12 Monkeys (2015)

:

Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 16, 2015
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 237 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 197 out of 237
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 237
  3. Negative: 11 out of 237
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User Reviews

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  1. Noctophrenia
    Jan 17, 2015
    9
    I really enjoyed it. ScFy has really stepped up production value. This show doesn't have that 'film school graduation project' feel to it. Much more polished. Acting is good, several story lines are opened up, I'll be watching.
  2. tigerskin84
    Oct 27, 2015
    8
    Very good show! nice chemistry between the two main characters cassandra and otter eyes, i really enjoyed the show and im waiting for more,. so far it had strong characters, misterious figures, time travelling crazyness,good music, etc etc... very well done for the 1st season.
  3. empleat
    Jun 1, 2015
    8
    Cool serial with very complicated story, which i likes, because i don't know what will happen.
    Often jumps in the time and secret sect which wants to annihilate world with ancient plague.
    I think there was a lot of tv shows similar this, but it still cool. First season was mysterious and good, i hope next one will be of same quality and nothing like only lengthening story. A lot of    Cool serial with very complicated story, which i likes, because i don't know what will happen.
    Often jumps in the time and secret sect which wants to annihilate world with ancient plague.
    I think there was a lot of tv shows similar this, but it still cool.
    First season was mysterious and good, i hope next one will be of same quality and nothing like only lengthening story.
    A lot of shows, after time doesn't came with new ideas and it is just lengthening, hope we will see new crazy ideas and it won't be same.
    I am very look forward new season.    … Expand
  4. CelticView
    Mar 13, 2015
    9
    Great show, good acting, suspended disbelief well supported - what is there not to like? Don't get why this show has not caught on big time. Far superior to Dr. Who, better than The 100, a million times better than Forever, and The Americans (really unbelievably stupid show).
  5. Minevastar
    Apr 28, 2015
    10
    This is my absolute favorite show! :) It has a way of just taking you there, it's amazing. All elements come together perfectly. I love Cassie and Cole, (Cole had me at hello) and there are so many mysteries and nuances to the story that I'm watching the series again to see if there are more clues. (What is Jennifer Goynes up to?????? What was in that note Cassie slipped Cole?????)This is my absolute favorite show! :) It has a way of just taking you there, it's amazing. All elements come together perfectly. I love Cassie and Cole, (Cole had me at hello) and there are so many mysteries and nuances to the story that I'm watching the series again to see if there are more clues. (What is Jennifer Goynes up to?????? What was in that note Cassie slipped Cole?????) It will be such a long wait til January!… Expand
  6. nightblade00
    Feb 24, 2015
    9
    Sometimes I think people get it in to their heads that certain networks or certain companies only make crap. SyFy was on that list for me for a long time and I think with most of the media critics as well--- and I think that affects how they judged the series. With that being said I have been very impressed with 12 monkeys to this point. its easily SyFy's best current show and best sinceSometimes I think people get it in to their heads that certain networks or certain companies only make crap. SyFy was on that list for me for a long time and I think with most of the media critics as well--- and I think that affects how they judged the series. With that being said I have been very impressed with 12 monkeys to this point. its easily SyFy's best current show and best since Battlestar. Unlike other SyFy series, the production value seems very high and the writing is much better than I expected. Look forward to seeing where they take this series.… Expand
  7. mdkramer36
    Mar 29, 2015
    9
    Much better than I had anticipated; however, I'm unsure that the show can maintain interesting plot lines through a second season. Sometimes a one-off season is all that's needed (e.g.; State of Play)
  8. genericusename
    Jun 21, 2015
    8
    Nice to see Sci-fi (can't take the SyFy logo seriously) put out a quality show after so long. It was well written and the actors (especially the lead actor and actress) had great chemistry. There was a lot of timey-wimey stuff involved, but it managed to be intriguing without being too confusing. A show I'd recommend to any sci-fi buff.
  9. jerkwheat
    Mar 20, 2015
    7
    I rarely write reviews here, but when I do it's only to express my disbelief in the negative (or positive for that matter) reviews a game or show or movie gets. I expected the mainstream reception to be lukewarm at best, considering it's science fiction and on a B-grade network, but I really don't understand how it got pushed down into the realm of "barely average" around here. This is aI rarely write reviews here, but when I do it's only to express my disbelief in the negative (or positive for that matter) reviews a game or show or movie gets. I expected the mainstream reception to be lukewarm at best, considering it's science fiction and on a B-grade network, but I really don't understand how it got pushed down into the realm of "barely average" around here. This is a solidly written, well-acted show that has the misfortune of being in a genre that isn't in the mainstream and on a network that is probably best known for airing ridiculously cheesy pop-horror films alongside Stargate SG-1 reruns.

    If you can get past the network and cheesy genre packaging, Amanda Schull and Aaron Stanford offer up believable performances and chemistry, backed up by Kirk Acevedo who also happens to be one of my favorite 'always-the-supporting-role' actors. Seriously, just give it one full episode and go from there. This show isn't going to blow your mind and usher in a new-age television Renaissance and make The Sopranos look like mindless drivel, but it's entertaining and definitely more watchable than these pro critics are giving it credit for.    … Expand
  10. ngb222
    Jul 1, 2016
    10
    This show is well written, clever and has some great acting. It only uses the movie as a jumping off spot.
    If you like time travel, or Fringe, Continuum, Dr Who, Journeyman, Twilight Zone and smart science fiction.
    Watch this show. I am not sure if people do not know it is on, or think it like the movie, which I myself was not that crazy about either. I re-watched the movie after the    This show is well written, clever and has some great acting. It only uses the movie as a jumping off spot.
    If you like time travel, or Fringe, Continuum, Dr Who, Journeyman, Twilight Zone and smart science fiction.
    Watch this show.
    I am not sure if people do not know it is on, or think it like the movie, which I myself was not that crazy about either. I re-watched the movie after the first season of the series.

    I understood it better and liked it better after watching this series.

    I feel like the name of the show might be keeping some viewers away. 12 Monkeys the movie is a cult movie.
    Don't let that stop you from giving this show a chance.

    The premise starts out of a burnt out earth after an apocalyptic plague had annihilated most of the population.
    We meet a ragtag group of survivors, and some scientists who have a time travel machine, (the call it splintering). They need to send one of our rough and touch immune to the killer plague survivors back in time to stop the plague.
    Take it from there. It grows bigger and bigger plot-wise than you ever would suspect.

    It is a joy to watch. It has the clever thinking as Fringe. Give it a watch. At least 3 episodes so you can really get the gist. This is the best sci fi show on TV right now. I like it even more than Dr. Who. Dr. Who is more campy and silly.

    This show is dead serious, but does have some good humor in it. Try it! It just got renewed for season 3.    … Expand
  11. leelogan
    May 20, 2017
    6
    I give 12 monkeys a 6.5 really. It is an excellent and enjoyable filler while you're waiting for your favourite shows. I would have given it a 7 if it wasn't for Ramse. This character is extremely annoying, badly written and over acted.
  12. wtfskilz
    Aug 17, 2015
    10
    I have a feeling that the critics only watched the first episode or two. This show is amazing, it gets better every episode. This is one of the best shows on TV for 2015.
  13. PittLord
    Jan 20, 2015
    8
    Huge amounts of potential here. Bolstered by powerhouse performances from Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull, a strong supporting cast lead by Noah Bean and Kirk Acevedo, high production values, and an obvious confidence reflective of a show and production team who are sure of themselves, the show, and where they are going, 12 Monkeys sets high expectations for itself and meets or exceedsHuge amounts of potential here. Bolstered by powerhouse performances from Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull, a strong supporting cast lead by Noah Bean and Kirk Acevedo, high production values, and an obvious confidence reflective of a show and production team who are sure of themselves, the show, and where they are going, 12 Monkeys sets high expectations for itself and meets or exceeds them. With time, and based off of the first few episodes, I can confidently say that it is aimed squarely at an audience who misses Nikita, enjoyed Fringe, and wished Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles explored its time traveling premise a bit more.

    At this point, it's a little hard to judge the characters given that they are effectively clean slates, but it certainly seems as though they are intended to be the driving force of this show, and not its non-linear narrative and main plot overlay. This is one of the reasons the show is so promising. It's not relying on its premise to carry it, (although the story seems more than up to the task), but is instead banking on the depth of its characters. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.

    Side Note - It doesn't matter whether you have or have not seen the movie. Honestly, it makes no difference if you have as it becomes clear rather quickly that this series may share the premise of its cinematic counterpart, but it intends to cut its own path from that point forward. I don't think there will be much to gain from a comparison other than the occasional Easter Egg.

    Now for a rant ---

    The stage is still being set and the pieces are yet to move in a way that would allow a fair assessment of the show's merits. Honestly there is nothing more irritating to me than "show" reviews are based on 1 hour of what is at a minimum 12 hour event. Do you read the first chapter of a book then write a review of the book? No you don't, because that would be !@## stupid. This is a serialized, anthology type show that lacks context if judged on the merits of a single episode. All we can do is look at the potential and extrapolate the quality of the production value, writing, and performances. All of which, in this case are stellar.    … Expand
  14. efege58
    Jan 20, 2015
    9
    I love this show. I really enjoy this premiere. Great actors, good performances, good adaptation... I´ll be watching every week. Thanks Syfy, I was waiting for something like this.
  15. sbkr333
    Jan 20, 2015
    10
    Great show. I loved the first two episodes. I can't compare it with the movie as i haven't seen it. I was disappointed to see it just had mediocre ratings, but this is the show I'll be looking forward to the most every week.
  16. romanontherun
    Jan 18, 2015
    7
    Not bad. Not bad at all.
    1) Plot is very much the same, but is refreshed a little bit. From the very beginning it's start to mess with predestination paradoxes which is alway fun to watch unfold.
    2) Characters (there is honestly only 2 of them in pilot) is ok, have dynamic and emotions 3) Overall quality is very good. It feels professional even of sometimes a little bit a cliche    Not bad. Not bad at all.
    1) Plot is very much the same, but is refreshed a little bit. From the very beginning it's start to mess with predestination paradoxes which is alway fun to watch unfold.
    2) Characters (there is honestly only 2 of them in pilot) is ok, have dynamic and emotions
    3) Overall quality is very good. It feels professional even of sometimes a little bit a cliche

    but...

    1) Very few hints about the future, time travel, technology and humans.
    2) Every one is just so ok with the idea of time travel. Like "oh, you from future? cool" and thats it.

    so now we wait for the next episodes. 7/10    … Expand
  17. miller89
    Feb 12, 2015
    10
    We really enjoyed it. Great actors, good performances and a 10/ten. we will be watching every week. Thanks Syfy. An entertaining new show and hope it's around for awhile.
  18. Czar
    Jan 20, 2015
    8
    Based on the first two episodes this is a sci-fi show to watch. Having been burned by falling skies and other lame sci fi attempts over the last few years I will reserve my long-term judgement of the show but initial impressions were very good. An entertaining start and hopefully a sign of things to come.,
  19. Rabidprimate
    Jan 25, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pretty good so far. Not great you have to shelve too much common sense to totally immerse into the world. For example with most of the humans dead there would be little reason to fight over anything after the inital chaos because there would be no want for resources and order wouldnt be too hard to re-establish because who wants to live in a perpetual mad max environment. Its not like anything but humans died off so there would be plenty of everything left in abundance for everybody that was left. After the initial shock it would be a veritable garden of plenty much like how it was after the Black death for the Europeans. As a side if the people left were immune to the disease then in the end the problem pretty much resolved itself before the show ever took place. But yea if you can look past the part where you brain tries to think then its an enjoyable show. 7/10 would watch again.… Expand
  20. Iratehonestly9
    Feb 14, 2015
    10
    Amazing amazing amazing !!! Thank you sy-fy This is one of my favorite shows on tv ill be sitting in front of my tv with popcorn every friday night. Don't believe me just watch it and i promise you will love it!!!
  21. Bo33y
    Jan 25, 2015
    6
    ScFy making a ScFy series when there aren't many about, could always be refreshingly good. Currently as everybody else is cashing in on the superhero, fantasy, teen trends.

    A refreshing premise. However the content will never live up to the original film an all time epic. A paradox which has left some befuddled. Sadly with many ScFy productions starting on a premise, later fail at    ScFy making a ScFy series when there aren't many about, could always be refreshingly good. Currently as everybody else is cashing in on the superhero, fantasy, teen trends.

    A refreshing premise. However the content will never live up to the original film an all time epic. A paradox which has left some befuddled.

    Sadly with many ScFy productions starting on a premise, later fail at continuing well. Helix started on a premise, before descending into teenie super ninja's, unexplainable super mutants, evil co-operate arctic agenda's. Defiance couldn't explore the rest of its universe outside of any inbred CGI townships. What in ze hell is Dominion aboot?

    There could be problem here, time travel amounts to CGI watches wielded by librarians, being chased by sick monkeys, pursued by men in back. Go figure, run away, Yikes.

    At least containing a start that holds onto some interesting potential. I would have considered rating higher although my expectations are Strained.    … Expand
  22. justsumnerd
    Sep 18, 2017
    7
    SPOILERS____________
    This show used to be AWESOME!...that is until season 3...where they made Cas and Cole parents to make their characters relatable to appeal to the mainstream audience. The entire shows universe goes off course and becomes a bloody mess. I wonder if netflix had this show would it have stayed on course to its nitty gritty roots that made the movie so so good. Rather    SPOILERS____________
    This show used to be AWESOME!...that is until season 3...where they made Cas and Cole parents to make their characters relatable to appeal to the mainstream audience. The entire shows universe goes off course and becomes a bloody mess. I wonder if netflix had this show would it have stayed on course to its nitty gritty roots that made the movie so so good. Rather than the garbage it became.    … Expand
  23. DanniBoi
    Jan 18, 2015
    5
    Love it or hate it.

    Great value and solid performances, but... that is not the only thing that can make this show stand out or be a solid 10. There is much more than just that, is how this show can create a solid adaptation using the original one from the movie, by changing a few things here and there that can bother the originality of the whole story from the original movie and the    Love it or hate it.

    Great value and solid performances, but... that is not the only thing that can make this show stand out or be a solid 10. There is much more than just that, is how this show can create a solid adaptation using the original one from the movie, by changing a few things here and there that can bother the originality of the whole story from the original movie and the typical plot or plots that will unfold.(in which many people wouldn't mind)

    The show is okay, besides the point of a great value in the adaptation but nothing more, it is just "another FUN tv show" nothing more or exciting or intriguing. That what we all ready know besides what many changes they can make to try to make this show likable.    … Expand
  24. hic
    Mar 22, 2015
    0
    In my opinion one of the most disappointing tv show ever scripted. Nothing can save a bad scenario. People should just look at the film instead. Photography is ok, acting is correct. Just the story is entirely sabotaged. A real shame.
  25. Broyax
    Dec 27, 2016
    0
    Le film était déjà une calamité, quel besoin avait-on de recycler cet étron et de l'étirer sur des saisons entières ?...

    ...dans une version très bas de gamme qui plus est, sans moyens dignes de ce nom, sans acteurs valables (où ont-ils été chercher des branques pareils, on se le demande) et sur des scénarios mal écrits qui multiplient les poncifs à l'infini, se gauffrant ainsi dans une    Le film était déjà une calamité, quel besoin avait-on de recycler cet étron et de l'étirer sur des saisons entières ?...

    ...dans une version très bas de gamme qui plus est, sans moyens dignes de ce nom, sans acteurs valables (où ont-ils été chercher des branques pareils, on se le demande) et sur des scénarios mal écrits qui multiplient les poncifs à l'infini, se gauffrant ainsi dans une répétition hasardeuse, des rebondissements bidonnés qui entraînent un ennui aussi rapide qu'inexpugnable.

    Voilà donc une grosse merde qui tente de survivre sur la hype imméritée d'un vieux nanar de ce couillon de Terry Gilliam, habituellement porté aux nues par un public Télérama qui n'a aucune idée de ce qu'il regarde en général et en particulier.    … Expand
  26. balhaar
    Jul 10, 2018
    0
    lamest **** of a tv show i have ever seen. the story makes no sense AT ALL and the writing is just terrible.
    acting is okay at best, the music is boring and the special effects are hilariously bad.
    please skip this
  27. trooper1993
    Mar 21, 2015
    6
    Throughout the first five episodes I honestly thought it was a great show that had a lot of potential.
    I'm not sure what happened after that but it got really mind numbing and boring.
    Personally I consider these to be the major problems: Over emphasised side characters, weak climax points and suspense, lack of proper cliffhangers and mostly the fact that the writers think we are    Throughout the first five episodes I honestly thought it was a great show that had a lot of potential.
    I'm not sure what happened after that but it got really mind numbing and boring.
    Personally I consider these to be the major problems: Over emphasised side characters, weak climax points and suspense, lack of proper cliffhangers and mostly the fact that the writers think we are oblivious to what is ridiculously predictable (Cole surviving Chechnya, Cure not being destroyed, etc.)
    Truth is, they should have stuck with making it a one season special without flexing the story over multiple seasons.    … Expand
  28. Atreidi
    Jun 18, 2016
    10
    It is very unfortunate that critics don't give this show enough credit. I hope that user reviews and word of mouth keep this show afloat. I want at least 5 more seasons. :)
  29. JAX85
    Apr 23, 2017
    9
    Very nice story with professional actor! Best SyFy series ! Season 2 is better than season 1. I love this series , we are waiting for season 3 unpatiently !!
  30. Janey021
    Apr 17, 2017
    10
    At first I didn't like this series at all but after five episodes watched, I fell in love with it. Amazing acting, effects, story, I really can't find anything I don't like about that, but I can see, why some of people doesn't like it, it's not chill TV show you watch just because you have some free time, you need to understand the story ;)
  31. JLuis_001
    Sep 19, 2018
    7
    Too far from the original premise of the film, but entertaining enough. There are several episodes that doesn't add anything to the season but it works enough.

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
36
#36 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 25
  3. Negative: 3 out of 25
  1. The Detroit News
    Reviewed by: Mekeisha Madden Toby
    Feb 25, 2015
    80
    As actors, Stanford and Schull have to convince TV audiences that they are not dishing out reheated versions of the performances Bruce Willis and Madeleine Stowe did in the original. Thankfully, that's not the case and these two actors are quite compelling as a couple of lost souls trying desperately to make things right.
    Read full review
  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Feb 20, 2015
    70
    Syfy's best new show in ages. [16 Feb-1 Mar 2015, p.15]
  3. Under The Radar
    Reviewed by: Cody Ray Shafer
    Jan 21, 2015
    45
    The past is suddenly malleable. This removes all the stakes, but also downgrades 12 Monkeys from fatalistic sci-fi dystopia to a predictable genre piece. Not horrible by SyFy, or even cable thriller standards, but still disappointing.
    Read full review
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