The Truth About Why Terminator Canon Went SO Wrong
The Real Reason the Terminator Timeline Is a Mess starts with a simple question: how did one of sci-fi’s cleanest stories become such a tangled disaster?
For years, fans have blamed paradoxes, branching timelines, and philosophical debates about fate versus free will. But the real culprit behind Terminator’s fractured continuity isn’t science fiction logic — it’s corporate greed, shifting ownership, and endless franchise resets.
In this video, we break down how The Terminator and Judgment Day established two very different but workable timeline rules, and why neither of them is actually the problem. From James Cameron selling the rights for a dollar, to bankruptcy auctions, hedge funds, and studio mandates, Terminator’s story was pulled apart by business decisions rather than narrative necessity.
We’ll explore how films like Rise of the Machines, Salvation, Genisys, and Dark Fate each attempted to “fix” the franchise by ignoring what came before — only to make the timeline even messier. We also dig into how PG-13 mandates, international market pressures, and audience targeting stripped the series of its original horror roots.
By the end, it becomes clear: Terminator didn’t need another reboot. It needed an ending — and James Cameron already gave it one with T2.
0:00 Why the Terminator timeline confuses fans
1:22 T1 vs T2 timeline rules explained
2:14 James Cameron sells the rights
3:50 Rise of the Machines and inevitability
4:48 Salvation and the failed future war
6:12 Genisys and studio interference
7:43 Dark Fate and alienating fans
9:14 Why Terminator should’ve ended with T2
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Video by: Michael Keene & Ilgaz Erel
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