After watching an outstanding season premier and having my faith in the success of The Sarah Connor Chronicles reignited, I was disappointed with this episode. The writers of TSCC seem to have used their old formula of "let's make Skynet bring a new terminator in to do wreak havoc". This episode did little to continue the plot of the series as a whole. It simply added a new character (Riley, John Conner's new love interest?) and turned John back into an emo kid. But this episode wasn't terrible, Lena Headey and the rest of the cast put in some great performances. The subplot about Sarah's fear of death (cancer) really helped her become a real person. Plus, FBI Agent Ellison's role in the episode was a sure sign that his role in the plot is growing. Finally, the audience gets to see more of the T-1000's plot. In short, 'Automatic for the People' was a decent episode and while it didn't add much to the overall plot, it sets up the rest of the season pretty well.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (TV Series)
Automatic for the People (2008)
User Reviews
Review this title8 Reviews
John gets a girlfriend and Cameron plays pool
Tweekums24 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
When a dying man from the future comes crashing into the Connor's new home mumbling about a Carl Greenway and a nearby nuclear plant it means trouble and because the man died they don't know exactly what needs to be done. In order to find out Sarah and Cameron start working there; Sarah soon learns that Greenway isn't happy with the site's safety systems and wants to delay the reactor start-up which is due in two days time. This makes him unpopular with many of the workers because they see him as a threat to their jobs
it is also a presents a problem for Sarah; Derek has told her that the power plant is destined to become a rebel stronghold during the war
if the plant is shut down it won't be usable, nor will it be usable if it is switched on and there is a nuclear accident; they could be walking into a lose-lose situation. Meanwhile John has returned to school and made a new friend, Riley Dawson.
This was another decent episode with a good mix of tension, action and a little bit of humour. Lena Headey does a fine job as Sarah; managing to be tough yet also appearing vulnerable. As always Summer Glau's performance as Cameron was a lot of fun; I loved the scene where she played pool; I was certain it was going to end up with a cliché fight but she just beat them in the game not physically! Riley could prove to be an interesting character; it could be interesting for John to have somebody in his life that isn't caught up in trying to prevent the upcoming war. Fan's of 'Breaking Bad' will be pleased to see Dean 'Hank' Norris appearing as the plant manager although it is a fairly small part. After the season opener introduced liquid-metal terminator Catherine Weaver I was a little surprised that she hardly featured here, although when she did finally appear it did raise some questions.
This was another decent episode with a good mix of tension, action and a little bit of humour. Lena Headey does a fine job as Sarah; managing to be tough yet also appearing vulnerable. As always Summer Glau's performance as Cameron was a lot of fun; I loved the scene where she played pool; I was certain it was going to end up with a cliché fight but she just beat them in the game not physically! Riley could prove to be an interesting character; it could be interesting for John to have somebody in his life that isn't caught up in trying to prevent the upcoming war. Fan's of 'Breaking Bad' will be pleased to see Dean 'Hank' Norris appearing as the plant manager although it is a fairly small part. After the season opener introduced liquid-metal terminator Catherine Weaver I was a little surprised that she hardly featured here, although when she did finally appear it did raise some questions.
Automatic for the People was just okay compared to the last episode of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"
tavm1 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
While I agree this episode was a setback from the previous season premiere, Automatic for the People was still a pretty enjoyable episode of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles". The most enjoyable scene for me was when Cameron in that hot outfit at the pool table was asking Bob if it was still her turn after sinking nearly every ball her first time out! It was also a nice surprise seeing a pregnant Busy Phillips as the woman selling Sarah the house at the beginning. She's been a favorite actress of mine since I first watched her in "Freaks and Geeks". And thanks to someone at tvguide.com for identifying that concerned guy at the nuclear plant as the one who played Ryan Chapelle on "24". When Derek Resse later discovered him hung in his house and we saw his cyborg replacement, those provided some very exciting fight scenes with Cameron and Sarah. The only concern I have is with John letting Riley into the new house so soon after meeting her so it was reassuring when Cameron sees no danger from her yet. Overall, a pretty good episode so until next time...
Nuclear station life
leengee16 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
While I really enjoy the show in general, even this episodes role in the story arc, I was very disappointed in the depiction of nuclear station operations and work methods. 1/ you'd never walk up to a nuclear station and start work that afternoon as a cleaner or anything else, but I could overlook that, as a shortcut to moving the story forward, 2/ the "training film" was insulting, 3/ cancer survivors are not "bad luck" in the industry, 4/ nobody says "crapped up", they seemed to use it as a technical term here, 5/ when monitored by the plant manager person, Sarah was very contaminated, monitors don't "act up from time to time" and you can't fake it, unless the probe itself is contaminated, and that is what is causing the response, 6/ we don't "silkwood" a contamination victim with fire hoses and bristle brushes, 7/ you'd never be allowed into the hot zone of the station as a new employee, there would be weeks of training, and then you'd go in with an escort who'd be responsible for your safety, 8/ any safety concerns voiced by the person responsible for safety are treated with extreme attention, no station would restart where valid issues were expressed, especially from that quarter.
They could have taken 5 minutes to ask for technical advice and still had the story proceed with a realistic depiction. My concern is that this perpetuates myths about the industry that are patently untrue. My enjoyment of the episode was constantly interrupted by anger. Next time, ask an expert.
They could have taken 5 minutes to ask for technical advice and still had the story proceed with a realistic depiction. My concern is that this perpetuates myths about the industry that are patently untrue. My enjoyment of the episode was constantly interrupted by anger. Next time, ask an expert.
John's birthday is February
LaverneandShirleysucks2 February 2022
John celebrated his 16th birthday in the season finale which was only a few days or a week at most prior to this episode when Riley mentions the date being November 16. Sarah also mentions the date with the year being 2007 but if John is 16 now, the year should actually be 2009.
Before they did the 8 year time leap, his 16th birthday would've been February 2001, and with the time leap they did the date should be February 2009 and not November 2007.
I like this show but the time/date mistakes irks me. Riley seems to have no family since she slept at John's house without mentioning anything about not going home the whole night.
This leads me to believe she's a time traveler too and knows John from the future. I doubt she's a robot, but maybe part of the resistance? Something about her is just off.
Before they did the 8 year time leap, his 16th birthday would've been February 2001, and with the time leap they did the date should be February 2009 and not November 2007.
I like this show but the time/date mistakes irks me. Riley seems to have no family since she slept at John's house without mentioning anything about not going home the whole night.
This leads me to believe she's a time traveler too and knows John from the future. I doubt she's a robot, but maybe part of the resistance? Something about her is just off.
Loosing Its Pace
Littleman9512 January 2021
Everybody's Welcome...
Xstal8 August 2022
... at the come and go as you please nuclear reactor, where security is definitely not a factor, and you can become a paid contractor, whenever it takes your fancy. Not the most thought out episode so far but if you're buying into time travel I'm not sure it really matters, if I'm honest.
inconsistent
daffy7216 September 2008
I like this show. i really do. But this second episode of the second season was all over the place.
cuts and wounds seem to heal from shot to shot- almost as fast as wolverine while others don't.
conversations continually seem to jump over unspoken information.
scenes to connect one part of the plot to another seem and feel like they are missing.
Gaps in plot and action that goes against established lore.
I'm checking the older episodes and from what i've seen they haven't used this writer/ director before. Lets hope they don't use them again or this series will soon fall by the wayside.
the worst leap was how an older model terminator apparently copied someone once they were terminated. it seemed they were setting it up so we were under the impression that it was the t-1000 but nope- just a run-of-the-mill terminator. how did they have surgery and look perfect in a matter of a few hours? i GUESS we are to assume the terminator was studying greenway for a while and had the surgery done a while ago- and just moved in and took over on the faithful day? just a guess though since there is nothing in the story to suggest what was going on.
Just terrible and really strains suspension of disbelief.
worst episode of the series so far
cuts and wounds seem to heal from shot to shot- almost as fast as wolverine while others don't.
conversations continually seem to jump over unspoken information.
scenes to connect one part of the plot to another seem and feel like they are missing.
Gaps in plot and action that goes against established lore.
I'm checking the older episodes and from what i've seen they haven't used this writer/ director before. Lets hope they don't use them again or this series will soon fall by the wayside.
the worst leap was how an older model terminator apparently copied someone once they were terminated. it seemed they were setting it up so we were under the impression that it was the t-1000 but nope- just a run-of-the-mill terminator. how did they have surgery and look perfect in a matter of a few hours? i GUESS we are to assume the terminator was studying greenway for a while and had the surgery done a while ago- and just moved in and took over on the faithful day? just a guess though since there is nothing in the story to suggest what was going on.
Just terrible and really strains suspension of disbelief.
worst episode of the series so far
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