Review: Warehouse 13, S4, Ep. 408 – “Second Chances”
Air date: Monday, September 17, 2012 9/8c on Syfy
Rating
“…from whence one comes.” — Emma Jinks
“Second Chances” packs a lot of punches—both literally and figuratively. After begrudgingly taking a mysterious case of people rusting away, Myka (Joanne Kelly) and Pete (Eddie McClintock) head to a small steel mill town in West Virginia to investigate. Trying to riddle this case out is harder than they originally thought and it’s not your typical artifact case. Both Pete and Myka have to dig deep and take a few punches, on Pete’s part, to figure out what’s causing the local residents to rust.
Myka tries to see if Pete is ok after he gets knocked out by Cody in the ring.
It’s so interesting to see how the writers and story artists come up with scenarios for the artifacts. The characters that are inflicted with this rusting ailment cough up rust, and have what appear to be rusty patches all over them. A round of applause to the CGI crew; every puff of orange exploding from someone’s mouth when they coughed made the effect more realistically believable.
Myka and Pete investigate clues that lead them to the union workers favorite gym, Tully’s. I think this was just another ploy for Pete to take his shirt off. They need to talk to these guys one on one to figure out who is causing the rusting so naturally, he gets into the boxing ring. I really hated seeing Pete get his lights knocked out by Cody (guest star Pooch Hall). Cody is the resident hero having just finished a tour of duty with the Marines in the Middle East. But he’s brought something back with him that’s giving him an edge up. The unique way the writers incorporated the artifact as a piece of shrapnel imbedded in Cody’s chest was brilliant. Usually the team finds the artifacts intact and some disillusioned person is controlling it. Cody had no idea what he was carrying inside of him, which made it that much more intriguing, especially when Myka needs to neutralize the artifact before Pete rusts away.
Laura Innes guest stars as Emma Jinks (Steve’s mom)
And you guessed it, Jinks (Aaron Ashmore) and Claudia (Allison Scagliotti) are on their own assignment again, but I won’t fault anyone for it, not even Artie (Saul Rubinek). Jinks and Claudia must venture to Jinks’ hometown in New Jersey to figure out how he can be free of the metronome artifact. Being linked to something that is keeping you alive has to be nerve wracking, but to know your BFF is also unwittingly attached must be torture. Jinks wants off the metronome but not for his own selfish reasons; he wants Claudia to be safe. It is hilarious when Jinks pulls his own nose hairs (yes, gross) to prove a point to why there is such a rush to be free from the metronome. While I like the intensity of Jinks being bound to the metronome and the additional tension of Claudia also being affected by it, I think it has run its course. I’ll be happy to see Jinks free of this artifact. But, I’m curious as to the long term effects it will have after he’s no longer attached.
But the trip home proves quite painful for Jinks. He must relive his older sister’s murder all over again. The falling out with his mom Emma (guest star Laura Innes) has caused a tremendous amount of tension between them and things only get more intense when Claudia, Emma, and Jinks touch the metronome simultaneously. This was such a powerful scene. The bond of friendship between Claudia and Jinks is strong but the love Jinks has for his estranged mother is incomparable. His ultimate sacrifice finally frees him from his bonds. And Claudia really does resemble his older sister. I’m sure that has a lot to do with why Steve is so attached to Claudia. Not that Claudia isn’t fused at the hip with him, too.
The real kicker in “Second Chances” is the appearance of Mrs. Frederic (CCH Pounder) along with Leena (Genelle Williams) and H.G. Wells (Jaime Murray). Artie’s cat is out of the bag, so to speak. H.G. figures out the entire thing and now the ladies confront Artie about his using the astrolabe and he finally confesses the details. Now they are in a race to figure out what the evil is and if it’s a ploy from Brother Adrian (Brent Spiner) to trick Artie into using the astrolabe again.
Mrs. Frederic has given H.G. the astrolabe for safe keeping, but what if it’s no longer safe?
When Mrs. Frederic takes the astrolabe from its hiding place and gives it to H.G., I must say I was a bit nervous. We know H.G. has betrayed the warehouse before so who’s to say this former time traveler isn’t in cahoots with Brother Adrian. I don’t think she is, but there is that realm of possibility that must be addressed. I love Pounder as the enigmatic and cryptic Mrs. Frederic. If truth be told, the way she carries herself and speaks commands respect and invokes a little fear. I sure as heck wouldn’t want to cross her.
So where will H.G. go with the astrolabe? She’s not to contact anyone at the warehouse and “disappear.” What is Mrs. Frederic up to? Can she stop Brother Adrian? I am anxious to find out.
Tune in to Warehouse 13, Mondays at 9/8c only on Syfy.
For more on the show, go to http://www.syfy.com/warehouse13/
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/warehouse13
Follow these cast members on Twitter: Eddie McClintock https://twitter.com/EddieMcClintock, Allison Scagliotti https://twitter.com/allisonscag, and Saul Rubinek https://twitter.com/saulrubinek.
Like Warehouse 13 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warehouse13
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Photos © 2012 Syfy, a Division of NBC Universal. All Rights Reserved.
Judy Manning
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