What philosophical ideas does the series cover?
Please read the whole page; this is its own essay in answer, I’m sorry!
What, aside from philosophy and your own mindset, did/do you base the series on?
I’m so glad you asked. I have a lot of recommended reading – here’s a list. I’ll separate this into what I’m going to call as my “Terminator book club” – more directly related to the series – as well as a list for more philosophical readings. All of these are things I’ve read. (I’ll have to put relevant works in the goody bags in their own list sometime sooner or later!) I also attach a list of writeups from my Reddit concerning my ideas, so you can understand a little bit better where my mind is and what I hold in regard to the series and franchise.
"Terminator Book Club"
What’s your franchise canon?
T1, T2, their novelizations (Frakes’ versions), and, to an extent, T2-3D and TSCC where needed. (T3-7 don’t exist to me) I also heavily draw from my own characterizations (based on canon) and headcanons. Sometimes I use script drafts, deleted scenes, or other cut source material.
A brief disclaimer
It came to my attention that several of my ideas have been copied in fanfics and in roleplay bots.Accordingly, I would like to make a disclaimer, and to assert that I am the first that posited the following:
What were the Connors and T doing over the course of the post-T2 months?
They were hiding out and making ends meet and making plans. Well, making a life for themselves, as anyone might in any circumstance. They went North for a time to show T winter so that he could learn to drive in contemporary conditions with snow and ice effectively, given that weather conditions would be different post-Judgment Day and nuclear winter, when Terminators are primed for – just in case. Most of this time consisted of treating and repairing T and getting him socialized, developed, etc. and made with the necessary skills before figuring out next moves – to get Reader and go from there.
This is answered in 000.
How did/do they get money?
Sarah saved money as much as she did weapons over the years. Between the events of T2 and settling down in late 1996, she worked/s odd jobs – as did John, to an extent – where and when possible. Sarah (and Reader) took up bigger-commitment ones, like waitressing, when staying in one location for a longer time, though still opting for ones with easier, quicker outs (and ins; typically places with few, if any, requirements, and a preference for cash pay). She also opted to homeschool John, live below her means (a habit kept throughout the story), and the like. She allots everyone an allowance and religiously bookkeeps.
Tarissa Dyson also contributes a fair share as she feels partly responsible and has the means to do so. T makes drives every so often back to the Dyson home to pick up a little lagniappe money. He also works helping out in lodging in exchange for pay, reduced or extended stays, etc. before settling down in late 1996 and becoming a contractor, a trade he keeps up with over the years.
This is answered in T. and 000.
In what order was T repaired?
“...reconstruction of his face and hair were deemed the first order of business. After that would come his trunk, then his left arm – from the elbow down, inclusive of a hand – and then his left knee. Anything left on the laundry list of repairs and remakes would come after in a similarly logical order, though the actual results would vary, based on available materials and resources.”
This is answered in 000.
How did they get let off of the hook for everything – in other words, how is Sarah not in prison, John in juvie or in foster care, and T studied in a government lab?
Come on, now, this is America. Money and connections solve all problems.
Between Tarissa Dyson and Dr. Silberman, a number of connections allowed the necessary parties to see the proof that Terminators are real (specifically by viewing the pass-through-bars move by the T-1000) and that Sarah was right. This, naturally, was raised to higher-ups; they decided to avert a future supercomputer and nuclear crisis by actually listening for once – yes, the government has done that on rare necessary occasions – on top of that, you can’t get information out of parties as easily if they’re incapacitated or unhappy.
This is answered in 000.
Why was Reader not a prisoner or criminal at Pescadero; why the elaborate eating disorder subplot at the beginning?
“Skinny sickness” was quite common in the 1990s – the era of heroin chic – and I (at the time of writing) have had anorexia since two years; thus, it would be easier for me to write and communicate the feelings of it to my audience as opposed to, say, criminal history and/or behavior. I also find that the unique self-esteem issues that come with it are a steady constant over time, regardless of era or decade, especially among my “intended” audience (women in their 20s or so; again, anyone may read!). It also puts Reader in a rock-bottom place where the only way out is through, or up, whatever have you; she finds hope in Sarah’s determination and grit and is inspired to get better and get, for lack of a better word, badass, over time. It also gives T someone to care for and perfect his sense of protection (and, eventually, affection) to, learning about different types of human vulnerability and psychologies.
Isn’t the whole transfer to Pescadero due to funding lapses dangerous and unrealistic?
Do you also believe in Skynet? In alternate timelines? Of handsome heartthrob robots from the future? Suspend a bit of belief for the sake of story, let’s invoke some imagination together.
Also, please let me know where you live, that has a functioning and financially, fiscally sound government. I want to relocate to there.
What happened to Reader’s pre-Pescadero family and friends?
I recognize that everyone’s relationships to and with their families of origin and past is unique, and, in the spirit of keeping the story immersive, approachable, and “free for all,” I don’t elaborate on this. Please fill in this plot hole freely as you’d prefer.
Why do they still live undercover? Why the fake IDs and constant moving?
Sarah’s PTSD, mostly. She’s still on edge, cautious of Skynet still existing and finding her as T’s existence is a liability, and she wants to be able to get by without question in everyday life; people are more likely to know the name “Sarah Connor” than the appearance. She doesn’t fully trust that she’s off the hook and figures, for a time, that she’ll never know normalcy again, so why try? It’s better to lay low for a time until things die down, but she’s never fully secure in one place. Furthermore, people may report T for his likeness to the Phone Book Killer after his “reemergence,” which needs to die down as well.
Why was the summer of 1996 spent here, there, and everywhere?
Again, mostly due to Sarah’s PTSD, but also the need for just getting away from everything. It was an ample opportunity to begin life anew, especially with Reader in tow, and for T to see the country, learning more about people and places in the process. Sarah believes that experience is the best teacher and was not quite ready to settle back down anyway, and she was still on high alert after intercepting Reader – even if with the cooperation of greater forces – and tracking possible developments in technology that necessitated travel.
Also, it would prevent Reader, whose help she needed, from just running off.
And, well, why not? Summer vacation, babey!
Why does Sarah come back for Reader, conditional, apparently, on her severing ties from her prior life?
She promised that she’d help Reader escape, since she knew that Reader would likely be kept in custody even after requesting out, due to her affiliation with Sarah and possible ability to assist. It was only after arranging things and pulling strings with Silberman, his connections, and the help of Tarissa Dyson that she was able to feel confident enough to return for Reader. Nonetheless, in paranoia and a need to be shown dedication, she has Reader sever ties to her prior life – a choice at first which Reader abhors but comes to be alright with as it allows for a freer existence and as a condition of her developing and later-solidifying relationship with T (if his true nature were to be revealed, it would likely be chaos).
This is alluded to in T. and 000.
Is Reader forced to stay with them, then?
No, of course not. For the sake of the story, you, dear Reader, simply go along with it. You pick your reasons why, but this is your chance to escape your prior life, and who doesn’t want that to some extent?
Why did Sarah pick Reader?
Reader believed her about Terminators, befriended her and listened to her, not writing her off as some crazy, and showed good, promising, positive qualities in that. I don’t elaborate any further because it’s intended for self-projection and everyone has their own unique qualities – some of you reading may be more brave, others more tenderhearted, and so on. Furthermore, as a psychiatric patient who was literally moved into a place for the criminally insane, Reader is someone who, plot-wise, has suffered and would be a force for good in T’s “life” as he develops (as well as an older sibling of sorts for John who needed a stable figure). She didn’t go into it thinking of someone to “hook” him up with.
Think of it this way: you are you! And Sarah likes that and sees promise in that! You’re one of very few sources of stability in her world of fear, detachment, and nomadicism, so, pat yourself on the back for being who you are. I like to celebrate the differences we all have anyway and make you part of the story as simply and authentically as possible in this manner.
Does T’s brain ever function more humanly, if he’s a computer, especially in terms of storage?
Remember those Facebook bots – Alice and, ironically, Bob – back in 2021 that “made up” their own “language” in order to better communicate for their bartering task? It’s like that, in a way. His mind may not have synaptic connections the way humans’ do, but it is a super learning computer and operates extremely efficiently, as evidenced by Dyson’s explanations and the sheer power for its tiny size. Thus, instead of synapses forming to create new memories and informations and relationships as in a mortal brain, T’s functions by creating more efficient pathways to take advantage of as much “storage space” as possible. 2025 AI bots have good, but limited memory… his is forevermore making more efficient connections, and, accordingly, has more infinite memory, like a human.
This is demonstrated in T., 000, and Sternenhimmel.