl alive; I'd be shocked if we never saw her face again.

Is it possible that the girl-terminator-turned-pretzel and the ellison-terminator are not T-888s, but inferior models altogether, perhaps with a crappy endoskeleton alloy that is easy to pierce or bend? We've attributed Cameron owning pretzel girl to pretzel girl being small, but now we see Cromartie own ellison-terminator with equal ease. I dunno why Skynet would be sending bargain basement Terminators into the past, but it sorta seems like that's what they're doing.