Eureka - "Pilot" 7/18/06
#1
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Eureka - "Pilot" 7/18/06
As World War II came to a close with mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the impact that science and technology would have on the continued security of our world became catastrophically apparent. America nearly lost the race to build the atomic bomb; it could not risk such a close call again.
With the help of Albert Einstein and other trusted advisors, President Harry S. Truman commissioned a top-secret residential development in a remote area of the Pacific Northwest, one that would serve to protect and nurture America's most valuable intellectual resources. There, its greatest thinkers, the über-geniuses working on the next era of scientific achievement, would be able to live and work in a supportive environment. The best architects and planners were commissioned to design a welcoming place for these superlative geniuses to reside, an area that would offer the best education for their children, the best healthcare, the best amenities and quality of life. A community was created to rival the most idyllic of America's small towns — with one major difference: this town would never appear on any maps. At least, none that haven't been classified "eyes only" by the Pentagon.
Thus, the town of Eureka was born. But for all its familiar, small-town trappings, things in this secret hamlet are anything but ordinary. The stereotype of the absent-minded professor exists for a reason, and most of the quantum leaps in science and technology during the past 50 years were produced by Eureka's elite researchers. Unfortunately, scientific exploration is rarely what one expects, and years of experiments gone awry have yielded some peculiar by-products.
From unrequited love to professional jealousy, from addiction to depression, the problems of Eureka's townsfolk stem from life's myriad of everyday challenges. But with the population's unique talents, troubled psyches and limitless resources, these small-town concerns have a way of becoming big-time problems. It is at that intersection, where human frailty and super-science collide, that Eureka begins….
With the help of Albert Einstein and other trusted advisors, President Harry S. Truman commissioned a top-secret residential development in a remote area of the Pacific Northwest, one that would serve to protect and nurture America's most valuable intellectual resources. There, its greatest thinkers, the über-geniuses working on the next era of scientific achievement, would be able to live and work in a supportive environment. The best architects and planners were commissioned to design a welcoming place for these superlative geniuses to reside, an area that would offer the best education for their children, the best healthcare, the best amenities and quality of life. A community was created to rival the most idyllic of America's small towns — with one major difference: this town would never appear on any maps. At least, none that haven't been classified "eyes only" by the Pentagon.
Thus, the town of Eureka was born. But for all its familiar, small-town trappings, things in this secret hamlet are anything but ordinary. The stereotype of the absent-minded professor exists for a reason, and most of the quantum leaps in science and technology during the past 50 years were produced by Eureka's elite researchers. Unfortunately, scientific exploration is rarely what one expects, and years of experiments gone awry have yielded some peculiar by-products.
From unrequited love to professional jealousy, from addiction to depression, the problems of Eureka's townsfolk stem from life's myriad of everyday challenges. But with the population's unique talents, troubled psyches and limitless resources, these small-town concerns have a way of becoming big-time problems. It is at that intersection, where human frailty and super-science collide, that Eureka begins….
Last edited by Joe Molotov; 07-18-06 at 08:34 AM.
#2
DVD Talk Hero
*raises hand*
We're always looking for good stuff to fill the summer months with. This looks pretty interesting, so we're going to check it out.
We're always looking for good stuff to fill the summer months with. This looks pretty interesting, so we're going to check it out.
#9
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
The Father-Daughter relationship was way beyond clichéd (the part in the jail was boardline self-parody), but the show was fairly entertaining. I'll watch it again.
#10
I liked it.
Pros: Good acting, characters and dialog. Creative design. Even the dog has a personality. Humor is a plus and only a little corny.
Cons: Potential freak of the week and predictable plots.
Pros: Good acting, characters and dialog. Creative design. Even the dog has a personality. Humor is a plus and only a little corny.
Cons: Potential freak of the week and predictable plots.
#11
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kind of interesting... Probably would have made a better movie than a series though. Not sure how long they can string that along, really. Not sure that I need to see much more past the pilot, but I might give it another try.
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Ayre
I liked it.
Pros: Good acting, characters and dialog. Creative design. Even the dog has a personality. Humor is a plus and only a little corny.
Cons: Potential freak of the week and predictable plots.
Pros: Good acting, characters and dialog. Creative design. Even the dog has a personality. Humor is a plus and only a little corny.
Cons: Potential freak of the week and predictable plots.
#14
DVD Talk Special Edition
It's like a cross between X-Files and Desperate Housewives. Eh, I'll DVR it and watch it after Last Comic Standing.
But hey, how about that Battlestar Galactica preview, huh? Whoo-hoo!
But hey, how about that Battlestar Galactica preview, huh? Whoo-hoo!
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Under a dead Ohio sky
Posts: 5,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Reminded me of Eerie Indiana with maybe a dash of Northern Exposure thrown in. But lacking the charm and humor of both. I didn't hate it though, it wasn't too bad. But the parts that were supposed to be funny fell flat. Debrah Farentino is as hot as ever cant believe shes pushing 50.
#17
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Out of the sandbox!
Posts: 1,609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I really enjoyed it, though I hate obvious plot holes. I think that it has enough potential for a good season. Other then that, very enjoyable.
That is exactly what I thought!
Did anyone else notice that BSG banner at the bottom acting really wierd and slow at about the half way point?
Originally Posted by cdollaz
The whole sci-fi angle with the Event Horizon/Stargate orb was dumb
Did anyone else notice that BSG banner at the bottom acting really wierd and slow at about the half way point?
#18
DVD Talk Special Edition
Originally Posted by gijon213
Did anyone else notice that BSG banner at the bottom acting really wierd and slow at about the half way point?
Oh yeah, it was like it was being manually controlled and they just couldn't get it right so they kept trying. Kinda annoying.
Not as annoying as the lower banner for "Who Wants to be a Superhero" that actually had arms and heads sticking out above the banner. But at least they had that one under control.
Concerning the BSG preview, I don't know what I thought about the "modern" alternative music being played over it. Maybe it would have hit me the right way if I knew (and liked) the song?
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Thrush
Reminded me of Eerie Indiana with maybe a dash of Northern Exposure thrown in. But lacking the charm and humor of both. I didn't hate it though, it wasn't too bad. But the parts that were supposed to be funny fell flat. Debrah Farentino is as hot as ever cant believe shes pushing 50.
#21
Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shreveport, LA
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thought it was OK for a pilot episode. I see a lot of potential and hope they don't blow it, but if anyone can do it, Bonnie Hammer can.
They can always cancel it next week and replace it with more Law & Order reruns!
They can always cancel it next week and replace it with more Law & Order reruns!
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Ive watched the pilot and the second episode as well, and it's been entertaining enough so far.
It seems like the show is going for a larger story arc, one that may last all season. In the very beginning of the pilot, before the Marshall and his daughter run off the road, the daughter sees themselves passing them, going in the opposite direction. At first, I thought this might be resolved by the end of the pilot, with the reversal of the time orb thing causing Eureka to snap back in time or something, allowing them to leave before they arrived. No I'm thinking that the explaination is going to be in the season capper.
It seems like the show is going for a larger story arc, one that may last all season. In the very beginning of the pilot, before the Marshall and his daughter run off the road, the daughter sees themselves passing them, going in the opposite direction. At first, I thought this might be resolved by the end of the pilot, with the reversal of the time orb thing causing Eureka to snap back in time or something, allowing them to leave before they arrived. No I'm thinking that the explaination is going to be in the season capper.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've seen a few references to bad acting, which is weird. The show, especially the pilot, is filled with well respected, veteran character actors. Matt Frewer, Joe Morton, Rob LaBelle, Greg Germann, Neil Grayston, and most importantly, Maury Chakin. It seems like they've lost a few of these guys when they went to series, but I hope they can get some of them back.
I think it is going to be a great show that fails quickly. Sci Fi fans don't seem to like character development and comedy in their shows. All they want to do is argue about tachyon particle collisions. It looks to me like the "science" on the show will be more macguffin than lynchpin.
I think it is going to be a great show that fails quickly. Sci Fi fans don't seem to like character development and comedy in their shows. All they want to do is argue about tachyon particle collisions. It looks to me like the "science" on the show will be more macguffin than lynchpin.
#25
"I've seen a few references to bad acting, which is weird. The show, especially the pilot, is filled with well respected, veteran character actors."
I don't get it either. Maybe they are blaming a weak script on a good cast. If you like the premise, give it a chance. Some arc shows need a half season to develop a stride.
I don't get it either. Maybe they are blaming a weak script on a good cast. If you like the premise, give it a chance. Some arc shows need a half season to develop a stride.