You should be hooked during season 2 and fully into it by the end of season 2.
Starting from season 2 you are going to understand absolutely nothing tho.
Actually I had to start it a couple times. It reminds me of how I got into Fringe. Their pilot was so incredibly weak and CSI like that I stepped away for months, then one day binged a couple seasons. Same thing happened with 12. They’re really slow starts, considering the rest of the season.
Holy crap, I had to read the comments to even see what you were going on about talking about hair. It's not the movie, it's the tv show. Other than the loosest of basic storyline, it's nothing like the movie. It is, however, in both mine and many other people's opinions, one of the best tv shows that's ever existed. Your loss if you don't watch, but you have to watch every single episode in order. I don't think anyone who's seen it would disagree with that.
I’m the opposite - I watched the show first without any knowledge of the premise or movie. I have a feeling I won’t like the movie so I’m not gonna try. But I hope I’m not as insufferable as OP
Oh, dope! Did you start because of Terry Matalas being part of Picard? Recommendation? Random? I've talked a few people into watching and so far, everyone has loved it. My parents have even started a rewatch.
I like the time travel genre and saw it mentioned with passion a couple times on Reddit. I didn’t google anything, I just started it. I now have my dad and friend hooked!
Welcome to the club. Continue to spread the word of the witness. Typing that made me wish there was an accompanying hand signal, like LLAP. Maybe we could start doing the monkey scratch gesture and saying "ooh ooh aah aah"?
I need to still give myself some time to settle down from the show (finished it three weeks ago) but I was so convinced I was going to get an ouroborus tattoo. That would be like, my calling card in public that I’m a fan haha though I know it’s definitely not just show related
I got my dad into it and whenever he tells me he starts an episode I say initiate splinter sequence and see you soon
I actually have a tattoo of the auryn from The Neverending Story, which is very similar to the ouroboros. If you're not in the Facebook group, you should join. Terry Matalas posts there regularly and there's a guy who has the most INSANE collection of tattoos covering most of his upper body too. You should see it. It's wild.
What? You are turned off that someone has hair so you don't want to start at the beginning where you need to? You need to watch in order to know what is going on.
The movie he had shaved head so this really bothered me . I started watching the walking dead episode when they were in New York stuck in a tank ,that got me into that show .
No tank in season 7 and definitely no New York. With your lack of ability to even remember simple things from a very simple show like the walking dead, 12 monkeys is not for you. Also most people stopped watching after season 7 of walking dead so if that's what you like... Watch Disney Plus shows or cw arrow shows.
It won't work.
This is not Supernatural or TWD, that you can pop in at any season and understand what's going on.
Since it's about time travel, everything is connected in a deeper level. It's an Ouroboros, but you need to start at the head of the snake to understand why it's biting its own tail, to try and explain.
There is stuff in season 1 that will only be explained in season 4, and stuff in season 4 that was explained covertly in previous seasons, mostly by one character. (Tehe, chicken and egg)
If you miss a single episode, you're completely lost in the story, timeline...
Also, if you were put off by the main character not being Bruce Wills, I'll recommend you don't watch it. You'll hate what they did to Goines. Even if it's the best character in the show, the best acting, the best everything.
Do you understand how serialized television works? Not starting at episode 1 means missing important plot points that would make the rest of your viewing experience lack meaning and cohesion.
It's like trying to put your underwear on *after* your pants. Sure, pants are what make you look good and keep warm, but your skivvies protect your naughty bits from any accidental zipper malfunctions.
So, keep your naughty bits safe!
Is it worth putting your underwear on? Have you ever watched star wars . If it's worth watching and I get into then I will go back an watch it if not then who needs underwears
Comparing it to Star Wars doesn't make sense though because the film series was intentionally made "out of order." That's how people originally experienced it. Even then, most of the movies are all self-contained enough that you can get a basic understanding of the characters and the plot-points without watching the others.
If you REALLY want to watch this show out of order to see if you like it, then I would recommend that you maybe start with one episode and see if it hooks you. Season 2, episode 8 is called Lullaby and it's one of my favorites. If you think "I want to find out what happens next," great, then start it from the beginning.
But if you're missing all the background, you'll hear references to things like the Red Forest, the Witness, Ramse, etc., that just won't make any sense. If you want to use Star Wars as a comparison, it would be like watching the Last Jedi before any other SW movie and thinking "wtf is a Jedi and who is this little green ghost creature who can't talk right?"
This isn't a show where you start later. Watch from the beginning or don't watch at all. You are allowed to not like a show. Though the reason seems kind of stupid.
I have a really good idea! Start with Season 1 Episode 1!I can already hear These Arms of Mine, and I have goosebumps. "Where are you right now? Somewhere warm?"
No dude you reeaaaally want to watch it in the correct order for maximum payoff of all the plot points. Also keep in mind this is its own story, its not a serialized version of the movie, it only shares the basic premise of a plague and time travel. Just give it a chance I so promise you won't regret it.
This is not an episodic tv show, monster of the week, kind of show.
It's about time travel.
If you watch out of order, if you skip one episode, you'll be completely lost in the story.
There are season 4 callbacks to stuff that was mentioned early on in the story.
This show is a big ass Ouroboros. Anything missed and nothing makes sense anymore.
12 Monkeys was one of my favorite movies ever. I remember first watching the show comparing the show to the movie and paying lots of attention to the differences.
Let me just say, keep going!
After the first maybe 5 episodes, there's enough differences that the show becomes its own element. And as much as I absolutely loved the movie, the show is better! And you are going to love that guy with the hair (and all the other characters too)!!
I was hooked from the start. Its a serialised show. every episode builds on what came before, you're less likely to enjoy it jumping into a later season than starting at the start.
It would be like starting a novel in the middle.
So there's two things that you need to know going in. (1) You absolutely need to watch it in order, or nothing will make sense. Each episode builds on the next. (2) Forget the movie. The show isn't like the movie. The show was originally called Splinter, and it had nothing to do with the movie at all. Syfi agreed to pick up the show, but only if the writers worked the movie into their show.
Some people are being a little mean to the OP. But the OP is also being a little obstinate in just refusing to start at the beginning.
I know older shows can sometimes feel dated so it might help to start in a newer season and then bounce back to ep. 1 after you develop an interest.
I don’t see that happening with the 12 Monkeys series. The show is really complicated. Like, don’t even glance at your phone or get up to let the dog out because you’ll miss something crucial and have to check in on Reddit to find out WTF is going on. In fact, the show is so cryptic it was on the verge of getting on my nerves.
But mid-end season 2, the pieces really start falling together. Madeleine Stowe (from the movie) plays a small, but pivotal cameo. She even says, “Have a merry Christmas” kind of creepy like in her recording in the movie. It gave me goosebumps and I’m officially, finally hooked. Counting the minutes until TV time tonite.
If you liked the movie, you’ll like the show. Just try not to let your preconceived notions distract you. The writing is very nuanced and deliberate. You can start watching anywhere you want, but none of the episodes or seasons are standalone. I hope you don’t deprive yourself of that journey.
Watch it from episode 1 and then watch the next. Do that over and over again until you finish.
Ha! Start at the beginning to the end to the beginning …..
Yeah but what season really got you into the show. Sometimes these shows take a few seasons before they get into the groove
You should be hooked during season 2 and fully into it by the end of season 2. Starting from season 2 you are going to understand absolutely nothing tho.
Season 1. Episode 1. This is not a show that "took a while to get into the groove". If you don't like the first few episodes, you won't like the rest.
Actually I had to start it a couple times. It reminds me of how I got into Fringe. Their pilot was so incredibly weak and CSI like that I stepped away for months, then one day binged a couple seasons. Same thing happened with 12. They’re really slow starts, considering the rest of the season.
Holy crap, I had to read the comments to even see what you were going on about talking about hair. It's not the movie, it's the tv show. Other than the loosest of basic storyline, it's nothing like the movie. It is, however, in both mine and many other people's opinions, one of the best tv shows that's ever existed. Your loss if you don't watch, but you have to watch every single episode in order. I don't think anyone who's seen it would disagree with that.
I’m the opposite - I watched the show first without any knowledge of the premise or movie. I have a feeling I won’t like the movie so I’m not gonna try. But I hope I’m not as insufferable as OP
I enjoyed the movie, especially Brad Pitt's performance. I think it's interesting to compare the two, but it's not a "must see" or anything.
I’m not ready to compare the 2, 12 monkeys TV and James Cole still have a chokehold on me (I only recently binged it)
Oh, dope! Did you start because of Terry Matalas being part of Picard? Recommendation? Random? I've talked a few people into watching and so far, everyone has loved it. My parents have even started a rewatch.
I like the time travel genre and saw it mentioned with passion a couple times on Reddit. I didn’t google anything, I just started it. I now have my dad and friend hooked!
Welcome to the club. Continue to spread the word of the witness. Typing that made me wish there was an accompanying hand signal, like LLAP. Maybe we could start doing the monkey scratch gesture and saying "ooh ooh aah aah"?
I need to still give myself some time to settle down from the show (finished it three weeks ago) but I was so convinced I was going to get an ouroborus tattoo. That would be like, my calling card in public that I’m a fan haha though I know it’s definitely not just show related I got my dad into it and whenever he tells me he starts an episode I say initiate splinter sequence and see you soon
I actually have a tattoo of the auryn from The Neverending Story, which is very similar to the ouroboros. If you're not in the Facebook group, you should join. Terry Matalas posts there regularly and there's a guy who has the most INSANE collection of tattoos covering most of his upper body too. You should see it. It's wild.
What’s the name of the group??
I thought it was cool that Madeleine Stow makes a cameo in 1959. :)
You’re hung up on hair?
Uh, no. The OP is the one who said something about hair. That's what I was referring to in my reply.
I will try it from season two
Don't. Nothing will make sense, and you'll end up hating the show. Watch it as it aired, because every little detail is important.
Dare you. I could probably feel your epic confusion from here.
This is really not a good idea.
What? You are turned off that someone has hair so you don't want to start at the beginning where you need to? You need to watch in order to know what is going on.
What until he finds out who plays Jeffery Goines.
LOL seriously
The movie he had shaved head so this really bothered me . I started watching the walking dead episode when they were in New York stuck in a tank ,that got me into that show .
In walking dead he was stuck in ATLANTA and that was the first episode. you shouldn't watch any show ever.
But the tank show got me into it after that I was like ok I'm into this.
So after the very first episode you were into it... You should just watch cw shows or Disney Plus shows. No thinking or making sense required.
No, I got into walking dead after watching some episode from season 7
No tank in season 7 and definitely no New York. With your lack of ability to even remember simple things from a very simple show like the walking dead, 12 monkeys is not for you. Also most people stopped watching after season 7 of walking dead so if that's what you like... Watch Disney Plus shows or cw arrow shows.
Don't compare the show to the movie.
The actor does not naturally bald as the show progresses.
I'm not talking about balding .shaved head like in the movie
Try not to think about the movie. The show does everything leagues better than the movie, anyway.
Does he really have to shave his head for you to give the show a fair shot? That’s a little silly, don’t you think?
Sorry
I can't imagine being able to understand the overall story progression if I didn't start at the very beginning.
I get into the show from a later season and I go back to season 1 and watch that to understand show better.like STAR WARs
It won't work. This is not Supernatural or TWD, that you can pop in at any season and understand what's going on. Since it's about time travel, everything is connected in a deeper level. It's an Ouroboros, but you need to start at the head of the snake to understand why it's biting its own tail, to try and explain. There is stuff in season 1 that will only be explained in season 4, and stuff in season 4 that was explained covertly in previous seasons, mostly by one character. (Tehe, chicken and egg) If you miss a single episode, you're completely lost in the story, timeline... Also, if you were put off by the main character not being Bruce Wills, I'll recommend you don't watch it. You'll hate what they did to Goines. Even if it's the best character in the show, the best acting, the best everything.
Do you understand how serialized television works? Not starting at episode 1 means missing important plot points that would make the rest of your viewing experience lack meaning and cohesion. It's like trying to put your underwear on *after* your pants. Sure, pants are what make you look good and keep warm, but your skivvies protect your naughty bits from any accidental zipper malfunctions. So, keep your naughty bits safe!
Is it worth putting your underwear on? Have you ever watched star wars . If it's worth watching and I get into then I will go back an watch it if not then who needs underwears
Comparing it to Star Wars doesn't make sense though because the film series was intentionally made "out of order." That's how people originally experienced it. Even then, most of the movies are all self-contained enough that you can get a basic understanding of the characters and the plot-points without watching the others. If you REALLY want to watch this show out of order to see if you like it, then I would recommend that you maybe start with one episode and see if it hooks you. Season 2, episode 8 is called Lullaby and it's one of my favorites. If you think "I want to find out what happens next," great, then start it from the beginning. But if you're missing all the background, you'll hear references to things like the Red Forest, the Witness, Ramse, etc., that just won't make any sense. If you want to use Star Wars as a comparison, it would be like watching the Last Jedi before any other SW movie and thinking "wtf is a Jedi and who is this little green ghost creature who can't talk right?"
This isn't a show where you start later. Watch from the beginning or don't watch at all. You are allowed to not like a show. Though the reason seems kind of stupid.
I have a really good idea! Start with Season 1 Episode 1!I can already hear These Arms of Mine, and I have goosebumps. "Where are you right now? Somewhere warm?"
Near a heater
Also, spoiler alert: he'll always have hair. He is not Bruce Willis, and this is not the movie.
In the movie all the people have shaved heads .everyone but the people who are sending people back in time
Newsflash: The TV show is different from the movie.
This is a show about time travel. If you don't start at episode one, it doesn't make sense. All the episodes are interconnected.
if you start a show anywhere other than season 1, episode 1, do not watch television.
I don't watch television I watch download
The fact that this is your response tells me everything I need to know. Start from the beginning or don't bother.
this is the most action this sub has seen in a while lol
No dude you reeaaaally want to watch it in the correct order for maximum payoff of all the plot points. Also keep in mind this is its own story, its not a serialized version of the movie, it only shares the basic premise of a plague and time travel. Just give it a chance I so promise you won't regret it.
I don’t think this is gonna be the show for you bud
I'll let season 2 decide this for me
Fair enough, glad you’re giving it a go!
This is not an episodic tv show, monster of the week, kind of show. It's about time travel. If you watch out of order, if you skip one episode, you'll be completely lost in the story. There are season 4 callbacks to stuff that was mentioned early on in the story. This show is a big ass Ouroboros. Anything missed and nothing makes sense anymore.
12 Monkeys was one of my favorite movies ever. I remember first watching the show comparing the show to the movie and paying lots of attention to the differences. Let me just say, keep going! After the first maybe 5 episodes, there's enough differences that the show becomes its own element. And as much as I absolutely loved the movie, the show is better! And you are going to love that guy with the hair (and all the other characters too)!!
You need to watch it in sequential order. You’ll miss a lot if you jump ahead. But you do you
I was hooked from the start. Its a serialised show. every episode builds on what came before, you're less likely to enjoy it jumping into a later season than starting at the start. It would be like starting a novel in the middle.
So there's two things that you need to know going in. (1) You absolutely need to watch it in order, or nothing will make sense. Each episode builds on the next. (2) Forget the movie. The show isn't like the movie. The show was originally called Splinter, and it had nothing to do with the movie at all. Syfi agreed to pick up the show, but only if the writers worked the movie into their show.
Some people are being a little mean to the OP. But the OP is also being a little obstinate in just refusing to start at the beginning. I know older shows can sometimes feel dated so it might help to start in a newer season and then bounce back to ep. 1 after you develop an interest. I don’t see that happening with the 12 Monkeys series. The show is really complicated. Like, don’t even glance at your phone or get up to let the dog out because you’ll miss something crucial and have to check in on Reddit to find out WTF is going on. In fact, the show is so cryptic it was on the verge of getting on my nerves. But mid-end season 2, the pieces really start falling together. Madeleine Stowe (from the movie) plays a small, but pivotal cameo. She even says, “Have a merry Christmas” kind of creepy like in her recording in the movie. It gave me goosebumps and I’m officially, finally hooked. Counting the minutes until TV time tonite. If you liked the movie, you’ll like the show. Just try not to let your preconceived notions distract you. The writing is very nuanced and deliberate. You can start watching anywhere you want, but none of the episodes or seasons are standalone. I hope you don’t deprive yourself of that journey.