Eureka! murders main character and love is in the air

Well when Eureka! says they will be removing a main character of the show they really don’t lie.

Long-time readers know that I am a major sci-fi fan. That does not normally translate into any desire to watch the D-grade revisioned 1950’s monster movies (or 1970’s natural disaster, or recent and far infereior remakes of current scifi flop movies) that populate the Sci-Fi channel; when it’s not pushing non-science fiction programs like wrestling or Scare Tactics. My dislike of the channel reached a peak after they abruptly ended the Farscape series, and lied to the public about the whole thing. No I still haven’t forgotten what they did.

But 3 seasons ago I gave the channel a chance with a new show called Eureka! I’ve written a bit about it, and I recommend the show. It’s humorous, not to techy, nor geeky – those those elements play into the program strongly.

Now in the beginning of season 2 they really too fans on a loop. In an almost J.R. Ewing-esque episode we got to see a future Eureka that had life going almost idealicly for most of the main characters. In fact Sheriff Carter and Dr. Blake expecting a child, Henry doing well with his love interest Kim, Zoey graduating valedictorian, Deputy Lupo romantically involved with Matt Frewer’s scientist of nature character (I can’t recall his name), and Dr. Blake’s son cured of his connection with the Entity and his autism.

By the end of that episode all the characters were reverted to a much different world, where almost all of those eventualities were impossible, and only Henry was left with a memory of it. Thus the drama of the 2nd season.

But one major loophole was the fact that the relationship between Dr. Blake and Sherrif Carter was never resolved. Tonight they started that resolution.

**spoilers will result if you read further**

Not only did this episode take care of the impending marriage of Dr. Stark it opened the door for Carter. It introduced another new character to the series, ‘Stretch’ the sister of Carter. And it deepened the mystery of what the new overseer, whatever the her name is (I’ll call her the shark til I remember).

Done in a style reminiscent of Groundhog Day, Carter is reliving the same 10 hours of Dr. Blake and Stark's wedding day. Except he remembers each loop, and as the days advance he is injured by the restart. And he has to go through the anguish of watching Dr. Blake marry Stark several times. Each time the day restarts right after Henry mentions that ‘love is eternal, and if anyone has an objection speak now or forever hold your tongue' while looking over at Carter.

It’s pretty funny watching Carter trying to convince everyone that time is looping, and knowing their reactions before they even speak at points. The best part is when he decides to give Dr. Blake a kiss to see if that would fix things (on the basis of his sister’s suggestion). It didn’t, but it did provide a nice insight to the fact she has been conflicted about the marriage for several episodes and has deep feelings for Carter.

The source of this is a guy in GD running his own experiment with light and time. Again. But in trying to fix the problem takes 2 lives. The time management scientist and Stark.

Stark, convinced in a different loop by Carter singing a memorized scientific theorem, is working on a fix before the next restart as it would result in the death of everyone. At the critical moment, an automatated piece breaks down requiring a person to set of the device to fix the timeline. Sheriff Carter volunteers, but has insufficient knowledge to run the device. Fargo, who had been working with Stark and was the only other person aware of the full ramifications, volunteered. Stark compliments him for his self-less guesture and then takes the critical role.

Just before the device gets triggered he asks Carter, by first name which he has never called him, to take care of Allison (Dr. Blake) for him because she will need it. Obviously he knows that fixed or not he won’t be around to brag, get married, or anything.

And when he does fade away in a mass of photons and gas he has the usual smarmy look on his face that is his penchant.

Carter then proceeds to the wedding grounds (for the 4th or 5th time) and this time the loop has been closed. He walks up to Allison and as she realizes the seriousness of the situation lays down crying, with him beside her.

Most series would only permanently kill off a character if there was some kind of major issue on the set or a pay conflict. Neither were rumored that I am aware of. So this may not be as permanent a death as it seems. Eureka is the home of the most brilliant minds after all, and several people have been brought back from apparent death before.

What might be most interesting is if the relationship between Carter and Dr. Blake grows as it had in the alternate future, and then Stark reappears to drive Carter nuts. That would be just like Stark too.

Overall it was a good, touching and at a couple of points funny episode. The series has matured well, and other than the inclusion of Zane (the new love interest of Deputy Lupo I don’t like) all the characters work well together.

But I wonder what the device is in the field, giving off all the odd radiation, in the shape of an O.G.R.E. (if you are familiar with Steve Jackson Games G.E.V. you will be familiar with that) and was responsible for an explosion like a nuclear bomb? My guess is that it is an O.G.R.E. – mach 1 – and the shark is trying to dig it up to try to use it’s circuitry for a business advantage. To bad it still is functional and has it’s own mind on what it wants to do.

Just my guess.

Harvey: Oh so pleasant

After watching the Euro 2008 match I was sitting in my new home and decided to check what else was on. Much to my joy and surprise was the fact that Harvey would be on at 8pm. All my other plans were rescheduled and at 8pm I watched this classic film.

Now some of my younger readers might think I’m speaking about this Harvey


[If you never saw Farscape and you have never seen Harvey then the video will lose you I’m sure. Farscape fans will laugh though.]

But in fact I am speaking of the 1950 film starring Jimmy Stewart and a 6 foot 3 1/2” tall invisible rabbit. Well not completely invisible nor a rabbit. He is actually a Pooka that generally can only be seen by rumpots and crackpots. Thus the audience never actually sees him, though some characters (notably Stewart) do.

In essence the film is about an eccentric well-off drunk, whose main companion is Harvey. The existence of this rabbit is the bane of the sister of Elwood Dowd (Stewart) and she seeks to institutionalize her brother to help him get back to reality. In the end she, and the audience, realize that perhaps having an invisible rabbit is the least horrible thing in life if you are a good person otherwise.

Harvey is a story about being a good person. While he (Dowd) is odd and a drinker he is also very good-hearted. He constantly helps the people around him, pairing up 2 couples and providing therapy for a psychiatrist all while they are trying to incarcerate him. He has only kind words for everyone he meets, even if they ridicule him. And he is non-judgmental of even convicts and those that seem to dislike him.

Perhaps the whole movie can be summed up in one quote. When asked why Elwood is not angry or flustered when he is told he is to be committed he replies

“Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.”

I have, and you should too. If you haven’t seen this film yet, or even if you have, watch it and feel just a bit better about things.

Bad films and Screen Actors Guild Awards hopefuls - 1.9.2007.1

Well it’s January and the worst of the films of the year are starting to be released. I’m sure many may have noticed that the early weeks of the year seem to have a bunch of films that blink away with a speed that is rarely seen. This of course is a good thing, as many of these films don’t deserve to be released in a theater and I doubt many will be worth a DVD either. One such film, I’m guessing, is Code Name: The Cleaner.

Cedric the Entertainer (his real name is Mr. Cedric Kyles) can be a funny man. I’ve seen some of his stand-up on film and it wasn’t bad. Star quality it was not, nor has anything in his body indicated that he has leading man capabilities. That’s not to say he doesn’t have talent. I just think his talent isn’t being conveyed in the films he has done.

Beyond his support work in The Steve Harvey Show, which had it’s moments though they were few to me, his movie Johnson Family Vacation is probably his best film work. I’m not counting the 5 animated roles where he supplied his voice (including the upcoming Madagascar 2). I am including his leading role in the Honeymooners remake [horrendous] and the sequel supporting role in Be Cool [just bad]. The Cleaner looks to be on par with these lesser films and will no doubt clean the few pockets that view it. Of course there is a following for Mr. Kyles, as well as those that will watch anything that has an African American lead because they are showing support – even if that support goes to cheap and tasteless theatrical films like Soul Plane. I admit I haven’t seen it, nor will I, but if others do and disagree please let me know. If you convince me of the worth perhaps I will watch it, via a bootleg DVD.

Speaking of movies, here are some of my choices to win the Screen Actors Guild Awards. I hope these will lead to nominations and wins at the Oscar’s as well. For best actor I chose Mr. Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland. I think it will be Ms. Helen Mirren in The Queen. For best support I pick Mr. Eddie Murphy in his stand out performance in Dreamgirls and from the same movie I pick Ms. Jennifer Hudson as best supporting actress. In the cast category of course I chose Dreamgirls.

In television I have fewer choices as I don’t watch many shows. I may well be off on these but here are my choices. For best actor in a drama I think Mr. Hugh Laurie wins for House. For a comedy I would chose Mr. Tony Shalhoub for Monk, though I do like the comedic acting of Mr. Jeremy Piven. Sadly I have not seen Entourage so I can’t say if his work is better than Mr. Shalhoub.

As for the other television shows, I have no comment. I watch little regular broadcast television programs. In general I think the effort executives have put into finding the lowest common denominator in programming is so bad as to not warrant viewing. And yes I do prefer a more high-brow television show so that doesn’t help either. Still a preference towards House, 24, and the West Wing does not prevent me from enjoying Farscape, Gilligan’s Island, or Cheers.

Well let’s see how good my choices are.

This is what I think, what do you think?