History TearJerker / Terminator2JudgmentDay

* When the T-800 struggles to fight against the T-1000 in the steel mill, the helpless Terminator can only limp and try to crawl away before the T-1000 impales him with a metallic pole. Thankfully the T-800 is able to come back online and manages to save Sarah and John from the T-1000.

** Hell, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEMICfWLOig this entire sequence]] is a TearJerker. It's VERY heartrending to see John pleading with the T-800 not to go. Even after you consider that it was the closest he ever got to have a father figure. Doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}} when watched back-to-back with Sarah's final speech in the movie.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XblVVbqIHU The "burning playground" opening]], juxtaposed to Brad Fidel's gentle and hopeful rendition of the tragic and bleak original ''Terminator'' theme, strikes just the '''right''' emotional nerves, not only underscoring the horror of Judgment Day but also reminding us of how important it is to save this world for the next generation.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XblVVbqIHU The "burning playground" opening]], juxtaposed to Brad Fidel's gentle and heartfelt rendition of the otherwise tragic and bleak original ''Terminator'' theme, strikes just the '''right''' emotional nerves, not only underscoring the horror of Judgment Day but also reminding us of how important it is to save this world for the next generation.

* Doubles as an InUniverse TearJerker: Sarah harshly [[ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike complains]] when she reunites with John, who was expecting some warmth and affection, but is instead devastated by her callous response.

* As Sarah is about to murder Dyson in cold-blood in front of his family, she realizes that [[IfyoukillhimyouwillbeJUSTLIKEhim she has become exactly like what she hates the most]] and collapses, shaken by fear and remorse.

* As Sarah is about to murder Dyson in cold-blood in front of his family, she realizes that she has become exactly like what she hates the most and collapses, shaken by fear and remorse.

*** Except, he did. ''Film/TerminatorDarkFate'', being [[{{Unreboot}} the canonical sequel to this film]], proved that the T-800, Sarah, and John's efforts to eradicate Skynet worked, but it was ''only'' Skynet that was stopped. [[TechnologyMarchesOn Technology will still march on]] beyond it, and so another [[AIIsACrapshoot crapshoot A.I.]], Legion, has already been prophesied to exist in the future. And this time, John won't be there to fight it, as he is killed by another T-800, later named "Carl," just three years after the events of ''Judgment Day''. Skynet is gone for good, but it took [[ArchEnemy its nemesis]] with it.

-->'''Sarah:''' Watching John with the machine, it was suddenly so clear. The Terminator would never stop, it would never leave him... it would always be there. And it would never hurt him, never shout at him or get drunk and hit him, or say it couldn't spend time with him because it was too busy. And it would die to protect him. Of all the would-be fathers who came and went over the years, this thing, this machine, was the only one who measured up. In an insane world, it was the sanest choice.

'''WARNING:''' Spoilers are unmarked.
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-->'''T-800:''' [[HumansAreBastards It's in your nature to destroy yourselves.]]

* As Sarah is about to murder Dyson in cold-blood in front of his family, she realizes that she has become exactly like what she hates the most and collapses, weeping in guilt.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"I know now why you cry. But it is something I could never do."'']]

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVZ2NShfCE8 The newly orchestrated title theme]] takes the tragic bleakness of the original theme and adds in an evocative undertone of apocalyptic hellfire, all the better to underscore the horror of Judgment Day.
* Doubles as in-universe tearjerker: Sarah harshly [[ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike complains]] when she reunites with John, who was expecting some warmth and affection, but is instead devastated by her callous response.
** The novelization takes it a step further; Sarah has been desperate to toughen up her son, to prepare him for the war to come, but seeing the hate in his eyes after brushing him off, she laments at how much this whole mess has cost them.
* John and the T-800 watch a couple kids play with toy guns:
** "We're not going to make it, are we? People, I mean."
*** "[[HumansAreBastards It's in your nature to destroy yourselves."]]
* As Sarah Connor was about to murder Dyson in cold-blood in front of his family, she realizes that she has become exactly like what she hates the most, and collapses weeping in guilt.
** Sarah is trying to steel herself in killing Dyson by shouting, "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" Dyson, bleeding from a previous gunshot wound innocently utters, "What?" He was about to be killed in front of his family and he honestly does not know why.
** When John and the Terminator enter, John checks on Sarah and she just starts apologizing for how she's treated him. Seeing how Danny protected Dyson as best he could, and Dyson never once scolded or yelled at him, trying to reassure his son and keep him safe, where she had gotten angry with John, all for caring.
* Sarah's summation of the Terminator; how despite or even ''because'' of its inherent inhumanity, it is the perfect father figure for John. Now think of how it sacrifices itself in the hopes of preventing Judgement Day. Sarah's life was forever changed by the few days she knew Kyle Reese, and John's was equally changed by the few days he knew the Terminator.
-->Watching John with the machine, it was suddenly so clear. The Terminator would never stop, it would never leave him... it would always be there. And it would never hurt him, never shout at him or get drunk and hit him, or say it couldn't spend time with him because it was too busy. And it would die to protect him. Of all the would-be fathers who came and went over the years, this thing, this machine, was the only one who measured up. In an insane world, it was the sanest choice.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XblVVbqIHU The "burning playground" opening]], juxtaposed to Brad Fidel's gentle and heartfelt rendition of the "Terminator Theme" strikes just the '''right''' emotional nerves, reminding us of how important it is to save this world for the next generation.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX9hL93HPMI Sarah's Nightmare]] which led up to the burning playground. Even though her voice is silenced for the moment before the explosion, the metallic clashing sound of the fence and the desperation she shows from hitting the fence and trying to yell out to them is enough to communicate the fact that she's trying to save them... to no avail.
* "I know now why you cry, but it's something I could never do." [[ManlyTears Grown Men Cried.]]
** And the bit at the end, y'know, with his.. the thumb, and... the molten, y'know, [[Series/{{Spaced}} is there someone else?]]
** The T-800's viewpoint flicking off for the final time as he's consumed by the molten steel.

-->'''Sarah''': It's over.\\
'''Terminator''': No. [[WhamLine There is one more chip.]]\\
''(Terminator points... to his own head, a booming drum playing in cue)''\\
'''Terminator''': [[ICannotSelfTerminate And it must be destroyed also.]]
** Hell, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEMICfWLOig this entire sequence]] is a TearJerker. It's VERY heartrending to see John pleading the T-800 not to go. Even after you consider that it was the closest he ever got to have a father figure. Doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}, when watched back-to-back with Sarah's final speech in the movie.

-->'''John Connor''': I order you not to go! I order you not to go! ''[[PleaseDontLeaveMe IorderyounottogoIorderyounottogo!]]''
** The look on Sarah's face right before she hits the button to lower the T-800 says it all; from the moment she first saw it, despite the fact that John's survival was its mission, she hadn't trusted it, all but vowing to destroy it at the first opportunity. Now, in the end, she has her chance....and she clearly doesn't want to.
** When the Terminator points to himself as the last possible source of the technology to inspire the creation of [=SkyNet=]. It's the point where you can see all the above coming, and the gut punch doesn't hurt any less because you know it's on its way.
*** The ultimate GutPunch comes from the sequels. This is the father-figure for John. He loves him, and Sarah respects him more than any other being in this world. And he must let himself to be destroyed to prevent judgement day. But this was only a SenselessSacrifice. Then, ''Terminator 3'' happened. And Judgement Day wasn't averted, only delayed. This terminator didn't have to die!
*** Except, he did. ''Film/TerminatorDarkFate'', being the canonical sequel to this film, proved that the Terminator, Sarah and John's tandem efforts to eradicate Skynet worked...and ''only'' Skynet. Technology will still march on beyond it, and a substitute named Legion has already been prophesied to exist in the future. And this time John won't be there to fight it - as another T-800, Carl, comes up just three years later after this film and kills him. Skynet is gone for good, but it took its nemesis with it. [[KickTheDog Who was killed by a man looking exactly like his father figure.]]
* Sarah's last line from the film:

--> '''John Connor:''' We spent a lot of time in Nicaragua and places like that. For a while there, she was with this [[ShellShockedVeteran crazy]] [[RetiredBadass ex-Green Beret guy,]] running guns. Then there were some other guys. She'd shack up with anybody she could learn from so she could teach me how to be this [[FutureBadass great military leader.]] Then she gets busted and it's like, "Sorry kid, your mom's a psycho. Didn't you know?" [[WasItAllALie It's like, everything I'd been brought up to believe was all made of bullshit?]] (''Thumps car hood'') I hated her for that. But everything she said was true. [[CassandraTruth She knew... and nobody believed her. Not even me.]] Listen, we gotta get her out of there.
** What makes it especially sad, was in the original timeline before Skynet's meddling with time travel, John never reconciled with his mother. He hated her... until the nuclear war she spoke of happened, and the survivors faced the nightmare, of the war against the machines. Cast your mind back to the first film, where Reese memorized a message for her... that she was his source of strength and comfort during the dark times. He deeply regretted never believing her again after she was incarcerated.
* Dyson getting fatally shot by a SWAT Team and later succumbing to his wounds. He takes such a painfully ''long'' time to bleed out, and the reason he hangs on until his last moment? So the men who shot him had a chance to get clear before he dropped his detonator and the explosives went off.
* Just the look on Dyson's face when the Terminator explains everything to come. Imagine knowing that something you've been working so hard on for so long, with so much potential to change the world for the better, instead kills billions and becomes the greatest threat humanity has ever faced.
--> '''Dyson:''' I feel like I'm gonna throw up.

** The T-800's viewpoint flicking off for the final time. * sniff* .

''(Terminator points...to his own head, a booming drum playing in cue)''\\
'''Terminator''': And it must be destroyed also.

*** The ultimate GutPunch comes from the sequels. This is the father-figure for John. He loves him, and Sarah respects him more than any other being in this world. And he must let himself to be destroyed to prevent judgement day. But this was only a SenselessSacrifice. Then, ''Terminator 3'' happened. And Judgement Day wasn't averted, only delayed. This terminator didn't had to die!

** Hell, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEMICfWLOig this entire sequence]] is a TearJerker. It's VERY heartrending to see John pleading the T-800 not to go. Even after you consider that it was the closest he ever got to have a father figure. Doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}, when watched back-to-back with Sarah's final speech in the movie.

*** The revelation that the T-800 has to sacrifice himself hits you ''hard'':

''(Terminator points to his own head, a booming drum playing in cue)''

*** Except, he did. ''Film/TerminatorDarkFate'', being the canonical sequel to this film, proved that the Terminator, Sarah and John's tandem efforts to eradicate Skynet worked. This becomes a tremendous ShootTheShaggyDog anyway however - as another T-800, Carl, comes up just three years later and kills John. Judgement Day was well and truly stopped, but at the cost of its own hero. [[KickTheDog Who was killed by a man looking exactly like his father figure.]]

--> '''Dyson:''' I feel like I'm gonna throw up.

* Dyson getting fatally shot by a SWAT Team and later succumbing to his wounds. He takes such a painfully ''long'' time to bleed out, and the reason he hangs on until his last moment? So the men who shot him had a chance to get clear before he dropped his detonator and the explosives went off.

* Dyson getting fatally shot by a SWAT Team and later succumbing to his wounds. He takes such a painfully ''long'' time to bleed out, and the reason he hangs on until his last moment? So the men who shot him could get clear before he dropped his detonator and the explosives went off.