In 1984, James Cameron made history with The Terminator, a science fiction movie that combined action and slasher elements, turning Arnold Schwarzenegger into a global icon.
Cameron surpassed his original success in 1991 with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but the franchise has struggled ever since, with a series of confusing sequels and a short-lived TV series, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Thankfully, the movie series has paused, but Terminator has returned in a different form. Terminator Zero is an eight-episode anime series now available on Netflix.
Directed by Masashi Kudo (known for Bleach) and led by showrunner Mattson Tomlin (Project Power), Terminator Zero is a collaboration between Skydance Television and Production I.G. This partnership brings together skilled creators to produce something unique.
The series is available in both the original Japanese version with English subtitles and an English-dubbed version featuring voice talents such as André Holland, Rosario Dawson, and Timothy Olyphant.
While the voice actors deliver strong performances, they cannot entirely save a plot that gets bogged down in heavy exposition and a series of twists near the end.
What Is ‘Terminator Zero’ About?
Terminator Zero wisely steers clear of the tired John Connor storyline, focusing instead on a new narrative set in Japan across two timelines. The story begins in 2022, where a woman named Eiko (voiced by Sonoya Mizuno and Toa Yukinari) is pursued by a Terminator and eventually sent back in time to 1997.
The majority of the action occurs in this year, familiar to fans as the time when Skynet goes online and launches its attack on humanity. In Japan, a scientist named Malcolm Lee (voiced by Holland and Yuya Uchida) has developed an AI system called Kokoro (voiced by Dawson and Atsumi Tanezaki) to counter Skynet’s impending assault.
Although Skynet’s attack has not yet happened, Malcolm is haunted by dreams of the devastation to come. Throughout much of Terminator Zero, viewers are left wondering how Malcolm knows so much about these events.
This uncertainty makes him a central but somewhat unreliable character. Kokoro, who appears as a female figure on screen, is often Malcolm’s only companion as he isolates himself, conversing with the AI that might be humanity’s last hope.
Eiko and Malcolm’s housekeeper, Misaki (voiced by Saori Hayami), are tasked with protecting Malcolm’s young children. These children are targeted by a Terminator sent from 2022 with the mission to abduct them, forcing Malcolm to shut down Kokoro and leave Skynet unchallenged. Terminator Zero becomes a race against time, but not everything is as it seems.
‘Terminator Zero’ Doesn’t Maximize Its Strengths
Terminator Zero has many positive aspects. The animation and new characters bring a fresh feel to the series, something the franchise desperately needed. There is no John Connor, no Sarah Connor, and no Terminator resembling Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Although the killer robots retain their iconic exoskeletons, their external appearance has changed. The series avoids excessive fan service, refraining from recycling popular phrases or scenes, except for a few brief uses of the classic Terminator theme by Brad Fiedel. This choice allows Terminator Zero to stand on its own, making it accessible even to those unfamiliar with the convoluted storyline of the previous movies.
Production I.G., a studio with a history dating back to 1987, is renowned for animating projects like Ghost in the Shell and the animated sequences in Kill Bill Vol. 1. Their work in Terminator Zero is exceptional, creating a visually stunning world, even when the plot falters.
Despite its strengths, the series occasionally stumbles by not fully capitalizing on its potential. A particularly intriguing subplot involves the difficulty of obtaining guns in Japan, unlike in America where weapons are easily accessible.
This situation leads to a fresh approach where the Terminator uses a crossbow attached to its arm, but unfortunately, the series soon returns to more familiar gunfights.
Another missed opportunity lies with the Terminator villain voiced by Olyphant in the English-dubbed version. His presence could have made Terminator Zero a must-see, but the Terminator is not the focus for much of the series, and we only hear him speak extensively near the end.
This underutilization of a talented actor highlights a broader issue: the show frequently shifts its character focus, leaving some key relationships underdeveloped. Malcolm spends much of the series isolated with Kokoro, resulting in a lack of depth in his family relationships, which are essential for the audience to connect with.
‘Terminator Zero’ Overemphasizes Twists and Exposition
Despite consisting of only eight episodes, each under thirty minutes long, Terminator Zero can feel overly drawn out due to lengthy exposition and downtime that could have been trimmed. The series might have been more effective as a movie, a point underscored by the final episodes.
Much of the latter part of the series consists of Malcolm’s conversations with Kokoro, as he tries to convince the AI that humanity is worth saving.
These discussions are crucial, as Kokoro’s decision will determine whether Skynet succeeds in wiping out humanity. However, when these conversations dominate the screen, they can become tedious, leading viewers to lose interest.
While Terminator Zero avoids excessive fan service, it falls into the trap of relying on a series of shocking twists. The final episodes contain multiple surprises, one after another, which can feel like they are there for shock value.
Although these twists make sense in retrospect and do not undermine the narrative, they lose impact when delivered in rapid succession. The series ends with a setup for a second season, which risks repeating the mistakes of the movies by becoming overly complicated with multiple timelines and plot holes.
Terminator Zero is not a bad series by any means. It raises thought-provoking questions and blurs the lines between good and evil. The animation is stunning, and the story and characters are engaging, though they might have been more effective in a more condensed format.
Fans of the franchise should definitely check it out, as it is worth watching. However, do not expect it to recapture the magic of the first two James Cameron films. That era of Terminator may be gone.
Terminator Zero is now available on Netflix.
