Male Role Models in Terminator: Dark Fate vs. Terminator 1
Written on 2 April 2025.
Male Role Models in Terminator: Dark Fate vs. Terminator 1
The Human Hero in Terminator 1
The original Terminator film (1984) presented a bleak, dystopian future, but it offered something deeply human: the story of Kyle Reese, a man who defied impossible odds—not because he was invincible, but because he was brave. Reese was physically vulnerable, emotionally raw, and spiritually grounded in his love for Sarah Connor. He was the model of the sacrificial protector: deeply human, deeply flawed, but full of purpose.
Reese wasn’t strong in the traditional sense—he was outgunned, scarred, and trembling—but his strength was in his purpose, his sacrifice, and his refusal to be programmed. He was real. His arc gave men a role model that emphasized heart over hardware, love over domination, and endurance over perfection.
The Machine Fantasy in Dark Fate
In stark contrast, Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) reconfigures the series with a distinctly different tone. The male presence is practically erased or recast as either expendable, villainous, or subservient. The dominant male figure, the Rev-9, is a sleek, unstoppable robot—an advanced piece of tech that blends combat ability with the appearance of confidence and charm.
He may even seem attractive or impressive to some viewers, including women. Some men might be tempted to identify not with the machine, but with the actor playing him—a figure of style and perceived power. But this identification is deeply misleading. In real life, trying to do what the Rev-9 does—acting fearlessly, taking on impossible odds, charging into danger—leads to pain, wounds, or even death. He represents not just a dangerous masculine ideal but also a transhumanist fantasy: that technology surpasses humanity. The Rev-9 isn’t a role model—he’s a symbol of a world where human vulnerability is seen as weakness and machines are sold as better than men.
Gaming Illusions and Real-Life Consequences
This illusion parallels how modern first-person shooter games condition players: die, respawn, repeat. There is no real cost, no consequence. That mindset seeps into the subconscious, giving young men a false belief that mistakes and aggression can be endlessly reset. But real life has no reset button. Missteps, emotional shutdown, or reckless behavior often have permanent consequences. Trying to model your life on a digital ghost or a mechanical killer leads to spiritual death.
The Erased Protector: Carl in Dark Fate
The only other prominent male character in Dark Fate is Carl—the aged T-800. But even he is no longer the stoic protector of T2. Now he’s been reprogrammed into a humble curtain-installer who obeys Sarah Connor’s orders and eventually sacrifices himself—quietly, without resistance. He is loyal but neutered. While he may seem like a noble figure, he ultimately follows commands from a woman and self-terminates. For a man seeking identity, that’s not inspiring—it’s self-erasure.
A Broader Trend in Modern Storytelling
Dark Fate flips the roles. The women drive the plot: Dani becomes the resistance leader, Grace is the enhanced warrior, and Sarah Connor remains the iconic veteran. The men are either destroyed, disposable, or follow orders. There is no Kyle Reese figure, no John Connor, no journey of growth. Masculinity is either mechanical or submissive. That’s not just bad storytelling—it’s demoralizing.
This shift isn’t isolated. It reflects broader trends in media where male role models are either erased or flattened. If the only choices men are given are between soulless invincibility or quiet obedience, many will either check out or adopt harmful illusions. The myth of the machine—cool, distant, dominant—leads to destruction. And when the crash comes, men will realize too late: they weren’t the Rev-9. They never were.
The Need for Real Male Role Models
We need stories that restore human struggle, sacrificial love, and emotional courage. Not just for women, but for men too. The world needs more Kyles—and fewer Rev-9s.