Hello T:SCC fans! My name is Denise Thé. I’m the third staff writer on The Sarah Connor Chronicles and I wrote this coming Monday’s episode, The Tower Is Tall But The Fall Is Short. I’m feeling nostalgic today, so please forgive if this blog is overly sentimental, over dramatic, or let’s face it, over written.
It all started June 1st of 2007, that’s when I got the call that I’d gotten the job on Sarah Connor. I had gone to an interview the day before with a churning stomach and sweaty palms. My agents had described Josh Friedman as a crazy genius; they weren’t wrong. My mind reeled as he laid out his vision of the show. I tried not to beg but the only thought screaming in my head was… please, please let me be a part of this.
What I didn’t know at the time was that the date was symbolic and just the beginning in a long line of firsts. You see, this is my first time on a writing staff and The Tower is my first produced episode of T.V. I was so excited on my first day of work that I actually used “jazz hands.” Josh promptly warned me that there would be a limit to the amount of enthusiasm the office could take.
The Tower is the first of our episodes to be directed by a woman – the very talented Tawnia McKiernan. In the episode, Cameron fights a female Terminator – our first female-on-female Terminator fight. It’s a knock down, blow-your-hair back, jab-your-eye out (literally) fight scene. Be sure to watch closely – the arm and leg twists are not special effects! It’s also the first peek at The Turk since Samson and Delilah. The first insight into Weaver’s relationship with her daughter, Savannah. And at long last… the first time we address the mystery of who killed Sarkissian.
Which brings me to the final first – TSCC’s first on-screen love scene. Those of you who have read The Tower’s logline know that “a woman from Derek’s past surprises him in the present.” Now that’s a fine sounding logline. Simple. Straightforward. Not in the least bit confusing. But technically, Derek’s past is the future (at least one version of it). So then would you say that this mystery woman is from the past or the future or both?
Let me be the first to say, time travel confuses the hell out of me (something I neglected to mention in my interview). We’ve had endless mind numbing, headache inducing discussions about time travel in the writer’s room. Luckily, Ash and Zack can patiently talk anyone down from a time-travel ledge.
But like it or not, time travel is very real in the Connor’s world. I for one like it. I like the idea that Sarah and John can jump forward in time – over Sarah’s cancer and toward the birth of Skynet. I like that Derek can jump back in time and see himself and Kyle as young innocents playing baseball. I like the idea that time is flexible - like a limber contortionist in a permanent back bend. These firsts continue to happen over and over again. The first time John learned how to play chess. The first time Derek hit a ball out of the park. The first time Sarah held John as a baby in her arms. And the first time I walked through our office doors and sat down in the writer’s room. I like this idea because there is no real end, only beginnings. Only firsts…
Thank you I couldn’t agree more. “There is no real end, only beginnings, only firsts”.
Congratulations on your first episode, Denise. Only the first of many I’m sure.
“And at long last… the first time we address the mystery of who killed Sarkissian.”
You realize half the Internet is doing ‘jazz hands’ over this, right now,eh? Can’t wait for Monday.
Totally agree with K8ie!
I was starting to ponder if this episode would shed any light on that situation but didn’t want to get my hopes up. Can’t wait even more now for Monday. It’s gonna be a loooong weekend
Congrats on you first episode!
“the first time we address the mystery of who killed Sarkissian.”
But you really meant “the first time we throw more confusing hints at you about who killed Sarkissian,” right? Yeah. Thought so. It’s not nice to tease, ya know.
Great to see your post, Denise. Thanks for jumping in and giving us a little more info. It’s always fun to hear more details from people working on the show. Really looking forward to the episode.
Congrats Denise! I’m excited that there are so many talented women who work on this show. That’s awesome that there’s a woman director on it.
I’m so happy TSCC will be back on Monday - I look forward to watching your first episode!
Ha! Sarkissian-Shmarkissian. Am I the only one stoked for the girl on girl T-Fight?
Congrats Denise! Can’t wait for Monday.
TFAN
LOL! @ allergygal - but then, I LOL at your comics a lot! Ah, but I love the tease…
Congrats to you, Denise, on all your firsts with T:SCC and I am very much looking forward to how the Derek/Jesse story plays out. That’s a fan-freakin-tastic group of folk you’re playin’ with, and I wish you much success.
Nice to read The Turk is back, good to hear you have not forgotten who killed Sarkissian, and I’ll try to be open minded about the girl of future past, as long as we get more Derek story.
Keep writing!!
There’s going to be a lot of estrogen in this episode.
Thanks for your post!
Can’t wait for Monday.
And I expect to see some developments not “only beginnings”
Good luck with your premiere!!
i can’t wait until monday
best show on tv
Congrats Denise! I love that you’re so excited about this show! When cast and crew love their show as much as this one does, it shows!
I’m even more excited about monday now, and I didn’t think i could be! Thanks for the info!
It sounds like a great episode. I love the elevator scene in the promos. A little dab of humor gives the show a lift and always makes it better.
Denise congrats on your first televised script!
Hi Denise! After reading that post, now I’m REALLY looking forward to Monday!
TSCC rocks. You guys and gals make a fine, fine show =)
Congrats on the episode! I can’t wait to have TSCC back after a week off.
Hey Denise! So nice of you to drop by with your incredible lists of firsts! Now you’re make the wait for Monday excruciatingly slow! Thanks for all your hard work!
Hey Denise,
Thank you for the summary of the “firsts”
Please don’t let “time travel” confuse you. It’s just not possible (i am a physicist). Just accept the phenomenon as is for the “Terminator Universe”.
Anyways, impatiently waiting for your episode!
Denise,
Your episode sounds incredible. I can’t wait for more Cathrine Weaver/Derek Reese character development, both Shirley Manson & Brain Austin Green are fantastic! Heres to many more firsts
Denise,
Welcome to the CLUB,you are now one of us. We need a TV world deeper than what intern is sleeping with who or which lame ass can sreech better on american idol!
Very cool to have Denise posting here, and absolutely fab that you are so enthusiastic about the show cos we all love it (obviously!) For me, I love to see a couple of rally strong women, Sarah and Cameron pretty much take the lead most of the time, and add the enigmatic Catherine Weaver, this is quite a girl power show!! Go all you girls!
Agree on the promos for the all girl terminator fight. Looking forward to the episode. It’s been a long 2 weeks.
We believe in you and Jesus loves you, Denise! (I’ve been praying for this show and now we’ve got a full season! Now, I think it’s time to pray for the economy…)
Well congrats on achieving a major step in your career Denise. Firsts are always great.
I’m afraid I’m not a fan of the Tower is Tall, and based on the last couple of episodes, I am quickly losing interest in the show. It seems like the central guide to new episodes is to simply add a new character so there’s a fresh story to tell. There doesn’t seem to be anything driving John and Sarah. A new person jumps up, they kill them or get them to join with them and then move one to the next character. For me, it doesn’t feel like the show is moving anywhere.
This might sound rather corny, and I apologize, but the show feels like a role-playing game where the game master no longer has a story line. So he simply creates tougher and meaner monsters for the players to fight. I’ll tell you from long experience, game like that just don’t last.
Well, that’s my bit. I really love the original idea of this series and the whole Terminator/John Connor story. I like the insights into the future when Derick has his flashbacks…flash forwards?? Hmmm… I hope the storyline can stabilize soon so this series will have a long run.
Thanks.
I thought it was a great episode.
Thanks!
Congrats on the episode! It was tight!
thanks, Denise!
You did not dissapoint.
Rock solid on everything!
Forgive my copy/paste laziness but this is what I posted on the discussion forum in support of your episode yesterday:
“What a STAND OUT epsiode. Considering TSCC is classified action/sci-fi genre it sported a surprisingly captivating balance between a thought-provoking examination of mental and emotional well-being and high action entertainment. Childhood disassociation complex, post-traumatic stress disorder and even Asperger’s Syndrome got a mention. Watching an eerily convinging portryal of a small child not just feeling abandoned by her mother but harboring an unmentionable despair of her mother’s behaviour utterly devoid of human affection was one of the creepiest things I’ve seen on TV for a long time. You could almost sense that the poor little girl had an unconscious understanding that her mother had become something inhuman, so frightened that she wet heself. Ultimately she gratefully accepts any signs of paternal affection, patently artificial or not. Perhaps subconsciously she senses her mother is gone for good whilst some deep, dark part of her mind reasons that this is all she has and ever will have. Plus, the best Terminator vs Terminator fight scene ever, a brilliant touch casting a contortionist. Top marks to Tawnia McKiernan and Denise The.”
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Loved the episode. Far too often action shows forget to give us the brains behind the brawn. I personally love how you did not make John perfect. That he did not shrug off killing someone and think ho hum I’ll have to do this in the future so I might as well learn to do it now. Its good to see there is a price he has to pay for become a great leader like so many do.
Thanks for such a great episode. Its ones like this that keep me coming back for more. Can I make a suggestion though. When the DVDs come out for season two, this would be a great one to have a commentary on.