Truth, Lies, and Sacrifice. Review: Warehouse 13 Season 4.5 Finale – “The Truth Hurts”

Season 4.5 Finale/Episode 20

Air date: Monday, July 8, 2013 10/9c on Syfy

Rating ★★★★★

“Progress always requires sacrifice.” – Paracelsus

In the beginning of season four, we almost lost warehouse 13 due to the hatred stemming from Walter Sykes (Anthony Michael Hall). Now, in the season finale, we almost lose the warehouse again but this time, it’s not destroyed in a pile of crumbled rocks. Instead, the now immortal Paracelsus (guest star Anthony Head) has taken control of the entire warehouse and its contents. With the warehouse out of Mrs. Frederic’s (CCH Pounder) control, how will our beloved agents Pete (Eddie McClintock), Myka (Joanne Kelly), Claudia (Allison Scagliotti), Jinks (Aaron Ashmore), and Artie (Saul Rubinek) reclaim it?

As “The Truth Hurts” begins, Mrs. Frederic says something ominous: “The previous caretaker has precedence; removing him is nearly impossible.” But I found hope in that statement because she says “nearly impossible,” not completely impossible. Paracelsus’ immortality comes at a huge price. His little escapade to San Francisco has dual purposes – he must kill to secure his immortality and he needs the same petrified wood he used on his family centuries ago to make the Philosopher’s Stone work. Capturing Paracelsus may slow him down but I don’t know how the team is going to make him mortal again.

Paracelsus' insatiable lust for power will be detrimental to Warehouse 13 and our beloved agents.

Paracelsus’ quest for power will be detrimental to Warehouse 13 and our beloved agents.

Head’s performance as the ruthless Paracelsus is amazing. He embodies the mind of a true visionary lending controversial reasoning for his character’s actions. Paracelsus makes valid points about the sacrifices made to discover the new world and other progress throughout history. Does this justify his ludicrous reasoning for killing hundreds of terminally ill patients? No; but his justification is he hopes that there will be fewer sacrifices in the future for his scientific endeavors. To convey such conflict, you cannot be a meager actor. You have to be convincing and Head plays his part frighteningly well. Paracelsus is a force to be reckoned with and mere brute strength will not suffice. Intellect and cunning are the only ways to defeat him.

Since the beginning of the season, I have been trying to figure out how the astrolabe and Artie going bonkers was linked to Paracelsus being the former caretaker of warehouse 9. It dawned on me that all along, there have been hints and clues about Claudia becoming the future caretaker, eventually replacing Mrs. Frederic. But Paracelsus’ presence throws everything out of whack. Not to mention that he preys on Pete’s vulnerability for Myka to dupe Pete into helping him become even stronger.

I felt such empathy for Pete. His vulnerability is so heartfelt, I began tearing up when he tells Myka he can’t lose her. McClintock surprised me in this episode; he switches personas — from the lovable goofy Pete, doting big brother type, to an enraged agent trying to save his friends — so easily. I think Claudia says it best: “He’s a smart boy when he’s not thinking about cookies and boobies.” This is just another reason why I love Warehouse 13. Despite the seriousness of the episode, there is always a little light humor to diffuse it.

Now that Claudia has disconnected Mrs. Frederic from the warehouse, thus saving her life, where does this leave Claudia’s standing as the future caretaker? As Pete, Jinks, Artie, and Mrs. Frederic escape the warehouse, Claudia purposefully stays behind. If her reason for doing this is true, it means Paracelsus doesn’t truly have complete power over warehouse 13.

“The Truth Hurts” opens the door to so many possibilities but then I remember the powers that be have only given us a limited six-episode final season five. We’ve learned in this episode that Claudia’s (thought to be dead) sister isn’t dead and that she is a “very dangerous woman.” Why do the writers mention this sister at all with only a limited fifth season ahead of us? Or is she mentioned because Artie uses her DNA to save Claudia in the bronzing machine and this DNA will somehow corrupt Claudia in the future? We also learn Myka has been hiding how truly sick she is. It’s not until Paracelsus tells Pete “she’s dying” that you begin to realize it might not be such a bad idea after all to use one of the artifacts to help Myka. Right? It’s Myka for Pete’s sake! (All puns intended).

Pete tries to use the Farnsworth to severe Paracelsus’ ties with the warehouse but it backfires.

While “The Truth Hurts” is an exciting finale that ends with Claudia facing off with Paracelsus in an unstable warehouse, it also is confusing as hell. There is a moment in one of the San Francisco hospitals when Pete has a vision of sorts – he sees Myka lying in a hospital bed with Claudia crying out, “Why didn’t you do something?” Throughout the episode, he acts like an overprotective brother trying to get Myka to stay off the case and keep her doctor’s appointment. Will Pete tell everyone about Myka’s health now that the warehouse is in jeopardy? With a limited final season, will Myka survive at all? Can Abigail (Kelly Hu) help the team regain the warehouse – she is the Keeper after all?

We have no choice but to wait until next season. I’m hoping I’ll get some answers at this year’s Comic Con Warehouse 13 panel discussion, but I’m not holding my breath.

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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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.