Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Outstanding anime series explores fate, is super gory.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Terminator Zero
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
What's the Story?
When AI technology Skynet comes online in 1997, it begins building a robot army of terminators with the goal of eradicating humanity. The consequences of this are very clear in 2022, where humans are hunted and struggle to survive. The only way to stop this future? Go back and change the past, starting with Dr. Malcolm Lee (André Holland), a 1997 scientist who attempted to create a "good" competitor to Skynet, Kokoro. Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno), a 2022 soldier, is chosen to travel through time, find him, and potentially alter her own devastated world once and for all. Will she succeed, or will yet another terminator stop her?
Is It Any Good?
This excellent series pulls together the best of the Terminator franchise and anime worlds to create a super-compelling sci-fi tale. Terminator Zero's got what viewers love about Terminator stuff: time travel (that almost makes sense), cute kids, tough soldiers, and relentless robots. It's led by a strong woman not totally unlike the original's Sarah Connor, and the future finds other women in powerful positions as well. The solid writing makes the sometimes convoluted Terminator universe pretty clear (go back in time, save person, fix future). The gore may be a lot for some viewers, but fans of action, adventure, and anime will find this exploration into fate versus free will one of the best recent entries in Terminator lore.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about AI. What are your feelings toward it? Do you think what happens in Terminator Zero is realistic?
What is fate? Is it possible to change your path, or do you think it's preset? Why do you feel this way? What other media can you think of that explores this question?
TV Details
- Premiere date: August 29, 2024
- Cast: Timothy Olyphant , Sonoya Mizuno , Andre Holland , Rosario Dawson
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Anime
- Topics: Robots
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: September 24, 2024
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