I wrote a lengthy and scintillating analysis of Monday’s episode yesterday afternoon but had to put it aside to do some “real work”. When I got back to it last night, our blogging software was acting rather wonky. And in the process of trying to save my work, the software ate two-thirds of it. Shame, too. It was brilliant. Herewith, the reconstruction…

It was a little hard to get into Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles this week just because of the dark cloud of impending cancellation is still hanging out there.

And I can’t blame Fox for pulling the plug if no one is watching. Still, this show keeps getting better. Its flaws—and there are a few—aren’t fatal, and it seems like the creators are intent on correcting them one by one.

This week, they tackled John Connor. I’ve really had a problem with the casting of Thomas Dekker, who never seemed to me to be up to the task of portraying mankind’s savior. I can’t say that about “Goodbye to All That,” this week’s installment. John came face to face with not only a figure from  his future but one who will lay down his life not just for the cause but for John himself.

Set in the military academy where one of LA’s two surviving Martin Bedells will learn the skills that will make him a soldier. It was a little too convenient the way Derek (Brian Austin Greene) was able to land John a slot at the academy, and downright ridiculous that he landed his own temporary teaching gig. I mean, what war did he say he’d fought in? At least they got that over with quickly and it did explain why they were there.

I’ve expressed before what a stellar move I thought Greene’s hiring was. He brings a real gravity and intensity to the show—and yes, I realize I’m talking about the erstwhile David Silver. His turn this week as a shell-shocked soldier-turned-teacher gave this episode a background.

His recollections of the future war, fighting alongside Bedell, was compelling, as were any scenes in which they and John appeared together. It made me want to know more about how they came to fight alongside one another. And anytime this show amps up the interest in its ever-developing story, it’s a good thing.

For the second straight week, though, the show was split between two storylines. In one, John does interesting and exciting things while in the other Sarah (Lena Headey) laments her failings as a mother. OK, it wasn’t as bad this week as last, but I’m growing weary of Sarah’s sad-sack schtick. I want to see her kick butt.

That said, her rescue of the younger Marty Bedell was believably set up and well executed (even if the terminator-chases-getaway-car scene is getting overdone). The kid seemed to understand that she’d saved his life from the T-888, but he was pretty accepting of the fact that a homocidal cyborg was after him. And he slept pretty well for a kid wrenched from his family like that. The Wizard of Oz bit was of little interest to me, too.

What I’m wondering is why they felt compelled to save him. I’m not clear on when she knew he wasn’t the right Martin Bedell. Once she did, though, his welfare would seem to be of little interest. Not to be cold-hearted, but he is going to die anyway, along with most of humanity, come Judgment Day, right?

All Sarah needs to focus on is ensuring John’s survival until then and trying to prevent that from happening if they can. But yeah, it’s nice they saved the kid.

There was far too little Cameron in this episode, but that’s true anytime she doesn’t take center stage. Funny that she didn’t know better than to pick up a little kid by his collar, but she did know he likes the crusts cut off his sandwich and she knew John’s favorite book.

No Cromartie or Riley in this one. We did see Ellison get ever closer to Catherine Weaver’s true motives. I mean, he has to smell something rotten with her plans to automate her nuclear plants, or he’s the worst ex-FBI agent ever. I love the extent the show goes with its CG effects, illustrated stomach-turningly as Weaver gave the plant operator the kiss of death. Why do dumpy guys in movies and TV shows not get suspicious when pretty young thangs pick them up? You know you’re going to end up lying in an alley somewhere with your insides turned to mush.

Anyway, another really solid episode that puts a few puzzle pieces in place with regard to the future. But just like John and Sarah, we viewers can’t be sure what the future holds. I hate when TV bloggers get on readers about not supporting their favorite shows (unless those shows are Arrested Development or 30 Rock), so I won’t do that.

I just hope Fox doesn’t pull the plug too soon.

Photos courtesy Fox Broadcasting