There’s something about the 12 Monkeys Pilot that is hard to explain. The show is about a pandemic that almost wipes out humanity, it’s dark, it’s dreary and it seems like just the thing I should not be watching while we’re, you know, in the middle of a pandemic. And yet, watching it, I almost felt better about the world I’m living in. TV is magical that way sometimes, isn’t it?
Of course, part of it probably has to do with the fact that I decided I needed to watch the movie first, and compared to the movie, the show is almost sunshine and light. I swear, you think the show is depressing? Take a couple of hours to watch the movie, and then come tell me what you think. Also, when you come back, can you please explain the movie to me?
I’m only half joking. I understood the nihilism; I just didn’t really like it.
12 Monkeys the TV show does the movie one better in that it gives me not just an interesting plot point, but characters I actually care about. Sometimes bad shows can be saved by good characters, but rarely do shows with engaging plots end up lasting long if we do not care about the people involved in said plot. It sounds counterproductive, but characters are most important than plot. I promise.
Not that this show is sacrificing one for the other. At times, I felt that Fringe, my latest sci-fi binge and a show that, looking back, despite my many issues, I mostly enjoyed, did this. But Fringe also had 20+ episodes to fill every season, and when you have that, you tend to …you know, fill them. Sometimes with stuff that doesn’t really advance the plot and ends up contradicting the characterization.
Thank God for 12 Monkeys’ 13 episode season 1.
Of course, that doesn’t make this the best Pilot I’ve ever seen. There are many other Pilots that left me desperate to watch the second episode, in a way 12 Monkeys didn’t. But it seems to me that the show knows what it’s doing, and that, maybe, looking back on this episode after I’m done, I’ll find that this was even more perfect than I gave it credit for at the beginning.
Yes, it’s still confusing, but I can deal with confusing as long as it’s all heading somewhere. Yes, it’s very dark, but I can deal with dark if there’s a level of hope to the darkness, if we’re all fighting to get out of this darkness. And yes, Kirk Acevedo is once again playing a character I’m supposed to like and am not sure I do, but I can also deal with that. Been there, Fringe that.
The number one reason why I can is Amanda Schull. I’ve loved Amanda since Suits, but Suits didn’t give her the chance to showcase her emotional range the way just one episode of 12 Monkeys did, and I cannot wait to dive into Dr. Cassandra Railly and get to lover her the way I loved the mostly-reserved Katrina Bennett.
I also, surprisingly, coming off the movie, actually enjoyed Cole. Yes, he’s got a death wish, and yes he needs to learn to plan and yes, he also needs to learn to listen, but there’s a level of “oh, he might actually be willing to learn these things” that I didn’t get from the movie, and that sort of endears him to me. I love character journeys, and I’m all in for him learning to care about himself, others and hey, maybe even come up with some plans, every once in a while.
So yes, I have found my next binge. Here I am, 12 Monkeys. Please be everything I expect you to be and more.
12 Monkeys is available to stream on Hulu.
I was there for the series premiere and watched every episode as it aired. I’ve since binged the entire series several times. It’s one of the best sci-fi shows I’ve ever watched. Stay tuned for so many amazing characters you won’t be able to pick a favorite. Trust me.
When I saw the movie something about the hopeless bootstrap paradox really moved me. So, when I heard about the series I was one of those “Do we really NEED this” skeptics. I didn’t start watching until the fourth episode aired (I binged all four) and I was hooked. I can tell you have great instincts because this show definitely improves on the story and themes that the movie touched on, approaching it from an entirely different angle. Eagerly awaiting your further articles on this story, because it’s really a great one.
I will definitely be writing about it! I’m excited, becauuse the premise of the movie was right up my alley, I just kinda wanted them to go in a different direction …and then the show did!
The premiere set up so much more than anyone can realize going in. Just want to say that mwas a somewhat atypical: it was as a Nielsen screener at a market research place (something I was hired to do occasionally). And I gave the episode my highest score ever! Eight minutes in and you already feel like you’ve been thrown into the middle of the story and are struggling to find your footing. It’s a bit confusing, but that sense of disorientation actually serves to draw a viewer in and give them a taste of the wonder and the chaos of time travel. There are levels within levels of storytelling ahead to explore, and characters to get to know and fall in love with. Lets just say there’s GREAT ride ahead of you, and I can’t wait for you to take the rest of us along.
I feel like this is the type of show I’ll need to watch again for the AHA moments I might be missing, but I’m excited for the first-time journey nonetheless!