A while back, I expressed some frustration with SyFy’s formulaic television offerings in the form of Eureka, Warehouse 13, and Haven. Here’s an update:
Haven kind of hooked me near the end of the season, as Audrey’s season-long plot arc got seriously interesting. I still like the dynamic between the three leads, but am not eagerly counting the minutes until the show returns. It’s enjoyable background.
Warehouse 13 had a vastly improved second season, in my opinion, mostly due to the addition of HG Wells to the cast. Other than her, I still find the main characters kind of dull or irritating. The concept is so strong, though, and that’s what keeps me watching. I love the combination of history, archaeology, and magic.
And that brings me to Eureka, where I must admit I was 100% wrong.
I recently started watching Eureka via Netflix streaming and was able to marathon episodes from the pilot through the end of season 3.5. And I fell in love.
I love the multicultural cast — such a breath of fresh air! I love that there are smart, powerful women that apparently do not threaten the smart, powerful men. But most of all, I love the unabashed passion for science and technology evident in every episode.
Even when an experiment Goes Horribly Wrong (as it does almost every episode), the show doesn’t take that as an excuse to bash science or to claim “we need to stop playing God.” Scientific advancement requires risk, and every citizen in Eureka seems happy to take it.
Aside from the glorious pro-science and technology aspect, there’s a vibrant sense of wonder that I’m always looking for but so rarely find. Shows today are dark, dark, dark. Serial killers, zombie apocalypses, hospitals, violent crimes… those are the things I generally watch TV to escape from, not to revel in. (I have not yet needed to escape a zombie apocalypse, but it’s only a matter of time.) Not that those shows are bad — it’s just that I don’t always want to watch them.
Eureka gives me drama, but wrapped in more hopefulness and joy. It’s a town full of scientists and makers and thinkers and doers. It’s the closest thing to a utopia that I’ve ever seen on TV, and I am most definitely a fan.
I'm a Eureka lover as well (and you can get recent eps on Hulu), but I do wish they'd explore the *consequences* of their technology a little bit more on occasion.
Well, they are fairly irresponsible about creating world-ending technology, so I'm not sure if they could realistically explore consequences and keep the show light. But yes, your point is well taken. :-D
That and… Wait, have you kept up with the recent season where they're playing with alternate universes?
I saw a few out of order before I went back and watched everything from the start. Now I have to figure out where I can see all of season 4 so I can begin watching in real-time.
Okay, so you've at least gotten that they've managed to get themselves stuck in an alternate universe, where their alternate "thems" had a very different career path. It bugs me that none of these compassionate, smart, caring people have wondered what happened to the "thems" yet.
This is my only real complaint about the current season so far, and I love watching the show, but this niggle always gets me. (Maybe it's because I'm sensing a spec script opportunity. Hm…)
I'm planning on streaming this series when I become a couch potato in mid-december. I've caught bits and pieces and I've loved what I've seen, but it's hard to follow if you haven't started from the beginning. I'm thrilled that I can stream them! Thanks for the tip.
I've got some other recommendations, if you need 'em. One of my friends just told me to stream "Slings and Arrows," which is about a Shakespeare troupe, apparently. I thought of you immediately!