I love when a blockbuster franchise can make a sequel/reboot that hits all its best zeitgeist-y highlights, but also gives new fans a seamless entry into the fandom like Terminator: Dark Fate.

While I am not a Terminator superfan, I have grown to appreciate the complexity of this franchise. And while previous chapters in the Connor era may not have been as successful as others, I am beyond excited to watch Terminator branch out to a whole new world of stories.

Terminator: Dark Fate effectively closed the first, drawn out chapter of this saga and opened a brand new world of options and a whole new future to keep safe. The Sarah and John Connor chapter of Terminator found a satisfying conclusion in Terminator: Dark Fate, including giving Sarah motivation for the next chapter in her life and a little closure regarding the machine that stole her happiness away from her.

And it also introduces us to the new future, to Grace and Dani, and to a stunningly effective killing machine in the form of Gabriel Luna. I could not be more happy with this movie if I tried. I love that new fans can jump in right here with ease, and choose whether to retrace this franchise’s steps, or not, without missing much of a beat.

And at the same time, we still got a couple “I’ll Be Back”s in there; we watched Sarah and the T-100 (now known as Carl) together on screen; and we learned that the old future has officially passed away, that Skynet is once and for all vanquished.

But, human beings never learn, so it isn’t long until a need for protection and convenience leads mankind to once again put their hope in an A.I. And that A.I. once again, finds a way to turn on its creator. That’s where Grace comes in.

This movie wouldn’t have been anywhere near as successful without the incredible talents of Mackenzie Davis. As Grace, she embodies the fierceness of a terminator, but thanks to a brilliant twist in the Terminator mythology, remains very much human. Grace’s determination to save this one woman seems almost programmed into her, but before the end of the movie, we know it comes from the deepest and most affectionate chambers of her heart.

In addition to Davis’ brilliance, I also want to applaud the approachable method this movie used to showcase the harried lives of the three women at its heart, without ever sexualizing any of them.

This is the type of feminist movie I’ve always longed for: a solid, badass action movie where you never hear the words “strong woman” or have to endure stupid jokes about periods or doing all the action in a skirt; one where the women are the heroes and just get it fucking done.

And there is no shortage of that. Whether its Davis as Grace, Natalia Reyes as Dani, or Linda Hamilton as Sarah, each of them fight their asses off in this movie. No matter how many times Gabriel Luna’s Rev-9 finds them, they throw literally everything they have at him. And the ending is every bit as sweet as it is bitter.

It would be impossible to write a Terminator: Dark Fate review without at least mentioning the man who made the franchise what it is. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role in this chapter of the saga is appropriate, neccesary, and a fitting tribute to the machine that started it all. This could be his last appearance as a T-100.

Thanks to what we know about Terminators, we also know if he wanted to come back, there’s probably a way. I don’t know what Arnold’s attitude is toward continuing to appear in these movies. He’s definitely given his all to this character and franchise, so I’m glad that going forward, the Terminator franchise can live on with or without his physical presence in the films. His spirit runs through the veins of this story, and that will never change.

I don’t know what the plan is for the next installment in the Terminator saga, I just know that if it builds off the solid foundation laid by Terminator: Dark Fate, then it’s destined to succeed in all the ways.

I have no idea if Gabriel Luna’s Rev-9 will continue to appear as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-100 has. I have no idea if this particular future is now safe and sound, or if another generation of Terminator will be sent to take out Dani Ramos next. I have no idea if the Grace we see at the end of the movie will be the exact same fighting force we saw throughout Terminator: Dark Fate. All I do know, is no matter where they go from here, my ass will be in a theater, ready for when we get the next chapter.

‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ is playing now in theaters nationwide.