Adam Raised a Cain… or did he? Last week we learned that Weaver’s AI is evolving as John Connor continues to mature into the leader he will one day become. Here’s a look behind-the-scenes at one of our favorite episodes of the season.
First thing first — Derek’s death. Josh and Brian spoke privately of Derek’s demise before the script was distributed to our cast and crew, and Brian (the ultimate professional that he is), understood and found Derek’s fate completely appropriate. Ultimately, Derek Reese met an end he was indeed fated for — a consequence of fighting the machines, a soldier’s death. RIP Reese, you will be missed.
Speaking of the battle at Weaver’s “humble” abode, that stunning house is located off Mulholland Highway in Malibu, California and has actually been used in many films, including the recent blockbuster Ironman.
Water Delivery Man Terminator was played by actor Jeffrey Pierce, an actor who came close to being cast a few times in the first season. Pierce, as you may recall, actually played the brother to original-Cromartie, Owain Yeomain, in the now-defunct ABC series The Nine. You have not seen the last of Pierce’s terminating machine — he’ll be back.
Did you recognize the movie theater where Sarah was arrested? We’ve used it a few times in earlier episodes, including as the theater that premiered “The Sheik” in the 1920’s portion of Self-Made Man . The interior (where John threatened Ellison before running off) also once housed the outside of the chess competition in which Andy Goode’s Turk lost to the Japanese in season one’s Queen’s Gambit.
Beastwizard (pre-Cromartie George Laszlo’s cinematic alter-ego — say that five times fast) has become a favorite amongst the cast and crew. Did you notice the photo John identified of “John Henry” upon Savannah’s description? Beastwizard.
In the first draft of Adam Raised a Cain, the exchange of Savannah (and eventual police standoff) was scripted in/out of a public library, not a movie theater. It was a callback to the opening dream sequence of the Pilot in which Sarah found John in a library before facing off with the Cops, but we had to do alter it due to production restraints.
Adam Raised a Cain marked the third collaboration by dynamo writer-producer matchup Toni Graphia and Charles Beeson. Previously the two worked together on Allison from Palmdale and The Demon Hand. I have a feeling you probably like this team.
The song Savannah teaches John Henry is an old Scottish/Celtic folk song entitled Donald, Where’s Your Trousers? And yes, those were actually the lovely singing voices of Mackenzie Smith (Savannah) and Garret Dillahunt (John Henry). Did you catch the irony of Savannah’s line to Weaver earlier in the episode — “…you can’t sing.” It goes without explanation that Shirley “Catherine Weaver” Manson is the lead singer of the band Garbage and sang Samson and Delilah at the beginning of the season.
I’m not sure where Donald’s trousers are, but mine are in the wash after that episode!
Well done… we know you’re just toying with us now, but enjoying the ride.
And yes, I did catch the ref to “you can’t sing” and wanted something along the lines of “If I sang, it would be garbage” type of rebuttal.
First thing’s first……Brian and JF were wrong.
We don’t care how you do it…bring Derek back!
Agreed Gregory.
I couldn’t get that darn song out of my head for two days.
I giggled to myself when Savannah told Weaver she couldn’t sing
It was awesome.
I understand why Derek died, and I liked the way it was done, I just really hope that in the third season you guys find a way to bring him back.
Different-Timeline!Derek?
By the way, I keep singing that song. My family has a pretty heavy Scottish background, so it’s kind of nice to sing a song from Scotland.
its been stuck in my head since it was originally played in the preview
This show got so good, so fast, when it returned to its S1 mission or explaining this delicate and intensely addicting web of terminator mythos. I just wish the whole season had been so good, I’m back to counting down the days till friday .
Ive been here for the pilot and for every episode since…I never gave up on you guys, but Ive gotta say, I was pretty disappointed up until the episode where Riley was killed, except for Samson and Delilah,The Tower is Tall, and Allison from Palmdale. I hope we DO get a third season….but please guys…stick with what works…because when it does work its SO GOOD, that my toes curl and I want to pull my hair out and scream…that good.
It seems like the more serialized the episodes are, the better. Just my 2 cents.
Yes that theatre is on the Warner lot, right around the corner from the ambulance entrance to ER. It was probably much cheaper to do it on the lot than a library.
My productions buddies (we make commercials) were all talking about the episode today — it’s amazing how excited “regular” people get over this show. Derek’s death was incredible, in that it came out of left field! How ironic to have him buried in the same potter’s field as his brother.
We have our fingers crossed that the show gets another season!
Would it help if everyone turned on all the TVs in their house to Fox at 8 PM on Friday?
Right on Kate!!
Thanks Hadley.
Please, put the Mackenzie Smith/Garret Dillahunt duet on the Season 2 soundtrack CD. Then, we will have this song engraved in our brain for the rest of our life!
“First thing first — Derek’s death. Josh and Brian spoke privately of Derek’s demise before the script was distributed to our cast and crew, and Brian (the ultimate professional that he is), understood and found Derek’s fate completely appropriate. ”
He found it appropriate because he gets to spend more gettin’ busy time with Megan Fox rather than on the set. Before it was obvious that this series would get cancelled, he probably indicated that he wanted to leave the show. Now, with the show getting the axe anyway, his death seems meaningless and stupid. We all know he had troubles with Megan, pretty much right around the time these episodes were filming and being written.
But his death disappointed me for another reason. We were supposed to find out this season what the deal was with the Rubber Face Termie in Dungeons and Dragons, and what happened to Derek in that room with the violin music. Now we’ll never get to find out.
Brian Austin Green really changed my opinion of him as an actor because he played Derek so dammned well. Such a great character. He had such unrealized potential.
RCN says: broad leader
Derek’s death showed that TSCC has some serious stones. Fingers crossed for a third season - we need a show that’s willing to take risks without seeming apologetic.
We might find out from somebody else who was in that basement.
@Kate
I was pretty disappointed up until the episode where Riley was killed, except for Samson and Delilah,The Tower is Tall, and Allison from Palmdale.
“Sometimes they go bad. Nobody knows why.”
I hope you guys keep THIS current intensity in your Season 3 episodes
This stuff is great, please keep churnin’ em’ out!
I agree with Gregory and Snake, bring BAG back. He brought great insight into the future; a male (father) figure to John, instead of being surrounded just by females; and he gave John info on Kyle, which we need to learn more about.
SEASON 3!!!!
Derek’s death stunned me as few (actually I can’t think of ANY) television drama scenes ever have. I was in such shock, my mind swimming, that I missed at lot of the follow-up dialogue and action because I got up and wandered off to a room that had no TV! I had to play back my VHS tape after the ep ended, in order to fill in the gaps.
The character I really wanted to see get shot was Jesse!
Not very sporting, Hadley.
I have a feeling you probably like this team.
Oh yes, we do. Toni and Charles, you rock!
The Mackenzie/Garret duet singing Donald Where’s Your Trousers, I agree with others, it really sticks with you. And that scene with Catherine looking at them as they sing… beautiful. Children are not bogged down by the BS the adults layer on top of everything, their innocence allows them to easily overlook any petty differences.
About Derek… you can’t blame people for being pissed, he was a great character, BAG did a wonderful job portraying him. But I’m not one of the people who wish you guys to burn in hell for killing him like that - I agree with Destiny, it required stones. Which you guys have.
Hadley,
I think we would all be interesting in hearing B.A.G.’s insight into Derek’s character and his untimely demise. I am also curious what the tone was like shooting those scenes, and how the cast and crew felt while they were being prepped and shot. Thanks again for the behind-the-scenes details.
RCN says: Direktor 49
Yep, I do like Toni and Charles’ work on the show. Summer had mentioned Toni writes some of the best stuff for her.
Yes we’ll miss Derek. Brian brought a lot to that role and his work was very enjoyable starting way back in season one when Sarah met him in the jail, and Ellison questioned him about the murders and forensic evidence. That was such a cool scene. And he went on to have many more good ones.
Thanks for all the extra info again, hadley. Living in the general Los Angeles area it’s fun to hear where some of the scenes take place.
I’d like to go see that library from Self Made Man, if it’s a real one. Might be fun to stop by there one day for a few minutes.
Destiny put it best, above. Serious stones and serious kudos.
I love this show and I want season three!
Please no alternate reality Derek.
It’ll cheapen his death
BAG was a great addition, and this role completely scrubbed 90210 out of my hair. LOL!
And I too am sorry he’s gone and got so little face-time this season, and really be his roguish, bad-ass self as he was depicted in Season 1. He was kind of “weenie-fied” and easily duped in Season 2 along with John.
Future/Flash-Backward scenes and another return from an alternate time-line would make up for it. Not that this return from the Future stuff should be an on-going thing, but it would make for some interesting plots in Season 3 and how things have changed in this new time line.
As has been requested, I hope BAG can stop by and give us some insights into Derek, and say good-bye like Leven so graciously did.
Filling the void of Mr. Green will be a tough one. The presence his character gave new dimensions to the Connor houshold. Can’t wait to see what presence will replace the loss of Derek. Will John be ready to fill those shoes?
Can’t wait for the next season. Fingers crossed for a season 3.
as I said on a previous thread (possibly proof that Hadley was asleep rather than moderating seeing he’s repeated it here) Donald Where’s Your Troosers is NOT an old Scottish/Celtic folk song - it’s a ferking 60s NOVELTY record complete with comedy Elvis impersonation to a swing beat in the middle sung by a (now dead) kilt-clad Scottish entertainer called Andy Stewart. It was a joke, people, a JOKE! Even Stewart’s Scottish accent was exaggerated (we don’t actually talk like that…)
I hope it was picked for that humour - it really is creepy hearing the equivalent of the Macerena slowed right down and sung as a ballad by a kid and a cyborg - but this “old Celtic folk song” business is beginning to make me think I credited the team with a sense of irony that they really don’t possess.
Shirley must be killing herself (”What’s that, my American chums? Oh aye, it’s definitely a [cough] authentic [cough] ancient Scottish melody, absolutely…”)
have a listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONO0bkpiXhM
… also make sure to read the YouTube comments: the poor guy who put up the Andy Stewart video and had managed about half a dozen comments from some ex-pat Scots over the course of a year has suddenly been inundated by T:TSCC fans over the past few days searching for the song after seeing the rendition on the show (sample response seems to be: “WTF?? John Henry’s version is much better than this rubbish!!”).
His reactions are hilarious (”Welcome to The Andy Stewart TSCC Chat Blog!”). Poor guy…
At first I thought of BAG as a supporting actor in the role of Derek. His and strength of character and manner soon changed that, and I came to think of him as a key member of the inner family.
Although the other actors in the series all give credible performances, only Brian seemed to be playing himself; effortlessly and convincingly. I hope this is true, that Brian is like Derek in his real life. The world would be a better place for it.
If we are to win the war against the machines, Derek is still needed in our future. Soldiers like BAG are impossible to replace.
I think Season 3 should be tied in with the new season of Beastwizard. The lead in that show is badass!
Ashley Miller on Twitter:
“Zack just told me there’s a fake SCC finale synopsis on the interwebs. Can’t wait to read it. 12 minutes ago from Twittelator”
Do you suppose that C.W.’s statement to J.H. that “Perhaps in this story, you are God”, that she is in the same way that Sarah has done with John, trying to get John Henry to see ‘outside the box’? There is no fate but what we make?
For those of you rooting for the machines:
“Being Isaac Newton: Computer derives natural laws from raw data”
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/cu-bin033009.php
I wonder what kind of conclusions John Henry would come up with about humanity with a copy of this program and access to the Internet?
Loved the singing, they were great
Derek’s end scene was very poorly written…I really wish someone would stop and think…why on earth would anyone with half a brain, much less a trained soldier, and two people who’ve been facing machines for years, go into an encounter like this with PISTOLS, and why would Derek have been by himself anyway?
I can understand having a sudden death like that, even to a main character, but it ended up looking like a cop out, and it ends up looking like the only reason any of the characters are still alive is because of dumb luck and no skill/thought.
Hold on there, did they know a Terminator would be at the house? I don’t think so. There were humans attacking John and Charlie at the Lighthouse and that’s all they expected at Weaver’s house, since one of the dead guys had Savannah’s picture on his phone.
I guess you could say ‘Derek should carry a plasma rifle with him everywhere he goes’, but that’s bound raise some real suspicions.
The only hopes I have for the series finale is that Cameron will not be the betrayer - she already went after John in the beginning of season 2 why repeat yourself? She needs to step up and protect him at all costs - even if it means leaving him or losing her life - who’s to say she couldn’t come back in season three from the future again. She tends to follow rather than lead, if she was truly sent back to protect John she need to stop letting people get in the way of her job.
And does no one even think of the dangers or changes they have made to the timeline - for example Jessie and Riley. When will we see the evidence of that?
I didn’t say they should have expected a Terminator, but going to a residence like that, at the least they would have expected heavy security, given that Weaver was the head of a corporation.
Even expecting the same humans that attacked Charlie’s place, and heavy security of Weaver’s residence, you would want more than pistols (at least Charlie had the right idea and a rifle). An assault rifle, sub machine gun, a hunting rifle, or something (obviously not a plasma rifle), would make more sense than going into an encounter with at least two possibly hostile factions and the bare minimum that could be taken and considered armed. I don’t think anyone with any weapons knowledge or training (or common sense) is going to go into an encounter like that. They might as well have taken knives.
I second the comment about the fantastic singing duo. I need that on my I-pod in the Garret/Mackenzie form. Hopefully, season 3 will build on all the excitement we are seeing now. And don’t lose John Henry and Savannah…they have a remarkable chemistry in the show!
Love how John is growing into his marty-dom!
@Brian,
Finally someone who understands. The best use for a handgun is as a backup when your long gun is disabled. Or, to fight your way to another long gun.
We’ll miss BAG. I had no idea what a good of an actor he is. I literally jumped off my seat when he got shot. Brilliantly written because that’s how it happens in real life. It comes out of nowhere. No matter what Hollywood wants us to believe, not all great men go out in a blaze of glory. I’m glad they didn’t go with a ’sacrifice to save John and jumping in front of him’ cheezy plot. Thanks for respecting your audience.
What an exceptionally well written, acted and produced show. Please have a season 3, 4, and on!
You got that right, mg. Exceptional show.
And Brian surprised a lot of people with his work here.
Yup the ‘you can’t sing comment‘…caught that!!!
I have to say the ‘Donald, Where’s Your Trousers?’…I have been humming that ever since the preview!!!!
As for Derek…my jaw dropped. I almost hit the rewind button…until I realized I was taping the show and it was a no go!! RIP Derek…maybe you can pop in from another time line!
I have to ask but what movie were they watching in the theater?
Hadley I love these behind the scene’s…have you or anyone else thought about doing a behind TSCC book? Or a TSCC season 1 and 2 fact book. Like what they did for STTNG, Firefly, or Alias? Those are always fun to read and would give us some TSCC merchandise.
Come on Season 3!!!
After killing off Derek I no longer care if the show gets picked up. Cameron and Derek were the only reasons to watch the show. That was completely disppointing but at least it will not upset me when it is canceled now. He should have at least been given a heroic death instead Sarah says she doesn;t trust him and then he dies.
I hope the producers read these boards because I can tell you why this show’s ratings were in the tank. It needed nore action with Cameron and more Derek and some more in the future and less Sarah she is boring. and John is not that interesting yet either. They should have slowly tried to create a romance between Derek and Sarah that would have made her more interesting given Kyle. One of them should have started to have feelings for the other. These things would have made for higher ratings action and slow romance.
Great to see Jeffrey Pierce on the show.
Sci-fi fans here need to check him out as the lead role in CHARLIE JADE, it was a great show on Canada’s Space channel that only got one season. SciFi Channel started playing it last year but they gave it an awful timeslot.
All good ideas and observations LTF. Sarah definitely needs something to mellow her out. Absolutely more of Cam and Derek would have helped enormously. And finally, Sarah is boring because we’ve seen way to much of her this season.
vote for TSCC and cast!!
http://blog.tviv.org/2009/04/02/2008-ivy-awards-4/
Voted!
Kate,
Totally agree. Basically from the time Riley was introduced up until she was killed off it seemed to me that the show was at a standstill. It felt like they (JC, Sarah etc) had no focus or purpose… Is seemed like the writers were just stalling for time..
The reason why I was originally hooked on the show is purely = Cameron. With every episode that the focus is not on her, the show suffers….
I think the writers have a brilliant idea to work with and should have used it far better in this 2nd season and they wouldn’t have found themselves in trouble!
If I was involved with this show i would be printing and considering each one of these threads.
Many valid points are raised in these forums, the show really has a collection of highly intelligent followers
I’m also an international viewer so i cannot contribute to these ratings, but the show has barely started and really must be given an opportunity to flourish!!