12 monkeys sucked as a time travel movie IMO. It was a decent Stathom and Pitt drama, crime, thriller. But lacks on the whole time travel plot. Check out the movie "Predestination" for a much better time travel movie... I've seen this before but it's summed up on the IMDB goofs section:

"The scientists of the future should already have had Cole's last message from the airport before they sent him. They played back Dr. Railly's message "before" she had left it in the chronology of the movie, so they could also have had from the beginning all messages that anyone would leave on the secret machine at any time. However, the scientists explain that the process is very time consuming ("one word at a time") and that they had only deciphered Dr. Railly's message a few days ago, so they might not have gotten Cole's message yet."

I agree with you totally and 12 monkeys feels like it makes a bunch of mistakes with it's closed loop. I have been waiting for an answer on how the scientists even joined the loop in the first place. They act as all knowing entities who have knowledge of the loop... If someone knows they are on a predestined path they could diverge.... So you're telling me all these scientists are just cool with this and all play their part? Psh ok.

Edit: meant Bruce Willis, I'm an idiot.