The season– and possibly, the series– draws to a dramatic close.
Title: “Adam Raised a Cain”
Cast and Crew
Written by Josh Friedman and Toni Graphia
Directed by Charles Beeson
Lena Heady as Sarah Connor
Thomas Dekker as John Connor
Summer Glau as Cameron Philips
Brian Austin Green as Derek Reese
Garret Dillahunt as John Henry
Shirley Manson as Catherine Weaver
Richard T. Jones as James Ellison
Mackenzie Brooke Smith as Savannah
Jeffrey Pierce as T-888 Water Delivery Service
Synopsis
An image John Connor recovered at the lighthouse leads him to Savannah, more life-threatening circumstances, and the discovery of John Henry’s existence.
High Points
The beginning and the ending. The scenes in Weaver’s house, with the T888 stalking Savannah and John Henry offering help, were well- crafted and suspenseful.
The friendship between Savannah and John Henry is both bizarre and touching, and the actors and writers have handled it intelligently.
Low Point
Given the number of police who surround Sarah Connor, you’d think some suspicion would fall on those who were obviously with her. The next episode may prove me wrong, but it really looks as though the police ignored everyone in her general vicinity, even where a connection would have been suspected.
The Scores
Originality: 4/6. This episode suggest some new directions for the series. Of course, the series may not have the opportunity to take advantage of them.
Effects: 5/6. The effects were, once again, simple but effective.
Story: 6/6. The story features a suspenseful beginning and a strong, somewhat unexpected conclusion.
Acting: 5/6. The episode features some strong performances, including several shadings of robo-autism.
John Connor continues to develop into a plausible leader. I still don’t entirely believe in Shirley Manson’s Catherine Weaver, however.
Production: 5/6. Is it just me, or did the fixed security cameras in Weaver’s house move?
Emotional response: 5/6. I’ve been enjoying the recent episodes, and the characters have been credibly portrayed. As much as I like this, and as much praise as I’ve lavished (a few years ago) on Charlie Jade and (more recently) Battlestar Galactica, y’know what I think genre tv needs again, at least in one show? Something original Trek and Firefly gave us: characters who play like they’d be fun to hang with.
Overall: 5/6.
“Adam Raised a Cain” receives 35/42.
Additional Comments
1. The episode clearly references the story of Cain and Abel. The specific title comes, however, via a Springsteen song, and next week’s is called “Born to Run.”
2. Just a thought:
I haven’t watched every episode of this show, so I may have missed a time the show addressed this next point. Given how notorious a fugitive Sarah Connor appears to be in the show’s world, wouldn’t her particular conspiracy theory be widely circulated on the web and among cranks? And if it were, wouldn’t some public suspicion fall on certain companies, and possibly crop up more frequently in episodes?
I really liked this episode. John Henry is suitably empathetic and creepy all blended into one.
Derek’s bullet to the head was a great way to end a character few TV shows have the guts to do. There’s something to be said for a main character simply catching a bullet versus something epic and drawn out.
If Elison really wasn’t involved in the bust, then I wonder how the Police even found out about it? Someone else must have fed them the info…
I agree about Derek. It happened so fast and without fanfare that my wife didn’t even notice what had happened until I said “Did that just happen??” and rewound on the TiVo. It was very quick and unexpected.
It will be interesting to see what happens next week, and if it is renewed, next year. I am curious, if the show continues, what impact (if any) will be made on the show by the movie coming out this summer, and vice-versa.
I too said WTF and had to rewind and watch it again. It was understated and epic all at once…
Ditto to what all of you said. It was the perfect way to end such a major character. Naturally, they’re going to have to revisit his character at some point, but the exit… my God, NOBODY on TV does things this way, though it’s much closer to the way such an end would really happen.
As for how the police found out if Elison wasn’t part of it. I felt they played it up earlier in the episode that the guy from the FBI thought Elison was part of the kidnapping and probably had him tailed.
Regarding the low point, I think they were trying to keep it quiet until she was trailed out of the building by the undercover cop in case she’d be spooked and might run. Then, once she realized the game was up she did everything she could to keep the focus on her rather than allowing them to start looking inside – she’s not completely sociopathic, she doesn’t get violent for violence sake, it was specifically to draw attention squarely on her and away from John and Cameron. So I didn’t see it as a low point but rather a high point for how she handled the situation.
Her motives are good, and I liked the way they handled that aspect of the ending. However, the police were following her before that point, and there were a lot of them, so my feeling is they would have had someone on her probable associates.
Of course, they may have. The scene had to focus on Sarah, and we don’t know for certain what happens next. John and Cam may have a tail on them next week.