Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

The Sarah Connor Chronicles gives Sarah and John Connor something the films rarely allow: time between the chases. Staying alive still means preparing for machines sent to find them, but it also means trying to pass for a family with an ordinary future.

Lena Headey's Sarah is watchful and worn down without losing her determination. Summer Glau provides a very different kind of presence as Cameron, whose place in the household makes even apparently simple interactions uneasy. The series can explore trust and dependence without needing a new large-scale action sequence every few minutes.

It is best approached as its own continuation of the Terminator premise rather than a guide to every film's continuity. There is worthwhile character work here for viewers interested in the people living under that threat, although the interrupted television run is a consideration before starting.