Eureka Episode 4x16 Review

Episode Title: Of Mites and Men
Overall Season Rating: B+
Episode Rating: B

Last week we took a break from the Astraeus mission and had an episode all about Beverly and her evil minions trying to steal information from G.D. This week, we are back to the regular craziness of Eureka, but I also think they are moving away from what made the show so much fun in previous seasons. I love how the show is essentially a police procedural that never really seems like a police procedural. Whether that's because every week we are dealing with a new insane problem, or because there never is really any investigating we'll never know. I think we can all agree though that it works very well, and with the news that the show will only have one more season I was feeling somewhat nostalgic during this episode.

The guest stars were the highlight of the episode this week, with both Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day seeming like they've been there the whole time. A couple weeks ago I said that Holly reminds me of a brilliant Phoebe Buffet, and I stick by that. She loves what she does, and remains cheerful even when she has to go to the bathroom, but has to hold it for hours. Dr. Parish on the other hand is indeed the perfect nemesis for Fargo in that he's a genius, but is completely selfish and clearly hates everyone at G.D. With the exception of Holly of course.

Part of me wishes the vast majority of the episode would have been based in the isolation chamber rather than the huge multitude of stories that are now happening on Eureka simultaneously. I think they are doing a good job, but enough is enough. There are so many stories in fact that the last 5-7 minutes of each episode now has to be used to close out each story for the episode. This gives us less time with each character, causing their conclusions to be simplified, and in some cases dumbed down.

I understand that the Henry/Grace story is interesting, but we don't need so many scenes during the course of several episodes to tell us the same thing over and over. I feel the same way with the Jo/Zane story. Every week a new wrench is thrown into their relationships, and every week it's cleared up by the end. The latter now has to contend with Zoey being home and she wasn't even mentioned this week. There also are relationship issues with Jack and Allison, and with the new Fargo/Holly/Parish love triangle there is even more relationship story to be told.

Don't get me wrong, I love all these characters so I don't really have problems exploring their relationships with each other. What I have a problem with is having all of that take place in one episode week after week. The Mites, which in seasons past would have been the main focus and cause of all the problems, was more of a place holder this week. Almost like they had all the ideas with who was doing what, but they realized they needed a problem for Jack to deal with in his Sheriff position.

As I stated earlier, I would have much rather the episode took place almost exclusively in the isolation chamber. That would have been risky, as are all bottle episodes, but with Fargo, Parish, Holly, Jo and Zane in there I think it would be difficult to not have that be an amazing episode. I think it also would have been hilarious if when they finally got out they find out that Jack and others have been dealing with some craziness and they didn't even know. We would hear about the week's crazy science-gone-wrong plot second hand. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I like a change here and there.

In conclusion, I think this was another strong episode, but too many story lines and too many unchanging relationships are stating to bog down the show in my opinion.