’12 Monkeys’ Review: Kill Primaries, Destroy Time

May 9, 2016

12 Monkeys

Season 2, Episode 4: “Emergence”

Air Date: May 9, 2016

In this week’s episode, Ramse time travels to 1944 at the behest of Jones to retrieve Cassie and Cole and in doing so will gain freedom for Sam and himself in 2044. But do you really want to be outside with all those temporal anomalies popping out of nowhere?

He is sent back two days before the paradox explosion in hopes of finding the other two chrononauts and is instructed to put an ad in the paper everyday so that Jones and the other scientists in the future can pinpoint a specific date and location to their exact whereabouts. Naturally though things don’t go according to plan and Ramse gets hit by a car and is brought to a hospital where he lay unconscious for a whole day.

We flash to the scene when Cassie and Cole first meet at the Emerson Hotel and we find out that the phone call for Cole had actually been Ramse on the other line at the hospital. He was going in for surgery at some point to reset a broken bone (in his wrist maybe?) while a nurse also commented on how he healed super fast, but weirdly had osteoporosis (strange for someone his age). Before he was able to even say a word to Cole, the hospital attendants catch him and he is drugged back to sleep.

Ramse is knocked out through most of the events from last week’s episode. After regaining consciousness, he commandeers clothes from a visiting relative of a fellow patient and manages to walk out of the hospital without being caught. He then heads straight to the mental asylum where Cole and Cassie already are trying to find Tommy Crawford Jr. Upon arrival, he sees the body of a dead security guard and calls out for Cole in Tommy’s room but instead runs into the female messenger who is surprised to see him there. She ominously says that he shouldn’t be here because his cycle is complete. He tries to bluff his way out (as she has the bone dagger up against his neck) and tells her that the cycle has changed and that he’s looking for James Cole. The messenger is unsure of whether to trust him as the audience is as well. He calmly explains that there were problems after she left the facility in 2043 as some of the others were killed and Dr. Railly and Cole pursued her to 1944. Ramse goes on that he can stop Team Splinter as he’s infiltrated the enemy. He pushes it a little too far though when he claims that The Witness personally asked him to do this and the messenger is quick to realize that he is lying because their leader never asks. Ramse is then handcuffed to the radiator pipe while the two messengers deal with Cassie and Cole.

He is able to set himself free eventually but the authorities make their appearance and take the other two time travelers into custody while the female messenger is taken to the hospital. Ramse lays low as the NYPD is all over the hospital but manages to rescue Cole and Cassie as they are getting interrogated at a motel. Reunited, he explains that Jones sent him because their tethers had been lost after the paradox explosion. As the three discuss their next move and returning to 2044, Agent Gale is completely confused before Cole does the kind thing and knocks the poor guy out.

Regrouping at the Emerson, Ramse tells his companions that he needs to put an ad in the paper so that Jones can retrieve all of them and Cassie decides to go with him to make sure he doesn’t do anything funny. After the deed is done, the two share a drink at the hotel bar where Ramse tells Dr. Railly that she should forgive Cole because it’s the right thing to do. Cole forgave him and the other man would do the same for her.

Meanwhile said individual sees a story in the newspaper about the female messenger at the hospital and goes to investigate on his own. He runs into Agent Gale and pulls out a gun on him, except the other man doesn’t think that they killed Tommy anymore. In fact he believes something strange really is going on and allows Cole to talk to the messenger. In the patient’s room, the woman begins to speak, telling them that her mission is complete but she didn’t expect to survive. It looks like her father made them too well. When asked why kill the Crawfords, the woman responds that Cole understands that Tommy is a primary. When the time traveler inquires on why paradox him she says to stop time’s cruel destruction and to unlock the infinite. Now what could that mean? The next moment though she over powers them both and takes Cole’s gun. Just when it looks like she is about to shoot him, she stops claiming that she cannot kill him because The Witness has spoken. He passes out and she disappears. Some fans have theorized that Cole is actually The Witness, or an alternate version of him is (or will become?). That would be real tricky of you 12 Monkeys.

I'm watching you 12 Monkeys. — I’m watching you 12 Monkeys.

Cole, Ramse, Cassie and Gale return to the Emerson where the time travelers invite the government man to see them get splintered back to 2044 to prove that he’s not going to crazy and everything they’ve said is real. When the three disappear in front of his very eyes Gale’s response is an appropriate holy sh*t. He takes the picture of Cassie and Cole at the military party and then writes the message that would one day be found by Team Splinter in 2016.

In 2044 Jones, Whitley and some others examine bodies aged by the temporal anomalies that began after the 1944 paradox explosion. When Whitley asks her why now and here, she has no answers as well known theories of time had never included this. In frustration Jones finally seeks out Old Jennifer who has been camped outside the facility with her Daughters.

This scene between Jones and Jennifer is a significant one as the primary explains that there are no straight lines regarding time (aka it’s not linear). Jennifer continues to say that who created the temporal anomalies isn’t important (it’s the 12 Monkeys duh) it’s how and why that are the real questions. Jones quickly answers that the Monkeys used her machine and that’s how but the elder woman brushes it off and tells a story about an ant line wherein a singular ant only knows the one in front of it and behind it. Only when it steps out of line does it see how many ants there really are. Old Jennifer tells Jones that she’s looking at time incorrectly. The primary begins to brew some red forest tea for the scientist but the woman leaves thinking that she was wasting her time. Oh Jones, if you only knew!

Back at the facility, she rips Dr. Adler a new one because he didn’t think checking the 1944 newspaper would lead to anything. She has an epic meltdown and begins tearing down the research on the wall. Jonesy, you should go outside and have a cigarette and calm down.

She gets a little pep talk from Dr. Eckland who reminds her that she’s not just a scientist, she’s also an explorer. When explorers get lost they go full steam ahead. So swallowing her pride, Jones returns to Old Jennifer where she gives the scientist the cup of temporal anomaly red tea. Once the effects take hold, the she meets young Jennifer during in another time, specifically the beginning to man’s existence. The two have a somewhat existential conversation with Ms. Goines asserting that time and man grew up together, depend on each other while Jones disagrees that time is older than man and infinite. Jennifer then goes on to say that in the here and now man helps time to think, some more than others and these are the primaries. Primaries are the gears that keep time moving steady but if someone where to destroy them the gears would break and paradoxes would ensue. If this were to happen there would be no past, present or future. It would only be an infinite now of death and life happening all at the same moment. Jennifer ends by saying, “a memory of tomorrow,” the same exact words that Olivia used to guide Cassie when she had taken the same tea.

Jones now has a better understanding of time and when she arrives back at the facility, Dr. Adler finds Ramse’s ad and they are able to bring the trio back. As they debrief one another in what’s happened in both periods, Jones says that the 12 Monkeys are using time against itself and that there’s no way to know how many primaries must die before it all collapses. However things get heated as Cassie, Ramse and Jones begin to argue and it’s up to Cole to get them put their differences aside and work together because otherwise they will truly fail. The team needs to somehow track down all the messengers who are trying to kill primaries. It’s nice to see him play the peacemaker and the voice of hope. He tells them that they need to bury the past to save the future. You tell them otter eyes!

The episode ends in the year 1971 where a man in a hat visits his dying mother who’s room holds various bouquets of flowers. Gasp! It is the female messenger on her deathbed. She tells her son that her journey is ending but his is beginning and that the Army of the 12 Monkeys will show him his path. Now who could this strapping lad be? It’s YOUNG PALLID MAN!! So this is how he got his penchant for flower themed killings. It makes me wonder if Olivia’s father is also a messenger. Back in season 1, PM had commented that he wished her father could have seen this when they had created a paradox when Ramse was with them.

As we learn that the 12 Monkeys are intent on killing more primaries to destroy time, I still wonder how the plague would have helped them achieve this goal. Was the plague created so that Jones and Team Splinter would be forced to invent the time machine in the first place? Was that the only way time travel could be achieved? We’ll just have to wait to find out.

This was a great episode that showed audiences that there’s a much larger plan afoot and that we are only beginning to scratch the surface. Particularly great performances from Kirk Acevedo and Barbara Sukowa in capturing the complexities of their characters as both Jones and Ramse are essentially two sides of the same coin and it will be interesting to see if they can put their differences aside and truly work together. Cassie may finally forgive Cole for dragging her into this as they have a much bigger problem to face that requires their cooperation. They’ve all got to learn to trust one another because otherwise, they’ve already lost.

Final Thoughts (AKA More Questions)

Is Cassie still meant to die in 2017?
How many primaries are there?
How did Pallid Man hook up with Olivia and the Army of the 12 Monkeys?
Who is The Messengers’ father? Is he The Witness as well?
If the female messenger thought her cycle would end in 1944 after the paradox explosion, did The Witness lie to her then since she eventually gave birth to Pallid Man and he becomes an important agent of the 12 Monkeys from 1971 into the 2010’s?
Is Ramse fully on Team Splinter now that he’s fighting to save time itself as well?
Who is Jones’ cigarette supplier? How has she not run out after all these years?

Only four episodes deep into season 2 and so many new questions already. Well done 12 Monkeys.

12 Monkeys airs Mondays 9/8 central on Syfy.

Syfy Orders Superman Prequel ‘Krypton’ to Pilot

Nicole C

May 9, 2016

Syfy announced today that they have greenlit the Superman prequel series Krypton to pilot. Set two generations before the Man of Steel’s home planet is destroyed, the show follows the journey of Kal-el/Clark Kent’s grandfather. The head of the House of El seeks to redeem his family’s honor and attempts to save his world from eventual destruction.

DC based TV shows have mostly been renewed for another season, though we’re still waiting to hear on the fate of CBS’ Supergirl, which makes us wonder if there is room for another Superman related series on air?

Here’s the official press release:

NEW YORK – May 9, 2016 – Syfy today announced it has greenlit to pilot KRYPTON, the much-anticipated Superman prequel set two generations before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel’s home planet. KRYPTON will follow Superman’s grandfather — whose House of El was ostracized and shamed — as he fights to redeem his family’s honor and save his beloved world from chaos.

KRYPTON will be executive produced by David S. Goyer (“Man of Steel,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “The Dark Knight” trilogy) through his Phantom Four banner. Damian Kindler (“Sleepy Hollow”) will serve as executive producer/showrunner; Colm McCarthy (“She Who Brings Gifts,” “Peaky Blinders”) is set to direct and co-executive produce the pilot. The pilot teleplay and story is written by David S. Goyer & Ian Goldberg (“Once Upon a Time,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”). KRYPTON will be produced by Warner Horizon Television and is based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.

“KRYPTON is one of the most iconic stories in the comic book universe,” said Bill McGoldrick, Executive Vice President, Scripted Content, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “In the talented hands of David S. Goyer and the DC Entertainment/Warner Horizon Television team, this exciting Syfy project will take viewers back to Superman’s home to show how the timeless legend began.”

KRYPTON comes on the heels of the pilot greenlight for PROTOTYPE, written by Tony Basgallop (“24: Live Another Day”) and currently in production. Additional high-profile scripted projects in development at Syfy include an adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s classic novel BRAVE NEW WORLD from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television, and HYPERION, with executive producers Bradley Cooper, Graham King and Todd Phillips.

With a great roster of scripted shows including 12 Monkeys, The Expanse, The Magicians and Killjoys, Syfy is definitely upping their game and Krypton could be another worthy addition to their collection.

‘Game of Thrones’ – “Oathbreaker”: What’s in the Tower?

Jen Stayrook

May 9, 2016

Game of Thrones 6×03, “Oathbreaker”: Spoilers for everyone. Even you, you needy book readers.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Game of Thrones is INSANE right now. There’s something so inherently maddening as a book reader to not know what’s coming next. We were so smug in the early years with our “tee hee Red Wedding” references, we theorized what may happen and donned the tinfoil, but after Jon’s resurrection last episode and the confirmation of a few theories in “Oathbreaker”, season six has certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. And I’m sure that’s exactly what HBO wants.

Into the abyss, yes?

Vaes Dothrak

Dany is the newest guest on Real Housewives of Vaes Dothrak and the High Priestess is excited to have her at the mansion because girlfriend eats a mean horse heart and all those other girls are picky as hell. The High Priestess would begin Dany’s initiation into Housewife Order, except…Dany isn’t dressed for the role and her application is like 4 years late. Dany tries to go all hipster on the widows and says she doesn’t really want to be there but if it’s hang out with girls inside or get abused by the dudes outside, well, Dany would rather the former until she can escape her newest prison.

I’m kind of “meh” on the whole Dany plot right now and my only interest, really, is in seeing Emilia Clarke. Because I’m shallow. But I have hopes that Dany will rescue herself and get the heck out of dodge soon. Right…? (Preview for next week says, “Er…no.”)

Bran Meets World

After that preview last week, EVERY book reader creamed their pants at the prospect of seeing the Tower of Joy sequence play out on screen. And play out it did. Not only did we get to see Ser Arthur Dayne and his sword, Dawn, but we saw the (rightfully) acclaimed knight be a total badass taking down one Northern dude after another. Even though we know Ned survives the fight (to die another day), there was some hope that this kingsguard, so epically doing his duty, would come out victorious. Instead, he is stabbed in the back by the crannogman, Howland Reed, in a totally dishonorable fashion. Ned runs into the tower after, we assume, his sister Lyanna, leaving viewers screaming…

Three-Eyed “Cockblock” Raven pulls Bran from the vision just as we were about to learn the answer because Bran cried after Baby Ned and Ned heard him, leading us to wonder if Bran does have more abilities than originally thought. But come on, Brynden! Some of us have been waiting YEARS and YEARS to finally confirm what’s inside that tower. You have to feel like after that little stunt, Bran is going to rebel against his master and go back to that scene without permission.

Braavos

Speaking of rebellious Starks, Arya is becoming quite the little blind assassin. Her story thus far in the season has been like vanilla pudding, good but not all that exciting. However, in “Oathbreaker” she got her Rocky-style training montage, even besting the Waif at one point. It’s a nice, easy scene that shows the passage of time while still not being over-the-top cheesy. J’aqen declares her truly “no one” and gives her back her eyesight. At one point during her sparring with the Waif, Arya is asked about the Hound and at no point does Arya say the Hound is dead, just that she left him dying. Keep that little nugget in your back pocket, kiddies.

King’s Landing

Down in the dark underbelly of Qyburn’s laboratory, ex-maester Qyburn is turning Varys’ little birds into spies for Lannister use by bribing them with sweets, as if he wasn’t already the second creepiest man in King’s Landing. (Looking at you, Pycelle.) Then Qyburn casually mentions that the new member of the Kingsguard is Gregor Clegane and while no one is really surprised at that turn of events, it felt like that reveal was kind of tossed to the wind. It’s nice to have the confirmation though. With Cersei’s upcoming trial by combat, Jaime’s excitement at a battle with the Faith Militant, and Arya’s mention of the Hound, it can only mean one thing…

Okay, you non-book-readers have no idea what the heck I’m on about, but a quick rundown of the theory is that Sandor Clegane doesn’t die but is “reborn” as a member of the Faith and he becomes their warrior against Cersei’s sins, which means he’ll fight her “champion”, Gregor. It’s a long shot, but it doesn’t stop fans from getting hype.

In other news in King’s Landing, Cersei, Jaime, and UnGregor try to sit on the Small Council in an attempt to make Westeros Great Again but Uncle Kevan and Olenna Tyrell go all Mean Girls on the baby Lannisters and take their crayons to another table.

*Cersei will remember that.*

Meanwhile, Tommen, in a move that shocks absolutely no one, goes to the Sparrow with his chest puffed out and then immediately gets put back in his place like the kitten that he is. I can’t fault Tommen for believing the Sparrow’s words; the boy has no real knowledge of the outside world since Cersei put all of her effort into corrupting Joffrey as a child.

Jaime, however, has no excuse for getting kicked around by everyone and he needs to grow back his mane soon or he’s going to get shanked in the streets.

Meereen

Varys is creating his own flock of birds in Essos, learning of re-revolutions in Yunkai, Astapor, and Volantis. All of the “Free Cities” want Dany and her progressive ways out of Essos so they decide the best way to do that is by killing everyone and burning all her shit to convince her to leave. While waiting for news from Varys, Tyrion uncomfortably tries to bond with Grey Wurm and Missandei and it goes about as well as a Bolton family dinner. It’s an awkward scene and as much as I love the group of them, I think we’d have been better served with just Varys questioning the woman who helped orchestrate the Unsullied murders.

Winterfell

The new Warden of the North, Ramsay Fockin’ Bolton, gets a visit from Smalljon Umber who wants to kind of sorta pledge his fealty-like feelings to the new Lord. It’s scenes like this that make me wonder if show-only watchers know any of these Northern lord names and their importance to the story at large. Smalljon Umber is the son of Greatjon Umber, the crazy fool who drew his sword against Robb Stark and then laughed about having his fingers chewed off.

When Rickon leaves Bran back in season 3, Osha says she means to take Rickon to the Umbers as they’re considered one of the houses loyal to the Starks. Or so we thought since when Smalljon Umber arrives, he brings Rickon Stark and Osha as “gifts” for Ramsay. And we all know what Ramsay does to his “gifts.”

Kind of the same thing the Umbers did to poor Shaggydog.

The Wall

Yet another week where we end at Castle Black. I can’t say I’m sad about the focus on Jon Snow’s resurrection as I only really started to enjoy Jon Snuh when he was the Lord Commander. Jon Snow is born again into the world the same as when he was a baby, naked, afraid, and with the curls of an angel. He and Davos share a father/son moment, Melisandre takes a moment to appreciate her handy work, and Tormund makes the best penis jokes in the history of the show. HAR. It’s fitting that after his death Jon Snow gets burned alive by a wildling. It is tradition, afterall.

Jon Snow may look the same, but he’s a changed man. Like Ned and Robb, he tried to do the right thing and died for it, except unlike the other Starks, he was given a second chance. For someone as pessimistic as Jon, it has to make him question why he would be brought back into the world when at a glance, Ned or Robb could have made a bigger difference. The only thing he is certain of after his revival is getting justice for his murder, so he hangs Alliser Thorne, Olly, and the other mutinous crows. It’s not an easy decision for Snow, but it’s one that forces him to realize that much like Arya, Bran, and Dany, he can’t forget where he came from, and he can’t hold a title where he’s meant to be impartial, so he gives up his role as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch to Dolorous Edd.

Random Thoughts

I didn’t mention Sam and Gilly’s journey to Oldtown because it’s mostly a non-issue at this point. Sam got sick in a bucket and Gilly wants to follow to him to the ends of the earth. Blah blah blah.

I don’t think Lord Umber is really handing over Rickon. There’s no way that wolf head he slammed on the table is Shaggydog. I mean, do you remember how large Grey Wind’s head was on Robb? (RIP)

I think Smalljon Umber is pulling the same shenanigans on Ramsay that Roose pulled on the Starks. He’s weaseling his way into Ramsay’s good graces with his honest tongue and a Stark child and then once Ramsay gets Osha into bed, SHINK. Granted, I think Osha will fail and Ramsay will flay her because that’s just how this fucking show goes lately, but it’s something. I know that having hope in Winterfell makes me stupid but I’m tired of seeing Starks pushed around.

The North Remembers.

Judging by next episodes previews, Sansa and Brienne make it to Castle Black, but I’m worried Jon won’t be there once they arrive. Granted, he’s not about to walk into the frigid North without a coat, is he? What would his father think of such reckless behavior? (Come on Stark reunion!)

Arya totally isn’t “no one”, she’s just learning to be a better liar. Thanks, Faceless Man training!

Oh, shit. Was that Littlefinger in next week’s trailer? Did he realize he… *gasp* made a mistake trusting Ramsay?!

Okay, but seriously, we NEED to see what’s in that tower.

Game of Thrones airs Sundays on HBO at 9pm EST.

Big Damn Heroes Alert: Why You Need to Watch ‘Wynonna Earp’

Jen Stayrook

May 7, 2016

No spoilers! I want you read this article, be intrigued, and then IMMEDIATELY go watch the first six episodes of Wynonna Earp.

There’s a new science fiction show on the block and her name is Wynonna Earp. Oh, sure, she sounds cheesy and I’ll be honest: I thought the same thing upon hearing about it, but don’t judge a show by its ~~cover~~ name. Wynonna Earp is amazing television that’s part Buffy, part Supernatural, part Lost Girl, and yet, it’s truly its own thing. Brought to you by Emily Andras (Lost Girl, Killjoys), Wynonna Earp follows the titular character as she protects her home town of Purgatory from Revenants, resurrected souls of criminals originally killed by her great-great grandfather. Armed with Wyatt Earp’s gun, Peacemaker, and with the help of her sister, Waverly, Agent Dolls, and Doc Holliday, Wynonna must work to put down the 77 demons that haunt her family, for good.

In true internet fashion, I’ll tell you why in easy-to-read list format, because I’m a giving soul:

It’s a fabulous twist on a well-known character

Everyone recognizes the name Wyatt Earp and what he stood for, the good guys versus the bad guys, the gunfight at O.K. Corral, you know the deal. Wynonna Earp, based on a comic book by Beau Smith (Image/IDW Publishing) of the same name, takes that well-known lawman and brings his history into the modern era, while still keeping in touch with those western roots. It isn’t stingy on the action and definitely plays heavily into Wynonna’s “shoot first, shrug and half-apologize later” attitude.

The demons are appropriately creepy and still real

Agent Dolls shows up in Purgatory as part of a supernatural task force sent to “deal” with the demons in town and because of this, the demons of Wynonna Earp give a “baddie of the week” feel to the show but it never crosses over completely into the “procedural” vibe. Without spoiling too much, there’s an overall story with a select group of demons Wynonna is after and that gives her, Waverly, and Agent Dolls a purpose each episode. These demons aren’t all just bad guys out to suck blood and rob banks (okay, some are hilarious caricatures of the genre), some are just misunderstood criminals caught in a bad situation who now face the end of Wynonna’s barrel. It creates a genuine struggle for her, deciding whether or not to end these demons for good when she knows they aren’t the ones who want her dead.

It never takes itself too seriously

In a show with supernatural elements, it’s easy for the writing to quickly head down the dark and tumultuous path where every situation is life or death for the characters. Wynonna Earp, thankfully, doesn’t do that. It recognizes that it works more as just a “natural” show that happens to have demons and immortal characters and a guy with abs like whoa. Wynonna especially serves as the comic relief, constantly making jokes at her own expense.

This is show where one of the love interests is named “Officer Haught.” I think that explains my point rather well.

Waverly Earp

When it comes to show like Wynonna Earp, it’s easy to focus on the lead character. We think of Wynonna’s no bullshit attitude and equate that to a strong character. Waverly, despite her bubbly demeanor, is just as, if not stronger than Wynonna. Waverly knows who she is and doesn’t have to make jokes to make herself feel better. She’s a girl who has spent most of her life trying to be the hero, even when fate has told her time and time again to take a step back. She’s sweet and sees the good in people, a trait that is obviously not dominant in the Earp family line. And if you know me, you know how much I love unfaltering sister relationships. Wynonna and Waverly’s relationship is a good one.

Wynonna Earp

We have to talk about Wynonna because as much as I love the supporting cast, Wynonna is everything I love about this show. Sure, at first glance she’s that typical rough-and-tumble dark female character who keeps emotions at a distance and looks really good with a leather jacket while getting drunk, but Wynonna is so much deeper than that. She’s a reminder that girls don’t have to fit into one “mold” to be likable. She’s quirky, lonely, beautiful, aloof, angry, protective, irrational, distant, and a big fat lying liar when it comes to her feelings. Rarely does anyone get the emotional upper hand because there’s nothing anyone can say to her that she hasn’t already said about herself. Unlike Waverly, she’s less comfortable in her skin, knowing that she’s messed up a lot in her life and she has to atone for those wrong-doings, but at the same time, she owns her flaws. Wynonna is a reminder that as a woman, as a person, you don’t have to just be one thing. You can be many different things and still be true to yourself.

And my goodness she’s adorable, too.

If you listen to just one of my TV show recommendations this year, let it be Wynonna Earp.

Wynonna Earp airs Fridays on SyFy at 10pm EST.

’12 Monkeys’: Who is The Witness?

Nicole C

May 6, 2016

Spoilers through 12 Monkeys Season 2, Episode 3: “One Hundred Years.”

Who is The Witness?

If you’re a 12 Monkeys fan, this is likely one of your most fervent questions.

Back in Season 1, Episode 11 of 12 Monkeys, I became convinced that Ramse was The Witness. It was a masterful episode that revealed how he became a reluctant time traveler in order to preserve a future where his son Sam exists at the cost of billions of lives. But by the end of the first season’s finale, it looked like he was not the mysterious figure guiding the Army of the 12 Monkeys after all. He was merely another pawn in their plans.

So who is The Witness? This person’s identity has yet to be revealed on the show, but we do know a few things about this enigmatic character.

It seems that people can only come into contact with The Witness after ingesting crushed red flowers/leaves (that must be plant life affected by time anomalies) and brewed into hallucinogenic red tea. We first met it after Jennifer Goines was kidnapped and drugged by the 12 Monkeys. He/she is seen approaching her wearing a plague doctor mask.

This mask was meant as an early containment suit, which is pretty appropriate given that it wanted to release a plague unto the world.

Here is a description from Charles de Lorne, chief physician to Louis XIII and likely the creator of the mask:

The nose [is] half a foot long, shaped like a beak, filled with perfume with only two holes, one on each side near the nostrils, but that can suffice to breathe and carry along with the air one breathes the impression of the [herbs] enclosed further along in the beak. Under the coat we wear boots made in Moroccan leather (goat leather) from the front of the breeches in smooth skin that are attached to said boots, and a short sleeved blouse in smooth skin, the bottom of which is tucked into the breeches. The hat and gloves are also made of the same skin…with spectacles over the eyes. (source: The Chigrurgeon’s Apprentice)

When Olivia and the Pallid Man also kidnap Cassie, she is forced to drink the same red liquid and begins to hallucinate that she is in a red forest. Olivia guides Dr. Railly through the vision where she walks through the forest and sees a house made of cedar and pine with The Witness waiting for her.

This mysterious individual appears to know what is going to happen and likely created the Army of the 12 Monkeys to do its bidding. From Episode 3 of Season 2, we now know that The Witness wants to destroy time itself, but the important question is why. The plague was only part of the plan and now that it has been stopped, the messengers were sent from the future back to 1944 to kill primary Tommy Crawford Jr. so that the time anomalies would begin.

So who could The Witness actually be? Do we already know this character or is it someone completely new that we haven’t met yet?

Let’s ponder some possibilities:

Aaron Marker

Could it be Aaron, Cassie’s political aide ex-boyfriend who supposedly died last season after being doused in flammable solvents and trapped in a burning room? Dr. Railly and Cole think he’s dead but is he REALLY? Could he have somehow survived and wears the plague mask to hide his disfigured face?

Jones

What about Jones? Perhaps a future incarnation of herself thought that somehow destroying time would allow her to be reunited with Hannah (her daughter). In the speech spoken by the Messengers when they killed both Crawford men, they believe that time is an illusion that makes us believe in death and that they would see each other again in the Red Forest.

When Jones met with old Jennifer in Season 2 Episode 2, the leader of the daughters essentially said that time wasn’t linear. Tommy had also explained as much to Cassie.

While the scientist condemned Ramse for sacrificing billions of innocent lives to save his son, perhaps her own views are altered for some unknown reason in the future and she determines that this is the only way to be with Hannah again. While The Witness was referred to as “he” in Season 2, Episode 3, I’m going to just include her in because hey, there could still be some crazy twist in store for us.

Sam

Ramse’s young son Sam could potentially be The Witness when he grows up since he would need the plague in order to exist at all. He may also be motivated to destroy time in order to be with this mother Elena again. If he grows up in the compound, he would likely know all the things that Jones and Team Splinter did in the past, would have access to all of the information they’ve collected on the plague, and possibly even become a time traveler himself as an adult.

Deacon

While this seems like a slim possibility, what if Deacon was using the West 7 as a cover to get inside the Splinter facility for other purposes (like destroying time)? He did help The Messengers break in there in the first place. Maybe something in his past will reveal some hidden motivation and show us another side of the ScavKing that could be capable of planning and scheming that spans across decades.

Still, it could even be some rogue primary who knows about the future and wants time to collapse so that the voices will stop. While the show continues to keep audiences in the dark on who this powerful person is for now, I think we can cross out Jennifer, Olivia, Pallid Man, Cassie, Cole, and Ramse as contenders.

Whoever this being is, the 12 Monkeys view The Witness like a god who is prophetic and all-knowing. Their faith is unwavering and I can’t wait to find out how “he” or “she” came to be and amassed an army.

Who do you think The Witness could be? Let us know in the comments section!

In the meantime watch this super mysterious teaser on The Witness:

12 Monkeys airs Mondays 9/8 central on Syfy.

For all things 12 Monkeys click HERE.

10 Reasons Why ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Is The Best Marvel Movie Yet

Matt DeGroot

May 4, 2016

Not gonna lie. It’s been about two hours since I got out of seeing Captain America: Civil War and my natural instinct upon thinking about it is to stand up and applaud. As the 13th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe it does something borderline miraculous – it keeps things interesting. After twelve films of origin stories, team-ups, and intergalactic villains, the writers and directors of this latest adventure found a way to break the mold and keep things fresh in what is essentially the best Avengers film even though its officially a “Captain America” film.

I could probably writes pages and pages about why this flick stands out as Marvel’s best film yet but I want to get you into theater seats as fast as possible so let’s run through the baseline reasons faster than the dearly departed Quicksilver:

Variations on the Comic Book Movie Plot –
Nine times out of ten, a comic book movie’s plot is about as complex as the hero fighting against a new villain to save either the world or himself from certain destruction. This trope has slowly fallen out of favor in recent years and Civil War goes a long way to shattering it further by delivering a well-crafted plot that believably pits close friends against each other. This politically-charged change in storyline is loaded with thought-provoking parallels to our real world and now it just seems hard to imagine a good, old-fashioned “stop the villain” plot being as entertaining anymore.
Focus on the Story at Hand – One of my complaints about recent comic book movies is the trend toward spending an inordinate amount of screentime building up and teasing plotlines of future movies. And while there is certainly a little bit of that going on in Civil War, the main story never takes a backseat to it and as a result those little teases are shockingly welcome instead of being a distracting time filler!
A Worthwhile Villain –
There’s no denying the fact that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has featured a bevy of relatively lackluster and forgettable villains (Loki excluded) but this is one instance where the villain shines through. As the mysterious Colonel Zemo, Daniel Brühl weaves an intricate web that turns our favorite heroes against each other without exotic makeup or flashy powers. Proves once again that there’s nothing wrong with a little intelligent simplicity every now and then.
A Well-Balanced Screenplay –
There are a lot of components and characters at play in Civil War and it would have been easy for all of it to spin wildly out of control, but major props must be given to screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely for keeping it all tight. They keenly juggle the complex mix of characters with a blend of seriousness, humor, and suspense without the film ever feeling like a mess. The effort is borderline award worthy.
Solid Acting – Comic book movies rarely receive acclaim for the performances of their actors but dammit there’s some really solid work here from everyone involved. Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. in particular give their best efforts yet as these characters and when these two pals violently come to blows you genuinely feel every punch.
Fast-Paced Direction –
Major kudos also need to be thrown in the direction of Joe and Anthony Russo who after showing surprisingly deft skills with The Winter Soldier prove they were born to direct comic book movies. Despite being jam-packed with characters and subplots these crafty brothers keep things moving at lightning speed without ever losing focus or clarity. I honestly can’t wait to see what they do with The Avengers: Infinity War.
Humor –
A movie about good friends and allies being turned against one another and actually coming to blows would seemingly be a depressing and humorless affair, but holy hell – this movie is funny. Sure, there are painful moments but a good laugh is always around the corner to relieve the tension and keep things light. And while I don’t believe that every comic book movie needs to have this much comic relief they really hit the nail on the head with it here and deliver a perfectly well-rounded film.
Spider-Man –
I mention humor above and hands down one of the big sources of that is from none other than everyone’s favorite webslinger. With the most recent attempt at a Spider-Man film franchise running into the ground, Sony Pictures has wisely thrown a Hail Mary and teamed up with Marvel Studios to deliver what appears to be the definitive onscreen version of the character. Tom Holland absolutely nails the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man with a percussive wit and loads of charm. Those out there who groaned at the prospect of yet another reboot of the character will find themselves panting with anticipation for Spider-Man: Homecoming to be released next year.
Black Panther –
Civil War boasts not one, but two character introductions that are about to blow audiences away. With significantly more screentime than Spider-Man we have Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, a royal prince from the African nation of Wakanda who is thrown into the mix of the story on the hunt for revenge but ends up choosing sides in the war amongst the Avengers. Seeing Black Panther in action is an absolute thrill and I can’t wait to see even more.
The Airport Fight –
Let’s get one thing very clear. If you’ve ever giggled with glee at a superhero action sequence on screen, there is a scene in Civil War that will put you over the edge into a void pure joy. I will simply refer to this as the airport fight (trust me, you’ll know it when you see) and it is BONKERS. It is where things truly come to a head with the entire cast of the movie and everyone gets at least one completely geektastic moment. And if you never thought much of Ant-Man before, I promise you he’s going to leave a BIG impression.

So what are you waiting for? Get your ass to the theater!

Rape on TV: The Difference Between ‘Outlander’ and ‘Game of Thrones’

Jen Stayrook

May 4, 2016

Spoilers through season 5 of Game of Thrones and through season 2, episode 4 of Outlander.

Disclaimer: I don’t enjoy rape and sexual assault on television, in movies, books, or any media. Whenever it happens (and it seems like it’s often), I understand it’s hard to watch for most, as it should be, but I think it’s important that we do depict these barbarous acts, not for shock value, but for the sake of discussion. We need to critique not that the act is on screens, but how it’s being shown and then how it is later dealt with.

Outlander had another violent episode this weekend with “La Dame Blanche.” Book readers knew the attack was coming but it still didn’t prepare for the brutality of the scene and watching young Mary Hawkins raped in a dark alley with Claire helpless to save her.

If you’ve read the books, you’ll know that rape, unfortunately, isn’t uncommon in the world of Outlander. In fact, I can only think of one main character in the series who isn’t raped or nearly raped. In some ways, viewers might compare Mary’s rape to Sansa’s rape last year on Game of Thrones and they wouldn’t be off base. For starters, both characters were innocent, virgin girls raped horrifically by men exerting their power. Both scenes were difficult to withstand, making good use of screams and lighting to convey the horror of the moment. However, it’s how these shows handle the aftermath of rape that tells their difference.

It’s no coincidence that Jamie finally regains some sense of self the same episode Mary is raped. It’s through his eyes that we see the repercussions of this crime and see it as more than just a shocking act. I’ve already discussed before how I approve of Starz not holding back on the brutality of Jamie’s rape and showing his PTSD, but in “La Dame Blanche” we get to hear in his own words how the rape has affected him. Early in the episode, Claire tells Jamie that Black Jack Randall is alive and much to Claire’s surprise, Jamie is elated at the news because now he can kill Randall himself. He’s a renewed man, even gaining back his lust. When the couple argues over Jamie’s actions at a brothel, Claire begs Jamie to make her understand what’s going on his head after the harrowing moments with Black Jack Randall. He tells her:

There’s this place inside me, a place I think everyone has, that they keep to themselves. A fortress where the most private part of you lives. It is your soul, the bit that makes you yourself and not anyone else. But after Wentworth, it was like my fortress had been blown apart. The thing that once lived there was suddenly exposed, out in the open, without shelter, without–That’s where I’ve been ever since, Claire. Naked. Alone. Trying to hide under a blade of grass.

And therein is the difference between how Outlander and Game of Thrones handle rape. Outlander understands it is a dark reality but never plays into it being solely for shock value. Jamie’s rape is very much a part of who he is now. We’ve watched four episodes of him trying to pull himself together and with a meeting with Black Jack looming on the horizon, it seems like it won’t be something we’re likely to forget very soon. Nor should we forget.

The same is true for Mary Hawkins. Had her rape been in Game of Thrones, it would have thrown in as an aside, much like the rapes we saw happen at Craster’s Keep in season four. What happened to Mary in Outlander was despicable, but we’re not likely to see it as a footnote in the history of Claire and Jamie. Claire cares very much for the safety of this girl, her mental and physical well-being. It is not a crime that any of these characters will brush off as “something that just happens in this world.” It is an act that rightfully enrages them, something that should be dealt with. They care for her reputation, knowing what it means in this world, but more importantly they care for the girl behind the reputation.

In Sansa’s case, there is no “dealing” with her rape, there is no help for her pain, no talk of her torture. Narratively, it lifts completely free from most everything else going on in Westeros, much like many of the gratuitous violent scenes. At one point she makes mention of Ramsay’s abuse to Theon and he responds with a look that says, “Well, yea, that’s what he does.” No one, not even Brienne tells Sansa how wrong it is to be raped, they simply offer sad looks and we’re left to accept that rape is inevitable for women in the world of Game of Thrones. Just because something is inevitable or god forbid, common, doesn’t mean it needs to be accepted as such by both the characters in that world, and viewers alike. Outlander understands this, Game of Thrones doesn’t.

’12 Monkeys’ Recap: Who Is The Primary?

Nicole C

May 2, 2016

12 Monkeys

Season 2, Episode 3: “One Hundred Years”

Air Date: May 2, 2016

In this week’s episode of 12 Monkeys, two of the time traveling messengers have gone back to 1944 for some nefarious purpose and it’s up to Team Splinter to stop them.

In 2044, a reluctant Cassie (Amanda Schull) is convinced by Jones (Barbara Sukowa) that she needs to help Cole (Aaron Stanford) navigate through the forties in order to fulfill their mission and stop whatever it is that the Army of the 12 Monkeys are set to accomplish in the past. Meanwhile, Ramse (Kirk Acevedo) proves to be helpful and provides them with intelligence that the monkeys may be after a man named Thomas Crawford because he had remembered that they were looking for his body some time ago.

After some research, the team finds out that Crawford had been a molecular biologist and had been killed inside his office at Columbia University in 1944 by a man and a woman who were never found (suspicious much?). They believe that this must be the event that they need to stop from happening and some how discover its connection to the plague that eventually wipes out most of mankind. Cole is sent back first and then Cassie soon after. Before she leaves she shares a quiet moment with Deacon (Todd Stashwick) and I can’t help but like their relationship as unconventional and unexpected as it is. The once villainous ScavKing has been somewhat tamed by the good doctor, while some of his intensity and ruthlessness have rubbed off on her in turn. We’ve been seeing a different side of Deacon where he’s incredibly protective of Cassie and even allows her to see him vulnerable at moments. Unable to trust Cole and having lost Aaron, she must be drawn to his strong personality after being thrust into a future where she is the outsider.

Dr. Railly ends up arriving two months after Cole and meets him at The Emerson Hotel, their rendezvous point. He has done an admirable job in preparing by getting them set up in suite 607, purchasing clothes, and even getting into the military party through a generous donation to the Columbia alumni association. Cassie is still super irritated at everything he does and just wants to get the mission over with. She’s all business and no fun allowed.

Meanwhile the two messengers have killed and assumed the identities of a young couple on their way to the military party as well. At the event, the female messenger (Scottie Thompson) finds Dr. Crawford and gets him alone in his office using her feminine wiles. She quickly knocks him out though and her male companion ties him up so that they can perform their creepy ritual. What does ritual involve? Flowers! Sound familiar? Yep Pallid Man (Tom Noonan) used them as well. They begin to recite a mantra about time and the red forest and then she stabs the poor guy in the heart with a bone dagger. They were expecting something to big happen but nothing did. Whoops, they accidentally killed the wrong guy. No biggie.

Cassie and Cole arrive to find Crawford’s still body surrounded by flowers. Before they leave however, the duo notice an all too familiar image in the dead man’s office – a drawing of a monkey. Back at the Emerson, Cassie is frustrated that they failed and think that they just need to go back to 2044 and figure out another plan because she’s all about plans these days. Cole though thinks that they still need to find the messengers and wonders out loud why the monkey illustration was there. When he flips the picture frame over, he sees a little scrap of paper sticking up and removes the backing out of curiosity. Tucked inside is a photograph of a young man and a thin sheet of paper that Cassie realizes is a psych evaluation. It turns out to be Crawford’s son who is being held at a mental institution for similar symptoms as Jennifer Goines (hearing voices, delusions, paranoid schizophrenia, etc). Oh and FYI he has the same name as his dad. Cole realizes that the messengers must be after Tommy Jr. and that they’ve got to go save him because he is somehow connected to all of this. Once again, Cassie reluctantly agrees to his plan.

At the asylum we meet Tommy (Erik Knudsen) in his room furiously painting vivid illustrations of monkeys on the walls much like Jennifer in season one. He’s muttering a lot of interesting tidbits as well about primaries, mothers becoming daughters, and monkeys that are coming. Tommy comes out of the zone and realizes that the two messengers have arrived to kill him, but he seems all too happy with this. Perhaps he thinks he’s fulfilling his purpose?

Team Splinter makes it to the asylum soon after to a host of dead bodies and head to Tommy’s room, which is open and vacant. Incidentally his room number is 313 and it’s also a primary number. Nice touch guys. Inside, the walls are covered with images of monkeys, the message “catch me if you can”, and a red forest. Cassie is confused as to how Tommy could possibly know about these things and Cole answers that Jennifer calls it being primary. They are connected to time somehow but the doctor questions how this all relates to the plague. The time traveler muses that the plague likely just one part of their plan.

Drawn by sounds of commotion, Cassie and Cole race to another wing of the institution and come across the messengers who are surprised to see them. They are saved by young Tommy though a tussle ensues. Cassie shoots the male messenger while the female one uses Cole as a shield and flees with him. When they are alone, Tommy says, “Cassandra, aids the traveler.” She asks how he knows her name and he points to his head. Doesn’t seem so crazy anymore eh Cassie?

The female messenger brings Cole to a room where she proceeds to electrocute him as incentive for Dr. Railly to bring Tommy to her. Somehow she must be extra strong to have overpowered the time traveler and strapped him to an examination table. When the two parties meet in the hallway, Cassie has a plan to shoot the messenger but Tommy chooses not to go along with it, telling Team Splinter that his death needs to happen. He grabs Cole’s arm though as they cross each other and tells him that the only failure is giving up. Now Tommy is the one laid down on the table with the strange flower ritual being performed but he seems oddly at peace. Using the knife made from Tommy’s own collarbone, the messenger plunges it into his chest causing a massive paradox explosion with Cole and Cassie being knocked unconscious from the force.

Meanwhile in 2044, Ramse is told by Jones that she isn’t going to stop Deacon from killing him because his presence is upsetting the balance in the compound. While she understands why he did it from one parent to another, her reasons for building the machine was to aid mankind and preventing the plague, while his selfishness killed billions including her daughter. Accepting his circumstances, Ramse asks if he could see his boy one more time, to which Jones responds that their chess session just moments ago was it. Deacon and his men come in at some point and take him on a little ride to a remote location where he will be digging his own grave. However, things start to get weird as the plant life suddenly transitions from green to crimson and the red forest is literally coming into being.

After the paradox explosion in 1944, scientists inside the compound begin to detect massive temporal anomalies and they lose Cole and Cassie’s tethers. Jones realizes that this is the origin.

Back in the forest, strange red patches begin to emerge out of thin air and as one of the West 7 minions gets trapped in it, his body begins to age rapidly. Seeing an opportunity, Ramse manages to hit Deacon with his shovel and take the other man’s gun. He decides to do the morally right thing though and urges the ScavKing to run as they flee for the life back towards the compound. Will this even out the score between them?

In 1944, the NYPD find the unconscious messenger, Cassie, and Cole with a dead Tommy at the mental asylum, with no earthly idea what could have caused the mayhem and destruction. It’s an X-File police officer.

While in this episode Cassie continues to be cold and distant with Cole because of everything she’s gone through, I wish she’d hurry up and forgive him already because he only did what he thought was right. Though I am thoroughly enjoying the dynamic between her and Deacon. Ramse in the meantime is somewhat redeeming himself by volunteering the information on Crawford and sparing Deacon’s life when he could have killed him. Jones continues to deal with the new reality she finds herself in. All of the show’s main characters face change of some kind they are forced to adapt because of it.

If you haven’t been watching 12 Monkeys you really really really should. It’s as if Back to the Future, Doctor Who, and The Hunger Games had a threesome and this show is their beautiful baby. The narrative continues to be on point and keeps audiences on their collective toes. It’s maddening in the best possible way.

Time travel has never been more fun and mysterious as our heroes race to save humanity from mysterious forces that they don’t understand. We still need to find out what the real goal of the Army of the 12 Monkeys, the identity of The Witness, and what diabolical plans he/she has for Cassie and Cole. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s going to be real good.

12 Monkeys airs Mondays 9/8 central on Syfy.

‘Game of Thrones’ – “Home”: Book Readers, You Know Nothing

Jen Stayrook

May 2, 2016

This week on ‘Game of Thrones‘: Bran walks, Wun-Wun smashes, Tyrion plays with dragons, and Sansa smiles.

Spoilers through Game of Thrones season 6, episode 2, OBVIOUSLY.

Two episodes in and the kill count seems remarkably high, even for Game of Thrones. Or maybe it’s just the unknown territory we’re wading into here with book readers and show watchers having no idea what’s about to happen, so characters seem to be dropping at an unexpected rate. That being said, this episode may have been one of the better joint efforts I’ve seen. Sure, episodes like “Hardhome” and “Blackwater” get praise but their purpose is more streamlined, the focus being in one area. “Home” had solid story progression throughout, tons of action, and I’m satisfied with most of the episode. In keeping with the “theme” of the episode title, many of the characters moved toward or revisited their homes, but let’s dig in to all that, shall we?

North of the Wall

Bran! Oh, Bran! Look how much you’ve grown in the…two months that have passed in Westeros. It looks almost like you’ve aged three years! Puberty is a bitch, amirite?

I hated Bran in the books, hated every damn chapter, but I liked his opening scene and the decision to start out his visions with characters we know. It makes the journey from boy to tree much more interesting. There wasn’t much of note except we saw baby Hodor (aw) and a young, rambunctious Lyanna, interrupting the boy’s training just like young, rambunctious Arya did back when they were still babies. Awwwww. Good times.

His interactions with Meera were a bit odd, though. It’s almost like he doesn’t know how to talk to girls or something.

Winterfell

I’m about to say a thing that will shock nor offend anyone: Ramsay Bolton is an absolute monster. After last week’s bit of remorse spied over the death of Myranda, I thought that Ramsay might not be an all dark character. But it seems my summer childishness has gotten the better of me and I was wrong. Ramsay cares only for power and Ramsay, in that order. When the Bastard of Bolton learned of the birth of his baby brother, he immediately killed Papa Roose without hesitation. It seems Kylo Ren could learn a thing or two from Ramsay.

What’s more, the Lord Karstark wasn’t even taken aback by Ramsay’s actions, so that tells us that either 1. Karstark knew the coup plans ahead of time or 2. He knew Ramsay’s reputation well enough to not react. Either way, I wonder how the North will handle the death of the traitorous Roose. Ramsay could certainly pull the sweet and innocent act, which he’s good at, and make the claim that Roose betrayed the Starks, not him, in an effort to unite the North.

Even more disturbing than Roose’s death was the murder of Walda and her newborn son. Actually, her and the baby’s death were one of the more gruesome deaths on the show and if I had one complaint about the episode, it’d be about that. I understand the point of it, I understand Ramsay’s sadism, but it was difficult to watch and like Sansa’s rape, I’m not sure we actually needed to see that act played out. It screams of shock value to me because unlike other villains on the show, there’s not much depth to Ramsay’s darkness. He’s evil for evil sake and watch his atrocities on screen seem like a waste of time. For some stupid, naive reason, I thought Ramsay would let Walda live, give him a tinge of greyness to make him more interesting. It’s like I haven’t been paying attention or something, but I can’t fathom Walder Frey handling the death of his daughter and grandson well, even if she wasn’t much liked by him.

Outside of Winterfell

Somewhere in the snow, Team Awesome attempted to light a fire and poor, terrified Theon warns them against being conspicuous AT ALL. I have to say, the battered dude has a point, but Brienne is all, HAHA LET THEM COME. Meanwhile, Brienne tells Sansa that Arya is still alive and Sansa smiles at the thought of her rough and tumble little sister fighting against Brienne and the Hound. HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE SANSA. HER SMILE LITERALLY MELTS SNOW.

Theon asks Sansa if he can leave because he thinks Jon will kill him once they reach the Wall. Sure, Jon Snow might not kill him, but UnJon… very real possibility. Therefore, Theon leaves to return to the Iron Islands which seems like a horrible idea because the last time he did that Winterfell was sacked and Starks died. But hey, do yo thang, QUEENINDANORF.

Pyke

One of the coolest things about Game of Thrones is the intro sequence and what all it can tell us about the show, like the unfortunate Bolton sigil over Winterfell. Tonight’s episode gave us a glimpse of Pyke, especially a closeup of those infamous bridges.

That certainly weren’t foreshadowing a death at all.

So after Balon Greyjoy mysteriously fell to his death from a bridge after being pushed over by his ugly-mustached brother Euron, ~~Asha~~ Yara goes to the Damphair and is like, “No worries, homes, Imma get the baddies that did this.” And the Damphair’s all, “Get in line, GIRL, menfolk have a Kingsmoot to plan.”

And that’s when she killed him, your honor.