Blah, Blah, Danger Cakes. Review: Warehouse 13, "The Living and the Dead"

Season 4.5, Ep. 11

Air date: Monday, April 29, 2013 10/9c on Syfy

Rating ★★★★★

“…it’s not the win, it’s the fight.” — Steve Jinks

From l-r: Steve, Myka, Mrs. Frederic, Claudia, and Pete race back to the warehouse to try and save Artie

From l-r: Steve (face hidden), Mrs. Frederic, Myka, Claudia, and Pete race back to the warehouse to try and save Artie

If you’ve been jonesing for our beloved Warehouse 13 agents, pine no more my friends. They’re all back…well, most of them, and it’s a race against time to find a way to stop the dreaded sweating sickness before it wipes out humanity. Pete (Eddie McClintock), Myka (Joanne Kelly), Claudia (Allison Scagliotti), Steve (Aaron Ashmore) and Mrs. Frederic (CCH Pounder) rush home from abroad to try to find a way to save not only the world but Artie (Saul Rubinek) as well. But, does Artie want to be rescued?

There are many interesting facets to “The Living and the Dead,” and they’re not just in the title. Of course, you immediately think of the team as being the living, and poor Leena (Genelle Williams) being among the dearly departed. If you recall, Leena was the unwitting and tragic casualty of Artie’s evil side in “We All Fall Down,” just before he released the deadly Chinese Orchid from its protective case, unleashing a plague that could wipe out everyone in the world. In this episode, a few more living characters are added to the mix that might be of the immortal kind.

Despite some of the serious subject matter—such as Leena’s death and Artie’s involvement, Artie being unconscious and possibly unwilling to return, and the plague millions are succumbing to—there is always a bright, yet slightly goofy spot of light and humor wherever Pete is. I love McClintock’s unique way of delivering his lines. He has a way about him that makes you believe he might possibly be a tad dim-witted while being so clever and dashing at the same time. When everyone inquires about the plague and its symptoms, Pete isn’t really looking on the bright side, more the odd-ball side.

L-R: Pete, Myka, and Claudia listen to Mrs. Frederic list the deplorable symptoms of the sweating sickness

Myka: “What happens?”

Mrs. Frederic: “Chills, rapid pulse, intense thirst, heart pain, ultimately death.”

Pete: “You know, it’s always ‘ultimately death.’ I mean, artifacts never release a plague of tickles or epidemic of kittens.”

What piques my interest is Claudia and Mrs. Frederic. In “No Pain, No Gain,” we witnessed Mrs. Frederic showing Claudia “the birth of an artifact.” As most of us suspect, Claudia may become the Mrs. Frederic for the warehouses of the future. But it’s Mrs. Frederic who urges Claudia to share something about why she stabs Artie with the dagger.

Steve: “How does the dagger work?”

Mrs. Frederic: “Tell them. You know.”

Claudia (reluctant): “The dagger separates something evil – the orchid – from something good – the box holding it – so with Artie…”

Steve: “You separated the evil from Artie. You brought him back.”

Don’t you think Mrs. Frederic deserves a wardrobe change?

I’m anxious to see more of Claudia’s developing senses. She knew instinctually to stab Artie and, surprisingly, there wasn’t any internal damage despite her stabbing him in the chest. And maybe, just maybe, our intimidating, yet caring Mrs. Frederic will get a wardrobe change. Though she’s a vision in pink, I’m thinking a blue or taupe would fare nicely against her cocoa skin.

While Pete and Myka investigate a lead to ending the sweating sickness, with the help of Regent June Lattimer (guest star Kate Mulgrew) and Pete’s mom, Claudia and Steve must find their way through Artie’s subconscious (which looks very much like the warehouse) and convince him to return to the land of the conscious. Unfortunately, Artie isn’t making their journey any easier by presenting them with challenging obstacles, including the use of an imagined Vanessa (guest star Lindsay Wagner), Mrs. Frederic, and James MacPherson (guest star Roger Rees) to stop them.

Prof. Sutton (r, James Marsters) isn't completely truthful but Myka (l, Joanne Kelly) is much smarter than he thinks.

Prof. Sutton isn’t completely truthful but Myka is much smarter than he thinks she is.

As I mentioned, there are a few new interesting characters who attempt to both aide and impede Pete and Myka’s quest to find more information on Saint Germain. Prof. Sutton (guest star James Marsters) is the foremost expert on the legendary character. In the professor’s research, Saint Germain is said to be a man “who claimed to have supernatural abilities” and was able to resurrect dead flowers into beautiful blooms. His ring could be the artifact and the key to reconstituting the Chinese Orchid to stop the sweating sickness; however, there are many catches. Saint Germain’s remains are buried in an impenetrable tomb, deep within the catacombs beneath Paris. With time running out and Myka beginning to succumb to the sweating sickness, Pete, Myka, and Prof. Sutton set off for Paris to find a legend to the map that may help lead them through the myriad of complex tunnels within the catacombs. The problem is the map is in the home of Prof. Sutton’s nemesis, Charlotte Dupres (guest star Polly Walker). Marsters absolutely wins me over; not only with the charming British accent he utilizes, but the way he picks on Pete and flirts shamelessly with Myka. I wonder if Myka will fall prey to Prof. Sutton’s charms despite learning his true identity. I don’t think this is the last we’ll see of him and I am over the moon about it. And Walker turns in a divine performance of a woman betrayed. Charlotte isn’t done with the good Professor and has a juicy secret of her own.

Memorable lines:

Prof. Sutton to Myka: “Well, you’re reasonably hot. What say you ditch the uh, forehead here and interrogate me.”

***

Prof. Sutton: “Don’t wrinkle your forehead, you look like sheet music.”

Pete: “HEY, HEY, HEY; I have a handsome forehead, ok; just ask my mom. Oh, and on the plane, I swiped your nuts…wait…” (Haha! I love the swiping motion he uses when saying this.)

***

Prof. Sutton: “Oh please. Vampires are for gothic novels and, apparently, pre-adolescent girls.”

Pete (sullen, using a low voice): “I don’t know, I kinda like vampires.”

***

One of my favorite aspects of Warehouse 13 is the use of historical references and fictional objects, including a hat from a Bronx zookeeper and Sigmund Freud’s clock. There are also many references to Marie Antoinette throughout “The Living and the Dead.” These little bits of history, intertwined with fiction, make for entertaining and fun television. I’m so glad the show is back and look forward to what the rest of this season will bring!

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.