Why are TSCC's ratings in decline?

[Dream]

People are sick of TV except for a few shows and the CBS network.

I started watching it, I stopped caring. It's obvious that the world will end in 2011 or whenever this Judgment Day is. None of the main characters can die, so there is no drama.

Plus the show will not last past this season, so no point in liking a show that will clearly be canceled as soon as the movie comes out.

But the movie has nothing to do with the TV series. It's a separate continuity. I'm expecting it to be canceled too (I hope not, I like the show), but I don't think the movie has anything to do with that.

Not sure why people think the Terminator movie will have any affect on the show. When Superman Returns was released Smallville's ratings pretty much stayed the same that season. There's a different between spending two hours at a theater and staying to watch the same show week after week.

 

[misskim86]

The problem imo with TSCC is that it got too complicated. I have seen every episode and I really have to struggle to keep up with everything, they need to get back to basis.

 

[nx1701g]

People are sick of TV except for a few shows and the CBS network.

I started watching it, I stopped caring. It's obvious that the world will end in 2011 or whenever this Judgment Day is. None of the main characters can die, so there is no drama.

Plus the show will not last past this season, so no point in liking a show that will clearly be canceled as soon as the movie comes out.

But the movie has nothing to do with the TV series. It's a separate continuity. I'm expecting it to be canceled too (I hope not, I like the show), but I don't think the movie has anything to do with that.

Not sure why people think the Terminator movie will have any affect on the show. When Superman Returns was released Smallville's ratings pretty much stayed the same that season. There's a different between spending two hours at a theater and staying to watch the same show week after week.

I doubt that there would be much of an effect personally. It's clear by watching even the trailer and an episode of TSCC that they're different series.

As for an effect the film is having on TSCC: Warner Brothers is taking up a larger share of the costs from what I've read than they had previously (including buying additional advertising during the first run airing of the episodes on Fox). The theory of many is that this is because of Terminator: Salvation. Since the season finale of TSCC and Terminator Salvation are roughly at the same time having the stink of a cancelled TV series may hurt ticket sales.

Personally I do think that they'll get a 13 episode run third season, after that it'll be gone. I think this because again WB may fully fund it in an effort to protect Terminator: Salvation.

 

[Booji]

The problem imo with TSCC is that it got too complicated. I have seen every episode and I really have to struggle to keep up with everything, they need to get back to basis.

hmmm... i couldn't disagree more. when it was back to basics for the first half of season 2, it totally stunk, imo. The emo-ness is annoying beyond belief (this goes for the less story driven s1 eps too). Now that we're back into the story moving forward, like how most of season 1 was, it's been way better and I can't wait for the following episode.

 

[ThunderAeroI]

The problem imo with TSCC is that it got too complicated. I have seen every episode and I really have to struggle to keep up with everything, they need to get back to basis.

hmmm... i couldn't disagree more. when it was back to basics for the first half of season 2, it totally stunk, imo. The emo-ness is annoying beyond belief (this goes for the less story driven s1 eps too). Now that we're back into the story moving forward, like how most of season 1 was, it's been way better and I can't wait for the following episode.

Don't let "it" bother you. "it" cant follow a point anywhere else on this forum, i wouldn't expect him to follow the plot of a TV show any better.

 

[Captain Craig]

What happened to all of those people who watched the season 1 and 2 premieres?

I found it to be too repetitive. Not original enough. Not engaging enough. Its not that its bad. There is much worse on TV. However, my time is limited and I'll not settle for what I see as mediocre. When I have time to waste maybe I'll catch up on DVD...maybe.

 

[DarKush]

I really enjoy reading all of the various viewpoints on this thread. I watch Sarah Connor, but I'm ambivalent about the show, and it's interesting to see why so many others are too.

I agree that there is a lack of urgency, that the missions aren't as clear or easily resolved as they were in Season 1. For me, I started to lose interest in the Season 2 opener. I knew that Cameron wasn't going to kill John, and it was a wasted hour or so. Particularly since Cameron was stalking him at such a plodding pace. At the least I wish they could've sped up the chase and had more action. I also thought the T-1000's reveal could've been held off until November sweeps or the season finale.

There are just too many Terminators in the past. Why not just have Skynet go back and kill Sarah Connor as a kid, or her parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. if it can send Termintors back into at least the 1920s?

I'm not as big a fan of Cromartie as many on this board are. I think he's adequate, but he doesn't exude any real sense of menace, not like the movie Terminators. And he's been on far too long. Too much of this series has become a long chase sequence. For a two hour movie, that works, but you can't sustain that for a season or an entire series. The T-1000 is more interesting, she exhibits a bit of a personality, but I think making her a Terminator was unnecessary. Also, if they're going to do Terminators of the week, mix it up. There should be elderly Terminators, Terminators of every race, creed, and age.

I think this show needs more human villians, government and corporate. Keep making it harder to pull the trigger. It's easy to blow up a machine, not so easy to do the same thing to a human, like Miles Dyson. I also think it was a mistake for Ellison to catch on so quick. Keeping him a dogged FBI agent out to get them would've added more tension to the show.

I think the cast is pretty good though. Dekker is a bit too whiny, but Headly, Glau, and Green are very good. I think Riley is all right, and I liked her twist. Jacobsen is a welcome addition to the cast too.

 

[Pingfah]

Its just a boring show, that's all. It has none of the excitement and showiness of the films and a completely wooden sense of humour.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

The problem imo with TSCC is that it got too complicated. I have seen every episode and I really have to struggle to keep up with everything, they need to get back to basis.

hmmm... i couldn't disagree more. when it was back to basics for the first half of season 2, it totally stunk, imo. The emo-ness is annoying beyond belief (this goes for the less story driven s1 eps too). Now that we're back into the story moving forward, like how most of season 1 was, it's been way better and I can't wait for the following episode.

Don't let "it" bother you. "it" cant follow a point anywhere else on this forum, i wouldn't expect him to follow the plot of a TV show any better.

Please keep TNZ stuff in TNZ.

 

[misskim86]

The problem imo with TSCC is that it got too complicated. I have seen every episode and I really have to struggle to keep up with everything, they need to get back to basis.

hmmm... i couldn't disagree more. when it was back to basics for the first half of season 2, it totally stunk, imo. The emo-ness is annoying beyond belief (this goes for the less story driven s1 eps too). Now that we're back into the story moving forward, like how most of season 1 was, it's been way better and I can't wait for the following episode.

Well you are ignoring the OP's question. Personally I disagree with myself too, while the show is slightly too complex I think it's great as long as I make sure I keep up with everything, but the question was why the ratings had declined generally, and that is imo because the show has gotten way too complicated to keep up with, and more or less impossible to get into if you're new.

 

[Campe]

I watched up through the second season premiere and I'll give you the reason I gave up:

It's bland.

The characters are bland and uncompelling, the situations are bland and relatively predictable and the writing is bland and pedestrian. It feels all doom-and-gloomy and I've seen a robot trying to be human one too many times to find it funny or even in the slightest, amusing. There's little to no humor of what I consider to be funny. I have to admit, I'm shocked the show is even on the air, let alone most likely to be renewed for a third season, Terminator Salvation or not.

Oh, TSCC, I wanted to like you so....

 

[nx1701g]

Well you are ignoring the OP's question. Personally I disagree with myself too, while the show is slightly too complex I think it's great as long as I make sure I keep up with everything, but the question was why the ratings had declined generally, and that is imo because the show has gotten way too complicated to keep up with, and more or less impossible to get into if you're new.

I agree with you. The original plan was to make this season more stand alone rather than major arc based. If you had started with Strange Things Happen at the One Two Point (Monday nights episode) you could be easily confused by things like the meaning of the wall in the basement, how Cromartie is now John Henry, etc.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Sarah Connor is complex?

Wow.

 

[MNM]

Well you are ignoring the OP's question. Personally I disagree with myself too, while the show is slightly too complex I think it's great as long as I make sure I keep up with everything, but the question was why the ratings had declined generally, and that is imo because the show has gotten way too complicated to keep up with, and more or less impossible to get into if you're new.

I agree with you. The original plan was to make this season more stand alone rather than major arc based. If you had started with Strange Things Happen at the One Two Point (Monday nights episode) you could be easily confused by things like the meaning of the wall in the basement, how Cromartie is now John Henry, etc.

Surely the difficulty to follow the story would be more the persons fault for not starting to watch a season till the 10th episode in, rather than the shows though?

 

[Wouter2]

I started watching it, I stopped caring. It's obvious that the world will end in 2011 or whenever this Judgment Day is. None of the main characters can die, so there is no drama.

There is no drama in TSCC?

I think it about the best show currently on TV, better than Battlestar Galactica, which is sinking under the weigth of its own mystic elements and its on-the-fly kind of storytelling - it's very difficult to keep it all consistent, now. TSCC, by contrast, still gives the impression of having a fairly tight plot. Characters also tend to stay true to themselves, rather than being used as plot devices. The exploration of the Terminator and Skynet AI is actually more subtle and also deeper than the exploration of the Cylons in BSG, as RDM seems afraid og really going for that subject. Perhaps he's right, seeing how relatively popular BSG is on this forum and how TSCC does not seem to be much appreciated.

The show has mysteries and questions, but it also provides answers in a timely manner (like in the last, particularly surprising, episode). I like the characters, and acting is strong almost across the board (I don't even mind Shirley Mansonn who makes a decent T1001). It's IMO neither too complex, neither too simple. It plots aren't repititive either; so far they keep finding fresh angles to bring the story. It just strikes a chord with me. And having Summer Glau helps there too, I suppose.

I think TSCC started out a bit meh, but it found its stride in mid-season 1 and after a slight dip in early S2 I have really appreciated all episodes since "Allison of Palmdale".

 

[Wouter2]

Surely the difficulty to follow the story would be more the persons fault for not starting to watch a season till the 10th episode in, rather than the shows though?

Yeah, you wouldn't expect to start reading a book somewhere in the middle, and be able to understand what's going on, either.

In reaction to what Campe98 wrote: I certainly disagree that the show and its characters are bland; I guess this comes down to taste. As for robots trying to be human, actually nor Weaver, nor Cameron, nor Cromartie strike me as trying to be human. Trying to learn about empathy or ethics does not equal trying to be human. One of the more refreshing things about TSCC is that its Terminators remain Terminators, and are proud to be so even when they fight for the Connors (unlike Athena on BSG for example, which is treated by the show as practically fully human). Cameron nor Weaver make excuses for being robots, and especially Weaver feels machines are superior to humans.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Lost interest somewhere in season 1. Just wasn't interested in downloading it. Not sure when season 2 will air here.

 

[Tim]

The viewership decline is due to the time slot. The upcoming move to Friday evening isn't going to help ratings, either.

The show itself I think is fine, especially with the last two or three episodes.

 

[Siwilliams]

Fox should have Terminator the sarah connor chronicles be on at 9pm, ratings were better then

 

[StarTrek1701]

I'll tell you why it is not being watched more and more:

1. The Terminator of the show, Cameron (Summer Glau) is not a compelling Terminator. She is not robotic enough and the storylines about her has been bland and 'been here done that' about her trying to be more human. We got seven years with Data on TNG about such and it was great then, not so now. She should play it more how Arnie plays it in the movies - cold, emotionless, no need to understand the nuances of human culture beyond what is needed to complete her mission. And her mission is to protect John Connor. That's her primary objective, to follow her programming. Her movements are made out to be too human - not a fault of Summer as she is doing what she is told - but the guidance she needs is to play the character to be more robotic.

2. Too many variables, not enough resolution. So they blew up Cyberdyne systems but the Terminators have kept coming. Which means they didn't change the future much. So their focus should be on how the future might have changed, and why it didn't according to how they wanted it even after Cyberdyne corps have been blown to bits. Why aren't there any links to the show back to Cyberdyne?

3. A woman, a kid, a scrawny looking scientist and a big lunking man destroyed one of the top research facilities in the USA for robotic systems. So why aren't Sarah and her child more in the news? How come in the real world, Interpol and a bunch of other law enforcement agencies working together can bring down a prostitution ring given enough time, but in nearly two decades they have not been able to find Sarah and her cohorts? Granted both of them do not exist anymore, but Sarah and John should be national sensations by now!

4. IF Skynet is truly defeated in the future, and their last ditch attempt was to send back the first/second Terminator, and if time is linear in both the future/present universes, why isn't the Resistance taking over the facilities of Skynet now and stopping all the hoopla? Has Skynet been defeated or not? Why is Skynet still functioning after the defeat?

These things would crawl up the mind of any intelligent viewer/fans (and I'd say there are lots of them) and if these issues are not brought up or resolved then there is truly no fun in the mythos left, is there?