Journey to the West; Sarah Connor Chronicles

[kate_nepveu]

So I've started reading Journey to the West as translated by W.J.F. Jenner, thanks to the e-book files by Arachne Jericho, and I'm having a great deal of fun; but I'd definitely like some annotations and background information. And lo and behold, I see that Anthony C. Yu's translation has extensive annotations. But looking at the samples, I don't find that the prose flows as smoothly or is as, well, fun. I don't suppose anyone's read both and has suggestions? (Maybe a secondary reference source?)

* * *

I was thinking about watching Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles the other day, and a rather belated realization struck me: I don't actually like time-travel stories. Rather, time-travel stuff—causation and multiple futures and crossing timelines and all that—I can't get my head around it and I don't really care.

So given that and the cancellation on what is apparently a cliffhanger season-ender, should I bother? I've watched about ten minutes of the first episode.

Edit: it's the combination of the time-travel and the lack of resolution that are particularly making me think I could skip this.

Comments

[cofax7]

Well, I'm hardly an unbiased observer, but I thought the show was very smart: layered and complicated, with challenging characterizations and some pretty sneaky plotting. There was some twisty time-travel stuff, but basically it came down to: the future changes. So if you go back in time, and your friend goes back in time later, you may actually be coming back from different futures.

Also, women! In charge! Blowing shit up! Fierce women, at that. And a smart black lawman who is righteous and survives the show.

[kate_nepveu]

Hmm, thanks.

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

I think T:SCC is still worth your while.

[kate_nepveu]

So noted.

[tablesaw]

I like time-travel stories, but what I liked more about Sarah Connor is that everything was grounded in the emotional lives of the characters. And the show was willing to plum those depths deeply.

[kate_nepveu]

Emotional grounding is good, thanks.

[oyceter]

I completely ignore all the timeline stuff because it annoys me and never makes sense no matter how I try to parse it (time travel in general, that is, not how the series does it). I love the show for how careful it is and how it builds a message that directly goes against its roots as an action movie. It didn't wow me at first, but it's a series that builds up over the episodes and trusts its viewers to know what's going on.

[kate_nepveu]

Hmm, hadn't realized about the genre subversion.

[skwidly.livejournal.com]

It takes a truly exceptional time-travel story to get my approval. This more than has it.

[kate_nepveu]

Okay, thanks.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I can't help it. Even with all that, it's still one of the best shows I've seen in a while.

[kate_nepveu]

Nice icon!

[mikeda.livejournal.com]

I don't think "cliffhanger" is the right term.

(Znwbe fprar punatr znl or n orggre grez).

(Deleted my previous message because I was worried it might be too spoilery. Possible spoilery material now in rot13.)

[kate_nepveu]

I freely read spoilers, but without context I might've misinterpreted. Anyway, thanks for the spoiler concerns.

[thistleingrey.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the Arachne Jericho link.