Title: 12 Monkeys: “Legacy” Review
Air Date: June 22, 2018
Network: Syfy
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Warning: Full spoilers for the fourth episode of 12 Monkeys‘ fourth season!
Boom goes the dynamite.
Well, that was the plan before Deacon popped in.
Unlike “45 RPM,” this week’s fourth episode of 12 Monkeys brings a nice change of light-hearted pace. A tone which lasts until the writers drop us an unexpected person join the villainous fray.
Remember last episode’s baby? Well, she comes back and she looks more ready than ever to help with her mother’s plan. As much as nefarious their plans are, their relationship is also the core theme of this week’s episode; family. We see the not so heartwarming reunion of both Jones and her husband Elliot, which I thought might be a one episode character only back in season 2 or 1. In fact, this episode we see the aftermath of the Pallid Man’s proposal to Elliot Jones back in season 2 “Hyena.” To be honest, I had completely forgotten that had happened with so many twists and turns this show takes. However, this also shows the attention to detail from the showrunners who planted the seeds way back in season 2 to foreshadow what we were about to experience in “Legacy.”
I see what you did there 12 Monkeys. Nice.
The episode also stays within the recurring theme of tying up loose ends. As I mentioned earlier, it’s central point was that of family reunions. Not only do we see Elliot and Katarina reunite, but also Elliot and her daughter Hannah. It’s touching how Hannah was able to meet both of her parents, and while she may have never died like Katarina had thought, both her parents will. Her reunion with her father started out not so amicable, he was a stranger to her. A stranger who was working with the enemy. From the start of the episode, you see how he could have accepted the offer of the Pallid Man. He was the “showman” as Jones told Emma.
If that is the latter’s real name.
Yet, all three were able to find at least some sort of resolution amongst them. We also got to see a father and daughter team up, right before our once reformed scavking shot him. His mini-arc was brought to a nice resolution, granted he was able to make amends with both his wife and his daughter whom he had barely known of her existence. His death also brought Katarina and Hannah much closer. For one, she had lost her father who seemed to have stuck by his word when he hoped to make a lasting impression. Not to mention, she is close to losing her mother, as she knows that her trembling hands are a sign of deathly splinter radiation. She knows she only has a few weeks with her only blood family.
This also incites Katarina to tell the whole group, minus Deacon, of course, to fulfill her last wish. To stay together as a family. If anything this episode was full of character’s secrets coming to light. Jennifer tells the group she does not have her primary “powers,” while Cole reveals his knowledge of the Ouroboros myth was via his mother.
It was lovely.
Having no secrets eliminates all possibilities of any scenes with unnecessary prolonged drama. It lets our heroes stay focused on the mission and the show get straight to the point. We got no time to waste, especially with only night left of 12 Monkeys.
Before all secrets are unveiled, the gang takes a trip to Westworld. The difference is they travel back to a real life Montana that is not inhabited with murderous androids. Rather it is partly inhabited with Westerners and vile time travelers who are building a diabolical enormous time machine that will bring about the end of time. Pick your Westworld. While this trip might not end with gruesome violent ends as HBO’s hit show, we do have some few casualties.
Particularly Elliot Jones as I mentioned before, but also the poor guys whom Cole and his ladies stole at the very beginning. The timing and execution in this scene were brilliant. Cole’s explanation of what they were doing in the middle of the nowhere was disastrous. His ladies knew that, and just when Cole mentioned the innocent girls, without a flinch they just barraged the men with bullets. This scene set the tone for more humorous moments that were about to unfold, but also the adventurous nature of the episode itself.
We even got to hear a man who could voice over trailers according to Jennifer. I could not argue any less with that. If Syfy would have let the show unfold one episode weekly, it would have been cool to have that man voice over a promo for an episode. Besides his voice, he tells the group that in order to defeat Olivia they needed a weapon. One which Jennifer cannot decipher since she does not have her powers anymore. This also leads to Jennifer to take a reckless decision which he warned her seconds before no to do. She was desperate and decided to take the red water which makes your consciousness time travel or something. Even in that realm, the old primaries (which we saw in the first episode) are like “WTF! What are you doing?” I probably shouldn’t have laughed, but I did.
This leads to Olivia to find out that there is a weapon that could destroy her and sends her minions to kill our gang. So now our heroes have to run against the clock to find the weapon before Olivia does. While also unaware that she has a daughter that is pulling some evil strings as well. Their clue? “Climb the steps, ring the bell.”
You can read my review of the fourth season’s second episode right here. If you want to read my review “45 RPM,” which is the previous episode, click right here. For more episode reviews of the final season of 12 Monkeys and other popular shows and movies, check back to our website!
Verdict: An episode filled with the right touch of humorous moments that light up an adventurous trip. The episode is able to deliver its central theme related to the family with its focus on the Jones family and with the overall characters in general.
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