12 Monkeys follows up last week’s stunning revelations with a somewhat fragmented episode that sets us, once again, on a journey to find the real source of the plague. It does contain a few surprises, however.
Title: “Divine Move”
Directed by Magnus Martens
Written by Christopher Monfette, Terry Matalas, and Travis Fickett.
Aaron Stanford as James Cole
Amanda Schull as Dr. Cassandra Railly
Noah Bean as Aaron Marker
Emily Hampshire as Jennifer Goines
Barbara Sukowa as Katrina Jones
Kirk Acevedo as Ramse
Alisen Down as Striking Woman
Ramon De Ocampo as Oliver Peters
Amy Sloan as Elena
Demore Barnes as Whitley
Romina D’Ugo as Max
Andrew Gillies as Dr. Adler
Benjamin Meranda as Samuel
Premise
Ramse does some damage to Dr. Jones’s operation before encountering the aging Jennifer Goines and the Army of the 12 Monkeys in 2043. Cole, who last saw Cassandra Railly at her death, returns to 2015 to enlist her aid in finding yet another possible source of the plague. Aarron meets the Striking Woman, and Ramse and Cole take a trip.
High Point
Ramse’s encounter with future Jennifer Goines was as crazy and cryptic as we might expect, but it made for great viewing. The writers/creators better know where this is going.
Low Point
The constant moving of the goalposts on the plague’s origins may be necessary in order to keep the show going—it may even be realistic, in context– but it grows frustrating and repetitive. This episode appears to acknowledge the fact; now they need to change just enough to keep the momentum.
The Scores:
Originality: 3/6 Is the use of “Don’t Fear the Reaper” rip-off, homage, or trope?
Effects: 5/6
Acting: 5/6 The actors handled the latest meeting between Cole and Railly quite well. They conveyed the emotions created by their bizarre last encounters without resorting to histrionic overacting. Arrow could take some lessons from this cast.
Story: 4/6
Emotional Response: 5/6
Production: 5/6
Overall: 5/6 We have a rather fragmented episode this week, but it finally sends us to 1987.
In total, “Divine Move” receives 32/42