DVDs in Review

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2

Title: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2 (2009)

Release date: November 16 2009

Certificate: 15

Format: Reviewed on DVD, available on Blu-ray

DVD RRP: £49.99

Rating: 4/5

'The Terminator' films were always best (i.e. the first two) when they were less glamorous and the stars look like they'd been through the wars. Perhaps this is partly why the second two films were attacked by the critics and why 'The Sarah Connor Chronicles' was axed after two seasons.

The grit is gone and the gunmetal gleam is in its place, but in terms of this TV series it gives it a somewhat odd advantage. TV is, by nature, a popular medium that must grab attention quickly to deter the channel hoppers from hopping away.

What is obvious when watching this TV series is that it doesn't give these people much of an opportunity to escape. Beautiful actors, high production values and a fast pace propel this action series that makes up in thrills what it loses in characterization.

To a certain extent, the 'Terminator' franchise was all about larger than life archetypes (freedom fighters and robotic annihilators) and stereotypical depictions of organisations (evil, powerful corporations and the strict military), and this series highlights that perfectly.

In short, it wears the multi-episode medium well and has plenty of fun with it. Throw in a few love interests and a mysterious three-dot symbol and the series powers itself without ever feeling overly robotic. It has a heart and lashings of style even if the scripts have plenty of bullet holes and cheesy moments marring their inventive plotlines.

Give this show a try before it gets forgotten about, it's worth the ride even if the RRP is a bit steep. The six-disc DVD from Warner Brothers contains all 20 episodes and an interesting array of bonus features.