12 Monkeys “Enemy” was written by Christopher Monfette and directed by David Grossman. I loved the way the title of this episode played throughout it – and kept us guessing as to whom the enemy was. Jones (Barbara Sukowa) cautions Cole (Aaron Stanford) about Ramse (Kirk Acevedo) and Jennifer (Emily Hampshire) cautions Jones about Olivia (Alisen Down). And for both Jones and Deacon (Todd Stashwick), they may both be their own enemies. While there were many great performances in this episode – Sukowa and Down are standouts – the episode gold star has to go to Stashwick for a brilliant performance.
The episode flashes back to last season’s finale to pick up Deacon’s story as he apologizes to Jennifer for killing her, and then essentially sacrifices himself to save her – debt paid, right? But he doesn’t die – yeah!!! Instead, we see that Mallick (Faran Tahir) has treated his wounds and is keeping him locked up. Stashwick is simply brilliant as he plays both himself and his father. Now, admittedly, I first saw the episode on my tablet with a screener, but it took me several episodes to realize that Stashwick was initially playing both Deacon and his father Greg.
Stashwick nurses Deacon through an emotional roller coaster, but he also underwent a tremendous physical transformation too – yes. All those chin ups were really him! Mallick tells Deacon that he’s alone in his prison – Mallick’s secret to keep – from Deacon’s friends and enemies. It’s a two edged sword – he’s safe from his enemies, but he’s also a prisoner with no hope for escape. Greg becomes that voice in his head that has driven Deacon his entire life. Greg calls him weak, and tells him that he only liked Deacon when he started to hit back. And Deacon starts to hit back and take back control as we see him starting to keep track of the days.
Mallick tells Deacon that some day, far from now, he’ll be called upon to do something. And of course it’s far in time and distance. Greg continues to taunt him, scoffing that Deacon found redemption in a woman and pointing out that nothing comes for free – there’s a price to pay for the food he’s getting.
Finally, we get Deacon back in fighting shape, and he’s taken up his song again: “Don’t You Forget About Me.” He may want to forget his father, but his father has served a purpose. Deacon also needs to remember himself though. Once again, Greg spurs him on by telling him he won’t “Magyver his way out” – and I loved the reference – and it had to be to the original series, right? But Deacon has remembered himself. He knows there’s a price to be paid – but on his terms. Take a lot and make them thank you for it. He tells his father that everything he did, he did to try to protect his brother. His father voices Deacon’s worst fear – that in protecting his brother, he actually made him weak and caused his death.
Deacon is done waiting and demonstrates to Mallick he’s ready – enough of honoring time with patience! Mallick makes him memorize directions. Once again, Greg is the one to cast doubt – maybe he lets you out, but into what? Deacon is done with Greg too. He tells him that he needed something to hate – to channel his anger, and that’s why he needed his father. He hated what Greg did to him, and he hates that he looks like him – and then Greg morphs into Thomas Mitchell – and kudos to the producers for finding such a great look-a-like! Greg points out that Deacon doesn’t look like him – Greg’s father gave him scars and that’s all he had to pass on, but it doesn’t make Deacon him. It’s a great metaphor that Deacon is not like his father either inside or out.
And of course, the final sequence with Deacon is Mallick’s plan playing out. Deacon is to rescue Cassie (Amanda Schull). I loved him flinging open the door and the song resonating one more time – “Forget about me?” he asks as Cassie throws herself on him and hugs him. He’s going to get a reputation for rescuing all the ladies!
The episode actually begins where we left off – with Ramse arriving at the facility with Olivia. I loved the scene of them being let into the containment room and the view of the canaries. If ever canaries should have keeled over from noxious atmosphere it was then! Did anyone believe that Olivia was really in it for anyone other than herself?
Jones stops Cole from simply letting Ramse in, reminding him that Ramse isn’t just Cole’s “brother.” He is also the grieving father, and Ramse spent years working with and answering to Olivia. Jennifer similarly warns Jones about the danger that Olivia poses – she’s a chameleon, and when she smiles at you, it’s because she wants you dead. They build Olivia her own personal cell, and she never seems the least bit disturbed or discomposed.
Jones visits Ramse, who is simply being held in his room. She tells him that she never had a sibling and never wanted one. Families make you foolish – clearly meaning Cole’s loyalty to Ramse. Ramse tries to maintain that Olivia simply happened to be there when Titan disappeared, but Jones isn’t so sure – how does he know Olivia wasn’t purposely waiting for him? Ramse tells Jones that Olivia broke with the Army of the 12 Monkeys in 2016. He asks to see Cole and tells Jones that Sam is dead.
Jones is clearly sorry about Sam, but Ramse won’t let her apologize – she doesn’t get to soothe her conscience. She got her daughter, and he lost his boy twice. Ramse doesn’t have any illusions. He knows he deserves what’s coming to him – but he wants the chance to get the Witness first.
Cole visits Olivia and tries to convince her that they are really on the same side – they both want the Witness. Olivia taunts him about Cassie but them makes the point that even though it’s been decades since she’s seen him, his eyes – unlike the rest of his face – are much older. She sees the toll that’s been taken on him. But she’s not conceding defeat – he’s not an adversary, he’s merely an annoyance – and he’ll clearly never be an ally.
She tells him that she will never forgive him for leaving her behind – and I loved the way we dovetailed back to Berlin – and how her bitterness at being left in a box is later used against her by Cole. And I also loved Jones and Adler (Andrew Gillies) putting it all together – that Olivia was the test subject for the eugenics project in 1961. I also love how timey-wimey that whole thing is. Olivia picked the twelve babies to become messengers and then Mathis ends up being Olivia’s mother! Crazy!
Olivia tells Cole that he fed her to the Witness. And she tells him that she believed until she saw the lie. Cole wants to know what lie, and Olivia asks him if he never wondered why they never killed Cole given how many opportunities they had – and that in itself goes back to the last episode when Cole was dying and the Guardians fixed the timeline – and saved him…
Olivia tells Cole not to worry about Cassie – nothing stays in a box forever. So, it would seem that she is working with Mallick. Adler takes a sample of her blood, and he and Jones have confirmation of Olivia’s special status – and an explanation for her incredible strength – she’s a perfect variation of the Messenger gene.
Jones goes to Olivia. This is a terrific scene as we see the two women who have been leading both sides finally square off against one another. Olivia tells Jones that playing God is a lack of ambition when you can actually be one – clearly a reference to her superior DNA! Olivia proves she knows how to go right to where her enemies are most vulnerable. She asks Jones what Hannah (Brooke Williams) might have been if Jones had raised her. Jones tells Olivia never to mention her again – and of course, Olivia doesn’t listen.
Olivia makes Jones an offer: hide her somewhere in the past and she’ll give Jones the Witness. Olivia tells Jones that the Witness gave her purpose. When she walked away and tried to be normal, ordinary, the world felt small and fragile. She then tells Jones that losing Hannah is the only thing that gave Jones purpose. She rubs it in her face, telling Jones that everything Jones built belongs to someone else – including Hannah who was raised by another mother.
Jones warned her, and she resorts to revenge, splintering Olivia slowly so that she feels each time. Hannah is appalled – this is the Dr Grim of ghost stories told the children in the camps to keep them in line. It’s interesting that Jennifer makes the statement that “she doesn’t like it” and she’s not talking about Olivia, Jennifer means the machine, and time itself. Hannah knows that torturing Olivia is really revenge for Jones losing Hannah.
Hannah threatens Laskey (Murray Furrow) to get Jones to stop, and while she’s distracted, Cole takes matters into his own hands. He asks Laskey and Adler if there is somewhere in the facility that no one goes and finds a room in the basement. He takes Olivia back three months – they don’t have time to break her now – and he locks her in a box.
Cole splinters back to the present and they find Olivia cowering – and surrounded by the dead rats she’d been eating. She says she’s ready to talk – and gives a credible performance that she is freaked out. Jones realizes what she’s done after Hannah tells her about the stories they’d heard about Dr Grim – and assures Jones that that isn’t who Jones really is. Jones tends to Olivia herself.
Meanwhile, Ramse gets two more visitors. Jennifer brings him two of Sam’s toys and tells him that she really is sorry for Sam. Ramse remarks, “What does it say about this place that in order to be human, you have to be a little bit crazy?” And that is Jennifer’s superpower. She may be crazy, but she’s never cruel. Cole also finally gets in to see Ramse and the two hug it out.
Meanwhile, Olivia is helped out in a wheelchair – a nice nod back to the time she already spent in one. She tells them that the four people in Jennifer’s picture are the Guardians of the Witness. They are charged with teaching, protecting, and raising the Witness. She tells them that Titan was built for the Witness’ return. She also tells them that there is one point in the past when the Witness will be most vulnerable and that will be their chance to kill him. She tells them that she can tell them when, where, and how to kill the Witness. Of course, the information she gives them isn’t the same as what she’s given Ramse – he was working against them and with her the entire time.
Cole and Ramse share a moment on the roof of the facility. It’s a nice touchstone to the many other conversations they’ve had there. Ramse tells Cole that whatever happens in 2007, Cole will always be his family. Cole tells him that he’s sorry for having stopped him from trying to save Sam – and that Ramse can be the one to kill the Witness. Cole, of course, is still in the dark – but Ramse knows that in order to kill the Witness, he’s going to have to kill Cassie.
Jones sends them to the Emerson Hotel – of course. Before they splinter, Jennifer tries her hardest to stop Cole from going. She has a bad feeling – it’s not a vision, but it’s strong. She tells him it’s all wrong, but Cole is determined to go – and off to 2007 the two go.
This was a powerful episode with lots of great twists and turns and some nice payoffs on previous episodes. Stashwick, Sukowa, and Down deliver powerful performances, but this show always makes it hard to single out just one or two people! The writing, acting, and direction are always fantastic! What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
