Lower Decks

Last night’s episode of Syfy’s Warehouse 13 was perhaps the best offered to date. It was certainly the darkest. More importantly, it didn’t end with everything nicely wrapped up. There are loose strings involving Myka’s relationship with Artie, strings that may force her to rethink her association with Warehouse 13. The artifact of the week was actually two artifacts: a sword and a small circular piece of metal (the tsuba) that can be added to the sword. When combined, the artifacts allow whoever is wielding the sword to become invisible.

Neat, huh? Apparently this one sword can keep an entire empire in power.

For Pete and Myka things begin normally enough. They’re charged with recovering a dangerous sword from the Japanese and switching it with a fake. Unfortunately, somebody else gets there first and uses a weapon to knock everyone out and steal the sword. Pete thinks he sees the thief but can’t be sure. Artie definitely recognizes the weapon (an “implosion grenade”) and decides to get involved personally. Pete and Myka are arrested while trying to retrieve the tsuba and are shown a file on Artie that reveals he worked as a secret agent of sorts for the government before switching sides. He’s a traitor.

Pete and Myka are released but Artie himself is later arrested; Mrs. Frederic gets him released as well. He’s certain he knows who is behind the theft of the sword: James MacPherson. Eventually, Artie has a confrontation with MacPherson, who has the sword and the tsuba. Uh-oh. He kills one man and then, after some verbal sparring, stabs Artie. That was Artie’s plan the whole time. He had to get MacPherson to attack him so he could get his hands on the sword himself. That’s hardcore.

So, the sword and tsuba are recovered, Artie is patched up and everyone gets home safe. But Myka isn’t comfortable with Artie’s lies. He should have told them what was going on, she says, and doesn’t know if she can continue working with him. Pete doesn’t seem to have that problem, though. Meanwhile, Artie and Mrs. Frederic worry that MacPherson, who got away, is still out there and must have a bigger plan in mind. And if Artie can’t trust his agents, and vice versa, there’s going to be trouble.