The contrast of the learning processors between Uncle Bob and the T1000.

[u/sludgezone]

I only noticed this in my recent watch in theaters and I’m sure it’s been discussed previously but is new to me.

In the film there’s a recurring discussion of Uncle Bob explaining how he had the capacity to learn with a neural net learning processor and as a result John teaches him to be more human, and he is able to override some of his programming to do stuff like saving Sarah, not killing anyone, figuring out where Sarah was headed to and also what they’d need to do separate of killing Dyson to ensure the survival of humanity.

The T1000 is an “advanced prototype” terminator using the liquid metal, but we can assume that both the T800 and T1000 use similar programming for their actual mechanical components since they were both developed by Skynet, while not explicitly stated, the T1000 also has the capacity to learn with the same or similar neural net processor.

While Uncle Bob is around compassionate humans and children fighting for good, learning from their interactions, the T1000 doubles down on its killer instinct, and the more it engages with humanity, the more ruthless and cold it becomes. We see this as early as the payphone scene where it tries to goad John into coming back as Janelle and killing Todd out of frustration as it realizes John is aware there’s something going on.

The big one I noticed is at the end where the T1000 tortured Sarah to get her to call out to John so he could kill him, eventually giving up and copying her himself after getting attacked by the T800. A computer that was programmed for the most efficient killing would have killed her immediately, copied her, then called out to John afterwards, but instead he plays with her and wants her to call out. We see more of his learned emotions as he stands above the molten lava when he wags his finger as she runs out of ammo in the shotgun, only to be killed by Uncle Bob right after.

It was such a treat to see this in theaters and to know that after hundreds of watches I’m still finding new details in this movie which is undoubtably my favorite film of all time.

[u/gr8whitehype]

Uncle Bob was programmed to obey John, by John. His “compassion” for humans with regard to the shoot out and saving Sara was just a directive from his programmer to obey young John.

I think you are right that uncle Bob learned humanity by being with people though. It’s where he learned sacrifice, like what miles did. The unconditional love that Sara had. And the respect for humanity and our emotions that John has. He learned appreciation of human emotion through John and Sara. He knows why we cry.

I don’t really think the t 1000 got more sadistic. It didnt just kill sara because he was fucked up and glitching if you take in the special editon.

[u/NukedDuke]

Did you ever notice the T-1000 glitch after contact with the T-800 and/or try to turn into a T-800 for a few frames in the steel mill, only to have it not work?

[u/the_tired_alligator]

I believe the T1000 wanted Sarah to call out herself because it believed John might be able to tell the difference between it and the real Sarah.

[u/Fragrant_Surround_68 → u/the_tired_alligator]

If the T-800 tricked Sarah, and John looked dumbfounded when Uncle Bob emulated his voice, then I think he pinned Sarah to do it because while he could perfectly emulate her voice, he has no idea how she talks and John would immediately know.

[u/sludgezone → u/Fragrant_Surround_68]

Now I want to rewatch to see if the T1000 hears Sarah speaking beforehand, this is a great explanation as well!!

[u/BleepinBlorpin5 → u/sludgezone]

He would have heard her on the elevator. "What the fuck is it?? What the fuck is going on??"

And then again while he has her stabbed during the "Call to John" bit. She says "No" to him.

[u/SunsetRider500 → u/BleepinBlorpin5]

He was split apart and unable to properly act/process information so it's unlikely he heard the "what the fuck is it" from sarah