12 Monkeys: Season One [Blu-ray]

Excellent series. It's one of my two favorites from last year. Any one just briefly looking through the reviews, please notice that almost all of the 4* reviews had nothing negative to say. Almost none of them give a reason for taking off a star. That seems to be the new norm for reviews.One of the reviews is titled "A Great Start To One Of SyFy's Best New Series In Years" and another "Surprising and Great"...Maybe they planned on coming back at the end of the season.. Any way, to my review. Not that I don't like SyFy productions, but usually they're a bit B rated. I was surprised when I found out this was a SyFy channel show. .I admit, if I was first considering this show based on the movie(I wasn't a fan), it being a SyFy, and knowing Aaron Stanford from his role in Nikkita, I probably wouldn't have watched it. To address my perceived and premature issues. 1. The movie is more of a psychological suspense where this is more of a Science fiction action show. I specifically like how consistent the story is. They don't use time travel as a gimmick to get out of a story line they didn't really plan out. They also don't drill down into time travel and it's infinite possibilities. The story is focused. 2. SyFy produced this show like a pro. Maybe technology is just coming a long way, but I couldn't tell it was a Syfy show. No shaky camera for special effects, no appalling actors, and it just looks quality over all. 3. Based on Nikkita, I thought Aaron Stanford was a bad actor. Not so. He was obviously just in the wrong role or maybe I disliked his whiny character so much that I started to blame the actor. He's perfect for his role in 12 monkeys. I encourage you to watch it. The show doesn't take long to get in to. The best episodes are later in the season, but you should know after the first episode if you're going to like it. I recommend buying the first episode. If you like it, then you will like the whole season. I hope you'll give it a shot. It seems the best shows often fly under the radar.

I was skeptical about how this movie could be adapted into a series that would catch my interest and keep me involved. But, as I began to watch, I realized that the storyline, although similar to the movie, was different enough while keeping to the basic concept - changing the past to avoid an apocalyptic future. The actors all are doing an excellent job and the twists and turns provided by the writers keep me riveted waiting for the next chapter. The segment year identification title screen helps keep what could be confusing totally clear. I was not sure how they could end the season in a way that would allow a second year while giving us enough satisfaction to not feel cheated. But the last three episodes did exactly that.

Watched them all in just a few days. Hooked me right from the start. Time travel to try to prevent a worldwide extinction type epidemic. Excellent cast and an engrossing story has me anxiously awaiting season 2.The perils and ramifications of meddling with past events are brought strongly into the forefront as the central characters try to solve a plague that decimated mankind. Attempting to find a focal point or critical moment in the past takes a lot of effort and the results are far from predictable. What may seem like the exact time to make a change in the past is rarely that simple. There is excellent interplay between the cast and they enhance the whole time travel thing very well.Few TV series have captivated me like this one. It wasn't even on my radar when it aired its first season and now it is must see TV for me.(Update). I am well into season 2 and this show rocks. It is one of the few shows on TV that I have to watch as it is showing or by the next day on DVR. The premise of time travel always has many potential hazards and 12 Monkeys explores many of them. Fix one thing and set off another series of unfortunate events. This makes for a mind engrossing thrill ride. Great TV.

Interesting take on the original movie (and novel). Does not seem to be enough, however, to base an entire series on. In particular, why is it that no matter how much Cole "changes" the past, nothing changes in the "present" especially with regards to the "historical" facts that Dr. Jones relies upon to send Cole to a particular time and place. As if Lincoln was not shot but we still want to send someone back to Ford's Theater to prevent him from being shot? There is a hint of the reason (at least it appears to be a hint) in one of the later episodes, but awfully subtle. Overall, this show needs some resolution or it will become nothing more than a confusing mess.

Absolutely love this series. Acting and story line are outstanding. Not a rip off of movie by same name. I can't wait until next season starts. One of the few series on TV that I am looking forward to. The characters are compelling making you want to see what happens next. Love the time paradoxes and the chicken and egg effect. Would Cole even be searching for the Army of the 12 Monkeys if Goines had not told him that he had questioned Goines about them almost 30 years before.. And would he have gone back to question Goines if Goines had not told him that he did. Got to admit it sometimes makes my brain hurt trying to figure it out. But in a good way. My only complaint.....and this is my fault.... is buying an all region dvd. While it plays on my blu ray player, it plays only the first episode and will not allow me to stop or change episodes. I suspect it is most likely that my player is not programmed to do all regions. Should it come out as region 1 at some point (and why hasn't it????) I will most likely purchase it again. Just be warned ahead of time that you may want to have a player that is properly programmed.

12 Monkeys is a very good series that kept your interest, kept to the source material and ended well. They should bring a box set out, but until then it's buying the four seasons.

Disappointing. Drawn out episodes. Inferior to the movie version.

We tried to pick up where we left off watching, two episodes in, but ended up in a language & copyright notice hell loop, unable to find episodes three and four on the home menu. Also confusing was the highlighting of episode 1 and 2 icons and separate arrows in orange against the red and black background instead of a useful bright white, letting you know you're on the correct item. You'd think having all four episodes on the disc available on the home page would be the most user-friendly option but no. You have to follow the (orange) right-hand arrow down the rabbit hole to get to icons for 3 and 4 on the next page. Unnecessarily frustrating so you start watching not in the best of moods. We began this series straight after watching the sublime first season of Westworld which, in my opinion, few can match and is still making me cry a week after finishing it, so Twelve Monkeys was up against stiff story-telling competition anyway. Plot-heavy with little emotional engagement, it's OK. Good enough to keep us following it but not compulsive viewing. Brad Pitt's nutty tech oligarch's son is now a bonkers daughter in this incarnation. We kept comparing it unfavourably with the Bruce Willis movie original which was much more moving and intriguing. This is just one damn thing after another (or before what with the time paradox). And the lighting... everyone's in shadow - irritating. But at least the sound is clear with not too much mumbling. And the overall production values are good. We bought seasons 1 and 2 not only because we liked the Gilliam original but because of the current coronavirus scare which seems to be borrowing its cues from the movie but without the mortality rate. Life imitating art has never been so disjointed. Only on episode 3 so perhaps it settles down.

I finally got round to watching this show many years after having seen the spectacular movie with Bruce Willis. I wanted to watch the full series straight through uninterrupted and I'm glad I did. Apart from the basic story outline and a few characters, the style is nothing like Terry Gilliam's quirky, surreal take, but for me that was probably for the better as it lets the series stand up as its own thing. There are plenty of hidden references to the movie (and others) throughout if you can spot them though. I really enjoyed this show and I'd say by the end of the first season I easily wanted to binge watch the next three! There is simply such a good combination of cast, storylines and unpredictable plot twists that it keeps you hooked.

I chanced across the series of the Twelve Monkeys from another review and thought to give it a go and so pleased I did.It takes it cue from the film of the Twelve Monkeys but with enough twists to make it watchable in its own right without thinking it’s just an extended plot to the film.There is some thought gone to the plot that takes advantage of the time travel aspect and the more you get into season 1 this becomes apparent. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to Season 2 if they make it.As a reference sort of films I have enjoyed are of course the Twelve Monkeys as well as Inception and Predestination. If you like these types of film I reckon this is something you can watch, it’s not back to back got to watch it but certainly been hooked enough to watch 2 to 3 episodes in an evening.