annavere | 12 Monkeys S04E06: Die Glocke

Power cord arrived! After a full day charging, all systems are go. It's like Christmas, and not a moment too soon. So, on to recreating my thoughts on the past three 12 Monkeys episodes.

The first time I watched Angel fan favorite 'Smile Time,' I don't think I laughed even once. My skin was too busy crawling off my body. It wasn't until rewatch that I was able to respond to the comedic elements, and I expect the same will hold true for 'Die Glocke.' It wasn't on the same level of visceral horror as 'Smile Time,' but I still mostly found it really hard to watch.

Majorly coloring my emotional impression of this episode was my reaction being squarely Jennifer's in the heist planning stage: "Naziphobia." Nazis are bottom tier villains for me, and from the opening scene onward I spent most of the episode tensely waiting for horrors to commence. This is a less than ideal way to experience an episode, especially when combined with severe mood whiplash from all the zany comedy interspersed.

Moving on to the things I did enjoy. First, the multilingual aspect, with Katarina's German and Jennifer's French (and her explanation of how she acquired it). Also, Cole's amusing lack of the same.

The costuming was gorgeous. Cole has never looked better.

Cole and Deacon arguing while getting interrogated. Cole going back for Deacon, albeit too late to keep him from getting horribly mutilated in a torture dungeon - an image I could have lived without, although in hindsight I find this meaningful, despite it being instantly played for comedy. His carving half a swastika into the VII symbol (because I have not forgotten Deacon's eugenic justification for his own mass murders, no matter how much this show wants me to) could be considered a form of penance, owning his own sins.

There was also some really excellent dialogue between him and Cole, especially when Deacon points out "Olivia's playing a long game, and she is going to win, because you suck at it." Preach!

Now that I think about it, lots of violence, lots of quips - this was a perfect vehicle for Deacon. Katarina almost shooting him and then Deacon bailing her out of the same was a particular highlight.

Katarina being so fragile throughout this episode and yet remaining so incredibly formidable. Adler's surprising tenderness toward her when she insisted on splintering. Jennifer helping Katarina find the escape hatch when she became randomly lost in her own mind. The group's mutual support is really nice to see considering where they started and how much time they spent at each other's throats.

Cassie winning the speed dressing competition to get into a complete Nazette outfit from the Twilight Zone video before Jennifer had even finished singing her terrible (sorry) rock-rap song is the absolute highlight of the episode's lunacy for me (or possibly by this point I had finally adjusted). Anyway, I laughed.

And the ending, in which the family gathers while Katarina recites John Donne. Then Deacon and Katarina conspire and Katarina (as Olivia's mirror image, of course) allows herself to be captured and brought to Titan and things pick up.

And because I finally have my laptop back after a week without, I get to talk about all of this!