Review – Warehouse 13: “Burnout” (1.06)

This week on Warehouse 13, while investigating what appears to be a gas leak explosion at a police station, Pete and Myka discover the body of a secret service agent.  This agent also happens to be an unknown Warehouse 13 agent. Further investigation by Pete, Myka, Artie and Claudia reveals that the agent had locked himself away many years ago to stop a powerful ancient artifact from killing others. The centuries old object is a man- made ”parasite” like weapon that causes its host to go into a berserker rage. Once berserk the host will destroy the person it hates the most using a form of raw electrical current. Eventually Pete and Myke hunt the artifact down only to have the parasite latch onto Pete. The episode ends with the artifact being shocked off Pete by a retired agent and former partner of the dead Warehouse 13 agent. The retired agent warns Myka to get out of Warehouse 13 before it consumes her life, and maybe even her soul, her warning is both ominous and sincere.

This episode we see Pete and Myka’s growing love for each other as one of them falls into peril. We also get to see the new dynamics building between Artie and his young protegee Claudia. Her addition to the cast, as I stated in a previous review, has added a fresh dynamic to a relatively new show. This was a master stroke by the writers and I like what I am seeing so far. I will say more than any episode thus far, I feel attached to this cast of characters. Seeing Pete in danger hit home harder this week than in a previous episode. I also think this episode was a bit darker and also hints of something ominous brewing with the Warehouse. Upon seeing the the lifeless body of a previous agent, I began to wonder just how many agents have died to protect the Warehouse and its secrets. This episode had a very “Raiders of the Lost Ark” vibe being that this week’s artifact was built in Middle East during ancient times.

Warehouse 13 is a good show, I am however not rabidly in love with it. I think the reason for this is quite simple. The show is still running on its “Bag & Tag” formula. This show is begging for a villain or some villainous group. I just don’t think artifacts are enough to keep this show going. If the writers don’t add some antagonists soon, viewership could suffer. There is so much potential for this show I hope it does not fade to a dull hum and then disappear. A great cast of characters has been assembled, let’s hope they are given more to do than running the government’s “Lost & Found”.

About PLMII

Philip Lee McCall II or “PLMII” to his legions of manuscript minions has authored several dark fantasy collections. Through the use of poetry and prose, PLMII takes readers on excursions into a dark fantasy realm filled with vampires, werewolves, exorcism, and a lot of other creepy things guaranteed to make you lose sleep. For more information on PLMII visit his website by clicking here.