How Terminator Zero Pays Homage to The Original Movies

As a fan who’s spent countless hours delving into the intricate world of the Terminator franchise, I must say that the creators of “Terminator Zero” have truly outdone themselves. The way they’ve woven together elements from the original films and cleverly introduced new characters is nothing short of brilliant.

In sync with the fictional day when Skynet activates, Terminator Zero made its debut on August 29th. This is the same date in the storyline where Skynet starts functioning independently, develops self-awareness, and initiates a nuclear conflict to prevent human intervention that could potentially shut it down. The show expanded upon the mechanical backbone of the central plot in the Terminator film series with numerous intriguing elements. At the same time, it meticulously preserved the cherished aspects of the franchise that any dedicated fan would admire.

In this piece, we’ll highlight a few tributes that Terminator Zero makes to the movies created by James Cameron in their initial run.

Eiko Looks Familiar…

The Series Protagonist Is Reminiscent of a Young John Connor

In a somewhat debatable comparison, some viewers might notice that Eiko’s hairstyle shares resemblance with John Connor’s from “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”, specifically the way it’s styled on the side and how it parts near the top of her head. However, when it comes to their roles in the story, Eiko bears similarities to both Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese. Much like them, she emerges as a significant figure in the resistance and plays a crucial role in giving birth to Malcolm Lee, who is central to this narrative and the very person she is sent back in time to locate.

Kids Playing With Toy Guns

“I Killed You!”, ‘Nuh-uh! I Killed You First!’

As a gamer, I might rephrase that scene like this:

Terminators Doing Self-Care

Peeling Away the Layer of Organic Tissue to Reveal the Cyber Skeleton

How Terminator Zero Pays Homage to The Original Movies

In the movie, Terminator Zero, a scene similar to those in the films is depicted where the T-800 character undergoes self-mending, giving viewers a glimpse of the mechanical structure beneath its artificial skin. Additionally, there are numerous instances where this outer layer is torn away from the machines’ faces, exposing their distinctive robotic skulls and glowing red eyes. Consistent with the franchise, Terminator Zero provides several perspectives that mirror those from the Terminator’s robotic viewpoint.

Malcolm Lee’s Role Is Like a Revised Miles Dyson

Kokoro’s Creator Shares a Few Similarities With Skynet’s Would-Be Architect

As a scientist responsible for creating an AI superintelligence that becomes an enemy of humanity in one of countless unknowable futures, Malcolm Lee has an interesting role in Terminator Zero since he knows exactly when the end of civilization will happen – because he’s a time traveller from even further beyond in time than Eiko. What’s cool about Malcolm’s creation of Kokoro is that it partly borrows from Terminator 2: Judgment Day, in which the Terminator that tracked down Sarah Connor and killed John Connor’s time-travelling father (and ally in the resistance), Kyle Reese, wound up becoming the key component in the work that Miles Dyson ended up working on for Cyberdyne Systems. In similar fashion, Lee creates Kokoro through a long process of reprogramming Skynet’s Terminators and attempting to distill an artificial consciousness to make an AI that thinks for itself without reliance on its programming.

In the initial episode, there’s a hint pointing towards the shared characteristic between the anime and a reference to “Terminator” is made. This is done by switching from Malcolm to Eiko’s perspective in 2022, which is depicted as if viewed through a sniper rifle scope, reminiscent of Sarah Connor’s assassination attempt on Miles Dyson in the second film. The Terminator character transforming into Misaki uses its CPU as a key component, allowing Kokoro to develop thoughts and self-awareness, mirroring John Connor’s relationship with the Terminator he sends back in time. This is also the first time we see the CPU, so the chip itself makes a brief appearance in “Terminator Zero.

Rampage At The Police Station

Deleting Wanted Level…

In a turn of events reminiscent of the initial Terminator film, where Sarah Connor and Reese were apprehended, Misaki, Hiro, and Kenta find themselves questioned at a local precinct following their separation from Eiko and Reika. Not long after, the Terminator, disguised as an ordinary citizen, inquires about them at the station, only to be told to return later. In a chilling echo of the iconic line, “I’ll be back,” the Terminator then proceeds to cause massive destruction within the building, demonstrating its relentless pursuit and knowledge that their targets are hidden within.

Malcolm Lee Sees the Same Vision of Hell As Sarah Connor

The Main Difference Between Both is a Brilliant Detail

In Terminator 2, the story picks up more than a decade after the original attack, finding Sarah Connor confined in a top-security psychiatric hospital due to her claims about an impending doom and the existence of robots called Terminators being met with disbelief. Haunted by a haunting dream, she watches children playing at a local playground through a wire fence, frantically trying to warn people as a nuclear blast looms, only to witness the destruction of everything around her and the gruesome aftermath of a nuclear explosion’s first-hand witnesses.

“It’s like a giant strobe light burning into my eyes… somehow, I can still see.”
– Sarah Connor, Terminator 2: Judgment Day

In a striking twist, even as Malcolm repeatedly encounters the same terrifying dream, he finds himself gazing skyward with anticipation, clutching both Hiro and Kenta closely. As the devastation unfolds around them, his body is reduced to mere eyes – eyes that bear witness to what Sarah Connor experienced: a world shattered by its own end. These eyes, unlike those of Sarah Connor, have glimpsed the horrifying aftermath she describes in her dreams, offering a chilling, firsthand glimpse of such destruction.

A Boy and His Robo-Guardian

John Connor’s Legacy Continues

In much the same way as John Connor from Terminator 2, it turns out that Kenta, Malcolm Lee’s oldest son in Terminator Zero, dispatched a Terminator back in time to safeguard himself against the Terminator assailants from Skynet who targeted his family. Over time, Connor and this unit form a unique bond, with Connor teaching it to behave more like a human. What makes Terminator Zero fascinating is that it presents a situation that mirrors yet contrasts with John Connor’s experience in the second film – where a previous Terminator; an actual robot, serves as their gentle and somewhat timid caretaker, Misaki, who must rediscover her identity when she learns that she isn’t actually human.

“No, no, no, no, you gotta listen to the way people talk.
You don’t say ‘Affirmative’, or some s*** like that, you say ‘No problemo’, and if someone comes to you with an attitude, you say ‘eat me’, and if you want to shine on them, it’s ‘hasta la vista, baby’.
– John Connor, Terminator 2

Thumbs Up

“No Problemo”

In the final episode of Terminator Zero season 1, Malcolm Lee breathes his last amidst his children, except for Kenta, and his mother Eiko. At this moment, Eiko’s hand, badly damaged by a Terminator, is shown briefly in a flashforward from the future. Here, her hand has been replaced by a Terminator’s hand, as young Malcolm performs the task. In a poignant echo of the T-800’s gesture to John Connor, sinking into molten metal, Eiko gives Malcolm the thumbs up, symbolizing the successful removal of all Skynet CPUs from their timeline. She does this with an understanding that Miles Dyson will no longer be a reluctant catalyst for humanity’s destruction.

2024-09-17 21:34