'Eureka' - 'The Story of O2' Recap
by Jason Hughes, posted Jul 31st 2010 4:30PM
(S04E04) I don't know why, but something told me this episode was going to be about oxygen, and I don't mean the cable network. That said, we did get the women of Eureka taking more of a center stage role this week, for better or worse. Even more fun, we got to check in with Zoe (Jordan Hinson) to see both how she's handling college, and if anything's changed with her in the new timeline.Jamie Kennedy ('Ghost Whisperer') flexed his acting chops -- if that means playing basically the same character as he did on 'Ghost Whisperer,' only as a scientist -- in a typically 'Eurekian' guest spot. It's always fun seeing who they can convince to come over for some of the fun. Next week promises Allison Scagliotti, in character from 'Warehouse 13,' for a crossover episode.
But first, it's a "soap box derby" race to the moon. Oh yeah, this is definitely the 'Eureka' we all know and love.
What a perfect blend of the wacky characters and outlandish situations we always seem to find ourselves in. And, apparently, the writers aren't done messing with Jo either, as seen by her ordeal this week. With Sheriff Carter off visiting Zoe in college, and getting into a little bit of fun trouble himself, it was up to Jo to figure out why things are going hinky surrounding this annual Space Week home-made rocket race.
The situation also allowed her to spend some quality screen-time with Zane, emphasizing the tragedy of her loss post-time shift. We got that glimmer of hope, though, when Zane called her their nickname from the original reality. Perhaps they can rekindle something here. He certainly responded well to her actually caring about clearing his name after he destroyed a $1.5 million dollar prototype.
Don't you wish you could get your hands on some of those prototypes. Or wish that a place like Eureka really existed. Jamie Kennedy's scientist was working on a tab that created oxygen from the environment toward the notion of terraforming Mars and making it inhabitable. Everything's so agreeable and upbeat, I found myself looking forward to reading more about his research, as if it was really happening out there somewhere. Science fiction has led to science fact before.
We got a deeper look into Allison's mind as well, with her desperate attempts to hold onto Kevin, as if he's going to revert back to autism at any moment. Years of parenting stress and anxiety coming out all at once. If she's not careful, she's going to lose him for a whole different reason, but at least we can understand a little bit why she's so clingy. Hopefully, for the sake of growth and progression, she'll calm way down.
It was great seeing that this Kevin is brilliant even without autism, as that hadn't yet been made clear. In the absence of Sheriff Carter, it was Kevin who came through in the clutch to save the town from a fiery doom. As the replacement for Zoe's voice of youth on the show, I think I can come to like Kevin ... just as soon as Allison calms down a bit.
Carter was busy with problems of his own, as only 'Eureka' can provide. Thanks to a spray that makes anything look like what's around it, a cat was made invisible. Unfortunately, it looks like they got the logic of that one wrong. The sprayed patch on Carter's sleeve retained the appearance of the napkin at Cafe Diem, even when he was with Zoe. Shouldn't the cat then have retained the appearance of whatever was nearby when it was sprayed? Or is it because it's a living creature, the compound reacts differently? As it's creator would probably say, "I don't know."
It was sweet seeing the reunion between Zoe and Carter, and it also confirmed (to a degree) the theory that the changes made from that trip through time in the premiere are biggest around Eureka, and smaller the further away we get. Other than a change in hairstyle, Zoe looks to be exactly the same exasperated kid we love and miss. Hopefully, Hinson will find the time in her schedule to be a recurring guest from time to time.
And finally ... Deputy Andy! Yay! Can we make him a regular cast-member already. I loved his instant autopsy of the crow. He's such a handy fellow to have around, if he can stop having to go out for repairs all the time.
Comments
by LisaK, posted Jul 31st 2010
I like Deputy Andy. I think they changed actors didn't they. I am not sure but I still like him. I am happy Zoe is still the same. The Jo story line is killing me. I feel so sorry for Jo. I wanted her to find love and be happy with Zane. She deserves it. I do hope they start doing something with Grant. I am beginning to like Grant and want to see him in more stories.
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by Jigsaw hc, posted Jul 31st 2010
I liked the episode although I prefer the old Andy. However, if he keeps getting hurt and reskinned it would be pretty funny to have a different actor each time.
The only thing that bugged me was that it was very out of character for Allison to cheat like that.
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by Elf, posted Jul 31st 2010
They did change actors for Deputy Andy. They acknowledged this when he was looking at his face and talking about how he liked the new cheekbones, or something to that effect. However it makes me feel sorry for the new actor playing Andy, knowing how easily he can be replaced just by explaining that Andy got yet another new face.
I agree that they'll need to do something with Grant soon and I'm pretty sure they will. Perhaps not next week because of the crossover but they obviously didn't bring Callis on just to walk in and out of scenes and calling everyone 'sport'. Grant is a very smart guy but let's have some fun seeing how he reacts to the social norms of the year 2010. What's his take on ESPN or rap or the SI Swimsuit Issue?
It appeared as well that Fargo's confidence is growing a little bit. Perhaps it's time to finally get him a regualr girlfriend.
As for Allison acting out of character, I can see her being led to something like that out of maternal instinct. What happened to Kevin is nothing short of a miracle to her and she's not yet convinced things won't go back to the way they were, so some irrational behavior is believable. She's had no practice in letting Kevin fail so he can learn from it. Until now she's had to be over-protective due to Kevin's autism and that behavior can't be unlearned overnight.
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by Gordon Werner, posted Jul 31st 2010
the solution that Jamie Kennedy's scientist was making was to make Mars "Habitable" not "Inhabitable" as it already is ...
as for the cat ... they explained that the spray is for fabric ... not live animals so that it wouldn't stabilize and therefore the cat would just refract all light and remain invisible
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by Alex99, posted Jul 31st 2010
They did replace the actor playing "Andy". Now, it's Kavan Smith, he was "Major Lorne" on "Stargate Atlantis"
I liked him on "Atlantis" and he did ok here, but I rather prefer Ty Olsson, who was the original "Sheriff Andy". Smith played it a bit more broadly and comedic than Olsson did. Maybe he'll grow into the role.
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by wulfn1, posted Jul 31st 2010
first off, "The Story of O2"... really? and no one else got it?... Honestly I expected something slightly different, as well as having to do with oxygen. I admit I was kind of glad it didn't have any similarities, it would have been creepy.
Second, I really liked the ORIGINAL Sheriff Andy. But I will concede if they change him weekly it might be tolerable, especially if his personality changes with each "Andy suit".
Third, Allison would not have cheated. Totally out of character for the character to be played in that manner. Especially since they didn't explain anything about character changes due to the time warp.
I was terribly dissapointed in the beginning of the scenes with Zoe. Thankfully , it was just "she's grown up" not "she is unpleasant in this reality".
re: Zane and Jo, ... Toldyaso. True love transcends time warps. Or something like that.
Interesting turn of events with how Fargo actually got his job. Makes sense, put a puppet figurehead in leadership position so you can control all that happens. He just didn't take into account how sideways Fargo could skew events.
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by Rich Keller, posted Aug 1st 2010
I thought the prototype of 1.5 billion, not million.
Anyhoo, I enjoyed this week's focus on the female characters. I love Joe and it's always fun to see when she's the point of attention rather than Carter. Sadly, it seems this altered timeline is nothing but disappointment for her.
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