Hunters Episodes 11-13 Reviews: Hakuna F#@$*%g Matata (Series Finale)

"Hunters" has come to an end. While the finale left room for a new season, we won't be seeing one. It's not shock that SyFy canceled the show after 13 episodes. The reviews were terrible. Metacritics gave it a 34 by critics (and a 5.7 among viewers). Rotten Tomatoes gave it a flat 0 (and a 55 audience score). Many people exited after the show faltered in the beginning episodes. SyFy's moving it to midnight further sealed "Hunters" fate.

I still have to say it wasnt that bad. Is it the best thing I've ever seen on TV? Definitely not. But there were enough interesting aspects to keep me watching. Aliens extracting the spinal cords of humans in order to assume their identities was fun. The "back birth" was the coolest scene of the series. Ouch! Kudos to the special effects team. A genderless species is thought provoking. "Hunters" also had a lot to say about terrorism and our current political climate. Is any behavior justified if we couch it in the context of protected our country? At what point do our behaviors turn us into the monsters we're trying to protect ourselves from? Big questions.

The aliens method of communication is a series of clicking sounds (which they've been known to disguise in dance party music). They also have an obsession with rabbits. Not sure why.

The Quins are an intriguing subspecies. They have large holes in their chest from which they can emit ear splitting sounds. Other Hunters (or at least Musa) can feed from them. I'd like to learn more about these creatures.

I'd also like to know more about the specifics of the Hunters. How exactly do they get in and out of their human skin? They appear larger in alien form so how does all that get crammed into a tiny human body?

The finale was a bit confusing but here's the basic goings on:

Truss and Finnerman continue to be at odds over the ETU's mission. Finnerman believes they should kill the aliens at any cost. Truss wants to take a more "humane" approach. They eventually part ways over this difference of opinion. The final straw was when Finnerman ordered her men to wipe out a hotel full of innocent aliens. Next Truss' car is (supposedly) bombed by a Hunter. His family narrowly escapes death. But, just as we suspected, Finnerman was behind the whole thing. Jackson reluctantly kills her (and disguises it as an alien murder).

We learn that the Hunters arent trying to build a nuclear weapon after all. They just want to get a spaceship and head back home. Abby visits Flynn to tell him. But can he believe her? He's been burned before. Either way it doesnt matter much. The nuclear weapons being used in the ship will destroy half the planet.

McCarthy shows up out of nowhere and offers to take the ETU to the launch site in exchange tor immunity. Hint: it's in Mexico. After they arrive, McCarthy breaks lose of his shackles. Briggs kills him with two stun guns. That seemed a bit uneventful for a character who was so prominent at the beginning of the series. McCarthy also had some of the best lines on the show. This episode had him quoting "The Lion King" with "hakuna f@#$^&g matata". Too funny! His body later disappears so maybe he's still alive after all?

In a interesting twist, we learn that Regan's mom is Exalted (which makes Allison one as well). On their home planet, the Exalted were the Hunter slave masters. Musa (ie Brother Number Four) had said they were extinct. Liana doesnt want to go back home. She plans to stay right here on Earth. That's bad news for us Earthlings! She makes Musa sicker until he figures out what she is. She attacks him and runs off.

Flynn later encounters Musa. Musa says something about Carroll being the Chosen One since he was the only survivor of "The Hunt" (where his Army buddies were killed). As such, he has to protect the Hunters. Flynn doesnt think much of the plan. They fight and Carroll kills Musa by pulling his head apart (thus revealing the Hunter underneath). Cool visual! I know Musa was a bad guy and all but everything he did was to protect his fellow aliens. What would you do in the same situation?

In the final scene, Abby tries to save the Hunters on the ship but can not. Liana has rigged it to blow and kill everyone inside. Flynn pulls Abby away before they both die. They drive away and see a mushroom cloud in the distance. Everyone has perished. How many humans will the nuclear radiation kill? Carroll and a distraught Abby hold hands. If they survive, will these two kids make another go at domestic tranquility? Emme has always said she loves Abby no matter what she is. Can Flynn do the same?

Jackson and Briggs also make it out (but Briggs leaves Regan to die). That guy is a serious loser. Give it a break dude! Has she not proven her loyalty enough by now?

Elsewhere Liana takes Regan to where a new batch of Hunters are gathered. The Exalted look different than regular Hunters. They are more Predator-like. What will they do next? I guess we'll never find out because the show has been canceled.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). Not as bad as the critics would have you believe. "Hunters" presents some interesting ideas about self identity, morals and politics in a post 9/11 world. I also enjoyed some of the actors. Julian McMahon as McCarthy is always compelling on screen. Lauren Gordon as Abby and Britne Oldford as Regan gave it their all. I found the main character of Flynn Carroll to be boring though. Sorry! The final scene left room for a season 2 that we'll never see. Did you watch "Hunters"? If so, please leave your thoughts in the comments below.