Aliens and the Big Green Blob make their presence known in Eureka
This week’s episode was a return to the fun-loving wackiness that we know and love in Eureka. It started off with an influx of hot-headed bowlers from Area 51 bringing with them a rivalry that triggered many sophisticated practical jokes, ranging from invisible force-fields to gamma radiation poisoning which turned Fargo’s team completely green. The “little green men” jokes combined with Kermit the Frog references were pretty hysterical and put us in the right frame of mind to willing accept that the cleaner, Big Ed, had a pet named “Spot” — a huge green blob that fed off of radiation.
Every time the blob appeared, I could just hear the deep throaty “feed me, feed me” line right out of “Little Shop of Horrors” with Spot’s insatiable need to feed.
It was cool to see Carter’s attempts to combat the monstrous blob with classic comic-book solutions like the freeze-ray gun and the exploding bowling ball filled with salt — apparently, salt acts as a dehydrant, like used to kill banana slugs.
Also, as Big Ed found out, it is never a good idea to create a pet that craves constant radioactive food sources — especially when every inhabitant in Eureka has been exposed to low dosages, thus turning every single person living there into a potential food source for Spot.
As a backdrop, we found out that Tess needed a large source of glibidium to power Section 5’s laser telescope to have a chance to see whatever The Signal was that was heading straight to Earth. However, once Spot had devoured every bit of it that left them blind as to whatever was coming. Allison’s rationale that they needed to develop a defense weapon, just in case, was ominous. For as Tess surmised, “you could provoke it or scare it off.” But Allison, thinking of the global ramifications, simply said, “that’s a risk we’ll have to take.” Is it the better course to expect the best, but prepare for the worst?
What Worked
Humor was at an all time premium with such lines as, “But you and I shared an alternate universe, does that not mean anything to you?” and “Are you green with envy or just plain green,” and even Fargo’s perfectly timed, “What the frak?!” as a nod to “Battlestar Galactica” was hysterical. “Eureka” is always at its best when it does not take itself too seriously.
Plus holding an alien-theme bowling championship with a team named Area 51 just as Eureka is preparing for possible alien contact was perfect.
Another absolutely pitch-perfect parlay of humor was Allison catching Jack looking at her every time he made a reference to Spot devouring everything in sight. It reminded us how connected and aware of each other they are, even in the midst of a monster-attack and global threat racing their way.
What Didn’t Work
Drawing out the Lexie and Duncan debate of will-they or wont-they resolve their differences over the entire episode was tiring. It was hard to follow Lexie’s logic in why she did not want Duncan to stick around and be a part of her and the twin’s lives. The final blob attack in the smart-house would have been just as emotionally effective if they had worked things out a bit sooner. But that being said, it was a huge relief to see that Duncan did step up and wanted to be a part of his kid’s lives and that he and Lexie would be leaving Eureka. It is time to re-focus back on the dream team of Jack, Allison, Henry, Jo, Zane, Fargo, and Zoe, and whatever is quickly approaching Earth that may be either friend or foe.
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due
“It’s Not Easy Being Green” was written by Curtis Kheel and directed by Sarah Pia Anderson. “Eureka” stars Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Joe Morton, Jordan Hinson, Erica Cerra, Neil Grayston, Chris Gauthier, Ever Carradine and Niall Matter. “Eureka” airs Fridays on Syfy.