Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Gnothi Seauton

Plot: Sarah enlists the help of an old friend to secure new identities for herself, John and Cameron.


While this second episode of the series isn't quite as thrilling as the first, I still found it to be a thoroughly engrossing hour of television. The plot has quickly become engaging and in that sense, this is probably a better episode than the premiere.

The old friend that Sarah tracks down is Enrique Salceda, the man who taught John how to shoot and gave Sarah some special forces training. He was played by Castulo Guerra in T2 and has done some TV in recent years, including playing Jean Briault in Alias and General Zavala in this season of Prison Break. Taking that in to account, it seems surprising that he couldn't be tempted to reprise the role in The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Still, we can probably forgive them that as Tony Amendola, friend of The SG-B, played the role in his stead. That's right, old master Bra'tac was there representing and doing a fine job of it. It was all happy families for a while to, until Sarah found out that Enrique was considered to be a snitch and may have sold them out. Cameron was unwilling to risk him doing that and promptly executed him. She's ruthless when she needs to be, it seems.

We learn quite a lot more about Cameron in this episode. Specifically the fact that she's under the orders of John from the future and won't necessarily do what present day John tells her. John himself has an idiotic five minutes as he leaves the house to go scouring the internet in public, as well as paying a visit to Sarah's former fiancee, Charlie. It's the kind of behaviour that'll lead to him being found. Charlie has gotten married since the trio disappeared from 1999 and I'm delighted by the fact that his wife is played by Sonya Walger, the same actress as plays Desmond's Penny in Lost, which is pretty awesome.

We see some more standard Terminator behaviour from Cameron in this episode. The awkwardness around other people, the mimicking of their actions to try and fit in, it all worked well. One thing that Summer Glau can do well is awkward and distant and I really think she's perfect for this role.

We didn't see much of FBI Agent James Ellison in this episode, except in investigating Enrique's death. I'm sure he'll have his chance to be properly introduced soon. For now, though, there's plenty of things for John, Sarah and Cameron to get straight as they bid to start a new life.

I'm quickly beginning to love this show. This was a very, very strong 2nd episode and next Monday can't come soon enough.

9 out of 10