The phrase “No fate but what we make” is the film’s explicit thesis. It is a direct rebuttal to the Greek tragedy of the first film. In The Terminator , Kyle Reese is sent back to father the very leader he protects—a closed loop. In Terminator 2 , the loop is broken. Miles Dyson dies a hero. The remains of the Terminator are destroyed. The future changes.

It is a film that is constantly referenced in pop culture and memes, highlighting its enduring popularity and relevance.

The T-1000's mission is to assassinate John Connor (Edward Furlong), the ten-year-old future leader of the human resistance. In response, the human resistance, now led by an adult John Connor, sends back a reprogrammed T-800 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), identical to the model from the first film, to protect the young John.

The machines rose from the ashes of the nuclear fire. Their war to exterminate mankind had raged for decades, but the final battle would not be fought in the future. It would be fought here, in our present. Tonight.

watches the swings through the reinforced glass of her cell at Pescadero State Hospital, her knuckles white as she grips the bars

The original Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger)—the same model that hunted Sarah in 1984—is reprogrammed by the future John Connor and sent back to protect his younger self.

The most brilliant narrative stroke is the reversal of the first film. The monster from the original movie becomes the hero and father figure, while Sarah Connor transforms from a timid waitress into a hardened, muscular warrior, arguably becoming more "machine-like" than the robot protecting her son.

Edward Furlong, as John Connor, brought a new level of vulnerability and relatability to the franchise, while Robert Patrick's portrayal of the T-1000 set a new standard for on-screen villains. The film's cast, which included Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, and Tricia Helfer, delivered memorable performances that added to the film's emotional impact.