T:SCC 2x11: "Self Made Man"

[Thanas]

This episode will air today.

Cameron's secret night life is revealed, a Terminator sent back to a wrong point in time causes a lot of trouble and John and Riley kiss.

Well, a Cameron-centric episode is always a good thing. From the looks of it Cameron will get into quite the fight. One promo picture showed her with heavy cuts upon her face, with metal showing. Who knows, maybe she will get another Terminator kill?

Hopefully, this episode will also answer a few questions about time travel stuff.

As always, please do not use spoiler tags when discussing this episode. Please do use them however when you are discussing the trailer and promo pics of the next episode. General discussion as always should take place without spoiler tags.

[charlemagne]

The detective story about Cameron digging in the past was well done, but the plot of planning and building this whole thing just to hide a Terminator in there to kill someone was a bit... far-fetched. There's nothing stopping the Terminator from just finding and killing the governor without this fancy plan - or did I miss something there?

I hated the John/Riley-plot, I wish the stupid-teenage-boy-arc was over already.

The scenes where Cameron was scouting through the closed tower were awesome, there was a shot where she resembled Ahnuld's scanning-the-scenery-motion 100%, it was just great. She looked 100% Terminator there.

[Peptuck]

An interesting one. To tell the truth, I wasn't that surprised that Cameron's night life is spent reading books and studying history, as she's already shown a literary bent before. I was surprised to find that she had made a friend of the wheelchair-bound librarian. I did, however, love the contrast between the two characters, especially the dynamic between the two of them - there is this definite feeling that they are friends. There was a lot of great conversational bits there, especially Eric's little spiel on eternity and being frozen in time with regards to the film reels, and his bit about having something terrible inside of you. Watching Cameron's reactions to all of this was really the highlight of the episode.

Also, Eric gets RESPECKT points for refusing Cameron's help to get back up into the wheelchair. I'm seriously hoping he comes back later on. Cameron was dropping too many hints about her not-quite-human nature for him not to at least catch the idea that she isn't what she says she is.

And, well, John and Riley kissed. No surprise there. Cameron's reaction - or rather, lack of one beyond standard blank staring - leaves a lot open to interpretation.

Great twist on the otherwise bog-standard Terminator-of-the-Week. Stark was an interesting character. I actually liked him, or at least the representation of him that was left behind in the news reels. As an aside, I wonder what was so important about assassinating the governor? Is this going to be a plot point later on?

The fight between Cameron and Stark was interesting, but rather short. Still, it shows how effective Cameron can be in a fight and how efficient she is - if she spots an advantage, she takes it immediately.

Still, I give this one a 4, mostly because I was expecting a bit more from a Cameron-centric episode. But I guess not all of them can be a brilliant psychological piece like "Allison from Palmdale."

Also, I expect Shroomy is going to hate how the Connors make Cameron to do all their laundry

[Tsyroc]

I liked this one a lot.

About the only thing I didn't like was Riley. They need her to spill the beans or let slip that she's from the future and either have that be part of her link to John, or as the reason she goes away (because she was lying and stringing him along). So far I have really disliked Riley. I just find her annoying. This episode had one moment where I kind of liked her and that was when she was talking about her Hippie foster parents. Knowing where she really comes from and she was living with people who were giving her shit about trashing the world because she wasn't recycling.

I liked pretty much all of the Cameron story. It was a little bit of a let down to end up the way it did. The terminator "time capsule" isn't a bad idea I just wasn't crazy about final reason behind this one. It is interesting how determined a terminator can be to follow it's programed mission. I suppose the point is we are intended to get is that the terminator will go through all kinds of bs to complete what is essentially a mundane type hit.

I would really like to know how their terminator pseudo flesh manages to heal and last so long. With the way the stuff holds up in this show it's almost surprising that more terminators in the films didn't still have skin. (I say, "almost" since there's a perfectly logical reason to not put skin on endoskeletons that are going to be used as infantry. So that can be covered with some logical justification)

I almost forgot to mention that I did like the stuff with John at the party. He sucked at and reacted badly to a game that mirrors his life and future life. I even kind of liked him beating the shit out of the jackass party host, although I thought it went too far and of course I knew that Riley had stolen the guy's lighter. I guess that could be another example of her "This shit just doesn't matter" attitude because compared to what she's lived through it doesn't.

[neoolong]

Poor Robot River. She wuvs him enough to do his laundry.

I kid though.

Cameron and the librarian's friendship seemed a bit odd, and I suppose it's suddenness is intentional. It must serve a purpose though, or else she would be protecting John. But, it did feel "real." Ah, the guy said old-timey.

John's getting increasingly fucked up it seems, like when he was wailing on that guy. Makes me wonder if the efforts of Sarah and Derek to prepare John for the future aren't actually making him less prepared.

[Anguirus]

There's nothing stopping the Terminator from just finding and killing the governor without this fancy plan - or did I miss something there?

Well, not only was the Terminator sent back exactly 90 years too early, but his time bubble happened to kill the guy who was supposed to make the building that he was supposed to kill the governor (an Arnold reference?) in. So he had to make sure the building would be constructed in order to carry out his mission as he understood it (kill the governor at this particular place and time). I loved it...I nominate Stark for best TotW yet!

[tezunegari]

This episode has shown an interesting aspect of time travel. It isn't perfect and there are ways to royally fuck up time displacement. A displacement off by 90 years is pretty serious. Unfortunately they didn't reveal the reason for that.

And then there is the ability of Terminators to adapt to completely unforseen events.
Stark was able to recognize someone who built the very building he was supposed to kill a Gouvernor in. And he was able to built the building after the original architect was killed by the fire the time displacement bubble started. Maybe he even changed a few details that would aid him with the mission - like moving or adding a wall, creating enough space for him to hide.

In the end the Cameron/Stark fight was short. And it did show a new limit to Triple-8s. Either that elevator cabin did chop the spine of Stark in two or it had at least stuck him in place long enough for Cameron to lobotomize him.

The whole Riley/John part was rather disturbing. I mean, by his reaction to the party atmosphere one could argue that he dislikes/hates being lied to. Afterall Riley had called him sounding distressed and then he finds her at a party having fun?!

Then Riley steals a silver lighter and lies again and John gets violent. She even shows him the lighter in the car after they left the guy with a bloody/broken nose.

Personally I hope for a John-centric episode. One that reveals that John actually suspects or even knows that Riley is from the future and all their romantic interactions are a ruse to find out what her mission is... or just "get the information, a shag is a bonus"... ("My name is Baum... John Baum." That oneliner would just crack me up)

[Thanas]

I hated the John/Riley-plot, I wish the stupid-teenage-boy-arc was over already.

You are not alone in that regard - but it looks like it will unravel any moment. I mean, Riley can only act that weird that much before even John recognizes it.

An interesting one. To tell the truth, I wasn't that surprised that Cameron's night life is spent reading books and studying history, as she's already shown a literary bent before. I was surprised to find that she had made a friend of the wheelchair-bound librarian. I did, however, love the contrast between the two characters, especially the dynamic between the two of them - there is this definite feeling that they are friends. There was a lot of great conversational bits there, especially Eric's little spiel on eternity and being frozen in time with regards to the film reels, and his bit about having something terrible inside of you. Watching Cameron's reactions to all of this was really the highlight of the episode.

Also, props go out to the actor. He really sold that role, given what little he had to work with. It is all so nice to see them wanting what the other has - Cameron is immortal but has no friends and family, he has those but is dying...nice job there. Also, Cameron contemplates suicide to prevent her from going bad. Hmmm. Another sign of her evolving and of course, of her devotion to the cause.

And, well, John and Riley kissed. No surprise there. Cameron's reaction - or rather, lack of one beyond standard blank staring - leaves a lot open to interpretation.

Am I the only one who was reminded of the wife/cheating husband stereotype when he sneaked in and she held a laundry basket?

The fight between Cameron and Stark was interesting, but rather short. Still, it shows how effective Cameron can be in a fight and how efficient she is - if she spots an advantage, she takes it immediately.

In the end the Cameron/Stark fight was short. And it did show a new limit to Triple-8s. Either that elevator cabin did chop the spine of Stark in two or it had at least stuck him in place long enough for Cameron to lobotomize him.

Actually, I found the fight to be pretty perfect. The T-888 was jumped from the start, there was no way he could have won. Never before did Cameron have such a clear cut advantage before over another Terminator - or maybe her fighting style is evolving? I noticed she used a backkick to open that door, which she never had done before. Before her fighting style was always brutal, but this time it seemed more like martial arts. Also, she continued her tradition of capitalizing on the surrounding.

Oh, and she lobotomized him. Switchblade = chip extraction.

Also, the ratings jumped to a 5,83 - a gain of almost 1.2 million viewers. We'll see if this trend holds when Fox moves them to the Friday night death slot.

[PREDATOR490]

I liked this episode, fairly good acting from Glau. I'm especially impressed with how she can remain stoic yet still convey glimmers of emotion that make it look like Cameron WANTS to understand but just cant quite get it. That said, I found the opening scene with the laundry rather hilarious. I was expecting Cameron to do something like shred it or come out with a bitchy comment but the look she was giving screamed - TERMINATE John Connor. The ending was once again suggestive but no means conclusive on Cameron's 'feelings' over Riley / Connors relationship.

The situation with Eric was well done although I found the ending off puting. I have seen a few comments that have viewers thinking Eric committed suicide in light of her revelation and the idea that Cameron was only using the guy A.K.A She bribes the replacement with the donuts so she can get back into the library which is probably what she did with Eric.
I'm also a bit disturbed by her flashbacks to the robbery, she remembers gunning down the kids and actually smiled on remembering it. I find it interesting that Cameron can say Terminators cant be happy etc. yet she shows an obvious like of killing people... something I find difficult to reconcile with the idea Terminators arent built to be cruel of feel emotions.

As for the actual plot of the story, it does make a good point in showing how adaptable terminators are but once again we have another terminator-of-the-week from -Time-travel-of-the-week. Which only makes me wonder why the hell Skynet needs to send Terminators back to kill John Connor when it could just send Terminators like this one to change the course of Earth's development via building companies etc. Although, in light of this episode that might be what Weaver was originally sent back to do if she is from Skynet or a third faction.

Finally, John / Riley scenes were pointless. John really needs to get his head smacked for being such a moron, least of all because Riley obviously manipulated him throughout the episode. Wether it be flirting with the dickhead right in front of John, pushing John to play a losing game against the dickheads pals which would only piss John off more or stealing the guys lighter making Connor go apeshit 'defending' her.
Knowing she is from the future isnt required to notice she was clearly fucking him around and for someone thats constantly on guard against getting his head torn off by random terminators it is retarded for him to take this shit from her. Especially when he answered that phone in the beginning, a smart guy would have checked to make sure it was actually her calling and that she wasnt being held by the throat of a Terminator. Riley whines on the phone, Connor comes running straight into a chest full of bullets = Skynet wins.
Something I find hilarious considering Riley is supposed to be from / know the future so her reckless stupidity with the safety of the 'saviour of mankind' is well deserving of Cameron tearing her head off as was suggested in previous episode talkbacks. I was willing to cut Riley some slack but after this she needs a good tanking, Jessie too if this was her idea.

[Peptuck]

I'm also a bit disturbed by her flashbacks to the robbery, she remembers gunning down the kids and actually smiled on remembering it. I find it interesting that Cameron can say Terminators cant be happy etc. yet she shows an obvious like of killing people... something I find difficult to reconcile with the idea Terminators arent built to be cruel of feel emotions.

I don't think she was enjoying it at all. She's never shown enjoyment towards violence before, and I think that she was just smiling at Eric because she was playing her role.

[Thanas]

I liked this episode, fairly good acting from Glau. I'm especially impressed with how she can remain stoic yet still convey glimmers of emotion that make it look like Cameron WANTS to understand but just cant quite get it. That said, I found the opening scene with the laundry rather hilarious. I was expecting Cameron to do something like shred it or come out with a bitchy comment but the look she was giving screamed - TERMINATE John Connor. The ending was once again suggestive but no means conclusive on Cameron's 'feelings' over Riley / Connors relationship.

I think it is pretty welll in sync with what we have seen so far in her reactions.

I'm also a bit disturbed by her flashbacks to the robbery, she remembers gunning down the kids and actually smiled on remembering it. I find it interesting that Cameron can say Terminators cant be happy etc. yet she shows an obvious like of killing people... something I find difficult to reconcile with the idea Terminators arent built to be cruel of feel emotions.

She smiles when she says "It worked out fine". It was a reassuring smile, not a "hah hah I got to crush puny humans" smile.

The situation with Eric was well done although I found the ending off puting. I have seen a few comments that have viewers thinking Eric committed suicide in light of her revelation and the idea that Cameron was only using the guy A.K.A She bribes the replacement with the donuts so she can get back into the library which is probably what she did with Eric.

Well, yeah. Cameron needs the library to accumulate information. Eric was an asset. Doesn't mean she didn't care for him -for example, lifting him and providing him with a diagnosis which might be enough time for treatment etc. She even let him fire her gun and almost blew her cover. Also, I think those people who say he committed suicide are jumping to conclusions - he might just as well have started treatment immediately. Which is the more likely option IMO since he ruled out suicide earlier.

I'm also a bit disturbed by her flashbacks to the robbery, she remembers gunning down the kids and actually smiled on remembering it. I find it interesting that Cameron can say Terminators cant be happy etc. yet she shows an obvious like of killing people... something I find difficult to reconcile with the idea Terminators arent built to be cruel of feel emotions.

As for the actual plot of the story, it does make a good point in showing how adaptable terminators are but once again we have another terminator-of-the-week from -Time-travel-of-the-week. Which only makes me wonder why the hell Skynet needs to send Terminators back to kill John Connor when it could just send Terminators like this one to change the course of Earth's development via building companies etc. Although, in light of this episode that might be what Weaver was originally sent back to do if she is from Skynet or a third faction.

Something I find hilarious considering Riley is supposed to be from / know the future so her reckless stupidity with the safety of the 'saviour of mankind' is well deserving of Cameron tearing her head off as was suggested in previous episode talkbacks. I was willing to cut Riley some slack but after this she needs a good tanking, Jessie too if this was her idea.

Spoiler

According to the episode summary, Jesse's life is "hanging in the balance" for next episode, so you might get your wish. I do not believe it, but who knows. One can only hope they put this dreadful storyline to rest sooner than later.

[Peptuck]

Never before did Cameron have such a clear cut advantage before over another Terminator - or maybe her fighting style is evolving? I noticed she used a backkick to open that door, which she never had done before. Before her fighting style was always brutal, but this time it seemed more like martial arts

FLASH OF BRILLIANCE!

Cameron is studying military history. That may also mean that she is studying historical martial arts. Could that be where her evolving fighting style is coming from?

[Solauren]

A Terminator that knows martial arts.
A Terminator that knows martial arts, and how other terminators are put together (she's chopped up at least one before after all)

If this is true, she's going to be able to rip other terminators apart quite easily.

After all, Terminators are basically half-trained brawlers. Cameron is apparently becoming a expert fighter.

[His Divine Shadow]

I almost forgot to mention that I did like the stuff with John at the party. He sucked at and reacted badly to a game that mirrors his life and future life. I even kind of liked him beating the shit out of the jackass party host, although I thought it went too far and of course I knew that Riley had stolen the guy's lighter. I guess that could be another example of her "This shit just doesn't matter" attitude because compared to what she's lived through it doesn't.

You know when I saw that moron I thought, lets hope Skynet never meets him or someone like him, it would be insta-judgement day.

[Imperial Overlord]

The smile on Cameron's face when she recalled the killings was the same smile she had for other "recollections". In my opinion it was simple social cover. As for her emotional development, "Uncle Bob" in T2 seemed to rapidly develop a superior comprehension of human emotions and exhibiting behavoral changes, deviating significantly from Terminator norms. It doesn't seem unreasonable that Cameron might start to develop along those lines, as well as making for interesting tv.

[Strider]

The situation with Eric was well done although I found the ending off puting. I have seen a few comments that have viewers thinking Eric committed suicide in light of her revelation and the idea that Cameron was only using the guy A.K.A She bribes the replacement with the donuts so she can get back into the library which is probably what she did with Eric.

I don't really see this in the same light as you do. He was Cameron's only friend, and now he's gone, and she doesn't know what happened to him, and she's standing at the door with these donuts she isn't going to eat and this other person in front of her. The only friend she ever made, possibly over the course of her entire existence, she made by giving him donuts. Faced with possibly losing her friend, she reacts by trying to make a new friend with the same donut strategy. I actually found it to be very endearing, in a confused child sort of way.

[TheLostVikings]

The situation with Eric was well done although I found the ending off puting. I have seen a few comments that have viewers thinking Eric committed suicide in light of her revelation and the idea that Cameron was only using the guy A.K.A She bribes the replacement with the donuts so she can get back into the library which is probably what she did with Eric.

I don't really see this in the same light as you do. He was Cameron's only friend, and now he's gone, and she doesn't know what happened to him, and she's standing at the door with these donuts she isn't going to eat and this other person in front of her. The only friend she ever made, possibly over the course of her entire existence, she made by giving him donuts. Faced with possibly losing her friend, she reacts by trying to make a new friend with the same donut strategy. I actually found it to be very endearing, in a confused child sort of way.

This was my impression as well. In addition I took him not being there as a "happy ending," basically while he didn't quite believe what Cameron told him and got pissed off, he still decided to get a medical check "just to be sure." And as the Caminator said the tumor was still small enough to be cured he might live to make another appearance.

At least I hope so, their relationship was certainly interesting, so it would be fun to see how it would develop from here.

[Shroom Man 777]

I found it really really sad. Robot Rivers

I really hope, vainly perhaps, that Eric becomes a recurring character or something. He's way cooler than Riley, and I really really feel sads for Robot River. Poor girl.

Cameron is so bloody unappreciated by the Connors, grrs! I mean, Robot River doing laundry and other normal everyday human tasks is kind of cute - but the way John just handed her the laundry basket and then left her and turned the lights off... it's just really mean, she's not being appreciated for everything she's done. Contrast that to Season 1, when John doted over her when she was rebooting after being plugged to a stoplight.

I dislike this Grim and Gritty stuff that needs to have Everyone HAET Each Other since Robot River ends up all alone. Well, Sarah is too. John has Riley and Derek has Jesse - fuck those jerks and their whores!

And... I really sympathize with Cameron. She's like a child and is learning a whole lot about things, she really wants to be more than just an unstoppable emotional killing machine, and while she's a hyperalloy combat chassis, the growing intelligence inside is still really fragile. She's damaged and despite her supposed machine invulnerability and fearlessness, she's vulnerable and she's got her own worries and stuffs. She worries that she's broken, she worries that she's utterly failing her mission, she worries that this John regards her as an inanimate object - sometimes even with contempt - when in the future, she was John's friend.

She's a learning machine, a machine whose sole purpose is to protect John Connor. It's not surprising that as she learns emotions, she'd also learn to wuv the one who she's tasked with to protect from all harm. She won't ever stop protecting him, that's her mission, that's her only reason for existence. If John dies, her existence would become meaningless.

She's got parallels with Sarah, and that's cool. At least Sarah doesn't regard her with outright contempt, but tolerance and maybe some kind of respect.

I don't know about Derek... but despite his suspicions, he knows she's there to protect his nephew, that she has protected him and has saved him. I hope that'll count, in light of all That Bitch Jesse's whoresomeness.


I like our Terminator of the Week. He's awesome! A gangster! And he was probably just like Cromartie, with the "We'll see" to his business rivals. AND he was a pioneer for civil rights and equality! You gotta love these guys, they can do anything! That guy was active for almost half a century or something, right? Who knows what he had, what he experienced, how he developed - he might've learned a lot. He obviously liked that guy's movie!

What a guy.

[Thanas]

Never before did Cameron have such a clear cut advantage before over another Terminator - or maybe her fighting style is evolving? I noticed she used a backkick to open that door, which she never had done before. Before her fighting style was always brutal, but this time it seemed more like martial arts

FLASH OF BRILLIANCE!

Cameron is studying military history. That may also mean that she is studying historical martial arts. Could that be where her evolving fighting style is coming from?

Makes perfect sense to me. Let's keep our eye open for more signs in the future.

I found it really really sad. Robot Rivers

I really hope, vainly perhaps, that Eric becomes a recurring character or something. He's way cooler than Riley, and I really really feel sads for Robot River. Poor girl.

A vain hope, methinks.

I dislike this Grim and Gritty stuff that needs to have Everyone HAET Each Other since Robot River ends up all alone. Well, Sarah is too. John has Riley and Derek has Jesse - fuck those jerks and their whores!

Shroomie. What happened to "whores are perfect creatures?"

I like our Terminator of the Week. He's awesome! A gangster! And he was probably just like Cromartie, with the "We'll see" to his business rivals. AND he was a pioneer for civil rights and equality! You gotta love these guys, they can do anything! That guy was active for almost half a century or something, right? Who knows what he had, what he experienced, how he developed - he might've learned a lot. He obviously liked that guy's movie!

What a guy.

I believe he was active for less than a decade. He appeared in 1920 and then disappeared as soon as the tower was built...I do not really remember, but I think it was 1925 when the land was sold and Stark disappeared after that.

Also, nice imaginery here - a terminator being a symbol for the immigrant spirit of America.

[Shroom Man 777]

Makes perfect sense to me. Let's keep our eye open for more signs in the future.

Despite having damage to her chip, as Cromartie so smartly observed, her Terminator killing skills have improved markedly. She's killed Terminators with her bare hands, with a mundane shotgun, and with the environment with a ruthless ease not seen in Season 1. She doesn't need distractions anymore, she's a fucking killer.

It's the power of love.

Her wuv for John.

A vain hope, methinks.

Shroomie. What happened to "whores are perfect creatures?"

Jesse's been cut! CUT WITH A KNIFE! And it wasn't from her milkbags!

Riley is FAT! FAT FAT FAT!

Cameron is perfect. She's perfect. She ran a test. She's perfect. Everything's fine now. I wuv her. I wuv her!

I believe he was active for less than a decade. He appeared in 1920 and then disappeared as soon as the tower was built...I do not really remember, but I think it was 1925 when the land was sold and Stark disappeared after that.

Also, nice imaginery here - a terminator being a symbol for the immigrant spirit of America.

The American Dream is a good strategy, as Robot River observes!

[Thanas]

Makes perfect sense to me. Let's keep our eye open for more signs in the future.

Despite having damage to her chip, as Cromartie so smartly observed, her Terminator killing skills have improved markedly. She's killed Terminators with her bare hands, with a mundane shotgun, and with the environment with a ruthless ease not seen in Season 1. She doesn't need distractions anymore, she's a fucking killer.

Eh, no. This was the first time she did so. In every other fight she either enjoyed a clear superiority due to being the stronger model or having a distraction, like with Cromartie and Greenway.

It's the power of love.

Her wuv for John.

One of these days, Shroomie, I am going to reach across that tube called the internet and strangle you.

Shroomie. What happened to "whores are perfect creatures?"

Jesse's been cut! CUT WITH A KNIFE! And it wasn't from her milkbags!

Riley is FAT! FAT FAT FAT!

Okay....*backs away slowly*

[Shroom Man 777]

Cameron is perfect. She's perfect. She ran a test. She's perfect. Everything's fine now. I wuv her. I wuv her!


Also, yeah, in Complications Cameron also provided "Rehydration Fluid" for Sarah, so Cameron is nice. At least to the people she's had longterm exposure to. Considering that she's just a developing mind, with so many hurdles and stumbles to overcome...

Man, I totally dig the juxtaposition. Mentally she's a growing child-like mind, still learning and still stumbling, awkward and vulnerable. Physically, she's a hyperalloy combat chassis whose exterior is a little girl whose as pretty as a picture. Yet she's also damaged, just as damaged as the other characters, perhaps, or maybe more. But she's a machine and there's no one there who can repair her, no one who can possibly know what she's going through, no one who can understand her - no one like her. She doesn't have a mother, she doesn't have an uncle, she doesn't have friends or family, she's very lonely. Yet she can't ever stop, she never had a choice - just like all of them, I guess.

The only one she can talk to, the person who in the future regards her as his closest confidant, even outright says that she can't even feel emotions or sensations.

[tezunegari]

I just watched "The Tower is tall..." and this ep again...

And is it just me or does Cameron show a certain interest in self-termination not out of the possible necessity to stop John but out of concern for her mission to protect John from herself. As she said herself not even the General Connor seems to know WHY some reprogramed Terminator revert to their Skynet setting.

(A fanfiction speculated that they are sentient with emotions and break under the constant strain of being hated by the very beings they protect. Not canon I know but an interesting possibility.)

That again would throw the question about her reactivation in "Samson and Delilah". She still had the Termination order for John ACTIVE when she rebooted. Now did the Resistance programing override it or was it a consious act by Cameron?

Actually, I found the fight to be pretty perfect.

So did I. Cam dominated the fight by using some Termi-martial arts instead of the original brawler fighting. My comment about it being short was aimed at the usual Termi-killed = end of episode. In this ep the Termi was more a reason for Cameron to interact with Eric and its destruction directly lead to a confrontation between Cam and Eric.

[Solauren]

You know, for those complaining the terminator went to such extremes to complete his mission (having a Tower built)..

We don't know what other signifcance, if any, that tower plays post Judgement Day.

It was also the only spot the Terminator knew the Governer was going to be in, at what time, without hordes of bodyguards.

Quite frankly, all he did was when he realised the building was there, was build it, and turn it into the perfect trap.

Quite inventive really.

[Shroom Man 777]

I've been saying it for some time - poor Robot River wants to get away from John to protect him, and she's so sad.

She knows she's there to protect him, that's her mission and even present John brought her back. But she's been compromised and she herself now poses a security risk (maybe that's why she HAETS Riley) and now John hates her. Maybe her chip damage is also making her learn more, which makes things worse. So... she's totally lost. Confused and lost.