Editing Terminator (character) (section)

==Fictional background==
A Terminator is an infiltration-based assassin, described in the films as a cybernetic organism. They are built in the future by [[Skynet (Terminator)|Skynet]], an artificial intelligence engaged in a war against humans. Often known as a T-800, the T-800 series is preceded by an earlier model known as the [[T-600]] series, which used artificial rubber skin and was easily spotted by members of the human resistance.

T-800 models are all identical in appearance: a muscular, male human exterior made up of living tissue, covering a metal [[endoskeleton]] actuated by a powerful network of [[hydraulic machinery|hydraulic]] [[servomechanism]]s, which provide [[superhuman strength]]. In the ''Terminator'' sequels, armies of skinless T-800 endoskeletons are shown to be used by Skynet during future war sequences, serving as soldiers rather than infiltrators. With the exterior appearance applied, they are the first Terminator model capable of blending in with humans; as a result, the resistance began using dogs to detect them.<ref name=Best/>

In [[The Terminator|the first film]], a Terminator time travels from 2029 to 1984 to alter the past by killing [[Sarah Connor (Terminator)|Sarah Connor]], retroactively ensuring victory for Skynet. [[Kyle Reese]], a future soldier sent back to stop the Terminator, describes the latter as such:

:"The Terminator is an infiltration unit, part man – part machine. Underneath it's a hyperalloy combat chassis, microprocessor-controlled, fully armored, very tough. But outside it's living human tissue. Flesh, skin, hair, blood, grown for the cyborgs."

The skin is prone to aging and injury related deterioration,<ref>{{cite news |last=Reimann |first=Tom |title=Here's the Reason Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 Ages in 'Terminator: Dark Fate' |url=https://collider.com/terminator-dark-fate-why-terminator-ages/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |work=Collider |date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> but can heal itself with enough time.<ref>According to the Terminator, when asked by Sarah Connor in ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''. Also stated in ''[[Terminator Genisys]]''.</ref> According to early drafts for the original film, a Terminator must consume small amounts of food to maintain the human skin, a detail that is absent in the finished film.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gunning |first=Cathal |title=Terminator Cutting Its Oddest Scene Created A Franchise Plot Hole |url=https://screenrant.com/do-terminators-eat-original-movie-deleted-scene/ |website=ScreenRant |access-date=May 5, 2024 |date=November 29, 2022}}</ref>

A Terminator can withstand normal 20th century [[firearm]]s, crash through walls with little to no damage, and survive [[explosion]]s to some degree. Repeated shotgun blasts have enough force to knock down and temporarily disable the cyborg, while heavy amounts of automatic fire are able to compromise the organic disguise layer. Terminators can continue functioning even after losing one or more limbs. Reese describes the Terminator's relentlessness to Sarah in the first film:

:"It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear! And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead!

The Terminator's [[Central processing unit|CPU]] is an [[artificial neural network]] with [[machine learning|the ability to learn and adapt]]. For instance, in the original film, it learns how to swear from a group of punks it encounters. In ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'', the character states, "The more contact I have with humans, the more I learn." A deleted scene from the second film, restored in the Special Edition, provides more backstory on the Terminator's learning ability; the character says that Terminators are set to [[File-system permissions|read-only]], a measure taken by Skynet to prevent them from "thinking too much". Sarah and John then activate its learning ability, after which it becomes more curious and begins trying to understand and imitate human behavior. It ultimately learns "the value of human life" as mused by Sarah in the closing narration of the theatrical cut.<ref name=Ringer/><ref>{{Cite web|first=Oktay Ege |last=Kozak | url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/terminator-2/battle-of-the-cuts-terminator-2-theatrical-vs-sp/ |title=Battle Of The Cuts: ''Terminator 2''—Theatrical Vs. Special Edition|website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=April 11, 2018 |access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205074814/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/terminator-2/battle-of-the-cuts-terminator-2-theatrical-vs-sp/ |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|first=Andy|last=Greene| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/terminator-2-judgment-day-deleted-scene-840915/|title=Flashback: The Terminator Gets Rebooted In A ''T2: Judgment Day'' Deleted Scene|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=May 28, 2019|access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603072820/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/terminator-2-judgment-day-deleted-scene-840915/ |archive-date=June 3, 2019 |url-access=limited |url-status=live}}</ref> Later films in the series further humanize the character.<ref name=Ruined/>

[[File:Terminator in Madame Tussaud London (33465711484).jpg|thumb|left|A Terminator figure at [[Madame Tussauds London]], demonstrating the metallic interior and red eyes]]
Throughout the series, the Terminator is typically depicted wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Bryan |title='Terminator' turns 35: Arnold Schwarzenegger's sunglasses completed the perfect killer |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/10/27/terminator-35th-anniversary-arnold-schwarzenegger-donned-killer-gargoyle-sunglasses/2480133001/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |work=USA Today |date=October 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Chichizola |first=Corey |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Shot Down A Key Terminator Callback In Dark Fate |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2483727/arnold-schwarzenegger-shot-down-a-key-terminator-callback-in-dark-fate |website=CinemaBlend |access-date=May 10, 2024 |date=November 4, 2019}}</ref> Another trait persistent throughout the series is the faint red glow of the "eyes" when the cyborg is online; the lack of the glow has been used to show when one is out of action. The Terminator has an Austrian accent but can also [[audio deepfake|copy the voice of others]].<ref name=Best>{{cite web |last=Sofge |first=Erik |title=The Toughest, Smartest, Best Terminators of All Time (T-800) |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/robotics/4245140.html?page=2 |website=Popular Mechanics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228113355/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/robotics/4245140.html?page=2 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |date=January 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Berlatsky |first=Noah |title=WTF Moments: Terminator 2's phone booth scene still makes us choke on our milk |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/wtf-moments-terminator-2s-phone-booth-scene-still-makes-us-choke-on-our-milk |website=Syfy |access-date=November 26, 2023 |date=May 27, 2019}}</ref>

In [[Terminator 2: Judgment Day|the second film]], the Terminator states that he can operate for 120 years on his power cell. In [[Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines|the third film]], the Terminator is slightly modified, operating on two hydrogen [[fuel cell]]s; when damaged, these explode with enough force to produce a small [[mushroom cloud]]. This iteration of the character also has an understanding of basic psychology.

===Nomenclature===
Commonly known as the Terminator, the character is also given more specific designations, which help distinguish from other mass-produced [[Terminator (character concept)|Terminators]] seen in each of the sequels.<ref name=Many>{{cite web |last1=Collura |first1=Scott |last2=Linder |first2=Brian |title=The Many Looks of the Terminator: Part One |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/15/the-many-looks-of-the-terminator-part-one |website=IGN |access-date=May 11, 2024 |date=May 15, 2009}}</ref>

In the first two films and ''[[Terminator: Dark Fate]]'', the character is referred to as a "Cyberdyne Systems Model 101", referencing the Cyberdyne Systems company which created Skynet. In ''[[Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines]]'' (''T3''), he is referred to as a "T-101". This name also occurs throughout the [[T2 (novel series)|''T2'' novels]]. A slight variation, "T101", was used as early as 1991, in the [[Amstrad CPC]] and [[ZX Spectrum]] versions of the [[Terminator 2 (computer game)|''Terminator 2'' computer game]].<ref>{{cite video game |title=Terminator 2: Judgment Day |developer=Dementia |publisher=[[Ocean Software]] |date=1991 |platform=Amstrad CPC}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Roberts |first=Nick |date=December 1991 |title=Terminator 2: Judgment Day |magazine=[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]] |location=United Kingdom |pages=54–55}}</ref>

The name "T-800" had been used off-screen in news articles and reviews for ''Terminator 2'', differentiating from the film's other Terminator character, the [[T-1000]].<ref name=Hinson/><ref>{{cite news |title=Arnie's $100 Million Judgment Day |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120211979/ |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=June 8, 1991 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Thriller with a conscience |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/734046284/ |work=Brantford Expositor |date=June 29, 1991 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Big-budget 'Terminator 2' is upping the cyborg ante |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/439481669/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=June 30, 1991 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The T-800's [[heads-up display]] in the film specifically identifies him as a "Cyberdyne Systems Series 800 Model 101 Version 2.4".<ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Kevin |title=Behind the Cybernetics with the Next Terminator Generation |url=https://gizmodo.com/behind-the-cybernetics-with-the-next-terminator-generat-352773 |website=Gizmodo |access-date=May 11, 2024 |date=February 5, 2008}}</ref> The novelization of the third film refers to the character by a different designation: a T-850 rather than a T-101, described as a newer, upgraded version of the T-800.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hagberg |first=David |title=Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines |date=2003 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780765347411 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DU-hnoszGTMC |access-date=October 10, 2019 |pages=146–148}}</ref> Both T-800 and T-850 were used in merchandising for the film series.<ref name=Many/><ref>{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=Toying with the Terminator: Have a look at McFarlane Toys' T3 figures |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/386/386687p1.html |work=IGN |date=February 19, 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303113857/http://movies.ign.com/articles/386/386687p1.html |archive-date=March 3, 2012}}</ref> ''Terminator Salvation'' has the first on-screen usage of the term T-800, which is also used in ''[[Terminator Genisys]]''.<ref>Guardian: "As a T-800, I lack the mimetic skills to appear as anyone else." ''Terminator Genisys''.</ref>

Because the Terminator is portrayed by [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], the character is sometimes referred to as the Arnold Terminator, distinguishing from other Terminators played by different actors.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaye |first=Don |title=How James Cameron Came Back for Terminator: Dark Fate |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/how-james-cameron-came-back-for-terminator-dark-fate/ |website=Den of Geek |access-date=May 12, 2024 |date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> Some of the Terminators portrayed by Schwarzenegger are also given on-screen nicknames. In ''Terminator 2'', [[John Connor (Terminator)|John Connor]] introduces the Model 101 to his mother's friends as his "Uncle Bob". In ''Terminator Genisys'', Sarah Connor refers to the T-800 as "Pops", while the [[end credits]] list him as "Guardian". In ''Terminator: Dark Fate'', the character goes by the name "Carl".

In the ''Terminator 2'' DVD commentary, director and franchise creator [[James Cameron]] states that all Model 101s look like Schwarzenegger, with a 102 resembling someone else,<ref name=Many/> leading to fan speculation that the 101 refers to the physical appearance while the 800 refers to the endoskeleton common to many models.

===Character origin===
The origin of the Terminator's physical and vocal templates is provided in the 2001 novel ''T2: Infiltrator'', in the form of former counter-terrorist Dieter von Rossbach, who meets and joins forces with the Connors in the present. The novel reveals that he was never questioned about the Terminators' actions, as his superiors always knew that he was somewhere else during the rampages. The reason stated for copying Dieter was that Skynet was looking in the old military files for someone whose body could effectively conceal the Terminator's massive endoskeleton. The voice was provided through Kurt Viemeister, the scientist that taught Skynet its sentience.

A different origin is provided in a humorous deleted scene for ''Terminator 3'', removed by director [[Jonathan Mostow]] who found it too comedic. In the scene, the Terminator's human appearance is said to be based on that of [[Chief Master Sergeant]] William Candy, also portrayed by Schwarzenegger but with a dubbed-over [[Southern American English|Southern accent]], which would be replaced in-universe by the more menacing Austrian-accented voice of one of the developers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sciretta |first=Peter |title=LOL: Terminator 3 Deleted Scene Explains Why The Terminators Look Like Arnold |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/lol-terminator-3-deleted-scene-explains-why-the-terminators-look-like-arnold/ |website=/Film |accessdate=October 17, 2019 |date=June 29, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Horn |first=Shawn Van |title=This Awful Terminator Deleted Scene Explains Why the Robots Look Like Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://collider.com/terminator-3-rise-of-the-machines-deleted-scene/ |website=Collider |access-date=May 11, 2024 |date=March 8, 2024}}</ref>

When asked in 2017 why all T-800s look the same, Cameron suggested that Skynet had harvested the DNA from a human who had the same appearance, stating "it has flashed through my mind that there has to have been a prototype. [...] Now, the question is, did that person have some sort of meaning to Skynet on ''why'' they chose that one? Or was it like a whole rack of Terminators and the one that happened to be the Arnold model just happened to be closest to the door going out to the time displacement center and all the others looked different? I've asked myself these questions but it's never been resolved".<ref>{{cite web |last=Leston |first=Ryan |title=Terminator 6 may explain why all T-800s look like Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/movies/terminator-6-may-explain-terminators-look-like-arnold-schwarzenegger-150352893.html |website=Yahoo |access-date=May 11, 2024 |date=August 11, 2017}}</ref>