Post by terrasj on Dec 14, 2009 2:57:32 GMT -5
Didn't realize there wasn't a thread specifically for John Henry as a new character (re-boot of Cromartie's body anew) all on his own.
Made this thread in reply in further detail discussing John Henry as a concept from the existing thread 02x22 Born to Run, page 42
Most agreed. JH up to this point has been in a child-like state, still learning what he is, what the world is.
Huh, cool - never thought of it that way. But I wonder whether JH's child-like personality(?) was more out of inexperience than lack of ... whatever it is that Cam's chip has but Cromartie's didn't?
Well, I'm fascinated by John Henry since the writers have ultimately asked and then explored:
- What if we've got this Terminator body which can be repaired but it lacks a cpu.
- What if, we develop the Turk more into a learning A.I in Weaver's hands?
- What if we can some how find a new way to plug in and tether from the learning A.I into the Terminator by an indiscriminate port instead of the cpu port?
The really cool concept here is that by franchise standards, Terminators have been made to be lethal and outright scary. They're programmed killers by default, while a few have been captured and converted / reprogrammed as protectors and Resistance sided fighters. Yet until Season two, we've never had a Terminator (as an external developing A.I mainframe interface receptacle) with a completely blank slate in memory and knowledge.
A Terminator that is much like a new born child, starting out first as an infant.
His first moments are of pure literal discovery of his senses and body. Eyesight, speech, hands, touch, self awareness of a whole new body with unknown motor skills. Many senses which were previously not available to the A.I when it was limited to its server housing.
Now for some undetermined length of time, John Henry's been taking baby steps with his body, gaining familiarity with more of his body slowly. He can walk around, develop motor skills and finer motor skills with his hands and fingers (by playing with lego toys). Physically he's grown from an infant to a young child, but does not know his own body's limits or full potential.
Yet knowledge and experience-wise, John Henry's also very much like a young child. He has no knowledge of morals, nor knows right from wrong, or consequences of choices and actions he makes. Nor does he know how frail human bodies can be, let alone the concept of death. (Dr. Sherman gets killed by accident).
Thus part of the fascination is with the blank slate concept, watching John Henry progress from infant to child as he learns. (When all other Terminators, even the re-programmed ones benefit of starting out pre-programmed with all the necessary information and knowledge as a standard 'package' to go about their task from the assembly line.)
The other fascinating concept is the opportunity to be able to teach, train, and learn a Terminator that literally is a blank slate. There is opportunity to value and view humanity as important, to be treasured and protected. There would be little or less chance of it turning sides into a human killing machine.
It would also fly in the face of what Kyle Reese originally said about machines - that they can't be reasoned or bargained with. As Weaver brought in originally Dr.Sherman, then Ellison to further instruct, guide, and tutor John Henry; especially in the ways of teachings within the bible.
Its not clear what Weaver's entire plans were for John Henry, but there might be a connection to the Rogue Faction and the Resistance. Both factions have a common enemy which is SkyNet, yet both factions don't really trust one another. John Henry could possibly help bridge that gap, show the humans a different side to the machines, while showing the machines the positive side of what humanity has to offer.
A bit of a crack!theory here, but I'll take a wild guess Weaver intended John Henry to be to the Rogue Faction as to what John Connor is to the Resistance. Maybe not so much as a successful soldier / leader / tactician, but more as in an inspiration to better rally the faction, and help sway it to trust the humans more. Especially given JH's 'upbringing' , tutored by a human, 'raised' by a liquid metal. Little bit of symbolism there in itself.
Although now that Cam's chip is inside him, its not known how much of Cameron's personality is present or not. Though at the very least he'd have a chance at survival without being totally naive to the situation.
I'll also present another crack!theory: We're all on the assumption that John Henry used the machine to jump forward into the future. What if he didn't jump anywheres, and simply left the building through the garage access that Cameron entered through?
Made this thread in reply in further detail discussing John Henry as a concept from the existing thread 02x22 Born to Run, page 42
Most agreed. JH up to this point has been in a child-like state, still learning what he is, what the world is.
Huh, cool - never thought of it that way. But I wonder whether JH's child-like personality(?) was more out of inexperience than lack of ... whatever it is that Cam's chip has but Cromartie's didn't?
Well, I'm fascinated by John Henry since the writers have ultimately asked and then explored:
- What if we've got this Terminator body which can be repaired but it lacks a cpu.
- What if, we develop the Turk more into a learning A.I in Weaver's hands?
- What if we can some how find a new way to plug in and tether from the learning A.I into the Terminator by an indiscriminate port instead of the cpu port?
The really cool concept here is that by franchise standards, Terminators have been made to be lethal and outright scary. They're programmed killers by default, while a few have been captured and converted / reprogrammed as protectors and Resistance sided fighters. Yet until Season two, we've never had a Terminator (as an external developing A.I mainframe interface receptacle) with a completely blank slate in memory and knowledge.
A Terminator that is much like a new born child, starting out first as an infant.
His first moments are of pure literal discovery of his senses and body. Eyesight, speech, hands, touch, self awareness of a whole new body with unknown motor skills. Many senses which were previously not available to the A.I when it was limited to its server housing.
Now for some undetermined length of time, John Henry's been taking baby steps with his body, gaining familiarity with more of his body slowly. He can walk around, develop motor skills and finer motor skills with his hands and fingers (by playing with lego toys). Physically he's grown from an infant to a young child, but does not know his own body's limits or full potential.
Yet knowledge and experience-wise, John Henry's also very much like a young child. He has no knowledge of morals, nor knows right from wrong, or consequences of choices and actions he makes. Nor does he know how frail human bodies can be, let alone the concept of death. (Dr. Sherman gets killed by accident).
Thus part of the fascination is with the blank slate concept, watching John Henry progress from infant to child as he learns. (When all other Terminators, even the re-programmed ones benefit of starting out pre-programmed with all the necessary information and knowledge as a standard 'package' to go about their task from the assembly line.)
The other fascinating concept is the opportunity to be able to teach, train, and learn a Terminator that literally is a blank slate. There is opportunity to value and view humanity as important, to be treasured and protected. There would be little or less chance of it turning sides into a human killing machine.
It would also fly in the face of what Kyle Reese originally said about machines - that they can't be reasoned or bargained with. As Weaver brought in originally Dr.Sherman, then Ellison to further instruct, guide, and tutor John Henry; especially in the ways of teachings within the bible.
Its not clear what Weaver's entire plans were for John Henry, but there might be a connection to the Rogue Faction and the Resistance. Both factions have a common enemy which is SkyNet, yet both factions don't really trust one another. John Henry could possibly help bridge that gap, show the humans a different side to the machines, while showing the machines the positive side of what humanity has to offer.
A bit of a crack!theory here, but I'll take a wild guess Weaver intended John Henry to be to the Rogue Faction as to what John Connor is to the Resistance. Maybe not so much as a successful soldier / leader / tactician, but more as in an inspiration to better rally the faction, and help sway it to trust the humans more. Especially given JH's 'upbringing' , tutored by a human, 'raised' by a liquid metal. Little bit of symbolism there in itself.
Although now that Cam's chip is inside him, its not known how much of Cameron's personality is present or not. Though at the very least he'd have a chance at survival without being totally naive to the situation.
I'll also present another crack!theory: We're all on the assumption that John Henry used the machine to jump forward into the future. What if he didn't jump anywheres, and simply left the building through the garage access that Cameron entered through?