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- Nov 15, 2001
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- Real Name
- Neil Middlemiss
The Syfy Channel's Eureka has always been a science fiction warm spot on television; a likeable and light show with breezy seasons and playful episodes that doesn't forgo the science for the sake of the fiction. The playfulness of the shows premise – a town full of geniuses who often cause mayhem with their experiments and a regular guy Sheriff (as in average IQ) who may not grasp the complex scientific concepts but is a genius at common sense fixes - is underscored by a dramatic intelligence and thoughtful dialogue that allows the show to shift gears with perfect ease between serious and oddball. Combine that with uniformly great performances, intriguing plots and wonderful special effects and you get a great show.
Eureka Season 4.5
Studio: Universal Studios
Year: 2011
US Rating: Not Rated
Film Length: 7 Hours, 19 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Review Date: April 1, 2012
“This is Eureka. We solve the impossible every day”
The Show
4 / 5
It has been years since US Marshal Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) stumbled across the small town of Eureka and soon became Sherriff. The original premise has seen a major revamping after a time-jump to the past for the major characters – and a subsequent return to the present – found the world they now inhabit to be a slightly different timeline. Allison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) is no longer the head of Global Dynamics, her son is now a normal teenager, and Henry Deacon (Joe Mortan) is now married to Dr. Grace Monroe (Tembi Locke). This alternate timeline has become the norm and though some characters are still working through some kinks (Jo – played by Erica Cerra and Zane – played by Niall Matter for example), but that dramatic energizing has paid a few dividends and led to the addition of Felicia Day as Dr. Holly Marten as a love interest for the expanded role of Neil Grayston’s insecure Douglas Fargo.
Carter’s straight shooter sensibilities and humorous stiffness continue to drive much of the humor though he has made strides in navigating the mostly scientifically inclined, brainiac community. The storyline for season four has revolved around the Astraeus Mission – the first manned mission to one of Jupiter’s moons and while a conspiracy simmers beneath the season, it isn’t at the forefront. This second half of season four continues the search for the candidates who will take on the dangerous mission Titan and mixed with the main plot artery are fun diversions involving destructive machine-bugs, mind control and an accidental launch into earth’s orbit.
As with previous seasons, some of the science can be a little shaky and there are reliable plot conveniences that bend the already stretched plausibility, but all of it, every last spilling of technobabble and lining up of story elements to make the science fit is charming, funny and exceedingly entertaining. We are heading into the final season of Eureka, which is saddening. For all its pulp plots mixed with nuggets of real science, this show continues to be a bundle of fun with its chemically perfect blend of science, special effects, laughs and some more seriously dramatic elements. Guest appearances by Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride) and others are icing on the cake.
The Episodes
Disc One
Episode 1: Liftoff
Episode 2: Reprise
Episode 3: Glimpse
Bonus: O Little Town… (Holiday Episode)
Disc Two
Episode 4: Up in the Air
Episode 5: Omega Girls
Episode 6: Of Mites and Men
Bonus: Of Mites and Men Extended Edition
Disc Three
Episode 7: This One Time at Space Camp
Episode 8: One Small Step…
Episode 9: One Giant Leap
Bonus: Don’t Hate the Player (Warehouse 13 Crossover Episode)
The Video
3.5 / 5
Eureka is presented in the original 1.78:1 aspect ratio of its broadcast on the SyFy Channel and is enhanced for widescreen TVs. As with previous sets, the image is clean and the bright colors come across quite well. This half season does come across a little darker than other Eureka sets, but that could be a product of watching much less DVD product and Blu-ray television and films becoming the expectation.
The Sound
3.5 / 5
Universal has provided a good Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack for this release. This season is exactly like the first with a good use of surround effects and a generous use of the subwoofer. The dialogue, localized in the center channel is presented at a good level and is crisp. The effects scenes, which have many low-hum bass and directional effects - especially when an experiment goes wrong - are very good. Overall this is a solid audio.
The Extras
3.5 / 5
The Mythology of Euraka: Trace the lineage of Eureka and go back to the origins of the town.
Feature Commentary: Co-creator/writer/executive producer Jaime Paglia and Executive Producer Bruce Miller provide a relatively interesting commentary track for the mid-season opener Lift-Off.
Gag Reel (5:18): Funny stuff, particularly Wil Wheaton!
Deleted Scenes (8:43): Deleted and extended scenes from three episodes (This One Time at Space Came, One Small Step…, and One Giant Leap…)
Extended Version: Of Mites and Men.
Warehouse 13 Crossover Episode Don’t Hate the Player
Sneak Peek at Eureka Season 5: Eureka goes Battlestar Galactica (thanks to Bear McCreary’s tribal score) in this clip from the fifth season – and things are not at all what you might be expecting!
Final Thoughts
I am not a fan of split seasons. I find it a frustrating ploy to squeeze additional cash out of the pockets of fans. Add to that a lack of an HD release and it is safe to say that I can only recommend this set for unflinching fans of the show. The series remains entertaining (and this set even comes with the fun holiday special), and we can all look forward to how this show will close out the storylines for a set of characters that we have come to love and care about since the series debut back in 2006.
Note: Once again the eco-friendly packaging is 100% recyclable and made from a combination of 55% post-consumer and 45% post-industrial paper fiber.!
Overall (Not an average)
3.5 / 5
Neil Middlemiss
Kernersville, NC
Eureka Season 4.5
Studio: Universal Studios
Year: 2011
US Rating: Not Rated
Film Length: 7 Hours, 19 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Review Date: April 1, 2012
“This is Eureka. We solve the impossible every day”
The Show
4 / 5
It has been years since US Marshal Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) stumbled across the small town of Eureka and soon became Sherriff. The original premise has seen a major revamping after a time-jump to the past for the major characters – and a subsequent return to the present – found the world they now inhabit to be a slightly different timeline. Allison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) is no longer the head of Global Dynamics, her son is now a normal teenager, and Henry Deacon (Joe Mortan) is now married to Dr. Grace Monroe (Tembi Locke). This alternate timeline has become the norm and though some characters are still working through some kinks (Jo – played by Erica Cerra and Zane – played by Niall Matter for example), but that dramatic energizing has paid a few dividends and led to the addition of Felicia Day as Dr. Holly Marten as a love interest for the expanded role of Neil Grayston’s insecure Douglas Fargo.
Carter’s straight shooter sensibilities and humorous stiffness continue to drive much of the humor though he has made strides in navigating the mostly scientifically inclined, brainiac community. The storyline for season four has revolved around the Astraeus Mission – the first manned mission to one of Jupiter’s moons and while a conspiracy simmers beneath the season, it isn’t at the forefront. This second half of season four continues the search for the candidates who will take on the dangerous mission Titan and mixed with the main plot artery are fun diversions involving destructive machine-bugs, mind control and an accidental launch into earth’s orbit.
As with previous seasons, some of the science can be a little shaky and there are reliable plot conveniences that bend the already stretched plausibility, but all of it, every last spilling of technobabble and lining up of story elements to make the science fit is charming, funny and exceedingly entertaining. We are heading into the final season of Eureka, which is saddening. For all its pulp plots mixed with nuggets of real science, this show continues to be a bundle of fun with its chemically perfect blend of science, special effects, laughs and some more seriously dramatic elements. Guest appearances by Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride) and others are icing on the cake.
The Episodes
Disc One
Episode 1: Liftoff
Episode 2: Reprise
Episode 3: Glimpse
Bonus: O Little Town… (Holiday Episode)
Disc Two
Episode 4: Up in the Air
Episode 5: Omega Girls
Episode 6: Of Mites and Men
Bonus: Of Mites and Men Extended Edition
Disc Three
Episode 7: This One Time at Space Camp
Episode 8: One Small Step…
Episode 9: One Giant Leap
Bonus: Don’t Hate the Player (Warehouse 13 Crossover Episode)
The Video
3.5 / 5
Eureka is presented in the original 1.78:1 aspect ratio of its broadcast on the SyFy Channel and is enhanced for widescreen TVs. As with previous sets, the image is clean and the bright colors come across quite well. This half season does come across a little darker than other Eureka sets, but that could be a product of watching much less DVD product and Blu-ray television and films becoming the expectation.
The Sound
3.5 / 5
Universal has provided a good Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack for this release. This season is exactly like the first with a good use of surround effects and a generous use of the subwoofer. The dialogue, localized in the center channel is presented at a good level and is crisp. The effects scenes, which have many low-hum bass and directional effects - especially when an experiment goes wrong - are very good. Overall this is a solid audio.
The Extras
3.5 / 5
The Mythology of Euraka: Trace the lineage of Eureka and go back to the origins of the town.
Feature Commentary: Co-creator/writer/executive producer Jaime Paglia and Executive Producer Bruce Miller provide a relatively interesting commentary track for the mid-season opener Lift-Off.
Gag Reel (5:18): Funny stuff, particularly Wil Wheaton!
Deleted Scenes (8:43): Deleted and extended scenes from three episodes (This One Time at Space Came, One Small Step…, and One Giant Leap…)
Extended Version: Of Mites and Men.
Warehouse 13 Crossover Episode Don’t Hate the Player
Sneak Peek at Eureka Season 5: Eureka goes Battlestar Galactica (thanks to Bear McCreary’s tribal score) in this clip from the fifth season – and things are not at all what you might be expecting!
Final Thoughts
I am not a fan of split seasons. I find it a frustrating ploy to squeeze additional cash out of the pockets of fans. Add to that a lack of an HD release and it is safe to say that I can only recommend this set for unflinching fans of the show. The series remains entertaining (and this set even comes with the fun holiday special), and we can all look forward to how this show will close out the storylines for a set of characters that we have come to love and care about since the series debut back in 2006.
Note: Once again the eco-friendly packaging is 100% recyclable and made from a combination of 55% post-consumer and 45% post-industrial paper fiber.!
Overall (Not an average)
3.5 / 5
Neil Middlemiss
Kernersville, NC
