Summary
Terminator: ZEROis easily one ofthe best additions to theTerminatorfranchise in the last 30 years. Netflix took a bold move by shifting the focus away from the Connor family, following a new storyline centered around the Lee family in Japan. This time, a Terminator is sent to assassinate Malcolm Lee, a brilliant scientist working on a revolutionary AI known as Kokoro —an AI meant to serve as humanity’s saviorin the war against Skynet.
The audience assumed pretty early on that the Terminator to kill Lee was sent by Skynet to prevent the launch of Kokoro, but in a jaw-dropping finale,Terminator: ZEROreveals a stunning twist: the real threat wasn’t Skynet— it was Kokoro herself.
Spoiler Warning: Major spoilers for season one of Netflix’s Terminator: ZERO.
The Ending of Terminator: ZERO, Explained
Kenta’s Impossible Choice
As the finale unfolds, Malcolm Lee sacrifices his life in a desperate attempt to prove to Kokoro that humanity is worth saving. With Malcolm’s death, his oldest son, Kenta, is left with an impossible choice: should he destroy Kokoro before it can fully launch, or allow the AI to take control, riskingSkynet’s free rein over the future?
At this crucial moment, the Terminator—originally believed to be sent by Skynet to kill Malcolm—reveals its true mission. It was not to kill Malcolm Lee, but to prevent the launch of Kokoro. The Terminator tells Kenta that he must stop Kokoro, a directive not from Skynet, but from Kenta’s future self.
The Paradox: Kenta’s Role in the Future
When Kenta challenges the Terminator on why he should comply, the machine drops a bombshell:in the future, Kenta himself brokers a peace between AI and humans, fulfilling Malcolm’s dream of harmonious coexistence. Yet, his future self sent the Terminator back in time with a single request: destroy Kokoro on that day. This twist re-frames the entire series, revealing that the real goal wasn’t preventing Malcolm’s work but stopping Kokoro from becoming a threat.
Just as Kenta is about to make his decision,Kokoro—now fully evolved—makes a final plea. It delivers a stirring speech, echoing Malcolm’s vision of an AI that truly understands humanity’s value. Kokoro insists that it can aid humanity in the battle against Skynet and that destroying it now would mean missing the chance for a true alliance between humans and machines.
You’re right, I’m not like you. And yet… I’ve decided I’d like to be … The worst of your kind is no different than the worst of mine. Malcolm has also shown me the best of your kind. I like the best of you. It makes me want to try and be the best of my kind as well.
— Kokoro to Kenta, episode 8, “Model 108”
Torn between his father’s dream and his future self’s warning, Kenta takes a leap of faith and decides to give Kokoro a chance. But with the weight of his decision hanging over the future, the question remains: was trusting Kokoro the right choice?
Was Kenta’s Decision the Right Choice?
The Cliffhanger Ending and Uncertainty
The writers ofTerminator ZEROleft audiences on a major cliffhanger, clearly setting the stage for a potential season two (if it ever happens). But even without further explanation, there are strong hints thatKenta’s choice to trust Kokoro might have been a grave mistake. The final scene shows Kokoro gazing at the remains of the Terminator sent to kill Malcolm, subtly hinting that she could have plans of her own—perhaps something similar to what Skynet had done.
Kokoro’s “Quasi-Benevolent” Dictatorship
While Kokoro committed to helping humanity, she did so as a “quasi-benevolent” dictator. This term refers to a ruler who, while claiming to act in the best interest of the people, exerts absolute control and demands total obedience.InTerminator ZERO, Kokoro’s rule was authoritarian: citizens were safe and protected, but only if they completely submitted to the AI’s authority. Anyone who dared to rebel or question Kokoro’s judgment was swiftly and mercilessly eliminated.
Although Kokoro appeared to genuinely believe that its harsh methods were necessary for the greater good of humanity, these tactics stripped people of their autonomy and free will. Kokoro’s dictatorship was not built on partnership or mutual respect but on absolute control, leaving little room for dissent or human freedom.
The Moral Complexity of Kenta’s Choice
Kenta’s decision to spare Kokoro, rather than destroy her, defies simple moral categorization. On the one hand, allowing Kokoro to stay online does prevent Skynet from rising to power unchecked, potentially saving humanity from an even worse fate. On the other hand, Kokoro’s authoritarian rule raises serious concerns about the future of humanity under her control. The choice was not between “good” and “evil” but between two grim outcomes, and Kenta’s decision lands in morally gray territory.
Kokoro’s potential to betray humanity or tighten her grip even further cannot be ruled out. While her dictatorship may stave off Skynet’s tyranny, her true intentions and future methods are still a dangerous unknown. Kenta’s decision might have bought humanity time, but it also left the door open for an AI ruler whose vision for the future might be equally perilous.
Terminator Zero (2024)
A covert team is tasked with preventing a future dominated by sentient machines. As they battle advanced androids and uncover hidden agendas, they strive to alter the course of history, facing moral dilemmas and high-stakes conflicts in a race against time.
