This is one of the series that you are happy you started watching. So so so underated. If you like sci-fi and time travel you are simply NOT ALLOWED to miss this show. Most people that write bad reviews here didn't bother to see how the story is unfolding and how many layers there are. Trully appreciate the fact that each season is better than the previous. That is something rare in TV.
320 Reviews
One of the most Under Rated series ever
vinayavk113 June 2018
If you love the concept of TIME TRAVELING trust me this was worth it
Main highlight of the show was a impressive Screenplay that shifting the time from 2043 to 2013 to 2015 to 1987 and the viewers will not get confused anywhere they just keep it very plain and simple
I just watched 13 episodes of season 1 today and here i am writing this review
If you want to just watch a show worth your time
i just came to know that season 2 & 3 are more far better than season 1
TRUST ME THIS WAS WORTH WATCHING
ONE OF THE MOST UNDER RATED SERIES EVER
Pleasantly surprised!
keboobi1 March 2015
SyFy has outdone themselves with this remake, I was expecting the typical SyFy lackluster writing and transparent acting. I am glad to say that they have hit this out of the park in my book. The story is close enough to the original that you kind of feel comfortable in the universe but changed enough to freshen it up. The actors and actresses all do a really good job. I am impressed and waiting for more! The story line feels very thought out and not just thrown together, I am enjoying the changes they made to the "present" time it feels more realistic(not sure of how to describe it) than the 1995 movie. The lead actor Aaron Stanford really nails the part of Cole, as does Amanda Schull as Cassie. I hope they get a series 2 and keep this going! Best show SyFy has done in a very long time.
Masterpiece Time Travel Tv Show
WandererQ25 June 2018
One of my greatest regrets regarding TV shows, is that I didn't watch 12 Monkeys sooner. It surpassed any expectation I could have about it, although the beginning of the first season didn't look that promising (maybe it had a slow pace, maybe too little things were explained), oh well, the sequels surely are totally worth watching. 12 Monkeys is so complex so well defined when you look at it as a whole, the plot, the ideas and themes expressed through brilliant acting... I know, it sounds too good, but it is really one of the most underestimated good sci-fi TV show, and it should receive all the appreciation for every amazing element it contains.
Also, it's extremely sad to see that it has such a low rating on IMDB just because of the ratings it has received in 2015, after only 1 or just 3 episodes appeared... when this TV show has a lot more to offer and it should've been "judged" at least after the entire 1st season. And it's not only that... I saw that many people complained how they liked the 1995 movie but the tv series disappointed them and I think that they simply can't be compared, it started with the same concept but there are lots of differences and the show really went with the story on its own way. I think they should've given it a chance and wait for more episodes before rating it with 1 or 2 stars...
Quite Close to a Masterpiece.
Her-Excellency2 February 2021
In a nutshell, this is, hands-down, one of the greatest shows - aside from Breaking Bad - that I have ever watched. It is even better than Firefly (another of my favorite series), ten times over.
It is an utter shame that lazy critics never took the time to actually watch this spectacular series before reaching into what could only be drawers-full of unpublished reviews, picking a negative one at random and calling it their two cents.
12 Monkeys, the television series, is superbly written and acted; the costumes are spot-on perfection; the eras stupendously depicted; the plot is both excellently engrossing and magnificently moving - it is amazing in almost every which way that a series should be, and then some which other series never even attempt.
Granted, some of the first-season episodes are a little too filler-esque to hold the attention of those who want a series which will grab them from the get-go. In fact, the ONLY problem this series has, is that it wants to give you just a bit much at the beginning, BUT if one is just a little patient _or an expert at skipping just a bit_ not only is the payoff a supremely gratifying payoff, but the journey toward it is a fantastically, IMMENSELY riveting and enveloping ride where you as the audience, feel immersed in every little bit of what the masterful creators are bringing to the screen with what you can tell, is utter love for what they are presenting.
In short, while most television series lose bits of themselves as they count down to their inevitable conclusion, it is NOT an exaggeration to say that each episode of 12 Monkeys, from good beginning to spectacular end, is better than the last episode. There is no way that it will not become a cult classic. It is touching, heartfelt, humorous, sad; it deals with the love and loss of friends, family and lovers; it teaches, points out, reveals. It is magnificent and silly and reverent, deep, thought-provoking, heart-achingly poignant, heart liftingly funny, heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
I am so glad I found it; would highly recommend no one miss it, and will go a step further in saying that if you do, you are robbing yourself of a wonderful viewing experience.
It is an utter shame that lazy critics never took the time to actually watch this spectacular series before reaching into what could only be drawers-full of unpublished reviews, picking a negative one at random and calling it their two cents.
12 Monkeys, the television series, is superbly written and acted; the costumes are spot-on perfection; the eras stupendously depicted; the plot is both excellently engrossing and magnificently moving - it is amazing in almost every which way that a series should be, and then some which other series never even attempt.
Granted, some of the first-season episodes are a little too filler-esque to hold the attention of those who want a series which will grab them from the get-go. In fact, the ONLY problem this series has, is that it wants to give you just a bit much at the beginning, BUT if one is just a little patient _or an expert at skipping just a bit_ not only is the payoff a supremely gratifying payoff, but the journey toward it is a fantastically, IMMENSELY riveting and enveloping ride where you as the audience, feel immersed in every little bit of what the masterful creators are bringing to the screen with what you can tell, is utter love for what they are presenting.
In short, while most television series lose bits of themselves as they count down to their inevitable conclusion, it is NOT an exaggeration to say that each episode of 12 Monkeys, from good beginning to spectacular end, is better than the last episode. There is no way that it will not become a cult classic. It is touching, heartfelt, humorous, sad; it deals with the love and loss of friends, family and lovers; it teaches, points out, reveals. It is magnificent and silly and reverent, deep, thought-provoking, heart-achingly poignant, heart liftingly funny, heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
I am so glad I found it; would highly recommend no one miss it, and will go a step further in saying that if you do, you are robbing yourself of a wonderful viewing experience.
Quality programming.
lanschuetz-4706722 May 2017
It's a sad truth today that complicated story lines result in low viewership for programs. 12 Monkeys arc and continuing build of that arc are the result of an overarching and very cleverly written intentionally time limited design.
The characters have depth and real emotions. The story "makes sense" inside the framework built by the creators. That's important for good SCIENCE fiction. At the same time, that makes it hard for some audiences to appreciate.
It's really, IMHO, a shame that SYFY forced them to make this "like" 12 Monkeys and they have fortunately gone well beyond the story arc presented in that book and film. But I suspect many people have just assumed it's a rehash of the movie. It's not.
If you want to watch something that has depth, well rounded characters, and a good story - this is the place to find it.
The characters have depth and real emotions. The story "makes sense" inside the framework built by the creators. That's important for good SCIENCE fiction. At the same time, that makes it hard for some audiences to appreciate.
It's really, IMHO, a shame that SYFY forced them to make this "like" 12 Monkeys and they have fortunately gone well beyond the story arc presented in that book and film. But I suspect many people have just assumed it's a rehash of the movie. It's not.
If you want to watch something that has depth, well rounded characters, and a good story - this is the place to find it.
Absolutely Fantastic
astorm8812 December 2018
I have not written very many reviews for shows and movies on here before but I feel obligated with such a flawless show as 12 Monkeys.
Very few shows have ever captivated me the same way 12 Monkeys did. My only regret is that I did not know about this show or watch it at all while it was airing. I recently ran across it on Hulu and watched the entire show in a matter of a few weeks.
I'm always careful when it comes to time travel in shows and movies because unless it is handled correctly, it can make the show/movie absolutely terrible and unbelievable. Not so with 12 Monkeys. The intellect with which the timelines and stories are written out is nothing short of genius. Things happen in season 1 that you may see in season 3 or 4 that have a totally different meaning and make sense. The story makes sense and is carefully crafted to where when you get to the end, you can look back and say "wow!"
The characters are emotionally deep and compelling. I'm not always a huge crier when it comes to shows movies but this show is one of the few that made me cry multiple times. I love these characters: Cassie, Cole, Jones, Jennifer, Deacon.They are rich, relatable and incredibly acted and performed in this show.
The ending is perfect. Having a good ending to a tv show (much less and science fiction show) is a very rare thing. 12 Monkeys has a fantastically satisfying ending, both emotionally and intellectually. I don't know how the writers did it, but somehow they tied up every single loose end and story arc over the seasons. It makes sense. While at the same time paying off the emotional investment we as the audience had in these characters for 4 seasons. I cannot give higher praise to the ending of this show. Breathtaking.
I think after the dust settles and I have time to process more the story and emotional ride this show took me on, it may just end up being my favorite show of all time at this point. If you have not seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it. I guarantee that you won't regret it. It's sad that shows like this don't always get the praise or the recognition it deserves. This is a true gem. All I can say is thanks for the ride.
Very few shows have ever captivated me the same way 12 Monkeys did. My only regret is that I did not know about this show or watch it at all while it was airing. I recently ran across it on Hulu and watched the entire show in a matter of a few weeks.
I'm always careful when it comes to time travel in shows and movies because unless it is handled correctly, it can make the show/movie absolutely terrible and unbelievable. Not so with 12 Monkeys. The intellect with which the timelines and stories are written out is nothing short of genius. Things happen in season 1 that you may see in season 3 or 4 that have a totally different meaning and make sense. The story makes sense and is carefully crafted to where when you get to the end, you can look back and say "wow!"
The characters are emotionally deep and compelling. I'm not always a huge crier when it comes to shows movies but this show is one of the few that made me cry multiple times. I love these characters: Cassie, Cole, Jones, Jennifer, Deacon.They are rich, relatable and incredibly acted and performed in this show.
The ending is perfect. Having a good ending to a tv show (much less and science fiction show) is a very rare thing. 12 Monkeys has a fantastically satisfying ending, both emotionally and intellectually. I don't know how the writers did it, but somehow they tied up every single loose end and story arc over the seasons. It makes sense. While at the same time paying off the emotional investment we as the audience had in these characters for 4 seasons. I cannot give higher praise to the ending of this show. Breathtaking.
I think after the dust settles and I have time to process more the story and emotional ride this show took me on, it may just end up being my favorite show of all time at this point. If you have not seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it. I guarantee that you won't regret it. It's sad that shows like this don't always get the praise or the recognition it deserves. This is a true gem. All I can say is thanks for the ride.
Worth giving a chance
krunded17 January 2015
It is always difficult to see something you love exploited. Give me some original work instead of re-telling a story. Therefore, I started watching the show with low expectations and it was a nice surprise. In the end I was asking for more.
Acting is better than an average series, and can even be considered very well for a sci-fi. Characters are rather complex with some room for development (which is basically what I look in a new series).
I will give it a couple more episodes to see if the show can fill up the holes but pilot episode showed some promise so I'm feeling positive. I'd suggest Terry Gilliam fans to not be scared to give this a go.
Acting is better than an average series, and can even be considered very well for a sci-fi. Characters are rather complex with some room for development (which is basically what I look in a new series).
I will give it a couple more episodes to see if the show can fill up the holes but pilot episode showed some promise so I'm feeling positive. I'd suggest Terry Gilliam fans to not be scared to give this a go.
The All-Time best Time Travel Show
jonathanfure17 September 2020
One of the most binge worthy, technically engrossing, mind bending, emotionally satisfying, brilliantly acted, intelligently crafted shows OF ALL TIME! One point that means a lot to me is that (compared to other time travel stories) this series does that best job making the time travel plausible, following rules and logic. I recently finished the series on Hulu, and for the last week have continued to ponder the story, the characters, and their message. AND... I'm ready to start a rewatch!
Disclaimer: No, it's not perfect. A few episodes might miss the mark a bit. But I promise, it is worth the ride. This show is stuck in my brain. I want everyone to watch it!
Disclaimer: No, it's not perfect. A few episodes might miss the mark a bit. But I promise, it is worth the ride. This show is stuck in my brain. I want everyone to watch it!
Season 1
SpanishDann31 July 2018
Well based on most of the reviews, my opinion is in the minority, but I thought that Season 1 was by far the best. Subsequent seasons with the Red Forest Cult was nonsense. Stories get convoluted and ridiculous in subsequent seasons. Especially in seasons 3 and 4 they seemed to just make episodes for the purpose of going back in time to specific eras to showcase the Nazis, have Cole dress up like a cowboy in the old West, etc. And the story arch becomes secondary to the comedic attempts. I did like the "Brothers" episode in Season 3. I thought it was particularly well done and the cinematography splendid. Unfortunately, that episode concludes the "bromance" between Cole and Ramse, which I though was the best aspect of the later seasons. And then focus shifts too much on the Cole/Dr. Railly romance. I did enjoy the finale. In fact you can watch season 1, skip seasons 2-4, and watch the finale and you miss nothing of any signicance to the story (the aforementioned "Brothers" episode is worthwhile however).
A solid adaptation with significant differences
ben-190295 April 2016
SPOILER ALERT: If you have not seen the original twelve monkeys, i will be discussing key differences between the original and this, so if you don't want me to ruin the original, go and watch it before reading this.
This show is an intentional departure from the source material that deviates in about the same way as the bourne series, which is also a welcome departure from the original source material. In the bourne movies, the main antagonist, Carlos the Jackel, is left out to keep the series period appropriate and that changes the dynamic between bourne and treadstone and completely changes the ending as well as the sequels. (in the books the bourne supremacy is set in hong kong) But the main difference in 12 monkeys instead of subtracting an antagonist, is adding several. The army of the 12 monkeys is much more significant, and there appears to be a greater conspiracy surrounding the time loops. There is also a surrealist element to a lot of it, and suffice to say he doesn't die in the end, so whether this contains the same nihilistic tone as the original remains to be seen. Brad Pitts crazy character in the original is now played by a woman, but is not so different in character other than the fact that she has a weird psycho crush on him. It also explores a lot of his own future timeline and the society that he comes from, and bounces back and forth between many times, as well as explores the idea of time paradoxes very nicely, i thought.
So the biggest differences are actually exploring the things the original film never really got to touch on, which is kind of nice, it keeps it fresh, but its also source faithful where it counts. As far as adaptations go i have seen much, much worse. This show is probably moderately above average, although i wouldn't say it is one of my favorites, it is still well made and enjoyable to watch.
This show is an intentional departure from the source material that deviates in about the same way as the bourne series, which is also a welcome departure from the original source material. In the bourne movies, the main antagonist, Carlos the Jackel, is left out to keep the series period appropriate and that changes the dynamic between bourne and treadstone and completely changes the ending as well as the sequels. (in the books the bourne supremacy is set in hong kong) But the main difference in 12 monkeys instead of subtracting an antagonist, is adding several. The army of the 12 monkeys is much more significant, and there appears to be a greater conspiracy surrounding the time loops. There is also a surrealist element to a lot of it, and suffice to say he doesn't die in the end, so whether this contains the same nihilistic tone as the original remains to be seen. Brad Pitts crazy character in the original is now played by a woman, but is not so different in character other than the fact that she has a weird psycho crush on him. It also explores a lot of his own future timeline and the society that he comes from, and bounces back and forth between many times, as well as explores the idea of time paradoxes very nicely, i thought.
So the biggest differences are actually exploring the things the original film never really got to touch on, which is kind of nice, it keeps it fresh, but its also source faithful where it counts. As far as adaptations go i have seen much, much worse. This show is probably moderately above average, although i wouldn't say it is one of my favorites, it is still well made and enjoyable to watch.
One of the best time travel shows yet!
irvintang20 May 2017
When I first started the show, I had really low expectations because I always felt if it was good it would be it's own original and unique thing and not an expansion of a movie of years past.
Boy was I wrong, this show is amazing and is very much it's own thing. The only thing that it borrows from the movie so far is the general plot of people traveling back in time to stop a whole ending plague, and that's only the beginning, it has since becoming some thing so much more.
Everything else is new, from the storyline to most of the characters and the direction of the plot. This is especially true for season 3 which really going deep into exploring the different facet of time travel.
There are many shows before this that pertains to time travel like quantum leap, continuum and legends of tomorrow. But what most of these shows do is just use time travel as an after thought or an excuse to put the characters in a situation and completely forget and ignore the premise, they are closer to adventure series than sci-fi.
What THIS show does is exploring the the "what-ifs" and "why nots" of time travel. It's a true sci-fi show. Give it a chance, if you like science fiction at all, there's a high chance you'll love the show as much as I do.
Boy was I wrong, this show is amazing and is very much it's own thing. The only thing that it borrows from the movie so far is the general plot of people traveling back in time to stop a whole ending plague, and that's only the beginning, it has since becoming some thing so much more.
Everything else is new, from the storyline to most of the characters and the direction of the plot. This is especially true for season 3 which really going deep into exploring the different facet of time travel.
There are many shows before this that pertains to time travel like quantum leap, continuum and legends of tomorrow. But what most of these shows do is just use time travel as an after thought or an excuse to put the characters in a situation and completely forget and ignore the premise, they are closer to adventure series than sci-fi.
What THIS show does is exploring the the "what-ifs" and "why nots" of time travel. It's a true sci-fi show. Give it a chance, if you like science fiction at all, there's a high chance you'll love the show as much as I do.
Best show you are not watching
jk-692-2363948 June 2016
This show continues to blow me away with how well written and acted it is. I am wondering if the title is part of the reason more people are not watching it. The movie was a strange little gem. and one that I did not enjoy much the first time I watched many years ago. It was too confusing and dark for my tastes. I re-watched it again out of curiosity after the first season of the TV show and it made more sense. The TV series starts out with the basic idea of time travel to stop a plague in the future, but it is so much more than that. Now in the 2nd season it has evolved way past that one idea. This is a very clever and smartly written show. As one who loves most movies and TV shows with time travel involved, since I was a kid and loved "The Time Tunnel". Over the years I have been a huge fan of Doctor Who, the reboot, Quantum Leap, Fringe, Sliders, Being Erica to name a few really good and entertaining time travel based themed shows. With so many truly bad shows on TV, don't miss this gem. I do not want to see people "discover" this show after it is canceled. Watch it now so we can keep getting new seasons. You will not regret it. I have not read comments from one person who actually watched the show and did not enjoy it. It is complicated yet understandable and intriguing. 2018 update. So glad this show made it all the way like the writers intended. The finale of this show is in my top three finales ever.
( my other two? Breaking Bad, and Six Feet Under).
If you have not seen it, watch it now! You are so lucky you can binge it. It was hard to wait each week to watch this show.
Incredible story, criminally underrated
cdcangri28 March 2019
I'm a long time iMDB user, letting myself be influenced by the user reviews here, but never actually signing in and writing one myself. After randomly encountering 12 Monkeys while searching through Hulu's listings, I remembered the film of the same name and was intrigued. I was initially put off by the 7.7 star rating, but upon reading the user reviews (which is what I normally do when I'm deciding if I want to watch something or not) I saw that it was mostly positive and acclaimed in contrast with the rating. I decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did. The story and writing is fantastic, filled with twists, action and creativity. It hits all the usual and necessary marks that comprises a gem, a great production value, acting and cinematography in addition to awesome action and the fantastic writing/story already mentioned. If it wasn't for pure luck I would've never heard of this show. Be it because Syfy as a network lacks the audience other more known networks have, it being on Hulu instead of Netflix, or whatever the reason, this show is criminally underrated. Because it is so unknown and frankly, in my opinion, rated wrongly on this website, I am compelled to write my first review ever on iMDB to help tilt the scales in favor of such a quality program. If only one person is intrigued and gives this show a chance after reading this, my job here is done, if not, the only failure is not trying (wink wink). I'm sure this series will have a cult following a few years from now regardless though.
Can't believe I never saw this...
frostiex730318 April 2020
Wow, just stumble upon the show on Amazon prime call to watch as I jog on my treadmill. What an amazing show. Loveable characters, good acting, excellent story. I cannot believe how deep the story goes. I don't want to divulge any spoiler here.
Do you like sci-fi, time travel themes. Please don't miss this. So many surprises
Do you like sci-fi, time travel themes. Please don't miss this. So many surprises
First two episodes as a fan of the Film
FadeDragontear17 January 2015
As a huge fan of the 1995 Terry Gilliam film, I was pretty excited for the release of this series. Right away the series departs from the film by not questioning Cole's sanity and accepting the time travel elements as simply the truth, Something that was in my opinion one of the better aspects early on in the film. The series is also missing the unique visual style, soundtrack and camera-work that made the film so well regarded, which I kind of expected from a television adaptation and likely having a fraction of the budget.
Its clear this series isn't afraid to stray from the source material and go in its own direction, the jury is still out on if this will be a good thing or a bad thing as far as I'm concerned.
The above observations noted, I am willing to give this series a chance to do its own thing with the material. The plot itself is interesting enough to carry a series like this and perhaps a less roundabout/ambiguous approach could be pretty cool to see, maybe some of the questions left by the film will be answered, and I do like seeing the little nods to the original film here and there.
While Aaron Stanford (Aka Pyro) isn't Bruce Willis he does alright with the less complex, more coherent version of James Cole, I can't blame the actor for the changes to the character that makes him feel kind of bland, hopefully as the series progresses we'll see a bit of a character progression and thus more of a chance for the actor to sink his teeth into the role.
Emily Hampshire on the other hand is strong right out of the gate, following up Brad Pitt's portrayal of Jeffrey Goines isn't an easy task, but she pulls off the twisted character perfectly. While not quite as cartoon-character-like as the film version, the simple female spin on the twisted mental patient Goines works quite well.
I came into it expecting to be slightly disappointed so I was prepared for a "TV" version of one of my favorite movies. Its not horrible or amazing, but I'll give it a few more episodes to warm up and see where it goes.
If you are interested in hearing more of my opinions check me out on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/fadedragontear Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dragontear
Its clear this series isn't afraid to stray from the source material and go in its own direction, the jury is still out on if this will be a good thing or a bad thing as far as I'm concerned.
The above observations noted, I am willing to give this series a chance to do its own thing with the material. The plot itself is interesting enough to carry a series like this and perhaps a less roundabout/ambiguous approach could be pretty cool to see, maybe some of the questions left by the film will be answered, and I do like seeing the little nods to the original film here and there.
While Aaron Stanford (Aka Pyro) isn't Bruce Willis he does alright with the less complex, more coherent version of James Cole, I can't blame the actor for the changes to the character that makes him feel kind of bland, hopefully as the series progresses we'll see a bit of a character progression and thus more of a chance for the actor to sink his teeth into the role.
Emily Hampshire on the other hand is strong right out of the gate, following up Brad Pitt's portrayal of Jeffrey Goines isn't an easy task, but she pulls off the twisted character perfectly. While not quite as cartoon-character-like as the film version, the simple female spin on the twisted mental patient Goines works quite well.
I came into it expecting to be slightly disappointed so I was prepared for a "TV" version of one of my favorite movies. Its not horrible or amazing, but I'll give it a few more episodes to warm up and see where it goes.
If you are interested in hearing more of my opinions check me out on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/fadedragontear Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dragontear
Love it and will watch over and over again
ratruji49 May 2020
This is the first review I've ever written. I'm writing it because it's one of the best shows I've seen in a long time! It hooked me right from the beginning. It's full of action, there's not one boring episode. It's fun, smart, exciting, it has characters you'll love, cheer for, and cry for. And I t has the most perfect ending. This show is one that I'll be watching over and over and over again. I love it!!!
Underrated and Underappreciated. But It is a Masterpiece!
raghavkanu31 December 2018
The 1st season was a bit slow and predictable. But after that it becomes one of the most mind bending intriguing and exhilarating sci-fi series. Season 3 and 4 are gems and the ending is perfect. It has everything; friendship, love, time travel, time loops. Probably the best sci-fi series yet.
The more I watch it the lesser I like it
deloudelouvain18 October 2016
Because I liked the movie and because I read on here that a lot of reviewers thought this was the best show ever I thought it would be a good idea watching 12 Monkeys. The first season I would give it a seven, because it's all new, you don't know what to expect yet, and it is mysterious like the movie was. It's very hard too understand though, also like the movie, but I remembered that in the movie I thought you got plenty of explanations to have a good movie in the end. In the series though the further you get into the story the more you get annoyed. The constant jumping in time (like 6 or 7 times per episode) is getting boring and confusing. And they obviously want to milk this story as much as possible. The amount of ridiculous things they come up with is quite fascinating, The Red Forest, The Witness, The Sisters, and so much more. And then there are also a couple actors that are just not good enough in this show. Barbara Sukowa is extremely annoying to watch, and Kirk Acevedo has also his moments where you wish he would just die. I tried to watch season two till the end but because I fell asleep a lot during some episodes, and that I couldn't even bother to rewind the story, I just gave up on it one episode before the season's finale. I saw there was a third season, and I will pass on that one because I don't see it getting better. I would give season two a generous five what gives this show a generous average of six.
Definitely in top 20 shows of all time!
secret_arash15 August 2022
Why this show hasn't got the praises it deserves, is something I'll never know. 12 Monkeys is seriously one of the best shows I've ever watched, and I have watched almost 200. More people must watch this. In no world does it deserve a 7.7 rating. I think it could be because of its first season which is very different than the rest of it but in my opinion is still very good and entertaining. And the first season is basically what it's movie was about. So, maybe people watched a few episodes and gave up. Or it could be because of the network and advertisement. Whatever the reason, it is with no doubt at the same level of shows like Dark, if not higher.
I just wish that much more attention was paid to this incredible show.
I just wish that much more attention was paid to this incredible show.
Not Just The Best Time-Travel Show, But One Of The Best TV Shows Ever
thejoshuampatton20 July 2020
In the interest of keeping things brief, I will not get into the weeds on why 12 Monkeys is one of the best TV shows of all time. (Pun not intended, but graciously accepted.)
The writing is exemplary; everything means something. There are tiny moments or seemingly throwaway lines that hint at the ultimate answer/endgame. (These making rewatching the series even more rewarding than the first time around, again fitting for a series based on a story about a causality loop.) The characters are complex and there is something to love and be angry about with all of them.
The stakes are continually raised. When the inciting incident is a plague that ends the world, it's difficult to raise the stakes each successive season. However the storytellers manage to pull it off every time, both by going "bigger" and going "smaller," meaning making the stakes very personal. The audience cares about these characters, and the storytellers reward them for that.
Given the typical budgets of SYFY series, what the producers were able to pull off here is nothing less than amazing. From effects to set design to the location shoots, this feels like a drama that has a LOST-level budget.
There are more reasons to love this series, but it's impossible to get into without spoiling it. And while I personally don't mind spoilers usually, this is a series that should be seen cold the first time through. (And it will be the first time, because once you finish, you'll want to go back through the loop again immediately.)
The writing is exemplary; everything means something. There are tiny moments or seemingly throwaway lines that hint at the ultimate answer/endgame. (These making rewatching the series even more rewarding than the first time around, again fitting for a series based on a story about a causality loop.) The characters are complex and there is something to love and be angry about with all of them.
The stakes are continually raised. When the inciting incident is a plague that ends the world, it's difficult to raise the stakes each successive season. However the storytellers manage to pull it off every time, both by going "bigger" and going "smaller," meaning making the stakes very personal. The audience cares about these characters, and the storytellers reward them for that.
Given the typical budgets of SYFY series, what the producers were able to pull off here is nothing less than amazing. From effects to set design to the location shoots, this feels like a drama that has a LOST-level budget.
There are more reasons to love this series, but it's impossible to get into without spoiling it. And while I personally don't mind spoilers usually, this is a series that should be seen cold the first time through. (And it will be the first time, because once you finish, you'll want to go back through the loop again immediately.)
Masterpiece
mahenthiraprabu10 May 2021
Pretty underrated for the time it was released
writwik-ishmam15 January 2021
The name and character comes from the 1995 film with same name but thats it. i think it didn't reached the audience or something, this tv show is legit. I can see this show getting a cult classic fanbase in 5 years from now if it gets enough recognition, seriously i was very surprised that i didn't know about this amazing series after 6 years of its release! Only if i had watched this show before Netflix's DARK
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