Terminator: Dark Fate was a total disaster, and one of the worst bombs of 2019. Since its debut, the film hasn't managed to win any hindsight favor either. That being said, it was a movie that decided to take the aging Terminator franchise in an entirely new direction, which was not without its successes or merits.

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Today we're examining 5 times Terminator: Dark Fate managed to prove itself as a worthy sequel, and 5 times it completely failed in its quest. Come with us if you want to learn!

Worthy: It Continued From T2

If Dark Fate had anything going for it, it was the decision to pick up after the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and ignore every sequel that came after. It wasn't without controversy, however. In so doing, the film essentially admitted its own convoluted, unimpressive timeline.

Still, it took the hit in order to send a message to fans that they were going back to the roots of Terminator 2. This was a smart move, especially on the back of the disastrous Terminator: Genisys, released a short time prior to Dark Fate's release.

Unworthy: It Killed The Most Important Character

While picking up from T2 might have been a bold and smart play, the way it went about it was anything but. The decision to murder John Connor in the first five minutes of the film sent shockwaves through the fan community, and killed any chance Dark Fate had of scoring a victory.

The creative decision was a mortal blow that completely negated the struggle and sacrifice made by the Connor family in the first two films, not to mention the death of Kyle Reese. Many fans saw it as a slap in the face; a means of doing away with the old in favor of a selfish personal take by the director.

Worthy: The Guns

The Terminator series has always been about big explosions, and big guns. In that respect, Dark Fate held true to the Terminator namesake, offering viewers a glimpse at the most up-to-date weaponry that has come out since the glory days of 1991.

Even Sarah Connor got in on the action, showing up in glorious form with a Fostech Origin-12, which she used to poke big holes in the film's main antagonist, the Rev 9.

Unworthy: The Action

No Terminator film has managed to come close to what was glimpsed in Terminator 2, and that's because none of the directors was able to match the visionary genius of creator James Cameron. The same holds true for Dark Fate.

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Without Cameron behind the lens, the action scenes in Dark Fate are run-of-the-mill and uninspired, relying on boisterous CGI sequences that ended up looking downright silly. The final act would prove to be its unfortunate swan song.

Worthy: Sarah Connor

Fans may not have fully recognized Sarah Connor in comparison to her days as a traumatized mental patient turned world savior, but it was great to see Linda Hamilton back in the role, regardless.

For long-time Terminator buffs, this was great, and few ever thought the day would come when Hamilton would once again step into the role that made her such an icon. Unfortunately, the lackluster performance of Dark Fate meant that it was probably her last appearance, as well.

Unworthy: Sarah Connor's Attitude

This Sarah Connor was quite different from her T1 + T2 counterpart. After losing her son John to another infiltrator unit, Connor largely became a drifter devoid of passion, or a purpose. Instead, Dark Fate sees her hunting Terminators in a pseudo-suicidal quest for justice and absolution.

She would also embody the worst characteristics of our nihilistic modern-day anti-hero, as well. While T2's Sarah Connor struggled to bond with a son she loved more than anything else, Dark Fate's Connor was largely devoid of this charm. In the end, she became an instrument of destruction, rather than a beacon of hope.

Worthy: A New Direction

With several sequels to T2 under its belt, the Terminator franchise had little place else to go. T3 picked up after the events of T2 in what is now supposedly an alternate timeline. Terminator: Salvation took the setting far into a post-Judgment Day future, and Genisys attempted to retcon Terminator 1 and 2 in the worst possible way.

In the end, Dark Fate tried something new, and should be commended for the attempt, even if it didn't quite work out. The decision to replace SkyNET with the A.I. known as Legion upset many fans, but anything else would have been a rehash of what came before.

Unworthy: A Weak Protagonist

Terminator John Connor and Dani Ramos

John Connor's death caused Dark Fate to suffer a blow that it couldn't recover from, but his replacement added insult to injury. Switching up Connor for the character of Daniella "Dani" Ramos was a bad move, primarily because her character was totally unconvincing as the future leader of the resistance.

Had Dark Fate attempted to cast the role with a woman of Mackenzie Davis' presence, fans might have bought it. Unfortunately, actress Natalia Reyes failed to win over audiences as a battle-hardened, butt-whooping super-heroine due to bad miscasting.

Worthy: Grace

A surprising standout character of the film was Grace, played by Mackenzie Davis. Though some fans voiced concern over the casting, Grace was actually a believable character that managed to connect with the audience.

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Her character's history as a soldier-turned-superhuman cyborg might be a bit over-the-top in comparison to the franchise's attempt to remain grounded in reality, but by this point, any idea was on the table. Grace worked, even if the overall story did not.

Unworthy: Carl

It felt as if Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast in Dark Fate as a means of driving audiences to theaters, and in that respect, it might have led to its downfall. After playing up the aged cyborg Terminator plot device in the ill-fated Terminator: Genisys, this felt like a rehash.

Worse, Carl was written like terrible fanfiction. The concept of a battle-ready T-800 Terminator settling down for the quiet life with a woman and her child while running a drapery business was too much for fans to swallow. It made no sense, it felt tacked on, and desperate. In hindsight, it might have been better if Schwarzenegger was not cast in the film at all.

NEXT: 10 Vital Things Required To Reboot The Terminator Franchise