I know, I know. The Syfy Channel hasn't had a really good rep in recent memory. Yeah, they were responsible for gems such as Battlestar Galactica and all those Stargate spin-offs, but they were also responsible for films like Sharknado. Look, I'm not trying to hate on you if you like Sharknado — I know there are a lot of people out there that enjoy B-movies and how ridiculous they are, but if you're looking for to a return to the quality of Battlestar or Stargate, well, 12 Monkeys is your answer.

Developed by Terry Matalas and Travis Ficket, 12 Monkeys follows scavenger-turned-chrononaut James Cole (Aaron Stanford) as he travels from 2043 to present-day 2016 to kill a man named Leland Goines, who is allegedly responsible for an apocalyptic virus outbreak. This is more than a reboot of Terry Gilliam's 1995 film based on Chris Marker's 1962 short film La Jetee. In fact, in its early stages, it had no ties to the film. It was based on a pilot script by Matalas and Ficket called "Splinter," and when you get into the meat of the series, it most certainly takes on an identity of its own. But this isn't a comparison — I'm here to tell you why you should be watching 12 Monkeys. Season two's finale aired a couple weeks ago and I'm going to try really hard to restrain myself from geeking out too hard on you, because I'm of the opinion that it's currently one of the best shows on television. If you're also a fan of the show, welcome! You definitely know what I'm talking about. To the newcomers: Oh, you're in for a ride.

Admittedly, when you first dive into season one it takes one or two episodes to gain some traction. The actors are just settling into their chemistry with each other and the story is just ramping up, but it doesn't take long for you to invest yourself in these people. We meet Cole as a bitter man — he's experienced nothing but a post-apocalyptic world while having to do terrible things to survive with his best friend Jose Ramse (Kirk Acevedo). They have decided to stop a scavenger lifestyle that resulted in killing innocent people (which Cole is a lot more willing to do), and have hunkered down in an old warehouse where they protect a team of scientists lead by a physicist named Katarina Jones (Barbara Sukowa). 12 Monkeys makes quick work of establishing the rules of its universe and gives us a fast-paced action series encapsulated in an ever-deepening and intriguing story.

The story of 12 Monkeys is so much more than a re-telling of the original. It simply uses the story and characters of the original as the foundation of something much bigger and infinitely more intriguing. Matalas and Ficket are very clever in their use of time-travel as a plot device, and they aren't shy about using it either. We're rarely stuck in one time period at any given time, with characters constantly spread between at least two different time periods. This adds a certain pacing to the show that helps it rarely, if ever, slump into boredom or redundancy. The directors of the series also make use of varying colors and tones as we visit different time periods which gives a nice reprieve from the bleak and darkened landscape of the future where our characters make home base.

We're treated to story beats from Gilliam's film that mostly occur in the first half of season one, especially the introduction to the delightfully mad Jennifer Goines, played excellently by Emily Hampshire (we'll get to her a little later). Every character is on an epic journey, and because Matalas and Ficket have the entire scope of time and space to play with, it creates endless possibilities in terms of story (i.e. time storms where the past, present, and future collide at once). It always keeps you guessing, and almost feels like it gets better episode by episode, never showing you its entire hand but still giving you just enough to piece the picture together. By the time you think you have it all figured out, however, think again. Matalas and Ficket are doing great work in keeping 12 Monkeys constantly fresh and intriguing, and executing misdirection with creativity. Each of the first two seasons clocks in at a thirteen episode count which causes it to feel more like a Netflix binge series. Its pacing is arguably better than Daredevil's first two seasons — maybe even Jessica Jones for that matter. It's easy for you to settle in and want to blast through thirteen episodes in a row, although I wouldn't recommend spending thirteen hours in a row sitting on a couch due to health reasons and stuff like that. (I'm not judging, though. I watched Season five of 24 in its entirety leading up to a disappointing season six...) Let's move on, shall we?

Perhaps the best aspect of 12 Monkeys is its characters, their journeys, and how they develop with the story. Matalas and Ficket have crafted a slew of memorable characters that, like the story, will keep you on your toes with their well-crafted, fun, and sometimes harrowing journeys. There's a warmth and familiarity with each of the characters because their backstories are thought out and used in ways to organically evolve them within the world that Matalas and Ficket have created.

Stanford plays James Cole with a guarded and hardened mentality. He's never had the chance to live in the world in which we know and take for granted every single day, but only remembers fragments of his childhood before it went upside-down. Behind his badassery — and he is a badass — Cole is a big ol' softy. He just wants to live a normal life, and that shines through during his stays in different time periods. He finds solace in ordering whiskey sours every time he splinters back into time, and he enjoys music and dancing. Stanford hides the real Cole behind hard eyes and inner conflict, but there are times when that real, romantic, normal Cole comes through that rough exterior. It's these moments that really bring us in, and make us want to cheer our hero on.

His scenes with Acevedo's Ramse show a strong chemistry throughout; they're supposed to be childhood and life-long friends and it definitely plays that way. Each character has a well-written arc, but Ramse's is arguably the best. I won't give anything away, but this guy goes on one hell of a journey. When you first meet Ramse, he's sick of killing and has waning faith in the mission. He believes they should focus on the future and that all this time-travel BS is just a waste of time, but boy is he thrown for a loop, especially when The Witness storyline is introduced, and if you don't know what I'm talking about...well, good. Watch! The Witness storyline begins in season one, stretches through season two, and involves an unknown being that is able to exist outside of time, and influence his cult following — the Army of the Twelve Monkeys. It might go a little bit long, but the writing and characters' journeys still make it a fun ride no matter what. Acevedo puts in some really great performances as Ramse, taking you on a ride through his emotions with the inflections and cadence in his voice while giving a nuanced performance, adding to the believability of this otherwise fantastical world.

Speaking of nuance and performances, Hampshire's Goines is probably the most fun in the series. She's crazy but wise, off-putting but heartwarming. Hampshire puts a wonderful spin of her own on the character, playing Goines with believable insanity, but definitely shows that she can hit more than one note. She might be annoying at first but charms you as the series continues, and after being upgraded to series regular for the second season, she might be the most enjoyable character of the series. The writers certainly have fun with Goines' clever and paradoxical dialogue, while giving her an underlying grace and addicting personality that causes you to ask for more. She's always a welcome sight whenever she's on-screen and remains a big reason why 12 Monkeys is so enjoyable.

So those three characters are the best in my opinion, but not by much. Amanda Shull plays Dr. Cassandra Railley. Early on, the mission revolves around her and a recording that the future team possesses. Cole is sent back initially and enlists her help which brings her into the fold. She's a key piece of the puzzle and Shull really settles into her own as the series continues. Her character takes a big turn and also goes on a very interesting journey that changes her in big ways, which invests you in her character a little more and strengthens her in positive ways, but creates an interesting dynamic between her and Cole later on. Todd Stashwick plays a man named Theodore Deacon, who's the leader of a scavenger group called West 7 in 2043. This guy starts off as a big asshole but ends up becoming one of the most memorable characters in the series, mostly shining in Season Two after being upgraded to a regularly occurring role. He doesn't have a huge part in the overall story, but always provides welcome moments of levity and awesomeness as the series continues. One particularly badass moment involving a nice long walk with Ramse and Cole is sure to win you over, and if it doesn't, he's always there for a nice quip or one-liner that'll coax a chuckle from your cold and embittered soul.

I haven't even gotten into the Army of the Twelve Monkeys or The Messengers, who are usually fronted by the creepy and pestering Pallid Man (Tom Noonan) and Olivia (Alisen Down), both dark souls who have been promised a bigger role in the larger picture of time by The Witness, and both able to exist out of time and space themselves...I'm going to leave these characters in the shadows where they belong. There are a lot of twists and turns involving The Army of the Twelve Monkeys and our main group of characters that aren't worth spoiling, but worth watching and letting unfold for yourselves!

Why should you watch 12 Monkeys? Overall, it's a solid piece of television. Its writing is clever and creative; its performances and characters are moving and thoroughly engaging. It has the ability to captivate you with a blend of adventure, action, humor, and twisty mind-bending time-travel storytelling that are never too confusing to follow (still, it's best to start watching from the beginning). 12 Monkeys hasn't slowed down since its first episode and keeps getting better with time (no pun intended), giving us a rare show with little to no filler that continuously tightens its grip as it progresses. Season three is slated for a ten episode run that will begin sometime next year, so now is the perfect time to catch up, and if you've seen the Season two finale already, you'll know that ride isn't slowing down anytime soon.

Why You Should Be Watching Syfy's 12 MONKEYS