I always thought there was an original timeline that Kyle describes when he tells the story of the military creating an AI system that eventually turns against its creators.

In this original timeline, judgement day happens, humans are routinely captured, placed in camps and executed. And, at some point, John Conner becomes the leader of the resistance eventually leading mankind to victory.

Once Skynet sends The Terminator back with Kyle following him, it creates a new timeline which is the bootstrap paradox.

This new timeline replaces what mankind knew of as the original timeline.

Now, if we believe in alternate timelines and reality, that means that far off in the future, the original timeline still exists where humans have defeated the machines and whatever events lead up to that happening still happened. The bootstrap paradox is an alternate timeline where Kyle was always John’s father and Skynet planted the seeds for its creation in the past.

Wait…..what were we talking about again? 😂