Terminator Zero

Let me talk about the new Terminator Animated series.

The series takes place in the Terminator movie universe, specifically the first two films (which we should consider as the only Terminator films worth mentioning). Essentially, we follow Malcom, a Japanese scientist and technician who has developed an AI to counter Skynet. He knows (I won’t say how) that when Skynet goes online and gains consciousness, it will aim to destroy humanity.

Now, let’s dive into the details...

Visuals: I was expecting greatness. The story was very promising, providing fertile ground to become a new Ghost in the Shell in terms of technique and direction. Did it succeed? For me, no. Everything felt somewhat flat, which often happens in series (as opposed to movies), but I think it’s no longer forgivable. The addition of pure 3D elements was awkward, stood out like a sore thumb, and no matter how much they stylized it, it looked like bad CGI in a live-action movie. It didn’t blend well with the other elements in each scene, taking us a couple of decades back.

Script: Everything was there, but in the end, it was mostly the same things we’ve seen many times before. The Terminator of the 80s-90s was fresh, terrifying, and clever because it introduced first-time concerns to such a broad audience. Nowadays, these concerns feel a bit saturated and outdated, with only the concept of AI saving it, as it's much more relevant today and resonates with us more as it increasingly integrates into our lives.

Plot-Action: Like most modern series, the plot is slow, especially in the early episodes, which personally tires me. It builds and builds so that in the final episodes, you get hit with a bunch of plot twists (some expected, some not so much, and some that I’m not sure are narratively convincing), and it grabs you by the collar with fast-paced action and the unraveling-explanation of the whole story idea.

Direction: Good, but predictable, with many nods to the old films (Terminator cop, lines, musical theme, etc.).

Music-Sound: No complaints here. There’s an original theme that fits perfectly with the atmosphere, and while it doesn’t copy the familiar theme, it evokes a similar logic. Additionally, there are moments that creatively reference the familiar theme (ta-ta-ta-ta, ta-ta-ta-ta).

Personally, the Japanese philosophy of depressive fatalism, the futile struggle, and emotional numbness in the name of honor doesn’t resonate with me in this series. Combined with the almost ancient Greek-style tragedy (cries of despair, “oh woe is me, our fate is doomed,” etc.), which dominates this particular culture, it delivered an overly tragic result, sometimes narratively disconnected from the reality the protagonists were experiencing.

Did I like it?

It didn’t change my worldview, I wasn’t blown away, but I don’t feel like I completely wasted my time either. Especially the last 2-3 episodes really grab you by the collar with full action, revelations, and thought-provoking moments.

Would I recommend it?

For hardcore anime or Terminator fans, yes, I recommend it. For anyone else, it’s a rather mediocre effort that could have done, shown, or said amazing things but somewhere along the way, it lost track and doesn’t manage to stand out.