12 Monkeysis the perfect show for those who thinkSuitsunderutilized Katrina Bennett. Though the series largely focused on Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams),Suitswas an ensemble show, with many fascinating characters who circulated in and out throughout its run. WhileHarvey’s return inSuits LAhas brought some of that same great energy from the original, the spinoff does not have that same draw with its background characters asSuitsdid, even for later characters like Katrina.
Katrina emerged during one ofSuits’best seasons, her growth throughout the series and deeper character moments adding to the overall emotional narrative, with her journey and relationship with Louis providing strong beats the show would lack otherwise.Part of that great characterization came from Schuell’s performance,resulting in a compelling character that, for some reason, the show neglected to expand upon, only really focusing on Katrina in season 9. Fortunately, Schuell did get a chance to showcase that same skill in another series, three years after her debut onSuits:SyFy’s12 Monkeys.
Amanda Schull’s 12 Monkeys Is A TV Adaptation Of The 1995 Movie
Schull’s Version Debuted In 2015
Schull’s12 Monkeysseries was a TV adaptation of the 1995 movie of the same name, and it allowed her to do that same strong character work she did with Katrina onSuits.12 Monkeystells the story of James Cole (Aaron Stanford), a scavenger from the year 2043 who is selected to go back in time by a team of enigmatic scientistscalled Project Splinter. His mission is to recruit Schuell’s Dr. Cassandra “Cassie” Railly, a virologist who may be their only hope at preventing the plague that wiped out humanity from coming to pass.
One Of The Best Time Travel Shows You’ll Ever Watch Was A Radically Different Remake Of A Bruce Willis & Brad Pitt Movie
The TV adaptation of 12 Monkeys was very different than the Bruce Willis/Brad Pitt time-travel movie it was based on — but still just as great.
The series takes inspiration from the original12 Monkeysfilm butdigs deeper into its themes of fate and choice through its characters and story, creating new layers to each relationship. The time travel mechanics are also fascinating and fun from a visual standpoint, making it unique from several other time travel shows. However, Schuell’s performance is what makes12 Monkeysa show worth revisiting, especially as her character is given much more time to develop and a more complex personal narrative than Katrina got onSuits.
12 Monkeys Gives Amanda Schull A Lot More To Work With Than Suits
Dr. Railly’s Arc Allowed Schuell A Richer Character To Explore
Schuell got to explore a deeper character arc on12 Monkeysthan she did onSuits,the former giving her more screentime to fulfill that narrative. As mentioned, Katrina was not given much to do despite being one ofSuits’best characters, her arc largely being reactive to the circumstances of the plot over proactive with few exceptions.In the case of12 Monkeys, though, that is not the case, as Schuell gets to dig deeply into Dr. Railly’s transformationthroughout the series' four-season run.
Dr. Railly’s struggle to understand her role within the apocalypse, her adventures and the scars they leave behind, and her relationship with Cole all take center stage within12 Monkeys,letting Schuell show off her strong character work. Her performance added a good portion of the show’s depth, and her arc highlighted how easily one can transform their fate and the consequences of those choices. That depth continues to stand in stark contrast to Katrina onSuits,whose story had the same potential but was unable to reach it due to, ironically, time.
Suits
Cast
Suits is a legal drama series that premiered in 2011, centering on Mike Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory who lands a job at a top New York law firm despite lacking a law degree. Partnering with one of the city’s best legal closers, Harvey Specter, they navigate the challenges of high-stakes cases and firm dynamics.
12 Monkeys
12 Monkeys, released in 2015, follows Cole, a time traveler from a devastated future, as he uses an experimental time travel method to journey back from 2043. His mission is to identify and eliminate the origins of a catastrophic plague threatening to wipe out humanity.
