I like where this is going. I started out feeling so-so about this show and now I really like it. The performances get stronger and stronger on it. Here are some thoughts:

1) Shirley Manson is really getting good as a Terminator trying to act like a human. It's interesting to watch her trying just as hard as John Henry to puzzle out why humans act a certain way. I also like the parallel being set up between her and Sarah trying to protect their 'sons' . It makes her earlier interaction with the little girl ( who knew something was wrong with Mommy) even creepier.

2) John Henry's development was great. My son owns a ton of Bionicles and plays with them just the same way. His cold reasoning is fun to watch. As for Ellison's interjection of religion- I think it is appropriate and makes sense. Many humans process morality- i.e. 'good' or 'evil' behavior' 'right' or 'wrong' choices through a filter of religion. Ellison obviously uses Christianity as his moral filter, so to speak, so it is reasonable for him to believe that it is a filter or 'moral compass' that would work for John Henry as well. *I* don't agree and also think it won't work- but it makes sense that ELLISON would believe it would and would feel bound to at least try. I don't read anything into it more than that.

3) at first Riley was just horribly irritating, but now I do feel sort of sorry for her. She really does have no where to go. The funny thing is, if she fessed up and told John and Sarah and the others that she was from their future and what was going on, they would be MUCH more likely to take her in and support her.

Although I've enjoyed previous episodes of SCC (mostly due to Summer Glau), this episode had absolutely nothing going on. It was rather boring, and the storylines are weak weak weak.

Compare this show to others on tv, and it's pretty evident that the SCC writers took a week off. A show like BSG, Dexter or Lost would dance circles around this blundering show. I can see why Fox would consider moving it to Fridays.

What drove me crazy, you ask?

- How many surgeries does it take to extract a bullet from a leg? Regardless if the femoral artery is nearby.

- Why is that Riley character still on tv? She has rambled and dragged herself through this series, and I'm bored sh!tless with her. Someone, anyone... please kill her.

- Stephanie Jacobsen's character is up to something but I couldn't be bothered to wait and find out. Someone, anyone... please kill her.

- I have never rooted for Skynet to kill this whining version of John Connor, but someone, anyone... please kill him/her.

- As mentioned by someone earlier, kill that useless Ellison character.

- Please show more Summer Glau. Yes, I'm a shallow male but if you want me to watch this ambien-laced series, put more hot Terminators on-screen.

- Although I originally liked Lena Headley's Sarah Connor character, I've grown tired of her angry outlook. Someone please get her a man.

- And get a real Terminator that'll be somewhat intimidating.

So disappointing, but I hope that next week's episode is better. If not, I won't be surprised if this show gets cancelled. Competition can be a bitch when you produce a substandard product.

I really hope this show doesn't get canceled. Whatever its fate, it'll be the same for Sarah and Dollhouse.

I've been telling everyone I know about this show. It seems like I am the only one who watches it. Everyone else, all fans of the movies, sort of brush it off. They truly don't believe it's a good show and they are not willing to give it a chance.

Makes me sad :( Because this is the best drama on right now, in my opinion. (yes, drama, this is not an action show).

http://makeasitcom.com

Faith/Religion/Jesus is not needed for robots. Asimov came up with the 3 laws of Robotics in the early 1940s --

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Skynet doesn't need Jesus, it needs Asimov.

Please FOX, please don't cancel this show. I can't take it if another great show falls into the pit of despair.

My affiliate broke in with breaking news about a cop killing twice during what were probably the most exciting scenes. They shrunk the feed down to the size of a postage stamp (and I have a big screen!) to show footage of absolutely no value and ran text along the bottom pretty much saying that they knew absolutely nothing about what was going on beyond that a cop had been killed and that the suspect had been shot as well. Of course returning to full screen just in time for the commerical breaks. Scrolling text along the bottom would have sufficed or interrupting the commercials. Yes it's sad that he died in the line of duty, but to so intrusively break into programming when there's no information known yet was a questionable move. Seemed like they just wanted to have the bragging rights for reporting it first. All they showed was some grainy footage of upset officers pacing back and forth with the scrolling text. No reporters.

The new Kyle stinks. Sorry, he has NOTHING of the original. Did he even watch the 1984 movie, or does he think he has the presence to "make it his own?" I hope we never see him again.

The lesbian-lost-puppy aspect of Riley is heartbreaking. Poor girl.

I really enjoyed the Sarah Connor/Kyle Reese moments too. Intimate and very well done. (I hope they don't "ship" Derek together with Sarah).

No one has commented on John Connor's stupidity (or maybe naiveté) with the foster child from the future...

Overall... a good episode and nice to see "Trip Tucker" in a show where he doesn't get an erection rubbing Dr. Phlox's gel on a Vulcan.

Oh... and I don't mind the religious elements (born again) although I would be interested to see how a supercomputer should "compute" a concept such as faith.

Maybe the golden rule might turn out as "Terminate others before they terminate you" ???

the urinals as the foreshadow to Weaver's massacre was a really nice touch. i personally don't have problems with Shirley Manson's acting because she'll always be the lead singer of Garbage to me, and, honestly, she's playing a robot, so it's totally fine if she's a bit unnatural.
i really hope there's some closure by the end of the season because i'm afraid the end is near, the drop in rating was pretty bad, probably not a good idea to premiere shows on friday the 13th...