In the first episode we're introduced to Cole (Aaron Stanford), a scavenger from 2043 who is one of the people immune to the virus that killed off most of humanity. He's recruited by scientists who have found a time-travel device and send him back in time to stop the man, Leland Goines (Zeljko Ivanek of HEROES), they think is responsible. He tracks the guy down and kills him--but it doesn't change anything. In the next episode he discovers this man has a daughter--a crazy daughter in a mental institution--and she likes to draw the 12 Monkeys symbol. But is she the one responsible or this gaunt looking guy who traumatized her by killing a group of her fellow scientists she was blamed for killing. Oh, and there's this potential love interest for Cole, Dr. Cassandra Railly, who works for the CDC.
Okay--why adapt Terry Gilliam's time-travel movie, which is already perfect, into a lamer, made-for-television series? Also, it makes the same mistake TIMECOP made with the time-traveller--in the future, he's sitting down, then appears in different positions when he goes back in time. But the worst part is the wooden lead actor, Stanford, who is one-note throughout. Definitely NOT recommended. In fact, someone should go back in time and unmake this series.