Though Terry Gilliam’s 1995 film is more famous, the SyFy series, developed by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett, offers a time travel story that’s just as smart, if not smarter. The first season closely follows the movie, but also takes some big departures. The dangerous Army of the 12 Monkeys is a serious threat, and time travelers actually can alter the past. Surprisingly, the plague that destroys the world isn’t even the biggest danger the villains present. Starting halfway through the second season, the show introduces a time loop, which adds to the suspense and helps develop the series’ three main female characters.
Although the current show is based on an older story, the original 12 Monkeys wasn’t entirely original either – it was adapted from source material by screenwriters David and Janet Peoples. All three versions – the film and both TV series – follow a time-loop narrative, but the show adds unexpected twists. It takes the circular nature of that loop and complicates it. In Season 2, Episode 8, “Lullaby,” the two central heroes are at their most vulnerable, having lost hope in both their mission and themselves. James Cole, the first time traveler, must find his colleague Cassandra Railly before she harms Dr. Katarina Jones, the inventor of time travel. However, things quickly go wrong, and the characters find themselves reliving the same day repeatedly, forced to find a solution by seemingly doing nothing at all.
12 Monkeys’ ‘Lullaby’ Is a Time-Loop Episode That Examines Its Best Female Characters
Matalas and Fickett initially created the series pilot as a standalone time-travel story called Splinter. When Universal decided to revive 12 Monkeys, they reworked their idea to fit into that existing universe. A great addition was the character inspired by Brad Pitt’s role, played by Jennifer, portrayed by Emily Hampshire. Jennifer isn’t simply the most compelling character; she uniquely understands how time works.
Cassie Railly acts as a guide for those who are disoriented, and in “Lullaby,” she’s the most lost of all. As a virologist, she sent a message to the future that started Cole’s quest to prevent the plague. After several failures – including one where a young boy was lost in time – Cassie decides to take drastic action to stop everything. She travels back to 2020 with the goal of killing Dr. Jones shortly after Jones’s daughter, Hannah, dies from the plague. The timeline only corrects itself when Cassie succeeds in this mission.
The emotional core of “Lullaby” lies in Cassie’s journey from hopelessness to renewed optimism, achieved through rescuing Hannah. Surprisingly, Jones assigns Cassie this mission because it mirrors her initial desperate attempt to save her own daughter. In an alternate scenario where Cassie and Cole remain inactive, they share a profound discussion about the roles of luck and destiny. Cole feels responsible for Cassie’s transformation from a life-saving doctor into a soldier fighting the 12 Monkeys.
A key moment in the episode happens when Cassie asserts her independence. She makes it clear to Cole that her future self – whether good or bad – will be shaped by her decisions, not his or anyone else’s. 12 Monkeys consistently empowers its female characters, letting them be heroes, villains, or just realistically flawed individuals doing what they can.
Women’s Place in Sci-Fi, Among the Stories and the Fandom, Is Too Often Overlooked
Strong female characters often face unfair criticism. They might be labeled as unrealistic or simply be nitpicked for trivial details – like the way an actress sits in a scene. This happens whether we’re talking about characters in long-running family sagas or the pioneers who shaped entire genres.
Even though women like Bjo Trimble were crucial in keeping Star Trek alive and helped start things like cosplay, fan conventions, and fan magazines, some people still think that Star Trek, Star Wars, DC, and Marvel are mainly for male fans. That’s simply not true.
It’s funny, this isn’t just a sci-fi thing – you see it in all sorts of movies and dramas. It’s weird, because the female characters who get the most flak online aren’t always the ones you’d expect, and 12 Monkeys is a perfect example. I was really frustrated in Season 2 when Cassie reacted to what Cole did, because a lot of fans just turned on her for having feelings! It felt really unfair, honestly.
During the same interview, Matalas explained that he and Amanda felt the storyline particularly strongly. He added that it clearly explains Cassie’s behavior. The tension peaked in the episode “Lullaby” when Cole apologized for what he thought he had done to Cassie. However, she responded by explaining that her own decisions – both positive and negative – are what truly made her who she is.
Beyond sharing a story about fate and luck, Cole’s main purpose in this scene is to show Cassie he believes she’s a good person. Cassie is burdened by everything she carries, and Cole gently reminds her that her own life matters.
Time Loops Are a Fun Story Gimmick, but 12 Monkeys Used Them Like No Other Show
Cassie’s flaws made her a compelling character, and the same goes for Jones – her harshness even earned her the nickname “Dr. Grim” after the world fell apart. Jennifer, though seemingly unstable, was the emotional center of the show and, later on, became a wise mentor figure, much like Yoda in 12 Monkeys.
It used to be unusual to see complex female characters on screen. Thankfully, women who are strong heroes, realistically flawed, and in control of their own destinies are becoming more common. The story in “Lullaby” shows how a character’s journey – including her failures and hardships – can feel genuine and well-deserved when built upon what comes before and after that specific moment.
Cole, the main character, isn’t overshadowed by the strengths of those around him. Jennifer helps him with unique and insightful advice. Jones’s belief in Cole gave Cole the confidence to prove worthy of that trust. And when Cassie started to see herself as Cole saw her, she could finally come to terms with her past mistakes and embrace who she had become.
The show 12 Monkeys consistently delivered strong storytelling. It excelled in its complex time travel mechanics and clever foreshadowing, particularly impressive considering it didn’t secure a full season order until after its second season. Beyond the intricate plot, the show’s strength also lay in its well-developed characters, like Cole and the compelling transformation of Deacon from villain to hero.
The women in this show are strong and compelling characters – some are heroes, and others are truly frightening villains. While the time-loop plot in “Lullaby” is a fun trope, it mainly serves to give the characters meaningful and rewarding development.
The complete 12 Monkeys is available on DVD, Blu-ray, digital and streams on Prime Video.
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2026-02-22 22:09