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.
