Sarah Connor is one of the best characters in the Terminator franchise, and three different performers have played the iconic figure in live-action. Originating in one of James Cameron's first box-office hits, The Terminator, Sarah Connor evolved throughout the series from a terrified victim to one of the best action heroes ever seen in movies or on TV.
Terminator has become an enormous franchise. The series has spawned six feature films, a live-action television series, an anime series in Terminator Zero, and countless video games and comics. The story that the series tells, about the promise of an apocalyptic future following a terrifying artificial intelligence takeover, has only grown more prescient in the years since it began.
The future of Terminator is currently unclear. There is certainly more story that can be told in this world, although the franchise has played with timelines significantly throughout its run, and knowing exactly where another chapter could begin and on whom it could focus remains a question. James Cameron has discussed Terminator 7, which is certainly a promising prospect.
Still, it is hard to imagine a proper Terminator movie without Sarah Connor's presence. While the character did not appear in two of the sequels, her shadow loomed large over their stories, and she was sorely missed. Arguably even more important than Arnold Schwarzenegger to the franchise, Sarah Connor has been presented in three different iterations, and each has been successful.
Emilia Clarke brought a uniquely vulnerable charm to Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys. The film played with timelines in an unexpected way, and gave the character a chance to rise up as an action hero in her own right, taking new control of the situations presented in the first film.
Clarke is stunningly beautiful, and she bulked up for the role. Her physical work was excellent, and the unique charm that she brought to the character presented a refreshing take on the familiar role. Paired with Jai Courtney as Kyle Reese, the pair crafted new versions of the original film's characters.
The major issue here is that both Clarke and Reese felt strangely matched to those roles. Presenting a more polished and glossy version of the heroes, the material in Genisys is largely considered to be some of the weakest in the series, which contributes to this presenting a less effective version of these characters.
As it stands, Sarah Connor remains one of Emilia Clarke's best roles, and she did a commendable job with the material available. However, the other two iterations of the iconic hero remain even stronger.
Lena Headey, another star now known for her work on Game of Thrones, was a tremendous Sarah Connor. Finding an excellent balance of vulnerability and viciousness, Headey's version of Sarah Connor felt like an accurate evolution of the character seen in the first two films.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was a fantastic series and is arguably even better than many of the Terminator sequels. Its two seasons gave Headey the chance to really dive into the depths of her character.
Showing the emotional toll of motherhood balanced against the turmoil of an encroaching robot apocalypse, Headey's work on the series was its strongest and most complex highlight.
Still, much of Headey's version of the hero worked as the next step in what had been seen before. With that in mind, while a tremendous portrayal, it is difficult to see this iteration of the hero as stronger than the iconic version upon which it is based.
Linda Hamilton originated the role of Sarah Connor, and her iteration remains the strongest version of the character. Appearing in The Terminator as a victim before returning as a true action hero in its sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Hamilton helped to create one of the most complex action heroes of the 20th century.
While Terminator: Dark Fate had a more mixed reception, it is hard to argue against how strong Hamilton's return to the role was. Tempered with cynicism from her experiences of loss and hopelessness, this version of the character balanced a stoic, battle-hardened demeanor with tremendous grief.
If one thinks of Sarah Connor, they will most likely picture Linda Hamilton's version of the character, and for good reason. A wonderful star with a unique presence, Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor is the best version to date and remains the beating heart of the Terminator franchise.
