Eureka

Eureka is never going to be remembered as a "classic" or "groundbreaking" SF show. It could, however, be remembered as one of the more charming and offbeat SF shows to come along in a while. It is a bit slippery to classify, but my best description of "Eureka" is kind of "Northern Exposure" for SF fans.

"Eureka" has thus far been family-friendly light adventure with its humor coming from the quirky nature of the brilliant scientist locals and the "fish out of water" experiences of new sheriff Jack Carter and his teenage daughter, Zoe.

Those tuning in to see traditional SF--where speculative fiction and profound "what if" moments rule the course of the show--will be disappointed. There won't be many serious examinations of the impact of new technologies here. The tech is secondary, actually tertiary. The odd characters are the focus of the show. Second to that is the weekly mystery. "How can the tech-ignorant sheriff learn to work with the ample supply of local geniuses to save the day?" Finally, comes the tech. And when tech is dealt with, it reminds me of vintage Geordi la Forge technobabble. I swear that someone was going to "reverse the flow of the graviton emitters." So, "Eureka" is not great SF. Nor is it great drama. Nor is it side-splitting comedy. It is instead an amiable and lightweight mix of the three. Eureka is not at all unlike "Northern Exposure's" Cicely, Alaska. It is a very pleasant place to visit once a week.

As a science-fiction fan, long time lover of B-grade fun and a playwright who loves the idea of a small town with big secrets -- this is right up my alley. The characters either make or break a show like this, and in this case, the actors and their characters bring the entire story up. For example, the kid math-savant, a tough female DOD agent, Henry the quasi-mechanic, the tough deputy Lupo and an all-American US Marshall, who is the normal guy and now the Sheriff of Eureka. There are others of course and I am hoping the show hangs on long enough to develop a following. The setting is perfect. The writer's foreshadowing worked like a charm. Many things I assume will be happening. As I was watching, I kept saying, where's the villain?? And at the end of the first episode, a sweet villain was revealed, and in such a way -- you had to go --- Whoa -- very nice. The actor playing Jack Carter was perfectly chosen to act as us in this strange little story. Briefly, a small town hosts the world's most shining minds as they experiment and tinker with science and it's up to the normal people to keep the brains on the right path. I am so looking forward to the next installment. My hats off to the creative team -- this is just what I needed. Let's all hope we don't lose this show in the most important early stages. Ratings are King and just because it's good doesn't mean it will last. So fan boys gravitate to this show on Tuesdays on the best channel on the planet -- sci-fi!!

Addition: Just saw the sixth episode. This is a show that keeps topping itself, introducing new and deeper sub-plots and literally has a dream cast. You will fall in love with Eureka.

Here we are at the third season and it has only gotten better and better. This season everything's been kicked up a notch, I cannot believe the storyline of Nathan. I stand in awe of the writers, and as always one of the best TV casts in history.

Fourth Season opener: While most shows hit a slump in their 4th outing, Eureka raises the bar. The time-traveling theme reveals just how inspiring the creators, actors, crew and writers can be. I am so impressed. You will be too.

It's been several years since 'Eureka' ended, and I unfortunately never got into it until after it was cancelled. I still miss this show and periodically rewatch all its seasons.

The premise leaves the door open for countless storytelling possibilities as a very average but experienced law enforcement officer is named sheriff of a town full of scientific geniuses. Many episodes follow a familiar formula as one or more residents' experiments go awry or unexpectedly interact, and Sheriff Carter, tasked with the town's safety, has to save the day. Even though the narrative thrust is often the same, the writing is sharp enough that it never gets old.

The episodic nature of 'Eureka' is woven into ongoing and developing character arcs and relationships, with larger plotlines slowly unfolding throughout the seasons, too. To that end, the writers had no qualms about forcing big changes on their characters that significantly altered who they were, if not the direction of the show as a whole. Plenty of series throw curveballs to add drama, but it feels to me like the broad narrative twists in 'Eureka' exceed the scope of what we would usually expect in a series that's as overall lighthearted as this. Kudos!

It's worth noting that those twists also lend themselves to the one specific critique of the series that comes to mind. As events force changes on the characters, they also produce tonal shifts for 'Eureka.' This starts to most notably manifest in the latter half of the fourth season, when it becomes a bit less episodic, and is very telling as the fifth and final season begins. The show takes a decidedly darker, more serious turn in its last thirteen episodes that's a bit jarring, introducing definite antagonists. That darker bent culminates in the two linked episodes, "Mirror, mirror" and "Double take," that precede the series finale, and which are essentially sci-fi horror. It's sci-fi horror with 'Eureka's' characteristic humor peppered on top, certainly, and it's exceptionally well-written. Yet the change of pace is very harsh and abrupt, making those two duly unsettling episodes a little difficult to watch just for that fact alone.

All the same, there's something to be said for the show's producers that they were bold enough to try such starkly different ideas in a program like this. And again, otherwise, I can't think of particular flaws to mention. Of course the pilot is a little rough around the edges, and 'Eureka' takes some time to really find its feet - but what show doesn't?

The cast is superb, helmed by Colin Ferguson as Sheriff Jack Carter. He gives our chief protagonist a very goofy yet "down to earth" personality and truly serves as the anchor of the show. Ferguson's role is given to a great deal of physical comedy as Carter finds himself in a variety of awkward positions to safeguard his town. Other noteworthy regular cast members include Joe Morton as Henry, Jack's best friend and Eureka's super-scientist mechanic; Erica Cerra as Jo, the sheriff's deputy; Jordan Hinson as Zoe, Jack's daughter; Neil Grayston as accident-prone supergenius Fargo; and Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Dr. Allison Blake, a major figure in the town and Jack's love interest. Recurring cast include the likes of Matt Frewer and James Callis, and Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton also become regulars in later seasons.

The emphasis in the writing is definitely on fun and comedy, but that's not to say that there isn't plenty of drama and suspense from one impending crisis to another, or instances both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Putting aside the broader tonal shifts, the writers move adeptly from one mood to another within episodes, making every moment feel perfectly natural as they play out. The setting gives us characters that make Einstein seem a very ordinary person, but viewers don't have to join that intellectual level to watch; where scientific concepts are injected into the screenplay, they are generalized enough, or explained well enough, to appeal to a general audience.

All told I'd be hard-pressed not to recommend 'Eureka' to just about anyone. It's fun, it's funny, and it's silly, but it also presents strong narrative writing that keeps us engaged from start to finish. It's a shame that the show was cancelled after only 5 seasons, but 'Eureka' is such a joy to watch that we have to be glad that we got that many.

You cant really go wrong with this one. Great for a wide range of age groups. Just don't take it to seriously or you will be missing the point of the show. Mainly because Eureka is full of the most genious idiots ever. Highly recommended tv.

LOL. I know. The title of this post is too cliché, but I couldn't resist. In any case, I found the pilot of "Eureka" to be totally refreshing. The makers of the show took issues and aspects of long standing science fiction, added a new twist and location, and a ton of humour, creating in the process a fun new show that both amuses and mystifies.

Personally, I enjoyed seeing science fiction elements that have been proved interesting, stimulating, and well liked in the past. Throughout it all, while not too much language was used that I consider far above my own understanding, it still gave me the impression of "Hmmm... They know what they are talking about. Maybe some of this really is possible." I love that about television shows.

Leaving behind the sci fi subject matter, I was also impressed with the acting within and writing of the show. The pilot showed a serious side, with veins of humour throughout. The acting showed great compatibility and believability of the characters. I found myself liking some characters and getting annoyed at others. I love being drawn into a show like that.

Although some things can be considered predictable, and indeed I guessed a number of things before they happened or were revealed, I was still held in suspense and laughing from beginning to end. I can't wait to see more, and I totally recommend this show to everyone I come across. I think you all will enjoy it just as much as I did.