Note: Last week Today is the Day co-writer Zack Stentz weighed in before Part 1. This week we hear from his writing partner, Ashley Miller, before the concluding chapter.
The Future. It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.
Here’s a fun fact about yours truly. The Terminator was the very first rated-R movie I ever watched. It was on video (“VHS,” he said, dating himself). My brother brought it home and kinda dared me to watch it with him. At the time, on-screen violence freaked me out. Blood really freaked me out. Guys pulling their own eyeballs out of their heads and dropping them in the sink really, really, really freaked me out.
Somehow, I persevered. I loved it. I watched it over, and over and over again. Many reasons why – the quotable lines, the great characters, the exciting story. I connected with all of them. It became a favorite. But of all the things that drew me to this film, the biggest and most important was the Future War (note the caps!).
It bears mentioning right now that I am as much a fanboy of the Terminator universe as I am of a certain franchise involving starships, ray guns and boldly going places – particularly the first and third iterations of said franchise (put a gun to my head, ask me which one I love more — go ahead — then you tell me what the answer should be because hell, you’re the guy with the gun). The future in that other franchise is bright. Optimistic. Occasionally scary, but really… in a world where you can wear your pajamas to work, how scary is your world really? The Terminator universe, on the other hand? Scary. If you’re wearing your pajamas to work, it’s because you had to steal them off your buddy’s corpse. Polar opposite of optimistic. And yet…
There’s this guy: Kyle Reese. Perhaps you’ve heard of him. He’s a little screwed up in the head. Tough, resourceful, falls in love with polaroids. Yeah, he’s kind of a romantic. This guy comes back in time to save the girl of his dreams and stop the end of the world. And he’s not wearing pants. Not even pajamas.
That, friends, is my definition of “hero”: a naked, crazy guy with a gun and an unhealthy obsession with women he’s only seen in pictures. Also, a profound appreciation for the world he discovers. Is it pristine? Nope. Peaceful? Uh-uh. But a fine place nonetheless, and worth fighting for. There’s a great moment in the deleted scenes where Reese collapses on the ground in the middle of a field, weeping over a flower and its fate.
To me, that’s the Terminator franchise: loving a single flower enough that you would risk everything to protect it. Because it has value and beauty and meaning. The flower is at the heart of the Future War.
So what does that have to do with Today Is The Day - Part 2? Everything. Tonight’s episode is about a little flower. There are no heroes in this flower story. There are no villains. There is only the flower each character carries with them. It is not sad, it is not happy. It can be neither because, as a story about a flower, it is a story about hope.
Also, for your viewing pleasure there are killer robots, plasma rifles and submarines. There is war, fisticuffs and death. A mystery. A confrontation. There is a reconciliation, and someone learns the truth. In short, it’s a very full hour. Enjoy your visit.
WOOO-HOOO! Let’s go! You guys do the best teasers ever!! OK, too many exclamation points?
Come on, come on. I still have a little over 9 hours to wait (PDT).
I’m not anxious or anything…
Now say, loudly and passionately: “Deep Space Nine” and you will not be shot!
Can’t wait for tonight!
Ashley - you are a worthy guardian of this storied franchise. I truly appreciate the depth and complexity your bring to the tale. I wonder if Jesse is the flower we should weep for in “Today is the day (2)”? As her tragic tale unfolds, I recognize that you are telling a story which has no easy answers. What and who is evil is fluid at many junctures. I am already impressed by part (1), and can’t wait for tonight.
Wow, that was a very enjoyable read. Thanks!
Beautifully said, Ashley. You and I are of like minds when it comes to this mythology.
…..”someone lears the truth” -Gotta be JC learning that Jesse killed Riley and that Cameron is innocent of the charge.
Fun read, Ashley. Thanks so much for that. We love to hear from people working on this terrific show.
Hey, even Dan ought to like this one. It’s about “Hope”, Dan. The thing you said TSCC has been missing all along. So pay attention tonight!
Thanks Ashley, I love the fact that you’re a fan of the original T. I’m really looking forward to this evening.
Great post!
Thanks for the glimpses of your sci fi introductions.
Thanks Ashley. TSCC will not be the same without talented writers like you. Can’t wait for tonight.
I share your vision on the franchise and I also believe that its global purpose is delivering a message of hope. I’m glad to read this post.
BTW, I also watched The Terminator for the first time on VHS when I was a little boy, heh - I remember having a couple of nightmares about some huge guy pursuing my mom and I, and for some reason there were a couple of Critters too.
Thank you for posting!!
“loving a single flower enough that you would risk everything to protect it. Because it has value and beauty and meaning. The flower is at the heart of the Future War”.
beautiful! beautiful!
This oughtta date me (more than) a little. The first time I saw the Terminator? I saw it in the THEATER. It BLEW my mind.
Wow, Ashley, what a beautiful read! Beyond all the machines, explosions and chases that we love about the Terminator mythology, it would mean nothing without hope. Hope that humanity is more than worth fighting and dying for. Hope that there will be a future without a Future War.
I’m counting the hours until tonight!
I Love this post! Funny and on-point!
The third… really?
Or if you mean the series not the movie, I agree
I saw the Terminator in a theater, too. Had to get a babysitter.
Maybe Derek learns the truth about Jesse.
Wanna know my first R movie? T3. Yes, for some bizzare reason I saw the 3rd movie before the others. I guess because the third was latest, it was in theaters now and I didn’t feel like tracking down the other 2 before I got to see it. I eventually netflxed the other 2 though. looking back, I wondered how T3 even got its R compared to the other 2.
and I dont see how VHS can date you, its only been killed off for about 10 years.
VHS doesn’t date me. The fact that I originally saw it in 1984 does. I don’t think my family owned a VCR until 1986.
Ashley,
Thanks for all the great episodes your creativity has provided. I thought “The Good Wound” was particularly satisfying as it brought Sarah Connor out from behind the large shadow cast by Cameron Phillips. Lena is an incredible actress, who brings true life to your words and ideas. The series is named for her character, and it was very pleasing to view your painting of Sarah, under the brush strokes of Lena Headey.
Glad I re-read it, I missed the part where the flower scene was deleted. Flowers, Terminators, really??? I must live too far from Hollywood or a poet to be able to swallow that.
Very nice read Ashley.
It is cool that one of the writers would make a blog post here. and a long post!
I guess long cause…. your a writer!
I have seen both eps now and I dont see it as a story of hope, more one of realizations.
I could detail it, but basically all of the main and even lesser characters are all realizing something in these 2 eps/
but anyway thanks for the post.
good or bad I like the interactions with the various people involved in the show.
I wince when I see this movie. It’s interesting to view metal against flesh. Sarah and John Connor to me are terrible - I often just skip past their parts, except this one was not as bad as the others. The futures back to the present is okay but the story line leaves me - what - kill the cyborg in the past? Sure. In any case, if someone made that thing in the submarine and it did what it did - then the really big question is not what or who killed Riley, but are human beings in the equation and it’s absurd to think the humans can even fight back. Remember, that metal woman in the factory? She’s the same prototype. For me, bad story line and bad acting but still better than most of the garbage on TV.
Adam you are an idiot go watch the show and stop bitchin
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I’m a fan of TSCC and would like that to continue over the third season. The only thing that bothers me is the way the mimetic poly-alloy qualities are rendered in the series. Suddenly it’s become a flexible, shiny blob instead of a mercury like dripping (leaking and streaming) we saw in T2. I understand it’s got unimaginable qualities but it looks a bit ridiculous. Otherwise, I appreciate its role in the metal-skin battle. Having t-1000 around, danger levels change and the only unstoppable and uncompromising ‘machine’ is the liquid. Humans might not be the only ones to experience heavy losses on that account. Skynet should ‘think’ twice before it constructs another prototype of that sort.
I loved Today Is The Day - Part 2. It showed more layers of John’s character than I’ve seen in most episodes. It’s good to see him slowly becoming more confident, decisive and mature, all great qualities in a leader. The last scene where he cries was important too because it showed he’s still a boy.
I’m looking forward to the next episode and I hope there’s a season 3. Thank you for the work you’ve put into the show so far. Good job.
That, friends, is my definition of “hero”: a naked, crazy guy with a gun and an unhealthy obsession with women he’s only seen in pictures. Also, a profound appreciation for the world he discovers.
*Snort* Ash, you’re funny.
Check out my “Terminator - Space Camp” mashup! Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gy8BWU0AcI
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Ashley and Zack (aka Turk):
Regardless of whether we get a Season 3, thank you for your vision of the War for Mankind’s Soul. You guys focused perfectly on the key elements of the most interesting part of the terminator mythology. Your take on grunts like Derek was spot on, sine non qua. Even your vision of the lonely sob in the command bunker who’s never parted from his metal female Rasputin has the tone of Greek tragedy. You’re so right about the flower. the hope that drew a naked, scarred soldier to take a cosmic leap of faith. I had hoped some future tale could interweave Cameron and Pandora with hope being the only thing that remained. It remains in the subtext.
I’m so glad you guys are Future War geeks-your obsession has become our treat.
Remember, fireflies burn brighter because of their shortened span.