T-X
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| T-X | |
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| The T-X, played by Kristanna Loken | |
| First appearance | Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines |
| Portrayed by | Kristanna Loken, other cast members |
| Information | |
The T-X, nicknamed the "Terminatrix", is a fictional android assassin. It is the main antagonist in the movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. It was primarily portrayed by Kristanna Loken. The T-X has the ability to assume the appearance of other characters; therefore, several other cast members occasionally portrayed the T-X throughout the film. This ability to change shape is similar to that of the T-1000, the main villain of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
It draws many parallels with the first female terminator, the I-950 from the novel T2: Infiltrator.
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[edit] Concept and design
| "We were trying to come up with something that could hold its ground with the original Terminator. That was such an iconic figure- coming up with something that looked even more fantastic when next to the original Terminator was one of the biggest design challenges on the show." |
| — John Rosengrant[1] |
The T-X was designed in Stan Winston studios, where it was considered particularly challenging to design, as the script required a character capable of holding its own against the original Terminator. Originally, the T-X's endoskeleton was meant to convey an androgenous shape which would permit the cyborg to assume the superficial traits of both men and women, though later designs veered on it being more feminine. The final, approved T-X design was done by Aaron Sims, who designed it entirely on computer through a mixture of photoshop and 3D software. The T-X endoskeleton was painted chrome black, in order to differentiate it from the silver sheen of the T-800 endoskeleton. The T-X was also fitted with blue running lights, rather than the original's red. John Rosengrant later stated that the individual parts of the T-X endoskeleton were hard coated, sanded and polished through machines, resulting in a mathematically perfect model, unlike the endoskeleton in The Terminator, which was scultped by hand and lacked symmetry.[1]
[edit] Characteristics
The T-X is designed to not only terminate humans but rogue Terminators reprogrammed by the Resistance, an "anti-terminator terminator" as stated by John Connor. It is a composite of the T-800 and T-1000, a solid endoskeleton covered with polymimetic liquid metal alloy, allowing it to take the shape of any humanoid it touches. Because it is only coated in this material, it is possible to remove it from the endoskeleton using immensely strong magnetic force, such as from a cyclic particle accelerator. Powering all the T-X's systems is an onboard plasma reactor.[2]
Since only living tissue or mimetic polyalloy imitating human tissue can travel back in time, previous Terminators were limited to hand to hand combat and acquired weapons, or in the case of the T-1000, forming solid metal objects such as knives and stabbing weapons. The T-X, however, carries weapons internally, permitting it to take an arsenal back with it. Weapon discharges are fired from modified hands and forearms. During Terminator 3, its primary weapon in combat was a directed plasma energy weapon until it was badly damaged and replaced by the IAD ChemTech, a type of flamethrower. Other advanced onboard weaponry included (but possibly not limited to): P31 Caustic Shells (x 231); the HDE Predator (333b); the Finite Rapid Cluster Gun; .45 mm Cascader; the Nano-Disruptor (.222 mm) and the SUBauro Neutralizer (.444). It also has a circular saw for general cutting duty. Like other Terminators, it can readily use weapons designed for human use. The novelization also includes other capabilities; it has teeth that are harder than diamonds that can cut through solid titanium, can break a human spine just by pinching with the thumb and forefinger, and its thighs can squeeze with a force greater than an industrial hydraulic press. However, the T-X still needs to acquire vehicles and other forms of transport needed to accomplish its missions.
The T-X has advanced human identification systems built within; it is able to analyze DNA in blood samples by taking and processing them in its mouth, possesses infrared sensors to detect body heat, and possesses a retinal scanner. In addition to its own database, it can emulate a dial-up modem and connect to the Internet over a phone. It can also insert nanites into other machines, including cyborgs, to corrupt their programming and temporarily gain control over their actions. As the Model 101 stated, "the T-X is faster, more powerful, and more intelligent", making this model "a far more effective killing machine" than its predecessors. Feats shown in the movie include jumping a large distance onto a speeding hearse, punching straight through a car seat plus a man's torso and quickly recovering from a direct RPG hit. It was also able to wrap its legs around the Model 101 with its back turned towards it and then turn its head 180 degrees to face it. Despite the Model 101's remark about its superiority, however, the two are shown to be evenly matched in a physical confrontation at the Cyber Research Systems building, at least for a time.
Like other Terminators, the T-X exhibits a limited emotional range: it is visibly frustrated and performs a surprised double-take when it realizes that the Model 101 is still in pursuit during the crane chase early in the film, shows signs of phenomenal rage when it is thwarted from killing John Connor at Crystal Peak, apparently fears for its life shortly before its destruction at Crystal Peak, and exhibits an expression similar to a surprised gasp when it identifies John Connor's blood sample at the vet's office. It also demonstrates an understanding of human nature and psychology; when pulled over by a male police officer it increased the size of its female form's breast, in an apparent attempt to positively influence his reaction. It also looked genuinely nervous when the magnetizer was destroying it, and it gives an expression of utmost terror when the T-101 jammed its fuel cell into the T-X, knowing it was an instant from destruction.
[edit] Role in the movie series
The T-X is the villain in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, sent back to try to stop John Connor from founding the human resistance. Along with Connor, the T-X was programmed to seek out and kill 21 other primary targets, including Connor's future wife, Kate Brewster, her father, General Robert Brewster, and several of Connor's future lieutenants. In the case of the lieutenants, the TX was able to gain access to the public school database, obtain photos and addresses (work and home), and proceeded to kill several one by one; it is unknown how many it succeeded in assassinating, but the known ones are Jose Barrera, Elizabeth and William Anderson and Robert Brewster.
Other than a malfunctioning weapon, the T-X sustained no permanent damage throughout the film, until the Model 101 crashed a helicopter into it, causing it to lose its mimetic coating and legs. It was destroyed only when the reprogrammed Terminator jammed its last power cell into the T-X's mouth before it exploded.
[edit] Terminatrix vs. T-1000
The T-X (portrayed by Kristanna Loken) was SkyNet's upgrade to the liquid metal T-1000 (played by Robert Patrick in Terminator 2: Judgement Day) with more sophisticated weapons including a powerful pulse weapon. It was also the first female in the Terminator line. In the comic accompanied by the film, Terminator: Rise of the Machines, the T-X was battle-tested by SkyNet against several other terminators and by SkyNet itself. The T-1000 could make cutting weapons but the TX had them built in to her right arm. In T3, the T-800 (the original Terminator) said he was an obsolete design. According to the comic, the T-X in T3 was the only one built assigned to kill John Connor, Kathryn Brewster and Connor's eventual lieutenants. Unlike the T-1000, the T-X had nano-technological powers allowing her to control other machines, basically upgrading their CPUs, by using a tool from her finger on her right arm. Like the T-1000, the T-X could imitate other lifeforms and even change her appearance.
[edit] Role in the books
In the book Terminator Hunt, the second known T-X is trained by captured resistance members for a jump to the 1960s where she will track the Connor family for the next forty years. A captured resistance soldier, Paul Keeley, was tricked into helping make the T-X more human. An implant in his brain caused him to think that the T-X was a girl named Eliza, and his interaction with her helped her learn how to be human. The resistance captures the T-X and rescues Keeley. However, Eliza uses the implant in Paul Keeley's head to make him think that they have been captured by a rogue government, and he frees her. Overburdened with guilt, Paul Keeley convinces John and Katherine Connor to give him another chance to capture Eliza. Through the implant, Paul discovers the training facility she has escaped to, and Eliza is again captured by the resistance. Eliza is then successfully reprogrammed to serve the resistance.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Jody Duncan & James Cameron (2007). The Winston Effect: The Art and History of Stan Winston Studio. pp. 336. ISBN 1845761502.
- ^ "T-X is designed for extreme combat, driven by a plasma reactor..." (Terminator 3 Script - Dialogue Transcript)
[edit] External links
- T-X at the Internet Movie Database
