MontanaXVI

I did a quick search and didn't see a thread pop up about it. So I guess this can be the Eureka thread.

Thoughts, impressions?

I have watched it since the pilot and I cannot say I really like the direction the show is going in. My biggest issue is with the damn advertising. I am ok with the product placement here and there and the commercials don't bother me, but when you have the dialogue of the episode like last night's episdoe quoting the Degree deodorant slogan more than once in the course of the episode I have to draw the line.

I loved the first two seasons, but season three might be it for me, if I even make it through.

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mrklixx

I thought it was clever at first. I mean if you're going to be a product placement whore, why not make it obvious in a "Truman Show" kind of way. What's strangely annoying to me about it is that they are only doing one product. I mean there are only so many ways to work deodorant into the storyline.

I was also thinking about the long-term implications. What if either party decides to end the sponsorship on less than amicable terms? Does that mean that they never show those episodes again in reruns? Or do they blur and beep any reference to the product? And with the surely imminent release of the season on dvd, does that mean the product company gets advertising ad-infinitum?

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Reese

The network should never have too much control over television shows. If the creators don't retain control of their work you get episodes aired out of order to get more viewers, you get product placements and everything is made to be as "pop" as possible. It really hurts the credibility of the show. Eureka and Smallville being two of the worst offenders. I used to hate how everyone in TV shows drove these classic cars then I realized, oh wait they drive these old cars because they aren't on the market and they aren't advertising for anyone! Now I can't stand it when people are like "get in the Yaris!" or "Want some stride Gum? It'll make you superhuman!"

I've found it's so much easier to turn off a show with product placements. Maybe it's the advertising itself, or just the loss of control by the creators that makes the show fail.

As far as Eureka goes, I lost interest in season 1. I wish I had quit watching it then but really there's nothing else on TV..

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exizldelfuego

I really enjoyed season 1—it was clever, light-hearted and fun. Season 2 had a pervasive undercurrent of maliciousness and conspiracy that I didn't really enjoy, but I kept watching because…well…that's what I do when I'm hooked. It just wasn't quite as exciting to see that a new episode showed up in my iTunes queue. Chuck is my new clever, light-hearted and fun show. It's weinerlicious.

My iTunes library is out of whack right now, and I'm waiting to get that clear before I get into a new round of TV watching so I haven't had a chance to see any Season 3. Sorry to hear it heading downward. Here's hoping they can shake it off.

Willravel

It has potential.

I think they should delve more into the buddy thing between Jack and Henry, though. They have good chemistry. Not only that, but the story arcs are really inconsistent. In a proper science fiction, the arc should be practically holy. Character and arc should be first, science second, and humor third/whatever third.

exizldelfuego

Couldn't agree more—I think it actually lies at the heart of what I didn't enjoy in Season 2. I felt that Season 1 did a good job with the back-and-forth between Jack and Henry, but the whole time-warp, dead-girlfriend thing created a huge schism between the two; even to the point where Henry gets villainous. They're poisoning the Henry well! If they use it to give depth to the relationship, that's great. But I didn't really see that happening at the end of Season 2 (which, admittedly, I can't remember all that well right now).

MontanaXVI

The end of season 2 was with Beverly the town shrink using that time warp thing to jump out to wherever, Allison and Stark's son was brought back with the device and Stark proposed.


I'm sure you can pick up the episodes on the Sci-Fi website.

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guthmund

I don't know. I kind of like it.

I can't say I'm too happy with them killing off one of my favorite characters, but c'est la vie, right?
The product placement--when it's obvious and out there--is pretty funny, but it fails horribly when they try for subtlety.

You guys are right, though....definitely needs more Jack and Henry.

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Willravel

Literally the most awkward death in television history.

MontanaXVI

Has to be hands down the most awkward.

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guy44

The product placement is getting ridiculous. For a while, it was almost fascinating to see the utter thoroughness of the placement in the show, forcing the show's writers to come up with excuses to show/name the product, and then even having the "good" characters in the show talk about how horrible product placement is. So very meta.

Now, though, they're doing whole episodes based around the product - i.e., a super-sun causes everyone to town to perspire, and the only way to combat the heat is by using Degree for Men! Naturally.

It's just gotten to be way, way too much.

Re: killing off major characters, I agree with everyone here. Awkward.

I subscribe to the Joss Whedon school of killing off important characters: make it hurt. Make it really, really hurt. Do it in the most emotionally impactful way possible, and have the death really resonate amongst the characters. Instead, Eureka (and SG:Atlantis with Dr. Beckett) had completely random deaths that had no particular thematic or emotional value and only seemed to bother the other characters for one subsequent episode.

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FuglyStick

I guess the new season starts in July. I'm looking forward to it. Yeah, the show's not perfect, but it's better than so much that is on.

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