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’12 Monkeys’ Sees ‘Emergence’ Of Even More Quality

By Joey Click

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Now deep into its second season, Syfy’s 12 Monkeys turn up the quality yet again and begins hitting a sapien stride with a stellar fourth episode.

This review contains zero spoilers. Go bananas guys.

When I first got into Syfy’s 12 Monkeys, I didn’t expect much quite frankly. In all honesty, I only began watching the time-traveling show to cover it for you Soldiers of Springwood.; To give me something to write about that’s currently ongoing.

I can only fix one of your mistakes at a time- José Ramse.

I started with 12 Monkey’s Season 2 opener, Year of the Monkey, and enjoyed it quite a bit. The chemistry between Cole and Ramse was so great, I found myself becoming less a journalist and more a fan, just simply watching the show for enjoyment. Primary and One Hundred Years followed, and after Years (an amazing episode of Sci-fi television), I was hooked; 12 Monkeys became a drug.

Now 12 Monkeys gives us Emergence. Acting like a magnificent second piece in an amazing two-part act, Emergence boldly builds on the foundation made in One Hundred Years. And it not only builds, but the series 17th overall episode brilliantly fills in the cracks of what was started in the virus saga’s previous episode. Only, we didn’t know the cracks were even there–until now.

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Written by Richard Robbins, Emergence has moments that will make you grab a hold of your seat while jumping and down like…well a monkey.

Without ruining the fun for the Residents of Elm Street, there’re moments in One Hundred Years that involve series regulars who you didn’t even know were part of the mix back in 1944. When I found out the awesome trick in Emergence, obviously involving a genius use of 12 Monkey’s time-traveling narrative possibilities, I freaked out.

Furthermore, the direction is decent in Emergence, but not as solid as One Hundred Years. Directed by David Grossman, I would put 12 Monkeys’ fourth outing as second best in terms of direction. There’s a really solid part at the end that Director Grossman should be proud of and a shot in the episodes closing (a half revolution) that is greatly epic as well. Thinking about it, I would put Emergence as second best episode overall this season too.

Aaron Stanford and Kirk Acevedo in ’12 Monkeys’- Courtesy of Syfy

The acting is great in Emergence as well. Kirk Acevedo, who plays Ramse, really owns this episode. While Cole, played by Aaron Stanford, is still the show’s main character, Ramse really pushes the plot forward in Emergence. Acevedo really is a great actor and, without him, 12 Monkeys simply wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t carry the same level of quality surely.

Next: Bates Motel: ‘Forever’ Isn’t So Far Away In Penultimate Outing

So, will Cole and Cassandra get themselves out of the pinch they were in at the end of One Hundred Years? Will Ramse keep himself from being executed? Will The Messengers succeed in their master plan? You’ll have to time travel over to the Syfy network to find out you crazy monkeys.

THE VERDICT:

David Grossman‘s Emergence continues to amp up the intensely of 12 Monkey’s second season. It functions as the second piece of a two-part act that began with last week’s One Hundred Years. This is the way Sci-fi should be done. 12 Monkeys is Sci-fi television as its best, and only proven even more by Emergence. Now it’s time to stop the reading and start the viewing. Just make sure there aren’t any low-hanging branches when you do.

THE GRADE: A-

Check out a preview of next week’s episode, Bodies of Water, courtesy of Syfy:

Enjoying Syfy’s 12 Monkeys? Did or didn’t like what Emergence had to offer? Sound off with your comments below and let’s get as many monkeys as we can to get the conversation going. Don’t forget to tune into 12 Monkeys Mondays at 9/8c, only on Syfy.

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