Terminator is an important film when it comes to science fiction in Hollywood. Sarah Connor, through the Terminator franchise, has become one of the most recognizable female science fiction protagonists, only superseded by Ripley from Aliens. A recent theory has come to light, pointing out that Sarah Connor might have lied to her son about who his father was, which was originally ‘revealed’ to be his best friend from the future, Kyle Reese.
Kyle Reese goes back in time to protect Sarah Connor, whose future son leads the rebellion against the machines and is almost successful in overthrowing Skynet and its mechanical monsters. Sarah tells John that his father is Kyle Reese, but the theory states this must be a lie told by Sarah to motivate John to become the hero of humanity that he is supposed to be.
John’s father was Sarah’s date before she met Kyle Reese
Before the main events of the film begin, we see Sarah Connor preparing for a night out before her date cancels on her. This would have been Sarah’s second date with the character, which means that she had possibly hooked up with him before he canceled. It is assumed that this character is, in fact, John’s father. The evidence for this is corroborated by the fact that the date was voiced by none other than James Cameron himself, the father of the franchise.
Two reasons are proposed by the theory when it comes to Sarah’s lie to John. First, the theory states that Sarah told John that his father was Kyle Reese so that she could protect him from Skynet.
Keeping the identity of the father a secret could make it more difficult for Skynet to erase John’s existence. The other reason she tells John that his father is Kyle Reese is to inspire him, such that he feels that he is destined to save humanity and that he is the only one who can fight the machine menace in the future.
Kyle Reese is probably John Connor’s father
While there are multiple theories about who could be John Connor’s father, it is safe to assume that the father, as dictated by the canon, is Kyle Reese. It makes complete sense that the character would send his father back in time to protect himself and his mother. This would not only serve as the perfect motivation for the character but would also put in place the time loop that James Cameron intended to be a part of the film.
Kyle Reese would be the father of John Connor through a predestination paradox, one that would have him be Connor’s father despite being about 20 years younger than him. This fact has been corroborated multiple times through the Terminator franchise. Kyle Reese is John Connor’s father, and Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor did not lie to her son about his parentage.
