Review - Terminator Zero (2024)

         Alright guys, Chuck here, and we have another new anime to talk about. Terminator Zero, released on Netflix, was created by Mattson Tomlin, directed by Masashi Kudō, produced by Production I.G. and Skydance Television, and stars Timothy Olyphant, André Holland, Sonoya Mizuno, Rosario Dawson, and Ann Dowd. 

        So, Terminator Zero is set in Japan in the 1990's. Judgement Day is still approaching, and a scientist named Malcolm Lee is developing a new AI system called Kokoro, which is a Japanese AI meant to compete with Skynet. Threatened by the Kokoro AI, Skynet sends a Terminator from the year 2022 to kill Malcolm and his family, while a Resistance soldier named Eiko is sent back to keep Malcolm and his family alive, but also prevent the launch of the Kokoro AI. 

        Okay, so something that I find pretty fascinating about Terminator Zero is how it acts more as a parallel to certain events that were talked about in the Terminator franchise, such as the activation of Skynet, the destruction of mankind on August 29th, 1997, you get the idea. But, unlike the movie Terminator: Dark Fate, Terminator Zero doesn't use the new AI Kokoro as a replacement for Skynet, but as an AI meant to protect humanity from meeting a grim fate caused by Skynet. Also, Kokoro itself brings up many existential concerns throughout the first half of the series. For instance, Kokoro questions what about humanity is worth saving from destruction, given that many tools and innovations mankind has created throughout the centuries has eventually been used as a weapon for war, and humanity is ultimately a species built on self-destruction. Kind of intriguing when you think about it. 

       Plot wise, Terminator Zero has a very similar plot to the original The Terminator, while including a few elements from both Terminator 2: Judgement Day and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. A Terminator is sent to the past to kill a target, the human Resistance sends a soldier back to protect that individual. That element pretty much comes from The Terminator. Introducing a scientist responsible for an innovative technology that affects the future came from Terminator 2. And the activation of both Skynet and Kokoro, machines taking over, and the world coming to an end pretty much was inspired by the third act of Terminator 3. So, of you're a fan of, at least, the first three Terminator movies, then this should be a series worth checking out. 

       The performances were pretty fantastic. Timothy Olyphant, as opposed to the more robotic performance of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movies, is utterly chilling as the Terminator, coming off as equally human and inhuman at the same time. Sonoya Mizuno as Eiko, the Resistance soldier, is an absolute badass, and she was easily one of the highlights of the series for me, personally. The other highlight was Sumalee Montano as Misaki, who comes off as more subdued by comparison to Eiko. André Holland, Armani Jackson, Gideon Adlon, and Carter Rookwood as Malcolm Lee and his children Kenta, Reika, and Hiro were all, at least, possible but didn't leave much impact. But, it's Rosario Dawson as the AI Kokoro that delivers a compelling character, and AI that questions whether humanity should be saved while also believing Skynet was too hasty in deciding the fate of mankind, while also not being one of her stronger performances. Not bad, but just somewhat above average for me. 

       However, it's ultimately the writing by Mattson Tomlin, complimented by the brilliant animation by director Masashi Kudō and the team at Production I.G., that makes Terminator Zero as good as it was. The animation style that anime provides really allows for a more stylized kind of brutality and violence than could have been seen in the Terminator movies. And, make no mistake, Terminator Zero is insanely brutal and violent. Easily among my favorite new series of the year, and arguably more enjoyable than Suicide Squad Isekai, I'm giving Terminator Zero a rating of 5/5. 

       Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and remember: there is no fate but what we make for ourselves. See you in the next review.