TV Review: Eureka 3.15 & 3.16

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 1, 2009

Eureka

Eureka, SyFy, Airs Friday 9/8c

Episode: “Shower to the People” (Season Three, Episode 15)

Synopsis: Henry is getting cozy with the clone of his dead wife, which could result in a new level of tragedy for his emotional state. Meanwhile, as Allison prepares for the birth of her baby, Jack is feeling inadequate as a birthing partner. Soon, his adequacy returns when a botched baby shower gift is linked to a series of spontaneous drownings in such odd places as closed automobiles, elevators and empty hot tubs.

Review: I was a bit conflicted with this episode. On one hand, I liked seeing some development between Henry and the Kim clone. But while I understand that Henry’s character would have a certain disconnection with reality, it just seems so poorly constructed for him to fall head-over-heels in love with her again. I understand his desire to live the fantasy, but a smart man like Henry showing no doubts for this just doesn’t fit.

On the drowning side of the show, we are given another technology-gone-awry episode of Eureka, which plays well into the series’ core audience base. However, I just can’t shake the feeling that these are just patches where a larger story could be. The theme of brilliant scientists screwing up their inventions has kinda been run into the ground lately.

Kim’s reappearance from the ship generating the mysterious signal was pretty cool, but the storyline has burned itself out rather quickly. I guess I’d just like to see something bigger happen in the little town of Eureka… like revisiting the nefarious past of the town that was hinted at when Eva Thorne departed.

Episode: “You Don’t Know Jack” (Season Three, Episode 16)

Synopsis: In preparation for a Eureka time capsule, residents are invited to share memories with the future by encoding them into special “storycatchers” designed by Tess. However, when Fargo takes it upon himself to revise the town’s memories of his misadventures, he accidentally starts to erase the memory of anyone who has used a storycatcher.

Review: Let me go on record to say that I freaking hate this kind of episode. Television series have been giving us flashback episodes for decades. And they were important back in the days before DVRs, DVDs and internet recaps. But to pad out a 20-minute story like this with scattered scenes of Eureka: Seasons 1 to 3.5 is just downright disappointing to the regular viewer.

These sort of things worked on shows like Three’s Company, but as a member of the modern TV audience, I was just insulted.

To make matters worse, this episode also chose the now-cliche Eureka plot of a brilliant invention that threatens to destroy the town. At the very least, they could have given us a creative alternative.

Oh, and Allison had her baby. Whoopie doo! Send her some flowers.

Up Next Week: A week off, then a return on September 11 with Allison on maternity leave and Tess in charge. An arctic ice core threatens to put the town of Eureka into a deep freeze.

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Did you watch Eureka this week? If so, feel free to discuss below.