The Slow Death of the Terminator Franchise

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James Cameron's The Terminator was one of the defining film franchises of the 20th century, but somewhere along the way...things went poorly. In this video I talk about all the movies, from The Terminator to T2 to Terminator: Dark Fate.
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Music by Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com)
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Special thanks to Andrew Elliott (Stalli111: / stalli111 ) for editing this video!

[@ampersand2001]

My hot take: Not every story/film needs to be a franchise.

[@chasehedges6775]

I approve of this👍

[@GregoryFlynn]

This comment should be a franchise

[@harrypothead42024]

Word

[@harrypothead42024]

Could you imagine how much more impactful the ending of Halloween would have been if there was never a Halloween 2?

[@vesey986]

That is not a hot take

[@HotDogTimeMachine385]

People don't understand how big a plot twist it was in T2 for Arnold to be a good guy. For the first third of the movie it seems like he's the villain only for him to save John. Everyone sees Arnold as the good guy, but It was mindblowing at the time.

[@commandercaptain4664]

Sure, if those people never saw the trailer, which couldn’t wait to spoil the surprise.

[@dimitrescu182]

They spoiled it in the trailers though. And if you managed to avoid the trailers, it's kinda obvious he's the good guy because of how they're presenting him as a badass with 'Bad to the Bone' playing while T-1000 just silently killed a cop.

[@DisturbingPuppetGaming]

@@commandercaptain4664 Yeah I was going to say the same thing. I was actually pretty surprised when I saw the movie in the theater and it was obvious that they had made some effort to make it unclear who the threat was, when the movie trailers had completely given away that plot point. Thinking back, it's the first time that I can remember a trailer giving away such a major plot point/twist or the whole film's plot; something that Terminator Genisys would then later also do to spoil the whole John Conner is Skynet thing. It's like the people making trailers have no idea what they are doing (they probably don't).

[@HotDogTimeMachine385]

@@dimitrescu182 You have to realize that in the context Arnold was bad in the first movie, and T-1000 was dressed as a cop, a "good guy" at the time.

[@dimitrescu182]

@@HotDogTimeMachine385 but he still killed one ominously unlike the T-800 who didn't kill anyone at the biker bar and even has a badass song playing

[@salarzx62090]

Here's something to consider. Maybe Terminator failed as a franchise because it wasn't meant to be a franchise

[@chasehedges6775]

Good point. A lot of movie franchises feel like that.

[@ShadowSonic2]

@@chasehedges6775 As good as Terminator 2 was...it was just a rehash of Terminator 1. The series just never had a story that could last very long anyways.

[@chasehedges6775]

@@ShadowSonic2 💯

[@Tfor2show]

When it comes to Terminator films, I don't discriminate. I love them both equally!

[@danskyl7279]

Apparently it didn't. Because they thought Terminator 1 was just another generic action movie. And then it ended up being regarded as one of the best Sci-fi, action film ever made. 😆 Quick! DO ANOTHER SEQUEL!

[@Starwebs]

He came back more times than he should have.

[@MrCheenibum64]

"I'll be back" was more of a threat, it seems

[@purefoldnz3070]

and then became a drapes salesman???

[@KGisthename]

@IHGNFY! I didnt hate the 3rd one. Though it wasnt iconic or important as the first 2, I can underatand a third installment to make it a trilogy. The rest were hot garbage.

[@Crasher1982]

@@MrCheenibum64 a prophecy, lol

[@ryans413]

As Bruce Willis said in Expendables 2. You been back enough

[@aelius3805]

Making John Connor evil is like saying that Master Chief was always the leader of the Covenant.

[@Smellbringer]

Or having him have sex with a POW... wait that happened. Goddamnit Paramount.

[@aelius3805]

@@Smellbringer That show was...a thing that exists.

[@Psilocybin77]

Wait, did the Halo tv show really do that??? My god....

[@GamersPlayBR]

@@Psilocybin77 no they didn't

[@What.99]

It’s also like making Optimus Prime evil. Thank God that Bumblebee somehow got his voice box working to snap Optimus Prime out of his… evilness, despite never talking in the 4 previous movies and only having a female’s voice earlier in the 5th movie…

[@adootledo]

So glad you mentioned T:SCC. Far more people need to be aware of how great of a show it was.

[@Inesophet]

Indeed, i went in with really low expectations and boy oh boy was i wrong. Its T2 the series hands down. Im still mad it got axed.

[@southlondon86]

Wait that crappy show where the teacher was a terminator, John Connor answers his name for the register & robo-teacher says “Great” before trying to shoot him?

[@ovcharkaboxing]

totally agree. once more fans see it, it may get the recognition it deserves. the fact it has cercie lannister actor in it too. it goes deep on lore, so its great for T fans.

[@ovcharkaboxing]

@@southlondon86 if u give it a chance and get over the rocky start its actually great.

[@ovcharkaboxing]

@@Inesophet in some ways as much as more of the same would have been great, the fact it ended so quickly meant it stayed good and the ending was perfect and interesting. we may not have got such a great overall show. and shows that have loads of seasons often become crap and end crap (GoT s8...)

[@LeonardoKlotz]

You can't make a Terminator movie without practical effects You just can't

[@southlondon86]

Exactly

[@jrobertlysaght]

that seems like the key right there.

[@Wraithfighter]

I mean, every single Terminator film uses practical effects. Some just overuse CGI too much. Saying “stop overusing cgi” is a take so cold that you could use it temporarily incapacitate a T-1000, at least until it comes back through the power of CGI.

[@calebtheowl1516]

Not even remotely the problem of the franchise, it’s a story one

[@John-Doe-Yo]

But they made several without practical effects

[@bilalsadain]

The twist in T2 when Arnold turns out to be the good guy blew my mind

[@82fdny97]

Unfortunately it was ruined in the advertising

[@danskyl7279]

"Get down!" The movie decide who's good and who's bad hinges upon that moment.

[@82fdny97]

@@danskyl7279 too bad they ruined it in the Marketing prior to the films release

[@82fdny97]

@@vincentrodriguez3420 it sucked they spoiled it in the marketing

[@rorrt]

Same for me.. On first viewing, I thought Arnie stopped the Robert Patrick Terminator from killing Connor, so that he [Uncle Bob] could kill him. I thought this for a good 5 minutes, even through the motorbike chase. "so umm. when is Arnie going to kill him?" 13 year old me wasn't that smart..

[@emanuelebresciani6281]

It’s always been a mistery to me how they chose to cast Emilia Clarke in Genesys when thay had Lena Headey just next to her in GoT.

[@MrCornrowz]

This right here. You want a franchise, go with an actress who is already established as the character. Fans will fill in the cracks about which version is which.

[@jayplay8140]

and Jai Courtney, jeez that guy is up there with the blandest

[@faz1483]

I'm sure they wanted to separate that film from the series to a degree. Maybe age concern as well? But I agree, she is a much better Sarah!

[@Endru85x]

@@jayplay8140 Not only he is fuckin wood, he ruined the legacy of the character. PTSD driven guy, struggling to survive, played by jacked up guy....wtf.

[@ovcharkaboxing]

Lena Headey plays sarah conor in the sarah conor chronicles i suppose u know that right? it is great and must see for T fans. i went in to watching that expecting to switch it off immediately but read a couple of posts saying it was actually good. it adds lore and depth to the overall story and has the spirit of the original 2 movies. good acting and good writing. there is a rocky start that has to be gotten over but it is great and the ending is great.

[@jgillan92]

My biggest problem was a change in tone. The first Terminator was a perfect blend of sci fi and horror. When Arnold came on screen he was a murder machine that would strike terror into anyone that crossed him. The second Terminator was a perfect blend of sci fi and action, and we got to see an almost human element to the machine that just a movie earlier was murdering everyone in sight (because of the father/son relationship with John). The third movie is where it started to change tone by injecting comedy into a franchise that took itself seriously up until that point. Think of the first two movies and how Arnold gets his clothes from people. He strikes terror on those people when they realise that he isn't even human. Now go to the third when drops in on ladies night, there is a big difference in tone and what makes Terminator so great.The third film isn't terrible but ok at best me thinks. Everything after has been either just ok or outright terrible. P.s this just my opinion folks.

[@ovcharkaboxing]

great points and i agree. the sarah conor chronicles is great and must see for T fans. i went in to watching that expecting to switch it off immediately but read a couple of posts saying it was actually good. it adds lore and depth to the overall story and has the spirit of the original 2 movies. good acting and good writing. there is a rocky start that has to be gotten over but it is great and the ending is great.

[@jgillan92]

@@ovcharkaboxing Never watched that bud, I'll add to the list 👍. Most people I know really enjoyed it.

[@jameskirby5104]

Well said, I agree 👍

[@ryszakowy]

that's not an opinion those are facts

[@morgan79737]

T3 was a mess but I love the balls of its ending.

[@syran7848]

I remember watching the Sarah Connor Chronicles when it was coming out new, and loving it, I was so crushed when it got cancelled.

[@manticore4952]

I consider it to be the true sequel to T2.

[@tetsujin_144]

6:30 - "Overall you could do a lot worse than T3" Indeed, and so they did

[@ChrisLT]

Sarah Connor Chronicles is great, it really grows into something special in season 2.

[@johnnycage112]

Such sadness. I just pretend the alternate super happy ending from T2 is canon now.

[@chasehedges6775]

💯💯

[@fridakahlo4225]

Yeah, me too.

[@Horrormaster13]

Me too.

[@worldofthought8352]

Well Dark fate ignored sarah's death from T3, so if a franchise wants to ignore what it established previously (and how absurd genesyis was) You might as well follow the alt T2 end as canon as it's doubtful this franchise will return.

[@LeonardoKlotz]

PRACTICAL EFFECTS BEFORE CGI That's my motto

[@horaciosi]

STORY BEFORE SPECIAL EFFECTS That's my motto

[@chasehedges6775]

I agree with both this.

[@anthonyvillanueva5226]

Practical effects would not have saved the later Terminator films

[@762rk95tp]

Fun thing about T2 and CGI is that many of scenes people think are CGI are actually practical effects. For example Linda Hamilton and guy playing prison guard both have identical twins. Helicopter in chase scene near the end is actual helicopter flying under the bridge, James Cameron felt that he couldn't put hired crew into that kind of danger, as result he shot it himself and had one of other producers drive the camera truck. Just add Kiowa pilot without adult supervision to actually fly helicopter under the bridge.

[@TalentCaldwell]

After T2 there should’ve only been two more movies: one prequel and a sequel. PREQUEL: about the future war events leading up to Reese being sent back with some scenes in the future showing us what happens once he’s gone. And SEQUEL: exploring how and why the machines developed time travel, how the resistance learned of it and how it worked, and the ramifications of it’s use and consequences stemming from T1 & T2.

[@Nonamearisto]

It's hard to tell the difference between a prequel and a sequel when time travel is involved.

[@nicocancilla8386]

How about a trilogy in the the future and with no Arnold!

[@DanCooper404]

Story idea: A pack of Terminators shaped like dogs rampaging through a medieval Irish village, hunting down Sara Conner's distant ancestor. The local dogs bark at them? Seemingly normal dog behavior. They could slip in and out of the area almost unnoticed, surveying their different options and taking out anyone who gets in their way. Plot twist at the finale: the ancestor in question is himself a Terminator, accidentally fathering John Conner's line.

[@CoolGobyFish]

@@nicocancilla8386 I felt Arnold was the worst thing in these sequels after T2. He treats the role as a joke for some reason. Plus, his acting has gotten even worse somehow.

[@joevenespineli6389]

I like this idea.

[@jackalope2302]

Summer Glau was an amazing Terminator. She was so good at having a personality that could turn on and off

[@justinriley]

Westworld before Westworld.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

That poor girl has been on multiple series that were cancelled early.

[@singletona082]

So basicllyshe pulled robo-river tam? I am... OK with this.

[@jackalope2302]

@@singletona082 the Tam-inator

[@singletona082]

@@jackalope2302 😆 Love it. Shame the pacing was so damned slow.

[@Marconius6]

I just realized this, but: the first two movies were essentially horror films; creepy invulnerable monster chasing and trying to kill the heroes, until they pull off some crazy stunt in the end to kill it. All the other movies since then have been action movies, with that horror element basically gone.

[@psfilmsbob]

No, the FIRST movie is essentially a horror film. The second was an action movie, through-and-through.

[@purplecow666]

You know, a Terminator game set in the future wars would make a terriffic survival horror game.

[@Patrick-nq9ij]

The first one absolutely, the second one is more action than horror

[@CAM8689]

the 2nd movie no way.....

[@mechajay3358]

I would say the best part of Salvation wasn't the movie itself, but the behind the scenes outburst from Bale.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

The sound design for the Harvester was the best part for me. Truly disturbing.

[@anthonyvillanueva5226]

OH GOOOOD FOR YOUUU

[@wizard_of_poz4413]

if we had more salvations and less formulaic entries then the terminator franchise would've been far better off

[@morgan79737]

Idk I quite enjoyed the T-RIP fight between John Connor and him.

[@Darduel]

@@wizard_of_poz4413 nah, terminator was never meant to be a franchise, no matter which way you would have gone it would have been a failure

[@GeoffCanyon]

The shoutout to T:SCC is well-deserved. There were so many concepts explored there, and it's unfortunate many of them never got resolved.

[@mjl11]

Should have been a full lenght movie with John being sent to the future instead of Arnie to the past.

[@AndroidCovenant]

IMO Terminator 3 and Salvation were quite serviceable sequels, even if they weren't as good as the first 2 movies. Its only when they tried to "reboot" the franchise with Genisys and Dark Fate that they completely drove it into the ground. I think that if they wanted to continue with the franchise (to make use of IP) they should have just told more stories of the future with John Connor and Kate Brewster and their kids (Like whatever it is the Avatar sequels are doing)

[@mjstory1976]

Can't believe it's been a, little over 3 decades since a good Terminator movie came out

[@Tfor2show]

Just celebrated the 30th anniversary of T2's Hollywood Premiere last year! I made an episode of my show all about it if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJiwmmChqceKaLc

[@zebertmcfly7274]

T1 is easily one of my top 5 favourite films. I love the simplicity of it and how it has this kinda downer ending and an overall more nihilistic tone. T2 is great, of course, its outlook is just a bit too optimistic for me personally.

[@semicharmedlife311]

Agree. T1 also Top 5 for me, and I've seen more than my fair share of films. Cheers.

[@glennross85]

Love it too! Fun fact, T1 had no lighting budget so the whole movie is filmed using natural/street lights, which adds to the noir feel of the movie

[@semicharmedlife311]

@@glennross85 Entire film is so dark, foreboding, and atmospheric. Plus, it's premise is brilliant. What a film!

[@Patrick-nq9ij]

Who hurt you?

[@jonathanpasch6604]

I've only seen the first two. I'm blessed to have friends that warned me not to watch the other ones.

[@adootledo]

Make sure to check out Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles if you get the chance. It's the only other piece of the franchise that I consider to be cannon along with the first 2 films.

[@dawsynasay4841]

Your one of the lucky few. I’ve seen all of them and I sadly can’t watch the original 2 as the following sequels ruined any love I have left for the series

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

I liked 3. Plus 4 wasn't wonderful but the only one set in the future so there's that.

[@sealionstudios8597]

Same

[@MagusMarquillin]

@@dawsynasay4841 I think that's silly, they don't stop being good just because their success led to ill conceived sequels. If your willing to watch each new installment try to recapture the magic, you should be willing to watch the original magic again - you'll see it's still there, and it may well heal the pain of the dark fated sequels. That holds for Star Wars, Alien, Predator, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Marvel or whatever franchise got greedily milked.

[@Shift_Salt]

I don't mind Rise of The Machines, especially the ending since I actually preferred the idea of facing and taking back the future instead of trying to change it which is something that's pure fantasy ironically compared to a future full of evil killer robots.

[@Shift_Salt]

For me Terminator Resistance was the Terminator story that scratched that itch for me.

[@chasehedges6775]

💯💯💯. Loved the ending to T3

[@roberttreacy8271]

I also enjoy Rise of the Machines. Sure, it has its issues, but I can’t bring myself to hate it.

[@Direbeetus]

@@roberttreacy8271 the saving grace of T3 for me is that it's not as terrible as everything that comes after lol

[@Wraithfighter]

Terminator: Resistance is also a work that really deserves more attention in the franchise. It’s a game, sure, but it manages to do a surprisingly good Terminator story, complete with somewhat confusing time loop paradox fun, while focusing almost entirely on new characters. I think one of the biggest factors behind why SCC and Resistance worked and Dark Fate and Genesis didn’t is that the good ones weren’t trying to be “Epic”, at least not on the whole. There’s epic as hell moments in both SCC and Resistance, but they tended to keep things small, with a tight focus on the characters and their part in things. They didn’t feel like they had to raise the stakes from the previous Terminator works, or even really felt like they needed to “live up to the franchise”. They never felt like they were trying too hard, while Dark Fate and Genesis… that’s what they felt like all the time.

[@morgan79737]

Resistance's story was incredible.

[@BlazingOwnager]

The idea of James Cameron liking TSCC so much he wanted to work with the writer is somehow very fitting.

[@cancerstinks1]

2:19 I heard a rumor that Cameron completely ignores piranha 2 and always states his first directing gig was T1

[@Zombiesnyder13]

I think McG did a good job with SALVATION I found his direction very solid

[@Righty777]

I liked T4.

[@roberttreacy8271]

Salvation is my favorite post-T2 film because it tried to bring the franchise in a new direction instead of simply rehashing the previous films.

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

@@roberttreacy8271 frfr

[@lonelyboy1977]

You think filming a scene in which a giant Transformer sneaks up on a group of people without them noticing is "very solid" direction? 😂

[@graphosxp]

in 1984 I walked into a movie theater to see the guy who played Conan the Barbarian in a new action film called Terminator. you kids today know everything about a movie before ever seeing it, and will never be surprised again by anything you see in a theater.

[@nevskislake]

My hubby went in blind, too, and for the same reason. He wanted to see the new film "Conan" was in. It definitely threw him to see Arnold as the bad guy in Terminator.

[@spadesofpaintstudios1719]

The Sarah Conor chronicles is such and underrated show it really did do what even terminator 3 couldn’t do in terms of explaining the story of John not to mention they even did away with Arnold not that it’s what I wanted but it showed that John had faced more then just one terminator. It’s a shame we won’t see that concluded especially with so many flawed sequels upon sequels, terminator has fallen so far and honestly I was hoping genesis would remedy that but ofc if didn’t and now we’re stuck with what we have.

[@jessemoore7081]

Im glad someone appreciates T3 like I do. Nobody is ever gonna accuse it of being better or on the level of the first two, but it was still a capable action sci-fi thriller and i enjoyed the humor. The ending i will say and die on that hill is the most Cameron moment of the franchise past T2. Also that crane chase alone was worth the price of admission.

[@cnc405]

Can watch that crane chase any day! And also the scene at the cemetery when T-x is transforming into her true form!

[@MAXIMUSS2072]

Bro, you don't ever need to apologies about asking for subscribers. Your channel rules dude. So much effort put into it. Great commentary and retrospective analysis. You SHOULD get paid to do what you do keep it up bro!

[@autumnalscholar9453]

The post-T2 sequels always felt like such a missed opportunity. What I think would've been the best approach, would've been to explore the young-ish John Connor's psychology. If I were writing T3, I would've had a slightly older John studying robotics and AI in an attempt to recreate the terminator from T2. The terminator was the closest thing to a father figure in his life, so I think the most interesting approach would have him inadvertently creating a SkyNet-like creation in an attempt to recapture the father figure he lost when the terminator was destroyed at the end of T2. I think there is quite a bit of mileage in that idea. Or I may just be deluded.

[@JamesScholes]

No offence but this is a dumb idea. Why would JC create the very thing he fought with his life to end (Skynet). I know you said it'd be unintentional but deep down JC would know all paths lead to Skynet if he wanted to recreate a Terminator. JC's motivation for doing this (wants a father figure) is pretty dumb too. For starters he's an adult so he's had plenty of time to grieve and get over it. Also, having a fully grown adult wanting a robot as a father figure is hilarious and makes JC look lame AF too.

[@oaktowndimond668]

Well, not create a Terminator, but knowing AI is inevitable... John becomes an AI coding savant. His goal is to create "an empathy subroutine"... Realizing that a sentient AI would be a sociopath without empathy. And this is why skynet wants him dead. If John's empathy algorithm infects skynet... It would no longer take over the world. Because it would no longer want to.

[@Sagplaya]

I love the Sarah Connor Chronicles

[@jasoncrane]

I love Chronicles and I'm always happy to see you give it its due.

[@deandevonport275]

I will never understand the hatred for Salvation. One of my favourites in the franchise.

[@Righty777]

Thank you!! I thought I was the only one who liked it.

[@roberttreacy8271]

Salvation is my favorite post-T2 film because it tried to bring the franchise in a new direction instead of simply rehashing the previous films.

[@19thunderchild]

The sound design for the machines in that movie is great; the synthy buzzing and whirring 😍, and I love the Harvester man, and how it and the transport is designed like a toy from the 80's, with smaller machines that can eject from it. The harvester scene and following persuit scene are actually among my favourites in the franchise mostly for those reasons and the "Harvester Returns" track tops it off.

[@faz1483]

I think it's awesome that you love it, but you really don't understand why others wouldn't? I mean this was once an R rated franchise. The tone of Salvation is really toned down for kids. That's not just lack of violence / gore, I think it goes in line with the dialogue and the way McG tries to tell this story. For example Moon Bloodgood as a soldier? Or the deaf child subplot? It just feels like such a watered down future war. And not because it's earlier in the timeline, because it feels a tad Disneyfied. For some reason they don't use the iconic & haunting Terminator score, and is replaced with an uplifting Danny Elfman score. I think it's a great premise and the one the majority of the fans wanted with going to the future war. However that's not enough for me to support Salvation as a worthy Terminator film. Some incredible concepts like Marcus, but in the end kind of feels like a set up film as they were hoping o start a new trilogy. Which is a problem all of the post T2 sequels have!

[@chasehedges6775]

@@faz1483 💯

[@benwasserman8223]

I feel like a better direction for Terminator would have been telling stories unrelated to the Connors. Sarah and John’s story concluded with T2- all the other films just stretched out the “after” part to a convoluted degree.

[@Salamander128]

Most people experienced the twist where they realise Arnold is the good guy inT2. You experienced the twist when you realised Arnold was the bad guy. Cool.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

No, the T2 trailers ruined the twist for most people.

[@Salamander128]

@@KasumiKenshirou Oh really? Still a twist but not in the actual film then. Not a great idea to reveal it in the trailer.

[@yror732]

Garret Dillahunt is such a great actor, I never even noticed that he plays two separate characters in Deadwood.

[@gametapefriendsonline]

It helped that one of them was a dirty drunk and the other was clean psychopath.

[@KazeMunashii]

fun fact: all of these plot lines are actual terminator concepts from the original drafts of T3, so in a way, all of these horrible sequels are supposed to exist in our reality by fate.

[@CharlesVanNoland]

I forgot of McG. Salvation is my favorite non-T2 film from the franchise, just because I'm a hardcore minimalist/post-apocalypse fan. I love the design of everything, the roboids, their visual processing, the bleakness of the world, the plot and premise. I also love how it tried to do something different from everything else. Even the newer terminator films that have come since just fall way short for me. Genisys feels like a return to T3, and Dark Fate feels like just a modern silly action film where the whole Terminator aspect feels very secondary, or maybe even ternary. It also has a bit of T3 going on as well, trying to one-up the T-1000 with a whole new "better" roboid that just feels like they're trying too hard.

[@adityakhanna919]

Damn, Never been so early to a captain midnight video

[@theextremeanimator4721]

Same here

[@Gangerworld]

Absolutely agreed on TSCC. So glad I watched that show when it was airing. Best Terminator after T2.

[@RyanABXY]

I loved The Sarah Connor chronicles back in the day, and I think they could have a canon series that doesn't mess up any timelines nowadays. They could have characters that don't interact with the Connors. Heck it could be set in between "the future" and where dark fate left off. Like a Walking Dead but with terminators where it's post apocalypse but plenty of Survivors, just a dwindling numbers everyday.

[@henryholden4052]

YES! Shout out to the TV show! I loved that show for those exact reasons and I always felt like people were missing out and throwing their money away on garbage movies. It's probably due to tv show sized budget and needing to be fast and nimble with creative decisions. And shit! I would have loved to see Bale in the role of T2 machine - he would have brought so much more to that role (though that was also when he had the rage meltdown on set so maybe just leave that one in the past).

[@mikeyp2277]

Thank you! Sometimes it seemed like I was the only T-3 defender on the planet.

[@Endru85x]

It was not perfect movie, but ending is great and makes sense when you think of closed time loop, which a lot of people seem to ignore.

[@mikeyp2277]

@@Endru85x Yeah, it's obviously not the original, or T-2, but I get a lot out it. It's strong enough that I consider it part of the trilogy, I don't discard it like a lot of fans do.

[@mickeymouse7726]

6:48 that whole sequence in salvation reminds me of the sentinels from X-men the animated series

[@captironbootchii]

Man Salvation was one of my shits and I grew up on the first two. If they kept the first three about Sarah Conner as a Ripley-type...then the next 3 being about John with the Christian Bale Salvation stuff, they'd have a dope pair of trilogies

[@moviemaker1986]

It was a shame that Salvation's reveal of the terminator's identity was utterly spoiled in a teaser. They showed that scene where JC tells the terminator to look down at his chest...in a trailer. But TSCC was indeed awesome. It was both lighthearted and moving as the run went on. Then really weird very fast at the end. But I loved it.

[@bernRA]

its great that you recognized the Sarah chronicles; deserved another season.

[@mcmaniac1000]

1 and 2 told a great beginning, middle, end story. Everything since has been add-ons

[@Tfor2show]

Affirmative. 😎

[@danskyl7279]

@@Tfor2show Hasta la vista, babehh!

[@Ninja-Hayate]

The rest after 2 feels like DLCs we didn't need.

[@iunderstanphotography2780]

i think the direction of Salvation was the way to go. The flashbacks from Reese in Terminator were great! I wanted to see how John Connor organized and survived after the nuclear war. There were plenty of untapped stores in there, but there was never a sequel

[@cricketben6742]

I feel like the basic idea behind the terminator and terminator 2 - a violent machine dressed up as a human trying to kill a connor- just was pretty much all the terminator series has to offer. The first two movies are some of the best movies of all time, but after that the franchise was done. terminator 2 had the perfect ending. terminator 3 for me was a fun parody of the first 2 movies and i can enjoy it as just a non headcanon actionfestival.

[@Tfor2show]

That's exactly how I look at it. Terminator 3 (and the other sequels) are just fan fiction. Enjoy them for what they are if you want to, but you don't HAVE TO accept them as canon.

[@Tfor2show]

Also... KZbin.com/Tfor2show

[@D3D3D]

1:28 DUDE, I really thought I was suscribed to your channel. I watched T2 on TV when I was 11. Didn't know anything about it, besides being the sequel of a movie that I loved. The twist of Arnold being the good guy was jaw-dropping.

[@GamingMafia_id]

Terminator Resistance is pretty good too, bridging the future war with T1 & T2. Completing John Connor's prophecy by actually winning the war, etc. I think that's how far you can stretch the franchise, anything else would feel like cheap copy.

[@ChristophersRants]

I love Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles I watched it until it was canceled, I have it on DVD missed opportunities I loved and still do more than the movie franchise I became fan of the actors I follow their careers there could have been a new movie franchise build from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, and Summer Glau a great trio that took the franchise to more interesting further places even on a TV budget underrated.

[@DenisRyan]

100% agree with every positive thing you say about the Sarah Connor Chronicles. Love every episode of that two season run.

[@treble_maker]

One of these actually got me… I DID subscribe, lol! I just realized I wasn’t and the algorithm makes me forget which channels I’m actually subbed to because they keep my faves in my recommendations. I love your channel! 👍🏾

[@katmore9]

Thanks for your analysis of "The Sarah Conner Chronicles". I've never seen it, but I'm interested in watching it now.

[@maxpowers156]

You should do an entire video on Sarah Connor Chronicles, my favorite Terminator related series since T2. SO GOOD!!

[@JoeGrizz1y]

Thank god someone brought up the greatness of the Sarah Conner Chronicles. I absolutely love the 2 seasons we got. Very sad about it’s premature cancellation. Sadly, James Cameron has never watched the show. As Josh said during an interview that he mentioned it to Cameron about his role in creating the Sarah Conner Chronicles. Cameron told him that he has never seen it and has no intention to. Just a funny little story.

[@Mallen151]

As much as I would love for James Cameron to watch The Sarah Connor Chronicles, it’s still pretty cool to me that Josh Friedman was hired for Avatar 2 on his own merits as a writer and not just because he was the show runner for The Sarah Connor Chronicles!

[@solpd3183]

Robert Patrick as T1000 is still my favorite villain of all time. Once in a lifetime performance

[@cnc405]

So true! He is so creepy and scary in this role even today. Amazing acting

[@Hulavuta]

Final Fantasy XV released the plots of the canceled DLC as a novel. One of Half-Life 3's writers put out a basic outline of what the plot was going to be. I wish Sarah Connor Chronicles could do something similar to resolve its cliffhangers, but I imagine there are a lot of rights issues and brand overlap that would prevent them from ever doing that.

[@rolandoalvarado2979]

TScc is the best. It's very sad how John childhood was strolen from him that we don't realize in the rest of the movies

[@mycahjofficial]

*I think everybody can agree that the first two Terminator movies or undisputed classics and honestly they should’ve stopped after the second one.*

[@chasehedges6775]

I like T2 and think the 3rd one is ok and it should have stopped there.

[@Tfor2show]

No question. The Terminator and T2 are two halves to one perfect, complete story. KZbin.com/Tfor2show

[@ShaqsBigToe69]

Couldn’t have said it better. Another master work mister falcon

[@bcbbarnes]

Nicely done sir! I'll check out the chronicles. I'd like to enjoy the terminator again.

[@Sinraye89]

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was fucking amazing. The cast was great. The music still gives me chills. Sarah’s voice/voicelines at start/end of every episode was perfect. If there was one series I wish had more seasons it would be this one, closely followed by firefly.

[@GlobalGaming101]

It’s refreshing to see people still remember the show. Most videos about it on KZbin are 10-12 years old. I just finished watching it on Hulu and loved every minute of it!

[@Troy_Tempest]

Yes! Sarah Connor Chronicles is/was excellent. The real T3

[@richardmoores]

Ok ive subscribed. And the reason why is; I like the way you talk, - it’s relaxing and it’s non only informative but you give your own personal opinions about the subject matter. But most of all you haven’t fallen for that KZbin fad of putting in sound effects that don’t belong: whooshing noises clicking noises, etc, so overall I can relax and absorb into your videos. Thank you.

[@ari-dynamicarchive]

The movie starts at T1, ends at T2. I found T3/Salvation to be relatively decent despite it's flaws and willing to consider it an alternate universe at best, since that's all the rage these days. Sarah Connor Chronicles was a good show and I'll never forget the first episode.

[@Tfor2show]

I agree. While Terminator and T2 make two parts of one complete, perfect story for me... I do appreciate Sarah Connor Chronicles. I feel like they did their best they could with what they had.

[@DAOXINNo15]

The Sarah Connor Chronicles is super underrated and loved it so much. I felt like it definitely deserved better and should have not been canceled.

[@Ben-ks5bm]

It’s terrible

[@johnsmith651]

Sarah Connor Chronicles was ahead of its time. It would be perfect for todays streaming world

[@jakitron890]

I'm really glad I clicked on this video by chance because due to a series of breakups and moveouts, I have a blu ray of the Sarah Connor show on my bookshelf, and I had no idea if it was worth watching at some point

[@dtay8913]

All they need to do is give it the Prey treatment. The predator franchise was dead until that movie came along.

[@miahthorpatrick1013]

Like you, I feel like T3 wasn’t that bad. It has some glaring flaws but its merit makes up for a bit to the point where I can still enjoy it. Nice retrospective though. After watching your videos for about a year now I decided to give you a sub. Cheers, mate!

[@johnbeal6114]

And we all could agree that the Terminator franchise should have ended with Terminator 2 judgment Day because Terminator 2 was easily the conclusion to the movies it didn't need no franchise or anything because they prevented judgment Day for happening but now they want to get greedy and milk the franchise they should have just left it alone with Terminator 2 and that's it

[@chasehedges6775]

💯💯💯. I liked Terminator 3 but yeah. It definitely should have

[@johnbeal6114]

@@chasehedges6775 nothing against Terminator 3 but that that movie has so many hoes in it more than Kim Kardashian's butt but to be honest you shouldn't of end in T2 because at least it has a conclusion

[@Tfor2show]

Couldn't agree more. The Terminator and T2 are two halves to one perfect, complete story.

[@johnbeal6114]

@@Tfor2show exactly that shall never been a third movie since T2 completely finished the storyline and they always prevented judgment Day for happening that was Arnold Schwarzenegger's character mission was to protect John Connor and his mission was complete this just milk the whole franchise because the first two movies were so popular

[@lamontjohnson5810]

Finally, someone else who enjoyed T3. Sure, it does not stand up to T2 and the original, but I think as a standalone movie, it's quite entertaining.

[@commandercaptain4664]

What’s mentioned about character growth in Chronicles is what’s sorely missing in the sequels. Those movies have to justify their existences by aping and amping the action, which balloons the budgets, which increases the necessity for FX over characters, which turns into a circle jerk of failure. The first movie got it right with its concentrated focus, and that’s the formula that should have been followed, but that requires a writer who knows how to emphasize character over exposition (or at least write exposition in a meaningful way).

[@tappajavittu]

Terminator Salvation was the first film I walked out of the theater angry as hell, I should've walked out in the middle of the film and demanded a refund.

[@lucasoheyze4597]

I now think Salvation is the worst of all if them in terms of entertainment and watchability...as terrible as Genesys and Dark Fate are, at least there's a few good bits here and there. Salvation is just unremittingly grim, but not in a good way

[@tappajavittu]

@@lucasoheyze4597 First I was insulted by how the world looked, where's the wonderful blue tint and why the fuck is the sun shining after a god damned nuclear apocalypse, then I was offended by hunter killer drone that wasn't beautiful chrome, then I was appalled by the lack of lazer/plasma/whatever weaponry and then the third act of the film hit me and I was pissed off. Shit movie.

[@lucasoheyze4597]

@@tappajavittu They tried to say later that it was going to be the first in a trilogy that would become more like James Cameron's vision of the future war as it went on...but what good does that do me, as I watch Sam Worthington and some bird he's picked up have a chill-out by a bonfire they've lit in the middle of the Terminator infested wastelands?

[@GiraffeGuy631]

I guess you could say that the franchise was…. Terminated!

[@chasehedges6775]

Pretty muchh

[@odskeet]

You never know, it might be back

[@M66GUS]

Totally agree with this summary.

[@nevskislake]

To be honest, I only liked the first Terminator movie, but that movie is easily in my Top 10 favorite films. I am glad that I got to see T2 on the big screen for the midnight showing though. Even though the film was too much of a kid's film, at least to me, the audience fully participated with that experience, and it was fun being able to watch them react to this anticipated movie in real time. I am pretty sure it is one of the only films I have ever watched that got a standing ovation at the end. Thank you for this video, Captain.

[@zachryder3150]

Terminator 1, 2, and the Sarah Conner Chronicles should be the only canon entries in the series.

[@lonelyboy1977]

LOL! T2 and T:SCC are both garbage. The Terminator told the whole story so all the cynical cash grab sequels were completely redundant.

[@leebishop7591]

the Sarah Connor chronicles was pretty good. I watched every episode faithfully at the time.

[@RagnorokKing]

T1 is one of those first entries in things I have this unique love of. it, Predator, KH1 and many others have this charm to them that I can't really verbalize, I just love them.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

I am glad you mentioned T2:3D. Saw it in 1998 at Universal Studios. As a Fan of both Terminator movies it was a dream come true for a 10 year old. Your script and narration are flawless. Congrats!! I am a KZbinr doing Zeppelin documentaries :)

[@rickboy7290]

I actually loved The Sarah Conner Chronicles. It's the best thing after T2.

[@dkamphaus43]

The best thing after T2 was Cybernetic Dawn/Nuclear Twilight. They should make that canon.

[@kiran258]

The story ended with T2.

[@davidray4506]

Subbed and liked. Sorry it took so long.

[@lsk8308]

That Segway to sponsor at the end was a script worthy to be reviewed on a similar channel. Brilliant

[@dragonflyradio127]

Sarah Connor Chronicles was pretty great in real time watching. I remember being excited to see Shirley Manson in the series, freshly off her terminator inspired video for the James Bond music video, but even assuming she was an amazing actor, the dialogue she got stuck with was.. "It's from the Bible". I don't k iw of anything she's been om since.

[@Zombiesnyder13]

McG deserves a other chance because he's an awesome director Have anyone seen THE BABYSITTER?

[@gblatt8472]

I watched 20 minutes of it and turned it off cause it was boring.

[@oaktowndimond668]

I actually think if like James Cameron and Josh Friedman reboot terminator on a streaming platform... It should be a partial TSCC reboot... Starring Judah Lewis as John conner and Jenna Ortega as Cameron/Allison Young. Their chemistry in the second babysitter movie was undeniable.

[@BlazingOwnager]

Thank you for bringing up TSCC. It's so lame we didn't get a season 4 for freaking Dollhouse..

[@petter215jones]

Glad u mention the TVseries.. I enjoyed it...

[@jayplay8140]

of all the problems Dark Fate had, top two are killing John Connor and not having Sarah Connor as the main protagonist. its crazy how such obviously bad decisions hadn't been caught sooner in the films development

[@maxrebo2466]

When the franchise was bought by Skydance Media, I feel like that was a death sentence for the franchise. Hope the new anime series there making is good.

[@JFASACM]

I'll always have a soft spot for Terminator 3. Saw it on cable many many times as a kid. Terminator 2 and the original weren't that much avaliable. It is a funny thing from the cable era: recent movies, once premiered, were shown a lot of times more than the original classics. I watched Rocky III and IV years before the first two. Love your videos. Greetings from Brazil.

[@AbovyantsiAper]

Same here buddy. Loved that film as a kid. Could easily rewatch it and enjoy it

[@Bingo_the_Pug]

I’m one of the few that liked Terminator 3 for a few reasons: 1) T-800 confirming that their mission was never to stop Judgment Day but to survive it, since it is inevitable 2) the girl’s father saying he regrets opening Pandora’s Box, thus dooming humanity 3) The ending where Skynet launches the nukes upon every continent on Earth 4) John Connor finally accepting his fate, with the remaining world leaders contacting him in the bunker asking for his help, thus bringing the saga full circle 5) Arnold was still in his physical prime, even if they somehow make another that has a great script it doesn’t change the fact that he will be in his late 70’s & I don’t even want to see him in the role anymore

[@Endru85x]

This, a lot of folks ignore the closed time loop and the fact that war is inevitable, circumstances may change, but that is all.