James Cameron’s originalTerminatormovies are some of the most innovative and creative sci-fi stories ever written, and the influence that they’ve had over pop culture is genuinely immeasurable. The first film acts as a slasher in which Sarah Connor is hunted through 1980s Los Angeles by a killer robot from the future whose sole mission is to prevent her rebellious son from being born. Each oftheTerminatormovieshas taken the story into a different direction, and while none of the sequels ever lived up to the first two films, the franchise’s impact on
In the years sinceThe Terminator’s release, countless other shows and movies have been inspired by James Cameron’s dark and violent vision of the future. Of course, very few other projects have nailed this particular style. EventheTerminatorfranchiseitself never quite recaptured the magic of the first two films, apart from a couple of exceptions. That said, a lot of great sci-fi shows do resembleTerminatorin some ways and are worth checking out.
It’s hard to imagine that those who enjoyed James Cameron’s originalTerminatormovies won’t also enjoyThe Sarah Connor Chronicles, perhaps the most successful and acclaimed entry in the saga after the original films. The show follows the adventures of John and Sarah Connor after they realize that Judgment Day was never diverted but rather postponed to a later date.The Sarah Connor Chroniclesforged its own identity while staying true to James Cameron’s cinematic vision, working as an alternate sequel toTerminator 2and ignoring the events ofTerminator 3.
Based on the 1995 movie of the same name,12 Monkeysis one of thebest time-travel showsof the past decade. The series follows a scavenger from the near future who travels back in time to prevent a viral pandemic that will trigger the end of the world. However, he struggles to make anyone believe him, echoing Sarah Connor inTerminator 2.
When Terminator Zero Takes Place In The Terminator Timeline
Netflix’s Terminator Zero is set at a crucial point in the franchise’s complicated timeline — and makes great use of Terminator’s time travel trope.
It’s a story filled with intrigue and conspiracyas secrets are gradually revealed and relationships are constantly tested. The show carefully explores some genuinely chilling ideas about how the world could come to an end and works even if you’ve never watched the movie.
Another endlessly creative show about the possibilities of time travel,Timelessfollows a team of scientists who enter a dangerous chase through timefor a notorious criminal who’s affecting the timeline of American history. The show’s premise allows it to jump around various recognizable events in human history, offering commentary on how these conflicts and disasters helped forge the world that we know today. It has a very gritty and often frightening tone, just like theTerminatormovies, that allows it to navigate time travel in a very engaging way.
Altered Carbonis one of the darker and more absorbing sci-fi shows in recent memory, with its story touching on various topical themes that are becoming more and more relevant with every passing year.The show takes place in a world where biological engineering has seemingly “defeated” death, but the procedure has been monopolized by an enigmatic company looking to benefit from its effects. At its core,Altered Carbonis a neo-noir mystery in the vein ofBlade RunnerorThe Terminatorthat makes the most of its sci-fi premise with a bold narrative and sleek visuals.
Although it’s very different from where this franchise began,Terminator Zerois the bestTerminatorproject since the James Cameron movies. This anime expands the universe in fascinating directions without reusing the perspective of John and Sarah Connor. The story follows another scientist named Malcolm Lee who develops his own artificial intelligence in tandem with Skynet, but as the latter’s technology accidentally triggers Judgment Day, Lee finds himself unknowingly caught up in the world ofThe Terminator.It’s a fascinating show that proves change is often necessaryto keep a franchise alive.
3 Body Problemis based on Liu Cixin’s modern sci-fi novelof the same name, which details a group of scientists who seemingly make contact with an alien species and race against time to prepare humanity for their inevitable arrival.It’s a brilliant story that explores questions as fundamental as why we exist, what our purpose is, and whether we’re the only living things in the universe, without ever feeling like it’s retreading old ground. With a hugely talented ensemble and some gripping writing that constantly subverts expectations,3 Body Problemis one of Netflix’s most exciting shows right now.
Another literary adaptation,Dark Matterfollows a scientist named Jason Dessen who’s abducted by an alternate version of himself and thrust into a dark reality where he never met his wife or had his children. As he fights to get back to his world, Jason uncovers a dark web of conspiracy that disproves everything he thought he knew about the multiverse. What’s so brilliant about this show (and the book it’s inspired by) is the way it weaves such a compelling mystery into a mind-bending story that touches on many important scientific ideas, just likeTerminator.
Halois a rather controversialTV shows inspired by a video game, taking the beloved franchise and turning it into a self-contained story that makes a lot of changes to the source material.The show shows the origins of the video games’ dystopian future, following a group of surviving humans as they fight against invasions that threaten to wipe them out forever. Despite all the changes to the games,Halois a fun, action-packed sci-fi series that fans ofTerminatorwho have never played theHalogames might enjoy discovering.
AlthoughStranger Thingsis rarely as dark and gritty as theTerminatormovies, it’s arguably the most successful and influential sci-fi show of the past decade. This Netflix original completely broke the mold for streaming content, providing some endlessly bingeable stories that paid homage to ‘80s sci-fi while pushing the genre forward in new and exciting ways.The show’s later seasons have leaned much more heavily into their sci-fi inspiration, with dystopian wastelands like the ones seen inThe Terminatormaking their way into the show’s iconic Upside-Down. Interestingly, Linda Hamilton joinedStrangerThingsin season 5.
It’s impossible to talk about modern sci-fi without mentioningDark, the German thriller series that revitalized the genre a few years ago. The show is brimming with genius twists and intricately plotted storylines that ultimately converge in one of the most satisfying final seasons of television ever made.
If you thoughtThe Terminator’s Kyle Reese twist was too complicated of a paradox,Darkhas a few more surprises in store.
The story follows a group of teenagers who discover a mysterious cave that allows them to travel back in time, which triggers an endless loop of betrayal and secrecy that must ultimately be broken to avoid the end of the world. If you thoughtThe Terminator’s Kyle Reese twist was too complicated of a paradox,Darkhas a few more surprises in store.
