I just finished a re-watch binge of Eureka, so I had to talk about it. It’s an amazing little (five seasons & 77 episodes) TV series the SyFy channel created in 2006. If you like science fiction, especially lighter science fiction combined with comedy, do give Eureka a try.
Basically the story begins like this:
Colin Ferguson as Jack Carter is Eureka
And an absolute jewel as the central character of the series. I’m honestly not sure anyone else could’ve brought Jack Carter to life so well. Particularly as the every-man Sheriff bringing law and order to the chaos that is Eureka. Sure, there are many other notable and important characters in the series but Carter is what sells the whole premise.
Jack Carter is our doorway into this quirky town
Why? Because, while the bulk of the show is science fiction, it’s the other elements like comedy, romance and, yeah, some mystery tossed in that make it work as an enjoyable place to visit, again and again. Those things are also exactly where the character of Carter becomes the central focus. Ferguson excels at physical comedy while not overplaying it. And physical stuff happens to Carter a lot for some strange Eureka reason.
Carter’s developing romance with Allison is present from the first episode, yet has many bumps along the road before they get their happy ending. Finally, it’s Jack Carter’s skill as an investigator that allows him to cope with this very unusual town where things are not always what they seem. Especially when the geniuses can’t always see what’s right in front of them with their heads way up in the clouds.
My favorite episode of Eureka, Up in the Air (s4e14), very much illustrates all of the above. The set up is that there’s been a bank robbery. Which makes Jack so excited and happy because it’s something so normal. For him, at least. But, of course, things in Eureka would never be that simple. And pretty soon he’s faced with keeping an entire town from floating away.
Only in Eureka.