The Best Show You're Not Watching
Recently I've found a new show on SyFy (formerly known as the SciFi Channel). Granted, I'm not sure that anyone actually watches SyFy, except for Ghost Hunters and the old Twilight Zone re-runs...And SyFy doesn't have a sterling rep for respecting fan loyalty to its shows (One word: Farscape. Cancelled at the height of its popularity. Ouch. Still ouch...). But Warehouse 13 is definitely a reason to hang up those hang-ups and buckle in for a good time.
It's about a secret goverment agency that investigates "artifacts". These sometimes ancient artifacts are paranormal in origin and somehow show up in the 21st century and wreak all kinds of havoc. Newly-recruited Agents Pete Lattimer and Myka Bering are responsible for capturing said artifacts and bringing them back to Warehouse 13, where they are neutralized, sequestered, in order to prevent further harm from being done, and studied, as to what magical, mystical qualities they possess and what dangers those qualities pose to humans.
Pete and Myka, former Secret Service Agents having no training whatsoever in the supernatural, rely on warehouse archivist Artie Nielsen for information as to what they're dealing with--and he doesn't always have all of the answers, so most of the time, they're flying blind. Artie is the brain, located at Warehouse Central, and Pete and Myka are the right and left arms, reaching out anywhere need be. Having been thrown together for this assignment, the two get along like the proverbial oil and water, Pete being the loosey-goosey agent with a tendency towards premonitions and Myka being a strong-willed, rational-thinking, type-A kind of gal.
Eddie McClintock plays Pete with a very disarming, "aw shucks" kind of charm, always throwing out quips. Joanne Kelly gives the beautiful Myka a hard, crusty shell that is a pleasure to watch. The ever-stupendous Saul Rubinek plays Artie, somewhat cantankerous and distracted, but very protective of those he's trying to save, even though he's isolated from the world in the warehouse. It's fantastic to see him get such a juicy regular role in a series, finally.
With a nod towards steampunk, the two-way audio-visual radios used to communicate (the Farnsworths) and the stun gun (the Tesla) used to subdue, look as though they were built in the early 20th century, but work with about as much reliability as anything current, as good or bad as that may be. The juxtaposition of the historical objects and modern technological capabilities is fascinating. The Farnsworth (named after Philo Farnsworth, known for inventing the first all-electric television system) would have been the iPhone of its day (you know, had it been a real invention). It makes you realize that what was once the height of technological innovation at any given time always turns into relics when the future arrives.
All-in-all, it's a delight of a show: eye candy (all those glow-y, crackl-y special effects for magic goings-on), humor, the mechanics of relationships as well as machines, good story lines...and cookies!
It's about a secret goverment agency that investigates "artifacts". These sometimes ancient artifacts are paranormal in origin and somehow show up in the 21st century and wreak all kinds of havoc. Newly-recruited Agents Pete Lattimer and Myka Bering are responsible for capturing said artifacts and bringing them back to Warehouse 13, where they are neutralized, sequestered, in order to prevent further harm from being done, and studied, as to what magical, mystical qualities they possess and what dangers those qualities pose to humans.
Pete and Myka, former Secret Service Agents having no training whatsoever in the supernatural, rely on warehouse archivist Artie Nielsen for information as to what they're dealing with--and he doesn't always have all of the answers, so most of the time, they're flying blind. Artie is the brain, located at Warehouse Central, and Pete and Myka are the right and left arms, reaching out anywhere need be. Having been thrown together for this assignment, the two get along like the proverbial oil and water, Pete being the loosey-goosey agent with a tendency towards premonitions and Myka being a strong-willed, rational-thinking, type-A kind of gal.
Eddie McClintock plays Pete with a very disarming, "aw shucks" kind of charm, always throwing out quips. Joanne Kelly gives the beautiful Myka a hard, crusty shell that is a pleasure to watch. The ever-stupendous Saul Rubinek plays Artie, somewhat cantankerous and distracted, but very protective of those he's trying to save, even though he's isolated from the world in the warehouse. It's fantastic to see him get such a juicy regular role in a series, finally.
With a nod towards steampunk, the two-way audio-visual radios used to communicate (the Farnsworths) and the stun gun (the Tesla) used to subdue, look as though they were built in the early 20th century, but work with about as much reliability as anything current, as good or bad as that may be. The juxtaposition of the historical objects and modern technological capabilities is fascinating. The Farnsworth (named after Philo Farnsworth, known for inventing the first all-electric television system) would have been the iPhone of its day (you know, had it been a real invention). It makes you realize that what was once the height of technological innovation at any given time always turns into relics when the future arrives.
All-in-all, it's a delight of a show: eye candy (all those glow-y, crackl-y special effects for magic goings-on), humor, the mechanics of relationships as well as machines, good story lines...and cookies!
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