Netflix Just Axed One of the Best 'Terminator' Projects in Years After Only One Season

The anime series Terminator Zero premiered on Netflix in August 2024 and was quickly lost among the streaming service's numerous releases.

Although critics warmly received the project and viewers who watched it praised its dark atmosphere and return to the franchise's roots, these viewers proved to be too few.

'Terminator Zero' Showrunner Says the Show Is Axed After One Season & Reveals What the Next Seasons Could've Been About

Showrunner Mattson Tomlin confirmed that there would be no second or third season. The reason was utterly trivial: low viewership. Tomlin had grandiose plans for the sequel, but the massive futuristic war would remain on paper. Tomlin said:

“It was cancelled. The critical and audience reception to it was tremendous, but at the end of the day not nearly enough people watched it.

I would've loved to deliver on the Future War I had planned in season's 2 and 3, but I'm also very happy with how it feels contained as is.”

Showrunner added:

“Maybe I will return to that world in a different form. I really do love it, and it was extremely gratifying to see so many people connect with it the way they did.”

What Is 'Terminator Zero' About?

The events unfold in Tokyo in 1997. Computer engineer Malcolm Lee is on the verge of creating an autonomous AI program called Kokoro.

The scientist learns that the world is nearing an apocalypse, and stopping the catastrophe is impossible, especially since Skynet has sent a cyborg assassin from the future to eliminate Malcolm. However, the soldier Eiko also travels to 1997 to thwart Skynet's plans.

Malcolm's life and the lives of his children, who are cared for by Misaki, a nanny whose human skin conceals a cybernetic mechanism, are all at risk.

'Terminator Zero' Wasn't a Breakthrough but It Was a Worthy Project in the Universe

Yes, Terminator Zero didn't reinvent the wheel or untangle the complex timeline created by the previous movies. However, it did something more valuable: it restored the horror element to the Terminator franchise.

The creators took inspiration from the original 1984 film, which is evident in every scene. The muted color palette, leather-clad metal skeletons, and blazing city streets create a sense of an impending, unstoppable nightmare.

Moving the action to Japan added unexpected cyberpunk overtones, evoking associations with Ghost in the Shell and Akira. Terminator Zero indulged in philosophical reflections on free will without sacrificing action or graphic violence.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Terminator Zero'?

• Terminator Zero has 87% from critics and 79% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.9/10.