# 12 Monkeys The Series FYI

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-monkeys-the-series-fyi/786698>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 15, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-monkeys-the-series-fyi/786698 "2017-05-15T23:26:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-monkeys-the-series-fyi/786698/21 "2017-06-11T19:38:01Z")

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> [@DrForrester](#):
>
> Perhaps I am wrong, but I certainly had the impression that the Witness built Titan, originated the whole idea of starting a world-wide plague, originated the idea behind ending time, and invented the whole cult which recruited and generally acted on behalf of the effort to end time. The Witness was meant to be, you know, a central figure.

This is true, it just wasn’t the one everyone was expecting.

> [@](#):
>
> But, we’re left with a Witness who, at best, was reluctantly being tempted to the “dark side”. He was certainly not a zealot or even a powerful member of their team.

Because he wasn’t the Witness, he never was.

> [@](#):
>
> If the Witness was someone else the whole time, Jennifer didn’t know? The guy who we all thought was the Witness, but who wasn’t, but who was a Primary… He didn’t know the truth either?

She didn’t know either way, it’s not like she told them who the Witness was supposed to be at any point, they had to figure it all out on their own. Primary doesn’t mean all knowing.

> [@](#):
>
> If the Witness didn’t dream up all of the end of the world scenarios and so forth (no matter which person The Witness turns out to be), then who did? What was their inspiration? How did they know whom they were serving? It’s all very strange.

The Witness did dream up all the end of the world scenarios and did everything else the Witness was supposed to do, it just wasn’t the person everyone thought it would be. They DIDN’T know who they were serving, even Olivia didn’t know she was serving her future self and even makes a comment about it when she realizes she is the Witness and not Ethan. And yeah, it is supposed to be strange and convoluted, that is the nature of time travel.

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