3 Terminator Plot Holes That Are Still Super Confusing

The Terminator films comprise one of the most influential science fiction series of all time, blending thrilling action, mind-bending time travel concepts, and commentary on artificial intelligence. Kicking off in 1984 with James Cameron’s The Terminator, the saga introduced audiences to a dystopian future where humanity battles Skynet, a rogue AI determined to eliminate humanity. The sequels expanded the mythology, bringing in more complex timelines, upgraded Terminators, and a greater focus on John Connor’s pivotal role in humanity’s survival. With Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic performance as the Terminator and groundbreaking special effects that pushed the limits of filmmaking, the series remains an important part of pop culture.

However, as the Terminator franchise grew, its timeline became increasingly convoluted, leading to numerous inconsistencies that continue to perplex fans. As entertaining as the films are they have their share of plot holes, which is to be expected in a series about time travel. While we can dismiss some inconsistencies as creative liberties, others raise some pretty big questions about the franchise’s logic. Here are three of the most confusing Terminator plot holes that remain unresolved.

How Did John Connor Exist in the First Place?

One of the biggest plot holes in the entire series revolves around the very existence of John Connor. The first film sees Kyle Reese being sent from the future to protect Sarah Connor from the T-800, only to father John in the process, after he bonds with Sarah. This creates what’s known as a “predestination paradox” – the reason John exists is because he sent his own father back in time, meaning his birth is entirely dependent on a future event.

This paradox creates the idea that John exists in a time loop without an origin, which just raises even more questions. Did John Connor ever have a different father before Kyle Reese was sent into the past? If the reason John was born was because he sent his father to protect his mother, does that mean Skynet’s takeover is inevitable? And if that’s the case, then that means humanity will always be doomed in this franchise, and that’s a bit of a bummer, isn’t it?

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Why Would Skynet Program Terminators to Age?

In Terminator: Genisys and Terminator: Dark Fate, it’s revealed that Terminators can age, as their organic skin deteriorates over time, making them appear more human. This explains why Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 appears older in later films, but it raises an important question—why would Skynet bother programming a machine to age in the first place? A Terminator’s main function is infiltration and assassination, and while appearing human is crucial, aging seems like an unnecessary and impractical feature. Considering how powerful and dangerous Terminators are, it doesn’t seem logical that Skynet is expecting their machines to embark on years-long missions – they’re designed to eliminate their targets as quickly as possible.

If Skynet wanted its Terminators to blend in, they could theoretically design them to maintain a constant youthful appearance. Instead, by allowing them to age, Skynet introduces an unnecessary limitation that could compromise their effectiveness in long-term missions. This detail seems like a convenient way to justify Schwarzenegger’s real-life aging rather than a reasonable design choice within the story. We’re not complaining about seeing Schwarzenegger return to play the Terminator, but it does add some wrinkles to the logic of the series.

How Did the T-1000 Time Travel?

A major rule established in The Terminator is that only organic material can be sent back in time, which is why Terminators are covered in living tissue (and why they always arrive naked).  However, in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the T-1000, a fully liquid metal machine, successfully time-travels despite not having any organic components. What gives?

It’s never made clear as to why this is the case. Perhaps the T-1000 has a thin organic layer or maybe its liquid metal capabilities allow it to emulate human skin, allowing it to be sent back in time, but this is never established in the film. And even if that were true, it wouldn’t explain why the T-1000 arrived in the past without clothes or weapons. This plot hole highlights one of the franchise’s biggest inconsistencies – too often, time travel rules are bent without clear explanation or logic when they become inconvenient for the story, leaving fans to come up with their own theories.

What are some other Terminator movie plot holes that are still bothering you? Let us know below!