Eureka

I'm about to watch the last episode but can't. It's too good to end. I need this show to continue to be able to survive this awful year. Thanks for existing.

Can we start a campaign for a Eureka movie?

Awesome story. Great script. Amazing characters. Epic.

I'm not a gamer and I am not a reality fan, but I am a big fan of real science fiction. This show actually allows you to think of the possibilities presenting interesting scientific "what ifs". However, it's great entertainment for various ages and IQs. I thought the characters were also introduced and developed quite nicely along with the story, something you don't see very often in many movies of this genre today, and so many of which, I can't get through the first half hour without feeling bored and changing the channel. This show will keep me coming back for more, if following episodes prove as interesting as this one. It does have a lot of promise. I like the way the main character brings the grounded "regular guy" comments and common sensibility to the show. Having worked around rocket scientists, they can send us into space, but you don't want them to drive your car. I agree with another reviewer, it does remind you of "American Gothic", because of the character development, sort of an "American Gothic" meets "Star Trek Next Generation". Hopefully, they will continue with this group of characters and not dilute it with a constant onslaught of new characters like "Farscape" - if you missed a few episodes, it was as though the entire cast changed. I have high hopes and will be easy to find on Tuesday night.

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.

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.

A delightful blend of humor and sci-fi, this is the kind of original programming SciFi channel is known for. Like the Stargate series and the late, lamented FarScape, the cast features a sardonic yet pragmatic hero with a little too much baggage, along with a cast of quirky geniuses, and a nefarious plot to steal top-secret military plans (are there any other kind?). The outstanding cast, featuring the wonderful Joe Morton and the under-appreciated Maury Chaikin, manages to bring energy and panache to what could have easily become formulaic. It's good to see Debra Farantino return to sci-fi as well (raise your hand if you miss "Earth 2"). The premise offers endless variations on a theme, and the only foreseeable problems are a stereotypically heavy-handed military antagonist and a preponderance of absent-minded professor types. If the show can steer clear of overexposing these characters, or give them a twist or two, then Eureka is an excellent addition to SciFi's increasingly vivid and original programming.