The following appears with permission from Kate Cummings, a 12 Monkeys fan and author of this letter which appeared on Facebook in the group, Addicts of the 12 Monkeys:
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Dear SyFy,
I want to tell you a story.
In 2010, I did something I never thought I would do: I forgave Fox Broadcasting. In 2012, I realized something even more unexpected: I had actually begun to respect Fox again.
The ire that Fox earned over its mistreatment and cancellation of Firefly was well deserved, and the passionate-verging-on-obsessive fan base that forms the foundation of smart, serious science fiction has a VERY long memory. But the only thing more potent than our ability to carry a grudge is our dedication to the shows that define what it means to be great science fiction.
So when, against all odds, Fox renewed Fringe for a third season, I was at a loss. Everyone KNEW that Fox hated sci-fi, that it would look for any reason to torpedo a smart sci-fi show and spit in the face of diehard fans. True, Fringe was moved to the “Friday death slot”, but we didn’t care. Fox had defied all expectations and shown loyalty to its sci-fi viewers. Fast forward to 2012, when Fox renewed Fringe for its fifth and final season – an almost unprecedented opportunity to resolve an intelligent show in a planned and perfectly executed fashion.
After a decade of hating Fox for what it did to Firefly, I found myself respecting it again for its deft and devoted handling of Fringe.
And SyFy, I am beginning to respect you again too.
It has been years since I reliably tuned into SyFy. I had stopped taking you seriously. I got my dramatic sci-fi on Fox and AMC and TNT.
I had never even heard of 12 Monkeys (the show) until January of this year. You tempted me back with The Expanse, and you kept me here when I discovered 12 Monkeys. And that is what you need to remember. Fans like me. Fans slow to return to a network that, let’s be frank, let them down. But fans who instantly recognize quality, intelligent science fiction as soon as it’s put in front of us.
You know you have a winner with 12 Monkeys. You know its critical reviews are largely positive and celebrate the show as a return to SyFy’s roots. You know the fans who have found 12 Monkeys have become diehard loyalists. And I think a part of you knows – despite the ratings, despite the bean counters, despite the corporate hoopla – that this is a show that deserves to be on the SyFy that you are trying so very hard to return to.
It takes time to return the departed to the fold. Give us that time. It takes loyalty to see a show through to its proper resolution. Give us that loyalty.
We fans of 12 Monkeys? We were the fans of Firefly. We were the fans of Fringe.
And we will help you take SyFy where you want it to go.
With growing respect,
Kate Cummings
I couldn’t agree more with the entirety of this letter.
It’s very rare you find a TV drama – of whatever genre – that hits as many buttons as 12 Monkeys. Great writing, great acting from a cast with so much chemistry between them they’re a total joy to watch week by week, three-dimensional characters who experience real character growth and change from heroes to villains and back again in the blink of an eye. Strong female characters who don’t need to be rescued on a weekly basis, who think for themselves, are leaders, can make tough decisions when required.
There’s a hero who begins his journey ready to kill everyone in his way until he realises that maybe saving someone is the only thing that ever made a difference.
There’s a heroine whose entire life is pulled out from under her, who is thrust into a terrible world she’s not equipped to survive in, but she adapts, survives, and hopefully will make it out the other side intact.
There’s even a – gasp! – older female character who is smart, capable, beautiful, a leader, a scientist, a mother, sometimes right, sometimes very, very wrong. She does questionable, violent things, but we still root for her.
Then there’s the “moral compass” of the show, who ultimately sells out humanity and assists in the deaths of 7 billion people to save one – his son. He’s a bad guy, right? No he’s not. He’s a good guy. Wait – what? He can’t be both. But he can. Because this is 12 Monkeys, and the writing and the storylines are just that good.
And did we mention the mental patient who can be six different characters in every episode, and that’s without future iterations, who is played so well you literally have no idea what she’s going to do next and how much of what she says is going to be relevant a season later?
Sounds like a great show, right?
Well it is, SyFy. That’s what you’ve got here. A really, really great show.
Please don’t let it go to waste!
And you know what? Time travel shows are set to be the new vampire show next season, right? Would it hurt to have the very best one moving into its third season on your channel, showing the others, the pale imitations, how it should be done?
I could not agree more with these comments, 12 Monkeys is an intelligent show which keeps you guessing. Good acting too… DO NOT CANCEL 12 MONKEYS- it is simply the best thing on TV and on SYFY.
Awesome and I support this message 100%.
I support this message 100%.
This is a much more eloquent letter echoing a similar sentiment that I also wrote on the “Addicts” page on Facebook. I was much more critical of Syfy for some of it’s choices, but it definitely spoke of earning back the respect of the true fans of the SciFi genre.
I agree wholeheartedly with the author of this letter. Syfy needs to be patient. With the influx of several new and exciting television series, the fans are slowly coming back.
Some of us realize the pressure a network is under to show sponsors results, but a network must realize that a following takes time. One must build a strong foundation before a structure can be supported. Cancelation of a show that is beginning to grow a fan base is like destroying a foundation, and scattering the rubble to the wind.
Strong relationships are built upon consistency, loyalty, and most of all trust. It’s hard to find a show that is worthy of a viewer’s time and commitment to begin with. Much less if that viewer believes that a show will be gone after a season or two.
Syfy, you are going in the right direction. Please don’t let your loyal fans down. We are starting to believe in you again. Just give us time to trust, that when we tune in, shows worthy of our time and loyalty will still be there.
We are watching, and we’re telling our friends and families to watch as well. Don’t let us down. We’re trusting you.
Thanks Kate – you inspired me to write my own – Dear SyFy,
I want to tell you a story.
This is a story about the quality of television, and how 12 Monkeys surpasses all measures beyond imagination, and why this show NEEDS to continue to be shown for another season, if not more.
Shows take a lot to hold my attention. There have been shows over the years that have done so, but have been cancelled for one reason or another. I fear this will be the fate of 12 Monkeys, but I know myself, and so many other people out there, want, no, NEED this show to continue.
Over the years there have been shows that continue on, when they are mindless garbage, and then you get shows like 12 Monkeys that make you THINK! They make you FEEL, but this show is not like any other. Yes Sci-Fi is a niche market. Therefore it should be expected that shows have a niche following, but the following it has, is one of DIE HARD fans. You only have to be part of our Addicts of the 12 Monkeys Facebook group to see a portion of those fans. We are doing ALL that we can with the means that we have to try and get this show renewed. We are doing what is asked of us, we are tweeting like crazy, and some awesome people out there are taking to the streets and plastering their love for the show everywhere. This is like nothing I have seen before. It’s become more than just a show, but more of an ARMY OF THE 12 MONKEYS!
In the past, shows such as Firefly, Flash Forward, Millennium, Angel, Dollhouse and countless others like it have been cancelled well before their time. Back then, we didn’t have social media, so we weren’t able to connect to people like we are now. Thanks to social media, and thanks to the cast, crew and creators of this show, we have been able to interact with these people, and I can only speak for myself, but I hate to see someone’s vision being killed when the story has only begun. And WHAT a story it is. There are so many reasons why I love this show, getting goosebumps just writing this. The intricacies of the plot, the acting, the writing, the sets. All these people have bought their best together to create this. This has truly become something more than a television show. The fans are a family, of which I am proud to be a member of. I live in Australia, so I am unfortunately unable to live tweet with the rest of the guys (although I do because I enjoy seeing what’s in store for me that week) and I love being able to interact with the actors and writers, they know how much this means to us, and vice versa. As I only have access to Itunes to watch this show, I hope you are taking these views in to account.
When I heard 12 Monkeys was being made, I thought “this will be interesting” as I was skeptical about a tv show being made from a movie. The opening credits hadn’t even rolled and I was HOOKED!!! The imagery of Cassie’s watch being scratched was, I can only describe as breathtaking as I gasped at how brilliant it was to put something like this at the very beginning. This show is the most intelligent series I have EVER seen on tv. I have to say I have watched the first season 6 times now, and EVERY time I find something I did not notice before. I have watched each of the s2 eps 3 times each now. This show has so much going on that you really do have to watch it that many times, and it NEVER gets boring, it just gets better and better. THIS is why you need to give it another season. There is NO other show that does this. I love Supernatural, and Orphan Black, but they are nothing compared to 12 Monkeys. You have a true masterpiece here, so please do not cancel it, as I am sure you will end up with a lot of angry viewers who you will lose out on because they have no faith in tv, as its happened to us before.
You are on an absolute winner with 12 Monkeys. Please do not leave us with mindless rubbish to watch. To have a show that you constantly think about the theories, the hidden meanings, what’s going to happen next, and have a group of fans who will discuss this until the cows come home, I don’t know if we will ever see anything like this phenomenon again. As it is 12 Monkeys CANNOT finish yet. It will leave so many things unanswered, and will just become another statistic in the ridiculous ratings war, where good shows die whilst mindless drone shows win. You only have to look at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and all the blogs by fans, the critical reviews that have demonstrated why this show is AMAZING. Get BEHIND your own shows, and make sure this one stays, not just for the fans, but for all of those amazing people that work on the show. Emily Hampshire’s version of Goines is, for want of a better word AMAZEBALLS!!! I’ve NEVER seen acting like that before. The hidden gems that Terry Matalas writes in to the show, like Bill and Ted quotes, the Trolololol guy etc, it’s so exciting to watch back and find these things you didn’t see before.
The ratings might not be what a network expects, but the ratings are a NICHE cult following. ALL of us love this show and we know that given another season, with all the work we are doing to help get the word out there, season 3 will surpass all expectations. We have answered The Pallid Man’s call and will do anything necessary to ensure this show gets a third season.
We know the next two weeks are CRITICAL, so PLEASE let us help you help us and the 12 Monkeys family to get this show through the next two weeks. We plead with you, to ignore numbers (maybe not primaries ;)) but ignore numbers, listen to hearts, listen to fans. WE are the ones that watch these shows, we are the ones who are heartbroken when you take shows like this away from us and remove platforms for creative geniuses to do what they do so brilliantly. Do not smother the 12 Monkey flame, let it burn longer, and it will burn stronger.
We are the Addicts of the 12 Monkeys and we will do whatever we need to do to keep this show on air.
Yours with absolute respect for allowing such a great show on air,
Ainslee Hooper
I’m an administrator of a 12 Monkeys an site – one of several which currently exist. Our fandom is thousands strong and includes devoted live watchers, rewatchers, DVD buyers and the numbers of coveted 18 to 49 category.
“12 Monkeys” fans are also international and devoted enough to recently make their favorite show the #1 British SyFy network program of the week.
“12 Monkeys” fans include celebrity supporters like William Shatner and Jared Padalecky, among others.
“12 Monkeys” fans are passionate and articulate, regularly tweeting in such numbers and volume that the show has trended on Twitter every week of Season 2.
“12 Monkeys” fans are presumably also busy students or families who may be waiting to binge watch or stream their program after the academic year is over. They might be viewers either put off or confused by the scheduling decision which moved “12 Monkeys” from a Friday to a Monday night.
But they are also intelligent and passionate evangelists preaching “12 Monkeys” devotion by word of mouth and steadily growing the numbers of faithful viewers.
Given just a little more time, “12 Monkeys” is poised to become a blockbuster hit among members of the public ready and willing to absorb a story that is already a cult hit and is on its way to becoming a television classic.
On behalf of “Addicts of the 12 Monkeys”, I ask only that this unique, high quality program be given all the time it needs to develop its audience as well.
I love this letter and all the others! Here’s the one I sent 🙂
Dear Syfy,
I’ve never felt compelled to write to a network before, but there is a first time for everything.
I have always been a huge SF fan ever since I was old enough to follow a story. When I heard there was a channel apparently dedicated to SF I could not believe it. Finally, here was something for me and people like me, in amongst all the more popularist channels. Battlestar Galactica became one of my favourite shows at the time, I really enjoyed Caprica and I was so excited to find out what else you might develop.
Except you fell by the wayside and your reputation along with it in a dirge of Sharknado. No longer was the channel associated with decent, intelligent SF, it was pretty much yet another popularist channel. I lost interest, as did so many of us.
The years went by. I heard about Defiance and Dominion and wondered if I should watch those. I was all set to give them a go when I heard they’d been cancelled on a cliffhanger. Boy, did you upset the Internet there! So I didn’t bother – why watch something you know won’t end properly? Nobody would ever start reading a book they know has no ending.
Then along came 12 Monkeys. I was reluctant to start watching it because I felt you couldn’t be trusted. Time went by, and I kept seeing positive critical reviews. Against my better judgement I thought I would give it a go, and I was not disappointed. It is by far the best show I have seen in years – exactly the sort of SF I love. Exceedingly well-written, fascinating and strongly developed characters (including decent female characters for a change, it’s about time!) Most of all, unlike most other shows, I found myself thinking about it between episodes and for the first time ever, I actually rewatched a show.
It’s a proper “thinking” show, and there are far too few of those around – it is such a huge asset to your portfolio and shows you cover all sorts of SF.
So when I heard about Killjoys and Dark Matter and The Expanse I thought – well – let’s give them a go too. And they’re really good! My word, Syfy – you’ve sorted it out and then some!! You’ve even gone beyond your BSG heyday. The forums all over talk about how many decent shows you’re putting out there and that you’re worth watching again. You’ve seriously turned it around!
Except not everybody. Those viewers you burned with cancelling shows like Dominion and Defiance – they don’t want to come back. Not until they can feel sure that you won’t do it to them again. And I don’t blame them. In fact I feel quite sick that you might not renew.
We all know the bottom line is profit, it has to be. But ending a show prematurely on a cliffhanger is not a good long term strategy. For starters, nobody will binge watch it on Hulu or wherever in the years to come. Obviously I want 12 Monkeys to run for as long as the writers feel it should run, but if that can’t work for you then please, please – for everybody’s sake – give them a chance to end it properly. Or I’ll be joining those Dominion and Defiance viewers and won’t ever come back as I doubt I’ll ever trust you again either.
Renew 12 Monkeys – the SF world is waiting and watching to see what you do. You have a true gem on your hands that just needs a bit of time to reach its future fans, especially after you scared so many of them off. Please don’t let us down. Show the world and especially us proper SF fans that you’re the groundbreaking, intelligent network you always should have been.
I’m heartbroken right now. I didn’t know about the cancelled. I can’t understand why the companies do it all the time, breaks fans heart so hard. I love this show and It’s really difficult to me watch that, because I’m from South America, I must to wait days till find a website to watch it. There no subtitles neither, so a group of fans are doing it. I would love to buy the box episodes, but sometimes there no boxes to sell here from new shows.
I’m really sad that they decided to kill a great show with great characters and amazing story. I deeply hope they can reconsider.
It’s not canceled, Mara. Don’t worry! The fans are just speaking out to make sure it is renewed because the ratings have been so low during season 2.
I too must plead my case – please renew 12 Monkeys! As a woman who has enjoyed so many sci-fi shows over the years, I often find myself lamenting the fact that I never see a: women over 50 years of age, b: women who talk about more than their relationships to other men in the series and c: women who deeply care about the fates of EACH OTHER. 12 Monkeys manages to incorporate some of the best female characters I have seen on television (well…my laptop..) in quite some time. I’m quite happy to let my 12 year old daughter watch this. Let’s find a way to make Season Three happen!
Just to add some package of 12 Monkeys press coverage since the 2nd season. Only general reviews, no episode recaps, despite the latter also being full of high recognition on daily basis.
Ordered by date, hopefully not much omitted (add, if so). Distribute massively, address both viewers and Syfy.
http://www.thetvjunkies.com/12-reasons-syfys-12-monkeys-best-show-years/
http://www.vox.com/2016/4/18/11446036/12-monkeys-season-2-review-premiere
http://www.tvinsider.com/article/81819/12-monkeys-first-look-season-2-video/
https://www.inverse.com/article/15470-the-dueling-narrative-symbolism-of-syfy-s-12-monkeys-and-hunters
https://www.inverse.com/article/15613-emily-hampshire-is-so-good-in-12-monkeys-it-makes-us-forget-brad-pitt
http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/13/12-monkeys-sneak-peek-cassie-prepares-to-go-back-in-time-to-get-jennifers-help
http://1428elm.com/2016/05/11/12-monkeys-sees-emergence-of-even-more-quality/
http://www.hitfix.com/the-dartboard/stop-the-madness-and-watch-these-shows-that-are-actually-good-before-they-get-canceled
https://grizzlybomb.com/2016/05/16/12-monkeys-star-todd-stashwick-talks-with-us-about-how-to-make-season-3-happen/
http://www.theworkprint.com/12-monkeys-cements-syfys-flagship-series-season-2/123
http://comicbook.com/2016/05/17/12-monkeys-why-the-best-syfy-show-is-the-best-scifi-show-on-tv/#_=_
http://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/featured/2016/05/16/124709/interview-amanda-schull-shines-on-underappreciated-12-monkeys
http://zap2it.com/2016/05/12-monkeys-todd-stashwick-bodies-of-water-unique-creature/
http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/editors/b/gimike_blog/archive/2016/05/17/12-monkeys-must-see.aspx
http://zap2it.com/2016/05/time-travel-tv-take-notes-from-12-monkeys/
http://community.ew.com/2016/05/19/12-monkeys-6-reasons-you-should-be-watching-the-best-show-on-syfy/
Yet another letter to Syfy:
Sometimes it feels like you’re yelling at a brick wall. Perhaps I am, but I’m in good company.
Syfy, the channel formerly known as Sci-Fi, has had a bit of a wilderness period after flirting with Sharknado. But then like a phoenix, it has re-emerged, flying its true Sci-Fi credentials like a supernova. To the surprise of the general Internet, suddenly they’re knocking out decent show after decent show, and none better than 12 Monkeys, based upon the absolute classic Terry Gilliam film of the same name.
Engaging and intriguing from the very first scene, this is a show that spills quality and intelligence like little else on television right now. It’s a story written with heart, fine crafting and bravery.
The time travel and science is the best execution you are likely to see, the bare minimum of holes (if indeed there are any) which is pretty much unheard of for TV time travel in particular. It has the viewer pondering between episodes, speculating, working out theories – most shows are fire and forget, not this one. Every week somehow the story is kicked up a gear, which seems impossible, but there it is. Surprise after surprise, but the sharks remain firmly unjumped.
The characters are utterly compelling, believable yet still surprising us each week with their developments and shades of grey. It might be a time travel show, but the story is all about the emotions too. The actors clearly love their characters and play them with such nuance and passion – they are utterly involved and bring them to life in a way not often seen on TV. There are no “strong women” here, just realistic and brave ones, who do what they do as people, not confined to stereotypical female roles. It’s extremely progressive television, and we love the show all the more for it.
It makes for a rare and beautiful combination – the scientific and the heart. And what does that attract? Men AND women. Unlike so many science fiction shows, this one manages to hook both in equal measure, and getting women passionate about SF who wouldn’t ordinarily watch it is surely the holy grail for networks, and especially one focused on, well, science fiction.
It’s an astonishing show, and one Syfy could not replace with equal, let alone better. They did extremely well in commissioning it and we will be forever grateful for that vision. It may be one of their more expensive shows, but it is on a par and even above the visual quality, including the VFX, of many broadcast network offerings. It has incredible cinematography, every frame is like a work of art and worth watching for that reason alone. The costumes are sublime, and the music memorable and emotional. The sets may be limited in number, but it’s quality, not quantity and a viewer genuinely does not notice. This show is exceptional value for money. It is a crown jewel to be treasured and Syfy is so lucky to have it.
But. And there is always a but. Syfy has a reputation, and sadly it is well-deserved. Despite their great new shows, they don’t give them time to grow. The legacy is there – Defiance, Dominion – fabulous shows cancelled with a cliffhanger. Like so many, I thought I might watch them after I was so impressed by 12 Monkeys, then I heard they were cliffhanger-cancelled and decided not to, even if they might have been available for streaming. You don’t start reading a book knowing it has no ending, so you certainly don’t watch a TV show with no ending. That would be stupid and frustrating.
And so we are afraid that Syfy might do the same here again. Against all reason it seems. Because if they do, it’s for a short term financial gain only. Even if they managed to replace it with equal or better, they’ve still got a massive problem:
a) The fans who are boycotting them for Defiance and Dominion are going to be joined by the 12 Monkeys fans and
b) Word of mouth. It is a foolish TV executive that ignores the power of the Internet and especially one that relies on the interest prolific Internet users love the most – Science Fiction. Syfy is already known as That Network for early cancellations, just as it was known for being the Network of Sharknado. It has thrown off its Sharknado fins thanks to fabulous shows like 12 Monkeys, The Expanse, Dark Matter and Killjoys. And people started coming back, but we’re cautious, really very cautious. Blow it with cancelling 12 Monkeys and those people are GONE. Forever. Not coming back. And they are your core audience and you cannot afford to lose them.
Syfy, you have to give it a chance. Let it grow. We’re getting the word out there that you have an absolutely supreme property on your hands with 12 Monkeys. It sells itself once people have actually seen it. Next season on TV is the season of time travel and you already have the best time travel show out there. Promote it better, remember women can and WILL love this amazing show too if only they knew about it – and you’ve just doubled your potential audience.
Nielsons are not the be all and end all. I haven’t watched a show “live” except for sporting events for ten years due to having children not in bed at those times, and sometimes life gets in the way of a catch up. Or, as in the case of 12 Monkeys, I didn’t know about it until later in the summer when I kept reading such critical acclaim and thought I’d check it out.
It may cost you money in the short term, but if you don’t renew I don’t think your channel has much hope of surviving much longer. Stories need endings – you are in the business of producing art, so don’t put a machete through it. Nobody wants to watch a channel full of stories with the reaper hanging in the wings and so people will stay away.
Give the story time to find its fans, or at least let it finish and you can continue to collect profit through box sets and streaming. You create art, you need to finish that art. Don’t be the bad guys and make us all cry. Because we will. Plenty.
You’re a commercial channel so money comes first, but you need us or you’re as cut off in your prime as the TV shows you put an axe through. Renew 12 Monkeys and we’ll have your back, and sing your praises from the rooftops. Your viewers will return, feeling reassured you’ve learned, you understand us and feeling safer to love your shows again. You’re almost there.
So why does it feel like we’re yelling at that brick wall of unfinished art? Please listen to us.
YES to all of the above, and here’s my letter to Syfy (the second, less angry one):
Dear Syfy,
I’m sure you’re getting a lot of these messages now, and I hope you’re listening to them, because 12 Monkeys deserves to not only get another season, but to be allowed to play out its full story. Terry Matalas has said he has a five year plan; I assume you guys knew that when you bought the show. Wouldn’t you want to watch it play out as much as we do?
Some more things to think about:
1. A lot of the problem with ratings on sf&f shows is that no one can trust that they’ll get the time they need. Scifi fans are smart enough to get these shows, and genre-savvy enough to remember how similar shows were treated, both by their networks and by other fans and media. And so, so many of these shows were cut off too early because ratings were low, or were meddled to death. But here’s the thing: scifi is niche, so the available audience is already smaller than the pool of all possible viewers, and ratings are not representative of actual viewing anymore. And since so many channels are still dependent on this outdated system, they’re messing up what the audience they do have wants, repeatedly, and then complaining that they’re not coming back over and over again for more shows to get messed up on them. Lots of the audience is just avoiding that frustration. So think about long terms: if you save the show and let it play, it’ll bring the trust back, it’ll give future awesome and risky scifi more faith in you channel, and it’ll give you the credit for breaking that unfair and short-sighted idea that scifi will always be cancelled too soon.
2. 12 Monkeys is exactly what you want for your rebranding, or you wouldn’t have made it your flagship. It’s smart, it’s ridiculously rewatchable (and when was the last time a show got better on the second or third viewing?), it’s bold and ambitious, and it’s emotionally and morally and philosophically complex. It’s good scifi at its best. And now, there’s at least three new time travel shows in the works. What will it look like for your channel’s reputation and the fans’ trust if you start a trend and then bail on it? Just give up that slice of supremely dedicated and personally invested fans to these other shows that, frankly, probably won’t be as good or as daring?
3. Syfy is a specific enough channel that you can rewrite some of how tv is done. This is an opportunity. Pay attention to how the sharpest fans are watching, how people are hearing about it, what people are saying. See how dedicated they are and how much they love not just the show, but the people who make it and their fellow fans. This is your chance to recast how channels handle fans, count views, determine viability, and maintain audiences. Think about how many people are watching digitally. Think about how very, very perfect this show is for binge-watching on Netflix or Hulu. Think about using it to prove you’re dedicated to not just rebranding, but properly embracing the technology and forward-thinking that scifi embodies. 12 Monkeys is so well handled that you can leave it alone and watch it bring your whole channel up the way BSG did years ago. And you can let other shows flock to you because of how well you test this one–shows that got dumped by short-sighted networks, shows that would have been sold to your competitors but came to you because you know how to treat them. Shows fans can believe in and trust, even before they see them.
12 Monkeys changed my life by introducing me to some of who are now my closest friends. People I talk to every day. And the show itself is a gift, a joy to watch and a challenge we’re ready to gleefully tackle. It’s rare and strange and has that *thing* that networks always want every show to have, and in this case, I think that thing is a combination of inspiring daring and genuine thoughtfulness and charming interaction with the cast and crew. This is how you want your whole channel to be perceived, believe me. We’re invested now.
Give 12 Monkeys it’s deserved run. Prove that this rebranding isn’t just words and has real meaning behind it. And we the fans will be here. All the disillusioned fans will come back. We’ll stay. And isn’t that what you want?
Samantha
Dear Syfy,
12 Monkeys is a TV show that I feel incredibly passionate about. It’s become a huge part of my life. So, first of all, I want to thank you so much for believing in it when Terry Matalas and gang came and pitched it to you.
I’ve never been so into a show before 12 Monkeys. In fact, I’ve never been involved with a fandom until 12 Monkeys. Fanficing, vidding, fanarting, blog TV reviews (http://timetravelnexus.com/12-monkeys-season-1-questions-that-burn-a-hole-through-time/), you name it – for 12 Monkeys, I wanted to do it, and did it. I even activated a twitter account which I never planned to use, just to get more involved with 12 Monkeys.
Last year, a bunch of 12 Monkeys fans mentioned that they were watching Dominion as well. So, as I trusted their taste (obviously) I decided to give it a shot. I had to catch up on the first season and part of season 2. I also fell for that show, even though I was late to it. And when the show got cancelled on a cliffhanger, I was gobsmacked. It felt like a punch in the gut. How could such a beautiful show like that be aborted so unceremoniously, without even the offer of a limited run season to finish the story? You know what it made me think of?
Maybe it’s a strange linked thought, but it made me remember a documentary which interviewed the surviving children of the Beslan School Siege in Chechnya (2004). One of the surviving children said that the only way he was able to calm down and stay quiet with the killers around, was to imagine that Harry Potter had put his invisibility cloak over him to protect him. The kid absolutely was not ready to die yet, because he needed to know how the HP story was going to end. That’s how big a part of his life this work of fiction was to him. And when you cancelled Dominion, it felt like you took something at least as equally important away from so many people. It was pretty unbelievable.
Syfy, you have helped to create some completely captivating TV that has become a part of so many people’s lives.That’s how important your shows are to people. It’s not the X-factor, or teen moms, or the bloody useless Kardashians (sorry, if any of you are fans of these shows). The shows you create aren’t shows that people can watch with half an attention span. Your shows are so good they require completely undivided attention and total dedication to complex story arcs. They are sagas similar to LoTR.
I’m still not over the fact that Dominion got killed off. It’s awful. It’s actually quite unacceptable. And what happened to Dominion makes me really worried about 12 Monkeys.
I understand that there may be a whole host of commercial decisions to consider that some of us fans may not fully appreciate, but let me ask you this – what good are half finished shows to you as a network, compared to having a finished product? No streaming TV network will care to buy a TV show from you that has no resolution. As a commercial decision, cancelling a show on a major cliffhanger with loads of loose ends untied is pretty shortsighted.
As a fan of 12 Monkeys, I am feeling nervous due to low live viewing figures, but I have a theory to why this is. First of all, many shared audiences with Dominion and Defiance have decided they would not watch another Syfy show until Syfy shows them that they are able to treat their shows with respect. I was very concerned when many of these fans said that whilst they liked 12 Monkeys a lot, as a matter of principle they were not going to watch another Syfy show again until the network shows that they can at least commit to giving their shows a home run. People care about your shows so much, they won’t risk watching anything from you until it’s finished, just to safeguard themselves from having their hearts ripped out by a mid-story cancellation.
Secondly, 12 Monkeys is a show that demands careful viewing, in order to catch all the intricacies. Therefore, many people may just watch it later on catch up at a time when they can watch it properly without distraction. It’s the mark of an amazing sci-fi show, when people respect it enough to have to give it their full, undivided attention.
In any case, I want to redirect your attention to this open letter: https://www.goldenspiralmedia.com/an-open-letter-to-syfy-save-12-monkeys – I know this fan from a 12 Monkeys facebook group and I know her letter arose as a result of a discussion with many other fans who feel the same. She has captured the collective sentiment, so you shouldn’t ignore this letter. I’m sorry to say, but as a network, your treatment of some of your former shows has played a huge part in dropping the audience figures for your current shows. Therefore, if you cut more of your current shows that have received high appraise from critics (such as 12 Monkeys) due to ‘low live figures’, you’re only going to make things worse for yourself. Eventually you won’t even survive as a network – that’s how critical it’s become for you to concentrate on earning back the trust of your core audiences.
It’s time that Syfy demonstrates that they can get behind their shows. If you must cancel 12 Monkeys, all I ask is for you to respect your audience, the creators of the show, and the artistic and cultural contribution of the show enough to at the very least, offer a limited run season, so that the talented writers can wrap the story up properly. But even better, I’d urge you to look at the long game. Look at the new audiences you will be able to get over the next few years. People’s TV habits are changing dramatically.
There is a huge market for binge viewers several years down the line, when the show may have had a chance to complete an epic 5 season story arc. Sure, you probably don’t know how to measure it now, but pretending that it doesn’t count is shortsighted. I came to BSG on Netflix 5 YEARS after it finished. I loved it so much, I watched all 73 episodes back to back twice! I’m confident that 12 Monkeys is a show like that. Commit to it. Finish it properly. And I promise you that it will gain new fans year on year for many years to come. 12 Monkeys may be slightly ahead of its time, but it’s here now, and it will be the stuff of TV legends even if it will take time to reach all the people who have, for now, decided to shun any unfinished productions coming from the Syfy network.
All the best,
Dear syfy
Myself Jimesh Pandya and I am from India and I have been live tweeting and watching 12 monkeys season 2 but recently I came to know that ratings of 12monkeys has gotten lower from last season and if proper rating are not maintained it will be on verge of cancellation. I wanted to tell that 12 Monkeys is best TV show and it’s a TV show that come’s in a decade be it concept of time travel the cast the writing of episode everything is perfect there are lot of TV series out there but there is nothing like 12monkeys people are reluctant to follow it because they feel like they have watched the 12monkeys movie and TV series is nothing compared to movie but actually 12 monkeys TV series has surpassed 12 monkeys movie even thought that movie was masterpiece but 12 monkey TV show is more then masterpiece it is the show that have brought people from all around the corner talking for example I am from India people from Croatia,Ireland,Turkey,New zealeand,Australia,Spain,Malaysia,Indonesia,philippines,Italy,United kingdom,France ,Germany,Portugal,scotland,Chile and many other place as there is group on facebook of 12monkeys discussion even shows creator follow it to know the reach and how people feel about the show.I know People outside US does count as viewer but it should be have been taken into count as people are buying season Pass from Amazon.com just to watch the show and hoping it does not get cancelled not only you can know from the comment section on Amazon.com from verified customer about how happy they are watching the show but how great the story is and also on other platform and also for those whom 12 monkeys is not availaible in their country they are Buying 12 Monkeys T-shirt to support it.I know it will be not possible to generate more revenue if more people don’t view the show but believe me that the show is excellent if placed on any other day other then Monday as people are watching Wwe Raw and other stuff and hardly care of other show it would have been better if show was on Friday or weekend but that doesn’t mean show is not creating any audience infact it’s not only creating audience and viewer but it is making other TV channel follow the pattern of time travel show as 12 monkey is about time travel other tv channels have started making Time Travel show as they know and even Syfy knows current trend in TV show market is of time travel show.I know it will be hard decision to renew 12 monkeys if it doesn’t get good rating but please consider it .The story has not yet ended and the viewers deserve every right to get rightful ending so I wish if 12 monkeys is renewed for 3rd season it will be awesome as it will be right decision not only for viewers but for production team writer everyone and even though it might cause some high production budget but it is worth every attempt must be given to let a TV show survive and I know the budget may be more on the production of 12 monkeys but it is masterpiece in tv show it will be more expensive but it is worth it don’t loose hope on your tv show and cancell it your loss is someone gains I mean if you cancel a Tv series like 12monkeys no one would like to watch A new show on syfy as they don’t know whether it will continue or not so
please don’t let viewer expectation end and please renew 12 monkeys for 3rd season even if the rating are low and note that we are gathering almost every people to watch 12 monkeys who are living in USA to watch it and also live tweeting ,suggesting Neighbour to watch ,Recommending Friend and family ,messaging everywhere on social media we are doing our best to boost the rating but then also if the ratings are low please consider renewing 12 monkeys for Third season as it is best TV And Time Travel show.Love from India hope 12monkeys gets well deserved season 3 and also sorry if I mention anything bad or felt bad but I Really hope 12 monkeys gets season three
Thanking You
Love FRom India
JImesh Pandya
To SyFy Channel From A Baby Boomer,
Thank you for giving us 12 Monkeys!
Baby Boomers love 12 Monkeys and there are many of us.
By definition, we’re not in the 18-49 demographic.
As we approach retirement age, we tend to watch many TV shows.
Because we know that Time is precious, we DVR everything.
Consequently, when we watch the very best show on TV, 12 Monkeys, you don’t know about us because we don’t count in your current ratings system.
(As a side note, you should get that changed. Boomers have a ton of money to spend and even though we don’t watch all of your ads, we watch some and we know who your sponsors are.)
12 Monkeys is HIGH QUALITY science fiction! You already know this because you are the SyFy channel.
Boomers know this because we’ve had >50 years of television experience to compare it against. This is one of the only time travel shows in the history of television that actually hangs together and makes sense! It can be hard to follow at times, but that’s half the fun! We often watch it more than once just to figure things out. (Hmmm … Double ratings?)
The show is thought provoking. It has big ideas, rich screenplays, and engaging, dynamic characters. It is rendered flawlessly with a great cast and crew. These folks love it and are doing all they can in social media to bring it even closer to its fans.
I sincerely hope that you don’t cancel it because it’s going to need some time tell the full story. If you don’t choose to renew it for Season Three, we could be watching it next year on NetFlix, The CW, or BBC America. It’s really THAT GOOD!
Thank you for your time and keep up the good work.
Regards,
Peter Williamson
I agree 100% – 12 Monkeys is a great show – possibly my favorite show of all time. The writing, the acting, the production – are all top notch. I watch each episode at least twice because they are so good. It would be such a disappointment if this show was cancelled – great TV like this deserves to be rewarded and continued. If SyFy does not renew this amazing show I would be happy to pay for future episodes via NetFlix, Hulu, etc. Please reward this great product with a third season.
Regards,
Vince
12 Monkeys is smart and well written. True sci-fi fans know that there are many types of sci-fi. 12 Monkeys fills a void that has long been missing on Syfy. We the fans appreciate the effort it has taken to bring the show to air. We are so happy that Syfy has supported it so far. We highly encourage Syfy to step up and renew it and Wynonna Earp for new seasons. Listen to the fans!
And here’s yet another one (not giving up yet!)
Hey Syfy!
Have you read the story of the Ugly Duckling? The story of a small bird that wasn’t like the others, wasn’t as popular. He was looked after by his mother, and then when he grew up, he was the finest and most spectacular of them all.
This is what you have with 12 Monkeys. Not that it’s ugly – far from it. The cinematography is outstanding, the music so beautifully done and it goes without saying that the cast a very attractive bunch. But compared to your other shows? It’s ugly in the Nielsen’s. None of us are going to deny that.
Your other shows are pretty good, don’t get me wrong. If it wasn’t for 12 Monkeys, I would not have given the sassy Killjoys a second look, nor would I have bothered with the twisty Dark Matter. I certainly would not have even heard of the darkly intriguing The Expanse, which got me to read the books which are fabulous. The sheer quality of 12 Monkeys got me watching three of your other shows. It will ultimately be the glorious swan amongst your (not unattractive!) ducks.
Like the Ugly Duckling, 12 Monkeys is growing. Not necessarily reflected in the Nielsen’s, because they don’t actually reflect how we watch TV nowadays. Outside of them it is. You only have to look at the soaring numbers live tweeting (and tweeting during the week) The fan groups that have swelled by 50% since this season started. The fan art being made. The passionate discussions on Tumblr and Twitter. More and more people are getting involved, it is an incredibly strong fandom and a friendly growing one, at that.
Whenever I talk to people outside of 12 Monkeys fandom, nearly all of them *have not heard* of the show. Some have heard of the movie, but practically nobody has heard of 12 Monkeys. These are people who HAVE heard of Game of Thrones, Outlander and even Orphan Black these days. That’s a HUGE untapped audience who would potentially love the show.
I hadn’t heard of Orphan Black before season 3, until word of mouth reached me, and I circulate a lot in SF fandoms. Sometimes these shows just take a while for people to find out about.
12 Monkeys, like most shows, is not to everybody’s taste, even SF fans. But there are so many people out there that would truly appreciate a smart, detailed and complicated SF story on TV in the same way they do in books. They just don’t know about it yet.
Sadly, some do know about 12 Monkeys. And they are afraid of watching it because they fully expect it to get cancelled based on their previous expectations of your channel. I don’t actually blame them, it’s why I’ve not started watching Hunters because I fully expect you to cancel it. In fact, after telling people about 12 Monkeys, which they’d not heard of before, without fail every single one said “Oh, it’s on Syfy? I don’t want to watch it in case it gets cancelled.”
So basically MORE PEOPLE know of your reputation for cancelling shows, than know about 12 Monkeys. That’s pretty damning, and explains your much lower ratings this season. Dominion and Defiance fans were clearly quite noisy and made a difference.
However, if you did renew it AND promise to let Mr M and Mr F finish their story, I can guarantee more people would watch and ratings would go up. I swear to you, I will eat the Red Forest myself if they don’t. It’s not that 12 Monkeys is ugly (except in the Nielsens) – it’s that people don’t know if it’s going to be a swan yet so they’re afraid to back it.
After all, what idiot would start reading a book, no matter how good, if there was a very real risk that it would just stop halfway through with no resolution? You’d wait until you could be sure there was an ending, that’s what you’d do, right? The correct ending.
Syfy – you are just getting your groove back again with your programming. You’re a niche channel, and you need to cater to a range of SF tastes. With 12 Monkeys you’ve completely sewn up the smart, intelligent SF category. Assuming you want to cater to smart, intelligent fans who like to think about shows in between airings, who might then be tempted by your other shows like many of us are.
If you don’t renew 12 Monkeys, what are you going to replace it with? Honestly, the show is perfection. It’s beautifully written, the first time travel show I’ve ever seen which doesn’t have glaring loopholes. The characters are unique, especially the women, with their portrayals – the genuine next generation of female characters because they are so damned real. They behave like women, not tropes or for the benefit of men – it is beyond refreshing. It’s amazingly acted by everybody as well, I am blown away each week by the subtleties and nuances – these actors know and LOVE their characters in a way many shows just don’t have and bring the big acting guns every. single. time.
The writers and cast and other crew engage with the fans in a way most shows just don’t. They chat with us, tease us, encourage us and above all – respect us. They put in so much time into engaging with us when they really don’t have to. It makes the show all the more perfect.
I could go on about the rest of it – the evocative score, the stunning cinematography and special effects that look far more expensive than I’m sure they actually are. The wicked costumes, make-up and hair – for all those eras as well. The impressive sets. What’s not to love?
Heck, I love it so much that in four days time I am coming from England (yes, I am English) to LA for the Paley finale screening. I’ve never done anything like this before in my life, but I will do it for this show because it is THAT GOOD. Seriously.
So what would you replace it with? You already have something amazing. You could take a gamble on something else, but the chances of lightning hitting twice are so low, and by that point nobody, and especially not those smart, intelligent SF fans who love 12 Monkeys, would dare risk their hearts on something new. And 12 Monkeys in particular appeals to women, unlike most SF shows it honestly feels like there are MORE women fans than men. Good luck finding another show that can do that.
I’m also very impressed at the demographics that are attracted to this show. It’s not just 18-34 year old males, in fact they’re a minority. It’s not just the women either. It’s right the way up from teenagers to people past retirement without a single age group missed out. EVERYONE loves it, no matter their age. The only thing they have in common is that they love well-written television. And as for worldwide – well, for starters I’m in the UK. But I have made friends in so many different countries and timezones. In fact in the forum I am on, there is ALWAYS somebody to talk to at any time of day or night because it’s not completely American-centric like most TV shows are. There are fans quite literally everywhere. That is a lot of worldwide sales.
I am so very impressed with BBC America’s handling of Orphan Black. Constant low ratings, poor word of mouth to begin with. But they stuck with it, because they KNEW it was an awesome story (it is!) and that the smart, intelligent SF fans would eventually find it. They knew there were far more people watching it than the ratings suggested and interest grew and grew. They didn’t have a history of cancelling shows so people were happier to watch. And now they’re giving it the ending the writers (and fans) wanted. Absolutely perfect.
Other shows have done similar recently – Person of Interest, Continuum – all with dropping ratings, but they were given a chance to end properly – in fact with those shows ending there’s more of a need for something smart to watch. They will live on in syndication with people happy to binge. I recently watched all of Nikita (also thanks to 12 Monkeys!) but I would not have if I’d heard it was cancelled with no ending. I’m not alone with that.
Please give 12 Monkeys the chance to become that swan, and bring the spotlight back on your channel like BSG did. The audience is out there, they just don’t know about the show yet, or are too scared to watch in case you Syfy foxes steal the cygnets from the nest. Let it flourish and live on forever with Hulu etc, rather than being forgotten as a critically acclaimed “might have been” that nobody remembers in a few years because it was killed off young and nobody wants to touch.
Renew 12 Monkeys for season 3 (and 4 and 5) and you’ll have a bona-fide swan on your hands. And a lot of very happy fans, and very happy future fans. And you’ll get some of your lost viewers back too for your other shows. I’m quite prepared to eat that Red Forest if I’m wrong!
Thank you for reading 🙂
Yea check that and everything else sad here. Deal me in. I’ll be rd if if you guys don’t finish the show out.