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2 • June 5 - 11, 2016 • Brainerd Dispatch By Shona Dustan TV Media T he 1995 mind-bending sci-fi thriller that starred Bruce Willis and garnered a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for Brad Pitt has morphed into a successful TV se- ries. Now in its second season, Sy- fy's "12 Monkeys" continues to suck in audiences with complex storylines, compelling characters and shocking reveals. A new episode of the time-trav- el series airs Monday, June 6, on Syfy, and it promises to be an ex- citing one. The suspense and dra- ma have been steadily building, and the latter half of this second season should keep fans on the edge of their seats. The human race was devastated by a virus released in 2017 by ter- rorists calling themselves "The Army of the 12 Monkeys," and James Cole (Aaron Stanford, "Ni- kita") was sent back from 2043 to stop its release. In season 1, he sought out Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull, "Suits"), the woman who provided the intel that made the mission possible, but when he meets her, Cassie has no knowledge of him or his plans, and he must convince her that he is really a time traveler sent back to save the world. No small feat. Since then, Cole and Cassie have experienced big changes in both time and their relationship. While Cole was once the single- minded killer on a mission and Cassie was his conscience, the ta- bles have turned somewhat; re- cent events saw Cole stuck in his past, and Cassie stuck in her fu- ture, where circumstances soft- ened Cole and hardened Cassie. In an interview with Collider, Stan- ford addresses the complex ro- mance: "It's interesting to navigate a love story in the middle of a show like this, where the stakes are so high and it is about the survival of the human race. ... In the middle of it, you have these very natural hu- man feelings that develop be- tween the two of them. The ten- sion is always there, but there just seems to be very little time to ad- dress it or deal with it." While the evolving relationship of Cole and Cassie is at the center of the series, there are other key players in this compelling tale. José Ramse (Kirk Acevedo, "Fringe") is Cole's best friend who, though he allied himself with the Army of the 12 Monkeys last season (in order to save his son), has since been reunited with Cole and proven himself to be a loyal friend. Cassie, however, has been slow to forgive him, and their mu- tual, biting animosity has provided quite a few chuckles for viewers along the way. German actress Barbara Su- kowa ("Johnny Mnemonic," 1995) stars as the enigmatic Katarina Jones, the scientist who developed the time machine used to send Cole and others back. She's a ge- nius motivated by the loss of her family — a combination that makes her as determined as she is uncompromising. Jennifer Goines (Emily Hampshire, "Schitt's Creek") is a mysterious and unstable element in the se- ries, and her storyline has been fleshed out this sea- son, to the joy of many fans. Throughout season 1, she seemed nothing more than a psychotic girl whose imagined voices would cause her to re- lease the virus. This season, how- ever, has revealed her true na- ture: She's a "primary," some- one who experiences time in a different way than most, who is, in fact, a part of time itself. And she's not the only one. It's around these primaries that season 2's plot thickens. Though Cassie, Cole and Ramse managed to change history and push back the release of the vi- rus, the Army of the 12 Monkeys still op- erates in the future. When the vil- lains hijack the time machine and send their own operatives back in time, our heroes must figure out their endgame and stop it — but, of course, there are many compli- cations. The Pallid Man (Tom Noo- nan, "Hell on Wheels"), one of the main villains of season 2, has appeared multiple times throughout the series, each time with little explanation as to who he is, or what his intentions are. This season, we finally catch a glimpse of his origins and his con- nection to the Army of the 12 Monkeys. It's now known that he is, in fact, the son of one of the operatives sent back in time by the villainous cult. His sole mis- sion in life is to bring to frui- tion the plans of The Witness, a mysterious figure who seems bent on destroying time itself, and with whom Cole came face to face in last week's episode. As The Witness has prima- ries murdered, the fabric of time begins to rip apart, threatening all of human existence. It's a complex storyline, to be sure, one worth delving into if you're a sci-fi fan. As is usually the case with science fiction, the ac- tion-packed thriller has a heart, too — the relationship triangle of Cassie, Cole and Ramse is compel- ling and fun, while the revelations and evolution of each character add a sense of humanity and growth to the series. The time- travel element of the story allows for the possibility of just about anything — the smallest change in the past can affect the future and everyone in it, and the show's writers use this device wisely. As season 2 of the series march- es on, tune in to "12 Monkeys" for all the sci-fi action you could want. A new episode airs Monday, June 6, on Syfy. Barbara Sukowa as seen in "12 Monkeys" No monkey business '12 Monkeys' is sci-fi gold on the small screen Cover Story this week 501 W Washington St, Brainerd 218-828-1823 Free loaner cars available with most services! www.heartlandtireservice.com FULL SERVICE OIL CHANGE Up To 5Qts Oil & Filter. Top Off Vital Fluids. 44 Point Inspection. plus tax & fees SUMMER SPECIAL $ 39 99 FULL SERVICE OIL CHANGE TIRE ROTATION • TOP OFF FLUIDS BRAKE INSPECTION A/C PERFORMANCE CHECK BATTERY TEST Call for appointment and details. May not be combined with other offers. Must redeem coupon at time of purchase. Expires 7-2-16 CHOOSE YOUR SAVINGS $ 19.99 CONVENTIONAL OIL GOOD $ 49.99 FULL SYNTHETIC OIL BEST HIGH MILEAGE OIL BETTER $ 34.99 Expires 7-2-16 001414794r1 SPEND THIS SAVE THIS $100-$199 ..... SAVE $15! $200-$399 ..... SAVE $30! $400-$799 ..... SAVE $45! $800-$999 ..... SAVE $55! $1000 & up .... SAVE $100! Savings exclude tires & batteries. Must present coupon to get this price. 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