Lower Decks

Last week’s episode of Eureka was a bit of an improvement over the mid-season premiere, but only just. It was a Jo episode so Erica Cerra had a lot of screen time and that always helps. Carter spent the bulk of the episode trying to pass a stress test and wasn’t involved with the main storyline, which saw Jo testing a new device intended to record DNA in order to better protect the town. Or something like that. It didn’t work right and Jo was knocked out.

She’s fine and is soon attempting to uncover the identity of a thief who is stealing various bits and pieces of advanced technology. She’s also watching Zoe while Carter is busy with his test. Zoe wants to skip out on homework to go to karaoke night but Jo puts her foot down. Later, though, after sneaking out, Zoe is shocked to find Jo at the coffee shop belting out a song. It’s impressive. She also gives Fargo a bit ole kiss.

The next day Jo doesn’t remember anything that happened. She claims she was sleeping all night. And when she is identified as the thief, the mystery deepens. To make a long story short, a scientist named Julia (who we’ve never seen before) has developed a way to change the way she looks. She’s been impersonating Jo because she’s interested in Fargo and Fargo only has eyes for Jo. Things fall apart when both Jo and Julia begin exhibiting adverse reactions to the DNA switcheroo. Thankfully, the two are saved. And Carter passes his test.

It turns out Colin Ferguson directed “Your Face Or Mine,” explaining why his character was relegated to a little more than a cameo in the episode. I would have actually preferred to see Carter absent entirely from the episode because his stress test plot was boring. I will admit that I thought the test was intended to determine whether Carter could press the “escape” button, proving he knows when to give up. I thought that would have been interesting.

As much as I enjoyed seeing Erica Cerro in a nice dress, it was frustrating to once again see the “bad guy” turn out to be a genius scientist going too far. At least this time it was for love and not just scientific curiosity. I suppose it would be difficult to have outsiders threaten Eureka week after week. But after three seasons I’m so tired of the good-scientist-gone-bad routine.