Eureka

[Called A Town Called Eureka in the UK, for some reason.]

1. season 1. 2006
2. season 2. 2007
3. season 3a,b. 2008-9
4. season 4a,b. 2010-11
5. season 5. 2012

Small town. Big secret.

Federal Marshall Jack Carter stumbles on the town of Eureka, populated by genius scientists inventing crazy devices. After helping to solve the Pilot episode problem, he is “promoted” to town sheriff, solving the problem of the week.

This is in turns funny, quirky, affecting, and traumatic. The problem of the week is varied, interestingly technical, and not too techno-babbly (we get quantum this and tachyon that, but usually in “plausible” contexts). Although some of the characters are self-serving, and there is at least one (low level) conspiracy, it’s a pleasure to watch a series where no-one is stupid (which is different from being clueless, of course), and everyone is differently weird and accepted. It’s made by all the delicious little background details (like the road names, the cafe menu, the scene between the jock and the nerd in the school corridor, references to SF films). And I want to live in Eureka!

Rating: 3.5
[ unmissable | great stuff | worth watching | mind candy | waste of time | unfinishable ]

reviewed 11 February 2012

Same town. Bigger secret.

Not only a bigger secret – a darker secret. This short season has the quirkiness of the first season, but also has some much darker episodes, and an arc centred around The Artifact. The science manages mostly to stay in the semi-plausible technobabble region, but a couple of times descends perilously close to woo. Despite this minor caveat, the series is a joy to watch – and I still want to live in Eureka!

Rating: 3.5
[ unmissable | great stuff | worth watching | mind candy | waste of time | unfinishable ]

reviewed 2 April 2012

This season’s release is split in two: season 3.0 and 3.5. However, we watched them back to back, for continuity: I hate mid-season hiatuses (yes, I’m looking at you, Doctor Who).

More of the same hijinks with superscientists at loose in Eureka. Here the first half season revolved around a new boss at General Dynamics: corporate dragon Eva Thorne, who is hell-bent on making GD profitable. However, as ever all is not what it seems. The second half season reverts more to “problem of the week” style. The technobabble is getting a bit wilder, but since it is all the delicious details of the silly subplots that make this, that isn’t a problem. There are major shifts in relationships between characters (and Allison seems to have forgotten that she has a son), and some really affecting moments. It did feel at times as if the season was desperately trying, and failing, to introduce new main characters, though.

Given how many times GD has nearly destroyed the entire planet, I’m a little surprised they still manage to continue. But it’s fun while they do.

Rating: 3.5
[ unmissable | great stuff | worth watching | mind candy | waste of time | unfinishable ]

reviewed 20 October 2012

The equation has changed.

This season’s release is again split in two: season 4.0 and 4.5, and again, we watched them back to back.

The first half-season concerns an accidental trip back to 1947, and a changed timeline on return: Fargo is hated head of GD, Jo is head of GD security; Allison is head of GD medical; Henry is married to someone he barely knows; Carter is still Sheriff, but now Deputy Andy is his sidekick. They all have to adjust to their new roles without letting anyone know what happened. The second half-season is about preparation for a trip to Titan using the FTL drive. Hijinks and conspiracies and more accidental time travel ensue.

I was concerned that the “changing the timeline” (again!) meant the show had run out of ideas. Not so. Everything is still great Eureka stuff, with the mixture of absurd and dark episodes. I love the way even the obligatory “clips” episodes actually use the clips as a key part of the plot, not as “filler”. Lots of plotlines get resolved, and then … massive end of season cliffhanger!

Rating: 3.5
[ unmissable | great stuff | worth watching | mind candy | waste of time | unfinishable ]

reviewed 2 June 2013

The final season.

The fifth and final season is mainly about the after-effects of the ill-fated Astraeus mission, where the crew ended up somewhere much weirder than Titan. Once they get back home, there is a lot of adjusting to do. While all this is going on, getting quite fraught at times, there is also the usual “disaster of the week” story, managing to be as inventive and funny as ever.

So, a good finale to a good series. I’ve enjoyed living in Eureka for the last couple of years, and will miss its science-friendly lunacy.

Rating: 3.5
[ unmissable | great stuff | worth watching | mind candy | waste of time | unfinishable ]

reviewed 20 December 2013