12 Monkeys, Episode 12
Dec. 12th, 2022 07:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annavereI think my brain melted a little bit during the course of this episode, in which the entire show thus far twisted in on itself. It figures. They actually named this episode 'Paradox.'
To start off on a frivolous note, where is Katarina getting her endless supply of cigarettes? The end of the world is stressful; I imagine everybody smoked and drank everything they could find in the first decade.
Also, young Katarina is gorgeous. Wow. Her father turned out to be a sweetheart, played by Mark Margolis (name being familiar, I looked him up, and it's Hector Salamanca!). As always, the script is sharp as a tack and establishes young Katarina's fascinating differences from her older self - plus adding a layer of what looks like guilt to her grief over her daughter. And her young self is entirely dismissive of fate (and love), when years later it will consume her as both a religion and the revolt against it.
Katarina is actually the voice of nihilism all through this one. "Our bodies were built to die." Given her absolute refusal to countenance the creation of a vaccine, it appears this particular belief never wavered.
Cassie appearing at Katarina's apartment was so marvelously unexpected I was yelling incoherently at the screen for a minute. It's quite thrilling to look back over some of what Katarina said in earlier episodes regarding Cole's survival. It works.
Ramse: "Is this gonna happen to Cole?"
Katarina: "I won't let it happen."
Well played.
Aaron continues to be a compelling character as his time runs out. Playing nursemaid, feeling himself locked out of the loop, yet still trying in his awkward, wrong-genre way to help - and getting no help in return. Maybe this is all meant to signify that he's weak, and therefore worthless. Weakness is a character trait I actually find quite compelling, partly because it leads to the sort of screw ups and betrayals that can then facilitate a redemption arc, and partly because it is so achingly human. I can't hate Aaron for falling apart under the pressure, nor do I think his actions are uniquely awful compared to what Katarina and Ramse have done to save Hannah and Sam. I suppose one could argue it's not Cassie or Cole's job to lend him emotional support when the world is at stake (and now Cole is dying), but mutual support is kind of the whole point to being on a team.
I do like how the same episode has him save Cole's life with some questionable medical practitioning and get Cole's father killed. Fate is terribly cruel.
In happier news, Cole's Jennifer is back! I've come to compartmentalize Jennifer into different versions of herself, and the one Cole interacted with is my current favorite, so seeing her strut into the board meeting was a delight. I also loved her assistant helping her find the perfect word.
This was even better: "I'm gonna tell you the truth." "Oh God help us."
Cassie seeing young Cole is about the point my head was ready to explode. They all already knew each other. Given that I have watched the Terry Gilliam film, I really should have seen this coming. In my defense, it's been about fifteen years.
Cole's father turning out to be everything a father should be was a surprise. Sad to lose him so fast.
Wasn't wild about Cole floating and glowing and blowing up the bookstore. It felt like something from Doctor Who, except the Doctor probably wouldn't have lost his clothes. Does this mean the Tall Man is no more? That would be nice, I could totally do with less bamboo torture porn...
*Cue shock-horror-gore of Whitley forcibly holding a severed head*
Creepy white faced dudes in robes lie in wait, maiming dead bodies and tormenting Whitley, and I know this is standard villain escalation but I still hope they're dead by this time next episode.
And oh, Deacon's back and he's found a cigar, returning to my original question.
So after two relentlessly grim episodes, things are looking up in time for the season finale.
To start off on a frivolous note, where is Katarina getting her endless supply of cigarettes? The end of the world is stressful; I imagine everybody smoked and drank everything they could find in the first decade.
Also, young Katarina is gorgeous. Wow. Her father turned out to be a sweetheart, played by Mark Margolis (name being familiar, I looked him up, and it's Hector Salamanca!). As always, the script is sharp as a tack and establishes young Katarina's fascinating differences from her older self - plus adding a layer of what looks like guilt to her grief over her daughter. And her young self is entirely dismissive of fate (and love), when years later it will consume her as both a religion and the revolt against it.
Katarina is actually the voice of nihilism all through this one. "Our bodies were built to die." Given her absolute refusal to countenance the creation of a vaccine, it appears this particular belief never wavered.
Cassie appearing at Katarina's apartment was so marvelously unexpected I was yelling incoherently at the screen for a minute. It's quite thrilling to look back over some of what Katarina said in earlier episodes regarding Cole's survival. It works.
Ramse: "Is this gonna happen to Cole?"
Katarina: "I won't let it happen."
Well played.
Aaron continues to be a compelling character as his time runs out. Playing nursemaid, feeling himself locked out of the loop, yet still trying in his awkward, wrong-genre way to help - and getting no help in return. Maybe this is all meant to signify that he's weak, and therefore worthless. Weakness is a character trait I actually find quite compelling, partly because it leads to the sort of screw ups and betrayals that can then facilitate a redemption arc, and partly because it is so achingly human. I can't hate Aaron for falling apart under the pressure, nor do I think his actions are uniquely awful compared to what Katarina and Ramse have done to save Hannah and Sam. I suppose one could argue it's not Cassie or Cole's job to lend him emotional support when the world is at stake (and now Cole is dying), but mutual support is kind of the whole point to being on a team.
I do like how the same episode has him save Cole's life with some questionable medical practitioning and get Cole's father killed. Fate is terribly cruel.
In happier news, Cole's Jennifer is back! I've come to compartmentalize Jennifer into different versions of herself, and the one Cole interacted with is my current favorite, so seeing her strut into the board meeting was a delight. I also loved her assistant helping her find the perfect word.
This was even better: "I'm gonna tell you the truth." "Oh God help us."
Cassie seeing young Cole is about the point my head was ready to explode. They all already knew each other. Given that I have watched the Terry Gilliam film, I really should have seen this coming. In my defense, it's been about fifteen years.
Cole's father turning out to be everything a father should be was a surprise. Sad to lose him so fast.
Wasn't wild about Cole floating and glowing and blowing up the bookstore. It felt like something from Doctor Who, except the Doctor probably wouldn't have lost his clothes. Does this mean the Tall Man is no more? That would be nice, I could totally do with less bamboo torture porn...
*Cue shock-horror-gore of Whitley forcibly holding a severed head*
Creepy white faced dudes in robes lie in wait, maiming dead bodies and tormenting Whitley, and I know this is standard villain escalation but I still hope they're dead by this time next episode.
And oh, Deacon's back and he's found a cigar, returning to my original question.
So after two relentlessly grim episodes, things are looking up in time for the season finale.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-13 01:39 am (UTC)She explains this later!
I adore Matthew. ADORE. We haven't seen the last of him!
Explod-ey Cole is not my fave. I still have issues with that—as I think I mentioned in the original rewatch.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-14 07:48 pm (UTC)