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Season 1 – 12 Monkeys

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – 12 Monkeys Jan 2015 Drama Sci-Fi Fantasy Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
60% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A man from the post-apocalyptic future, Cole uses a dangerous, untested method of time travel to get from 2043 to the present day. He is on a mission to locate and rid the world of the source of the plague that will eventually annihilate the human race. Assisting him is Dr. Cassandra Railly, a virologist who must decide whether to do harm in order to save the world -- regardless of the fact that she has taken the Hippocratic oath. The sci-fi series is based on Terry Gilliam's 1995 film, which starred Bruce Willis as Cole.
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12 Monkeys — Season 1

12 Monkeys — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

The nonsensical time travel in 12 Monkeys makes it less watchable than its original source material, but the high quality execution and cool characters are top-notch.

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Critics Reviews

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Brian Moylan Guardian Feb 1, 2019
The biggest problem with the storytelling is that it is tremendously slow-paced, as though they're worried that there's not going to be enough plot for all six episodes. Go to Full Review Jeff Jensen Entertainment Weekly Feb 1, 2019
Moreover, I'm so exhausted by everything it represents -- specifically its bleak worldview -- that I can't be entertained by what it is. Go to Full Review Jonathon Dornbush Entertainment Weekly Jan 31, 2019
12 Monkeys has consistently hinted at Jones' past, but in "Paradox" the vague teases turn into concrete details. Go to Full Review Vlada Gelman TV Line Feb 4, 2019
As expected, 12 Monkeys' Season 1 finale on Friday night was a bananas mind-bender that took no prisoners. Go to Full Review Jordan Alsaqa TV Equals Feb 4, 2019
The personal journeys are what made the show so compelling this year, enough that I'm looking forward to seeing where -- and when -- the show takes us next. Go to Full Review Bryan Bishop The Verge Feb 1, 2019
12 Monkeys' allure is not in the familiar premise, but in the promise of things beyond the edges of Gilliam's vision - and a reminder that while film reboots may have limited tools to work with, serialized television is another matter entirely. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John B @RT82503433 Oct 12, 2026 Excellent writing and acting See more matt C. @RT53631175 Apr 15, 2026 Exceptional in every way. The enormity and scale of this concept is monumental, and they do a pretty good job conveying it. See more Chris M @Enthrisac Mar 22, 2026 How refreshing the absence of the F-Word and only minor swearing a brilliant series See more Jason C @Makeitmakesense Feb 2, 2026 Whenever it goes to the future it gets super boring. The stuff in past is compelling. When focusing on virus it works. See more Jack F @RT39667463 Jan 27, 2026 Just binged all four seasons. The story lines wander a bit over the course of the series, but the acting and directing are spot on. Enjoyable and consistent in feel and quality from beginning to end. See more M7AMD A @M7AMD Jul 28, 2025 7/10 for the entire show See more Read all reviews
12 Monkeys — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Waxman

Director

John Badham

Director

David Grossman

Director

Mark Tonderai

Director

Jeffrey Reiner

Director

Aaron Stanford

James Cole

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 16, 2015 Splinter After a virus wipes out humanity, a man is sent back in time to stop the plague from ever happening by finding a virologist who knows the outbreak's source. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 23, 2015 Mentally Divergent A patient in a mental institution may hold the key to the plague that destroys the world; Dr. Railly risks her life to help Cole, despite the risk to history. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 30, 2015 Cassandra Complex Cole is led to Haiti in 2014, where a dangerous outbreak proved to be a devastating moment in Dr. Railly's life. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 6, 2015 Atari A dangerous band of marauders that are hunting for Cole and Ramse threatens the mission to save the past. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 13, 2015 The Night Room Cole and Dr. Railly discover the Night Room, which houses the virus that will one day destroy the world. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 20, 2015 The Red Forest When the tragic events of the Night Room create an alternate reality in 2043, Cole risks his future to save Dr. Railly. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 11, 2018 The Keys Cole, Dr. Railly and Aaron strive to prevent the virus from being deployed as a bioweapon in Chechnya. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 6, 2015 Yesterday As the Core begins to fade, Jones must convince her former colleagues that the mission is worthwhile in order to get Cole back from the past. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 13, 2015 Tomorrow Cole finds himself at the height of the plague in 2017; Jones faces an impossible choice to replace the Core. Details Episode 10 Aired Mar 20, 2015 Divine Move Forces come to a head when Ramse takes measures to protect his newfound family, leaving Cole to deal with the fallout. Details Episode 11 Aired Mar 27, 2015 Shonin Cole makes a last-ditch effort to stop the Army of the 12 Monkeys, splintering to 1987 Tokyo; another level of the narrative is revealed. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 3, 2015 Paradox Cassandra must find the only person that can save Cole from dying due to the taxing effects time travel has on his body. Details Episode 13 Aired Apr 10, 2015 Arms of Mine Cole and Cassandra try for a final confrontation with the Witness, while Jones faces a new threat to the mission. Details

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12 Monkeys — Season 1

12 Monkeys <em>12 Monkeys</em>: Season one, "Yesterday" <em>12 Monkeys</em>: Season one, "Yesterday" <em>12 Monkeys</em>: Season one, "Yesterday" <em>12 Monkeys</em>: Season one, "Yesterday" <em>12 Monkeys</em>: Season one, "Yesterday" <em>12 Monkeys</em>: Season 1 <em>12 Monkeys</em>: Season 1 View more photos

Season Info

Director
Michael Waxman, John Badham, David Grossman, Mark Tonderai, Jeffrey Reiner
Executive Producer
Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Natalie Chaidez
Screenwriter
Rebecca Kirsch, Sean Tretta, Terry Matalas, Christopher Monfette, Richard Robbins, Travis Fickett
Network
SYFY
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 16, 2015
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