Terminator Zero On Netflix Is Finally Here To Save The Franchise
It’s no secret that the Terminator franchise has struggled to recapture the magic of its first two iconic entries, even with the occasional appearance from Arnold Schwarzenegger. From Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines to Terminator: Dark Fate, the franchise has been limping on for the past 30 years due to to unoriginal storylines and halfhearted performances that have done little to inspire a new wave of Terminator fans. But there is now hope, thanks to the Netflix original series Terminator Zero, the franchise has been given a jolt of infectious energy that just might keep it alive for a new generation.
Terminator Zero On Netflix
When a new Terminator anime series was announced in 2021, fans were slightly skeptical that it would be able to deliver the goods that they had been craving for decades. However, with Skydance and Production I.G. teaming up with Netflix Animation to handle the production, it appeared that the Terminator franchise was in excellent hands.
As the animation studio behind the anime classic franchise Ghost in the Shell, Production I.G. quickly gave the Terminator anime series credibility to assure fans that the series was heading in the right direction.
Cast And Creators
With screenwriter Mattson Tomlin tapped to act as series showrunner and anime director Masashi Kudō chosen to helm the project, Terminator Zero began to garner an impressive amount of buzz even before it dropped its first teaser.
As names like Timothy Olyphant, Rosario Dawson, André Holland, Sonoya Mizuno, and Ann Dowd were announced to anchor the voice talent, it was clear that Netflix was not taking the show lightly. After releasing on August 29, it is clear that all that talent brought on board the show has paid off.
The Story
Terminator Zero is set against the backdrop of a global warzone following the events that led to Skynet gaining consciousness and waging a brutal and seemingly endless war against humanity.
The series begins its story in 2022 and follows a hard-nosed and young resistance soldier named Eiko (Dawson), who has been sent back in time to 1997 to protect a brilliant scientist named Malcolm Lee (Holland).
Lee has been hard at work on Kokono (Mizuno), an AI system that hopes to rival Skynet and prevent the future apocalypse and attempted extermination of the human race.
Like any good Terminator film or TV show, Eiko is not alone in her critical time traveling mission, as a Terminator (Olyphant) is sent back in time as well in a bid to stop Eiko and her mission to protect Lee and Kokono.
A Great Series
Like a breath of fresh air, Terminator Zero is a brutal show and does not hold back from the gore and violence, although it is never over-the-top or done in a gratuitous way.
I felt the weight of the violence and the consequences of Eiko’s vital mission, an element that has been missing from previous Terminator entries. There is a sense of dread that pairs well with what often feels like an inescapable destiny for the characters.
One of the other best aspects of Terminator Zero is the terrific performances from the cast, and it’s hard to pick which is the best. The voice talent throughout the first season left me wanting more, but in a good way. Burning through the eight-episode first season was very easy to do and slightly upsetting that we’ll have to wait quite some time for a second season, should Netflix choose to do so.
Stream It Now
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Terminator Zero is the shot in the arm that this franchise has desperately needed for years, which almost makes the wait worth it. From the believable performances to the outstanding look and feel of the animation, this series is a must-watch for not just fans of Terminator or anime, but for anybody craving a compelling new series.
