Netflix’s latest sci-fi anime Terminator Zero presents itself as a brand new chapter to the existing lore of the Terminator franchise by offering a different perspective on the fateful Judgment Day, introducing fresh characters, settings, and inventive concepts—which goes on to show the versatile potential of the central theme of man/machine conflict. At the same time, the series acknowledges preceding live-action movies through a number of Easter eggs, references, and clever thematic significance, which hints at the existing connection among all the stories set in the Terminator universe. Sure, fans don’t get to see any Connor or Reese trying to avert the impending doom or two Terminators duking it out; instead, a potent mix of physical and psychological dread induced by artificial intelligence is on display throughout eight episodes. But there are enough clues scattered around which eagle-eyed fans of the series can identify quite easily,...