10 Deleted Movie Scenes That Explain Confusing Moments
9. Why Does The T-1000 "Pulse" Liquid Metal Near The End? - Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The Confusing Moment
During the climax of T2, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) begins exhibiting strange behaviours, namely its liquid metal composition occasionally "pulsing" over its otherwise immaculate imitation of the human form. What is the meaning of this pulsing effect?
The Deleted Scene
James Cameron cut a wealth of fascinating content from T2's theatrical release, and though these were restored for various Director's Cuts in subsequent years, the version still typically shown on TV across the globe is the original theatrical cut.
And so, if you've not seen any Special Edition version of the film, you won't realise that the T-1000 actually spends the finale malfunctioning.
As it turns out, being frozen by liquid nitrogen, shot, and then reforming in an extremely hot environment has caused imperfections in the Terminator's ability to mimic.
The deleted parts of the sequence show the T-1000's limbs getting caught in the environment of the furnace and unintentionally mimicking it, hence why it also pulses in an attempt to correct the issue.
Additionally, this also explains how John (Edward Furlong) is able to recognise which of the two "Sarahs" (Linda Hamilton) is his actual mother at the end - the imposter is experiencing form malfunctions in its feet.