Model 101 is the first episode of the anime series Terminator Zero. It premiered on Netflix on Thursday, August 29th, 2024. The episode shares its name with the Model 101 terminator.
Synopsis[]
The official synopsis for episode "Model 101" from Netflix:
In 1997, a haunted scientist brushes his family aside for an all-consuming project. In 2022, a renegade fighter battles a powerful robot for vital data.
Plot summary[]
In 2022, a beautiful resistance fighter Eiko managed to extract vital information from a Terminator patrol unit with a future minigun who looks 60 years old.
In 1997, Malcolm Lee wakes from a nightmare about a nuclear blast killing him and his family. In the living room, Malcolm's eldest son Kenta is building a new night light for his brother Hiro. Malcolm is initially impressed, but then disapproves to learn that Kenta took parts from the microwave and the blender. Kenta is displeased to learn that Malcolm will work even though it's Saturday, as Malcolm hasn't been around for children much lately, and he obsesses over his work.
The children's nanny, Misaki, stops by a toy store to pick up a robotic cat toy, a Koneko and has trouble getting help from a robotic assistant. A human assistant says there might be something wrong with the robotic assistant's sensors, and Misaki buys the Koneko toy.
At Malcolm's home, the children play loudly while Malcolm tries to get some business done over the phone. Misaki arrives, and Malcolm is frustrated that she's late. He tells them that he won't be back that night or tomorrow, which upsets his daughter Reika because she wants them to go to the park for their late mother. Malcolm learns that Misaki bought the kids a Koneko, and the kids are excited about the toy, but Malcolm insists that the toy be returned. Misaki agrees, but after Malcolm leaves, she agrees to let the kids open the box to play with the Koneko for the day before she returns it. Kenta comments that their dad won't let them have any robots in the house, but Reika says the problem isn't because it's a robot, but because it's a cat -- and she looks at a photo of their mother holding a cat.
As Malcolm is driven to work, he notices the various robots walking among the population, assisting in various tasks. Elsewhere, a robot has trouble with a dog named Indie. The dog runs into the street, causing a car to swerve and crash. The driver is injured from the accident, but the robot doesn't acknowledge or help him as it looks for the dog. Malcolm's car passes protestors as he goes to his work at Cortex Industries. The protestors demand that the company stop destroying the environment, and Malcolm ignores them.
At Cortex Industries, Malcolm goes through various levels of security. He gets a report from Natsuko of energy spikes through the night, but everything is ready for the day's session. Malcolm and Natsuko use two keys to open a secure door. He asks for the date; it's August 29th, which means it's the 28th in Los Angeles, and Malcolm comments that there isn't enough time. He heads into the empty corridor and gives a retina scan to enter another secure room, where he greets the artificial intelligence Kokoro. Malcolm and Kokoro discuss the upcoming Judgment Day, and Kokoro understands that Malcolm wants her to save humanity, but they're running out of time. They begin their work.
In 2022, Eiko returns to the resistance camp and goes to see The Prophet. She hands over the data she was able to get from the Terminator. The data reveals that Skynet will attempt to time-travel back to 1997. Meanwhile, the Terminator that Eiko faced catches up to the resistance camp and kills the guards. Elsewhere, at a Terminator Factory, a Terminator is given information on Malcolm Lee and enters a Time Displacement Device set for August 29th, 1997.
Cast and characters[]
Cast, in order of credit:
- 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
- Ann Dowd as the Prophet
- Julie Nathanson as Annie
- Vanessa Marshall as Natsuko
- Tom Bromhead as 1NNO
Additional characters:
- The Terminator that fights and tracks Eiko
- The Terminator that goes back in time
- Indie, a dog that runs from the robot walking it
- Skynet, mentioned only
Quotes[]
- Malcolm: "Do you remember our first conversation?"
Kokoro: "I remember everything."
Malcolm: "So you remember what you asked me?"
Kokoro: "'Why am I here?'"
Malcolm: "Kokoro, I believe the path before us is not set yet. I believe that humanity still has a fighting chance to save itself from what's coming. And if I were to bring you online before tomorrow ends, then I believe that you have the power to change our fate."
Kokoro: "You believe I have the power to save you. But how do you know that I will?"
Malcolm: "I... I don't know."
Notes[]
- Malcolm Lee has a nightmare about Judgment Day, which is reminiscent of Sarah Connor's nightmares in the Terminator films.
[]
