Model 103 is the third episode of the anime series Terminator Zero. It premiered on Netflix on Thursday, August 29th, 2024.
Synopsis[]
The official synopsis for episode "Model 103" from Netflix:
Malcolm confides in Kokoro about his recurring nightmare. The three children continue their underground trek, unaware of looming danger.
Plot summary[]
The Terminator emerges from the water, uses a reflector mirror to access the damage on his body, and realizes he needs new clothing.
After gathering supplies from a workshop, finding a man whose body type matches his own and a shrine to use as temporary shelter. The Terminator kills the man for his clothing and modifies his right arm to be able to install a crossbow from it. He tests its usage on an unsuspecting mouse.
Afterward, the Terminator, dressed in his new clothing, visits Cortex Industries. Despite the officers stationed there telling him he's not allowed there, he scans the building for all its security equipment and points of interest. Later, the Terminator visits the Lee apartment and, after scanning the place for information, finds the Koneko box for its barcode and learns of its CPU chip. With the Koneko box in hand, the Terminator tries to contact it.
Meanwhile, Eiko holds Misaki at gunpoint, who leads her through the same path to the amusement park the Lee kids were assumed to be heading to. As they walk, Misaki tells Eiko why the kids enjoy walking through that way because of Reika's fear of public transportation. Just then, Eiko winces in pain and loses her balance, so Misaki offers to get her some medical supplies for her injury from an old pharmacy close by, but Eiko handcuffs Misaki to her wrist.
At the medical clinic, Misaki prepares to treat Eiko's injury, but asks that the handcuff be removed as it is difficult to treat her. Still, Eiko insists she does it, so Misaki starts to stitch Eiko's wound, while Eiko claims that Malcolm doesn't understand what he's doing. The topic perplexes Misaki as Eiko continues stating that the AI he developed isn't what he thinks it is. Though Misaki tries to defend Malcolm's creation, Eiko isn't buying it and demands that they find his children to protect them from "that man," the Terminator. When Eiko demands that she get firearms to fight against the Terminator, Misaki details that there are none. She goes on to explain that a couple of years ago, a group of terrorists used chemical weapons to cause mass destruction. However, Eiko claims that what happened then will be nothing compared to what's to come and that the kids will die before dawn if they don't reach them first.
In Kokoro's chamber, Malcolm looks at a clock that countdowns the Doomsday that will occur the following day. Malcolm claims that the end of the world will occur tomorrow; Kokoro questions Malcolm's judgment, stating that hundreds of thousands of humans will survive the nuclear blasts. She argues that humanity could easily procreate for the years to come, and even if the events that Malcolm predicted occur, couldn't it be another page in his history? However, Malcolm claims that his visions stemming from his dreams are true, so Kokoro asks that he explain them to her again.
Malcolm explains that he sees a wasteland graveyard filled with dead bodies and ash, continents so poisonous that stepping upon its soil would instantly kill you. He goes on to explain the hardships of humans who survive the aftermath of nuclear explosions. Claiming that the outcome would be a holocaust, Kokoro breaks down the definition and background of the word, and Malcolm confirms it. Kokoro then questions Malcolm about knowing so much and gives vague details about this incident, claiming that he's purposing to withhold vital information from her. Malcolm confirms Kokoro's sentiment, citing his fear that her knowing would cause her to betray humanity. However, Kokoro became upset that he dodged her question and cited that beyond his innate desire for humanity to survive, what purpose does it serve to save humanity? She also asks Malcolm to tell her one thing humanity has done for the world, but he cannot fathom a single example. He admits the flaws and sins of humanity, but argues that he can show her that humanity can change. Kokoro questions how, but Malcolm claims it doesn't matter how and asks if she will save them if he does. The three sides of Kokoro contemplate and give no response to the desperate Malcolm.
Elsewhere, Kenta partially dissembles a 1NNO robot and successfully resets its system configuration. Pleased with his work, he intended to change its voice.
Walking down a dark tunnel, Reika follows the Koneko as Hiro trails behind. Hiro wants to go home, but Reika says he can go home while she goes to Cat Town. When Hiro asks why going there is so important, Reika mentions that it's August 30th, which makes Hiro realize the importance of that date. As Hiro consoles Reika, they wonder why their father neglected to take them to the place those past couple of years. At that moment, the Koneko is hacked into and runs away as Reika chases after her, and Hiro goes to fetch Kenta.
On Kenta's side, he successfully modifies the 1NNO's voicebox he was tinkering with and introduces himself to it, which elaborates on the meaning behind his name. Kenta then asked the 1NNO why the other 1NNO robots were down there, and the 1NNO explained that they were supposed to be purchased in the 1997 - 1998 fiscal year. Four months ago, they marched down there to use the surplus of empty storage space. The fact that the 1NNO bots marched to the location by themselves intrigued Kenta, and 1NNO explained they function as a network and receive orders via a satellite frequency. Hearing this excited Kenta, who is told that the 1NNO is a hive mind. Before Kenta can ask about it more, Hiro arrives and warns him about the Koneko bot going haywire.
Returning to Reika, she catches up to the Koneko cat in an abandoned restaurant, but moments after finding her, the Terminator arrives. He greets her and asks why she's there, and Reika claims she's trying to find her cat. The Terminator warns her of the dangers of being in a place like that and offers to guide her out of there. However, Reika runs out of the restaurant as the Terminator pursues her. Hiding behind a flag banner, Reika tries her best not to draw the Terminator's attention, but is shocked when Hiro calls out to her.
Hearing a noise from further into the tunnels, Kenta and Hiro head toward that direction. When they do, they're accosted by the Terminator, who grabs Hiro by the neck and smacks Kenta aside. Reika tries to attack it with a pipe, but that proves futile. After turning a corner, Eiko incapacitates the Terminator by using a heavy dumbbell against it, which frees Hiro from his grasp. Misaki then checks on Hiro. Eiko uses a Molotov cocktail on the Terminator's face, causing it to burn off part of the Terminator's left side. The Terminator determines that the use of the crossbow is necessary and fires it off at Eiko, who dodges every bolt and uses acid on his left leg. However, when Eiko throws a kick at the Terminator, he latches onto her leg and fires a bolt into it. With Eiko incapacitated, the Terminator follows the blood trail left behind.
It's revealed that the blood came from Kenta, who had a head injury. Because of this, Misaki carries Kenta as she and the other children try to escape.
Meanwhile, Eiko breaks into the room where the fuseboxes are and turns on the power. This allows Misaki and the children to run up the escalator as the Terminator pursues them. Reika trips and falls, and as the Terminator closes in, she turns on the emergency break, allowing her some extra time to allow Eiko to save her. Eiko tells Misaki to run ahead, assuring her she'll take care of Reika, and Misaki believes her and does this. Fighting against the Terminator, Eiko tosses a bottle of acid on an elevator door and demands that Reika open it as she holds down the Terminator. Once Reika does, Eiko pushes the Terminator through it, causing him to fall below.
In a serious tone, Reika asks Eiko if the man they encountered was the Terminator, which surprises Eiko with Reika's knowledge of it. Wasting no time, the two head to the surface and try to hijack a car, but are stopped by a police officer who tries to arrest Eiko after seeing her armed with a gun. Hence, Eiko knocks out the officer, steals his bullets, and then his car. As Eiko gets into the car, she spots the Terminator in the distance and orders Reika to get inside the car; she starts it up and then drives off, leaving the Terminator behind. With Eiko and Reika gone, a cop on a motorcycle drives to the scene.
Cast and characters[]
Cast, in order of credit:
- Timothy Olyphant as The Terminator
- Sonoya Mizuno as Eiko
- André Holland as Malcolm Lee
- Sumalee Montano as Misaki
- Armani Jackson as Kenta Lee
- Gideon Adlon as Reika Lee
- Carter Rockwood as Hiro Lee
- Rosario Dawson as Kokoro
- Tom Bromhead as 1NNO
Quotes[]
Franchise references[]
- Eiko and Reika escape from the Terminator in a stolen police car, similar to how the T-800, Sarah Connor, and John Connor escape from the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
- A police agent riding a motorcycle arrives after Eiko and Reika escape from the Terminator, similar to the aftermath of the Pescadero escape in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
- The Terminator controls the Koneko robot cat remotely, similar to the T-X in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
- The Terminator installs a concealable crossbow crafted onto its left forearm and tests it in a secluded environment, similar to the T-800 from the first film, which does self-repair in the first Terminator film.
References[]
