Synopsis
Season 2, Episode 17: Ourselves Alone
Cameron creates danger for all with her flaws. Riley fears her secret is out.

Review
This will be a classic Terminator episode. All the teasers and talk was about Cameron’s ongoing software problems, leading me to think we were going to see her act out in some berserk way, but in the end, she was quite under control, just threatening. The story had an excellent balance of time and dialog for all the major cast members, despite having six of them playing major roles.

So Mr. Friedman’s reveals about the rest of the season begin to be carried out. The discovery of Riley’s origin, her relationship with Jesse, her attempted suicide – all increased her threat to the Connors to the breaking point. Most fans probably expected her to meet her end at Cameron’s hand, so it was an interesting surprise to see how it really happened.

Child Protective Service’s involvement in Riley’s case, the caseworker’s knowledge of Sarah and John, plus Riley’s disappearance – well, it all points to a major move for the Connors and Derek. And in this real estate market! They’ll have to stay in the metro L.A. area… how about… Azusa? Palmdale is definitely out.

Special effects deserve a mention – Cameron’s self-surgery scenes were so well-done I could not detect where her left arm really was located. New viewers (hope there were lots of them!) would have no difficulty realizing who/what Cameron is. And her threats to Riley were just tense – finally leading Riley to realize that she was being set up – by Jesse, who will now be in jeopardy.

Any decent continuity in the next episode should have Derek acting on Jesse’s failure to show up for his ambush of the attorney. And she will have a major cleanup project in her apartment, including disposing of a body and hiding lots of broken furniture. Unless the scripts call for her to successfully elude the consequences, she will be facing Derek, who will realize how treacherous she has been. That makes her the best candidate for dead cast member number 2 of 3. I suggest Cameron as the best choice for taking out Jesse, although Sarah could be motivated, too, deceived as she was by Jesse’s manipulative impersonation of the school counselor. Good script surprise!

The best-written scene was the confrontation between Riley and Cameron in the garage – the entire dialog should be quoted. Finally some star time for Ms. Glau – it’s been too long. She plays that cold, factual cyborg so well – no anger, no revenge motive, just simple survival for John. And Mr. Dekker puts out one of his best performances of the series, toning down the antagonism between Sarah and him, trying to support and protect Riley while pressing her for the truth, and finally beginning to see Cameron in a new light, as she offers him the means to terminate her, if necessary. Of course, how could he know if the hot button would really work as she claimed?

“Ourselves Alone” should make everyone happy. A turning point for John – as Cameron verifies – he’s exceeding expectations. The probable beginning of the end of the Jesse story arc. A chance for the writers to bring the entire family back to unity of purpose. The end of the Riley distraction for John, and I don’t think the producers will have him wallowing in grief for long. Still a chance that John, Sarah, and Derek will all suspect each other in the death of Riley, but if that happens, I hope it won’t extend over more than one episode.

Nothing on Weaver-Ellison-John Henry this time. That story arc should now begin to bear on the Connors, and I’m ready for that. Cameron – Weaver battle, anyone? Re-run rating for “Ourselves Alone” – B+.
[ Read the full review at TVsquad ]

Buy the Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 1 DVD :

Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles - The Complete First Season

You can purchase and download this episode from iTunes :

The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Season 2

Download the show via RapidShare here.
http://rapidshare.com/files/206265430/tscc.s02e17-notv.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/206265428/tscc.s02e17-notv.part2.rar

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