If there’s one aspect that elevated the first two Terminator films to classic status, it’s their portrayal of relentless dread. From its iconic musical theme to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s emotionless performance, the films created an atmosphere where Skynet’s machines seemed inescapable. Unfortunately, Terminator Zero shifts focus from this relentless tension to philosophical discussions of human-machine coexistence. While the theme is extremely relevant and have generated many great films and series (Ex Machina and the first season of Westworld being the best examples), they become tiresome due to their length, resembling the later seasons of Westworld in their approach. Much like those seasons, Terminator Zero sometimes uses characters as mere vehicles for dialogue, failing to make them engaging or relatable. The worst offender is Eiko, the series’ equivalent of Kyle Reese, who is incredibly forgettable.
Despite these issues, the show is visually stunning, with gorgeous animation and intense action scenes that are occasionally extremely violent. The series begins strong with gripping episodes, including a thrilling chase scene set in the future that culminates with a character falling from a great height that is the series action highlight. However, as the narrative becomes bogged down with time travel, multiple factions, and extensive explanations, it loses its momentum, with the Terminator itself losing its menace, as it is quickly defeated in some scenes and misses critical shots in others. There are a few predictable twists to be found, but the decision a character faces in the final scenes of the last episode is executed effectively. The hope is that future seasons will simplify the plot and focus more on character development while continuing to deliver on its impressive visual style, and that it paves the way for adapting more Western IPs into anime-style stories.