Eureka Episode 4x18 Review

Episode Title: This One Time at Space Camp...
Episode Rating: B+
Overall Season Rating: B

Firstly, this will be a very brief review. I've been feeling pretty under the weather lately, and it's tough to write review with a fever. Not complaining, I'll be fine in a couple days, but priorities people.

The last review I wrote for Eureka was positive, but I had a few issues with the way the relationships were being handled. It seemed like every week each of the several couples would get into a fight, and during the course of the episode would patch things up and be hugging by the end. I like the characters and wasn't against seeing them get together, but I long for the days when something crazy would happen and there wasn't all this shipper stuff.

Alphas 1x06 Review

Episode Title: Bill and Gary's Excellent Adventure
Overall Season Rating: B+
Episode Rating: C+

The title of this episode literally caused me to laugh out loud and say something to the effect of "Genius". Sadly, that was the only part of this episode that I really liked at all. This review will be pretty short since I didn't like the episode much, and honestly even if I did, I don't know what I would say about it. No mention of Red Flag, no new Alpha, and the new information we got about the characters wasn't all that interesting.

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.

Alphas 1x05 Review

Episode Title: Never Let Me Go
Overall Season Rating: A-
Episode Rating: A-

This week's episode is about love and loss. I think Alphas' greatest strength is that they connect enhanced human powers to emotions better than most shows, or even comic books have done. Sometimes I do get a little tired of all the emo stuff, but it is done well. Rachel has issues with her parents, Hicks has confidence issues, Gary can be a little selfish, and Nina has a past that gives her issues. In my opinion, this makes the show seem more real, which is a good thing but also can hurt it in the future if they keep focusing on it.

This week, we meet an Alpha who has the power to release a chemical called Oxytocin. This is what makes us feel very close attachments to people, and feel "love". The sudden removal of it is also what causes the very real physical pain we feel when we lose someone we love. I checked on Wikipedia and found that not only are they pretty much dead right in the show, the article also says that it makes 100% sense that she would gain this power, or at least become aware of it when Chris was born. During and after childbirth women have larger amounts of this chemical.

Eureka Episode 4x15 Review

Episode Title: Omega Girls
Overall Season Rating: B+
Episode Rating: B+

This week we get a conclusion to the Allison story. I want to apologize for my huge error last week. Instead of identifying the Beverly at the end, I said it was Allison. While I think it would have been very cool for the show to include replicants, that was not the case AT ALL. This was pointed out in the comments section. Please do feel free to comment on anything, especially if I'm dead wrong about something.

The main part of this episode was about Beverly trying to steal all of Global Dynamics' secrets. So there is no confusion, I'm going to refer to her as Beverly, even when she's in Allison's body. I loved how Jack figured it out pretty much right away. One conversation and he's like "something ain't right". The show always has done a great job of showing us just how good of a cop Jack really is. He may not be as smart as everyone else, but his instincts are perfect. They quickly identify that Beverly had lied about Allison being in a car accident, and then turn to Zane for help.

Alphas 1x04 Review

Episode Title: Rosetta
Overall Season Rating: A-
Episode Rating: A-

This week on Alphas we get to explore Gary a lot more. Up until now he's mainly been comic relief. He listens to his signals, tells them what he knows and makes a joke about being annoying. This episode though he finally finds someone like him. I love how it forces him to realize that he can take care of himself, and that he wants to be more independent. I like his character a lot. He complains, but in a different way than the others. He clearly has a mental disorder to go along with his power, where as the others are just mentally unstable at times. At the end of the episode we see a major change in the way he sees himself, and Dr. Rosen. I really hope they build on this, and keep allowing him to expand his role.

The villains this week brings back Red Flag. The evil Alpha organization that tried to kill Rosen in the premiere. We learn a lot more about them, and the show smartly shows us that they aren't just crazy killers. They have something they stand for, and maybe they have a right to be a little upset. They go too far of course, but even Rosen can see their point of view by the end. Got to love a show that shows both point of views, and accepts that the villains' cause isn't one dimensional.

Read on for the episode recap.

Eureka Episode 4x14 Review

Episode Title: Up in the Air
Overall Season Rating: B+
Episode Rating B+

This week's episode gives us some more information about what's going on with Allison, and Astreaus Misson. We also get more Wil Wheaton, and more Felicia Day!  It's so great that the show took these guest roles and really made them more important, and long lasting. I'm loving Felicia Day's Holly. I like to think of her as a brilliant Phoebe Buffet. As for Wil Wheaton's Dr. Parish, well he's just the right kind of nemesis for Fargo. This also was a hilarious Jack episode. He's always great, but I think I love him the most when he sort of snaps. I'm actually surprised it doesn't happen much more often.

The tech in this episode just makes me smile. We get Anti-Matter, and the Higgs Field! Their explanation of the Higgs Field was wonderful, and I think most quantum physicists would be pleased. Check it all out in the episode recap

Alphas 1x03 Review

Episode Title: Anger Management
Overall Season Rating: A-
Episode Rating: A-

Alphas is turning out to be a pretty heavy show. So far all three episodes have dealt with much more serious issues than I imagined. These are not fun adventures they go on, these are dangerous missions. Along with the powers, the show also deals with the psyche of the characters. We get deep exploration of the good guys, and the bad. Last week we had a man who had been traumatized by his treatment at the hospital where Rosen sends most of the Alphas he meets. This week, we meet a kid who has to deal with anger and violence following him where ever he goes. He too it seems had a very traumatic past.

I hope the show doesn't shy away from this aspect in later episodes. I think it's a strength, and sets it apart from the many shows about people with powers that have come and gone in recent years. These are not super heroes, or people altered by something crazy. This is a group of regular, and troubled people who have special abilities. I like that so far, none of the abilities are really out of this world. They all pretty much just have enhanced human skills. That makes it very real, and allows us to understand their struggle.

I want to apologize for there being no review last week.

Read on for the episode recap

Eureka Episode 4x13 Review

Episode Title: Glimpse
Overall Season Rating: B+
Episode Rating: B+

This week, we got a look at the real beginning of the arc of the second half of the season. The Astraeus Mission to Titan is both very cool, and sad. It's cool because well, a manned mission to Titan is friggin awesome, but it's also sad because in reality we are no where even close to something like this. The technology in Eureka always has been crazy, and super advanced, but usually it's something fun. The tech used in this episode for example are a pair of super contact lenses that give you a computer read out of security risks. Very cool, but that's Eureka. I know a space mission to Titan is science fiction, and belongs in a show like this, but I find it sad that in reality it many not happen for many decades.

We also get more development with Allison. Last week we saw her kidnapped, and changed in some way. We don't really get more information on that, but it's clear this also is a major issue this season. The relationships on the show also are given a lot of screen time, and I am starting to get a little sick of them. That may sound bad, but every week it's the same story with Jo and Zane. The time line reboot appears to be an annoying way to go back to the beginning with the two, and go through this all again. Finally, we get two amazing new people this week. One of them has to be one of the greatest cameos in TV history. I'll get to that a little later though.

Read on for the episode recap.

Eureka Episode 4x12 Review

Episode Title: Reprise
Overall Season Rating: B+
Episode Rating: B+

Another good episode of Eureka. This week we're back to the standard "something is wrong in Eureka, and something minor and unintended is the cause. The problem this week was clever, and a lot of fun as usual. There also was a random side story with Allison that seemed completely out of nowhere for most of the episode. If you're a fan of music, specifically 80's music I think you will enjoy this episode too. There really wasn't anything I didn't like, but I think some of the story lines of the episode either dragged, or never really made sense.

All in all another fun episode of Eureka. Fargo acting silly, Jo acting crazy, and Jack acting confused. Oh, and I still miss the opening credits!!  Read on for the episode recap.

Alphas Series Premiere Review

Episode: 1x01 Pilot
Overall Season Rating: A-
Episode Rating: A-

Alphas is a nice new take on a very old theme. Regular people with amazing abilities. What's the difference between this and Heroes, or X-Men, or No Ordinary Family? Well that's simple, there's no "Origin Story". As the show begins they have their powers, are familiar with them, and even are on a team. Because of this, we don't have one a cliche'd "looks what I can do!!!!" scenes. There's no "I can't tell anyone, I'm a freak!" scenes either. This is refreshing, and allows the pilot episode to focus, not on them getting their powers, but on what they do with them.

I'll talk about the powers and the characters more in the spoiler section, but know that I like them a lot. There are some aspects of a couple of the characters that bother me, but I'm thinking those will be fleeting. What I mean by that is, certain characters may have said for behaved a certain way so we learn more about them a little faster. Again, more in the spoiler section. The plot of the episode perfectly sets up the rest of the series. It appears this show will be somewhat serialized, but also be a procedural crime show in the way Fringe is. Each week there will be a new case for them, and it probably will all connect to the central baddie of the series. Another fascinating thing about the show is that their powers don't always work. Sometimes they need a trigger; either emotional, or physical.  

Like I do for all premieres, I will simply list what I liked, and what I didn't like rather than a full on episode recap. For those wondering why I do the recaps, this is The Flashbacks Podcast Blog after all and recaps were our trademark. It's actually pretty non-spoilery below the fold this time.

Eureka Season 4.5 Premiere Review

Episode: 4x11 Liftoff
Overall Season Rating: A-
Episode Rating: A-

Since I didn't do reviews for the first half of the season, the Overall Rating will refer only to the 2nd half.

Eureka has been a favorite of mine since it started several years ago. I think it perfectly blends real science, and pure fun better than any show of its kind. Tonight's episode dealt mainly with space travel, and since I'm a space nerd I friggin loved it. It's hard to deny that they timed this episode to coincide with the final launch of the Space Shuttle program, but it might just be a huge coincidence. This episode also shows why I love the characters, and relationships on the show. Both always have been portrayed very realistically, even if their surroundings are anything but.

If I had to choose, I would say that Fargo is my favorite character, and I'm sure I'm not alone on that. He's brilliant, hilarious, and clearly is as much of a geek as all the fans. I originally didn't like that he became Head of G.D. last season because I thought it would take away from his antics. I was sooo wrong. The position has not only improved the character, but he gets much more important roles in the show. Plus, since he's their boss they don't yell at him for the silly things he does. The relationships were on full display in this episode, and included a brilliant fake out.

There were things I didn't like, but since it's a TV show I will only mention them in passing a little later. Read more in the spoiler section.