Of course, that's a title that's going to have a few fans saying, "Hey...," and though I've been a fan of Eureka since before even seeing it, the fourth season has already moved beyond any expectations we might possibly have had for the little sci-fi effort that could.
Since the beginning, the show about the town of geniuses, and their Sheriff (and other accoutrement) has put out a fun and clever little escape that plays with science-fiction abilities.
Throwing our Sheriff (Colin Ferguson), with his mainstream-ish outlook, together with the outlandish, futuristic dreamworld of scientists let loose in their own community, has delivered a much needed outlet for three solid seasons.
Part adventure, part walk in the park with some intriguing characters, and part (let's face it) pure goof, the show revels in entertainment, and manages a balance of the serious, the comic, and the downright silly like no show before it.
Now, when most shows (especially on cable) might aim at sticking to what's working the best they can, Eureka has switched up their game in a move that is not only daring, but on the very border of being foolishly so. With relationships reaching new levels at the end of season three, a complete shake-up is the sort of thing custom-tailored to irritate fans, and that's something that even a popular cable program can ill afford.
Sticking to its guns (apparently), the show took its main cast on a trip through time in a brilliantly-crafted episode, and had them return to a world with some minor changes all around. Not least the addition of a time stowaway, played by James Callis.
You might imagine that such a plot twist isn't terribly out of the ordinary, which is actually true, except that in this case it isn't the sort of thing that our friendly sci-fi crew are resolving after a cliffhanging episode (or two). No, the world is just wrenched up, and a few episodes in already, it doesn't show any signs of sorting things out.
With Wil Wheaton guest-starring (and apparently returning - according to his Tweets), and a Warehouse 13 crossover special, Eureka doesn't seem inclined to slow down.
Some may find it rather a shtick move, and a convenient way to get certain characters back on the show, but with this new world comes an entirely new ballgame. Actors throw themselves into completely different characters, who are actually the same character, or back to something closely resembling what they were three seasons ago, and mountains of theoretical connections crop up to unseat our main crew, and all of it while retaining the feel and flavor of the show fans have increasingly gravitated toward for three seasons.
Sure, we're not talking Shakespeare here, or the next greatest artistic expression to hit audiences, but television would certainly benefit from more shows that were so willing to follow their own spirit, even when doing so was a hell of a gamble. It may still be a bit of a lark, but it is suddenly a much more serious lark, and one that deserves a new level of respect.
Check out a few videos and some interesting images from the show, including upcoming episodes.
RU?
photos courtesy Syfy - Eike Schroter
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- Neil Grayston Geeks Out Over the 'Eureka'/'Warehouse 13' Crossover (tvsquad.com)
- Colin Ferguson, Jaime Paglia promise 'best 10 episodes' of 'Eureka' (chicagonow.com)
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About Marc Eastman
Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
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