Film lovers have launched into a debate over what may be the most “tragic” death captured on screen, and thousands agree it’s a side character in the hit James Cameron action sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
The 1991 film sees the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator – an advanced killing machine from the future that looks just like a human being – but in the role of the young John Connor’s protector instead of his assassin, as he was in the 1984 instalment.
Later in the sequel, Linda Hamilton’s world-weary and determined Sarah Connor learns that engineer Miles Dyson – played by Joe Morton – is responsible for developing the revolutionary microprocessor that allows for the creation of the artificial intelligence, Skynet.
When Skynet gains sentience, it launches a nuclear war which leads to the rise of the machines which take over the world and destroy civilisation as we know it.
In a desperate attempt to thwart this from happening in the future, Sarah plans to kill Miles. When she can’t go through with it, Miles is informed his designs are responsible for the destruction of humanity and agrees to help Sarah, John and the Terminator.
The group decide to break in and blow up the lab which houses Miles’ creations; they set a string of explosives but in the chaos that ensues, Miles is shot by police officers. The rest of the group escapes while he begins to bleed out.
He stays behind and holds the detonator, gasping for breath, before allowing it to make contact, blowing himself – and the lab – up in the process.
On Reddit, one person posted: “What is the most tragic ‘I’ll hold them off while you guys go’ death on screen for you?”
They then asked to discuss “the most gut-wrenching heroic sacrifices in film – those moments that hit like a truck emotionally and stay with you long after the credits roll”.
In the comments section, many people shared their thoughts on Miles Dyson’s tragic end. One film fan simply said: “Miles Dyson in T2. Still remember that scene years and years later.”
Another said: “The thing that stuck with me about that one was his gasping breaths. Dude was already messed up, choosing to blow up his life’s work on his way out. I really like James Cameron’s particular flavour of action melodrama; it almost always hits just right for me.”
Another said: “I was probably 9 when I saw this, and it stuck with me forever. He died like such a hero. He found out what he was doing was going to ruin the world and immediately saddled up to help stop it.
“Then I would think about his son, who at the time was a little younger than me, going through all that and then finding out his dad died anyway. And who knows what the news was gonna say about him?? Brutal.”
And another added: “I don’t think there’s been a more realistic depiction of a man slowly dying than his death in T2. It’s done so well that I actually get really uncomfortable watching it.
“The haggard breathing, the thousand yard stare, the intensity of his realization that he’s dying. Kind of subverts the action tropes of death feeling somewhat meaningless at times.”
