There are no excuses left. After Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which is considered one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, things went from bad to worse for the once-beloved franchise. While Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator Salvation and Terminator Genisys were decent movies, the problem is that they are far below from the standard set by the first two films. Lack of faith in the series is not the reason why Terminator: Dark Fate is the last chance for the franchise – it’s because there are no more excuses. First, the whole team is here. James Cameron wasn’t involved in in the series since Terminator 2, and the same goes for Linda Hamilton. Maybe the biggest surprise was the inclusion of Edward Furlong who played young John Connor in Terminator 2. He lost his way since then, due to many personal problems which send him into oblivion as an actor. In a way, Furlong symbolizes the Terminator franchize, as, like him, it needs redemption.
That’s why Cameron’s decision to make Terminator: Dark Fate, a sequel to Terminator 2, seems both logical and smart, as he continues the story the way he likes it. Also, it helps that the movie will be R rated, unlike the last two Terminator movies. That means that Cameron and his team are willing to fulfill their vision, even if that means that the youngest crowd won’t be able to see it. For a commercial movie with a budget of $200 million that’s a risk, but a risk worthy of praise. What many might ask is what is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role in this one since (spoiler alert!) his T-800 melted at the end of Terminator 2? While many thought that he will be back as a human who designed T-800 to his liking, he is once again T-800 “Model 101”, but another specimen named Carl. The story is that many Terminators were sent back in time to kill John Connor, but he somehow abandoned the mission and lives isolated until Sarah Connor asks for his help. This time her son is not the target, but Daniella “Dani” Ramos (Natalia Reyes). Advanced Terminator model Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna) is targeting her, but what is interesting is that he is composed of both endoskeleton and exoskeleton which can be separated. Potentially, that could make him scarier than T-1000 played by Robert Patrick in Terminator 2.
So everything needed to make a great sequel is here – fan-favorite cast, James Cameron as a producer and a story writer, and a plot that is not only a continuation of beloved Terminator 2 but also looks like it’s trying to bring fresh elements to the franchise. It seems like best sex games or your favorite meal served to you after a long time. That is why there is no middle ground this time – the franchise will be terminated (pun intended) or it’ll be back (another pun intended) to its former glory. Hopefully, it’s the latter.