Queen's Gambit

No pretense to an actual review, just want to share my general impression and some observations with everyone. Yes, it truly is an excellent episode. Characters from separate storylines come up in one place in a very seamless manner in a limited time frame for the episode's space.

Based on the similarity of the scenes and the type of secondary antagonist, I have a feeling that the episode was inspired by the Dobermann movie. That's probably why it came off so dynamic and addictive, but not out of step with the style of the series and the universe as a whole.

During my viewing, I wished the episode had lasted longer.

The Turk gets to play, but things don't go its way, as the mastermind is murdered, Skynet's future might be furthered, and a relative encounter, ends with a bit of a downer, as old friends meet again, but it's surrounded by some pain.

Sarah meets Andy Goode and he tells her that he has rebuilt a new version of his computer, the Turk II, and he will participate of a chess tournament where the winner will sign a contract with the government for military purpose. Meanwhile Cromartie lures Charley Dixon, pretending to be an FBI agent and trying to get information about Sarah Connor. When Andy loses the competition and is found dead by Sarah, she fights against a stranger she assumes that is the criminal. The man is arrested but later Sarah finds that he is a member of the resistance and her brother-in-law sent by John from the future. Sarah, John and Cameron face a dangerous terminator while trying to rescue Derek Reese.

The engaging "Queen's Gambit" is the best episode so far of this series, with a good story based on the themes chess, war and grief. Sarah's monologue is makes an analogy between the strategies in a chess game and in the war, and all the lead characters grieve their loss, inclusive Cameron in the end after the destruction of the terminator. The attitudes of Cameron trying to understand the human behavior are great and her interview with the grief counselor is one of the best moments of the show. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Queen's Gambit"