Hell Hath No Fury Like a Salted Chocolate Cookie? Review: Warehouse 13 – “What Matters Most”

Season 4.5, Episode 17

Air date: Monday, June 17, 2013 10/9c on Syfy

Rating ★★★★★

“All right Bilbo Baggins, you’re on!” – Claudia

Everyone is going on an adventure in this week’s episode. Surprisingly, Jinks (Aaron Ashmore) stays behind at the B&B to help Abigail (Kelly Hu) clean the “gooery,” while Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) head to the suburbs to find out who or what is responsible for the unusual deaths of the residents. In the meantime, Artie (Saul Rubinek) and Claudia (Allison Scagliotti) head to the Big Apple to investigate a homeless teenage savant who’s writing mathematical graffiti. After some less than enthralling episodes of late, I didn’t anticipate anything to WOW me in “What Matters Most,” but I was pleasantly surprised at the twist of events and unique artifacts in this episode.

Observations:

Low testosterone…Pffft…

There is a reason “What Matters Most” begins with a mention that it’s time for yearly physicals. Pete gets disappointing news from his doctor about his testosterone levels that leads him to do some irrational things. McClintock has a knack for incorporating goofy humor into what some may think isn’t a funny situation. A man without testosterone is one thing but for Pete, a warehouse agent without his man-juices flowing, that isn’t right at all. It’s like the world is off its axis, throwing Pete off his A-game. I have to admit, writers can pen a line that’s funny but it takes a skilled actor to cheese it up and make you giggle-snort. McClintock is that actor.

Steve would rather clean the “gooery” with Abigail than go on a mission with Claudia…something’s up.

I knew something was awry when Jinks uncharacteristically stays behind to help Abigail clean out the neutralizer (the purple goo they use to diffuse artifacts). Scones are delicious but nowhere tempting enough to miss out on a chance to go on a mission with his bestie Claudia. Besides, Abigail didn’t even make those scones, she bought them. I digress. Jinks’ motives are soon revealed. Who better to talk to than someone with a degree in psychology? But it’s not just Jinks who opens up, Abigail spills some bottled up goodies of her own.

Stop…math makes my brain hurt.

As Claudia and Artie investigate the mysterious dilemma surrounding Nick (guest star Josh Blaylock), the young homeless teenager, they soon discover his trance-like state is causing massive brain trauma and debilitating seizures. If they don’t find the artifact soon and “bag it,” Nick may not survive another attack. Admittedly, anything with mathematical equations makes my brain hurt so I wasn’t really interested in this story line until I realized the way the artifact, one of the Wright Brothers’ goggles, was being used. It isn’t until the end of “What Matters Most,” after Claudia basically adopts the kid, that I realized there is a shocking twist to Nick’s presence. I won’t spoil it for you but it has something to do with a previous episode in which a text is sent citing Claudia as the “target.”

Does this look like the face of a liar? Ok…yes, it does. Don’t eat the cookies, Pete!

Pete and Myka discover an artifact from the salt mines of Sodom, as in the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, is wreaking havoc on a small, gated community that I like to call “Un-Pleasantville.” The town seems too quaint and put together and the residents are a bit too haughty and prim, perhaps slightly prejudiced towards anyone who previously didn’t live in their neighborhood. How many lush green lawns do you really need on the block? And does everyone have to wear cardigans and drive golf carts? I didn’t immediately suspect nosy neighbor Janice (guest star Cynthia Watros) but I should have. Watros does an excellent job of turning on the psycho factor for her character, not only with her crazed looks but in how Janice wields the large kitchen knife after Myka discovers her secret—salted chocolate cookies. Poor Pete didn’t stand a chance. You can’t leave cookies out expecting Pete not to sneak a bite or take one.

Myka tries to help Pete after he’s thrown from a window and breaks both his legs.

There are a few twists in “What Matters Most” that really threw me. When Pete and Myka are trying to uncover what is causing residents to confess to damaging truths, it leads to a confession from Pete after he’s thrown from a window resulting in two broken legs. The emotional reveal shocked me. There have been recurring mentions about Pete’s former bout with alcoholism but we never knew what happened to cause him to hit rock bottom. As an aside, do you think Pete will lay off the cookies for a while? Too soon?

What completely sends me over the edge with an astounding revelation about Myka is what her doctor tells her after her physical. It is absolutely outrageous. I can’t begin to tell you how far my mouth was agape when I heard the words spilling from his mouth. With only a limited six-episode fifth and final season ahead of us, will they start killing off our beloved warehouse agents? The upcoming three-episode arc with guest star Anthony Head as the alchemist Paraclesus is looming. Does it mean there will there be another death, perhaps for one our treasured agents, before this season ends?

To be continued…

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Tune in to Warehouse 13, Mondays at 10/9c only on Syfy.

For more on the show, go to http://www.syfy.com/warehouse13/.

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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.