This week’s artefact required heavy use of CGI, and TV budgets can often be let down by the need for extensive computer graphics. Fortunately, as a portrayal of group hallucinations the effects hold up pretty well. Because of its age and horrific surreal-ness, Lovecraft is not for everyone, and it’s refreshing to see a literature-based artefact that Myka is *not* an expert on. H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos is pervasive enough that even the vast majority of people haven’t read the original (or derivative) works, yet still know that Cthulhu=tentacles. Cephalopods are one of the few truly alien non-insect species on earth- all tentacles and bulgy eyes. Myka’s aversion to anything with tentacles feels like a plot driven quirk, but doesn’t seem too contrived. The ‘main’ storyline – Pete and Myka chasing an artefact – is unfortunately not as engaging as the ‘side’ plots involving Claudia and Arti. Artefacts being used as tools of revenge is a running theme in the world of Warehouse 13. In this instance, the artefact itself seems to have no immediate negative effect on the owner/user. This seems the exception to the rule that artefact use always has negative (and usually long-lasting) effect on those using it. So far, this episode has strong themes running through it relating to personal responsibility, personal sacrifice, and the repercussions of individual actions. Steve’s reaction to being reanimated by an artefact is understandable and the reckoning scene between Claudia and Steve is subtle, yet
powerful. Whatever her intentions, Claudia seems to have doomed Steve to become a sort of living artefact. It’s interesting how both Claudia’s and the ‘artefact-of-the-week’ plot intersect. Both see the use of artefacts caused directly by the grief of losing a loved one.
Geek Syndicate
ticking. Travelogue: Philadelphia. Regent Châtelet (Regent H.Q.). Best Lines: Brother Adrian: “As I said I work with the Vatican. We know an awful lot of things about… An awful lot of things.” Claudia: “If you could use an artefact, to set something right – to undo a huge stupid tragedy wouldn’t you do it?” Claudia: “ Y’know a lot of people experience clinical death for a few minutes. [You were dead for ] … 4,320 [minutes].”
Brent Spiner – as recurring guest character Brother Adrian – will be a character worth paying close attention to. The audience, and Arti, know that the Brotherhood will stop at nothing to protect the Astrolabe artefact. If/when Brother Adrian detects that Arti is deceiving him, will the soft-spoken man of the cloth turn nasty? Would the Regents back up Arti’s use of an artefact in extreme circumstances? All of the major cast have their moment to shine, but for me Arti takes the spotlight. Arti’s secret is weighing heavily on him and the character is slowly becoming a bundle of guilty ticks and half-finished mumblings. Now that Steve – the human lie detector – is back as part of the team, surely it’s only a matter of time before Arti’s secret comes out? It’s only episode two and this show already can’t be missed. Artefacts: A Silver Key belonging to H.P. Lovecraft: After touching it victims are seen by all others as giant hideous Cephalopod / Cthulhu-esque creatures. Johann Maelzel’s Metronome: Using a specific ritual allows this artefact to bring back to life a single deceased person. That person will stay alive as long at the metronome keeps
“Faintdreams”
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