Today is the Day (2)

Season 2, Episode 18, Aired
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Episode Summary

Jesse's mission takes a turn for the worst, which results in unexpected consequences for Sarah, John, and Derek. Meanwhile, Sarah deals with Cameron and John makes a very important decision.
9.4
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Fan Episode Reviews (13)

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  • The arrival of John Connor

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By entil2001, Jun 12, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode is not only full of resolution, but also marks the arrival of John Connor as a fully realized character. Previous to this point, it was easy to dismiss John Connor; he simply wasn't yet convincing as the leader of the future human crusade. Much of this episode could be seen as a retcon, but given how careful the writers have been since the pilot, it's entirely possible that this was the intention all along.

    In fact, John's confrontation with Jesse nearly overshadowed every other aspect of the episode. I was so amazed by his demonstration of resolve, how well he had been keeping his cards so close to vest, that I was practically ready to download the entire second season and rewatch everything right then and there. John was so specific about his reasons for recognizing who Riley had to be that it should be easy enough to find those moments from those earlier episodes.

    The writers have been taking their time with John, and while that has been frustrating at times, this is the right kind of payoff. It also serves to highlight the problem with all of this time travel and timeline manipulation. We simply don't know which "version" of the future everyone is from, and that means assumptions could be very, very wrong.

    What we now know (after many hints) is that Jesse doesn't come from the same version of the future as John's father. John's father came from a future where John was winning the war. In Jesse's future, John is too close to the "metal", and this is leading to a slow but steady defeat. And to that the loss of an unborn child, and it's no surprise that Jesse would want to drive a wedge between John and Cameron.

    It's not entirely clear which version of the future Derek comes from: a hopeful future in which John is winning, or a desperate future where John is out of his depth. And it's quite possible that there is a decision point that leads to one or the other, something that has yet to be revealed. All things being equal, one would expect that it has something to do with someone we already know: Sarah, Derek, or Cameron. It may be that this will come into play before the end of the season.

    The titular last voyage of the Jimmy Carter does more than just provide a basis for Jesse's motivations. It might also prove out a theory that I've had since the beginning of the season. Could the T-1000 seen in the Jimmy Carter, the one that John was trying to forge an alliance with, the same one that has become Catherine Weaver? If so, then it lends much credence to the theory that Weaver represents a splinter group within SkyNet. It would explain why Weaver wants to incorporate human ethics into the aborning John Henry, despite her bloodthirsty ways.

    Right down to John's final emotional outlet in his mother's lap at the end of the episode, this was easily one of the best of the season. It gives me great hope that the season will end on a high note. Even if the series comes to a premature end in a few short weeks, the writers have outdone themselves.moreless

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  • Good stuff, showing promise for the season (and possibly the show)'s final run.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By screenagedkicks, Dec 05, 2010 Report Abuse
    While the 'cliffhanger' at the end of 'Today Is The Day' was perhaps the most depressingly rubbish since Doctor Who's 'Dragonfire' (Jesse sits in her apartment and THINKS! Yeah! That'll bring viewers back next week!), the second part of this 'mini-movie' holds up against its predecessor and maintains the satisfying levels of tension and suspense that Miller and Stentz managed to deliver last week. Granted, once again, it's mostly in the 2027 scenes, but given that these make up a significant proportion of the episode, that'll do me. I'm not entirely sure that I buy John's awareness of Riley's deception; it smacks far too greatly of a retcon, given that we have had absolutely no hint of any suspicion in the previous instalments, but given that it leads to Dekker's best scene in the show's two years, I'll let it slide. Brian Austen Green is pretty damn good too as he gives his treacherous love interest the 'bon voyage' she truly deserves. Good stuff, showing promise for the season (and possibly the show)'s final run.moreless

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    2 1

  • I could feel John's desperation at the end of the episode. All that weight on his arms, finally being the leader and letting himself to break and cry just shows the kind of leader he's becoming.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By jaguayo, Dec 05, 2010 Report Abuse
    How accurate can machines be, how limitless (if that word exists... if not you guys know what I mean) can they become. How can a kid become the leader of humanity... how can learning to become that leader teach us to become humans. That's exactly what this episode is about... this episode and the whole concept of Terminator. How can our lifes be so terrifying weak (Symbolized in the metal's so called "daughter")?? This shows two parts of a coin... or we lead or we get played with. Sacrifice is also touched in this episode... losing the beloved for a greater good is just far away of my feelings and I know that I'm not the only one. After more than 20 episodes I can finally say... this show is awesome!!!moreless

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    4 1

  • NOOOOOO Jessee. I hope she made it. She is hot and has the cutest accent eva and me and John we forgave her, why can't you DEREK!!! This episode had everything + tremendous acting.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By n00bKilla, Sep 17, 2010 Report Abuse
    Where can I begin. This was one of the best episodes of this season. The future story with Jessee and the sub was nerve wrecking. We got an inside to John trying to make some sort of arrangement with the Metal, which felt through. Here we have also at home drama of John revealing the truth to his mother, and getting closure with Jessee. Plus the standoff with Derek and Jessee. Learn from this guys, whenever you mad at someone let them say their piece. Boy imagine he kills her without knowing she was pregnant. Then John shows he is human after all, and break down. Great Episode, thank you.moreless

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    14 1

  • Oh, my G-d, this might be the best episode yet, my jaw just dropped, this is the main reason I watch this show, to see John turn into the leader who represents humanity's last hope and makes the decisions to keep the human race from being exterminated.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ZekkJedi, Sep 17, 2010 Report Abuse
    Oh, my G-d, this might be the best episode yet, especially on top of all the other ones where John finds out from Derek about his future self, what it means to be that leader (and what his soldiers are willing to do for him and what they think of him). When John confronted Jesse in her room, just sitting in the chair with the gun, my jaw just dropped, the dialogue was great, this is the main reason I watch this show, to see John turn into the leader who represents humanity's last best hope and is smart enough, and tough enough, to make the decisions to keep the human race from being exterminated. I was also glad to see him figure out, so flawlessly, who really killed Riley and not just fall for it like everyone else did. His attempt at either a treaty with the machines, or an alliance with a faction group (at least I'm assuming that's what the T-1000 was an envoy for) was an incredible bit of info. And it makes sense to try, but the episode also showed all the mistrust that could so easily topple such an effort [sound like BSG to anyone? and yes, I'm sorry, but as good as this show is, that one is better] (of course the envoy said no after what she saw: the crew turning on each other, Jesse siding with and being protected by the T-888 and then shooting him in the head and trying to leave the T-1000 on the sinking sub). In the interactions between Jesse and the "captain" we could see the inherent problems, even without that prejudice, us Humans are inherently irrational, something the machines can't understand. To make matters worse no Machine makes an effort to explain itself, and we keep secrets from them, and they're human enough to do the same (as in any failed relationship the problem involves a failure or actual lack of communication). As Miss Weaver said, "Humans will disappoint you" (that statement totally sabotages all the effort Ellison is putting in [it would've been great to hear more after John Henry (like the first name they chose, I sure do) asked him if they were friends; some dialogue of Ellison asking what a friend meant to him and why he wanted one]). It also made it so much clearer to see why Jesse could decide to do all the things she did (life makes us all act in ways that seem black and white to us, but seem the reverse (white and black, good or evil) or shades of grey, to others). And yes, the scene between her and Derek is amazing (I hope we get to find out for certain if he shot her or not). Whatever the outcome, it was all incredibly perfect for the development and overall concept of each character (especially Derek's).

    The one thing I didn't like was how manipulative Sarah was being towards Cameron (even after Sarah knows that she didn't kill Riley).

    Finally to connect back to the top (of this absurdly long winded review, sorry people) the end scene of John breaking down and crying in his mother's arms was incredibly humanizing, and indeed the perfect answer to Derek's statement that they're watching to see if he's human.

    I love this show and beg that it not be canceledmoreless

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    21 1
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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  • Notes

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    • Original International Air Dates: Norway: October 24th, 2009 on TVNorge Sweden: November 19th, 2009 on TV6 Finland: January 3rd, 2010 on Sub Czech Republic: January 7th, 2010 on Prima COOL Slovakia: October 15th, 2010 on Markiza Edit
    • Featured Music: "New Messiah" by Dead Heart Bloom (as Jesse and Derek have their showdown in the parking garage) Edit

    • Working Title: "Last Voyage of the Jimmy Carter"
      According to Fox's production blog, "Today Is the Day" was originally going to be a one-hour episode. However, after shooting completed on it, the writers determined too many things were left hanging and went back to the writer's room to tie up what dangled. What came out of the room required reshoots in the first hour as well as the addition of a new second hour. In order to keep the two productions straight, the second hour was temporarily named "Last Voyage of the Jimmy Carter." Unfortunately, Fox's press office sent out releases using this title, so some sites and newspapers list this as an actual or former title when it never was sanctioned as such. Although the writers had toyed with other two-part episodes, this turned out to be the only one of the whole series.

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  • Quotes

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    • Derek: I'm really sorry, John. She was a good kid. She didn't deserve what happened to her. John: Few people do. How long do you think you could survive …with Cameron … if she wanted to kill you … face to face? Derek: What kind of weapon do I have? John: Your fists, and your elbows, and your fingernails and your teeth. Derek: Against her? Those aren't weapons. John: No, they're not. Derek: You already know the answer to that, John. If she wants me dead, I'm dead. John: She wants you dead, you're dead. Edit
    • Dietz: You want to, uh, let us little people know what's in the box, or is it classified between you and Queeg? Jesse: It's between Queeg and Queeg. I don't know a damn thing. Dietz: And that doesn't bother you, metal keeping secrets from skin? Jesse: No, it doesn't - not even a little. Dietz: Well, it should - and not just a little, but a lot. Jesse: We were sent to pick up the box and bring it back. So, we're picking up the box and bringing it back. Dietz: And one of us should know why. One of us, not just one of them. Jesse: One of us knows, his name's John Conner. Edit
    • Sarah: You went to see the body. You shouldn't have done that. John: It was a risk, I know. Sarah: I don't mean the risk. You shouldn't have to remember her like that. That's all. John: There were things I needed to see., and that I had to understand. Sarah: Do you understand them now? John: I think so. I'm sorry I doubted you. Sarah: John. John: No. Not you. (looks at Cameron) Her. Edit

  • Allusions

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    • Alien: This episode's plot in similar to the movie Alien. In both, the crew of a vessel bring aboard an unknown object at the behest of another. The object turns out to be a ruthless killing machine which kills one of the crew before disappearing into the air ducts. The strong female lead is at odds with an emotionless robot and ends up killing him due to the crews expendability. Eventually the remains of the crew escape and the ship is destroyed in an explosion. Edit
    • Jesse: (to the liquid "metal") Who are you? What do you want? This references Michael J. Straczynski's award-winning television series, Babylon 5 (1993-1998). Jesse's two questions evoke that show's central overarching conflict between two ancient races of beings : the "Vorlons", who consistently ask members of younger races "Who are you?"; and the "Shadows", who always ask "What do you want?" The different questions reflect a philosophical polarity between two worldviews, with "Vorlons" favoring authoritarianism and "Shadows" preferring the creative destruction of free will. Use of the two questions on T:SCC, and the aborted secret meeting, suggests the possibility of two unaligned factions of Terminators with conflicting philosophies. Edit
    • Terminator 2: Judgment Day The liquid-metal Terminator making a negative movement of a finger is a reference to the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day, in which the T-1000 played by Robert Patrick makes the exact same gesture. Edit

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