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’12 Monkeys’: Sci-fi Saga Sings Sweet Show Tune in ‘Lullaby’

By Joey Click

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Eight episodes into its second season, ’12 Monkeys’ resets the course of the series with an outing plotted and driven by its protagonists.

The following review of Lullaby contains minimal spoilers. You’ll be fine to to peel this bad boy and eat away with your eyes. We hope you enjoy the fruitful information.

From the beginning of 12 Monkeys’ second season, the plot has been driven by the actions of the antagonists. The Army of the 12 Monkeys were behind the wheel with their insistence on killing all Primarys, the sending forward of beings through time and almost overloading the time machine, and the like.

I did what you asked me to do. I shot you several times.-Dr. Cassandra Railly

In Lullaby, Syfy’s 12 Monkeys rocks the foundation of its second season with an episode led by the actions of its protagonist. It’s an episode slightly hitting the resent button with a plot twist involving our time-jumping heroes trying for the ultimate do-over, which requires going to the year 2020. And that’s all I’m saying about that….because you know…I’m no Spoiler Jones.

Written by Sean Tretta, Lullaby is first and foremost is one hell of a thrill ride. While it could be said 12 Monkey’s eighth episode of Season 2 feels devoid of the rest of season , and those accusers wouldn’t be wrong, Lullaby is so much fun it’s OK to forgive the show for basically halting the main story line.

So much so , in fact, the episode almost acts like a mini movie, and when you see it, I think you’ll catch my meaning…It could have been called Edge of Monkey Tomorrow.

In exchange for that, we get a fast paced a episode in Lullaby, showcasing both new information, such as time is essentially organic and almost has a mind of its own, a situation that will forever alter 2044, and an episode that leans on Cole and Cassandra’s relationship. Which is, of course, one of 12 Monkeys’ greatest exports.

Emily Hampshire as Jennifer Goines ’12 Monkeys’-Courtesy of Syfy

If I had one bad thing to say, it’s would be a decision made by a main character in the final moments of Lullaby. It just struck me as inorganic to the character’s nature.

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Regardless, Lullaby is solidly directed. Directed by Steven A. Adelson, Lullaby features some great shots, awesome camera work, and two sequences that are scored and edited perfectly. The composition of Lullaby really stands out, and contributes to the episode’s feeling of cinematic bliss.

As for the acting, the main players are still doing great work, but one performer truly stands out.I’ve said it before, but Emily Hampshire, who plays Jennifer Goines, is stunningly sharp in 12 Monkeys.

In Lullaby, the actress is at the top of her game. Her scene’s with Aaron Stanford‘s James Cole in the holding cells are simply amazing and stand out. She’s so full of life, her acting becomes almost addictive to watch. She’s by far doing the best work of any actor in the show, but she’s arguably doing the best acting that Syfy’s 12 Monkeys has ever seen.

Next: ‘Scream’: Nothing To Go ‘Psycho’ About In Slasher Series

So, will Cole and Cassandra remedy the situation in 2020? Will Ramse come to grips about the current situation with his son? Will Kararina finally figure out a way to fix the virus once and for all? You have to swing over to Syfy and find out monkeys.

THE VERDICT:

Steven A. Adelson’s Lullaby is a solid and satisfying episode of Syfy’s 12 Monkeys. While Lullaby does many things wrong (deviates from season plot, inorganic character decisions), the latest 12 Monkeys episode does a lot right. It’s a well-acted, tightly written, thrill ride hour of entertainment that feels like a mini-movie as much as it does an episode of the time-jumping saga. Fans of the series will surely be pleased and everyone else won’t ask for a refund.

THE GRADE: B+

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

Enjoying Syfy’s 12 Monkeys? Did or didn’t like what Lullaby 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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