Syfy’s 4-Part Post-Apocalyptic Series That’s Dark Meets The Last Of Us Is One Of Its Best

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A standout series on Syfy blends the intricate time travel of Dark with the bleak, end-of-the-world atmosphere of The Last of Us. Though both Dark and The Last of Us are relatively recent, they’re quickly becoming regarded as some of the greatest sci-fi shows ever made. Dark is celebrated for its incredibly complex yet clever time travel plot, and The Last of Us stands out as one of the most moving and well-acted zombie shows, as well as a fantastic adaptation of a video game.

Both The Last of Us and Dark are considered exceptional shows. The Syfy series 12 Monkeys successfully blended elements of both genres—time travel and post-apocalyptic settings—and proved this combination could work well. Though it premiered in 2015—before the Dark and The Last of Us TV shows, but after the The Last of Us game—12 Monkeys offered a fresh and compelling take on these themes.

Okay, so if you’re thinking of the Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt movie, this 12 Monkeys show on Syfy is based on that, but it’s definitely its own thing! They share characters and the basic idea of using time travel to prevent a deadly plague, but the show really takes the story much further. Honestly, as a fan, I think 12 Monkeys laid a lot of the groundwork for shows like Dark and even The Last of Us – you can really see its influence in some of the best parts of those series. It ran for four seasons and really built something special.

Syfy’s 12 Monkeys Is One Of The Best Time Travel Shows Besides Dark

While few shows match the complexity of Dark‘s time travel, 12 Monkeys comes remarkably close. The first season isn’t perfect, with a few plot issues, but the show quickly improves, handling time travel and its paradoxes with increasing skill. Over its four seasons, 12 Monkeys expertly builds and delivers on some incredibly satisfying twists and recurring themes.

Beyond its complex plot twists and thought-provoking paradoxes, 12 Monkeys manages to make time travel genuinely fun to watch. One week, Cole might be sent to 2013 to find Cassie, and the next, a malfunction sends him to North Korea in 2006. Each episode of 12 Monkeys throws Cole into a new and unpredictable time and place, making it difficult to know where he’ll end up or how close he is to stopping the coming apocalypse.

I’ve always been fascinated by 12 Monkeys, especially how deeply it explores the idea of time travel. The original movie really struck me with its message that the past is fixed and that trying to change your fate can actually make it happen faster – it’s a really tragic thought. But the show? It takes that idea and turns it into this incredibly moving battle between whether we truly have free will or if everything is already determined. It’s completely captivating, and I find myself totally invested in the characters and their struggles.

12 Monkeys is a challenging show with a complicated plot, demanding close attention from its viewers. However, the effort is well worth it. By season four, even the show’s most complex sci-fi ideas feel organic to the story. While it might not be as consistently brilliant as Dark, 12 Monkeys is a strong contender in the time travel genre.

12 Monkeys Also Nails The Post-Apocalyptic Feel Of The Last Of Us

Although 12 Monkeys doesn’t feature zombies, it shares the same unsettling, post-apocalyptic atmosphere that makes The Last of Us so impactful. A key element of The Last of Us is the feeling that the world is inevitably declining – that humanity won’t overcome the infection, a cure is unlikely, and even the best hope, Ellie, is hindered. It’s a powerfully grim narrative, and 12 Monkeys evokes a similar sense of dread.

Over the course of its four seasons, the show 12 Monkeys follows Cole and Cassie as they desperately try to prevent a devastating plague that kills most of humanity. But every time they make progress, something gets in their way – whether it’s a new challenge, interference from the mysterious Army of the 12 Monkeys, or Cole accidentally making things even worse by creating a different, equally bad future.

Both 12 Monkeys and The Last of Us share a similar feeling of impending disaster, but what truly connects them is how they handle that sense of dread. Both shows use the hopelessness of a world after the apocalypse to create stories that are both deeply emotional and incredibly suspenseful. Despite facing almost certain doom, characters like Joel and Ellie, and Cole and Cassie, still struggle to survive and fight for a better future.

Whether you enjoy mind-bending plots like those in Dark or emotionally resonant stories similar to The Last of Us, 12 Monkeys offers something to appeal to almost any science fiction fan. Originally released in 2015, this show didn’t get the attention it deserved, making it a perfect hidden gem to discover now.

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2026-05-20 02:38