(Un)Sell Me on Eureka

[ShannonA]

So I watched the ads for Eureka go by all last summer, and managed to avoid watching it. I see now that it's been renewed for a second season. So, should I pick the first season up on DVD?

What's good about it? What's not?

[Quasar]

A town filled with super geniuses / scientists working on various super science type projects.

A Cop gets the job as acting as town Sheriff. Drags along his teenage daughter. Fairly episodic show, with many episodes going along the lines of 'cool/wacky superscience project goes awry. Cop has to solve the problem. Hijinx ensue'.

I actually liked it. Liked it enough that I'm looking forward to the second season. What did I like about it? It was fun, not serious (for the most part) and I really liked some of the characters. It also had some rather nice character moments.

Though its not something I'm likely to buy. Maybe rent to rewatch, but thats all.

[ShannonA]

I like arcs and I like strong characterization, especially when it builds and changes over time. And mysteries and other backstories.

Sounds like there's less arc because it's largely episodic. How 'bout the rest?

[wiseblood]

I like arcs and I like strong characterization, especially when it builds and changes over time. And mysteries and other backstories.

Sounds like there's less arc because it's largely episodic. How 'bout the rest?

It IS mostly episodic though there are some things that carry through to other episodes on occasion.

I really liked some of the characters including the main character. There are some characters that had a lot of potential but were way under utilized. And then there was the bizarre and usually contrived emergency of the week. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.

Eureka is definitely one of those series that has the potential to be good if the writers weren't holding it back. I liked it enough that I'll tune in to see how they handle the season opener. It has the potential to be interesting if handled properly.

I would say rent it if possible but I wouldn't buy it.

[Ghola]

I like arcs and I like strong characterization, especially when it builds and changes over time. And mysteries and other backstories.

Sounds like there's less arc because it's largely episodic. How 'bout the rest?

Eureka fits the bill for all of those other things you mentioned. The characters are very engaging and grow throughout the run, there is a Big Mystery which forms the only real arc (but it's a doozy), and most episodes involve investigating and sorting out some weird Science(!) gone bad or being misused.

If you like all of those things I'd recommend Eureka; I have high hopes for the new season.

[wiseblood]

If you like all of those things I'd recommend Eureka; I have high hopes for the new season.

I like all of those things but but if I didn't have the DVR I'd never have gone to the trouble to keep watching. It didn't feel like it ever really hit it's stride. I'll watch the first couple episodes to see if anything changes and to see if they actually do anything with what happened in the season 1 finale. But if it's more of the same I probably won't bother.

[ShannonA]

Well about half the comments enthuse me, and about half move me in the opposite direction. The scientific disaster of the week in particular doesn't sound that interesting.

But it sounds worth Netflixing!

[C.W.Richeson]

I watched about a third of the first season and really couldn't get into it. It's very tongue-in-cheek sci-fi, more like Men In Black, which seemed neat at first but didn't hold my attention. I think the problems for me were really two fold. I didn't care about the characters - if any of them died or weren't on screen it didn't really matter to me. I also wasn't engaged by the plots I watched, they were just too bland.

[Jack]

Eureka was a neat idea that managed to grow on me every single episode. By the end I was sorry to see it was a short season and I'm really looking forward to season 2.

[Jay]

My thoughts pretty much echo Jack's. If I had to boil it down, I'd have to explain it as Northern Exposure with SCIENCE!!!, and it's basically what you're looking for based upon your criteria.

[heronymus]

Eureka had lots and lots of potential, and I remain convinced that, had they avoided the 5-act structure and gotten just another $50K an episode, it would have been the best SF TV show ever written.

As it is, it's good, but the production values suffer a bit and the endings always felt rushed to me.

Not that it won't keep me from TiVoing and watching every single episode in Season Two, just like I did with Season One...

[Ghola]

Well about half the comments enthuse me, and about half move me in the opposite direction. The scientific disaster of the week in particular doesn't sound that interesting.

But it sounds worth Netflixing!

Didn't know you had Netflix - since that's the case I can certainly recommend that you rent it. What I regard as the show's charm (Jay's description seems right on... I was a Northern Exposure freak) obviously doesn't appeal to everyone.