Genre: Sci-Fi | Action | Mystery

Air Date/Time: Monday, July 23 at 9/8c

Network: Syfy

Director: Chris Fisher

Writer: Jack Kenny

Summary:
Warehouse 13 follows a team of government agents who work at a massive, top-secret storage facility in windswept South Dakota which houses every strange artifact, mysterious relic, fantastical object and preternatural souvenir ever collected by the U.S. government. The Warehouse’s caretaker Artie Nielsen (Saul Rubinek) charges agents Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock), Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) and Claudia Donovan (Allison Scagliotti) with chasing down reports of supernatural and paranormal activity in search of new objects to cache at the Warehouse, as well as helping him to control the Warehouse itself.

This isn’t your typical Warehouse 13, but how could it be, given where we left off? If you’ll recall, when Season 3 concluded – and a rewatch of the Season 3 finale is recommended, the “previously on” will only get you so far – new agent Steve Jinks had been killed while undercover, H.G. Wells sacrificed herself to save Pete, Myka, and Artie, the Warehouse was blown up, and Mrs. Fredericks died as a result. That’s a heck of a lot of death and destruction for family-friendly Warehouse 13.

The new season picks up immediately where the last season left off, and things are grim. The way each character reacts to it all is not only appropriate for the character but likely gives us some hint as to how they will behave for at least the next few episodes, which doesn’t bode well for one of them.

Although it’s not light, Pete still manages to drop in his very Pete-like comments throughout most of the episode. Eddie McClintock has said that the silliness is how Pete deals with stress, and it’s not ineffective, since it takes away just a touch of the weight of some of the scenes. Most of the Pete-isms are eye-rollers, but one or two got me to laugh. The action of the episode, along with the timing and development of the story, also keep things moving along.

Still and all, the darkness continues without weighing the episode down too much. It’s a life and death episode, much like the last couple of episodes of last season. Dark… but not edgy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an edgy episode of this show, that isn’t what it’s about. The somber tone, however, does give most of the actors an opportunity to flex their dramatic muscles, and when it comes down to it, Saul Rubinek and – surprise – Eddie McClintock really bring it.

As with most season premieres, this episode sets up a storyline that could last throughout the season or even the series. I’m hopeful that it will go for a while without getting tiresome, that it will be the mythology storyline that sometimes is the focus of an entire episode, and other times just gets a mention. For the most part the Warehouse 13 writers have been consistent (we’ll forgive them the weird H.G. Wells trying to destroy the world thing) so I think this new storyline will be a good thing for them to play with.

I have a little more concern that they’re messing with one of our beloved characters. I’m hoping they’ll resolve this one sooner rather than later; I don’t think we’ll want to put up with it for long. It’s not fun to not trust one of your main characters, and feels not unlike Myka’s uncomfortable head-butting when she left and came back last year.

This episode gifts us with some great smaller moments. First, one of Claudia’s jibes at Artie is exceptionally adorable. Next, kudos to episode writer (and showrunner) Jack Kenny for giving us an explanation for one item that we’ve been seeing since the pilot; it’s pretty nifty. Biggest kudos, a hug and a giant I LOVE YOU JACK KENNY for including a quote from one of my favorite movies in this episode, and for the recognition it gives to that movie’s fans that yes indeed, there are one or two familiar moments here. I won’t tell you which movie, but will tell you that it’s sci-fi. Of course the genre nods don’t end there, considering the episode name – “A New Hope” – and one of the guest stars, Brent Spiner. Nice!

Even with the Warehouse in ruins, the look of the show continues on in its usual warm, somewhat steampunk-inspired way, right down to at least one of the artifacts, and right up to the commercial break transitions. I always love to see what they come up with for those couple of seconds, and it’s a treat which happily continues on into this fourth season.

It’s unfortunate that they couldn’t incorporate just a bit of the Season 3 finale in the beginning of this episode, as I think some of the references are lost to us, much as they try to get us up to speed. This means, on the other hand, that new-to-the-show viewers will not be any more lost than some of the veterans. To get a full appreciation for this season premiere, it would be ideal to watch the final three episodes of last season first, either by watching the Syfy marathon earlier in the day or by having your own private marathon, but you won’t be lost if you can’t.

What you will get either way is a great, somewhat somber but strong setup of the new season of this charming, fun, entertaining, sci-fi, Syfy series.

I give Warehouse 13: Season 4, Episode 1 Four Out of Five Stars.