The Complexity of Time Travel in Terminator: Original Father of John Connor

The question of John Connor's original father in the initial unaltered Terminator timeline has long intrigued fans. In the original narrative, Sarah Connor does not explicitly mention John Connor's biological father, as the focus is primarily on the battle against Skynet and the intricate time travel elements. This ambiguity serves as a pivotal plot point, introducing the complications and nuances of time travel in the series.

Understanding Time in Terminators

There are two common perspectives on time within the Terminator franchise. One perspective, which segments the timeline into distinct iterations, suggests that the events in the future occur as a result of a previous timeline. In this view, the first Terminator movie depicts a "second iteration" where John Connor's father is someone else prior to Kyle Reese.

However, this interpretation does not align with how time is perceived within the Terminator universe. For a more accurate understanding, time in Terminator is presented as a singular, linear construct. Events in the future are intrinsically linked to events in the past, and there is no distinct 'iteration' of a timeline. Kyle Reese becoming John Connor's father is a fact that is unchangeable and eternal.

In a more complex perspective:

Kyle Reese is the father of John Connor, and this relationship is always and unchangeably true. John Connor was destined to send Kyle Reese back in time, and Kyle always served as his father.

This concept is further explored in the Star Trek: Voyager episode Future's End 1 2, where the USS Voyager is involved in a temporal anomaly. This storyline illustrates the concept of simultaneity, where both the future and the past are occurring simultaneously and there is no before or after. This temporal loop demonstrates that all events are happening at the same time, creating a dense and intricate timeline.

Temporal Loops and Simultaneity

In the Terminator storyline:

When John Connor sends Kyle Reese back in time, it is not a simple cause-effect relationship. The events of the past and the future are intrinsically connected, and there is no prior timeline. Instead, the events function in a manner similar to the loop depicted in Star Trek: Voyager.

This dimensional loop is illustrated by the interplay between past and future events. For example, the actions of Kyle Reese in the past directly influence the outcome of the events in the future. The insertion of the time traveler Jen Wang into the timeline in Terminator: Genisys is an example of this, where her interactions with John Connor's past have immediate and significant consequences on his future.

Evidence of Simultaneity

The events in the Terminator timeline, especially those involving time travel, are a testament to this concept of simultaneity. The emergence of the nazi-terminator in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the introduction of the line "Judgment Day is July 29, 1997" set in motion a series of events that altered the future.

The question of whether there was a prior timeline or if these events were part of a single, unbroken sequence of time reflects the complexities of the Terminator universe. The answer is that the events function in a simultaneous and interconnected manner, with no distinct 'before' or 'after'.

To summarize:

Is it known who John Connor's original father was in the initial unaltered Terminator timeline before he initially met Kyle Reese?

There is no evidence of a prior timeline. The events of the past and the future all happen simultaneously, with Kyle Reese's role as John Connor's father being an eternal and unchangeable fact.