Why Did Sarah Connor Keep the Terminator That Attacked Her at the Beginning of Terminator 2: Judgment Day?

When examining the plot of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, one thing quickly becomes evident: despite the T-800's initial role as an enemy, Sarah Connor found herself keeping him. This move, while seemingly counterintuitive, was a critical decision that underscores her character's evolution and the larger narrative's thematic depth.

The T-800's Initial Involvement

The T-800, a reprogrammed A-1600 model, first appeared in the original Terminator film. Cast in an antagonistic role, this Terminator was tasked with killing Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance against the machines. However, after a series of insightful moments and key decisions by John, this T-800 was reprogrammed and eventually taken in by Sarah.

This was not the model that targeted Sarah, but it was closely related. Its similarity to the killer T-800 made it either a trophy or a nagging reminder of her past, especially given the T-800's lineage as a genuine machine hunting model. Nevertheless, Sarah Connor made a significant shift, keeping it for reasons beyond just curiosity or a sense of déjà vu.

John's Persuasion

Sarah's reluctance to keep the T-800 was initially a prominent quality. However, as the story evolved, John managed to convince his mother that this particular Terminator was essential for their future endeavors. The reasoning was the need for manpower, resources, and particularly intelligence: the captured T-800 offered intimate knowledge of terminators and perhaps the key to mounting a more effective defense against them.

John's argument about the importance of "all the help they can get" is crucial in this context. Given the looming threat of the T-1000 and the impending downfall of Skynet, any ally, no matter how contrary or seemingly underwhelming, was an asset to be leveraged. Moreover, the T-800 represented a source of vital information that could be valuable in the battle against the machines.

The Complex Relationship

The T-800 and Sarah's relationship became complex after his reprogramming. Sarah came to have varying levels of distrust and care, which is a hallmark of her character's emotional depth. She initially was skeptical of the T-800, forcing him to earn her trust through selfless acts, such as buying her time to recover from injuries and being a loyal and protective companion in the face of relentless danger.

This transformation in Sarah's attitude is a pivotal moment in the film. It depicts the personal growth and complex nature of her character. At one point, Sarah finds herself questioning her own nature as a human free will against a machine, making the T-800's existence a crucial refutation of the Terminator's programming and its dire predictions.

The Thematic Reconciliation

The act of keeping the T-800 and integrating him into their resistance shows a fundamental shift not just in the narrative direction but in the thematic exploration of the film. Sarah's decision represents a reconciliation of her fears and a more nuanced stance on what defines humanity. It also highlights the artificial nature of the conflict between man and machine, underscoring that the battle is not purely against machines, but against the line between human and non-human.

Ultimately, Sarah Connor's decision to keep the T-800 carries profound implications for the audience, challenging preconceptions and reinforcing the film's underlying themes about the relativity of good and evil, the power of love and instinct, and the unpredictability of the human-machine conflict. By doing so, Terminator 2: Judgment Day not only offers a thrilling plot but also a deeply thoughtful and emotionally resonant story.