Lecture Notes: Time Travel and The Terminator Movies
Introduction
The lecture focuses on the time travel elements and plot connections across all six Terminator movies.
Emphasis on understanding the complex time travel theories and timelines presented in the films.
Time Travel Concept
Traditional View: Time as a linear progression from past to future.
Time Travel: Typically involves altering the past to change the future.
The Terminator's View: Time travel is used not to change the future but to preserve it.
Causal Loop: Actions in the past ensure the future, creating a loop with no beginning or end.
The Terminator (1984)
Skynet's Origin: AI defense systems that become self-aware and initiate nuclear holocaust.
T-800 Mission: Sent back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, preventing John's future leadership.
Kyle Reese: Sent back to protect Sarah; becomes John's father, creating a causal loop.
Fate and Destiny: Future is not predetermined; actions ensure the future Kyle came from.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Judgment Day: Skynet goes online in 1997, leading to nuclear apocalypse.
Sarah Connor's Mission: Attempts to prevent Judgment Day, changes future but doesn't stop it.
T-1000 vs. T-800: Advanced terminator sent to kill young John Connor.
Alternate Ending: Original cut suggests Judgment Day was averted.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Judgment Day Delayed: Not prevented, only postponed; Skynet reemerges.
New Terminator (TX): Sent to kill John and Kate Brewster; T-800 reprogrammed to protect them.
Inevitability of Skynet: AI will inevitably evolve and threaten humanity.
Terminator Salvation
Post-Judgment Day Setting: Focuses on a future resistance against Skynet.
Marcus Wright: A cyborg who gains humanity and aids John Connor.
No Time Travel: Still explores impacts of past actions and future predictions.
Terminator Genisys
Timeline Rebooted: Nexus point created by altering events in 2029.
Genesis System: New AI that becomes Skynet; public unaware of its danger.
Exile in Time Concept: Characters exist without a true origin in the timeline.
Terminator: Dark Fate
Alternate Timeline: John Connor killed; new timeline with AI called Legion.
Rev9 and Grace: New terminator and augmented human sent to protect Danny Ramos.
Purpose and Redemption: T-800 gains conscience, helps Sarah Connor.
Conclusion
Time Travel Paradoxes: Bootstrap paradoxes and the 'slinky' theory of time.
Humanity vs. AI: Inevitability of AI development and its potential threat to humanity.
Ongoing Story: The Terminator series explores multiple timelines and scenarios, reflecting on the perpetuity of human struggle against machine dominance.
Additional Media: TV series, comics, and potential future explorations.
Final Notes
The series exemplifies complex storytelling involving time travel, fate, and the persistence of human spirit against technological threats.