When12 Monkeyspremiered in 2015, first impressions were that it was a doomed remake of Terry Gilliam’s cult'90s sci-fi movie that was ahead of its time. It looked like another short-lived Syfy experiment, one with zero big names, franchise IP, or a streaming push behind it. But somehow, it survived fate and then did the impossible: it ended exactly when and how it needed to.
Audiences are no strangers to abruptTV cancellations just as the shows are getting good, but12 Monkeysstands out as a sci-fi series that told its story from start to finish and delivered one of the most emotionally satisfying finales the genre has seen in decades.
12 Monkeys Ended On A High Note After Four Great Seasons
How the Series Delivered An Emotionally Earned Finale
Across four seasons,12 Monkeysescalated from an intriguing premise to a full-blown mythic saga. Unlike the film (which is one ofBrad Pitt’s best movies), it evolved beyond simply stopping a virus or correcting a timeline, and was thrust into a story about memory, identity, and whether a life defined by loss can still hold meaning.
The series finale, “The Beginning,” pulls off something most sci-fi shows dream of. It culminates inone last mission that plunges the main character into an impossible-to-win moral dilemma. And somehow, it sticks the landing. you’re able to feel the weight of every choice that came before, and it’s the kind of ending you think about long after the credits roll.
If you lovedStar Trek: Picard, Terry Matalas was the showrunner for both shows.
It helps that12 Monkeyshad a showrunner, Terry Matalas, who planned the ending from the beginning. The finaletied the story up because that’s where it was always going, so long as the creators were awarded four seasons, and it brought viewers full circle in a way that was both tragic and beautiful.
What Made 12 Monkeys Such A Great Time Travel Show
The Emotional Logic Behind the Sci-Fi Premise
Most time travel tropes crack under pressure, but12 Monkeysis one of the fewtime travel shows that make sense. They introduce complex mechanics, reset the stakes, and lose all sense of consequence. But12 Monkeysdid the opposite —it made time travel personal.
Cole’s every jump was about living with what couldn’t be changed. Over time, the show stopped asking “What if we fix this?” and started asking “What if we can’t?” That emotional pivot turned12 Monkeysfrom a puzzle box into a tragedy.
Jennifer Goines, the show’s most unpredictable character, became its emotional compass. She could see all possible timelines, but was still haunted by loneliness. Her arc, like the show itself, succeeded in exploring madness or genius as burdens, not gimmicks.
This was a time travel show that worked because it felt like something real was always at stake.
And the supporting cast never became dead weight. Ramse, Deacon, Jones—each character carried a different shade of guilt, duty, or desperation. No one was safe, and no one was static. By season 4, even the show’s villains were chasing redemption, not domination. This was a time travel show that worked because it felt like something real was always at stake.
Sci-Fi Shows With A Proper Ending Are Becoming A Rare Thing
12 Monkeys Is the Exception, Not the Rule
The end of12 Monkeysshould’ve been the norm. Instead, it feels like an anomaly. Over the past decade, genre fans have watched show after show vanish mid-story —The OA,Raised by Wolves,Paper Girls,1899, the list goes on. Some were streaming casualties. Some just took too long to find an audience. Most never had a shot at resolution.
But12 Monkeysdid, and the results speak for themselves. ItsRotten Tomatoes average sits at 88%, with the final season earning widespread praisefrom both critics and longtime fans. Its finale became a rare consensus moment praised for sticking to its themes and honoring its characters.
12 MonkeysSeason
1
2015
60%
2
2016
92%
3
2017
100%
4
2018
That kind of finish is invaluable. Audiences are understandably hesitant to invest in longform sci-fi, but12 Monkeysproves that a fully told story — even a complicated one — still matters. It respected its world. It respected its characters. And most of all, it respected its viewers.
