Last week I managed to catch the premiere episode of Syfy's new series Warehouse 13.
Now I'm not going to write a lot about it because I can't honestly judge what it's going to be like on a week on week basis by this first outing, but I did enjoy it and I'm looking forward to more.
If you're a fan of X-Files or Fringe then I think this will be right up your street, but be warned that so far there's not a huge amount that differentiates it from those two other TV programmes apart from the actual warehouse itself. And that's a little worrying for now. It's obvious that it's going to be a standard 'supernatural object of the week' affair with the two secret service agents Myka and Peter tracking down each object, via the incidents that surround it, with the help of various technologies that never were, such as the cool Tesla gun, Artie (the eccentric warehouse expert), Leena (the strange bed and breakfast owner), Mrs. Frederick (the director of the secret government organisation that controls the warehouse) and the not yet seen Claudia (the new techno wiz).
It would seem that amongst the strange things we're going to see each week in relation to each object and its special power, is that we're also going to be taken down a path of discovery in the relationship of Myka and Peter and the odd mini powers they seem to have. Peter has a sixth sense for things that are out of the ordinary or dangerous (like Spider-Man's Spider-sense) and Myka has an unnatural eye for detail, she can literally see the smallest detail around her which will help their cases substantially (not unlike Robin Dunne's character Dr. Will Zimmerman in Sanctuary, although we don't get the same 'detail homing vision' he has). It's also funny to see the intricate ways the execs have made them completely chalk and cheese. Myka hates sugar, Peter loves cookies, Myka is ultra strict and a non-believer and Peter is playful, funny and accepts what he sees, etc etc you'll see when you watch it.
The first feature length episode was definitely good, it was funny in parts and geeky-cool in others, but it'll have to do a better if it hopes to make it past it's first season. So far it was the most watched programme on US TV that week, so it should be OK! I've also heard that some familiar faces from sci-fi TV will be visiting Warehouse 13 like Tricia Helfer, Mark Sheppard and Michael Hogan (all from Battlestar Galactica) along with Joe Flannigan (Stargate Atlantis) so we're in for some geeky treats over the course of season 1!
When you think about it Syfy has just created a series that melds the mysterious warehouse from Indiana Jones: Raiders of the lost Ark and X-Files... Not a purely original idea, but for now it works so I'm happy!
If you get the chance to watch it please do, you'll enjoy it I'm sure. ;)