AlthoughTerminator Zeroseason 2 hasn’t yet been greenlit, the animated show has the chance to make up for the iconic sci-fi franchise’s mishandling of John Connor’s arc.Terminator Zeroseason 1’s endingcertainly left the story open to be continued, which means it could add even more to the often-rewritten canon of the otherTerminatormovies and TV shows. If theTerminator Zerocastdoes reunite in the near future, showrunnerMatt Tomlin has plans for where the story will head next after season 1’s thrilling finale.
Terminator Zerodoesn’t focus on familiar charactersbut rather focuses on an entirely different part of the world during established franchise events. TheTerminatorseries has often referenced the fact that the tech-led apocalypse is a worldwide affair and not just limited to the borders of the US. Therefore, it makes sense thatTerminator Zerowould be set in Japan instead. This way, more context can be gained, based on cultural differences and other factors that change how the local populace deals with the threat of extinction. The location switch also called for a new set of characters.
Terminator Zero’s Potential Future Seasons Will Follow The Three Kids As They Grow Up
Tomlin wants to follow the children’s journey in Terminator Zero season 2 and beyond
Tomlin has discussed (viaCollider) that he intends to follow the respective journeys of Kenta, Reika, and Hiro ifTerminator Zerois picked up for season 2 and beyond. It may seem like an obvious trajectory, but it’s one that other branches of the franchise have often strayed from. The other movies and TV shows have often seemed undecided on which timeline to pursue and which era to focus on. The end result - after theend ofTerminator 2, anyway - has often been a jumbled mess of retconned storylines and uneven reboots.
“In the event that I get to do multiple seasons, it will be a story that follows these three kids as they grow up through this war that eventually evolves into the future war, and how their various relationships to humans and machines are evolving and are radically different from each other.”
Terminator Zero’s showrunner seemingly has a plan that he wishes to execute that would offer the franchise something it’s long been lacking: consistency. Although they do have an element of linearity, many of the otherTerminatorinstallments can essentially be watched in isolation from each other. Sure, there would be references missed, but the narratives do make sense on their own.Tomlin’s plans for his show’s potential future sound as though they’re prioritizing its characters' longer journeys- which would be refreshing.
Terminator Never Really Showed How John Connor Grew Up Into The Resistance’s Leader
John’s development is often brushed over in the Terminator franchise
It can be a thoroughly rewarding experience to watch an actor or character grow along with the audience. Great examples include members of theoriginalHarry Pottercast, or theStranger Thingsactors. Unfortunately,Terminatornever allowed that to happen with John Connor. Edward Furlong was the first person to play the character, debuting in 1991’sTerminator 2: Judgment Day.Furlong never reprised the role of John, but the character did return over and over again - played by a different actor each time.
1984
100%
1991
91%
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
2003
70%
2008-2009
85%
2009
33%
2015
26%
2019
2024-
86%
John Connor’sTerminatortimeline- regardless of the version of the character - always has a huge missing portion. He’s either portrayed as someone who needs to be protected so he can grow up and become the legendary leader he’s destined to be, or he’s already that leader. The in-between moments of him learning to be the man he ends up being are missing.The endless attempts to reimagine the franchise in the wake of James Cameron’s departure didn’t help, but there was also seemingly no effort put into achieving the feat of chronicling John’s progression.
Terminator Zero Season 2 Can Be The Best Terminator Sequel Since Judgment Day
No other Terminator sequels have lived up to the quality of the second movie
The first twoTerminatormovies were made by James Cameron, so there was a lot of consistency between the original movie and its first sequel. SubsequentTerminatorprojects have struggled to find a suitable continuation of the storyline, which is why so many have been fairly underwhelming. Part of that came down to the determination to extend the very same story, but there were other factors.Terminator Zeromay technically be its own thing, but season 2 carrying on the same story gives the coming batch of episodes the chance to equal the quality set byJudgment Day.
Terminator’s New Show Proves 1 Harsh Truth About The 40-Year-Old Sci-Fi Franchise
Terminator Zero makes a bold story decision from which other franchise installments could have benefitted, even if it seemed risky at first.
Zerois essentially a new start for theTerminatoruniverse. The refusal on Tomlin’s behalf to include characters like John and Sarah Connor means he isn’t as contained to past events when formulating his story. It was arguably a bold move to do this, but it has certainly paid off. Hopefully,Terminator Zero’s future is just as bright as its inaugural run, and its inspired writing choices continue to add to the franchise’s lore.
