Jane Badler as Diana

In an interview on EW.com Jane talks about her role in the sci-fi show’s reboot. While she’s at it she dishes out enough spoilers in 8 questions that you might not need to watch this season of V.

Sounds like a weird way to promote the show, but it got me interested again. I haven’t been interested in the new version of V since the second episode. I just could not get into it.

Jane Badler’s return may be enough to bring me back for another try. I would be interested to see how the character has changed.

Here’s a link to the interview. (Spoiler Alert)

‘V’ teaser: talks about her return | Inside TV | EW.com.

I usually hate spoilers, but I’m glad I read these. I’m interested to see how this works out.

I’m off to see if Hulu has last season online.

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

SPOILER ALERT!

It’s time for Season 3.5 of Eureka: Eureka, the town that Global Dynamics built, affectionately called GD in the hamlet peopled by scientific eccentrics and iconoclasts.  It’s the town that we love to call home.

Flashback to Season 3:  When last seen, our beloved and much maligned Sheriff Carter was fired.  He helped Eva Thorne, the Fixer, to sneak out of town on a bus, after she shape-shifted into a most putrid stereotypical icon: the Corporate Hooker with a Heart of Gold.  I couldn’t bring myself to review the mid-season closer here on  Fanaticspace.  It was revealed that Eva Thorne was 107 years old. Surprise!  She was “A victim” too.”  The writers had two scripts nixed by the network, and were forced to write the script as they went along.  I had a little more sympathy after I read their explanation.  Still, the mid-season finale was a cop-out.  But enough!  Time to get over it.  Farewell, Eva.  Farewell Frances Fisher.  Farewell Sheriff Carter.  What?  Nah, we all knew they couldn’t actually say buh-bye to Carter.  Didn’t we?

Colin Ferguson does a brilliant job on Eureka as Sheriff Carter, no doubt about it.  His Everyman persona permeates the entire show, and that’s fine.  I personally would like to see a little more of the old Eureka style story threads with some juicy stuff for the rest of the ensemble cast.  But what do I know?

The Season 3.5 premiere episode, Welcome Back Carter has an obvious homage in its title.  It also introduces Sheriff Andy, Carter’s android replacement (played by Ty Olsson, no stranger to sci-fi).  That Andy is doomed to fail somehow at some point is obvious from the beginning.  This makes it no less entertaining to watch Sheriff Andy bumbling along on his less than Data, and more than A.I. fashion.

The scene in the Sheriff’s Office when we first meet Sheriff Andy is ideal, including Jo’s refusal to work for “a thing.”  She’s no Eurekan Barney Fife!  That would be Fargo, who compares the new Sheriff to a Furby, then steps up with a smile to shake hands with the DOD appointed droid.

With such a ripe garden for corny homage already set up, why didn’t they exploit it a little more?  Absurdity is common, even revered in Eureka; why not this time?  Ah, opportunities lost...

Dr. Fielding and Lexie are experimenting with a gravity reduction chamber for Lexie’s twin home birthing.   After an awkward handshake between the former Sheriff  and Fielding, we move on briskly with an emergency phone call.

Trees are falling.  That is, they have fallen and blocked the road, narrowly missing taking out Allison and her unborn.  Carter arrives on the scene before Sheriff Andy, and shields Allison from yet another falling tree.  Sheriff Andy takes over, and guilelessly investigates the “accident.”  Jack is officially shut out of the process, but continues to investigate, with the help of Jo and informants who defy federal law.

A convenient plant geneticist is circumstantially implicated for a little while.  The answer is not so simple as collateral damage from a science scion.  Instead, there’s plenty to interest us closet physics fans: tonight’s episode is about “gravity wells.”  Gravity wells, it seems, are popping up around Eureka.  Sheriff Andy is the target of specific gravity wells.  He endures two assassination attempts.  Carter is not amused.

What the heck is a gravity well, you might ask?  That’s part of the fun of Eureka.  Even if I weren’t going to completely geek out and smack myself in the head repeatedly to understand what it is, I could still enjoy the story with the thin explanation given on camera.  However, a quick perusal of the wikipedia page with high-flown formulas sent me to dig deeper. As an English speaker, I use my inferior parietal cortex (among other regions) to understand the math.   Sadly, my parietal cortex is more inferior than most.    I don’t entirely understand gravity wells, but this is a pretty simulation.

Doctor Fielding’s infant low gravity chamber seems to be the problem.  Fielding is duly called upon to fix his gravitational gaff.   This is going to be a typical “oops” episode, right?  Not this time.  After a botched attempt when everything is nearly FUBAR, Global Dynamics denizens discover that Fielding was not working alone.  Enter the cyber scientist, and Fielding’s mentor/crush, Marguerite Von Dieter.

Meanwhile, there are a few entertaining moments when Sheriff Andy’s databanks are scrambled after his catastrophic damage.  He scrambles names, and he speaks supposed Dutch.  It soon becomes apparent that SARAH is aka Marguerite Von Dieter.  She’s targeting Sheriff Andy to eliminate him, and keep Zoe and Jack around.  “I apologize, I let my artificial emotions get the best of me.”  You GO, GIRL.

Henry Deacon, not only the smartest man in Eureka, but also the Mayor, tells us: “Gravitational wells are coming together into a single massive event.  IF that happens, they will suck in any matter that comes close.”  Yes, indeed…a black hole.  Apparently, a black hole is like gravity well without a bottom.  Throw all the pennies in it that you want, and you might get your wish, but you’ll never see the pennies again.  Now imagine the west coast of the US as the pennies, and you get the idea.

SARAH admits, “I no longer have graviton guidance.   Doctor Fielding’s misguided attempt at a solution made the problem grow far beyond my control.”  It’s at this time that Henry further geekificates: “If these wells come together into a singularity, then evacuation won’t help.”

Carter, ever the cop, suggests, “If a bullet won’t work, how about a bomb?”

The roller coaster ride finally begins.  A graviton pulse explosion is required to return to normal gravity. Overloading a tensor field is apparently just the ticket.  Are your eyes crossed yet?  No fear.  A tensor field is essentially expansion and compression.  Hence Zoe’s nearly gleeful, “If you overloaded the tensor field, it could make a wicked gravity bomb”

Carter is ready to go, but Henry exclaims,  “Birds will be hitting the ground like cannonballs.”  Everyone assumes Sheriff Andy will come to the rescue of Mayberry, uh, Eureka, but it’s not to be.  Sheriff Andy’s Eureka database tells him that he’s not required to participate because it’s 93% likely he’ll be destroyed in the process.

Carter thinks those aren’t bad odds for Eureka, and Dudley Do-Rights it into Fielding’s lab, where all the little gravity wells are coalescing into one big ‘un.  A gravitational well takes the extra power source battery in Carter’s hands and weighs it down until it is dropped.  Carter can’t move because he effectively weighs many hundreds of pounds now, and yet his internal organs don’t collapse.  Amazing.  Sheriff Andy rides in like a toaster, and with A.I. feeling, saves the day, despite the risk to his person, um, cabinet, uh, housing.  Whatever, anyway, the two are blown back not quite to Kingdom Come, but near there, and Eureka is safe once again.

Sheriff Andy ends up riding his blender into the sunset, but not before helping Mayor Henry Deacon to reinstate Carter, who was terminated against the rules of Eureka’s charter.  I’d like to see Sheriff Andy return to Eureka again.   Deputy Lupo returns to duty, despite being unfairly bypassed by man and machine, and status quo is status in Eureka…EXCEPT that there is a signal coming from the outer limits in space, beyond the final frontier, and it’s headed straight for Eureka.

There are plans for yet another love interest for Carter in the person of Dr. Tess Fontana.  It’s generally thought that Allison can’t have a love life while pregnant with her dead husband’s progeny.  (Yes, she was really pregnant during the filming.)  Stark is now a vampire on another network, so he won’t be coming back to Eureka this season.   That wraps it up for this time, and my TV hometown is asleep in Warehouse 13 for another week.

Wait, wait, excuse me!  If SARAH was targeting Sheriff Andy, and so no one else was in danger until after Fielding’s botched Mr. Fixit attempt, WHY DID THE TREES NEARLY GET ALLISON?  Hellooooo, can anybody hear me?  Hello?

(Note: All images contained in this post are screen captures)

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Rumors are flying that the new Doctor Who , Matt Smith, will be traveling in a completely redesigned TARDIS.  “It will be the most hi-tech, intricate TARDIS ever,” an unnamed source reported to the Daily Mirror on Tuesday.  It has also been rumored that Steven Moffat, the show’s new writer and executive producer, wants to separate himself from the way previous writer/producer Russell T Davies did things.  A new Doctor, a new companion, a new writer/producer  and a new TARDIS…so what’s next?

The Changing Look of the TARDIS

The article states that the big brass in the BBC have given permission to redo the interior as well as the exterior of the TARDIS.  It’s quoted as describing it as “a radical new look”.  This fills me with both excitement and dread.  It’s great to hear that the show’s progressing, continuing to grow.  That is a good indicator of the faith the BBC put it in.  As well as a hopeful sign for many more seasons of Doctor Who to come.  And yet, I worry. 

The console of the First Doctor's TARDIS

The TARDIS is an enduring symbol of Doctor Who.  That big blue box has been there since the very first episode.  It’s exterior has changed only a little through the Doctor’s ups and downs of the past forty five years.  I hope that it will remain basically untouched. I would hate to see them fiddle around or modernize what to me is an icon.

On the other hand, the interior has changed, for the better and worse, many times during that period.  I can plainly remember some of the more disturbing TARDIS console changes from the past, such as the Sixth Doctor Colin Baker’s blinding white, 80′s music video console room or the erector set version used for the Eighth Doctor Paul McGann’s movie .  Memories of them make me shudder.

Other Changes on the Horizon

The Eighth Doctor's TARDIS

The upcoming season of Doctor Who promises many changes. With Steven Moffat taking the helm, a new Doctor in the form of Matt Smith and a newly redesigned TARDIS, what else can we expect to change. I’m wondering about the intro. The opening and music, like the interior of the TARDIS, have changed many times in the past. I really like the current title sequence. It’s been updated a bit but still has some of the old Doctor Who flair. I am looking forward to see what Moffat does with it this time. If you’d like to check out some of the old opening title sequences from past Doctor Who’s, check this out.

The Fifth Doctor's console

There’s also the question of a new companion. Rose is gone. Donna is incapacitated. Nothing definite has been released to the press but the rumors are flying. Everyone from Georgina Moffett, who played the Doctor’s daughter in last season’s The Doctor’s Daughter, to Michelle Ryan, former Bionic Woman star who is starring in the Doctor Who Easter Special. It’s impossible to say at this point. Unlike the changes to the TARDIS, Moffat’s keeping mum about this one.

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the new season of Doctor Who. The potential changes only pique my interest. Despite the specials that we have to look forward to in the coming year, 2010 seems a long way off. Until then, I’ll do my best to keep you informed on all the newest Doctor Who news. Oh, and the first installment of my in depth look at the past Doctors is coming soon. It all begins with William Hartnell.  So check back soon…

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Who is Doctor Who?

  At over 900 years of age, he has worn many faces, traveled with a variety of different companions and battled a cornucopia of villains.  Since 1963, the role of Doctor Who has been played by ten, soon to be eleven, different actors on television.  A twelfth actor, Peter Cushing, portrayed the Doctor in two cinematic films.  Each of these actors has molded the character a little bit, making it their own.  Each of these Doctors has been unique and special in their own way.  Every fan has their personal favorite.  I would like to spend the next few weeks exploring each Doctor individually.
 

The First Ten Doctors

Being cast in this role has been both a blessing and a curse to the men who have portrayed Doctor Who.  And each has had a profound effect on the role, in turn.   I will be profiling each Doctor individually.  For each Doctor, starting with William Hartnell, there will be a brief description of the Doctor and what makes each one stand out from the pack.  Then we will explore the ongoing issues between Doctor Who and the BBC.  Each post will also highlight some of the more memorable episodes from that particular Doctor and of course, their companions. 

I hope these profiles will help new viewers and fans become more familiar with some of the older Doctors that they have yet to discover.  They will also allow those of us who have followed the Doctor’s escapades for many years to remember both our favorite episodes as well as our favorite Doctor.  So stayed tuned.  William Hartnell will begin our journey through time.  Hurry back to see how it all begin.

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Red Dwarf, the wonderfully funny British science fiction television show, is about to be resurrected for a new two-part episode by the British television channel Dave.  The digital cable channel is already home to much loved favorites like Red Dwarf, Coupling, The Catherine Tate Show, The Young Ones and many, many others.  This new episode is original programming that will air in the UK on April 10, 2009.  It will include the two-part episode as well as two other specials, including a making of video.

Red Dwarf: Back To Earth is written and directed by the co-creator of the original Red Dwarf, Doug Naylor.  It will not only continue the story of Dave Lister and his wacky group of companions, but it will reunite the original cast members, including Craig Charles (Lister), Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Robert Llewellyn(Kryten) and Danny John-Jules (Cat).  The story will take our ragged band back to Earth, an aspect never fully explored in the original series.  Lister was always trying but never quite made it back home, except in his mind. 

For those of you who don’t remember, or haven’t had the delightful privilege of watching an episode of Red Dwarf, it was a campy science fiction/comedy show that aired from 1988 to 1999 in Great Britain.  It featured the adventures of Dave Lister, literally the last human in the universe, trapped aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf.  An accident lands him in suspended animation, while a radiation leak kills everyone else on board.  He remains there for three million years until the shipboard computer decides it’s safe to awaken him.  Lister, formerly a lazy, low-ranking technician who liked nothing better than to have a beer and a smoke with his buddies, soon realizes that he’s not alone on the ship.  First, he discovers Cat, a vain catlike human that evolved over the millenium from Lister’s former pet cat Frankenstein.  To assist him, the ship’s computer resurrects a hologram of his former roommate, the smug, over-bearing Arnold Rimmer.  Finally, he encounters Kryten, a slightly neurotic robotic servant.  Together, this motley group limp their way across the universe as Lister tries to find a way back home.   The hilarious humor that ensues from their adventures is British comedy at it’s best and as a result the show has developed a near cult-like following.

I realize that to those of us not living in the UK, this may sound like bittersweet news but rest assured that this special episode and it’s extras should make their way to DVD shortly after airing.  As for myself, I will be anxiously awaiting it.

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Once upon a time, Chattacon was held at the Read House in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was a good-sized regional convention with attendance in the 1500 range.  I don’ t know what their numbers were this year, but it seemed sparse.  Chattacon now makes its home in the Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn.

Chattanooga Choo Choo Locomotive

The Choo Choo is a converted railway station on 24 acres, with a decommissioned wood-burning locomotive on display.  (I’m told the train was built in 1880, and last used by the Smoky Mountain Railroad in 1940s)  There are passenger cars that have been converted into sleeping rooms.  The accommodations are spread out, but the staff is helpful and cheery.  We were in “Hotel III”, and aside from having a wait for the bell cart and attendant, it was a painless check-in.

We had a mutual brain TILT moment when we first entered the hallway of Hotel III.   The long, narrow corridor was brightly decorated, and strangely reminiscent of The Shining.  Fortunately for us, there were no Twins in that corridor.  They only appeared in our imagination, and our fingers remained mute and still.  The secure wireless connection sucked wind, but other unsecured connections were available.

In the Beginning was Registration…

Rats in a Maze

I have many expletives in mind regarding the Registration process.  We were lab rats in a maze.   My compadre, Amber, had pre-registered.  I had not.  We went into the hotel lobby, and entered Pandelerium.   What at first appeared to be the end of long lines in front of registration tables were actually clusters of folks (say that very fast) waiting….  A lovely lady from Registration emerged from the tables to shepherd us On Site registrants to actual tables.  It was only then that it became apparent what we were all waiting for…

“I Don’t Have to Show You any Stinkin’ Badges”

Ah, but yes you do, if you want to get into the convention areas.  There’s the proverbial rub.    Computer glitch after computer glitch meant that I waited for my badge from 6:00-9:15PM.  Yes, Virginia, I waited for 3 hours and 15 minutes.   That’s not the end of the story.  You may recall that I said Amber was pre-registered.  During a system hiccup, her pre-registered check-in was lost, and she had to start over again.  She discovered this when my badge printed from one of the lovely parallel-ported printers. Then, she was told, in 30-90 minutes, she’d get her badge.  It was 6:00 PM déjà vu all over again, except that it was 9:00 PM now.  They were out of Program schedules and Program Books.

While Waiting for Badgot…

We spent our time socializing with friendly fen in waiting, including my old pal, writer Wendy Webb.
At 10:40PM (yes, that would be 4 hours and 40 minutes!), Amber got her badge.  However, they were out of lanyards,  schedules, and Program Books.  We did obtain a map with helpful designations, such as “Mundanes.”  The badges were LOVELY works of art.  We missed the entire Friday night schedule of programming because we needed our stinkin’ artsy fartsy badges!!!

We were so exhausted by the time we were done that we didn’t even go to the Con Suite to get free beer or attend any of the advertised room parties.

It’s a New Day!

We spent Saturday morning with Robby, the Fearless Dragon*con Filk Track Director, having our first Filk Track meeting.  Feeling fairly excited and upbeat, we left chanting, “Gimme an F…gimme an I…”

Tom Smith in Concert

Tom Smith also did a fun, crowd-pleasing concert, and even perpetrated (um, I mean performed) his material to many new listeners.  He was a busy guy, as he MC’d the tiny Masquerade on Saturday night.

Author guests Katherine Kurtz and David Weber were easily found, and regional writers participated in panels on the craft and business of writing.  It was a full day’s programming.

The Dealers Room was decent, and we made our first drive-by of it to see what we might want to buy later… ALL the Dealers were friendly.  ALL OF THEM.  What a nice surprise to feel as if they actually wanted our business!  Sadly, we never made it to the art show.

Many of us who did other stuff during the Masquerade and planned to return to the open filk afterwards were disappointed to find the Conference Center hallways rolled up and silent by 11:00 PM.  Arc Attack (the Tesla Coil music folk)  was giving a concert in the Con Suite building…and the free beer was flowing.

The Warriors

The Choo Choo

Every Day is Like Sunday…

It was time to pack up and check out all too soon.  The Bell attendant couldn’t find a cart.  Soooo he came up and helped us to carry our stuff to a golf cart, and drove us to our car!  YEAH!  We made Choo Choo gift shop purchases for kids, and unsuccessfully attempted to get breakfast (they were setting up for lunch, but not ready).  We went back to the Dealers Room and did a little more shopping.  We had another brief conversation with Tom Smith, and ran into writer Rob Sommers.  Then we had to make the difficult choice between attending the final guest panel, and feeding our faces away from the hotel.  Our faces won.  We took off.

The only thing not to like at Chattacon was the registration madness.  In many other ways, it reminded me of conventions of old, where fans talked to each other “just cuz”.  In fact, that’s the single biggest factor that causes me to say I would return to Chattacon.  EVERYONE was friendly, whether staff members or fans…sober, drunk, or tired.

About the badge problem:  I volunteer to bring the magic markers next year!!  Who’s up for bringing the perforated cards or stick-ons?

Official photos of Chattacon

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Story

Jaime Waterman was part of the first mission to Mars. During his exploration of the barren surface he found signs of life, structures built for some unknown purpose. Thanks to a celestial claims law, and Jaime’s Native American heritage, the Navaho Nation is in charge of Mars.

That was more than twenty years ago. Now Jaime is dealing with a crisis that could shut down all research on Mars. The New Morality is a religious movement that has been gaining ground since global warming started to sink coastal cities. This and other religious groups believe the findings on Mars are a threat to their faith and to their power that must be dealt with.

This comes just as the most important discovery on the red planet since Jaime’s structures were found is being made. How long can Jaime and his friends keep up the battle of perception back on Earth? Can the funding for research on Mars be saved? Will they have enough time to unearth the secrets of Mars?

(Ed. Note: I received a copy of this book for review at no cost to me. )

My Opinion

Mars Life is the type of science fiction I’ve always enjoyed. You get the feeling that this world can be real with the right research. There are amazing advancements, but not all are so outlandish that they seem impossible. This could be our future very soon.

Hot Topics

I would imagine that some people will read this book and view it as an attack on religion. It does come across like that in a few early parts of the story. Soon we begin to see other denominations and faiths. Then the target is abundantly clear. Maybe even understandable.

It takes a very special blend of ignorance and insanity to ignore facts and evidence to protect something that, by it’s very nature, should not need protection. Strong faith can look at something that it thought impossible and marvel in the continuous miracle that is our universe. Both of these points of view are well exemplified in this story.

The scientists aren’t all portrayed as heroes. There are rigid control freaks and jerks aplenty on that cold red marble. Individuals are given realistic personalities that help to make the story even more believable.

Verdict

Mars Life is a great science fiction story. If I hadn’t known that this was a new book, I would’ve said it was a classic that I’d overlooked. It’s got what it takes to become a classic, that’s for sure. Believable characters that are likable, and dis-likable which is sometimes more important, populate a future in which we may soon be living.

Related posts:

1. Book Reviews or Book Discussions?
   I need your opinions After the posts by Donna and myself, I’ve decided that I should make books a larger part of the site. I’d like to do more posts...
2. Erec Rex: The Monsters of Otherness by Kaza Kingsley
   Erec Rex: The Monsters of Otherness continues Erec’s adventures in Alypium. Can it improve on the strong beginning of the story found in Erec Rex: The Dragon’s Eye? Story Erec...
3. What Makes An Author Worth Reading?
   This is a guest article from Donna. Leave some comments and maybe we can get her to be a regular contributor.   Bibliophilia in Action I’ll be the first to...

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

It’s official…David Tennant has announced that he will be leaving Doctor Who following the filming of four specials in 2009.  After three and a half years, Tennant will say goodbye to the TARDIS. 

Rumors have been circulating for months regarding Tennant’s possible departure from the BBC program but now it’s been confirmed. You can check out his official announcement, made while accepting the award for Outstanding Drama Performance at National Television Awards, here. Tennant was quoted by the BBC as saying,

“I’ve had the most brilliant, bewildering and life changing time working on Doctor Who. I have loved every day of it. It would be very easy to cling on to the TARDIS console forever and I fear that if I don’t take a deep breath and make the decision to move on now, then I simply never will. You would be prising the TARDIS key out of my cold dead hand. This show has been so special to me, I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”

The start of the fifth season of Doctor Who will bring many changes. First and foremost, a new Doctor. Also, Russell T Davies will be turning over helm of the program to Steven Moffat. Questions abound on the direction the show will take. And now, even more questions linger in the air as to who will take on the role of Eleventh Doctor. Since the final four specials featuring Tennant will air in 2009, and season 5 not beginning until the following, it will be sometime before his successor will actually take the role of the Doctor.

I, personally, am sad to see David Tennant go. I was initially resistant to his portrayal of Doctor Who but I have grown to love his trademark mixture of impish playfulness and haunted melancholy. The new Doctor will have some big shoes to fill, in my opinion. And so, it is with a sad heart that I say goodbye to the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant. To paraphrase the Master, “A cosmos without David Tennant as the Doctor scarcely bares thinking about.” But somehow, we must manage.

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

According to a recent article in Great Britian’s infamous paper, The Sun, Patrick Stewart has agreed to a role in next season’s Doctor Who series.

As reported by The Sun, Stewart, best known as captain Jean-Luc Picard of television’s Star Trek The Next Generation, is a long time fan of Doctor Who. After appearing with the current Doctor, David Tennant, on stage in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet, Stewart and Tennant have reportedly become friends. Tennant reportedly suggested Stewart should appear on Doctor Who with him. The role planned for Stewart is that of a renegade Time Lord known as the Meddling Monk. The character was first seen in the series in the 1960′s.

Nothing is set in stone but talks are continuing between BBC officials and Stewart’s agent. Patrick Stewart would be a wonderful addition to the current cast of Doctor Who so I remain hopeful that this is more than just a rumor. I’ll keep you informed!

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

I’ve always been fond of the music of Eureka, and was definitely ready for this cd.

Acclaimed composer Bear McCreary, of Battlestar Galactica renown, does a masterful job of musically mixing it up.  Of his own creation he says, “Whether or not you’ve seen Eureka, this CD is worth checking out.  The music is a totally unique and twisted blend of folk, blues and zydeco with 80s New Wave synths, 8-bit and 16-bit video-game-inspired FM synthesis, 70’s keyboards, accordions, dobros, didgeridoo and a little Spanish Flamenco. “

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  For one thing, I’m a sucker for accordion music, ever since my south pawed brother taught me how to play “Three Blind Mice” on my Dad’s accordion (turned upside down and backwards) when I was a sprat of six.  The zydeco takeoffs are always fun and sometimes gritty, and the subtler accordion melodies are clever.

I’m not going to comment on each track, but I will list them all at the end of this post.
The Main Title theme, by former Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh and John Enroth always inspires me to attempt to whistle along with it.   To say it’s “catchy” is cliche, but  I’m okay with that.

Sheriff Carter’s Theme makes me happy.   It’s an eclectic mix of jazz with a country beat, and some bluesy vocals thrown in that remind me of the Cookie Monster.

Allison’s Theme is terribly pretty, just like the character.    It’s almost pastoral, but not saccharine.

Through the Vortex, from The Games People Play episode, grew on me with multiple listens.  The power in it is undeniable.  It’s reminiscent, though not derivative of, McCreary’s work on BSG.

The Mask of Fargo, from Noche de Suenos is without a doubt one of my favorites.  Featuring sultry Flamenco guitar by Carlos De La Paz and a wild trumpet by Peter De Siena, it doesn’t get much better than this.  Being a poor to mediocre acoustic folk player, I appreciate De La Paz’s Flamenco guitar all the more for its technical expertise as well as its beauty

Brendan McCreary’s performance on his self composed ballad, Let’s Get Hitched, from the episode, Sight Unseen manages to be soulful, yet understated.

Henry’s Theme is sooooo serious, and borderline dark.  Tormented.  Pain filled. Portentious.  Lovely.

Not so, Taggart’s Theme.  It’s xylophoned, stringed, and quirky, series thematic, with a rough rhythmic edge, not unlike his character.  Sigh.

The Laser Cannon, from a Night at Global Dynamics, has a Rock Opera overture run through a synthesizer feel to it.

Captain Ahab’s Jonathan Snipes wrote and produced Eurekaerobics, from the Duck, Duck, Goose episode.  Techno meets fitness without becoming disco.  Ya gotta love it.

Jack and Callie’s halting relationship is well expressed in their song, featured in both the Sight Unseen and Maneater episodes.

The Heathers at the science fair (Duck, Duck, Goose) and Erotomania from Maneater are great comic pieces.

A Night at Global Dynamics, from the episode of the same name, is one of the most dramatic selections on the cd.  It conveys danger, darkness, and suspense with an orchestral movie soundtrack quality.

Also from A Night at Global Dynamics, we’re treated to a zydeco introduction that blows into hard drums punctuated with a synthesizer in  Threat of Nuclear Cleaning.  The rest of the piece is sinuous, woven with wind instruments, keyboard/piano, until its abrupt dobroed end ties back to the intro.

Don’t take my tin eared word for it.  This cd is a must-have for any Eureka fan.   I’m sure the Eureka soundtrack could stand alone.  But for me, it is a pleasant reminder of the music that moves my beloved Eureka along each week.

Track Listing:

1.    Eureka On My Mind (Eureka Main Title) (0:30)
2.    Sheriff Carter’s Theme (3:27)
3.    Prehistoric Love Spores (2:38)
4.    Allison’s Theme (2:52)
5.    Through the Vortex (5:02)
6.    Fargo’s Theme (2:49)
7.    The Mask of Fargo (2:27)
8.    The S.A.R.A.H. Mobile (1:16)
9.    Let’s Get Hitched (3:54)
10.    When You Wish Upon Falling Debris (3:10)
11.     Little Big Bang (2:33)
12.    Henry’s Theme (5:21)
13.    Taggart’s Theme (2:02)
14.    The Laser Cannon (1:54)
15.    Noche De Suenos (3:23)
16.    A Nuke for Fargo (5:41)
17.    EurekAerobics (2:31)
18.    Victor’s Getaway (0:34)
19.    Henry and Beverly (4:24)
20.    Jack and Callie (2:31)
21.    Everyone’s Dumb (1:48)
22.    The Heathers (0:37)
23.    Zane on the Lam (2:42)
24.    Erotomania! (2:26)
25.    A Night at Global Dynamics (3:52)
26.    Threat of Nuclear Cleaning (2:19)
27.    A Town Called Eureka (2:10)
28.    Eureka On My Mind Reprise (Eureka End Credits)(0:51)

No related posts found.

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.