You know that feeling when everyone’s raving about a show, but you just can’t see the appeal? That’s Terminator Zero for me. While fans are hailing it as a fresh take on the classic franchise, I found myself checking the time every few minutes, waiting for something—anything—exciting to happen. Spoiler: it didn’t. What should’ve been a pulse-pounding sci-fi thriller feels more like a slog through existential debates and robotic performances. It’s Terminator, but without the fun.
Synopsis
Set in 1997 Tokyo, Terminator Zero follows Malcolm Lee, a scientist who develops Kokoro, an advanced AI system intended to challenge Skynet. However, the day before Judgment Day, Malcolm and his children are targeted by a mysterious robot assassin. Their only hope lies with Eiko, a soldier sent from the future to protect them
Pacing Problem
With only 8 episodes, each running 25 minutes, you’d think this series would move quickly. But it feels much longer than it should. The show drags, especially during Malcolm’s repetitive and complex philosophical debates with Kokoro about whether humanity deserves to be saved. These discussions happen almost every episode, and the repetitiveness becomes painfully boring. Rather than being a compelling narrative arc, it feels like they stretched the story unnecessarily to meet Netflix’s typical episode count. Honestly, this could’ve been a movie—probably a more efficient and engaging one at that.
One-Dimensional Characters
The characters are flat and lack personality. They’re all so serious that no one stands out, making it hard to connect with any of them. Worse yet, the characters are grouped in ways that don’t make sense—Malcolm with Kokoro, Misaki with Kento and Hiro, Reika with Eiko. The narrative jumps between these groups so often that we’re left without a clear main character. This lack of meaningful interaction between them makes the entire experience even more boring.
How To Fix It
Here’s how they could have saved the story: tell it from Misaki’s perspective. She’s Malcolm’s maid, tasked with caring for his children, and the plot twist reveals that she’s actually a robot from the future, built by Malcolm himself. Her journey of discovering that she’s not human while trying to prove her humanity to Eiko and the children would have added much-needed depth and emotional conflict. This focus on Misaki could have made the show more personal and engaging, rather than the flat, emotionless story we got.
Conclusion
To sum it up, Terminator Zero had potential, but it ultimately fell short. Its slow pacing, lackluster characters, and missed opportunities make it more of a chore than a thrill to watch. I’d rate it a 4 out of 10, and that’s being generous.
