12 Monkeys Season 2 Episode 8-9 Reviews: Hyenas Rule!

"12 Monkeys" continues to hit it out of the park. It is by far the best sci fi show on television. Why do I love "12 Monkeys" so much? The mythology is kick ass. The characters are compelling including several strong female leads (Jennifer, Cassie and Jones). There so much time traveling goodness that I watch each episode twice. "12 Monkeys" is at the top of my "must see TV" list. If you're not watching "12 Monkeys", begin immediately!

In "Lullaby" Cassie is sent back to 2020 by Jones. Her mission is to kill Katarina''s younger self. Cassie finds Jones with her sick daughter. Remember, from our current perspective, Hannah dies thus prompting Jones to build the time machine. Cassie shoots Katarina over and over again but nothing changes. Cole then joins Cassie. They shoot Jones, they're killed by Foster and on and on. Still no change. Our time travelers are stuck in a "temporal loop" are doomed to repeat the day (ala "GroundHog Day"). Jennifer is in a holding cell at Spearhead. She gives Cole several cryptic messages including "Maybe time likes time travel" and "You need to do something... but nothing."

Jennifer finally whispers the solution to Cole (but we arent privy to it until the end of the episode). Here's what actually happened. During the last loop, Cole distracts the others. Cassie feverishly works to rescue Jones' daughter. They then give the child to Jennifer. Hannah is raised by the Daughters. Jones, assuming that her daughter is dead, starts Project Splinter. And you know the rest of the story (at least as it stands now).

When Cole and Cassie return to 2044, Cole confesses his feelings. "The only world I ever gave a damn about was the one you were in." Cassie feels the same way but they cant do anything about it. The fate of humanity is at stake. At least they're not fighting anymore.

Jones and a now grown Hannah are reunited. Oh the feels! It's going to be hard for these two to make up for lost time. See what I did there???

At the end of the episode, Ramse draws a gun on Cassie. He plans to kill her for causing Sam to splinter. Instead, Cassie talks Ramse into helping her kill the Witness. Off they go together.

"Hyenas" is the best episode thus far. Cassie and Ramse try to locate the Witness. Hannah sends them to someone called the "Keeper". He's a strange guy who likes to hook people up to lie detectors. If they dont pass, he kills em. We finally get to the truth about Cassie and Ramse's feelings for each other. They both are jealous over the other's relationship with Cole. Since it's the truth, they pass. The Kepper gives them intel on the Witness and Titan. They must get to 1960 Berlin and look up Dr Issac Kirshner.

Meanwhile in 2016, Cole finds a much changed Jennifer. She has started a new group called the Hyenas. Hyenas are apparently the natural enemy of monkeys. Her team is comprised of women who are ex mental patients. Not sure that's the best plan but at least it's entertaining.

These scenes are crosscut with Old Jennifer in the future trying to give Cole a clue with a game of cups and balls.

Back in 2016 the Hyenas and Cole try to draw out the Pallid Man but using Oliver Peters (the guy who developed the plague and then apparently the vaccine). Unfortunately the crazies turn on Jennifer. She and Cole come up with plan B.

Cole beats Pallid Man to a pulp to get intel. PM, being a weirdo, doesnt seem to mind that much. The time travelers must get to 1957 to find the last primary. Pallid still has a trick up his sleeve though. He placed a bomb in the hospital. It explodes killing everyone there (including Peters and the Hyenas). Jennifer is obviously distraught. Cole does manage to save her turtle though. We later see the full grown version in 2044.

Olivia makes an appearance in this episode. She's in a wheelchair now. I seriously thought she was dead earlier. She and Pallid Man continue to spare over what the Witness knows or doesnt know. I still have no idea what their relationship is.

Jones and Hannah (who is nicknamed "Ziet" or "Time") share a quiet moment. Ziet asked about her father. Katarina says he left shortly after they were married. And in the surprise ending Pallid Man visits Mr Dr Jones (Elliot). He convinces him to build something called "Titan" (which I think is the original time machine). Uh oh. This cant be good.

Favorite Quotes:

"Maybe time likes time travel"- Jennifer to Cole.
"I sent Cassie back to Spearhead 2022 with the explicit instruction to end my life and so destroy the creation of time travel."- Jones.
"You need to do something... but nothing."- Jennifer to Cole.
We're like her-- misunderstood. She's our mother. She freed us, feeds us and now she leads us."- Hyenas about Jennifer.
"The only world I ever gave a damn about was the one you were in."- Cole professing his feelings to Cassie.
" A wise man once told me there are many endings. But the right one is the one you choose."- Jennifer to Cole after Cole said the same thing to Jennifer.
"It's massive. That's why we're calling it Titan."- the Pallid Man to Mr Dr Jones.
"Of all creatures great and cuddly which is the natural predator of the monkey? The hyena."- Jennifer.
"These are the end times Tall Man... but not for humanity. I'm coming for you."- Jennifer to Pallid Man.

Grade: 5 Monsters (out of 5). Both "Lullaby" and "Hyenas" were perfect! This show just keeps getting better and better. I'm not even sure how that's possible since it was pretty great before. There are only 4 episodes left this season. @SyFy please, please, please renew "12 Monkeys"!