Monkeyin’ Around: A ‪12 Monkeys‬ Chat [S01E08]

 

Welcome to our very first 12 Monkeys‬ Chat!!!

This week, Jones visited her former colleagues at “Spearhead” because the Core that powers the time machine was fading. Cole was stuck in the past, but not in 2015. He had splinter forward to 2017.

Our Monkey chat panelists, Carol, David, Jennifer, Kimber, and Justin discuss the events of “Yesterday” below. We hope that you share your theories and thoughts with us in the comments at the bottom of the post. Theorizing is fun!

Were you confused about how Cole survived the airstrike? Did you ever imagine he was in 2017?

Carol: No. I thought it was still 2015 but couldn’t understand how on earth he had survived the blast! The 2017 jump was a huge surprise, one of those WTH moments I love about well-written TV shows. When the girl started coughing I thought “Has she caught it already? Wow, this virus moves fast!”.

David: Only at first. I’ve watched enough TV to know something had to be up. I didn’t know what they had planned but I toyed with the idea he might be in “empty space.” In other words, some sort of “buffer” that held him before he could move on. I would have loved to see how they would have conceptualized that.

Jennifer: I was very confused but really happy! Now I’m wondering how he did it!! I so did not think he was in 2017! I thought he was around 2015..

Kimber: I wish we could have seen just how he DID survive. (Hopefully in the next episode) I was really shocked that he had ended up jumping two years into the future. Though it is possible with the explosion, it could have knocked him out of temporal sync. (Sorry Trek mind coming out) 2017 will be a new year to really explore and to see the plague in the beginning stages could actually help Cole bring some data to them for a cure. I really hope that they can manage to keep the tether so he has a chance to go back. It would be a huge loss if they couldn’t at least have some hope in finishing their mission. I still wonder how the plague was NOT wiped out? Could it be more than what they first imagined it to be? Also would Cole not be immune anymore?

Justin: For sure! I was completely perplexed on how he survived the airstrike to make it to 2017. I know we had seen previously how solar flares affected the time machine so I am guessing that the airstrike had a similar effect but I would have loved to see a little bit more “behind the scenes” moments of how all of that went down. I thought it was a brilliant slight of hand to have the scene with the little girl, it completely threw me off but I loved it!

We now know Jones lost her daughter to the plague. Will she actually take Spearhead’s core by force?

Carol: I think Jones WILL take the core by force because Spearhead Project won’t bring her daughter back. Only her way will. Foster, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to want to have his wife back (he DID tear that pic Katarina retrieved for him, right?) or live in the same old world for the matter. I think Foster wants to create a new world from scratch. He has an agenda.

David: I certainly hope so! The more kick ass Jones is the better. Foster’s 2033 cure isn’t enough. Jones has to go all the way back to save Hannah.

Jennifer: I think she just might! Mothers always try to protect everything dear to them! SHP will not help her get her child back!

Kimber: I have no doubt in my mind that she will. She is driven by her motherly instincts and well those are VERY much a primal thing. As a Mom it is one of those driving forces you cannot shake. I really feel for her, she is showing a vulnerability in this episode that we had never seen before. The look in her eyes as she loses the core and realizes they could lose Cole, it wasn’t just a “Oh my gosh this whole thing could be done for” it was an actual look of fear in losing Cole. I really feel like she does care about her team more than she is willing to put on or to show because she doesn’t want to open herself up to that kind of loss again. (Wow I just went into a freaking rant about Jones)

Justin: I believe she will, Jones has shown in the past that she is capable of going to great lengths to restore what was lost (I.E. the time travelers lost before Cole). I don’t foresee Foster giving up the core willingly since it may be needed for him and Project Spearhead to further their work in the future. I just love how this is setting up to be a major showdown, JONES V. FOSTER!!! (I would pay money to see that one!)

 

Do you think Colonel Foster was close to a vaccine for all mutations? Is it possible Jones simply dismissed his claims?

Carol: Ha! He’s nowhere near a vaccine for the present mutation. I see Foster, I see his oasis of health and wealth, no scavengers, no virus and I see the outside world he dislikes. I don’t even think he wants to save the rest of the world. I don’t know why but I see Foster and I think to myself “cleansing”. Of course I could be wrong, I mean we’re in the middle of season 1, who knows what Terry has in store for us! BTW hey Syfy, I’m looking forward to 4 seasons + 2 movies!!! part deux: Jones is a scientist. Foster is a military officer. Jones in denial? Maybe… maybe she wants to hug her daughter again so bad, but she wouldn’t be trying so hard unless she thinks it could work. In fact, it did! She DID send people back in time!!! What does Foster have? A cure for an old strain.

David: See my answer to Q2. Jones is dismissive to any cure that doesn’t save her daughter Hannah.

Jennifer: I don’t think foster was close, if the “mutations” are always changing! But you never know

Kimber: I do not feel like he has found ANY sort of answers, because he DOES NOT WANT TO find them. I feel like he is apart of the 12 monkeys, and that project splinter was his way of keeping Jones occupied chasing a pipe dream to go back in time to stop the plague. I mean look at how he destroyed his wedding photos, he obviously does not care that he lost his wife. Not to mention the look in his eyes as he found out that project splinter actually was a success. It was a look of fear, I think he might try to sabotage the program.

Justin: This is a tricky one, I do think the show is setting up some interesting moral dilemmas. Do we as humans choose to correct the past and eradicate our present or move on to help secure our future and forget about our past. I feel that if Colonel Fosters hasn’t came up with the vaccine to eradicate all mutations of the virus then he is getting really close. As far as Jones is concerned I think she is blind to any scenario other than the one that involves getting her daughter Hannah back.

Team Spearhead or Team Project Splinter? Why?

Carol: I’m Team Splinter! I’m on science’s side all the way! Science is objective, science seeks explanations and offers solutions based on facts. What Foster has, and I think he actually said it is nothing but faith. Team Spearhead???? BOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

David: Team Splinter. Herr Frankenstein or Foster’s Kool aid? I’m not drinking the Kool-aid! (Maybe if it was “Foster’s Ale” I would think about it!)

Jennifer: this one was tricky but I say Splinter. Science is all on facts. Religion and “cleansing” is just nuts

Kimber: Team Project Splinter. I have come to respect Jones and her vision. Though they need to figure out HOW TO GET RID OF THE PLAGUE. A cure takes to long, the missile/bomb didn’t do it. There has got to be a way to do it in the past. I really believe in what their doing. (I really feel like this show is trying to teach us something) TRUST TIME TRAVEL!!

Justin: This one’s easy, TEAM SPLINTER ALL THE WAY! Time travel and one of my favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles… There is simply no other option.

 

So, Ramse has a son named Sam. How do you think this revelation will change him?

Carol: Ramse finding out he’s not alone in this world changes EVERYTHING for him. He has a girlfriend, he has a son, FAMILY. Normality. A clean place where to work/live in. Love. Affection. He’s already standing for Spearhead when talking to Katarina. I think Project Brainwash was a huge success. Now that Cole, his friend, is lost in time… I honestly don’t see why he’d stay with Jones’ team.

David: Definitely. Team Splinter could be in serious trouble if Ramse sides with the Spearheads in order to protect his family. He could be the fox in the hen house.

Jennifer: Well like anything, a child will change everything. I have to admit I was happy to find out

Kimber: I WAS SO VERY HAPPY FOR HIM TO FIND OUT HE HAS A SON!! Though I think this could change his outlook on the whole lets change the past thing. It could risk his son’s existence. Having a child really changes your view on EVERYTYHING IN LIFE. I really do love how he bonded with him. Such an amazing revelation this week! I wonder how their relationship will further develop.

Justin: I think this changes everything for Ramse. Earlier on in the season while podcasting we discussed whether or not Ramse could potentially be “The Witness”, after a few subsequent episodes we dismissed that notion because of how much we started liking the character of Ramse. With the revelation that Ramse has a son and his girlfriend is still alive, I am back on board with Ramse turning out to be a huge problem to Team Spinter’s mission and could turn out to be a part of the Army of the 12 Monkeys after all! Say it ain’t so Ramse, say it ain’t so!!!

Did you catch the new image in the broken glass of milk flashes? What do you make of it?

Carol: I did see something but I didn’t pay attention to it. It’s #1 on my to-do list. Tonight, first thing after dinner will be rewatching the ep, looking for that part. I’ll be back at you with the glass vision.

David: Cole might be conflating two different memories due to his traumatic events. One where he has a future 12 Monkey face off and quite possibly Cassie shoots him. Or! The whole “Blue Vision” is a traumatic childhood memory that is just starting to come together for Cole. If it is a childhood memory perhaps the shooter is his mother!

Jennifer: I didn’t realize at first what it was to be honest (was multitasking at the time) but figured it out later

Kimber: I caught it for a moment.. I’m not completely sure what it means, but I wonder if it has something to do with Jennifer? Maybe her first out burst or something? Maybe Jennifer is Jones daughter?! (uhh totally not even sure where that line of thought came from) I need to watch it a few more times to really pick out what it means. I’m just really addicted to this show.. so any excuse to put it on it is REALLY good in my book.

Justin: Cassie is Cole’s mom!!! Haha, i’m sticking to it! I said it on our 12 Monkeys podcast so it can’t be unsaid… That said, I do love the little “Easter eggs” that the show is planting throughout each episode and causing me to have a headache with all of my rampant speculation. But that is why I love the show, so bring on more headaches!

Well, that’s our Episode 8 discussion. What did you think? Check back with us next week for our Monkey Chat on Episode 9 “Tomorrow.”

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