Strange Things, indeed. Last night witnessed the return of our favorite endoskeleton, a twisty Riley reveal that those from the future probably wouldn’t have predicted, three-dots, and one badass Sarah Connor. But what was happening at the One-Two Point behind the camera?
Let’s get to it right off the bat — Riley’s working with Jesse?? We won’t get into the specifics (obviously, there is more to be learned), but it’s a twist we’ve been protecting for a while. A long while. We here at T:SCC have been hiding the truth about Riley’s character since day one, as has Leven, who Josh informed of her character’s true past and motives before she shot a single frame. But what does this mean for John Connor?
Though we had to cut a chunk of the opening sequence for time, you may notice that Sarah and Derek drop their car off at a valet before breaking into the Dakara Systems offices at the beginning of the episode. Originally as conceived, Dakara Systems was housed in a high-rise building with an upscale restaurant on the ground floor. Sarah and Derek were to sneak through the restaurant before entering the offices…
As Ash informed us yesterday, the GO proverb Xander teaches Cameron — Strange Things Happen at the One-Two Point — obviously doubles as the title to the episode. But what exactly does it mean? Web GO expert Sensei tells us that “the two-one point is a critical point in many life and death problems. The difference between living or dying locally is at least twenty points. It is something that cannot be taken easily. That’s the difference between winning and losing, or losing and losing badly.”
Most of our scenes involving the Dakara Systems storyline in this episode were shot in downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant is actually Cicada Restaurant and the park Sarah and Alex stroll through is Pershing Square.
Easter egg alert: Did you catch the sneaky references to a conversation from an earlier episode? In front of Sarah, Cameron exclaims that hair “is the hardest thing to get right,” a statement she was quite proud of when torturing Allison in Allison from Palmdale.
In the episode, The Turk communicates with Ellison using images and binary code. Whenever we feature any sort of computer screen (including projected screens) on the show, we have to setup the programming and video graphics playback long before production ever reaches the set. Lucky for us, we’ve got one of the best (and busiest!) in the biz. With script in hand, Mark Marcum designed the images and overall look for The Turk’s visualization. Though this is the first episode we really get to see it in depth, Marcum actually began creating the design for The Turk a few episodes ago when it told the joke in The Tower is Tall… episode. With Josh’s feedback, Marcum completed a few variations before finally landing on what you saw on screen!
As Weaver explains to Ellison that before his death, the dearly departed Doctor Sherman dubbed her Babylon project (aka The Turk), John Henry. Through them we learned that John Henry was the subject of an American folk story about man versus machine. But did you know that John Henry is also considered a representation of the American melting pot working class in the nineteenth century?
Strange Things Happen at the One-Two Point was written by our Co-Producer team of Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Goodbye to All That, Dungeons and Dragons) and was directed by the creator of The 4400, Scott Peters. Zack and Ash originally dubbed the episode Jesse’s Girl as shorthand on the episode’s outline, but stuck with the new title once they wrote their first draft.
This episode is even cooler, knowing that Scott Peters was involved.
Sorry to see the Doc die, but nice that Garret is back even if its not Cromatie. I don’t like how Jessie doesn’t like Cameron I think in her future Cameron is bad but in the future that Cameron was sent from she is good. Major twist with Riley, maybe Riley is there to make sure John doesn’t complete a mission or something idk. Nice job on the “Hair is the hardest part” didn’t catch that. Hope that Cameron starts to pick up on some things by Riley.
First, gut reaction:
No!!!! I LOVED Riley!!! I stuck up for her when so few did! How could she be from the future? How could she be faking it with John? She’s supposed to be innocent and his sweet “first” not a human survivor/tunnel rat sent back from the future and faking it. No!!!!
OTH, major kudos to the Josh and the writers! What a way to say, “So Fox, you’re forcing us to introduce a love interest for John who has no idea what’s going on. Well, frell you. We’ll just start her off that way, leading the network execs and viewers along, all the while secretly doing what the bleep we want.” Gotta love it!
Wow, I really wish I had something intelligent and incisive to say here. Too bad you totally blew my mind with the revelation that Jesse and Riley are working together - WHAT?!
Great twist re Riley, although I had some suspicions from the episode in Mexico as she had been so resourceful under pressure.
I thought the way the computer interacted with Ellison was amazing, anyone else who has a five year old child will know that they sometimes resort to sign language of one kind or another, as well as fail to understand certain advanced concepts, this came across so perfectly.
I have loved all the recent episode (and all the others) although I worry for less dedicated viewers they may want to see a few more fights and special effects, and as I want this show to run and run I hope the writers will but them in where they can to win over the less intellectual viewers (although please don’t dilute the story lines!!!)
Keep it up guys!
Loads of important developments in this episode, mainly being Riley’s true goal. I am guessing she travelled back with Jesse for the sole purpose of distracting John from Cameron. I actually think it is quite conceivable that John could become very attached to Cameron, which could have huge implications for his marriage to Kate (from T3) and his decision making post-Judgement Day. Presumably, Jesse’s future is a little different (as hinted at last week) to Derek’s. Starts to boggle your mind if you think too hard!
I’m enjoying the shades of craziness we are seeing in Sarah. After her recent uneasiness, glad that has not just been ignored. She beat the hell out of that smarmy guy and went pretty postal on the innocent mirror! Was it just me or did those three dots of blood on her face change size a few times?
Oh dear, oh dear Ellison! Look what you did by handing over Cromartie’s body. Such a creepy moment!
Great episode, keep up the amazing work.
I KNEW RILEY WAS TROUBLE!! I KNEW IT!! ugh. god. I hate Riley!! this was a mind blowing episode!! I have to watch it again! I also knew Cromartie would be back!!! hahah. I am just that good!!
Last nights episode was fabulous
And I am a little freaked out about Sarah going a little nutso…
And i was sad when the doc died. such a slow and painful death…
I was hoping Riley was a nice normal relationship, poor John. Great episode! Didn’t see that coming. Thank you keep them coming Fox and Warner Brothers we love this show.
The writers must remember that the best super computer is nothing without a power source. They need to stop that development as well.
Awesome Things Happen at the One-Two Point!
I haven’t yet obsessively picked through this episode, but it’s on my list of things to do tonight. Just in the one viewing I’ve had so far, I loved it. Well, I did find time to cram in a second viewing of Sarah kicking ass
really loved this episode!!! esp with Cameron and Sarah getting to dress up! hehe~ and i fink we are beginning to see major changes in cameron’s behaviour/attitude towards the Connors…which is good a suppose.
Yea poor Doc…he was a smart man.. .dammit Ellison! Look at wat you did…
I heard this episode got low ratings. Thats too bad, because I thought it was one of the best all season, the pace is picking up and thats incredibly refreshing, it had more of a S1 feel to it. And I DID catch the hair comment!
[...] why john henry, you look familiar. Strange Things Happen at the One-Two Point was written by our Co-Producer team of Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Goodbye to All That, Dungeons and Dragons) and was directed by the creator of The 4400, Scott Peters. … [...]
Great visual effects in this episode. Thanks for the background information. Great episode all around!
I’m going to watch it again because I know there are some things I missed.
what is jesse’s real name?
This was a great episode. My head exploded multiple times.
Oooo… so many plot lines are starting to unfold!
I loved sudden Cameron’s toast at the table over the transaction and curiosity into the game of Go. I recall reading somewhere that it is very hard to teach a program to play the game, it’s great that she can.
I’m really lusting for the Cameron-John relationship/trust issues to turn the tables on what Jesse is laying out. Cameron needs to prove herself somehow, to make up for past glitches.
Everyone is lying to everyone, it’s intense.
Just make sure ya keep some positive outcome plot streams in amongst it all too. We all need hope in this time of ours, and our characters in TSCC do too.
Thanks for another great ep!
Lesson learned: Don’t piss off Sarah Connor!
In American folklore, John Henry is the working class Samson whose defiant triumph costs him his life. He defies the machines in a contest but “Laid down his hammer” and he died from a broken heart…a sad farewell to Dorian Harewood’s insightful and intuitive Dr. Sherman. I’m just sorry we missed his interview with Cameron that caused him to believe she had an attachment disorder. Those moments are the source of this show’s dry humor. “El finito is a true believer, but he is finished with the Game.”
Well.. Miss Weaver said something that got me thinking she said “John Henry beated the machine, but couldn’t stop progress”
I took it as a reference about the Connors war against Skynet… i mean they stopped Cyberdyne, but somehow terminators kept coming, and skynet kept being created, so i think that means that no matter what they do, something similar will happen, being humanity progressing itself to a better stage on it’s evolution by the hand of the machines, or being destroyed by machines by they lack of progress.
[...] why john henry, you look familiar. Strange Things Happen at the One-Two Point was written by our Co-Producer team of Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Goodbye to All That, Dungeons and Dragons) and was directed by the creator of The 4400, Scott Peters. … [...]
[...] why john henry, you look familiar. Strange Things Happen at the One-Two Point was written by our Co-Producer team of Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Goodbye to All That, Dungeons and Dragons) and was directed by the creator of The 4400, Scott Peters. … [...]
I KNEW IT!!! I had a feeling that Riley was more than she seemed to be. I told my kids that and they didn’t think I was right…hahaha!!! I had a deep gut feeling that there was more to Riley than met the eye from the word go. Don’t ask me how I knew, but I knew. This is why I also had a feeling that she would not be killed off. Sorry guys, been a fan of hers since All My Children.
And GOOD GOD! Cromartie is back? Okay, so not specifically Cromartie, but the actor is. Hmmm…I wonder what is in store with that, and I wonder what John’s, Sarah’s, and Derricks reaction will be the first time they see him again. Yikes!!!
Damn good job guys. See? This is why this show is like a good book that you can’t put down. Please, Fox, keep this show going!!!
[...] why john henry, you look familiar. Strange Things Happen at the One-Two Point was written by our Co-Producer team of Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Goodbye to All That, Dungeons and Dragons) and was directed by the creator of The 4400, Scott Peters. … [...]
Bravo and Brava!
You realize I still have an adrenaline rush from this episode. Loved the sneaky reference to the chess tournament in S1 that I didn’t hear until the 2nd viewing. I think I missed it because it’s after Riley and Jesse meet up and I had a hard time focusing after that.
But what does John mean when he tells Derek, “I remember, I always remember.”? Was there a cut scene there or something?
OMG, that was such a good episode! I really love the show and ‘Strange Things…’ really made me SO look forward to the next installment.
Really glad that Garret Dillahunt hasn’t left the show… he does creepy so well! It was a good reveal (the man who tried to save humanity, Ellison, actually contributing to its downfall!)
Why would John accept that an incredibly good looking chick would take a sudden, intense and obnoxious interest in him - imposing her will at will, and literally running his life when she is with him?
Doesn’t he rebel when his MOTHER does that?
Isn’t he the brooding loner guy, who both he and his parent ensures in un-approachable by any and everyone?
Didn’t the last time he meet a girl at school rebuff him? Didn’t the one before that die? Didn’t the one before that turn out to be a pant/spy/cyborg killer robot - and HE almost got killed? Didn’t this killer cyborb also try to kill him (not LONG ago)?
Maybe Jogn really ISN”T a kid: ovbiously, girls in his life don’t set his “Spidey- sense” tingling for the danger they bring!
Part of the art of fiction is making it believable. I do not find Riley’s character believable. I would love for somebody to convince me otherwise.
Riley appeared to be a normal, if troubled, girl from the present. No signs of being some kind of spy from the future.
When she met John, he said, “Oh you’re in Mr. so-and-so’s class.” She smiled with a puzzled look and corrected him with the right teacher and said “that was weird.” John was probably confusing one of his many schools’ teachers. She also used several phrases from our era that John didn’t recognize because he had just jumped forward in time and because he doesn’t spend a lot of time keeping up with teenage trends to know them.
That and moments like that made it incredible to later find that Riley is a spy. She’s what, fifteen, and in less than that time she was supposed to be a fighter in the future, recruited, sent back, placed with foster parents, and made into an extremely convincing girl from the present? Even John Connor is not as good at hiding his odd nature. How does she do better?
In the same vein, both Cameron and Chromarty did an excellent job seeming “not robotic” in some key scenes … when Cameron met John and when Chromarty was interviewed by FBI. I guess we just have to suspend disbelief on that and assume they draw from a special reserve within them in critical moments … but I find it harder to swallow that Riley was being such a perfect actor before.
Thoughts? I’d love to be swayed.
all these “i knew it’s” about riley.i,for one,was like “what”?good job with that.
not only is this show as great as it is,but it’s also on beutiful women overload.
[...] why john henry, you look familiar. Strange Things Happen at the One-Two Point was written by our Co-Producer team of Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Goodbye to All That, Dungeons and Dragons) and was directed by the creator of The 4400, Scott Peters. … [...]
[...] why john henry, you look familiar. Strange Things Happen at the One-Two Point was written by our Co-Producer team of Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (Goodbye to All That, Dungeons and Dragons) and was directed by the creator of The 4400, Scott Peters. … [...]
[...] why john henry, you look familiar. Producer team of Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz ( Goodbye to All That, Dungeons and Dragons) and was directed by the creator of The 4400, Scott Peters. Zack and Ash originally dubbed the episode Jesse’s Girl as shorthand on the episode’s outline, but stuck with the new title once they wrote … [...]
Is Riley’s character believable? I’d love to get some feedback.
I absolutely loved this episode, and seriously, this is the only show I watch on TV. (Well, except PBS Kids stuff with my 3-year-old!)
Guys, even though I’m a T1 & T2 fan, and even though I **absolutely love your writing**, I watch T:SCC, and promote this show to all my friends, for only one reason: it is simply the best portrayal of a Christian character in the media today. I’m thrilled to see how you guys handle Ellison and his faith in the midst of this terrible vision of the future. However, with the new twist of CW asking Ellison what he would teach John Henry, I’m concerned about the direction you’re taking his character. I don’t want to tell all my Christian friends to tune into this show, just to have you guys promote as a theme: “religion is the reason that all wars start.” (If that were true, then “Peace on Earth” wouldn’t exactly be on the Christmas cards I’m sending out this year.)
Please keep up the incredible accuracy and depth that you’ve displayed in the portrayal of Ellison and of the Christian faith. Don’t let me down after just buying the first season on DVD too. 
Thanks so much,
Taylor
Dave, regarding Riley’s character being believable—I might have some insight for you as a girl.
Most 15 year old girls don’t just approach a guy out of the blue…and then stay at his house overnight.
Most 15 year old girls don’t build robots with leggos.
Most 15 year old girls don’t run to Mexico on the spur of the moment with someone she (admittedly) barely knows.
Most 15 year old girls are simply not THAT cool under pressure. (Grabbing the guy’s camera, and talking to the jail guard—whoa, girl! That took guts!)
Most 15 year old girls have other friends that they chat with during the day. We had not seen a single other friend or associate of Riley’s until this episode.
Most 15 year old girls are hyper-sensitive about their weight, and would not talk about being hungry with a guy they just met. Especially while they’re eating.
In the end, Riley was too eager, too available, too flexible, and too competent to just show up on the scene of John Connor’s life without some other purpose. I assumed she was either a terminator or a plant from the future as soon as we saw her.
But then again, I’m a girl, and I’m a writer. And according to Josh Friedman, the girl writers “just want to blow $%^# up.”
So maybe I was just eager for the explosion. 
Hope that helps!
Taylor
Oh! And not a single girl, regardless of her age, would accept a phone code(”16 November”) without some explanation.
Taylor,
YOur reference to seek that Christianinty is not potrayed in a “bad light” is disturbing for many reasons. I will not put you down for this, as it is very understandable - but this view would give a skewered assessment of the truth.
I watched my father’s faith carry him through Los Angeles, and get the only hospital build in South Central LA (actually, it took MLK getting shot for anyone to really give a care) - then have Black Muslims berate him because he had done what was “their idea” promoted in their newspaper during the 1970’s.
Right now we are in a war that YOUR political leader continues to address every speech by ending with “God Bless America. Yet, he doesn’t state WHICH God - and although we assume he means Jesus Christ; any OTHER religion would interpete this as he obviously is stating that God’s are inferior to his: his God allows for enough favor to murder people in incredible numbers, based upon lies and mis-nomers such as “democracy” - which his own Founding Father’s never wanted implimented (the USA was started as a Republic, not a Democracy: a Democracy is where the majority/power dictates what everyone will have to adhere to). What he is calling is a Holy Jihad, and I am certain that this “fact” is not lost on many Christians; but being the “winning side” where “might makes right” justifies this, I guess.
War and Christianity has long been a staple of Western society. For centuries! From the Great Crusades to the Pope declaring in 1462 that it was God’s will to put the White Man above and his right then to subjugate all others - thus changing the philosophical approach to others who travelled and traded along the Silk Road, and launched the greedy institituion of Slavery for Nigritians (you know them as “the N word,” as jealous monarchs in Europe made a slur out of the name of their sovereign administrative network - which their explorers, missionaries (spies) and traders found to be more advanced that that of Europe.
To this day, your founding declaration from your colonial king states that this Republic clearly acknowledges that every race of men is endowed with “unalienable” rights given to them by THEIR Creator, but every baby born here of Nigritian decent is not enformed of or removed from this land that is not thier homeland, not their native language or culture, and is (extremely) hostile to them (they make up one tenth of the population but one half of all prisoners in jails and prisons). Ellison is ONE of them. I am certain no one - Christian or otherwise, took the time to ensure that this child would be held hostage here for the entirety of their life; kept for the same reasons as his brothen for over 4 centuries: as a source of immense profit from their toil and suffering. This was an innocent child, yo, whose only crime was being the offspring of someone taken from their legal jurisdiction against their will, and kept someplce else ever since.
How “Christian” is that? But then, these same Christian peoples nearly wiped another race completely from the face of the Earth - and no one stands up to such tryanny.
Christians in America have a funny way of viewing things, I have found - mostly based upon what is convenient and pleasant for them.
This may be a major reason the machines revolt: it doesn’t take much to see that man runs this planet, one of the fundamental pillars of mankind’s power structure is religion; and most of what man is doing is not what is good for the survival of itself or the planet.
Anything else capable of imposing it’s will as a dominat force on the planet would probably see our removal as a top priority.
Until Manson’s character, the Terminators showed very little interest in posturing. They had a very clear objective. What Manson’s T is, I don’t fully know. We tend to think the objective of all life is to become more like man.
Interestingly, my understanding of the teachings of Jesus the Christ (annointed) is our goal in life is to (re)connect with God.
It would be interesting to see if Ellison - the child-man who has grown up here believing he is the property of the USA because he was “born” here, and thus should follow unlawful “rights” given to him by the very people who instituted his people’s oppression! - teach machines these principles: I am certain it would hasten their incentive to cut the middle man. Our b.s. is only exceeded by our pompous ego!
Ok, I just want to clarify what I meant, in case the writers misunderstand me.
I never said I didn’t want Christianity portrayed “in a bad light.” I looked over my post, and I never used those words. I asked that they continue to portray Christianity and their Christian character **accurately**.
Heck, I wouldn’t mind if they portrayed it in a bad light!
For example, the Bible says not to get a divorce, but Ellison is divorced. (A brilliant and gutsy move on the part of the writers.) That’s not portraying Christians in the best light, but it is *accurate.* Many Christians get divorced, regardless of what the Bible says.
The Bible says not to lose hope and faith when loved ones die, and to look to the resurrection….but Charlie seems to reject the Christian faith when Cromartie kills his wife. It’s not portraying Christians in the best light, but it is *accurate.* Many people imagine that God has allowed a tragedy to occur when He could have prevented it. They do turn from the faith, even though the Bible says that trouble–and death–will come.
The Bible even says that “there is no jew or greek or slave or free, but all are one in Christ Jesus.” (In fact, if you study the abolitionist movement, who was it that led the battle cry to eliminate slavery? Um, Christians.) However, some churches did not condemn slavery in America, regardless of what the Bible says. Even though that doesn’t portray Christianity in the best light, it is *accurate.*
So, when I read some posts in the discussion forums that promoted the myth that “religion is the start of all wars,” I was hoping that the show would not take that erroneous and cliched approach to the show’s Biblical themes. People like Ellison make mistakes, have errors in judgement, and have prejudices and fautly beliefs—— but that doesn’t mean that religion started a war. It means that people who claim to be Christians need to believe the Bible a little more often.
I agree… religion doesn’t start all wars. The misinterpretation of religion starts wars (like the belief that you will have eternal salvation if you kill the enemy of your God… and yet, those fighting on the other side believe the same thing)… but other things do, too…
The love of money.
Love.
The hunger for power.
Hunger.
Revenge.
Fear….
Thanks Taylor for the take on how Riley’s character is consistent with being from the future. The show resonates better for me now.
Say, another thought … what plausible reasons for Riley’s espionage exist?
The Asian chick is telling her to get John to open up … why?
So he spills his beans and proves her point that he’s incompetent and not trustworthy?
So she can find out their grand plans and do better than them / sabotage them because their plans suck?
So she can kill John Connor? She can do that herself.
Maybe Riley is not from the future.
Maybe Jesse has her threatened or something. and it is easy to know what kind of girls would john be attracted to; not your typical popular sorority girl, but still with a very strong personality (going a little Freudian) just like Sarah.
Anyways, she is being coerced to spy on john, since she showed a little reluctance, if not remorse, to keep doing it. Well, those are my two cents, i guess we’ll find out later on the season.