Warehouse 13 - TV Fanatic

Warehouse 13 Review: It's a Wonderful Warehouse

snickrz@gmail.com (Nick McHatton) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST

Thank Santa Warehouse 13 is so damn awesome all the time, because otherwise it would almost feel like we’re getting Scrooged out of finding out the fate of the Warehouse after the fantastic season finale.

However, I can't (and shouldn't) judge this installment based on that because it simply doesn't exist in that timeline.

"The Greatest Gift" encapsulates everything that makes Warehouse 13 one of the best shows on cable right now, and it doesn’t have a lot to do with artifacts. Rather, it’s all because of the actors and the chemistry they have with one another, combined with the life they bring to the superb writing.

This stand-alone really offered up something special: it brought a lot of what fans love about the series to the table, while serving as a great launching pad to any new viewers. How did it do this? Easy, we were reintroduced to everyone. With Pete now in this alternate universe - thanks to the upholstery brush - we got to see our merry band of agents worm their way back into the Warehouse.

The greatest gift of Warehouse 13 really is this family dynamic that’s been established, and I loved watching Myka fall into that easy rhythm with Pete once again, complete with punching. Artie and Claudia, meanwhile, quickly fell into place with their one-line zingers and general affection for each other. All of this was done without some of the crazy silliness that occasionally supersedes some of the more dramatic moments, and I hope that’s something that the writers will think about bringing over to the serialized plots next season.

Not that I want the comedy to suffer. Because I love the comedy.

I kind of wish Macpherson wasn’t the villain this week, because let’s face it, H.G. would have done it better. Although, then again, if H.G. was the villain things might not have such a happy ending. So maybe it's better this way after all.

Overall, this episode was much improved from last season’s holiday episode (that also existed in a galaxy far, far away). In fact, “The Greatest Gift” will probably end up making it near the top of my list as one of my all-time favorite Warehouse episodes. It was that good.

Other thoughts:

Artifact count: 9. Did I miss any?
I want to work razzle and dazzle back into my everyday vocabulary.
The scene with the four of them in those storage lockers was hilarious.
How long will Mrs. Frederick keep? At least bronze doesn't rust.
Pete, I think the doors labeled with death overrides the need for a push or pull label.
And the winners for most incompetent agents go to Macpherson's team. When you lose to a candy bowl and storage lockers it's time to turn in your badge.

Warehouse 13 Season Finale Review: Who Died?

snickrz@gmail.com (Nick McHatton) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:13:57 EST

Oh my God.

That's what I uttered as the bodies and plot twists kept piling up during “Emily Lake” and "Stand." I’m almost at a loss of where to begin because I’m still trying to process all of it.

I’m really left wondering about Steve and where he lands in all this now that he’s supposedly dead because both Claudia and Artie seem to have some sort of plan to bring him back. I’m just wary of the repercussions and what that means for everyone involved seeing as it’s a very big and game changing thing to do on Warehouse 13, bringing someone back from the beyond.

What are the potential consequences for using an artifact in that manner?

Continuing on with Steve, I knew something terribly wrong was about to happen when Claudia revealed his true allegiances, Placebo’s Running Up That Hill doesn’t play during happy times (I'm looking at you, Season Four premiere of The OC!).

My heart was breaking watching Pete discover Steve’s corpse and immediately recoiling back, but I wasn’t able to hold back my tears watching Claudia’s look of terror and remorse after losing someone so close to her. The entire scene was emotionally draining but it was so well done, my hat is off to the cast and crew for such an amazing scene.

Yet, even after all of this, I’m still not entirely pleased at how Sykes turned out. There was nothing really likable or hateable about him, he was simply a guy who lost an artifact that corrupted him and he wanted it back. Yes, his plans were ruthless, he destroyed the Warehouse, but he didn’t have long monologues or a short fuse or even an eye patch. In essence, there was nothing to him.

That isn’t entirely truthful. Sykes did do one thing for me: thanks to him I finally warmed up to H.G. and her redemption. She sacrificed herself to save Pete, Myka, and Artie – although why she didn’t just put the barrier around the nuke I’ll never know. At least now if that spinoff ever gets off the ground I won’t have such hatred for her.

Speaking of the Warehouse being destroyed, I only have one thing to say: awesome!!! Although what does that mean for Mrs. Frederick’s rather disgusting, shriveled up death? Oh, that’s right, because four dead bodies weren’t enough, Mrs. Frederick died with the Warehouse.

Warehouse 13 certainly didn’t lack commitment issues for this finale. Maybe someone can bronze me so the wait for season four won’t feel so long.

Other thoughts:

Nanites – Does anyone else think of Jake 2.0 after hearing that? Rest in peace UPN!
I rather enjoyed badass Claudia, especially that stare down with Mrs. Frederick.
I should start keeping track of how many artifacts are used in an episode/season, it’s gotten quite crazy at times.
Death by a chess game, isn’t that how Skynet is created? Or is that the red herring?
Tesla rifles should be mandatory.

Warehouse 13 Review: Zombies! Sort Of!

snickrz@gmail.com (Nick McHatton) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:59:10 EST

The Walking Dead paid a visit to Warehouse 13 this week.

Sadly, while there was plenty of flesh eating and zombie jokes to go around, "Insatiable" served up a rather bland episode in terms of mythology. Actually, screw that, the case was pretty bland, too.

The redeemable qualities were, to be honest, few and far between, while some character actions simply didn't make sense.

The plot twist about the “zombie” bites being completely harmless may have been interesting to some, along with the fact that tip jar on the taco truck made the tippers flesh craving mad... the rest of the case felt too much like a "me too!" scenario in regards to zombies (and, to a lesser extent, vampires) that are making the rounds across TV and film.

Which would be fine had something happened to make it enjoyable. But other than Artie’s slightly awkward and mostly touching interaction with that little boy, as well as Pete and Myka’s promise of putting an end to one another if things got out of hand, there was very little of value. It was mostly just filler.

Still, there were plenty of Claudia one-liners (this junkie got a good fix) served. On top of that, Claudia’s story was the highlight of “Insatiable,” as she was struggling to come to terms with her slowly dissolving friendship with Steve and her apparent mark for death.

It was touching to watch her continually pursue Steve, even though Mrs. Frederick burned him. My name is Steve Jinks. I used to be a Warehouse agent until... sorry wrong show, but that would be kinda cool, right? Anyways, Claudia’s inability to let go of her BFFE was wonderful.

For far too long Claudia has been forced to be the adult among childish adults. Now, we get to watch some of that childhood she lost come back to the surface.

As for Steve, I wasn’t sure what to think about his minor role. Mostly because I’m still questioning what his endgame is. Does he want more information about Marcus and his employer? Does he want to become a mole? Maybe use his human lie detector ability on a bad guy? Seriously, why isn't he using his lie detector abilities on these bad guys? It would save a lot of us from so much guesswork.

However it ends up playing out, I’m looking forward to his storyline the most. I'm also looking forward to the return of a far more entertaining Warehouse 13.

Warehouse 13 Summer Finale Promo: Zombies!

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:46:24 EST

Warehouse 13 wraps up its summer season with an episode only this show could pull off:

It focuses on a jar, a taco truck and a fortune-telling machine. Oh, and zombies.

Look for Claudia to receive some bad news on the installment titled "Insatiable," while Marcus Diamond offers a proposition to Steve Jinks. Will he take it? What is it? Check out the official Syfy trailer below.

Insatiable Promo

UPDATE: Our mistake. This was NOT the summer finale.

Warehouse 13 Review: "Shadows"

snickrz@gmail.com (Nick McHatton) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:19:46 EST

"Shadows" didn’t pack the emotional punch of “40th floor” and, while it would be hard to continue that breakneck pace, the dropoff to here happened a little too quickly... which is not to say there wasn’t a payoff for what happened before.

I’ve just come to expect more from Warehouse 13.

After finding out that Jane was Pete’s mother, it was a bit of a letdown to not see and learn more of her in the flashback. Sure, it was nice and emotional to learn why she chose to be a Warehouse Agent/Regent, but there was a definite disconnect between the writing and the scene. It could have been due a different actor playing a younger version of Mulgrew’s character.

More than anything, though, I blame young Pete and Jane. We know the two of them grew increasingly distant after his father’s death and we know everyone Pete has cared for in the past has left him. Still, didn't this disconnect happen too suddenly? Jane does not seem like the type of mother, Warehouse Agent or not, saver of the world or not, to pull away so quickly.

Thankfully, some of those concerns were allayed watching Jane tear up when Pete’s father told him why they do what they do. The same goes for seeing Jane tell Pete how important he is to her. I don’t agree with how everything was portrayed in the past, but that small moment between the two of them was beautiful (and funny, in typical Warehouse fashion).

The Artifact of the Week didn’t have any overlap with the mythology, yet it was a fun romp with just the women of the show. Plus, Claudia one-liners are a drug for me, and there was plenty of them here. Most of all, we were treated to insight on Claudia. She had finally found a true friend in her own age group with Steve and he was fired, something she was against and was willing to argue with Artie over.

Speaking of Steve, it looks like all roads are pointing towards him. Claudia wants him back and our newly revealed bad guy, Walt, also wants him because he’s vulnerable. When Walt told Markus to find a way to get to him, I couldn't help but think: will Steve’s sexuality come into play here?

Warehouse 13 Episode Teaser: Mommy Issues

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:54:31 EST

Warehouse 13 may have taken a week off for Labor Day, but Pete and his mother didn't fix any of their issues in that time. Look for these two to try and figure things out on Monday's "Shadows."

Elsewhere, the team investigates the instance of a woman who can disintegrate anyone who angers her. That definitely sounds like something that should be investigated, doesn't it? Check out the official Syfy trailer for the episode now.

Shadows Promo

Warehouse 13 Review: So Many Questions...

snickrz@gmail.com (Nick McHatton) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:56:54 EST

Simply put, "The 40th Floor" was one of the finest episodes Warehouse 13 has ever produced.

Just when it looked like the installment was done lobbing bombshells, we were faced with another one. This conclusion could easily have been mistaken for a season finale.

But let's back up I have so many questions:

Why are the Regents necessary to protect the Warehouses? What happens if the cuffs Jane received happened to be damaged or destroyed? Obviously, the cuffs are needed as a last line of defense because Marcus, whoever he is and whatever he’s doing, has his own artifacts to wage his war with the Warehouses. But what do they do?

What happens to Steve now? If Myka can be used as a past example, leaving the Warehouse doesn’t exactly stick. Not to mention Jane said Warehouse personnel are destined to serve, but my worry wasn’t when or how Steve comes back. It was this: where will his be head be? Steve is a by-the-book, follow-orders type of person.

He went against those principals to uphold an even greater one here: no torture. Where can he go now? Will he still be by the book or will he veer closer to Claudia’s side and insubordinate like it’s going out of style?

Like I said, so many questions.

The biggest bombshell was easily Myka finding out that Jane is Pete’s mother. I certainly didn’t see that coming. In fact, it didn’t look like Pete saw it coming, either. What does that mean for Pete? Actually, what does that mean for everyone? Heading back to “Trials,” Pete mentioned after his dad died his mom stayed busy and he didn’t see her very much. Does this mean the Warehouse is a family business for the Latimers? It looks like it.

Is it next week yet?

Warehouse 13 Promo: Speak, Stukowski!

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:31:31 EST

Warehouse 13 took us along on Myka's journey to redemption this week. Next Monday, meanwhile?

Viewers will watch as Stukowski is interrogated by agents after they discover she was using artifacts to kill regents. As a result, Pete and Claudia try to find Stukowski's partner before more are murdered.

Elsewhere, as previewed below, Steve is provoked into crossing the line...

The 40th Floor Promo

Warehouse 13 Review: "Past Imperfect"

snickrz@gmail.com (Nick McHatton) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:32:34 EST

In a lot of ways, Season 3 of Warehouse 13 has been about Myka, her journey back to being an agent and in her redemption. "Past Imperfect" was more about the latter.

Myka has a lot of weight on her shoulders. One of the main reasons she decided to take the job as a Warehouse agent was because of Sam’s death. Because of Sam, Myka erected walls and closed off her emotions. She became cautious and analytical.

For Myka, closure regarding Sam allows her to truly begin healing and moving forward in her personal and professional lives.

Although I honestly don’t care when (if ever) Pete and Myka get together. I’m 99% sure we’ll get something before this season is over. There have been too many hints and callbacks. Both Pete and Myka have gotten closure on their past loves, they’ve helped each other emotionally and there’s been plenty of try-too-hard friendship moments.

Elsewhere, Steven and Claudia were relegated to a rather small artifact hunt this week, but we did receive some crucial information that pushed the ongoing plot forward: Agent Stukowski was the one who attacked them and stole their artifact. It feels like the reveal was one episode late because Steve, for some reason, couldn’t tell she was lying last week.

I’m curious where things go from here for Stukowski and whoever she’s working for. Is it someone we’ve already met? There seems to be a lot more in terms of flashbacks this season and I have to wonder if that means something. Will Stukowski offer more redemption for HG?

Overall, “Past Imperfect” left me with a lot of questions and I can’t wait to see how they’re answered.

Two more thoughts:

Watching Artie interact with and mime a dog was hilarious. As was watching Claudia and her excessive drooling.
Is anyone else ready for Steve to join Pete and Myka for an A-Team mission rather than the B plot?

Eddie McClintock Dishes on Warehouse 13 Character, Artifacts and More

carissa@tvfanatic.com (Carissa Pavlica) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:20:57 EST

We're not done with our Comic-Con exclusives yet, folks. Say hello to Eddie McClintock, master storyteller!

At the aforementioned San Diego event last month, I sat across from the Warehouse 13 star for a round table discussion that delivered his take on the show, his favorite artifacts and what he believes the series has been remiss in sharing about his character, Pete.

Be sure to watch the following video all the whole way through because the yarn he spins at the end - featuring lookalikes David Boreanaz and Craig Sheffer - makes it all worthwhile.

Note: Congratulations to Warehouse 13 and Eddie for another great year and for their fourth season renewal! Be sure to come back weekly for reviews, news and more at TV Fanatic!

Eddie McClintock at Comic Con