So Sarah is obviously a radically different character in T2 from the person she was in the first Terminator. For me, this is both a good and a bad thing.
On the one hand, from a storytelling perspective, it's good that she's had character development and that she's changed and grown from her experiences. It wouldn't be interesting or realistic if her characterization had just remained stagnant.
But my problem is - I simply don't like she character she's become in T2. Sure she's badass, but the Sarah Connor from the Terminator was the ultimate relatable character - she was an ordinary person thrust into an extraordinary situation, and that could've been any of us. In T2, she's cold, detached, disfsnt, aggressive and crazy. I do not find her relatable whatsoever and cannot connect to her as a character. She's unemotional and remains serious when John attempts to be lighthearted with her, and even when it seems like she's hugging him, she's really just checking him for bullet wounds. And then the whole business with Dyson - Sarah has practically become an unfeeling Terminator in this movie. And I understand that that's kind of the point, but it just makes me like her character a lot less. It's ironic that the Terminator ended up being more caring and affectionate than Sarah.
Again I understand why they took the character where they did - it makes sense given her experiences in the first movie. I just have a very hard time liking T2 Sarah, while I loved her in the first one.
I agree with all of the above.
As understandable as her character changes are, Sarah is a total buzzkill in
T2, and her scenes are my least-favorite in the movie. It's so much fun to watch The Terminator and young John bonding that when the focus is suddenly shifted to cold, aggressive Sarah, it kind of takes my enjoyment out of the movie.
I think Cameron could have found a way to change Sarah's character in the sequel without making her so unpleasant. A perfect example is the way he so beautifully characterized Ripley in
Aliens. Even though she was more firm and paranoid than she was in the first film, her humanity ultimately came out of her love for Newt and her bond with Hicks. She was still likable, even though flashes of aggression showed up occasionally (such as her distrusting of Bishop). But her cynicism remained understandable... without being insufferable.
And that's the problem with Sarah in
T2. Her aggression is so over-the-top that it's actually ANNOYING. So what if she's "badass"? Ripley was badass in
Aliens, but we were still able to root for her. Not so with Sarah in
T2.
That's not to say Sarah isn't allowed some decent vulnerable moments -- I like that she becomes too overwhelmed with grief to murder Dyson and his family -- but those moments are too far and between, and most of the time, we have to sit through Sarah being mean-spirited and no fun to be around.
That being said, it's a great movie, in spite of this character flaw.
reply
share
Urogy (176)
5 years ago
Bravo! Bravo! Yes, when the "Fema-nazis" come out to watch T-2 for the sake of only worshipping Sarah Conner, that tells you everything that you need to know! All that was missing was Sarah shaving her head when they escape to the desert gas station, while being stitched up from the wounds~ that would've gotten all the Fema-nazis excited, for sure! I also thought that John Connor's character was a little too "trans-feminim" in the same manner but opposite of his mother!
reply
share