Why The T-1000 Remains The Best "Terminator" Villain | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

Why The T-1000 Remains The Best 'Terminator' Villain

The Terminator all other Terminators aspire to be.

560
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kug8mJ8WiM
YouTube

A film is only as good as its villain.

There have been five "Terminator" films released since 1984, with the newest installment of the franchise "Dark Fate" set for release in the fall. But, unlike other popular movie franchises, there has not been much emphasis on Terminator villains aside from the original Terminator played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film of the same name.

But 1991's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" introduced the world to the T-1000 played by Robert Patrick, an advanced Terminator model made of liquid metal that can transform into almost anything it comes in contact with. "Terminator 3's" villain, the T-X, played by Kristina Loken, was fine and definitely held its own against Arnold's T-800, but she lacked the threatening nature and imagination of her predecessor.

"Terminator Salvation" was not based around one central villain but the Skynet corporation (the creators of the Terminators) as a whole, so there wasn't any real time for one core villain to get a focus.

Director James Cameron purposely wanted the T-1000 to be much different from what came before. This Terminator was a much sleeker, less bulky version compared to the original T-800 to give the latter more of an edge in combat and stealth. Unlike Arnold passing off as human but still lacking normal communication skills in the previous film, the T-1000 had those human interactions down and used it to his advantage when needed.

At first glance, he is a law enforcement officer trying to kill a boy and his mother. Arguably, for most people, police are supposed to represent safety and order, which further symbolizes the machine using the human shell to its advantage.

When there is a villain that can do anything, it creates an obstacle for the writer who has to come up with a weakness that does not feel convoluted or cheap. At certain points in the film, the T-1000 is even seen performing feats beyond the average robot (due to its liquid metal aesthetic) from melding with a hospital floor to transforming into another human being. It is not until the end of the film where this killing machine first displays its first bit of human emotions of fear and panic, moments before melting in the molten steel.

Throughout the film, the T-1000 remains a force of nature that can be slowed down and defeated temporarily but not killed. The villain does not have much in the way of personal story, but it isn't needed. Not every movie villain needs a major origin or backstory; the most effective are the ones without a story behind them and instead just one motive: to kill.

Alfred in "The Dark Knight" said it best, "...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with."

Robert Patrick's portrayal of the T-1000 proved so successful that the series ended up bringing the character back three films later with 2015's "Terminator Genisys", now played by actor Lee Byung-hun. Outside of the film itself, the T-1000 may not have ended up killing John Connor but still managed to take home several visual effects awards for the film. The visual effects done on the T-1000 by Stan Winston remain some of the best visuals done on any film and helped to give the character a life of its own before the molten steel took him in.

The T-1000 is the ultimate Terminator.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

348
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3849
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2358
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201712
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments