'Terminator Zero' Reviews: Series "looks to both the past and future in an exhilarating anime spinoff that pays homage to the classic films while still forging its own path"

         On August 29, 2024, Netflix released 'Terminator Zero' was released to predominantly positive reviews, currently holding fresh at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a Critics Consensus that reads, "Shedding the skin of past Terminator incarnations to tell a sophisticated sci-fi saga of its own, this visceral anime proves its mettle." In the series, "A warrior from a post-apocalyptic future travels to 1997 to protect an AI scientist being hunted by an unfeeling — and indestructible — cyborg." But what did the critics say?

       David Opie of Total Film writes, "Terminator Zero looks to both the past and future in an exhilarating anime spinoff that pays homage to the classic films while still forging its own path." Adding, "Terminator Zero wastes no time in establishing this horror. Via a cold open set in an apocalyptic 2022, Eiko watches the Terminator casually crush a person's head underfoot in search of her hiding place. Dead bodies are stacked up everywhere and the body count doesn't let up once we reach the 90s either. Necks snap, limbs tear, and skin melts away throughout all eight episodes of Terminator Zero, channeling the original's R rating when it comes to both gore and tension."

         Ron Hilliard of Discussing Film says, "Terminator Zero isn't just the best thing the franchise has released in years, but it's also one of the most stylish Netflix original animes to date." Continuing, "Long-time fans of the Terminator franchise can let out a massive sigh of relief if they thought Terminator Zero would disappoint. It is utterly fantastic and worthy of comparison to the brilliance of James Cameron’s original films. Not only are the action and horror elements well done, but the Netflix anime series and its creators also have something meaningful to say about humanity, our resilience, our faults, and how we treat the planet and each other. Moreover, Terminator Zero touches on the nature of the soul and the belief that the future is worth fighting for, even if you don’t get to see it for yourself. Terminator Zero is definitely one of the strongest original releases to come out of Netflix this year, and hopefully, viewership will be there so this team can come back and knock it out of the park again."

Photo by Thierry K on Unsplash

        Kenneth Seward Jr. of GameSpot praises the series, stating, "Terminator Zero is an entertaining animated series that shines brightest when it leans into new areas. It features a talented cast, an engaging plot, and solid animation that occasionally dips in quality."

       BJ Colangelo of Slashfilm notes, "Here's hoping Netflix allows the series to continue for more seasons because it's not only one of the best anime the streamer has put out, but "Terminator Zero" is the new direction the franchise needs to pursue." Concluding, "Terminator Zero" gets to shine in the ways it is not like the other installments. Eiko's goal of protecting Malcolm is not because he's going to become the savior of the people like John Connor, but because she needs to keep him alive long enough to convince him Kokoro isn't going to achieve what he thinks it will. As we in 2024 see the increasingly horrifying ways AI has already begun to infiltrate our world, the thought of a "Good, Actually, I Promise" AI being the only way to stop Skynet is the thing of nightmares."