Wednesday, August 22, 2007

TV Show Review: Eureka

I just discovered "Eureka" on the Sci-fi Channel. Eureka is a small town established by the US government to house all the most brilliant scientific minds of the day. It's also where I'd move if I had the chance. Granted, I'm probably gonna need another eight years of school just to be the janitor, but it's my kinda town. The schools are fully funded, Segways are commonplace, as are Smart cars and Gem cars. The spa is powered by the thermal waste from the nuclear power plant. There's little to no interest in sports. The place is perfect. It's perfect aside from the weekly threat to life, limb, and sanity.

The show is like "The Outer Limits" but with every episode set in the same place with the same people. Also with better directing. "The Outer Limits" always seems to put me to sleep. You know how many shows have a certain quality to them that lets you identify the show instantly? Like I can flip on "SG1" and know that it's "SG1" even though the main characters aren't around and the scene is not remotely Stargate-ish. You can turn on "The Outer Limit" and know that's what it is because of some quality to the lighting or general blahness. The story may be great but I'm still gonna nod off. "Eureka" has those good stories but isn't gonna knock you out.

If you're like me and don't have cable you can now watch your favorite Sci-Fi Channel shows without pirating them or waiting for the DVD. For Eureka just go to http://www.scifi.com/eureka/ and click on one of the links that say "Watch full episodes". It'll take you to the start of season two.
Also available is Flash Gordon, Dr Who, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, both Stargate series, Enterprise, Dresden Files, and some other stuff that doesn't interest me.

1 comment:

khushi said...

As a science-fiction fan, long time lover of B-grade fun and a playwright who loves the idea of a small town with big secrets -- this is right up my alley. The characters either make or break a show like this, and in this case, the actors and their characters bring the entire story up. For example, the kid math-savant, a tough female DOD agent, Henry the quasi-mechanic, the tough deputy Lupo and an all-American US Marshall, who is the normal guy and now the Sheriff of Eureka.