The Terminator poster
The Terminator

What’s Aged the Worst?

Future-war effects, dated chronology and hair, exposed nudity, a personal scooter association, the Harlan Ellison dispute, Ginger’s food and pet choices, and John Connor’s weak message draw criticism.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:07Read transcript
  • The red future lasers and stop-motion endoskeleton look dated, although the handmade work remains charming and the machine-dominated future feels newly plausible.
  • The once-distant 2029 setting is now close, intensifying jokes about missing lasers and walking robots.
  • Sarah’s heavily sprayed hair is criticized while her later Mexico headband reveals a more timeless look; Arnold’s opening nudity is also called dispensable.
  • Sarah’s Honda scooter ages badly for one host because he later crashed the same model.
  • Harlan Ellison’s claim that the story borrowed from his Outer Limits work led to a settlement and acknowledgement that Cameron bitterly rejected.
  • Ginger’s enormous post-sex sandwich, celery with peanut butter, milk, and dark-kitchen routine feel like a vanished 1980s horror convention.
  • The iguana exemplifies dated offbeat screen pets, while future John’s formal message omits affection and useful practical information for his mother.