As soon as we saw that Max (Romina D’Ugo) had double-crossed Ramse (Kirk Acevedo) and had led Deacon (Todd Stashwick) and the West 7 to Cole (Aaron Stanford) and the compound, I knew we were heading for some serious trouble. As it turns out, Deacon didn’t waste any time in taking advantage of the situation, and in tonight’s episode, an all-out war erupts between Team Cole and Team West 7. In the meantime, while Cole is fighting for his life, for the mission, and for all of humanity in the year 2043, Dr. Railly (Amanda Schull) continues to work tirelessly, using her CDC credentials and connections to learn the location of the Night Room.

SAY HELLO TO DEACON — THE “GOVERNOR” OF THE 12 MONKEYS APOCALYPSE

If you are familiar with the AMC zombie drama The Walking Dead, you may recall the handsome, charismatic — but completely insane — villain who called himself the Governor. On the outside, it appeared like he was a strong leader who worked very hard to build a safe and secure community for his followers. But, underneath it all, he was nothing more than a horrific psychopath who murdered other survivors, stole all of their food and supplies, and made himself look like a hero to his people.  And, the worst part — he enjoyed every minute of it.

Deacon of the West 7 marauders reminds me a great deal of the Governor — except minus the eye patch. In a series of flashbacks to the year 2032 interlaced throughout the episode, we learn how Cole and Ramse crossed paths with the West 7 and what ultimately made them decide to leave. Deacon meets Cole doing what he does the best and that’s attacking other scavengers, stealing all their gear, and leaving them for dead. Only difference is Cole and Ramse fight back, with Cole actually killing 2 of Deacon’s men. That immediately gets Deacon’s attention (perhaps because he sees something of himself in Cole?), and instead of retaliating, he invites both Cole and Ramse into the West 7.

It appears we have a couple of openings now — Deacon

Deacon, isn’t he a sweetheart? Ramse wants to pass on the deal, but it is an offer that Cole just can’t turn down — a decision that I’m sure Cole has regreted everyday since then.

As time goes on, Cole fits more and more in with the West 7 — which Deacon just loves and cheers him along even more — and Ramse continues to be more of an outsider. Cole even stoops to a new low by killing a weak old man for hitting him with a bottle (which by the way, the man was only defending himself against the West 7 to begin with!). By this time, Deacon has offered Cole the girl Max, a nice place to live, some of the best booze, and formally asks him to join the group. But, there’s one condition — he has to abandon his brother, Ramse. Actually, it’s much worse.

You are welcome here, Cole. But, Ramse has to go. — Deacon to Cole

And, when Deacon says “go,” he doesn’t mean that Ramse is simply being exiled from the group. Deacon’s motto is “You let one live, he becomes the enemy.” To become a part of the West 7, Cole will have to kill his own brother. And, the biggest shocker is that Cole seems to be fine with it — at least for the moment.

The next time we see Cole, he enters Ramse’s tent, but before he can say a word, Ramse tells him that he knows why he’s there. He knows Deacon wants him dead, and he knows that he sent Cole there to do it. Ramse is the truly good guy of the two, the real moral compass, and while Cole may be flawed, he too is good deep down inside. So, Ramse tries to appeal to that side of this brother, the one that is still decent.

Deacon’s taking for power, and he’s murdering because he likes it — Ramse to Cole

That did the trick. Both Cole and Ramse left the West 7 that night without looking back. But, Max did see them leave, which will cause Cole problems later on.

PRESENT DAY — DEACON ATTACKS, THE COMPOUND FALLS, RAMSE IS KILLED. WTF?!

Yes, folks, the sneak peek that was posted on Wednesday was not a fake. All of it happens — ALL of it. Deacon and the West 7 attack the compound and somehow, someway, knows about the two exhaust tunnels that provide a hidden, alternate way into the base. How in the hell did they know about that? Stay tuned.

They quickly infiltrate the building and before we know it, Ramse is surrounded. His dying words to his brother refer to a video game, “Go,” that he used to play when he was a kid.

You’re on your own from here on out. I’m in Atari — Ramse to Cole

Then, you hear a ton of gunfire and then, nothing. Oh my God, they just killed Ramse! <Sobs> To make matters worse, Deacon and his crew are just outside the room where the machine is held, and it’s less than a minute before they have broken the door down. So, Dr. Jones pulls her “Hail Mary” plan and does the only thing she can think of: Send Cole back in time **permanently**. She knows they are all about to die, and this is the only way the mission won’t be a total loss.

I can send you back. For good. We still have power. You won’t have my support, but you’ll have [Dr. Railly’s] — Dr. Jones to Cole

The West 7 break through the door at the exact moment that Cole disappears, leaving Deacon utterly shocked at what he has just seen.

OOPS, COLE, THE MACHINE MISCALCULATED AGAIN

If all went well, Cole should now be in Philadelphia, 2015, and not too long after he had last seen Dr. Railly. But, when we next see Cole, the only things around him are an abandoned building and some fields. This definitely doesn’t look like Philadelphia — and it isn’t. Cole turns around, and here comes those jerk West 7 marauders all over again.

At first glance, it appears that the machine failed altogether, and Cole never left the compound. But, when Cole questions Deacon on what day it is, we finally get to the punchline — it is actually 2 days BEFORE the assault on the compound! Oh my God, it’s a miracle. Cole now has enough time to stop all of this — to stop the attack on the base and to prevent Ramse from being killed.

Here is where things get interesting, and the show delivers one of the biggest mind-bending paradoxes EVER. Remember Cole ran off and left the West 7 almost 10 years ago, which Deacon didn’t appreciate much at all. This results in Cole getting the living daylights beat out of him, and when Cole still won’t give up how to get into the base, Deacon helps him along with some freaky hallucinogenic drug. Completely tripping on the stuff and after seeing Max morph into Cassie, Cassie morph into Max, Max morph back into Cassie, and around and around and around for several minutes, Cole finally gives up the location of the 2 exhaust tunnels to Max.

Wait. Isn’t that’s how the West 7 got into the compound int he first place? But, Cole wouldn’t have done that if he hadn’t gone back in time 2 days, which also wouldn’t have happened if Cole hadn’t given up the info on how to get into the base, etc. etc. etc. Okay, I thoroughly have a headache now.

Regardless, Cole finally convinces Max to betray Deacon and join him, and they do succeed in saving Ramse and Dr. Jones, as well as the base. Yay. There were even some really cool scenes where the future Cole sees his 2-days-younger self, which was very weird but it also demonstrated that such a thing was possible in the series.

THE VERDICT

This was a really fun and entertaining episode, and in my opinion, the absolute best of the series thus far. There was plenty of action for those who like the fast-paced fight sequences, but at the same time, it made you think. I actually screened the episode earlier in the week, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around the details of that 2-day time jump.

But, what was the best part of the episode? Todd Stashwick. By a long shot. Stashwick does a stellar job as Deacon, and by the episode’s end, you know this guy inside and out. He’s a terrible wretch, probably has always been this way, but now he can do any horrible thing that pops into his head without fear of retribution or getting caught. An amazing character portrayed by an amazing talent, and I would be very surprised if this is the last we see of this villain. At least let’s hope it’s not the last.

Oh, as if all of this that happened in less than one hour wasn’t enough, we also get one huge punch at the very end.

Cole? I found it. I found the Night Room — Dr. Railly to Cole

Yes, folks, while Cole was off fighting gang wars, Dr. Railly had been very busy. Using the clues provided by Dr. Toussaint before his demise, she was successful in finding the location of the Night Room. I see lots more of Looney Bin Girl and Pallid Man in the near future.

12 Monkeys airs on Fridays at 9/8c on Syfy.

Critic Grade — A

NEXT WEEK ON “12 Monkeys” — Episode 1.05 “The Night Room”

Official Synopsis from Syfy: “Cole and Dr. Railly face off with the Army of the 12 Monkeys when both discover the Night Room –- an off-site, black ops lab that houses the virus that will one day destroy the world.”

PHOTOS

 

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